The issue I have with the claim that frequency response is the end all be all, is that it should mean that eq can make everything sound the same.
>I've EQed the AirPods Pro 2 to have significantly better "technicalities" than any IEM I've heard.
In that case shouldn't you only rank post-eq and comfort scores? Why do any of the pre-eq sound scores matter?
Why try iems? Why own anything but a $20 dollar pair of apple earpods that you dont have to be afraid of getting stolen or broken, when eq can make it sound like the Prisma Lumen that tops your list?
Why does the Prisma Lumen top your list, if you can eq the Shure KSE1500 (that you rank 1.85 in sound) to equal that? After your eq, wouldn't the top-notch comfort of the Shure make it a better iem?
I really do appreciate the quantity of iems with low sound scores, which many others arent willing to do.
As for the list: fulgrim, alter ego, uerr, 622b, volur, camelot. 6/10 (might be missing some): u12t, trio, ve7, se5r, mest ii, moondrop solis, eminent ears emrald, inear pmx
IE600s are notoriously v-shaped IEMs that are pretty far out from neutral with exaggerated bass and treble.
In terms of form factor there isn't really a like-for-like replacement for something as small as the IEs.
Some additional recommendations worth checking out:
Aful Dawn-X, laid-back and natural sound, almost inoffensive.
Symphonium Crimson, aggressively fun like the IE600. 4 BAs make it one of the simplest constructions in that price range.
Symphonium Europa, a more balanced brother to the Crimson.
Letshuoer Mystic 8, very dry tonality but that's also what makes it special. A statement piece of an IEM. Actually close to neutral, as in, most people will find there's too little bass.
Yu9 Que, if you could get your hands on one. The hype mainly comes from its price-performance ability and it could absolutely go toe-to-toe with many $1k sets, though I find its tuning stereotypical. It's a solid all-rounder choice if I don't know what your tuning prefs are.
64audio Tia Trio, if you're considering the U12t already you could also consider this. Some of the best bass I've heard in an IEM bar none. U12t sounds boring by comparison.
Sony IER-M9, another laid-back oldie and a perennial competitor to the IE600. Depending on where you are, they could be had for cheap. Warm neutral presentation with treble boost, dynamics are its Achilles heel.
Thieaudio Valhalla, much more refined v-shape presentation than the Monarch MkIV and more comfortable. Given your budget goes up to $2k, this is very much worth checking out.
In terms of fit, Thieaudios are notorious for big shells and contentious comfort, so the advice is always to try before you buy if you could. You'd have the best luck with 64audio, maybe Symphonium, but Symphoniums will take some time getting used to because they aren't vented.
In a nutshell, Tia Trio's wow factor lies in its bass response while U12t's wow factor lies in its imaging. I found the upper treble peak on the U12t its biggest weakness and likely its most controversial aspect, but it's no worse than the IE600's upper treble exaggeration. Truth is, the 'reference-adjacent flagship' sound the U12t targeted has mostly been done better by newer IEMs such as Symphonium Helios or Subtonic Storm. Meanwhile, the Tia Trio's bass is only rivalled by (IMO) the IER-Z1R and the astronomically-priced Brise Audio Fugaku, but both have an even more coloured overall tuning.
The common reviewer consensus is that 64audio's A line tends to have excessive bass that makes it sound unbalanced compared to the U line; this makes sense in a loud live session, less so in casual listening. Not exactly an issue if you plan to EQ though.
If you've been EQing anyway, may I recommend the dark horse (and my own daily) that is the 7th Acoustics Supernova. Bang-on neutral bass and treble with a relaxed (some would say honky) midrange that could easily be EQed to whatever you want thanks to its smooth frequency response. Resin shell is on the medium-large side but it sits in my ear comfortably, good isolation because of the fit, but even aside from the midrange, its other weaknesses are possible 8k glariness (you need to experiment with tips) and the fact that neutral bass and treble isn't for everyone (Precog mentioned lacking resolution, I'd say it's because he's used to heaps of upper treble in most other flagships. My opinion is if that's the price to pay for balanced tonality, so be it; the resolution isn't that bad anyway). Also, while it's a sturdy resin build, it's also a very small company, so it may be difficult if something does go wrong with it.
