Iem upgrade - next level

[Somafunk]

So I 've cut down my choice to few options

- Kiwi Ears Quintet

- SIMGOT EA1000 Fermat

- kiwi ears ke4

or
heavily overbudget:

- Xenns Mangird Tea PRO

After looking at the graphs from one tester on squiglink…(super review but also cross referenced with another)

Both the kiwi ears and tea pro graph very similar except for the 1khz to 5khz region so if you like a forward presentation on male/female vocals and don’t mind what is known as “Harman shout” then the quintet will be to your liking.

If you occasionally experience the Harman shout and find it irritating on certain tracks then the Tea Pro is slightly more relaxed in this region

If the Harman shout annoys you to the point of applying eq to that region, and you find yourself just wanting an iem to kick back with, relax and sink into hours of listening without getting hypercritical then the KE4 is what you want.

Personally if I was short of cash I’d choose the KE4 - doesn’t need any eq for my ears, if I had the cash and didn’t mind a bit of eq to knock a couple of db from 1.5khz then I’d be buying the Tea Pro.

It’d be nice to try them out before making a choice as graphs are not entirely representative of what you get in your ear due to “stuff”

I wouldn’t consider the Simgot

 

[JediMa]

Thank you so much I'm also thinking that Ke4 could be the best option and they cost half the price of Tea Pro

 

[Somafunk]

Thank you so much I'm also thinking that Ke4 could be the best option and they cost half the price of Tea Pro

In that case it’s an easy choice, KE4 for the win, safe in the knowledge that you will have a very enjoyable listening experience with 92.4% of the tuning that $5k+ iems have

I may have made that % up

 

[Earfonia]

Recently I've been shuffling between Letshouer S12 Pro, Kiwi Ears Aether, and Simgot ET142. I also have Artii T10 Pro, but I found it a little too warm for me, nice for long session but not very useful for mixing my recordings. They all sound different, but if you want something with less treble, smoother presentation yet still quite balance sounding, probably Simgot ET142 is worth considering. It is also tunable with nozzles. Kiwi Ears Aether is my favorite, very close to my perceive neutral, very good and airy treble, but might lean a bit toward bright sound for others. I use DUNU Candy ear tips with Kiwi Ears Aether to tame the treble a little bit.

 

[JediMa]

So I received yesterday the Ke4 and I used them many hours since then but I'm quite disappointed, they are far way worse than the Supermix4 and miles far away from Timeless 2. I personally find them quite plain and boring, kind of muffled mids, vocals are veiled, lacking so much detail. Personal taste off course but I will return them for sure.

 

[phoenixdogfan]

I own two IEMs in that range. The Hype 4 and the Dusk. Both are excellent. Hype 4 is rich and vibrant, with big bass and shimmery treble. The Dusk is more hi-fi and neutral sounding, but still has very good clear bass. Both follow a similar "Meta" target overall, but the Hype is a little more exciting.
The Dusk sounds best with its own USB cable. With the regular 3.5mm cable it's best to use a touch of EQ, which Crinnacle has published the settings.
If you listen to pristine recordings, the Dusk is a better choice. If you listen to music that is more produced, the Hype 4 is a better fit.

I have the Dusk and using it with the DSP cable, I can't recommend it highly enough. It's really good. The DSP cable is completely good to drive it, just leave it stock, do not mess with the app at all.

 

[Somafunk]

So I received yesterday the Ke4 and I used them many hours since then but I'm quite disappointed, they are far way worse than the Supermix4 and miles far away from Timeless 2. I personally find them quite plain and boring, kind of muffled mids, vocals are veiled, lacking so much detail. Personal taste off course but I will return them for sure.

If you wanted a forward presentation in the vocal region why did you choose the KE4?, I mentioned above that the quintet & tea pro are more vocal led.

 

[markanini]

Probably because of the aggressive promotion made by headphones.com and the like that want to characterize KE4 as a generalist or near-generalist IEM, when in reality it's more of a flavored tuning.

 

[Josh83]

Probably because of the aggressive promotion made by headphones.com and the like that want to characterize KE4 as a generalist or near-generalist IEM, when in reality it's more of a flavored tuning.

FWIW, Headphones.com doesn’t even sell Kiwi.

 

[markanini]

FWIW, Headphones.com doesn’t even sell Kiwi.

Not necessarily a counter point to the fact that they are heavily promoting this IEM.

 

[Somafunk]

Not necessarily a counter point to the fact that they are heavily promoting this IEM.

View attachment 447938

That’s extremely sly of them, promoting an an iem they don’t even sell, with a tuning that most folk will enjoy, listener/griffin really needs to up his game and shill the actual products that headphones.com sells.

