IEM for small ears:)

[alter4]

Dear folks,
I have small ear canal and looking for IEM to much my requirements, I need your suggestions:

• less $100 price (some reasonable overprice is possible)
• small and short nozzle to much my physiology
• neutral sound, because I like to listen many genres from the classical&jazz to death metal

Thank you very much in advance.

 

[herr.jemine]

InEar StageDiver SD-1S​

InEar StageDiver SD-1S

Universal 1-Way In-Ear Earphones Especially suitable for women and those with small ear canals, Small ergonomic earpiece, Balanced, powerful sound, Ambient noise absorption: Approx. 26 dB, Frequency range: 40 - 17,000 Hz, SPL: 122 dB, Impedance: 45...

www.thomann.co.uk

Sennheiser IE-100 PRO​

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sennheiser-Ear-Monitoring-Headphones-Black/dp/B096FFY54Y

 

[Jimbob54]

Interesting one . There are iem with obviously huge nozzles which clearly wouldn't suit .

But it's the combination of nozzle and tip size /flexibility that cause issues.

Do you have any failed attempts with iem to give us for a reference point ?

Shure have tiny nozzles but ain't exactly objectively well measuring for target compliance.

 

[yossarian]

I have somewhat small ears (well, hard to compare). What worked for me was XS-size IEM tips (SpinFit).

 

[Adamant11746]

I have very small ear canals (XS Spinfit tips are actually slightly too big), as well as small conchas. Something most people don't think about is how big the main body of the IEM is. An IEM can have a tiny nozzle, but if the main body is too big to fit properly it won't matter. A couple IEMs I can recommend for small ears are the Meze Alba (above budget by quite a bit), Akoustyx R-120 (also above budget, and needs a huge bass boost), and the Sennheiser IE 200 (goes on sale for $99 sometimes, usually on sale for $120).

I have tried all 3, and currently own the IE 200. I have the Akoustyx on the way, and it's supposed to arrive tomorrow.

Impressions of the IEMs I mentioned:

• Sennheiser IE 200: The least expensive, but the cable can be slightly annoying (and is hard to replace due to semi-proprietary connectors), there's a port in the nozzle that is part of a gimmicky tuning system (many people tape it up), and I personally had an issue with the nozzle angle (but you might not, fit is very individual). I'd recommend learning to use EQ with these, although they still sound decent without it. The nozzles are about 5mm wide with a 5.5mm lip, and are pretty short. The IEMs don't isolate as much as most others.

• Akoustyx R-120: I'd only recommend these with EQ, as they need a large bass boost to get to what I'd consider neutral (about 12-13db of boost, so if you listen really loud you might run into distortion). That said, they are some of the smallest IEMs I've found and have a very skinny nozzle (same as Shure/Etymotic/Westone, around 3mm). Also, the other options with this form factor and nozzle size (Shure and Westone) have other, worse problems (both Shure and Westone have very little treble, the affordable Shure SE215 has treble peaks as well, and everything from Westone is insanely expensive). The nozzle is on the longer side, but the small diameter means it works better with small tips than most. An adapter will be needed to use most aftermarket tips with these (many aftermarket tips actually come with the mentioned adapter, most notably Spinfit and Final). They isolate very well, since they are intended for live musicians.

• Meze Alba: I only tried these briefly, but they're the most neutral out of the box compared to the other 2. I don't know the nozzle size, but I think it's about the same or just slightly bigger than the Sennheiser IE 200. The shells are larger than the other 2 i mentioned, but still much smaller than most IEMs.
  

Given the relative lack of options for small IEMs, I think your best bet is to focus on fit first and EQ to preference. There are plenty of options for EQ on PC and Mac and a couple good tools on Android as well, but if you have an iPhone you will have to buy an external device to EQ. That could be expensive, since the most recommended option (Qudelix 5k) is around $100 (there are other options, but they either have severe limitations or are even more expensive).


Some advice on tips: I have tried many different tips, and depending on your ear canal size some good ones to try are Spinfit CP100+ (SS is 10mm, available through many retailers including Amazon and various hi-fi stores), ADV. Eartune Fidelity U (very expensive, but XS is an 8mm x 10mm elliptical tip, available through Amazon and the ADV. website), Moondrop Spring Tips (S is 9.4mm, available through Audio 46 and some other hi-fi stores but not Amazon), and Avantree XS tips (8.5mm, extremely small, I got these through Amazon). There's also NF Audio MS42 tips (XS is 9.3mm), but those have to ship from China because they're not carried by any local retailers (I got mine through Shenzhen Audio, which is one of the best known chinese audio stores). If you go looking on Amazon, don't believe most of the sizing information offered by the generic brands. I've seen tips advertised as being several mm smaller than they really were (a huge size difference when you're going to put them in your ears). The name brand tips I've tried have always been accurate in their claims.


