AFUL - Explorer

I have all three IEMs, the Kefine Klean is good for $49 and if you change the stock cable it improves the bass and treble becoming warmer if using the Nicehck GTC5 cable. The Lesthouer S08 is a very good warm planar IEM I think is a really good option with the 25% discounts on Amazon US it comes out at around $66, but check the forums on Amazon it says frequently returned there are users who report problems with the right earbud, I have not had any problems, they sound very different from the Kefine Klean, the sound is somewhat dark with soft and detailed but not extended treble. The best for my personal taste is the Aful Explorer but it is the most expensive $119.99, it has a very organic warm sound, with good bass and detailed and sweet mids with a narrow but very musical presentation and the treble is somewhat attenuated with a certain level of detail. Any of these IEMs are wonderful but if you have the money go for the Aful Explorer if you like the warm signature and good musical representation.

Of all the IEMs I have, for some reason, the one I like the most is the Aful Explorer. I also have the Kefine Klean, Kefine Delci Ae, Sivga Que, Kiwi Ears Airoso, Lesthouer S08, Simgot EW300, Hidizs MP143, and MP145. All of these IEMs have a somewhat neutral, warm signature, but they all have excellent, very different sounds. I recommend the Aful Explorer, it's the best without a doubt. I won't tell you about the Hidizs MP145 because they're too big and can have adjustment problems if you have a narrow ear canal. Another thing I recommend is that you play with different types of cables and eartips, they can make a difference.

I have the ISN H20 and they're wonderful, better than many more expensive IEMs. My absolute favorite is the Aful Explorer, followed by the ISN H20, above the Lesthouer S08, Hidiz MP145 and MP143, Kefine Delci AE, etc.

Aful explorer hands down. They are small, sound terrific, and usually go for less than 90-95$. Also they are beautiful to look at.

With people who have AirPods Pro, the Explore is my recommendation as a first iem, too. With that customer, the IEM has to be significantly better than the AirPods while having a similar fit. That person isn't going to choose something like the Truthear Gate or Red when they have AirPods.

I got the Explorer for $78 in their Spring Sale after coupons and coins were applied.

Loving it so far. I’ve gotten a couple of other new ones in the last few weeks and so have been flitting back and forth between them. I don’t have time to have my ears blocked off for multiple hours a day, so it takes a while to get some time in with them.

I love their design, too. Their small size and comfortable fit are among the reasons these will likely get more use than many of my others, even though a few of them are technically better than the Explorers. It was the Spring Sales on Amazon and AliExpress. I got the Explorer from AliExpress and the Kiwi Ears Airoso from Amazon. Then just over a week ago, I caught the Kiwi Ears Aether at an amazing price on Amazon. During the Anniversary sale, I stocked up on favorite cables and ear tips, making my final orders before I have to abandon AliExpress for good due to the tariff nonsense. I just get a small handful of hours per week with IEMs. I absolutely *cannot* comprehend people who talk about wearing them for 8-10 hours per *DAY*!!!!! How on earth do you live in this world being shut off from everyone and everything else for most of your waking hours???🤷🏻‍♀️ I mean - *life*!! I have a job. I have church. I have “extracurricular” music activities which mean I may have anywhere from 2-4 evening rehearsals per week plus occasional performances. There’s just no way I could possibly have my ears plugged up and be in my own cutoff world for that many hours per day. I don’t even use them 8-10 hours per week most weeks. But I do enjoy listening to them when I have the time.

1. Hekse (best overall) 2. Softear Studio 4 (best sounding iem for my music) 3. He6se V2 (more dynamic than Hekse but nostalgic as comfortable. Less spacious and open) 4. Aful Explorer (like a lesser Studio 4 for commuting. Very easy listening) 5. HD6XX (comfortable and the baseline benchmark but not my go to) 6. Aful P8 (most boring sounding. Used to like it but not these days. Might be a good gaming iem but I don’t game anymore) 7. EW300 (it’s meh. Use for monitoring)

Im also looking at them as an upgrade to the Aful Explorers which I just love. But they are are about $400 cad.... Worth it?

sell it and get the Aful Explorer.

Take a look at the ZiiGaat Cinno. Kinda under rated, IMHO. Only $50 on sale most places. A proper bassy alternative to the Hexa, IMHO, that avoids the high Pina Gain and 8k peak of the Hexa. ALMOST hits JM1 target in the upper mids and treble. Doesnt extend super high either, so it comes off warmer. Its different. And for $50, not a bad pick up. If you want the mids a little more forward without the treble shock, the Explorer is really the only option for that sound signature where the Pina Gain come in below 1k. Otherwise, perhaps your only other alternative, would be the new ZiiGaat Lush. It is more of a "traditional" popular tuned IEM, slight bass tuck, gradual treble roll off, middling pina gain just under the Harman curve. https://audioamigo.squig.link/?share=Harman_Target,Ziigaat_Cinno,Truthear_Hexa,AFUL_Explorer,Ziigaat_Lush

Aful Explorer would be better to listen to rock. It's very fun tuning and can be listened to with max volume for a long time.

