What IEMs do you own?

[Jimbob54]

So by that definition, IEM = device that makes a seal with the ear.

Yes. In original use for on stage monitoring the seal is essential to get enough isolation to hear only what you want to monitor and exclude the rest of the noise. Also why some musicians remove one ear to get both I think.

Anything that just sits there not inserted into the canal and blocking it with a soft material to seal (or a custom fit tube) isnt an IEM. Probably best defined as an (ear) bud

 

[Martin]

I'm not a huge fan of IEMs as I find them uncomfortable for extended listening. That said I bought a pair of 7Hz Timeless last year and love the sound. @amirm currently has them for testing (along with my Fosi DS1). I also bought a pair of 7Hz Timeless AE and Timeless II which I plan to send in for testing once he's done with the current pair. I like the sound of them all and will likely just keep the best measuring set.

Martin

 

[Mr. Reeee]

Solderdude has his huge "What headphones do you own?" thread and I know some post their IEMs in there too, but given we seem to be going IEM crazy at the moment I thought it might be useful to have a specific thread for them.

Personally I am more interested in your favourites and stinkers than long lists but feel free to go "full subjective".

In Ear: Etymotic ER4SR. Had ER4S for years, upgraded when they broke. I sometimes use with my Chord Mojo 2 DAC. GREAT!
Swapped the standard Triple Flange Earths for the Dual Flange Eartips. They're MUCH more comfortable than the Triples and have a tighter seal.

Over Ear: GRADO RS-1X always with my Chord Mojo 2 DAC. GREAT, again.

 

[August West]

My hearing aids get in the way of IEM's.

 

[Jimbob54]

My hearing aids get in the way of IEM's.

Stupid and possibly ignorant question . Could you use the aids actually as IEM ? A colleague has them and said she can send app content to them via BT . Presumably music apps too ?

 

[August West]

I believe they have the capability. They are blue tooth. They talk to the app I had to install on the smartphone I had to buy to control the hearing aids.
Setting it up would be a nightmare. And here's the example. The iphone I had to buy did this: I dl'd and installed the app...went through all the steps...I had to do that 6 times before it would take. The first and only app I will ever install. The phone is for adjusting hearing aids and nothing else.

 

[Jimbob54]

I believe they have the capability. They are blue tooth. They talk to the app I had to install on the smartphone I had to buy to control the hearing aids.
Setting it up would be a nightmare. And here's the example. The iphone I had to buy did this: I dl'd and installed the app...went through all the steps...I had to do that 6 times before it would take. The first and only app I will ever install. The phone is for adjusting hearing aids and nothing else.

And i guess they are designed /tuned to enhance the frequency range you need the most , not full musical range .

 

[D2013]

JBL Endurance Run 2 Wired IEM Review

This is a review, listening tests, detailed measurements and EQ of JBL Endurance Run 2 Wired "sports" waterproof IEM. It is on kind loan from a member and is on sale for $9.95 on Amazon including Prime shipping (retail: $19.95). As you see, there are magnets at the end of each formed earphone...

www.audiosciencereview.com

I purchased several pair from amazon last month, as they were on sale for $9.95

 

[antcollinet]

Stupid and possibly ignorant question . Could you use the aids actually as IEM ? A colleague has them and said she can send app content to them via BT . Presumably music apps too ?

Apple airpods pro now have certified hearing aid functionality. Already available in USA and many other countries. Soon to be released in UK.

 

[August West]

And i guess they are designed /tuned to enhance the frequency range you need the most , not full musical range .

Actually they have different overall settings. Universal is for listening and talking to people face to face. I have a "Music" setting which is full frequencies. Not good in a supermarket but killer at home listening to music. And not in the car getting to the supermarket...road noise is increased.

 

[Ste_S]

I’ve been on a bit of a cheapo buying spree recently, so:

Moondrop Chu II DSP - fine, but the app is garbage and hoovers your data, I’d recommend people to get the analogue cable version.

Tangzu Wan’er SG Studio - Worst stock cable I’ve encountered with its ‘memory’ hooks. Apart from that, like these a lot. Stock tips actually work for me, and with a Tripowin Zonie 4.4mm balanced cable on them, they’re one of my faves.

Simgot EW100P - Can’t get a good seal with either the stock tips, Spinfit or Moondrop XL tips.

Truthear Hola - Liked these a lot… but now suffers from channel imbalance, so not used.

Truthear Gate - Fine, but wish they still made the Hola

Truthear Zero Red - Fine, but other than the impedance widget, I do wonder why they’re twice the price of £20 IEMs

7hz Zero and Zero 2 - Pretty much what Amir has already said in his reviews; I prefer the Zero 2

Artti T10 - For a Planar IEM, these are great value.

