IEMs under $150 with strong detail for bass guitar (rock) and good for psytrance

[xFtesht]

Hi everyone,
I’m looking for recommendations on IEMs under $150.

Hi everyone,
I’m hunting for IEMs under $150 and would love expert suggestions.

My listening profile:
• Main genres: psytrance (need strong, controlled sub-bass and clarity in dense electronic layers) and rock (most important: excellent detail and texture in the bass guitar — note attack, string definition and separation from the mids and lows).

• Brands I’m already looking at: Fiio, Moondrop and other Chinese makers — open to anything that fits the sound goals.

• Sources / gear: high-res streaming (Qobuz) and local files (rips from my vinyl and CDs). Primarily listening from a hi-res smartphone + portable DACs, and also on PC through R-2R DACs.

• Priority: highest possible bass-guitar detail and overall resolution without muddying mids; should still be fun and impactful for psytrance. What specific models (or builds—BA, DD, hybrid) under $150 would you recommend? Please include short notes on:

• Why it fits the bass-guitar / rock requirement (what to expect for attack, texture, separation)

• How it performs on psytrance/sub-bass and complex electronic layers • Recommended source / amp matching (phone alone, phone + portable DAC, R-2R on PC)

And also be pleased if you share other options for 200-300 usd budget.


Thank you, every audio enthusiast for reply, in advance.

 

[xFtesht]

Guys, please help me with this setup

 

[RandomEar]

I think people around here are not very motivated to help because there's a lot of audiophile mumbo jumbo in your post and it also sounds like ChatGPT wrote most of it. Please don't be offended if you wrote everything yourself - some people happen to write structured like that.

Most requirements you list (type of music, "high res" source material, "texture" or "attack") are irrelevant for selecting an IEM. The important part seems to be that you're looking for a good bass response and slightly bright treble ("clarity"). That's lucky, because that Harman-like tuning coincidentally is very popular in recent years. The common suggestion around ASR for IEMs with such a tuning are the Truthear x Crinacle Zero RED. They are around 60 $ - just get those and use them as a baseline. Listen to them for a week and then start playing with EQ to see if you like even more (or less) bass/treble/miss.

 

[xFtesht]

Thank you for your reply, RandomEar.

I’ll be honest, I really used neuro to compile this text but everything is real for me. I appreciate your truth and try to compilate words by myself from this time here.

I am new to IEMs, so please forgive me and help!

So, I will get the Letshuoer S08 today and start my journey. It’s really hard to find a good deal on the Truthear Red. I still can’t understand what the difference is between the Blue, Blue 2, and Red models.

Also, if you have a good database or webshop where I can choose different configurations of IEMs, I would be very grateful. I see that on Crinacle, most models are N/A, and I can’t find all 1DD + 1PLN examples of models. Where should I look?

I am very interested in Moondrop products because they seem to have a real R&D team and proprietary drivers.

 

[RandomEar]

Thank you for your reply, RandomEar.

I’ll be honest, I really used neuro to compile this text but everything is real for me. I appreciate your truth and try to compilate words by myself from this time here.

I am new to IEMs, so please forgive me and help!

So, I will get the Letshuoer S08 today and start my journey. It’s really hard to find a good deal on the Truthear Red. I still can’t understand what the difference is between the Blue, Blue 2, and Red models.

You can test them and see if something is missing. Most likely, any deficit can be corrected by using EQ, but it may take some effort to tune it right. Too bad the Zero Reds are difficult to get in your area.

Also, if you have a good database or webshop where I can choose different configurations of IEMs, I would be very grateful. I see that on Crinacle, most models are N/A, and I can’t find all 1DD + 1PLN examples of models. Where should I look?

I am very interested in Moondrop products because they seem to have a real R&D team and proprietary drivers.

I've used HiFiGo, which ship directly from China. Don't know if I would necessarily recommend them though, as returns can be problematic due to the shipping costs. The same applies to ShenzenAudio.

I don't know if any shop let's you sort by driver type. It also shouldn't matter: What matters is frequency response, distortion (usually not a problem with IEMs) and fit + comfort. You can find various sources for FR measurements on Squig.link, like this comparison. They are not perfect, but should give you a rough impression which bass/mid/treble balance an IEM offers. Crinacle also offers access to his own DB.