What I was trying to say: The set is fun to listen to even if the volume is max. It's a warm sounding set. Not shouty and hurting.

I'd suggest the Aful Explorer, it has both nice sub and mid bass.

I love the explorer probably my favorite IEM

Seconded on DaVinci if you like a nice sound. If you just want *BASS*, try the 7Hz Legato. The Aful Explorer with Final Type-E tips also basses well, but those are the only tips that make the bass actually worth something.

First impressions are great. I got the RE2000 couple days ago and they are amazing imo. Bass is strong & fast. Maybe SLIGHTLY 'boomy' but i feel like it's in a good & controlled way, like a good SVS subwoofer would be without making my chest shake. Then I got the AFUL explorer today. As I was listening to it I was thinking "oh this isn't bad, this stacks up with the RE2000 closely" ... Then I put the RE2000 back on and OMG, I was wrong. The amount of detail and precision that the RE2000's manage blow the AFUL Explorer out of the water. I much prefer most of my music with them. Aful has it's place though and are also great. There is almost non-existent sibilance and I can understand why people call it a 'relaxed' listen. It has a darker sound with powerful bass which stacks up with the RE2000, but isn't as "controlled/tight" in my opinion. Also RE2000 isn't a soundstage monster but is definitely wider and more accurate/precise than Explorer. I feel like I really needed to sit and listen to enjoy the RE2000 more, and the design seems more fragile. I would probably not take the RE2000 travelling or to the gym, I'll be using the AFUL Explorer for those use cases. Also, when working/studying I'll likely reach for the AFUL since it's more 'mellow'. I tried doing some work with the RE2000 but kept stopping to say "oh wow" at certain moments in songs... it's so good & detailed at times that it distracts me haha. I need some more time to formulate a better opinion and I need to test it 1 v 1 with my Hifiman XS & HE6SE V2

https://preview.redd.it/875airyoo9ge1.jpeg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=60c42643ccc26498b160edf9b67eeb5aee288a0e Between the two when I A/B them the Sivga has better mid bass quality it doesnt go as deep as explorers in subbass but its more forward in the vocals and has better treble extension. The Que sounds less claustrophobic, more open soundstage than the explorer. The cable quality is about the same, maybe slightly better on the Que. My only gripes I guess is the shells can get cold in the winter outside and they dont scale up to high volumes as well as explorer. I guess if you liked alot of subbass or listen at really high volumes and dont listen to very vocal heavy genres, explorer could be better. I like the Explorer for background music but Que more engaging.

Might be a little controversial, but the Aful Explorer. I thought I could force myself to join the dark side, but I'm still neutral/V-shape gang.

If you're coming from Sony XM4's, as few other said - Aful Explorer is one of you better bets if it's still on sale. Currently 95.99$ on HiFiGo. As for Planars and "being best" is very, very subjective. Coming from Tin T3+ and TRI Starsea (single DD and 1 DD + 2 BA) i am definitely not "blown away" by the S12 Pros that just arrived few days ago. I've watched Michael Bruce, i've seen the hype around Planars and don't get me wrong, they're not bad by any means but there is just something weird about it. I can play a bit more with eartips, EQ, dacs but im not sure Planars fit my library or ears. There is just something "metallic" and inauthentic/colored about it. Or it could be my expecations? Or maybe that i come from already decent IEM's that were once popular for a reason? Anyhow, i think i prefer hybrids/BA the most so far. [https://www.reddit.com/r/iems/comments/1e9290a/comment/ledx5b3/?utm\_source=share&utm\_medium=web3x&utm\_name=web3xcss&utm\_term=1&utm\_content=share\_button](https://www.reddit.com/r/iems/comments/1e9290a/comment/ledx5b3/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button) \^ This guy explains it best how i feel about it so far. And another thing (more of a nitpick) the S12's are foooooking small. And i have small-medium ears mind that.

Does S08 has that good sub-bass rumble & weight behind the note?? I want something for rock & metal genre. I have Aria 2 & Nova in my collection, which are excellent for female vocal & sounds angelic. I love them both, but they feel light / thin when it comes to rock / indie rock kind of tracks. And how is S08 compared to Aful explorer?? I like that IEM's bass presentation but vocal feels like it's coming behind of a blanket.

To expand on this as well since you said up to ~$100 - it might be a bit over that depending on sales pricing etc., but if you want a heavy, thumpy sort of bass then the Aful Explorer is good for that. I find it to be a bit lacking in eargain, so vocals can sound a but recessed or muffled, but it's much smoother and doesn't have that grittiness to the treble that the Castor has. It's also extremely comfortable. Tips make quite a big difference to how the Explorer sounds as well. The Simgot EM6L is worth a look as well. It's tuned quite neutral and it's been a while since I listened to it, but I seem to remember it having quite tight and punchy bass, especially considering how neutral it looks on a graph.