Also, as @Jimbob54 mentioned, any IEMs you've tried that didn't fit would be useful to know.

 

[Matias]

7Hz Zero 1 imo is small and neutral.

7Hz Salnotes Zero IEM Review

This is a review, listening tests and detailed measurements of the 7Hz Salnotes Zero IEM. It was kindly donated by a member and costs US $22 ($20 on Amazon now). The molded plastic looks cheep and the left and right markings barely visible. The included tip was extra soft/thin which may be a...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[mc.god]

Don't remember the nozzle size but Tanchjim One should be pretty suited for small ears and sound profile is pretty neutral.

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/tanchjim-one-iem-review.50793/

 

[Berwhale]

According to the SonicFoam, these are the IEMs that use their SF3 foam tips with smallest bore (3.3-4.3mm)...

 

[Adamant11746]

I have very small ear canals (XS Spinfit tips are actually slightly too big), as well as small conchas. Something most people don't think about is how big the main body of the IEM is. An IEM can have a tiny nozzle, but if the main body is too big to fit properly it won't matter. A couple IEMs I can recommend for small ears are the Meze Alba (above budget by quite a bit), Akoustyx R-120 (also above budget, and needs a huge bass boost), and the Sennheiser IE 200 (goes on sale for $99 sometimes, usually on sale for $120).

I have tried all 3, and currently own the IE 200. I have the Akoustyx on the way, and it's supposed to arrive tomorrow.

Impressions of the IEMs I mentioned:

• Sennheiser IE 200: The least expensive, but the cable can be slightly annoying (and is hard to replace due to semi-proprietary connectors), there's a port in the nozzle that is part of a gimmicky tuning system (many people tape it up), and I personally had an issue with the nozzle angle (but you might not, fit is very individual). I'd recommend learning to use EQ with these, although they still sound decent without it. The nozzles are about 5mm wide with a 5.5mm lip, and are pretty short. The IEMs don't isolate as much as most others.

• Akoustyx R-120: I'd only recommend these with EQ, as they need a large bass boost to get to what I'd consider neutral (about 12-13db of boost, so if you listen really loud you might run into distortion). That said, they are some of the smallest IEMs I've found and have a very skinny nozzle (same as Shure/Etymotic/Westone, around 3mm). Also, the other options with this form factor and nozzle size (Shure and Westone) have other, worse problems (both Shure and Westone have very little treble, the affordable Shure SE215 has treble peaks as well, and everything from Westone is insanely expensive). The nozzle is on the longer side, but the small diameter means it works better with small tips than most. An adapter will be needed to use most aftermarket tips with these (many aftermarket tips actually come with the mentioned adapter, most notably Spinfit and Final). They isolate very well, since they are intended for live musicians.

• Meze Alba: I only tried these briefly, but they're the most neutral out of the box compared to the other 2. I don't know the nozzle size, but I think it's about the same or just slightly bigger than the Sennheiser IE 200. The shells are larger than the other 2 i mentioned, but still much smaller than most IEMs.

Given the relative lack of options for small IEMs, I think your best bet is to focus on fit first and EQ to preference. There are plenty of options for EQ on PC and Mac and a couple good tools on Android as well, but if you have an iPhone you will have to buy an external device to EQ. That could be expensive, since the most recommended option (Qudelix 5k) is around $100 (there are other options, but they either have severe limitations or are even more expensive).


Some advice on tips: I have tried many different tips, and depending on your ear canal size some good ones to try are Spinfit CP100+ (SS is 10mm, available through many retailers including Amazon and various hi-fi stores), ADV. Eartune Fidelity U (very expensive, but XS is an 8mm x 10mm elliptical tip, available through Amazon and the ADV. website), Moondrop Spring Tips (S is 9.4mm, available through Audio 46 and some other hi-fi stores but not Amazon), and Avantree XS tips (8.5mm, extremely small, I got these through Amazon). There's also NF Audio MS42 tips (XS is 9.3mm), but those have to ship from China because they're not carried by any local retailers (I got mine through Shenzhen Audio, which is one of the best known chinese audio stores). If you go looking on Amazon, don't believe most of the sizing information offered by the generic brands. I've seen tips advertised as being several mm smaller than they really were (a huge size difference when you're going to put them in your ears). The name brand tips I've tried have always been accurate in their claims.

