Exhausted by the audio hobby

[Saeniv]

So after years of trying new headphones, headphone amps, DACs I think I am kind of stuck in the audio hobby. In August, I came back from a year-long non reading any reviews or trying new stuff. The amps and DACs are measuring great sounding the same, nothing new and special any more, but I got excited, reading about all the great IEMs below 100€, so I tried some of the recommendations:

• 7Hz Zero 2
• Truthear Zero Red
• Truthear Hexa
• Moondrop Chu 2
• Sennheiser IE200,
• Tinhifi T2
• Tangzu Wan er
• RHA MA750

They are all not bad, but miss what is most important to me, musicality and emotion. I played the game with over-ear headphones, going higher until I reached my personal price limit for used gear, for years. I don't know if I want to play the game with IEM's or if I come to the same conclusion, that there is no benefit in going any higher. After years of trying, I settled on the Sennheiser HD600 as my most beloved over ear headphone. So my question is, is there any musical IEM, which you guys could recommend or think is worth trying?

Second question I tried Tidal to discover new music, but it does not really show me anything new, does somebody have a recommendation for a better streaming app?

 

[someguyontheinternet]

There is neither musicality nor emotion to be found in reproduction devices. They can only get out of the way and let the music do it's thing.

 

[heraldo_jones]

Big question around the concept you are asking for ... as you are asking about getting an iem with musicality and emotion is because you want something totally different from the HD600, right? And what means musicality and emotion for you? Smiley curve without the amount of emphasis to start sounding too harsh or boomy?

 

[Balle Clorin]

I think you should start with Vinyl or tubes or DIY to renew the hobby...maybe a headphone tubeamp kit?

Headphone Amplifier Kits - Bottlehead

Headphone Amplifier Kits

bottlehead.com

 

[Purité Audio]

I would just listen to music you really like, the reason you started in the first place.
Keith

 

[Saeniv]

as you are asking about getting an iem with musicality and emotion is because you want something totally different from the HD600, right?

Not really, I think the HD600 is exactly that, very musical and emotional.

And what means musicality and emotion for you? Smiley curve without the amount of emphasis to start sounding too harsh or boomy?

That is a hard question, but I try to specify. Not harsh in the treble and no boomy bass, mellow mids, is a good start. All of the above IEMs are like listening to music in a way too bright room which is not very enjoyable. I can't describe it any different.
I mix from the the Hexa and IE200 would be good.

 

[Saeniv]

I think you should start with Vinyl or tubes or DIY to renew the hobby...maybe a headphone tubeamp kit?

I inherited a huge vinyl collection, which was kind of great in the beginning, but over a few years, I kind of enjoy digital more. I tried tube which are nice and glowy, otherwise does not do anything for me. I upgraded two used tube amps, but upgrading them was more fun than actually listening.

 

[Saeniv]

I would just listen to music you really like, the reason you started in the first place.
Keith

Thanks, that is something I tried to, but in everyday life I have not so much time to lie on the couch and just enjoy as I used to.

 

[Purité Audio]

I found subscribing to a streaming service introduced me to new music which re-energised my listening.
For many years and it is a cliché but when you are comparing components/speakers you do tend to use the same few tracks.
Also the kids help, I often ask what I hear them playing ( because it is often too loud).
Keith

 

[Saeniv]

I found subscribing to a streaming service introduced me to new music which re-energised my listening.

Which one are you subscribed to?

For many years and it is a cliché but when you are comparing components/speakers you do tend to use the same few tracks.

That is really totally true. That is why I try new gear on my old Fiio with 3500 songs on it in shuffle mode.

 

[Purité Audio]

Quboz, it’s not just the new stuff but the albums I hadn’t heard from my old favourites, things I never bought or hadn’t realised had been released.
John Peel used to take care of introductions to new music.
Keith

 

[JeremyFife]

BBC6 Music (digital radio station) works for me ... with John Peel's son - Tom Ravenscroft - serving up new music. Some of the new is 'challenging' for me, but it's all invigorating

 

[RandomEar]

That is a hard question, but I try to specify. Not harsh in the treble and no boomy bass, mellow mids, is a good start. All of the above IEMs are like listening to music in a way too bright room which is not very enjoyable. I can't describe it any different.

