Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
WANTED: Happy members who like to discuss audio and other topics related to our interest. Desire to learn and share knowledge of science required. There are many reviews of audio hardware and expert members to help answer your questions.
Click here to have your audio equipment measured for free!
I currently go back and forth between the Truthear red and blue models, mainly for the gym or exercise outdoors. Thinking about getting another model from them. Since you want three, my main set before these was the Sony XBA-Z5, and they are now sitting in my briefcase so I always have something there for air travel. I doubt I will ever spend that much on an IEM again, considering how good the cheap models have gotten.
Moondrop Aria - Spectacular across the board, pleasing sound signature.
FAAEAL Rosemary - Honestly wicked chill to listen to, hilariously good for like, the $18 I got them for.
Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro - $80 on sale from OG $180 price tag, detailed default sound signature, app can EQ to whatever, comfortable, and very responsive reproduction, got for work, and have been very pleasantly surprised since.
Note: IEM's are not my main thing and I have not owned a lot of higher quality IEM's in general before relatively recently.
Mine has subbass, but it acts like a pulse, it doesn't have any texture nor can represent melodies clearly. Comparing them now with some IEMs with great bass that I own, I believe that I understand why:
But I was mainly a bassist in my long dead career as a musician, so probably being able to hear those frequencies is not as important for the rest of people. I just can't agree with having only sub bass and not mid bass. I don't think that good speakers work that way, you don't usually hear massive sub bass with anemic mid bass when you listen to music:
After having many IEMs in the €20-€500 range, over time I sold everything and stuck with the Sennheiser IE200 and Rose Technics Star City 5 PRO.
They are the only ones that are truly comfortable, I don't need any Parametric EQ or any external dongle. Doing Blind Tests, I can't hear any differences between my Sony Xperia 5 V and Topping G5 apart from the maximum power, but with my smartphone I rarely go above 80% volume.
I put it on, connect it to my smartphone, turn on UAPP (this application is so good that it made me abandon ROON) and enjoy the music both at home and around the city. These 2 IEMs led me to abandon headphones (I had Hifiman Sundara) even when using them at home.
1. Final Audio A8000 - FR is pretty much exactly what I'm looking for, pretty close to the Harman curve with a bit more going on in the treble. Haven't compared the two side by side, but they remind me a lot of Denon AH-D9200s, which I really enjoyed.
2. 64 Audio U12t - they get called a good all rounder and they are indeed a good all rounder.
3. 64 Audio Nio - switching the Apex modules gives you multiple tunings which is pretty cool. If you enjoy extra bass, but don't want to indulge in it all the time, the Nios a good choice.
That being said, all of these iems cost silly prices and I imagine you can get similar performance for much cheaper as well as comparable comfort levels. I've exited the multi kilobuck iem rabbit hole with a pair of FA A8000s for around the price of a pair of Sennheiser IE600s. FR, comfort, build quality, and country of origin were all factors in pulling the trigger on these and I think it was worth it. But with all things, time will tell.
Mine has subbass, but it acts like a pulse, it doesn't have any texture nor can represent melodies clearly. Comparing them now with some IEMs with great bass that I own, I believe that I understand why:
But I was mainly a bassist in my long dead career as a musician, so probably being able to hear those frequencies is not as important for the rest of people. I just can't agree with having only sub bass and not mid bass. I don't think that good speakers work that way, you don't usually hear massive sub bass with anemic mid bass when you listen to music:
In no particular order, the QKZ + HBB,
KZ ZVX, Thuthear Hola, and the Blon HBB Z300 all fit this mould and work well for me. I guess I'd take the Hola out if it was "top three". Its treble is just a bit too muted, but its fit is perfection. The ZVX fits almost as well and it has a great build quality. I got it for $6 about 6 months ago. Can't really beat it overall. They seem to come with randomly different tips.
1. Moondrop x Crinacle Dusk. I prefer the more relaxed "Meta" tuning over the 2019 Harman. It just sounds less shouty, and the Dusk with the "Default DSP" cable is just about perfect for that. A lot of people complain about the app and the cable. I liked the Default setting it comes with out of the box and have never used the app, so it presents me with zero problems. Likewise, I hear no digital artifacts on the cable, and I kind of like not needing a dongle even though I have a very good one (Hidizs S9 Pro+ aka Martha).
2. Simgot EA 500 LM. Really like the clarity of these and they are super dynamic. I have EQ'd them because the treble is too aggressive even with the bronze nozzle. But once that's done, they are just so detailed, smooth, and dynamic at the same time. And I really like the black chrome metal which seems so much more premium than resin.
3. Crinacle x Zero Red. After extensive monkeying around with EQ, I've come to the conclusion all they really need is a +2db bass shelf starting at 200 hz and another +1db at 50 hz. Used that way, they really sound smooth and rich, but not as detailed as my first two picks. They're great to take out, however, or use on the treadmill because I don't really worry about having them lost, stolen, or sweat damaged.
On all these, I roll tips using either Devinus Velvets or Azla Sednafit Lights. I've also added a couple of nice cables for the Reds (by Arti), and Simgots (Moondrop K-line Silver). The Arti cable is 4.1 balanced, and the K-line is 3.5mm unbalanced.
The only thing out there that's tempting me right now is the Aful Cantor with the Starry Night faceplate. I know it probably does not sound a great deal better, if at all than what I have, but, man does it look beautiful. Maybe a birthday splurge.