1. Aful Explorer - Doesn't really have muddled mids like the EW300. It's bassy, but quite clean sounding. The problem it has is that the eargain is very low. So to me, vocals sound recessed, but also sibilant at the same time. How this sounds to you may be dependent on your HRTF as a lot of people seem to like it. It has pretty good treble & resolution too, it's just that one problem that lets it down. 2. Hexa - Is indeed pretty clean sounding, with good treble extension as well. The negatives for me are that the bass isn't great, the treble can be a touch peaky, the soundstage is narrow and the large nozzles make it uncomfortable. 3. S08 - Does not have planar timbre; it's tuned quite differently to other planars. However it also doesn't have quite the same ultra-detailed sound that other planars like the S12 have. It's much darker. I find it very tip-sensitive and it sounds wrong on almost all tips. With the right tip it's got a very intimate sound that is quite bassy, but it's let down a bit by the bass quality, which is a bit boxy. Still my 2nd favourite IEM but only with the right tips. 4. Nova - I haven't heard, but from what I know about it, the nozzles are large and it only sounds good with foam tips. At that point it does rival the Variations for Harman tuning, which is great for female vocals, but the bass tuck can ruin bass guitars etc. 5. Fudu - Honestly just sounds muddy to me, I consider it a downgrade from the QKZ HBB although it does have better build quality. The eartips are good, but it doesn't come with a full set of Divinus Velvet, which if you get them you really should get all 5 sizes. Based on your priorities I'd either go with the Hexa or the Nova depending on what you think about the trade-offs I mentioned. Or maybe consider the Simgot EA500LM - though some find it has too much treble energy; its an unusual tuning that doesn't sound like it graphs. I'd watch the Paul Wasabii review, as I think he captured everything about it more accurately than other reviews. Another one to consider is the Thieaudio Legacy 2. It's tuned a bit like the Hexa, but with stronger sub-bass, a bit more vocal-forwardness (reminds of the HD600 vs HD650) and it rolls off the treble a bit, so it sounds smoother, but possibly less extended. I find it has better soundstage than the Hexa and is much more comfortable. I also find the Kato to be more-or-less a direct upgrade from the Chu 2 and while I haven't heard it, the Aria 2 supposedly sounds almost identical to the Kato. The Dunu Kima 2 apparently sounds very similar too. These are all slightly more v-shaped than the Hexa/Legacy 2, but still a mild v, so there's more bass and the mids sound warmed-up, but not bloated.

Do you notice a slight lack of cohesion to the sound of the Performer 5? I do and it's the one thing I dislike about them. I mainly use mine for monitoring because the extension both ends is excellent and they are pretty neutral (on the warm side), but I find when I listen to music on them for more than about an hour, I start noticing what I describe as a "thready" or "digital" kind of sound, where certain frequency bands stand out as more distinct from each other. It's not like instrument separation, but rather where a single instrument will sound separated from itself in certain frequency bands. I'm curious about the Performer 8, but wondering if it has this same characteristic. I noticed that the FR graphs for Afuls tend to have a characteristic waviness along the top of the eargain region, which I think comes from how they do their crossovers, and I suspect this is what I'm hearing. I also have the Explorer and the MagicOne. Possibly because they have fewer drivers and simpler crossovers, I don't notice this effect with either of those. I really like the MagicOne in pariticular. It sounds very different to all my other IEMs: very relaxing and midrange-oriented. Kind of like the QKZ HBB in character, except where that one is extremely warm/bassy with recessed vocals, the MagicOne is very neutral, but with quite a soft character to the sound. Transients are smoothed out, yet somehow it has exceptionally good imaging. I also thought it was a bit overpriced at launch so ignored it for a while, but it was absolutely my best buy of the 11/11 sales. Also agree that Aful are the most consistently comfortable IEMs. I have a few others with similarly good comfort like the EPZ Q1 / Q1 Pro, but Aful seem to do it very consistently. And especially they are far ahead of the competition when it comes to cramming lots of drivers into a small and ergonomic shell. Also, I'm fairly sensitive to unvented IEMs and the MagicOne is the first completely unvented IEM I've tried where it hasn't bothered me, and the pressure seems to equalise out fairly quickly. It's better than the Juzear 41t which actually *is* vented, just not fully.

I *almost* like the Explorer, but the low eargain just makes vocals sound recessed to me, yet also sibilant at the same time. So it's kind of the worst of both worlds for vocals. I tried a lot of tips and couldn't fix it, so I'll probably be moving them on, as I can't be bothered with EQ. Annoyingly, I did like everything else about them, but that one issue just ruins everything.

Told ya! Nice collection, I’m a complete shill for Aful, the Explorer and P8 are some of my favorite IEMs. I actually prefer the Explorer to the P5 in terms of resolution. Can’t wait to try the Cantor.