I've only tried the U12t and Trio stock for a few minutes, so I can't offer much on that. If you want something fun and bombastic, go for the Trio; if you want something analytical or if you want soundstage, go for the U12t.
For me there are only two IEMs right now I would 'upgrade' from the Supernova: Prisma Lumen (which I forgot about while recommending) and the Fugaku. I don't think the Lumen has shipped yet but I heard a pre-production unit at Canjam London and it's the same relaxed neutral tuning with HD6x0-like mids, which fixes the only gripe I had with the Supernova. Since you like Harman tuning the Prisma Lux might be a better choice for you. Fugaku simply because of how it images, despite tonal flaws. And both have comfortable fits.
Other than those, I'm content. My bass preference is about 5dB below Harman (and by extension almost every other flagship IEM) and I like a sloping flat line bass curve over a bass shelf curve. I find the Supernova trebley sometimes in the 14k area, which is saying something when almost every other flagship has more treble than the Supernova, so in terms of tuning, I don't have much choice. The only other option I have is Softears but I've never had any luck with their shell design fitting. Supernova also manages to have a good sense of imaging, which is the other thing I have a bias for. So I wouldn't say Supernova is 'king below $1500' especially given the quality of new stuff that's come out, but it still ticks the most number of boxes **for me**.
Depends, yes, the majority of single driver IEMs, distortion is a solved issue, but it's not the same for multi driver iems, they have distortion plenty, well due to their inferior multi driver arrangement.
Here is a 64 audio tia Trio around 2 300 bucks with very high distortion due to the multi driver arrangement
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/64-audio-tia-tri%C3%B3-iem-review.42405/
And then the 7hz crinackle zero 2 with it's incredible low distortion level at 25 bucks
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/7hz-x-crinacle-zero-2-iem-review.50534/
Distortion was a solved issue, but ever since the coloration of sound with crossovers and multiple drivers, it's an ever prevalent issue.
It doesn't take a sound engineer to realise that a single driver is superior to multi driver setups, Sennheiser themselves have said this in the past, but the market doesn't follow science usually.
Maybe look a good second hand 64 audio tia trio. Its the best I have tried to far. Only Rn6 is a bit better imo.
Also depends on what kind of sound you are looking for ofcourse
I attended an audio show (Headphone Connect) and had the chance to listen to a bunch of IEMs and headphones, including the Sennheiser HE1.
This was the second time I attended the show and I thought it would be fun to share some of my impressions from the IEMs I listened to. I did a [similar post last year](https://www.reddit.com/r/iems/comments/1jv03pn/tried_few_highend_iems_at_an_audio_show_my_top_3/) and will be following the same format this time as well.
Rather than going through every IEM in depth, I will be highlighting the 3 IEMs that impressed me the most, along with some quick takes on the rest of the sets I managed to try.
Please note that these are purely subjective impressions and the quick takes might not convey the full picture. Also, since these impressions are from an audio show, take everything with a huge grain of salt.
I will be ranking the items from 1 to 5 and the following is the scale:
**Rating Scale:**
* 1 = Bad
* 2 = Not bad
* 3 = Average
* 4 = Good
* 5 = Excellent
*(4 and 5 are must tries)*
# Contents
1. Top 3 Picks
2. Top Performers - Bass, Mids & Treble
3. Quick Takes
# Top 3 Picks
**Crinear Reference (5/5)**
Where do I start? The Reference was basically love at first listen. The Reference is tuned spot on to my preferred adjustment of JM1, which I EQ my IEMs to and the moment I heard it, it hit the right spot.
