IEM general discussion thread

Discussion in 'IEMs and Portable Gear' started by Griffon, Nov 1, 2015.

  1. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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  2. Sqveak

    Sqveak Friend

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    Could you please provide some impressions from memory?

    Or did you post the video with the intention of saying "My experience was in line with this"?
     
  3. Audioviel

    Audioviel New

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  4. Kunlun

    Kunlun cat-alyzes cat-aclysmic cat-erwauling - Friend

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  5. drkwntr

    drkwntr New

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    Has anyone heard the Zero Audio Zirco Tenore (M-DX200-ZT)? It's supposed to be an upgraded Carbo Tenore.
     
  6. nishan99

    nishan99 Friend

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  7. Senorx12562

    Senorx12562 Case of the mondays

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  8. yotacowboy

    yotacowboy McRibs Kind of Guy

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    Isn't that what my headphones are for already? I'm so confused.
     
  9. Roderick

    Roderick Facebook Friend

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    Anyone try super cheap iem's? By cheap I don't mean fancy stuff at $10 but more like sub $3.

    My wife keeps breaking iem's so she needs atleast two dozen a year. She wears them to bed to watch movies, falls a sleep, wrestles with the cable and within days or couple of weeks she needs a new set. We've been through alot of the super cheap stuff and most of course sounds horrible. Some are wired mono, others have drivers painted over, completely missing mids, highs or lows. Most common problem is cavernous sound...I actually think some cheap iem's have drivers inserted facing bottom of the enclosure.

    I've found one that actually sounds decent. It does not have a name so here is aliexpress link.

    € 1,43 44%OFF | Metal Wired Earphone 3.5mm Anti-skid in-ear Earbuds Stereo Headphone Super Bass Music Headset For Samsung Iphone Huawei
    https://a.aliexpress.com/_mqh2Yv

    Many sellers have those so look around if you can find a better deal.

    Sound is quite balanced. Biggest negative is that it can be bit shouty and highs, while not very pronounced have shrillnes and grain. Of course there are many other faults if one starts nitpicking but it's something I can listen to for a while without being annoyed which is something I can't say of any other sub 2€ iem I've tried. After a while the shizzle gets to me. Aggressive metal is though to listen with these. Watching YouTube videos or such I could propably use these whole day. Overall tonality is much better than many of more expensive chi-fi iem's which all tend to lean towards excessive brightness. These things also have "soundstage" and perceivable imaging which is another thing usually completely missing on iem's of this price.

    Build is decent. Not the best for it's price but far from worst. Cool thing is that nozzle cover is metal which is rare. There is also a mic which I have not tested but it works as a mute button atleast. It has a vent at the back which propably helps alot. I assume most manufacturers don't bother figuring out acoustics with iem's of this price.

    With the first unit I got I thought it might have been a lucky fluke. Nope. Today I received 15 units for 21€. That is including shipping and 24% VAT. I tested couple and they sound the same.

    I'm not saying these are so called Giant Killers or anything like that. Propably on par with some mediocre sounding cheapest big brand stuff you could buy for $15 from any store. I'm sure there are some better options available if you quadruple the budget.

    These would make nice iem's for kids too as they're quite inefficient so these don't get insanely loud from a phone.

    So yeah...these are definately worth considering if you have wife/Kids/dogs/Cats that destroy iem's all the time or maybe if you are a silent disco entrepreneur or something. Bottom line: $1,5 piece and not shit :)
     
  10. imackler

    imackler Key Lime Pie Infected Aberdeen Wings Spy

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    I'm curious to hear if anyone has any updates on their iem usage. For anyone who wants to share, I personally find the following interesting, as I think about trying new iems.
    • Do you split time between multiple iems? Which iem you have been grabbing the most recently?
    • Do you have different iems for different purposes? Exercise, commute, cofee-shop, etc.
    • Do you have tend to certain iems for certain genres? What are they?
    Thanks for any who want to share!
     
  11. Bina

    Bina MOT - Shanling

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    Good topic to discuss. I actually jump between like 5 different IEMs.

    I have my QDC 8 Custom Studio as my main reference IEMs, the one I put on when I have free time and really want to focus on the music. Even after testing so many earphones on different shows and auditions, they still remain as my main neutral IEM.

    Noble Katana universals, I use them for testing new devices at Shanling. Picks up nicely on differences, are great at revealing any issues with hiss/interference. And as universals I can let other test it out too.

    Older AAW W500 customs, my "background music" for use at work. I just find them so easy to listen to over long time. Might be actually getting the most time overall.

    Completely forgotten Hifiman RE1000 customs, I have them connected to cheap Bluetooth neckband and use them for travel, as I don't care if they get destroyed or I loose them. I think I never use them for music, just movies and podcasts.

    And on my way to work or at photowalks, I use Shanling MTW200 TWS. At most time just with with earphone, listening to podcasts.
     