So, I clearly have a bit of a thing for Aful products! Their company philosophy is basically to provide the highest quality product for the lowest price possible, and in my opinion they do an excellent job. And while that makes me sound like a total shill, I’ve never spoken with Aful and all these sets were purchased with my own money. Another thing I’ve got a thing for is ranking stuff. So the album is arranged in order of my favorite set first. I’ll give a brief summery of my impressions here: 1. Performer 8- The best micro detail and tonality under $500. One of my favorite IEMs ever, they have a vocal forward sound with a touch of warmth. 2. Performer 5+2- Soft “v” sound, excellent for genres that rely on lots of subbass. Impactful midbass, and best soundstage on an Aful set. 3. Cantor- A bright neutral sound. Easily the best resolution with a unique, deep soundstage that allows for an “out-of-head” sound sensation. 4. Performer 5- An excellent option for those that may find the P5+2 a touch bright. I typically prefer BA treble myself. 5. Explorer- One of the best bassy, new meta tuned options around $100. 6. MagicOne- Well, it is magic to get that kind of range from one BA! A little overpriced at launch, but an excellent deal for $70 if you’re looking for a neutral set under $100. I’ll also say Aful makes some of the most comfortable IEMs on the market. If anyone wants to know anything else about the fam let me know!

The Explorer would definitely be a step up in terms of technical ability, but it’s a warmer set. You may find yourself missing a bit of treble and air.

I'd say they are, but the greatest leap for me is from the Explorer to the P5. The Explorer is a bit warm for me, but the P5 brings the treble up without be coming fatiquing.

I loved the explorer though not that detailed but can listento them for hours without fatigue explorer really makes me explore

I have jumped from tanchim 4u to delci then to explorers now I got the hype 4 yet to try it...let's c how it goes .... planning on saving for the origin and end this game of earphones

U will like the explorers dnt skip it

Did u try aful explorers

Aful explorer is good...u should try it... then u can try tea pro ...dynaquatro... hype 4... davinci...

I have both. The treble is definitely more pronounced in the Explorer but it’s well managed, without getting sibilant or piercing. I’m treble sensitive and it’s the only IEM I can tolerate where I can actually enjoy the treble. Both are excellent, but the Explorer really does beat the S08.

That’s a very helpful review. The treble seems a little concerning to me. I tend to be treble sensitive, and one reason I avoided considering the Performer 8, that’s described as leaning that way. I do enjoy good bass, but wouldn’t describe myself as a basshead, so the heads up on boosting the bass by EQ is nice to know, but might not be as relevant to me as it is to you. Your rave about the mids really strikes me. Comparing them to headphones like Focals is very impressive. I’m a two decade listener to HD600’s, so the idea of mids that good is very tempting, but I won’t hold it against the Performers if it doesn’t surpass, just coming close would be impressive. I was going to get the 5 until word broke about the 5+2, and I think it might have been worth the wait, although the release has driven the Performer 5 prices through the floor, especially with the current sales. Still, this may be worth it. I currently have their Explorer’s, and love them. If this is a significant step up it’s worth it. Your description of the soundstage itself makes it attractive. Even with the Explorer’s, soundstage is always lacking in IEMs for me, but that’s after so many years with open back headphones. I accept it as a limitation of the basic design of an IEM, so one that achieves a better sense of soundstage is pretty impressive. Thanks for your impressions!

Aful Explorer for a hybrid with excellent bass. Excellent control, details, closest to your requirements than the more expensive Performer 5 or definitely the even bite conduct Performer 8. There is a Performer 5+2 about to be released, no reviews that I know of get it tuning. Both are above your price range even if you want to stretch to $200 for the Performer 5. The Explorer fits at $120. Letshuoer S08 for a planar with a tamed treble, no piecing highs it sibilance, excellent bass and subbass, with thr fast attacks on transients like you’d expect from a planar. No planar “veil” or metallic sound. Probably thr best planar built for your requirements.

Nice review, and a nice job pointing out the pros and cons of it. I find it interesting you prefer it to the Letshuoer planar offerings, including the S08 that’s built and tuned to be a warm IEM without the typical planar “veil” or metallic sound associated with planars. You don’t mention it in your review, but I would assume that’s not a problem once you get into the mids to treble on the Aether. I’m treble sensitive, so the S08 is the only planar I can listen to thanks to the tamed treble without having to EQ it in. I was also struck by your description that as a higher end user, you still have s lot of praise for the Explorer, for what it is. It certainly doesn’t match technicalities of your high end IEMs, but for kicking back and listening to a relaxed, warm sound, without a bright treble to give me fatigue, or even worse, piercing highs, Aful did a helluva job on the affordable Explorer. I listen to it a lot. The Aether wouldn’t work well for me with that large a nozzle, another score for Aful, the same is true on the Performer 5+2, they make excellent ergonomic IEMs with smaller shells and nozzles than most. It’s too bad you don’t have a Timeless 2 to compare it with as it’s another planar sort of in the same price bracket, roughly. I guess the closest would be the S12 2024, which despite its rather flashy gold shell, is also tuned to lower the treble and avoid the too sparkly sound of the S12, even the S12 pro. Either way, it sounds like a nice addition to other IEM choices around that price, planar or not.