The mids sound natural and pleasant although it tilted to the brighter side. The treble sounds smooth and sharp with no exaggeration in the air frequencies.
I was quite skeptical about the bass, since it is quite low compared to my preferred adjustment, but I was quite surprised by the fact that the bass feels impactful, textured and satisfying despite being low in quantity.
The only area where I felt like it fell apart was imaging and soundstage. Most of the imaging felt like it was coming from the left and right, with nothing much happening in the center stage. I guess I noticed this quite a bit, as I was coming from some expensive IEMs that do this very well.
**64 Audio U12T - 2025 (5/5)**
Just like last year, the 64 Audio U12T is the IEM that impressed me the most. I have tried a bunch of other IEMs in this price range and even beyond it, but none of them made me feel the way the U12T does.
What continued to impress me the most was its treble performance, which contributes to the precise imaging it delivers compared to most IEMs I have heard. Also, the staging feels holographic, with a good sense of depth to it.
The only issue I have with this is the bass, since it decays quite a bit faster than typical DDs. I like the bass to sustain for a bit, but even then, the bass is still top class, especially coming from BAs.
**64 Audio U4S (5/5)**
The U4s basically does everything the U12t does, but with a touch less refinement in the treble. This makes it less precise in imaging compared to the U12t, but I would not say it is a massive downgrade.
However, I prefer the bass response of the U4s over the U12t by a mile, since it uses a DD. The bass of the U4s feels meaty, impactful and engaging.
64 Audio IEMs are typically exaggerated in air frequencies and both the U12t and U4s did not bother me that much as with the Volür, which makes it ideal for me.
# Top Performers
* **Bass** \- Sony IER Z1R
* **Midrange** \- Crinear Reference
* **Treble** \- 64 Audio U12T - 2025
# Quick Takes
**Empire Ears Odin MK2 (1/5)**
* Experienced driver flex immediately upon wearing, which is unacceptable, especially at this price.
* The shell is chunky and the fit is only average.
* Shells feel hollow and lightweight, build quality does not justify the price.
* Bass feels hollow.
* Mids sound honky.
* Treble feels uneven, with noticeable peaks and dips and has occasional sibilance.
* Overall, not impressed considering the price.
**Moondrop Meteor (4/5)**
* I didn't expect to like this IEM, but it was surprisingly good.
* The fit is weird and the shell is on the larger side, but I had no comfort issues.
* The biggest highlight is the treble, it is exceptionally smooth, among the smoothest I have heard in an IEM.
* Bass feels tight and impactful although quality wise may not be the best for the price.
* Vocals are forward without being shouty.
* Imaging performance is very good.
**Tangzu Wukong (3/5)**
* Excellent build quality and a premium feeling cable.
* Not very competitive in sound, especially for the price.
* Bass is boosted and sounds boomy, lacking definition.
* Mids are relaxed and pleasant.
* Treble is not particularly interesting for the price range.
* Imaging performance is weak.
* Overall, not competitive for the price.
**Moondrop Variations (4/5)**
* Preferred Variations over Meteor.
* Bass is impactful and distinct, with a huge bass shelf.
* Vocals are very forward, bordering on shoutiness.
* Treble is excellent, it's smooth and sparkly.
**Campfire Andromeda Emerald Sea (2/5)**
* Due to the lack of venting, pressure issues made it uncomfortable to wear.
* Build quality is fantastic - metal shells.
* Could not listen for long because of the discomfort.
* Bass is mainly mid-bass focused but feels hollow and lacks body.
* Vocals sound drowned out and muffled.
**Sony IER Z1R (3/5)**
* Has one of the best bass performances I have heard in an IEM.
* Fit is very finicky and requires a lot of adjustment, even with a proper fit, it does not feel very secure.
* The biggest issue is the treble, which sounds sibilant and scratchy, it is not competitive with newer IEMs in this price range.
**Noble Audio Shogun (1/5)**
* Pressure buildup makes the IEM very uncomfortable.