Moondrop overall has decent quality products and good marketing, but I have no personal experience with their products.

 

[Matias]

If I were you I would start with a Truthear Zero Red (link), and work your way from there if needed.

 

[Phorize]

It's a personal thing thats heavily impacted by personal taste, anatomy and hearing physiology. My advice is getting a cheap fairly neutral set such as the Hexa/Pure/red or better yet the Gate and a qudelix. It needs to fit first and foremost. Then you EQ to taste. At that point you may decide it's enough, or learn you want something else. What many soso though is endlessly buy new iems as manufacturers have taken the process of making you feel that what you have is no longer good to the level of a fine art.

 

[HalSF]

If I were you I would start with a Truthear Zero Red (link), and work your way from there if needed.

Was just listening with these last night and they are one of the audio wonders of the age, especially considering the price..

 

[Corvuscorone]

Hei kaikki,
Etsin suosituksia alle 150 dollarin IEM-laitteista.

Hei kaikki,
Etsin alle 150 dollarin IEM-laitteita ja ottaisin mielelläni vastaan asiantuntijoiden vinkkejä.

Kuunteluprofiilini:
• Päägenret: psytrance ( tarvitsee vahvan, hallitun subbasson ja selkeyden tiheissä elektronisissa kerroksissa ) ja rock (tärkeintä: erinomainen yksityiskohta ja tekstuuri bassokitarassa – nuottihyökkäys, kielien erottuvuus ja erottelu keski- ja matalista taajuuksista).

• Merkit, joita jo katselen: Fiio, Moondrop ja muut kiinalaiset valmistajat – avoimia kaikelle, mikä sopii äänitavoitteisiin.

• Lähteet/laitteet: korkearesoluutioinen suoratoisto (Qobuz) ja paikalliset tiedostot (ripit vinyyliltäni ja CD-levyiltäni). Kuuntelen pääasiassa korkearesoluutioisesta älypuhelimesta + kannettavista DA-muuntimista sekä tietokoneelta R-2R-DA-muuntimien kautta.

• Prioriteetti: bassokitaran ja kitaran mahdollisimman korkea yksityiskohta ja yleinen resoluutio ilman sotkevia keskiääniä; pitäisi silti olla hauska ja vaikuttava psytrance-musiikissa. Mitä erityisiä alle 150 dollarin malleja (tai kokoonpanoja – BA, DD, hybridi) suosittelisit? Kerro lyhyesti:

• Miksi se sopii bassokitara-/rock-musiikkiin (mitä odottaa atakilta, tekstuurilta ja erottelukyvyltä)

• Miten se toimii psytrance-/subbassoäänten ja monimutkaisten elektronisten äänikerrosten kanssa • Suositeltu äänilähteen/vahvistimen yhteensovitus (pelkkä kuuloke, kuuloke + kannettava DA-muunnin, R-2R tietokoneella)

Ja olisin iloinen, jos jakaisit muita vaihtoehtoja 200-300 dollarin budjetilla.


Kiitos kaikille ääniharrastajille vastauksista jo etukäteen.

Truthear Nova

 

[peniku8]

it also sounds like ChatGPT wrote most of it

Nah it's totally normal for someone to use the em dash in typical forum post authoring — I use my em dash key all the time!

 

[Pulkass]

Hi everyone,
I’m looking for recommendations on IEMs under $150.

Hi everyone,
I’m hunting for IEMs under $150 and would love expert suggestions.

My listening profile:
• Main genres: psytrance (need strong, controlled sub-bass and clarity in dense electronic layers) and rock (most important: excellent detail and texture in the bass guitar — note attack, string definition and separation from the mids and lows).

• Brands I’m already looking at: Fiio, Moondrop and other Chinese makers — open to anything that fits the sound goals.

• Sources / gear: high-res streaming (Qobuz) and local files (rips from my vinyl and CDs). Primarily listening from a hi-res smartphone + portable DACs, and also on PC through R-2R DACs.