An update to the above recommendations: As well as being over budget, the Akoustyx R-120 has trouble with extremely low bass (between 20hz and 30-35hz mostly). It's not much of a problem for me outside of the 30hz tone I use for a seal test, since I primarily listen to music without content there (classic and classic style rock), but depending on your music preferences they could be a no-go regardless of fit. I don't think they're as good a recommendation as I originally did, unless you need extremely tiny IEMs and don't need much output below 35-40hz.

I still think that the Meze Alba is decent, albeit way over your budget, and if you're desperate for a tiny IEM the Sennheiser IE 200 works well enough (and will likely go on sale for $99 around Black Friday).

Also, I'm going to once again suggest you let us know what you've tried that didn't work. I'm sharing suggestions based on my own ears, but if your ears aren't as small as mine some of the other suggestions like the 7hz Zero 2 or Tanchjim One (with smaller, aftermarket tips) could be better at a much lower price.

 

[Gripeboom]

I have very small ear canals (XS Spinfit tips are actually slightly too big), as well as small conchas. Something most people don't think about is how big the main body of the IEM is. An IEM can have a tiny nozzle, but if the main body is too big to fit properly it won't matter. A couple IEMs I can recommend for small ears are the Meze Alba (above budget by quite a bit), Akoustyx R-120 (also above budget, and needs a huge bass boost), and the Sennheiser IE 200 (goes on sale for $99 sometimes, usually on sale for $120).

I have tried all 3, and currently own the IE 200. I have the Akoustyx on the way, and it's supposed to arrive tomorrow.

Impressions of the IEMs I mentioned:

• Sennheiser IE 200: The least expensive, but the cable can be slightly annoying (and is hard to replace due to semi-proprietary connectors), there's a port in the nozzle that is part of a gimmicky tuning system (many people tape it up), and I personally had an issue with the nozzle angle (but you might not, fit is very individual). I'd recommend learning to use EQ with these, although they still sound decent without it. The nozzles are about 5mm wide with a 5.5mm lip, and are pretty short. The IEMs don't isolate as much as most others.

• Akoustyx R-120: I'd only recommend these with EQ, as they need a large bass boost to get to what I'd consider neutral (about 12-13db of boost, so if you listen really loud you might run into distortion). That said, they are some of the smallest IEMs I've found and have a very skinny nozzle (same as Shure/Etymotic/Westone, around 3mm). Also, the other options with this form factor and nozzle size (Shure and Westone) have other, worse problems (both Shure and Westone have very little treble, the affordable Shure SE215 has treble peaks as well, and everything from Westone is insanely expensive). The nozzle is on the longer side, but the small diameter means it works better with small tips than most. An adapter will be needed to use most aftermarket tips with these (many aftermarket tips actually come with the mentioned adapter, most notably Spinfit and Final). They isolate very well, since they are intended for live musicians.

• Meze Alba: I only tried these briefly, but they're the most neutral out of the box compared to the other 2. I don't know the nozzle size, but I think it's about the same or just slightly bigger than the Sennheiser IE 200. The shells are larger than the other 2 i mentioned, but still much smaller than most IEMs.

Given the relative lack of options for small IEMs, I think your best bet is to focus on fit first and EQ to preference. There are plenty of options for EQ on PC and Mac and a couple good tools on Android as well, but if you have an iPhone you will have to buy an external device to EQ. That could be expensive, since the most recommended option (Qudelix 5k) is around $100 (there are other options, but they either have severe limitations or are even more expensive).


Some advice on tips: I have tried many different tips, and depending on your ear canal size some good ones to try are Spinfit CP100+ (SS is 10mm, available through many retailers including Amazon and various hi-fi stores), ADV. Eartune Fidelity U (very expensive, but XS is an 8mm x 10mm elliptical tip, available through Amazon and the ADV. website), Moondrop Spring Tips (S is 9.4mm, available through Audio 46 and some other hi-fi stores but not Amazon), and Avantree XS tips (8.5mm, extremely small, I got these through Amazon). There's also NF Audio MS42 tips (XS is 9.3mm), but those have to ship from China because they're not carried by any local retailers (I got mine through Shenzhen Audio, which is one of the best known chinese audio stores). If you go looking on Amazon, don't believe most of the sizing information offered by the generic brands. I've seen tips advertised as being several mm smaller than they really were (a huge size difference when you're going to put them in your ears). The name brand tips I've tried have always been accurate in their claims.


Also, as @Jimbob54 mentioned, any IEMs you've tried that didn't fit would be useful to know.

Well I know I came a little bit late to this thread, but I do have the same problem with IEMs, all are big and uncomfortable for my ear (even with spinfit tips SS). After reading your comment I just bought the Meze Alba for 159 EUR, I was actually debating between them and the Sennheiser IE 200, so let's see if these Meze Alba are finally a good fit for my ear! Thank you for your insight!

