IEM's - Where do diminishing returns start - cost wise? $10, $15, $20, $30, $50, $200, etc, etc

[Sebby]

Not wishing to argue with you, or question your personal experience, but hoping you appreciate the concept of diminishing returns, being the point at which, one may consider that additional money spent, no longer delivers an additional benefit, and may not be neccesary.

The point of diminishing returns, will vary for each person, based on what they can afford. There is a high end Sennheiser over the ear headphone costing over $40K. Clearly that is out of the question for almost every human being alive., so diminishing returns is not just about the perceived quality, but also about what each person can afford.

So there is always a diminishing return, 1st because the item is out of reach. But even below that, one is trying to find that product which gives us most of what we need, without having to spend our maximum budget.

I eventually found what I needed, in the ARTTI T10, I was fortunate and bought mine about $55 (converting from Great British Pounds where I paid £42 including delivery costs). It was my 1st planar magnetic headphone, and provided a markedly improved listening experience, with or without EQ, and about the best listening experience I have had on any device I own, and that includes speakers in room. Hopefully this info helps others. Typically the T10 is now available for about $80 (glad I got it for less).

I also own the Artti T10 and, apart from maybe a little too much mid-bass, it surprised me.
I only have a small noise problem in the left driver that seems to make "plastic" noises when I move my head.
Does this happen to you too?

 

[OK1]

I also own the Artti T10 and, apart from maybe a little too much mid-bass, it surprised me.
I only have a small noise problem in the left driver that seems to make "plastic" noises when I move my head.
Does this happen to you too?

I use EQ to correct the output of the Artti T10. Details below

Spoiler: How I EQ my Artti T10

I use the default correction for the Artti T10, created by the online app (autoeq.app web site), based on the measurements taken by "Tone Deaf".

With AutoEQ.app, I generate an impulse response, which represents this correction, which I import into a convolution plugin, to process any audio played back on my laptop (Youtube, Spotify, etc, or any audio from my DAW-Digital Audio Workstation(DAW) aka audio mixer - Reaper).

The only issues I noticed on the Artti T10 were :

1. Initially, it took a few weeks for my ears to get comfortable, with the larger eartips that are highly recommended, in my opinion, to get a good seal. I'm using one of the stock eartips, the largest in the set. Now they almost feel a bit loose, can't imagine that the eartips have shrunk, so maybe its my ears that are now adjusted. At this time they are extremely comfortable, almost loose, so it has to be maybe my ear-holes have expanded!

2. Balance. One side is slightly louder (Left), than the other, so I have to correct this via an audio plugin in Reaper. I suspect that some of this very strangely has to do with the DAC dongle I'm using, which when I disconnect and reconnect to USB - whenever the imbalance becomes quite significant, reduces the imbalance on reconnection. ! Pretty strange DAC. But even after sorting out the DAC connection, there is still a residual imbalance, only improved via software audio plugins in my DAW.

I have read that planar magnetics are relatively new compared to dynamic drivers, and not as easy to manufacture identically. So this is the only reason, I'm accepting this compromise, also cos I have a workaround.

The challenge is, the imbalance is NOT constant, it changes from one day to another, so each listening session, I have to "calibrate" and "correct" for the imbalance. i.e the amount of left/right volume adjustment needed. Only takes about 5 to 10 seconds. A bit of a nuisance, but the T10 sounds so good after the EQ and stereo correction, that I'm happy to live with these issues, until I can afford something better.

3. Occasionally there seems to be a pressure correction, in one or both of the earpieces. The physics is beyond me, but I am aware that the T10 has a vent , for releasing pressure. How exactly this works, please don't ask me, cos I do not know. When this happens, it makes some kind of popping sound. Nothing too scary, but you just know the sound has changed a bit. This is the 1st IEM that I have owned which does this, and it happens randomly

4. For the 1st few weeks, the cable that wraps round the back of my ear, was uncomfortable, cos it is braided and the plastic sealer on the cable, near to the earpiece does not insulate the skin, from the abrasive texture of the woven cable within it. So for a while, teh back of my ears were hurting and irritated. But that has now completely gone. Guess the sensory nerves on my skin, behind my ears, have either gotten used to the texture, or I've developed a thicker skin, behind the ears.

Otherwise, no other issues, no rattling.

Seems that there may be manufacturing issues, with the T10, cos I have heard other credible reports of issues, and in one case reported here on ASR, the person who bought it had to return it. Ouch.

 

[InfiniteJester]

I also own the Artti T10 and, apart from maybe a little too much mid-bass, it surprised me.
I only have a small noise problem in the left driver that seems to make "plastic" noises when I move my head.
Does this happen to you too?

That's probably driver flex.