If you want something warm, not pure bass, but lush and does benefit from a bit of extra volume(I am very happy with them at around 80dB, the point where going above can start to increase risks, depending on how long you listen to them every day, 85dB can be reasonably safe for 4 hour listening sessions, 90dB and up really start to fall off in safety for longer sessions), has a tamed treble so there’s no sibilance or piercing highs which give me headaches and treble fatigue sets in quickly, I’m treble sensitive, then look at the Aful Explorer. It’s a hybrid IEM they did a great job of managing the crossovers and internal geometry to give you a smooth blend across the drivers. The bass is solid, and you can get a nice ear rumble from it, but above all, hear the music. It’s not a subwoofer stuffed in your ear. I think it’s a superior experience than say the Deuce, but you still get that lower range that doesn’t feel weak. I listen to it for everything from indie, indie rock, electronic, dance, EDM, trance, and yes, it can even handle acoustics and female vocals through to alternative folk. I think it’s one of the most versatile IEMs on the market, and is reasonably priced at $120 USD, lower on sale and on Aliexpress or I believe HiFiGo. It’s a very nice introduction to IEMs. With a proper fitted ear tip, passive noise reduction is pretty good on all IEMs, excellent on Etymotics, approaching or exceeding ANC on some tws BT “buds”, but the sound signature is nothing like you’re looking for. Everything I’ve mentioned up until now are wired, with a smallish cable to the source. BT earbuds really won’t give you the same experience, even Beats, known for their bass, won’t outperform an IEM. That’s from someone who wears AirPods Pro 2’s a lot due to the convenience of being wireless when out and about, or working out. And they sound very, very good. Despite some posts around here, you need something more than a $20 IEM to sound superior. But at home I find myself reaching for the Explorer more than other IEMs I have. To clarify one thing, what are called headphones are those things that go on or over the ear speakers and have a headband holding them in place. IEMs, or In Ear Monitors, are the ones we’re talking about here, they have a tip that goes into the ear canal and occludes it. You need that occlusion, or seal, in order to properly hear the sound. A poor seal results in no bass and a tinny sound, making even $1,000 or more sound like crap. The tips that come with IEMs are sometimes decent, and sometimes (a good amount of time) not do the trick, and you’ll need to buy aftermarket tips for the best fit. It can be trial and error, and some tips get expensive. I’m not saying you have to go that route, but “tip rolling” is not uncommon around here. The tone of my post was not intended to insult you, but you would be surprised people show up here, especially younger folks, who arrive already with questions about what to do with their tinnitus, kind of after the fact. People really don’t understand that your ears will bleed before you can damage the IEM, they can get very, very loud. If coming off like an asshole can save one person from irreversibly damaging their hearing, well, I’d rather insult than make a friend. I’m likely much older than you, and after too many hours at too many clubs blasting music, concerts, and even just amid the ambulance sirens or other noise in a noisy city, before the days when hearing attention became an in thing, I’m lucky I can still enjoy music, and tell the difference between a well recorded lossless track and a poorly mixed, compressed lossy track. But I still have to work at hearing someone for a conversation in a noisy environment, like the street or a noisy restaurant. But I do think something like the Explorer just might work for you. However, don’t just take my word for it. It’s just an opinion. Watch and read a bunch of reviews to see if it does seem right for you. And as this is likely a blind buy, not from a store that allows you to listen to sets before you buy them, try to buy from someplace with good return policies. It’s why I use Amazon US for the easy to return 30 day policy. I can demo an IEM or headphone for a week or two before deciding if it’s really what I like, and if not, get my money back, rather than take the loss and sell it on the used market. With no idea where you live or what’s available there, I would really gather up as much I formation as you can before entering your credit card info.

For bullet shape don’t forget the Etymotics ER2XR. If the triple flange freaks you out (honest, it will not pierce your brain, has amazing sound isolation, and can be comfortable once you you then a few times, try it at least once) it comes with other tips including foam tips. For a more conventional IEM do look at the Aful Explorer. A well shaped semi custom all resin shell and smaller than average nozzle. It’s physically very comfortable I use Spinfit W1’s on mine, and are a great fit for me, but as always, we have varying ear anatomy so tip fit is variable. Start with the included tips, if they aren’t comfortable or not getting a good seal, then you can worry about trying aftermarket ear tips. The sound itself is warm and lush, with no fatigue over several hour listening sessions.

Yes.