 

[Josh83]

Not necessarily a counter point to the fact that they are heavily promoting this IEM.

View attachment 447938

To me, at least, “aggressive promotion” connotes a financial relationship (as in “promoter”). Apologies if you meant it more neutrally.

Personally, I wouldn’t write “Amir is aggressively promoting the TruthEar Zero” unless he had a financial relationship* with TruthEar. Instead, I’d just say “Amir really liked the Zero” (or, in this case, “Griffin really liked the KE4”).

*Obviously, reviewers sometimes get sent gear to review from companies, and whether those companies want the gear back depends on its cost, the cost of shipping, tax deductions, etc. To me, that’s a separate issue than true “business relationship.” In the case of Headphones.com, even if the editorial side has nominal independence from the retail side, a cynical person might wonder if their reviewers are more likely to favorably review review the retail side sells. But in the case of the KE4, Heaphones.com’s editorial side is effectively “promoting” a product from the retail side’s competitors!

 

[Heinrich]

Thank you but I can stretch my budget more up to 350 - 400, any better option?

Sure, buy a pockatable equalizer. If an IEM today is any good, which I would determine from the distortion graphs, then it could be set up to your taste, and the fit besides, that would be it.
The 7Hz Zero for instance is very close to be perfect. I took measurements myself and intermodulation is a non issue. So, not even a two way (Zero Red) is needed.
The crux is the match of several peaks and dips in upper treble. The industry cannot predict where to put them, because these are individual to the user. In changing models you basically switch modes in this area. Similar with the right gain around 3kHz, but that's an easy fix with an equalizer. let alone bass as a matter of taste and expectations alone.

Just a hint to expert users, which you may be when taking expenses as mentioned.

 

[markanini]

To me, at least, “aggressive promotion” connotes a financial relationship (as in “promoter”). Apologies if you meant it more neutrally.

Personally, I wouldn’t write “Amir is aggressively promoting the TruthEar Zero” unless he had a financial relationship* with TruthEar. Instead, I’d just say “Amir really liked the Zero” (or, in this case, “Griffin really liked the KE4”).

*Obviously, reviewers sometimes get sent gear to review from companies, and whether those companies want the gear back depends on its cost, the cost of shipping, tax deductions, etc. To me, that’s a separate issue than true “business relationship.” In the case of Headphones.com, even if the editorial side has nominal independence from the retail side, a cynical person might wonder if their reviewers are more likely to favorably review review the retail side sells. But in the case of the KE4, Heaphones.com’s editorial side is effectively “promoting” a product from the retail side’s competitors!

"The easiest recommendation of 2024" the article says. 2024 is a year with possibly 100 new IEMs released. And probably hundreds more IEMs were in production released in previous years. Want to call it "special treatment by a commercial entity"? A rose by any other name...

I noticed that you write for Audiophile Style LLC https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/iem-upgrade-next-level.62055/post-2286788 Why is it that someone affiliated to the industry wants to argue with someone not affiliated to the industry, on behalf of an industry giant?

The forums rules require that you disclose your collaboration with a commercial entity: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...s-reviewer-with-commercial-endorsement.18155/

 

[JediMa]

If you wanted a forward presentation in the vocal region why did you choose the KE4?, I mentioned above that the quintet & tea pro are more vocal led.

You are right but according to reviews vocals were ok... and they were supposed to sound warm. Well you were 100% right and reviews NO. About headphones I know more and I'm less clusmy but Iems are something new and so here I am in my full noobness. Now with Odissey I'm quite happy.
Side note, I was also really understimating the importance of tips, they are really a bottleneck when they are the wrong ones

 

[Josh83]

"The easiest recommendation of 2024" the article says. 2024 is a year with possibly 100 new IEMs released. And probably hundreds more IEMs were in production released in previous years. Want to call it "special treatment by a commercial entity"? A rose by any other name...

I noticed that you write for Audiophile Style LLC https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/iem-upgrade-next-level.62055/post-2286788 Why is it that someone affiliated to the industry wants to argue with someone not affiliated to the industry, on behalf of an industry giant?

The forums rules require that you disclose your collaboration with a commercial entity: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...s-reviewer-with-commercial-endorsement.18155/

Yes, I write for AS. I make $300 per article, and write a handful a year. In an era when many sites don’t pay their writers, I’m immensely grateful that AS pays. But in terms of dollars per hour, it’s well below minimum wage. It’s not my career (teacher/professor) or a remotely significant source of income. I don’t do it for the money, though. I do it because I love it.