  12. Tachikoma

    Tachikoma Almost "Made"

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    I bought the FD7 and I'd say my impressions largely line up with this guy's. The Fiio house sound agrees with my ears though (liked the FH7), so YMMV.

    All IEM reviews should be taken with a grain of salt though... For instance, I thought the hugely popular Sony WF1000XM3 was no better than my first-gen Xiaomi Airdots, and I've hated every Campfire IEM I've heard except the Solaris (still mediocre at best).
     
    Last edited: Nov 15, 2021
  13. Tchoupitoulas

    Tchoupitoulas Friend

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    I have three IEMs: the CA Andromeda 2020, original Solaris, and Massdrop Plus. The Andro is out on a personal loaner tour so isn't getting any use right now, obviously. The original Solaris, purchased recently from a Friend, is now my go-to IEM. I love the Andro 2020 but prefer the Solaris's bass; the Solaris also has the kind of treble sparkle I associate with the original Andromeda (but not the 2020), so the Solaris, then, is something of a complement to the Andro 2020 (while also convincing me I made the right choice to get the 2020 and not the og Andro).

    Yes, commuting and on the go around NYC, I use my MD+ because if it were to get lost, stolen, or broken, I'd not be out of pocket too horrendously (but I'd still be heartbroken). It also sounds good from an iPhone with dongle.

    For travel, especially long train journeys, flights, or for use in a hotel or when overseas, I'd take the Solaris with me now, out of my Sony ZX2 DAP.

    I also have an unusual IEM use-case: it's too hot here at the height of summer for me to use over-ear headphones; the ac unit is in the room where I listen to music (the joys of living in small apartments), so I have to have good isolation; I find that with closed-back headphones, the internal cup pressure and resonances exacerbate my tinnitus and cause fatigue; I don't have that problem with IEMs. So, I pair my Bifrost 2 with the THX 789 amp with my Andro 2020 or Solaris for desktop listening in July and August.

    Massdrop Plus as all-rounders, but I only really listen to pop, rock, soul, funk, and electronic music when on the go.

    Andromeda 2020: the darker, fatigue-free tuning of these IEMs makes them great for the same kind of genres as my LCD2-Classic, namely rock and electronic music, although the mid-bass emphasis and lack of sub-bass rumble or overall slam (compared with DD IEMs) makes them less than ideal for some electronic music. The Andro 2020 is perfect for alternative rock and punk (and poor-quality recordings).

    The original Solaris is the ideal all-rounder, for me: I use it not only for the same genres as the Andro 2020 but also jazz and classical as well as hip hop and electronic music that really needs deep, solid, tight, and fast bass.
     
  14. Zed Bopp

    Zed Bopp Friend

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    I cycle between B2 Dusk and Dunu SA6.

    The Blessing has nicer punch in the bass (amount doesn't differ much imo), but has some slight "hot spots" in the upper mids/highs that can get aggravating when tired. On the other hand these frequencies make electric guitars etc. sound lots of fun when in the mood.

    SA6 is just a very pleasant listen without annoyances even on longer sessions. Both are tuned very well for what they are - B2 is for head-bangin', Dunu for kicking back.

    Living in northern Europe, it's getting pretty cold for a cap and IEMs. Lots of the time I grab my QC35 or Momentum V1 to keep my ears warm :)
     
  15. Cspirou

    Cspirou They call me Sparky

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    I basically have 4 IEMs:
    • MD Plus
    • JVC HA-FDX1
    • Cheap Aliexpress wireless
    • Apple earpods
    I wanted to have one good BA IEM (MD Plus) and one good DD (JVC). I don't plan on upgrading beyond these because I would rather my funds go toward fullsize headphone or speakers. I also have fundamental issues with IEMs that aren't earbuds as I get a bit of irritation over time, so investing more just doesn't make that much sense to me.

    Between these two I feel like the MD Plus is more accurate, but I enjoy the JVC a lot more. Bass is a bit better with the JVC and I don't get the issue of high frequency sound being painful sometimes with BAs. I haven't really narrowed down particular genres with each. Thinking about it though I use the JVC more for music but the MD Plus more for speech related content like movies, TV and podcasts.

    As my prime IEMs they have the following uses:

    Laptop use would include coffee shops, libraries and any sort of remote work spaces. Straight out of my Macbook isn't that bad but I'll also use a dongle or a FiiO E10K. At least until I get a Fulla. I might listen to some kind of instrumental lo-fi beats while working but it's really more for when I take breaks and watch a youtube vid or listen to music.
    Air or train travel is really is main reason for me to have IEMs. I can spend several hours seated and these are noisy environments where isolation of an IEM is needed. Also I need to minimize weight and volume as much as possible and IEMs are the best way to do it. I have a Cayin N5 DAP where I load up my music for the trip and which I also will listen to while relaxing somewhere. They are also much better than airlines fones and I have a variety of adapters that will allow me to plug into whatever they have. (Why is there dual mono 3.5mm?!)
    The times I want to listen to something while lying down, I find full size headphones awkward and uncomfortable. Also I don't want to wake up my partner with open headphones and even closed cans like my HD-25 leak sound. IEMs and in particular the MD Plus is the best option for me. MD Plus is basically flat with my ear and I can be sideways on my pillow without any issue. JVC sticks out a bit so wouldn't work as well.
    I just started streaming a bit and sometimes I don't want my headphones to be visible. In which case IEMs are the way to go.
    Already mentioned some cases but it's really any noisy environment where I need to hear something.
    Museums seem like an odd choice but I discovered that the device they use for walking audio tours often come with a 3.5mm jack. Good IEMs help with comprehension of the tour guide as well as isolation.

    My other cases are as follows:

    I can't stand phone calls while holding the smartphone to my ear or using the built-in speaker. I find that I really need a minimum amount of sound quality to understand everything people are saying, especially in French. So some sort of in-ear for phone calls is a necessity for me. Usually this means the earpods because of the Lightening termination and the built-in mic. Although this could easily change whenever I get the appropriate cable for the MD Plus or the JVC.
    If I watch anything on a portable device I never use fullsized headphones. This also means earpods unless I remember the adapter dongle.
    I find that I really don't like carrying my phone with me and I think going fully wireless is more appealing these days. Doing dishes is much easier while listening to a podcasts I like. I bought some cheap Aliexpress wireless IEMs to see how I like them and the sound quality actually isn't as bad as I thought and they work great for podcasts listening. I don't like them for phone calls as the quality seems much worse than cabled and I get a lot more latency too. However I stopped using them because I think they output a lot inaudible high frequency noise that seems to cause some damage as my tinnitus is worse after using them. I might invest in more expensive wireless options though as I do like to be detached.
    Apple earpods or earbuds in general are my preferred IEMs while doing something active. When my ears are fully sealed I hear every step I make, swallowing sound and breathing. I don't really like listening to music while exercising or running. But if I did, nice IEMs would be the last thing I use partly because I'm not getting them covered in sweat but also because of the seal. Earbuds just don't have the issues of a total seal and are usually cheap enough where getting them dirty isn't a major concern.
     
  16. Stuff Jones

    Stuff Jones Friend

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    My IEM use is setup-based:
    • MD Plus with Shanling Q1 for air travel. Great isolation and comfort perfect of airplanes and airports. MD+ are the least BA sounding BAs I've heard. (5%)
    • UM 3DT+ Dethonray Honey for when I'm at my computer, sometimes at home, but mostly out at a cafe or hotel. This is my favorite pairing, and my favorite IEM based setup I've heard due to the great timbre and liveliness. The warm Honey tames the hot upper mids of the 3DT. (50%)
    • Moondrop Kato with Shanling Q1 for on the go excluding air travel and when not at PC. The Kato replaced the Plus for this application because I prefer DD to BA. More comfortable/secure than the JVC FDX1, with better bass, staging and less metallic timbre. (25%)
    • Bonus: D Honey to Schiit Lyr 2+ to Verum 1 for HP based home office use. (20%)
     
  17. wormcycle

    wormcycle Friend

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    I have Etymotics ER4XR, ER4SR, Ara and Vega. EarFun Pro.

    ER4XR or SR, depending on the mood with DX220 for air travel.
    Ara with DX220 and Vega with KannCube for night listening, hotels, long trips or at my desk with "real" amps: ADI-2 Pro, BHA-1
    ER4SR for walks, commuting with LG G8 (now 7). sometimes with EarStudio
    EarFun Pro for podcasts, or as a phone earpiece when riding a bike.
     
  18. Claritas

    Claritas Friend

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    I use full-sized headphones most of the time, but I definitely maintain IEM set ups. I, too, think about trying other IEMs. The only one I'm considering somewhat is the Gaudio Nair.

    At home:
    Usually Magni 3+ on low gain (no hiss) –> CFA Jupiter w/ Comply tips

    At home—for a quick youtube listen:
    phone/tablet –> Aurisonics Rockets w/ Sony hybrids

    Phone calls:
    Apple IEM w/ Comply tips

    Traveling in the lower 48:
    Aurisonics Rockets
    Zero Tenores w/ Sony hybrids, as a back up

    Traveling abroad:
    as above, plus CFA Jupiter & no amps
     
    Last edited: Nov 18, 2021
  19. Walderstorn

    Walderstorn Friend

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    A friend had a pair of eph-100 for a long time but a side just died. He has around 120-150 pounds (not more than 150 anyway) and is looking for a replacement pair, to connecto to his phone. Anyone has an advice for this bass loving guy?
     
  20. Walderstorn

    Walderstorn Friend

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    No one has any advice at all? He listens to soft rock and classical, very drum focused. @shotgunshane i am shamesly calling :)
     

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