I’m a big fan of my APP2’s and still use them a lot for out and about and even when having a cable is just inconvenient. Two IEMs I have that I’ll reach for over them are the already mentioned Letshuoer S08, a solid planar with good bass responses and none of the peaky treble you can get with the S12. They also got rid of the planar “veil” and slightly metallic sound common in planars until now, including the S12. Overall a solid, affordable choice that also comes with a nice stock cable, so no need to look for a third party cable off the bat. The other is the Aful Explorer. It’s really a delight, a more open sound than the S08, with a bit more treble but without getting piercing highs or sibilance. It’s a hybrid design with 1 DD and 2 BAs they work some nice magic with blending together with a solid crossover and clever use of internal sound tubes to guide and deliver an even mix. The bass is solid with decent subbass and ear rumble but by no means bass heavy basshead type of response. They’re also very comfortable with a fairly small light resin shell and smallish nozzle, so comfort is ok. It’s also the only IEM I’ve ever bought where the included ear tips work well and didn’t have me immediately swapping out for a third party ear tip. YNMV when it comes to fit, there’s just too much small variations in ear anatomy to make that call across the board.

Warm and lush? Stretch $20 to $120 (or not if you can find it on sale) to get an Aful Explorer. Its exact description is warm and lush. A smaller than average resin shell and smaller than average nozzle allow for comfort for long listening session of 5 hours with no fatigue or discomfort. It should fit your request extremely well.

If you just ordered the Explorer and are worried, don’t, unless you don’t like a warm, lush, good for all day listening sessions. No, the technicalities won’t win prizes, but the imaging really is quite good. The treble is really tamed, but extension for female vocals is fine, with no sibilance or piercing highs (very nice if you’re at all treble sensitive). The tuning is very much, well, Aful Explorer. It’s not going to match a Harman or “meta” tuning if that’s what you want. See what you think after living with it a few days. If you want it for gaming, well, I’m not a gamer, but I doubt it would be my go to when I was gaming.

When I think of neutral plus bass boost, I think Hexa, and it’s not that at all. It’s more engaging and fun, and the bass more prominent. But that makes it sound dark, and it’s really not. I suppose it’s more a controlled treble, if that makes sense. I do feel like there’s a component of it feeling sort of analog in its presentation. I know we really never use that description around here, but that relaxed snd rich sound is reminiscent of that.

Yeah, I predate CD’s, so it’s an ancient way to describe it in context. So JM-1 with more bass? Maybe that could fly, but I feel JM-1 doesn’t quite represent the treble of the Explorer. But I guess it’s close enough for descriptive purposes.

Ok, that’s not bad but it might take away from the subbass and bass of the Explorer, and that slightly drawn back midrange flows through to a nice sounding live treble. I guess that’s why I say it’s fun and lively but not boring which say a Hexa can become. And imaging remains really good. There’s no smearing from the bass into the mids, at least I don’t think so. It only has an adequate not super wide or deep soundstage, but it all pulls together. But while there’s always a warm bassy sound associated with it, it’s not a basshead IEM at all. So JM-1 with a few tweaks? :)

I have several, but my favorite for just listening is an Aful Explorer. I have a Performer 5+2 that has better technicalities and soundstage, and is brighter than the Explorer, and while it is better for critical listening, the Explorer is just more relaxed for me. The Explorer is just a warm, lush, and relaxed sound. They’re very different IEMs and I like having both to choose from. The Performer is a different beast than the Explorer, not just some step up from it. The Performer is an excellent IEM. I don’t want to leave an impression that it’s not. It’s just a different class of IEM that shouldn’t be compared. I still really like my Letshuoer S08, a planar built and tuned to be warm with a tamed treble. It does not have a typical planar tuning of bright with a planar “veil”, or timbre, or metallic sound some people don’t like. They did a great job getting rid of it. It still has all the other characteristics of a planar with rapid response fast attack and transients, by with a good bass and subbass, albeit with a rapid recovery.

Don’t get me wrong, the bass in the Performer is very good, great quality and resolution, it can even give you a little ear rumble, but the bass on the Explorer is fuller. Maybe it’s not with the precision and resolution, but the quantity is there, and when you do get that ear rumble, it elicits that reflexive body feeling of a deeper core feeling to it. I’m not a basshead, but if the bottom octave isn’t as full, I notice it. It may come from decades of speakers that were set up to be full range, as in truly full range to the low 20’s, and even almost infrasonic, like that largest pipe on an organ that can hit you at 16Hz (ok, it wasn’t really, but it sort of felt that way in the room after adding a sub to the speakers and crossing over really low to not mess with the lowest octaves the speakers could deliver). A basshead experience isn’t the same as it’s not really “musical”. Maybe the Punch is, but I’ve never listened to it. The Explorer is just musical enough to satisfy that for me. The Performer is excellent but almost too resolving to me, which would make a real critical listener think I’m just a plebe to think that way. Maybe I’d like Tea Pro’s, maybe not.