* Comfort is poor due to the pressure issues.
* The resin shell design looks premium.
* Sound quality is middling.
* Bass is excessive.
* Vocals are recessed and drowned out in the mix.
* Treble sounds muted.
**Crinear Daybreak (4/5)**
* One of the most natural sounding IEMs I heard at the show.
* Bass quality is acceptable for the price.
* Treble has occasional sibilance and could be tamed with tip rolling.
**64 Audio Volur (4/5)**
* Has a classic 64 Audio style midrange.
* Bass quality is excellent.
* Treble is elevated and peaky in the upper treble.
* Upper treble sounds quite harsh for me.
**Aful Dawn X (4/5)**
* Has an overall pleasant tonality.
* Sounds smooth and non-offensive.
* Bass is textured and of good quality.
* Imaging performance is not among the best in this segment.
**ThieAudio Hype 4 MK2 (4/5)**
* Vocals sound natural despite the elevated bass and treble.
* Overall tuning is on the more V shaped side.
* Bass quality is good for the price, nothing particularly special, but well executed.
* Found no glaring issues with the treble.
* Shell and cable feel premium.
**ThieAudio Monarch MK4 (5/5)**
* The shell is on the chunky side, but tip rolling improved the fit.
* Not the most comfortable IEM, but it works.
* Better than U4s in subjective qualities for me.
* Sounds rather on the normal side without the extra flair found in some higher-end IEMs.
* Due to that it lacked a wow factor element, but that is not a bad thing as it does everything really well.
* Treble could be spicy bordering sibilance for me.
* Overall, a great set for its price and even beyond.
Yes, there are meaningful differences.
I tried the Reference right after the Daybreak and the Reference's bass quality is better, even though it has less quantity.
Also, the treble sounds much more refined and the imaging is sharper compared to the Daybreak.
The Reference is the only IEM that gave me the itch to buy. As you can see, it is placed in the top position among IEMs that cost $1000+.
I didn't expect to like it this much just by looking at the bass quantity, even though the rest of the tuning was spot on to my preferred EQ target.
I am more interested in the Dusk version of Meteor, which is collab with Crinacle.
The graph looked promising, mostly new meta style with same smooth treble.
The more high end IEMs I listen to, the more disappointed I get, but the U12T always seems to be excellent.
I have tried the original Fourte, but I did not like it. I preferred the Trio over it.
I am quite interested in the ThieAudio Valhalla, which was unfortunately not there at the show.
But considering how chunky the MK4 was, I am not hoping that the fit would be comfortable for me.
Nope, I only tried it at the show. I still preferred the U12t over it. But the bass quality of the Trio was better for me.
> Could you say more about the MK4 vs. Dawn X?
Personally, I would pick the MK4 over the Dawn X for sound and build quality.
The MK4 sounded much more natural to my ears, especially when it came to vocals.
The Dawn X has a husky character to the vocals, which some people might like.
Also, I find the treble of the MK4 to be much more resolving than the Dawn X.
The only issue is the fit. The MK4 shells are big and were not as comfortable as the Dawn X.
That is one of the main reasons why it was not in my top 3, despite being a 5/5.
> Also reference is really all that?
The tuning of the Reference just hit the spot for me.
It could be because it is tuned right on my preferred EQ target, it is just that my target has more bass and treble.
The Reference made me look at music differently than with usual IEMs.
Since there is no exaggeration at either end of the frequency spectrum, the vocals sound natural and intimate, while still being on the brighter side.
The biggest surprise was the bass, which I thought I would be disappointed by.
But despite being low in quantity, the quality was good for the price and I never felt the need to EQ it.
Also, I highly recommend that you try any of these before buying haha.
Top IEMs on Reddit
1
7Hz
7Hz x Crinacle Zero:2
76% positive of 497 users
Budget gaming pick, but poor cables and polarizing bass.
blah618
