Sonus

I WHOLE HEARTEDLY AGREE WITH YOUR POINTS: https://preview.redd.it/vwxf7i53neye1.jpeg?width=2377&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9aafdf70e38f01e9e6e88692e4c7f79caca103d8 This is MY collection...and I'm very early in the journey. I don't have the budget, knowledge or experience to blind buy a 500USD+ set of in ears that may or may not fit my ears or my preferences. While my journey doesn't completely fit OP's blueprint...I have/had the same thought process regarding purchasing IEMs. Not pictured are the Moondrop Chu 2 and 7Hz Sonus. I started with the Chu 2, 7Hz Zero 2 and Kiwi Ears Cadenza. From listening, watching and reading reviews...I was able to learn about all the terms, labels, and vocabulary to describe what I like or don't like. I threw money at the Wyvern Abyss...I mean...LOOK AT THEM😂. The Kz Castor Bass was a curiosity buy...want to hear if a set touting bass response was really that bassy. My next steps were the NiceHCK F1 Pros, Kiwi Ears Canta and the 7Hz Sonus. The F1 Pros and the Sonu were on sale at the time of purchase...good value and able to narrow things down more for myself. I knew I liked the planar sound...I have a set of open ear planar cans. The F1s felt disappointing (until I tip rolled) The Sonus was about much for my taste (in the mids) The Cantas were quite nice for me. By this point...I had a good grasp of what I was looking for and the direction (s) I want to go in. AFUL Performer 5+2 is currently my go-to...for all around listening. Sourced from R2R DAC lined out into a desktop tube amp. It's like a warm blanket on crisp bright and snowy winter day. I picked up the Hexa because I wanted to hear the hype...and yes...they definitely fulfill the hype and then some. I've EQed my IEMs... especially the planar. They can mimic the sound...but it's only a part of the equation. I now rotate through 3-4 sets at my desktop listening station. The cheapo ones all have 3.5mm out for around the house or for bed. If they break...ill decide if I want to replace. Tip rolling is a journey of itself. Some tips can dramatically change an IEM and rescue it from the bottom of the pile. My Planars now sport foam tips...easing off the treble was huge. Anyway...long post...if you got this far thanks for sticking with my diarrhea of words. TLDR: I agree with the OP

I've been using 7hz sonus for the past two years and it definitely performs better than headsets I've owned with similar price, especially in fps games

Moondrop may's (my daily driver until about a week ago) or the cheaper but similar tanchjim bunny, or 7hz sonus, newer set i own Both are great, may's sound warm and neutral (you'll hear vocals, bass rumble, higher frequency instrument will sound laid back like violins tambourine... rock is great though), sonus sound spacious, clear and detailed with extra subbass (super fun at high volumes, and for busy tracks) If you don't get a sub $20 set you should benefit quite well by a dac, ka11/trn black pearl will do great, get the latter if you intend to get balanced planars or headsets in the future (or just want a more powerful dac) keep us updated and gl, hf

Bought the Xuan NV and 7hz Sonus just now. I know those others you mentioned and have those, ie Pure, Hexa, Bunny and Lush and those definitely fit in camp neutral. Going to roll the dice but since you've been spot-on with the others I'll take a chance on the Sonus and Xuan NV :P Thank you for the recommendations! :P

I'm making a review of both on Youtube but the Sonus is neutral bright. Here's my notes though on the Sonus. I had ChatGPT format my notes nicely: # 7Hz Sonus Notes # Track: Bibi – Weekend * Bass sounds good. * Vocals sound correct. * Requires a bit more gain to reach proper volume. * Overall correct, but nothing extraordinary. **Day 2** * Bass correct. * Vocals correct and on point. * Ok, moving on. # Track: Wolftyla * Subbass between polite and correct. * Vocals sound correct. * Compared to Performer 8: * Performer 8 hides flaws better. * Sonus reveals slight “whispiness” in her voice. * Overall: vocals on point, accurate, true. **Day 2** * Subbass correct. * Vocals correct, but less full than Performer 8. * \~90% there. # Track: Justin (male vocals) * Vocals sound correct. * Neutral tonality, nothing exaggerated. * Not thin, but lacks fine detail. * Feels “almost dead spot on.” **Monitoring test** * My voice sounds like mine, but: * Low-end rumble reduced. * Slightly higher pitched, like swapping to AT2035 mic.