• Priority: highest possible bass-guitar detail and overall resolution without muddying mids; should still be fun and impactful for psytrance. What specific models (or builds—BA, DD, hybrid) under $150 would you recommend? Please include short notes on:

• Why it fits the bass-guitar / rock requirement (what to expect for attack, texture, separation)

• How it performs on psytrance/sub-bass and complex electronic layers • Recommended source / amp matching (phone alone, phone + portable DAC, R-2R on PC)

And also be pleased if you share other options for 200-300 usd budget.


Thank you, every audio enthusiast for reply, in advance.

What is a IEM ?

 

[Matias]

What is a IEM ?

In Ear Monitor, earphones that go into your ear canals and seal them, providing deeper bass and more external noise isolation.

 

[xFtesht]

I Purchased LetShouer S08, and after Sennheiser Ie900 which costs about 1500 usd, i was amazed and knocked out, how 99$ (i got S08 for 70$ used) can give such a detailed and interesting sound.
Using with smartphone and Fiio Ka11 dongle. It lacks of sub-bass, but all is in tune.
The highs' and mids are so amazing, that ie900 goes to trash after this.

Who listened both S08 and Zero/Zero2 - what's the difference, cause i need some more bass then S08 gives. Some more punch and attack needed. Please advice next step

 

[xFtesht]

So last weeked i listened my Letshouer S08 with fiio KA11, still can be improved. Now i'm looking for USB Dongle dac, looking on these three: KA17, Ru6, Ru7.
Some reviews saying that Ru6 is good on vocals and bad on bass. What dongle you can advise for better bass and details?

 

[Tell]

A pair of 7Hz Zero2, Truthear Gate, Moondrop Chu II or almost whatever in that price range together with a EQ and you'll have what you need.

 

[xFtesht]

A pair of 7Hz Zero2, Truthear Gate, Moondrop Chu II or almost whatever in that price range together with a EQ and you'll have what you need.

I dont prefer using EQ because it kills the original audio source. All EQ's bump some needed HZ but they kill sound near. I prefer never using EQ and listen as is. It's better way of understanding gear, i think.
I Just need the bass to be heavy and controlled. But for now seems KA11 is very small to give great results. Hope to find Ka17 or Cayin Ru6/Ru7 to discover sounds.

Also, for desktop also waiting for Fiio K13 R2R to test.

Maybe somebody can advise a good DAC Dongle with great bass response, without lack of details, dynamics.

 

[Tell]

I dont prefer using EQ because it kills the original audio source. All EQ's bump some needed HZ but they kill sound near. I prefer never using EQ and listen as is. It's better way of understanding gear, i think.
I Just need the bass to be heavy and controlled. But for now seems KA11 is very small to give great results. Hope to find Ka17 or Cayin Ru6/Ru7 to discover sounds.

Also, for desktop also waiting for Fiio K13 R2R to test.

Maybe somebody can advise a good DAC Dongle with great bass response, without lack of details, dynamics.

EQ only kills the original audio if you do it wrong, and enhances it if you do it right. When going from one IEM to another all you really do is to change the frequency response (and maybe the distortion, but that ain't audible in modern IEMs like the Zero2), so instead of chasing the "perfect" IEM that has the exact frequency response you crave it's much easier to just EQ it, it's really the same thing.
And if you're talking about the transparency of the equalizer itself I can assure you that any digital EQ today is very much transparent.

 

[RexrothPigeon]

All EQ's bump some needed HZ but they kill sound near.

You are misinformed

 

[xFtesht]

What does it mean to EQ right? You mean take smaller Q when raising Db?

 

[Tell]

What does it mean to EQ right? You mean take smaller Q when raising Db?

Correcting for any deviations for the target curve and then do broader subjective corrections, for example I like to do a low shelf at maybe 50Hz, q0.5 up 2-3dB to get a bit more depth and weight to my music, but also lower the upper bass at around 150Hz, q1 minus maybe 2dB to make everything sound a bit cleaner with less mudd in it and perhaps also a high-shelf with some extra gain for that sparkle. This is how I prefer to listen to my psytrance, psydub/glitch, bass music, dubstep, triphop etc