 

[drewdawg999]

The punch were on my list but I got the epz instead. Figured adding a bass shelf to the KE4 got pretty close to the Punch. But really liked the look of the shells and how I graphed

The Punch does graph well, doesn't it? I AutoEQ'd the Rosefinch to the Punch and got great results, so much more clarity. Did the same with the ZAR and really dug the sub-bass rumble. Now that I have the actual Punch, I can ditch the EQ and they are glorious. Didn't think I'd ever have them but sometimes Christmas miracles do happen.

 

[XaviMartinez55]

Cheapo spree here as well, here are my impressions so far (listening mostly to "audiophile" rock, Dire Straits, Pink Floyd, Supertramp, but also jazz and deathcore :-D):

- Moondrop Chu 2: First one I bought. Definitely V shaped eq, Too tight bass and a bit painful 10-12 kHz. Tried to eq, could not add enough bass to make it satisfying.

- Ziigaat Nuo: To my ears, a better Chu 2. More bass capable, still a bit peaky around 10kHz but not half as painful. All it took in terms of eq is to boost around 3 dB at 100 Hz to sound reasonably balanced. And quite comfy on the ears. So far my favorite

- Tanchjim Tanya: No bass. At all. Back to Ali it went within 30 min. I ordered the DSP version , but they delivered the standard version....

I am awaiting the Zero 2 and the Kz Castor Pro Bass within the next few days and I'll update.

 

[jtnorcal]

Moondrop Aria

 

[jtnorcal]

Moondrop Aria

I Get good bass from them

 

[Honken]

Moondrop Aria

My daily driver is the Aria 2. They have a very smooth treble, albeit a bit too hot out of the box for my tastes. With some EQ they sound excellent to my ears.

They fit my ears very well.

 

[XaviMartinez55]

I just received today the Kz Castor Pro Bass.

Well, "improved bass" my a** (sorry I had to say it). These are NOT bass heavy. At all.

Both the Zero 2 and the Zigaat Nuo have way more bass .

At first listen I thought, ok, it may be because the switches are DDDD. But I checked, and they come factory set at UUUU.

The Zero 2 dances ample circles around these Castors, more bass, more soundstage, more airy highs, just more of everything..........

The Castor is not bad on its own, suffers a bit from shouty high mids , but it's in the zone... it just doesn't compare to the Zero 2 and the Nuo..

 

[Robin L]

I used to have a lot of cheap IEMs and one expensive one. The expensive one is the Klipsch X11i. Those have a very slim-line profile, really need comply tips to stay in the ear. Those were the best (also had a bunch of mid-priced Sony IEMs) until I recently got the 7 Hz Crinacle Zero 2 earbuds. They have a better fit and better sound than the Klipsch IEMs. The Klipsch IEMs had a suggested retail price of about $350 when they first appeared. I think I got my pair for something $150 - there was a big sell-off of a lot of headphones/earbuds then as wireless options became available. It was only yesterday that I first hooked up the Zero 2 earbuds to my desktop system and used Amirm's suggested EQ. Some of the best sound I've heard from any sort of headphone or speaker system, for that matter. Really remarkable bass.

 

[XaviMartinez55]

I just received the Kinera Celest Wyvern Abyss.

Gets the award to most beautifull shell so far, really pretty iem !

On the warm side, warmest I have actually, compared to Zero 2 and Ziigaat Nuo. Very smooth treble. If you are sensitive to treble, this is definitely your set.

It also has the nicest snare crack and smack of the three (and vocals). Decent bass.

The Nuo is the most expansive, with more bass and treble, you can hear it’s a capable driver.

Zero 2 is the best tuned (best treble of the bunch), but in all sounds a bit smaller.

Man it’s difficult…. As depending on the song you get different results.

I would say for NON remastered recordings, get the Nuo

For remastered, “treble spiced” recordings, the wyvern abyss.

Zero 2 is possibly the best allrounder, but I just realized it has a very short nozzle and is very eartip dependant. Luckily I had ordered some inexpensive “memory foam” tips off Ali, and the bigger sized one just did the trick.

Just awaiting the Tangzu Wan’er Sg……. This is a fun hobby but also a very dangerous rabbit hole….

 

[XaviMartinez55]

Update:

Shipped back the Ziigaat Nuo: the peak at around 12kHz was really bitey and ruining the experience for me. Pity, because everything else was fine.

Shipped back the Kinera Celest Abyss . Most beautiful Iem ever, PERFECT fit, but I couldn’t get passed the way too relaxed treble. Not even pushing the eq……. Soooo I just ordered the Kinera Ignitex Beast, which is the Abyss, just with an added BA driver, which in theory adds the missing treble

I also ordered a CCA Trio, just because….. I read it’s an improvement over the Castor Pro Bass (which I also sent back), so let’s see.

So far, the Zero 2 is the only one that stays…… with its limitations ( compressed dynamics) , it’s really the best tuned of all the ones I have tried.

The Wan’er is about to arrive, so I’ll post my thoughts as well.

Dammit this is never ending….