 

[Shiva]

Check out Apple's ear buds. they might work and are quite good as well..

 

[Adamant11746]

Well I know I came a little bit late to this thread, but I do have the same problem with IEMs, all are big and uncomfortable for my ear (even with spinfit tips SS). After reading your comment I just bought the Meze Alba for 159 EUR, I was actually debating between them and the Sennheiser IE 200, so let's see if these Meze Alba are finally a good fit for my ear! Thank you for your insight!

Interesting timing on this! I just bought the Alba after realizing that the IE 200 was fitting better than it used to, and it arrived yesterday. So far it's incredibly comfortable and doesn't need EQ like the Sennheisers (for my preferences at least), but the stock cable didn't work for me at all (the earhooks are the wrong shape, and the chin slider won't stay in place so I can't use it to make them stay on). Luckily I had a couple other 2-pin cables lying around that did work, but it's going to be hard to find an aesthetic match due to the flush connectors and round connector housing. The nozzles are a little larger than I originally estimated (around a 6mm lip, with 5.25mm on the rest of it) but they are fairly short so don't feel as large.

As for tips, I'm still working out what gives the best fit. Currently I'm using Dunu S&S tips in size small (they are only 9mm, but feel slightly bigger due to the thicker silicone and cylindrical shape), but other options to try are some of the ones I mentioned in the post you quoted. However, I have since tried the Moondrop Spring Tips and they are closer to 10.5mm at the widest part (I think Moondrop measured at the base rather than at the middle where they are thickest, ending up being the first name brand tips I've encountered that have misleading specifications).

PS: My ear canals recently started growing again, which is really unusual, but that's why the IE 200 and Alba fit me so well when the IE 200 at least used to be uncomfortable. I can use slightly larger tips that provide more of a cushioning effect and keep the bottom of the IEM from hitting my ear so hard. I'm still below a standard small in size though (that's usually 10.5-11mm and I'm now using 9-10mm).

 

[Gripeboom]

Interesting timing on this! I just bought the Alba after realizing that the IE 200 was fitting better than it used to, and it arrived yesterday. So far it's incredibly comfortable and doesn't need EQ like the Sennheisers (for my preferences at least), but the stock cable didn't work for me at all (the earhooks are the wrong shape, and the chin slider won't stay in place so I can't use it to make them stay on). Luckily I had a couple other 2-pin cables lying around that did work, but it's going to be hard to find an aesthetic match due to the flush connectors and round connector housing. The nozzles are a little larger than I originally estimated (around a 6mm lip, with 5.25mm on the rest of it) but they are fairly short so don't feel as large.

As for tips, I'm still working out what gives the best fit. Currently I'm using Dunu S&S tips in size small (they are only 9mm, but feel slightly bigger due to the thicker silicone and cylindrical shape), but other options to try are some of the ones I mentioned in the post you quoted. However, I have since tried the Moondrop Spring Tips and they are closer to 10.5mm at the widest part (I think Moondrop measured at the base rather than at the middle where they are thickest, ending up being the first name brand tips I've encountered that have misleading specifications).

PS: My ear canals recently started growing again, which is really unusual, but that's why the IE 200 and Alba fit me so well when the IE 200 at least used to be uncomfortable. I can use slightly larger tips that provide more of a cushioning effect and keep the bottom of the IEM from hitting my ear so hard. I'm still below a standard small in size though (that's usually 10.5-11mm and I'm now using 9-10mm).

I received them today, to put you in context I come from the Truthear Hexa, but this ones, wow. They fit me waaaay better, a world of difference for my ears. I really needed something smaller.

Regarding the tips, I was using with the Thruthear Hexa the Spinfit W1 and the CP145, SS and S respectively. But I realised they are different compare to the Meze Alba original ones no? Like way narrower and larger, could this be a problem?

 

[Adamant11746]

I received them today, to put you in context I come from the Truthear Hexa, but this ones, wow. They fit me waaaay better, a world of difference for my ears. I really needed something smaller.

Regarding the tips, I was using with the Thruthear Hexa the Spinfit W1 and the CP145, SS and S respectively. But I realised they are different compare to the Meze Alba original ones no? Like way narrower and larger, could this be a problem?

While tips do make a difference in sound, it's pretty subtle and restricted to the higher frequencies. I've always been of the philosophy that comfort comes first, since it determines how long you can enjoy the music for. Just use whatever gives the best fit rather than worrying about the tiny difference in sound that different tips give.