tl;dr - I want an iem that is good for critical listening (staying true to mix) and live stage monitoring (good inst. seperation), under $150 budget if possible. Side grade is okay. I'm relatively satisfied with how Magicone sounds, but I'm nit-picking certain characteristics. I prefer Neutral-leaning warm. slight fun is okay but too much will ruin what's good. I've tried the MagicOne and I definetly love how these sound. Then I tried Hexa and now i'm somewhat dissatisfied with both of em lol, though I still slightly prefer the Magicone. I want essentially best of both worlds: Hexa's subtle sub-bass presence Magicone's mid-bass presence Hexa's mid detail (honestly tie with Magicone) Magicone's instrument separation (this might have to do with the piercy 6k-8k that the Magicone has, which I don't like too much, but it seemed to be the difference of instrument details and separation between the Hexa and Magicone) Hexa's volume capability (I say this because Magicone seems to be a bit harder to drive, and has lower volume upper limit before facing distortion, especially in the lower bass) I've set my eyes on Letshuoer S08 for my next play-testing, but I want to see what any of you have to say about other iems, that are more expensive but still has the tuning profile that the Magicone has. /// Some story, and my 2 cents on the iems I've tried so far So I posted about a week ago here getting recommendations for iem under $150 and asked you guys to chime in on the most popular iems recommendations I read in the subreddit: supermix4, mp145, and s12 pro I recieved over 40 comments on various opinions of the people, and I'm so thankful. But I realized that my taste is closely following the JM-1 target, rather than the Harman profiles of these iems. In the meantime, I was able to also put my hands on the following products: Aful Explorer Aful Magicone Aful Performer 5 Truthear Hexa Aful Explorer for me was just that. Awful. Hate the mushy bass on it. hated lack of presence of air. male vocals simply did not have any air. The whole iem sounded like an edgy emo teenager type of V-shape. I get that this may be fun for some people, but I prefer more neutral, boring tuning. It was good to listen to the sub-bass rumble on these, and that's about all I have to say for these. Aful Magicone was great. A-B comparison to Explorer made it feel so lack luster in bass and have piercy irritating treble, but when I refreshed my ears, they sounded great. The only real nit-pick I have for these were the piercy peaks around 6k-8k, and maybe, just need a tad bit more sub-low bass. Certain cymbal hits, and strings were piercing my ear canal, and so in order to maintain pleasureable listening experience, I'd need to put the volume around 60% to have it be acceptable. But then, I listen to music very loud usually, and there was the limitation of the one-driver system; It starts to distort as soon as it reaches certain volume threshold. Aful Performer 5 was basically mix of the Explorer and MagicOne. Great warm bass. slightly recessed mids (in comparison to bass). Much smoother treble (peaks not there, and more balance between the mid treble and high treble range 6k-8k & 12k16k). But the iems did sound more V then MagicOne, and it seems that I prefer the Magicone for my use case of critical, true to the mix listening and live stage monitoring. I can see and hear that the P5 is superior in terms of general music listening experience and enjoyment. Truthear Hexa was very neutral - I liked the general sound shape of these. But, It is quiet... body-less in comparison to the MagicOne. Sub bass is better but mid bass (around 200) was not there, so it sounded thin, albeit clean. Mids were pretty okay, but the lack of 200hz impacted the mids to sound light-weight and cheap. It's smoother in terms of peaks when compared to the Magicone, but that seemed to make the hexa lose out on detail and separation to it. Overall, I feel Magicone is the superior. These just sound cheaper in comparison, albeit being a good sound signature. If anyone wants to chime in suggestions, please go ahead. Those who want to ask me about the iems that I've tried, feel free to do so. Thanks for reading, and I hope to engage with you in the comments :D.

Hexa is boring af, only use it for monitoring Love explorer Chill on low and engaging on high ,Custom' shape shell can be hit or mis, for me its 10/10 fit If u listen to a lot of metal it won't do as well there compare to sla3 High volume iem if u want vocals to pop My other iem is Myer Audio sla3 For energy and how balance they are, everything works with them. Cant find bad things, worst at osts then explorer but if u want 1 and done its the way to go

Nope. Have hexa, explorer, sla3, hola and piccolo

Well cons for them are always competition. Went with aful explorer it was 360 pln on hifi go. Prefer to get something im 100% sertain

Have explorer, but ill check it out on auto eq

i would pick aful explorer

I own these as well, but strictly for gaming/fps. They were tuned by Fresh for that purpose so if you're comparing them to other iems for music then yes, others perform much better. Also swapped tips for Spinfit W1 and cable from Drop. I daily Moondrop's Space Travel TWS and Aful Explorers for music.

Aful Explorer is smaller than most, sounds amazing, and is incredibly comfortable.

Aful Explorer, perfect fit, comfy interesting sound, beautiful, nice case and good eartips. But they are power hungry, you need a good source. I listen mine for at least 2-3 hours a day, I have to force my self to limit listening time.