Amir did measure the HD600. It's very light on bass and otherwise pretty Harman-like. You could look for similar qualities in IEMs.

I mix from the the Hexa and IE200 would be good.

These measure not that far apart, but there are different peaks in the treble region. Overall, the IEMs you tested are all broadly similar, if we can trust the measurements from the linked source. I think the easiest way to get the sound you're looking for would be to simply EQ one of your existing IEMs. Otherwise, you'll be aimlessly buying more until the end of time.

 

[JeremyFife]

I agree though, music is the answer

 

[Blumlein 88]

Do you suffer from FOMO, fear of missing out? You have good sound you like with the HD600 apparently. Do you feel obligated to see if there is more and that quest has sapped your enthusiasm? Are the IEM's another avenue to see what you might be missing or why not just stick with the over the ear phones you have? Personally I hate the IEM's because good ones fit so deep in your ear I don't care what they sound like.

Maybe you've become addicted to the experience of finding something better, and then rediscovering your old music rinse and repeat. But now you seem at an end. Yet you crave that old fix one more time, and seem at a dead end for finding it.

You sound burnt out on the music and the GAS (gear acquisition syndrome). I'm not making fun of you or criticizing you, but rather sympathizing with your situation. Put it aside and when the interest returns come back. Don't feel the need to check out IEMs or anything. Only do it if/when you want to do so.

 

[Saeniv]

Quboz, it’s not just the new stuff but the albums I hadn’t heard from my old favourites, things I never bought or hadn’t realised had been released.

Quboz sounds promising, I will try that.

Amir did measure the HD600. It's very light on bass and otherwise pretty Harman-like. You could look for similar qualities in IEMs.

I tried googeling "IEM sound like HD600" and got the Hexa as recommendation. I will try to compare graphs and buy something HD600 like.

You sound burnt out on the music and the GAS (gear acquisition syndrome). I'm not making fun of you or criticizing you, but rather sympathizing with your situation. Put it aside and when the interest returns come back. Don't feel the need to check out IEMs or anything. Only do it if/when you want to do so.

I don't think it is FOMO, because i stopped a while ago and settled with my current gear. Furthermore, I try to explore new music and enjoy it as I used to. The problem is I don't have the time as I used to at home, so I thought of getting an IEM and listening to music while I am in the office, where no one is really talking. I can't use my beloved HD600 there.

 

[Wesseling Audio Lab]

I experience emotions from remastered music through Qubos, in sound resolution along with the particular music

I , for many years, have experienced emotions from the music that Spotify selects via its algorithms

 

[Smaestro]

Perhaps your hobby isn't audio but "researching and collecting". It just happened that you put that effort in the domain of audio. Now that audio is more or less played out, you could find a different area that you like (cooking, chess, collecting rare car key hangers.. anything) to reignite that "researching" part of the hobby.

 

[Saeniv]

Uh that sounds fascinating, I have not thought about that, thank you. "Researching and Collecting" I really have not seen it that way, I will think about it. Thank you for the new perspective.

 

[Blumlein 88]

Quboz sounds promising, I will try that.


I tried googeling "IEM sound like HD600" and got the Hexa as recommendation. I will try to compare graphs and buy something HD600 like.


I don't think it is FOMO, because i stopped a while ago and settled with my current gear. Furthermore, I try to explore new music and enjoy it as I used to. The problem is I don't have the time as I used to at home, so I thought of getting an IEM and listening to music while I am in the office, where no one is really talking. I can't use my beloved HD600 there.

So you just want some good IEMs. It sounds like more is involved. I once worked for months overnight. I came across an old large vacuum tube shortwave radio at a thrift store. Grabbed it just to see how it was. I spent spare time where I worked listening to various world music broadcasts over shortwave in the early morning hours. It was unusual music. The fidelity was not much. Maybe 200 hz to 4000 hz over a 4 inch speaker. Lots of noise, crackles, with the signal fading in and out. So music can be enjoyable with some pretty lofi gear if that is what you have. I had Quad ESL 63s at home at the time.

So sounds to me you just need some decent ear buds or IEMs that don't antagonize you. Unless you are forcing the idea on yourself they don't need to be of extraordinary quality. If they match your HD600s great, but they don't have to do so. For the convenience of music away from home they don't have to meet a lofty standard of sound quality.