My main articles, “The Best Version Of…” series, are deep dives into how classic albums are recorded, plus software analysis and level-matched subjective comparisons of every digital mastering of the album. They involve months of research. Some finished TBVO articles are 20,000-30,000 words. With the exception of a few occasions when a kind audiophile friend has sent me a rip of a rare out-of-print CD, I buy all of the versions myself, not to mention books for research. Most TBVO articles are a net loss for me, as are most gear reviews. I don’t have sponsorships, affiliate links, or the like. Like ASR, I do accept donations, which have amounted to perhaps $200 in total over the years I’ve been writing for AS.

I don’t write for Headphones.com, nor do I know the author of its Kiwi Ears KE4 review. So I’m not saying anything “on behalf of” Headphones.com or the author.

My point was simply that Headphones.com doesn’t sell Kiwi IEMs. So its reviewer’s positive evaluation of the KE4 is actually detrimental to the site’s business, since he’s recommending that people buy an IEM from one of Headphones.com’s competitors. To me, that seems like the opposite of “special treatment by a commercial entity.” I just think the reviewer genuinely liked the KE4.

 

[markanini]

Yes, I write for AS. I make $300 per article, and write a handful a year. In an era when many sites don’t pay their writers, I’m immensely grateful that AS pays. But in terms of dollars per hour, it’s well below minimum wage. It’s not my career (teacher/professor) or a remotely significant source of income. I don’t do it for the money, though. I do it because I love it.

My main articles, “The Best Version Of…” series, are deep dives into how classic albums are recorded, plus software analysis and level-matched subjective comparisons of every digital mastering of the album. They involve months of research. Some finished TBVO articles are 20,000-30,000 words. With the exception of a few occasions when a kind audiophile friend has sent me a rip of a rare out-of-print CD, I buy all of the versions myself, not to mention books for research. Most TBVO articles are a net loss for me, as are most gear reviews. I don’t have sponsorships, affiliate links, or the like. Like ASR, I do accept donations, which have amounted to perhaps $200 in total over the years I’ve been writing for AS.

I don’t write for Headphones.com, nor do I know the author of its Kiwi Ears KE4 review. So I’m not saying anything “on behalf of” Headphones.com or the author.

My point was simply that Headphohes.com doesn’t sell Kiwi IEMs. So the its reviewer’s positive evaluation of the KE4 is actually detrimental to the site’s business, since he’s recommending that people buy an IEM from one of Headphones.com’s competitors. To me, that seems like the opposite of “special treatment by a commercial entity.” I just think the reviewer genuinely liked the KE4.

Congrats on a nice gig. I can see why you take pride in such a labor of love. That said, I merely noted Hps.com’s bold championing of KE4, as any commercial outfit might do when interests align. You assert that Hps.com has no stake in the matter. That's bold too, given that neither of us can peer behind the curtain of private agreements, NDAs as such.

An easy conflation, perhaps, to mistake me pointing out Hps.com KE4 promotion for something grander. But I’ll leave that conclusion to someone else. Cheers!

 

[sq225917]

My advice would be to buy the iems that natively most closely match your preferred tuning with the lowest possible distortion. Assuming they're a good fit physically and with the device you intend to drive them with.

 

[JediMa]

My advice would be to buy the iems that natively most closely match your preferred tuning with the lowest possible distortion. Assuming they're a good fit physically and with the device you intend to drive them with.

Which is right but takes some experience, the one i'm slowly building up.. but yes I agree with you

 

[Earfonia]

Hey Jedi, I just reviewed and measured a bunch of Kiwi IEMs. The KE4 was my favorite, and I strongly preferred it to the Quintet. I haven’t heard the EA1000 or Heyday, but I didn’t like the Timeless. Of the IEMs you own, I really like the Verse, but not the Red.

Thanks for the reviews of the Kiwis!
I'm listening to Kiwi Ears Airoso while writing this and I'm quite surprised that you mentioned Kiwi Ears Airoso'r treble as veiled. To my ears the Airoso's treble is quite alright. I agree that Airoso upper treble extension is subdued and not very airy. Maybe it is just the way we perceive the upper treble extension. Airoso tuning sounds quite balanced to my ears, with slight warm emphasis around the lower mids. It is not bright or analytical. So maybe when you compared it with a more analytical IEM then in comparison the Airoso'r treble may sound less emphasized or less transparent. Or probably it is production tolerance / unit variance. Until we compare your Airoso and mine, we never know.

I also have Kiwi Ears Aether. In comparison to the Airoso, the Aether is brighter, more transparent, and can be perceived as more resolving. I do prefer the Airoso upper treble extension to be slightly more transparent, especially after listening to the Aether, but still I don't consider Kiwi Ears Airoso's treble as veiled. The Aether is very close to my perceived neutral tuning. If Aether tuning is considered as neutral, The Airoso tuning is neutral warm. For long session music listening I think the Airoso's treble is less fatiguing.