I’d say the first break point is somewhere around $300ish, then the next break point is “entry” kilobucks around $1k. So for the first break point IEMs like Dusk, anything Xenns, Thieaudio, Softears, so on and so forth, and for the second break point you have a lot of solid options like Monarchs, Dunu Glacier, CFA Andromedas, 64 Audio U4S, etc.
Edit: to clarify, those are the points where I think you get the biggest jumps in quality relative to price points around them. So I don’t think it’s as worth it to move beyond that $300-$400 price point unless you’re jumping up to $1k.
While I haven’t tried other kilobucks, my 64 Audio U4S were a clear step above all of my other IEMs in the overall clarity of the mix while retaining both heavy-hitting bass and treble detail. Every section of the mix is well-represented and high quality while being distinctly separated out from the rest, they’re just super clear, cohesive and immersive. The bass quality is the best I’ve heard so far as well, nothing else that I own has the same quality of mid-bass attack. I went in frankly skeptical that they’d be worth the cost, but I was super impressed when I first got them and they’ve been at the top of my collection ever since.
My U4S is a no-brainer, but I’m gonna specifically call out my Tea 2s for the killer soundstage and imaging. They’re immersive and enveloping and idk what I’ll do if anything happens to em now that they’re discontinued. That’s the unfortunate thing about chifi, with how the market constantly pushes forward, who the hell knows about long-term support once models get pushed out of their lineup
You can also get 64 Audio from Headphones . com (idk if we can link stuff here off the top of my head lol). Got my U4S from them open box, no complaints
Honestly what matters the most is your familiarity with the IEMs/cans you’re using moreso than the tuning, although having particularly dramatic tunings can absolutely affect your mixing. Like in my case, using my DT770 Pro LEs on a few tracks definitely had me mixing my cymbals/hats way too low since I was overcompensating for the huge treble spike.
All that being said, I pretty much exclusively use my Xenns Tea 2s for my music production, not sure what all would come closest to them since they’re discontinued but the Yu9 Que looks damn close going off of the FR graphs. Then I usually go back through on my U4S for the fun listen-through to make sure everything bumps and is separated out properly in the mix.
I use AirPods when I’m away from home. I rock some 64 Audio U4s’s with the m20 apex modules when I’m at home. Excellent bass, treble is present but well balanced and pushed back a little by bassier apex module (these “Apex modules” from 64 Audio work as really small Helmholtz resonator exhausts, and really make a world of difference in sound profile even before getting to digital EQ modifications.) Of course I also run them through an amplifier (Topping DX3 Pro).
Honestly it sounds like you need a solid amplifier to drive your IEMs. And maybe you just haven’t found the right IEMs for you yet.
After trying gazillion of iem
Honestly i cant get my absolute favorite like storm or elysian annihilator.
But u4s is my fav and i just bought them used for 550 bucks.
Best purchase so far, buy once cry once.
Why do i like it, well it just the perfect "compromise" I can get in an IEM
Bass not as good as z1r but a really solid 8 if z1r bass is 10
Mid is really nice, not as good as something like storm but solid 8.
Treble isnt as effortless and sparkly and airy like annihilator but its solid enough in 7.5 for me.
Coherency isnt as coherent as m9 but solid 8 for me
Imaging isnt as holographic as m9 but solid 8.5 for me
Detail isnt the detail monster like storm or annihilator or u12t but its good enough for me like 8
Timbre is also not the absolute best but solid 8 lol.
Dynamic not the most dynamic like annihilator 2023 but its really nice i will put it at 8.5
It basically has everything i wanted in an iem, its mostly i find them at 8.
U12t while have really good ba bass i dont find them as fun as u4s dd bass.
Sony m9 while imaging and coherency with nice details but again the bass is not as good and not as dynamic IMO
There just isnt any iem i find really good all around. Not a master of something but damn U4S can do everything at a high level. Thats why i love it
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.
> 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.
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 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) - (₹38K)**
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) - (₹1.9L)**
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) - (₹1.37L)**
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) - (₹4L)**
* 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) - (₹52K)**
* 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) - (₹2L)**
* 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) - (₹53K)**
* 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) - (₹1.2L)**
* 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) - (₹1.6L)**
* 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) - (₹3.5L)**
* 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) - (₹18K)**
* 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) - (₹2.35L)**
* 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) - (₹1.2L)**
* 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) - (₹42K)**
* 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) - (₹1.25L)**
* 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.
Top IEMs on Reddit
1
7Hz
7Hz x Crinacle Zero:2
76% positive of 495 users
Budget gaming pick, but poor cables and polarizing bass.
absolutely_noone_0
