Seeking a Neutral IEM with Top-Tier Speech Isolation

[theshade]

Hi all, I'm looking for a pair of IEMs with strong isolation. My office environment is challenging because of the constant presence of voices from multiple sources: there are colleagues' conversations, plus a steady stream of loud speech coming from several TVs and overhead speakers.

My current setup is the first-generation Galaxy Buds Pro with Spinfit tips; I find the sound quality good enough and leaning warmish, but the noise cancelling is even weaker than the passive isolation I get from my Moondrop Aria with Spinfit tips. Unfortunately, even the Aria can't deal with the mix of voices in my office, and I don't use it much anymore because of a channel imbalance.

Regarding over-ear headphones, I previously used the AKG N700NC M2. While I liked them, their noise cancelling was never as strong as top-tier competitors like Sony. However, I'm very sensitive to the uncomfortable "eardrum suck" pressure that strong ANC from brands like Sony creates. That issue, combined with the fact that I now wear glasses which compromises the seal of any over-ear, has led me to focus entirely on in-ear solutions.

My reference for sound is the neutral, accurate presentation of my Genelec 8341 monitors. With isolation being my absolute top priority, I'm debating my strategy: should I get a specialist model known for its fit, like the Shure SE215 or Etymotic ER2XR, and just use EQ to fix the tonality? Or do you recommend any other in-ear models that deliver both excellent sound isolation and a great, neutral tonality right out of the box?

 

[RandomEar]

I think isolation is mostly depending on the tip type and the fit. In my experience, foam tips offer vastly superior noise isolation compared to silicone ones. That may be specific to my ears, but I would recommend that you try multiple options before investing a lot more money into new IEMs. I'm currently using these:

• aliexpress.com/item/1005004629346360.html
• aliexpress.com/item/4000493425366.html

I'm sure you can also get them on eBay or Amazon. The first type with the disconnected bell-shaped foam is currently my favorite, because the fit is absolutely perfect without the need to pre-compress the tips. The second type, with the full foam body, only fits well if you pre-compress it by rolling it between your fingers before pushing it in. At least it was like that for me. Foam tips also don't last forever. Mine last maybe two years with occasional use, so you can expect less with daily use.

If those tips don't work, you could check out Etymotic IEMs: They sit very deep inside the ear canal and use triple seal tips by default. That should definitely provide better isolation than the regular one seal silicone tips on pretty much all other IEMs.

 

[ducnsh]

1 vote for Etymotic ER4XR