**Day 2** * Vocals correct, no obvious flaws. * Lacks the “X-factor” of pricier sets. * Brighter sheen vs. HD600 & JBL 305, but not thin. * Neutral-bright tuning. * Compared to Hexa: more engaging, slightly brighter. * Tip rolling: * **Kiwi Ears tips:** Adds bass, but makes vocals thinner/brighter. * **Final Audio E:** Stock tips sound better. * Slightly too bright (\~10%), but still enjoyable. * Neutral overall. # Track: Chris Brown * Voice correct, slightly less low-end warmth. * Tonality slightly higher pitched. * Brighter overall (\~10%). * Neutral with a touch of brightness. **Day 2** * Pitch \~½ step higher. * Brighter by \~10%. * Neutral-bright is accurate description. # Sibilance Test * Medium volume: moderate. * High volume: very strong. # Final Thoughts * Can you **mix** with this? → Yes. * Can you **monitor** with this? → Yes. * Can you **critically edit** with this? → Absolutely. ✅ Accurate, neutral-bright tuning. ✅ Great for mixing, monitoring, and editing. ⚠️ Slightly brighter than ideal; lacks some vocal warmth/detail.

I can safely tell you that the 7Hz Sonus punches significantly above its weight, by far, especially for gaming, you can drive it further with a DAC (I have yet to test it, waiting for delivery). The IEM by itself is insane as a first IEM. I have listened to the same songs for the past decade, and this is the first time I picked up many details on all of them, I can separate instruments with ease. Gaming-wise wise I can hear footsteps really far, and know the direction with precision, with a custom EQ I can even gauge distance a bit, but not as precisely).

S08 is best all around, if they were all same price it would be my #1 pick obviously but Xuan Nv would be #2, that said Artti T10 is best buy if we take prices into consideration and 7Hz Sonus also beats all of these

for music it's lot better, Delci AE is not good for music for it's price, for $40 maybe but imo it's worse than Klean which you can get under $40 on sale or 7Hz Sonus Delci AE is great for gaming for the price, that's why people buy it

Kefine Delci AE > Kefine Klean > 7Hz Sonus > Tripowin Vivace > QKZxHBB

just get Klean or Sonus for that budget, friend got Phoenix, it's mid

Kefine Klean and 7Hz Sonus > Dawn Ms, Sonus used to be around 70 msrp but it's now under 40

Bunny has 0 soundstage, under 50 Kefine Klean or 7Hz Sonus

Klean are slightly better for gaming, imo better tuning for music, they are about same technically and Klean costs a lot less other option I would suggest would be 7Hz Sonus and if you want absolute best for gaming for your budget judging by these Kefine Delci AE

Kefine Klean, 7Hz Sonus for $60 cad, if you can stretch to 100 cad Kefine Delci AE best is to run dongle DAC that can do USB UAC 1.0(if it's 2.0 it will work on PC but not Playstation and Nintendo) with a longer cable or an USB extension from your console. I know for a fact $40 usd msrp(can be had for under $35 usd atm) snowsky(fiio) melody does have UAC 1.0 and 2.0 modes so that would work and you just run a long as s USB cable to it from console, not sure which cheaper good stuff has UAC1.0/2.0 switch or run on 1.0 exclusively

I suggest try checking out 7hz Sonus its really good iem for gaming with a balanced profile and also good sound separation and sound imaging. And yes you need to have a DAC dongle for 3.5mm or type - c for this iem but there are other iem cables out there that has a built-in mic and dac chip already since this iem doesnt have built in mic and dac. My iem cable is JCALLY TC30 PRO which has a built in mic and DAC. But try to check it out tho its one of the best of buck iem in my opinion since i also have the same list as yours before i bought 7hz Sonus

For me I got into the IEM’s with the Salnotes 7Hz Zero. After that I got the 7Hz Sonus and the 7hz zero:2. Then I when across the sea and got Sennheiser IE200 and stopped there. For me the Sennheiser with the FIIO BTR3K is my endgame. Still enjoy them on a almost daily basis.

7hz Sonuz literally an icebreaker in those price ranges, few people went back to Sonuz after they upgraded to the IEM that you mentioned

Truthear Hexa at 80-90$ ; Truthear Pure (warm-neutral) at 100$ ; Tangzu Xuan Nv at 70-80$ ; 7hz Sonus at 50$ ; Tanchjim bunny dsp at 20$ ; Zigaat lush (warm neutral )at 180$;

Xuan Nv is quite nice, might be a little too forward in vocals to some but i like it more than Hexa. It is not as sharp as Hexa in the lower treble to me and there is better bass than Hexa too imo. Most importantly it gave me much better fit than Hexa (Hexa is one of the least comfy iems i've tried, it just has such a weird shape, Xuan Nv on the other hand is one of the most comfortable) Unfortunately there are some qc issues with Nv (mine was alright but i have seen a lot of people report channel imbalance, all 5128 measurements of it have some channel imbalance). Sonus is also nice if you find it under 50$. Decent fit. It was also a little bit too sharp for me in the treble. Anyways, i like the Sonus more than Hexa (just the better fit is enough for me ). Hexa is a bit more detailed imo but they sound pretty similar to me. Sonus is not as neutral imo, but it is still on the neutral-ish side.