Your phone will provide enough volume but all micro detail will be lost. I have tried my Explorers on different sources, for example on Apple dongle they sound like shit, on macbook and ipod classic 7 they sound fine, on 3.5 my dap has 250mW off power and it starts sounding good, but ONLY on 4.4 of my DAP which provides 600mW of power I was able to hear how they TRULY sound. In all this cases they are loud enough but amount of detail and distortion is different, the more powerful source you will provide the more details you will hear and less distortion/noise you will have.

well you haven't specified your tastes but I am gonna probably buy the simgot ew300 dsp(or the simgot ea500 dsp) so probably look between them. Simgot are a really trusted brand with a good image so simgot should be safe. I have bought 2 iems before the tangzu waner and the yu xuan ji they both kinda sucked since they don't have bass. These simgots are an all rounder. If you can increase your budget even a little buy the aful explorer. Here are some lists you can use if you want some more info [https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1zeby9PqsTmHMRQ3D3n5W\_1Gx9aNPPK67yoBl\_FXdaF4/edit?gid=0#gid=0](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1zeby9PqsTmHMRQ3D3n5W_1Gx9aNPPK67yoBl_FXdaF4/edit?gid=0#gid=0) [https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1XQtSH90BGK99Vij3dXcSylfwcut5XerPbkkEksFwATA/edit?gid=0#gid=0](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1XQtSH90BGK99Vij3dXcSylfwcut5XerPbkkEksFwATA/edit?gid=0#gid=0) [https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZHVib50XFQW4up3SwOZUTbI-hZB6Ir5LX6XnZblIM6o/edit?gid=0#gid=0](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZHVib50XFQW4up3SwOZUTbI-hZB6Ir5LX6XnZblIM6o/edit?gid=0#gid=0) hope this helps

Aful explorer on sale

OP kinda said they'll do a bit of gaming sometimes. So I don't think they are really doing competitive games, so for any non comp game, explorer is quite immersive. Of course usable for competitive too, given decent imaging, but yeah.

The HD560S is too bright for me in stock tuning. After i learned how to use EQ and auto EQ i never listened to them in stock again. Nice write up and comparison, i was wondering at what price point iems start to sound better than headphones. My Aful Explorers which rn cost the same as the HD560S are pretty close to them but they lack a bit of resolution (probably tunings fault).

I second the explorer. Great fun bass, tamer upper mids and smooth treble. They are just perfect for metal.

Sold both of them within 2 weeks😆 My head fi signature: Headphones: Fiio FT1, PSB M4U, Corsair HS70, Grado SR60X (rebought). IEM’s: Cambridge Audio Melomania 1+, NiceHCK Himalaya, Hidizs MP145, Artti T10, Aoshida E20, Aful 5+2, Tripowin X HBB Kailua, QOA Adonis New, HifiMan RE2000S Pro, Faaeal Iris 2.0, Faaeal Anchestor, Aful Explorer, Hiby digital XOE, TRN Shell(!), 7Hz Five, Kz EDC Pro, QKZ MDR, Kbear Rosefinch, Yincrow X6. DAC/Amplifier: Fiio Q3 MQA, Ifi hip dac 3, BGVP T01s , Olaf dual Bocheng chip dongle, NONAME 4.4mm dongle with Apple C101 chip, Aqua Nexum. Tested but send back: Inawaken Dawn-MS,  Fiio Q11, iBasso DX180, Joyodio Shine, Fiio Q3, Kz X Libra, Fiio JD3, Sony WF-C500, JBL Tune 130NC, Sennheiser HD 650, Simgot EW200, HiFiMan Sundara, Philips Fidelio X3, Philips Fidelio X2HR, Dali IO4, QOA Vesper (DOA), BeyerDynamic DT 900 Pro X, CCA Trio, Beyerdynamic DT 990 32Ohm, HiFiMan Deva Pro wired, Moondrop Kato, Moondrop Blessing 3, Truthear X Crinacle: Red, Tangzu X HBB XuanNV, 7Hz Timeless, Simgot Supermix 4, Tangzu Wan’er SG, Austrian Audio HI-X15, XSL X-One MK4, Sony WH-1000XM5, ThieAudio Hype 2, Owned but sold: SMSL C200, Fiio JM21, Hiby R4, 7Hz Timeless AE, Tripowin X 0DiBi: Vivace, Simgot EW-300, Denon AH-D5200, Artti R1, Aful Performer8, Jabra 75T Active Elite, TRN Conch, Ikko oh300, Fiio FP3, HiFiMan HE400SE Bilateral (China edition), Kefine Delci, iBasso SR2, Koss PortaPro, Ziigaat Nuo, Ziigaat X HBB Arcadia, Ziigaat Doscinco, Ziigaat X Jay Audio Estrella, Ziigaat Odyssey, Ziigaat Cinno, Ziigaat Cincotres, Grado SR60X(rebought), Kiiboom Evoke, Kiwi Ears Quartet, 7Hz Legato, 7Hz Salnotes Zero, 7Hz Sonus, 7Hz Timeless II, Etymotic ER2XR, Fatfreq X HBB Deuce, Blon BL-03 II, Kiwi Ears Crinacle Singolo, Faaeal Poppy, Qkz Cl8, Faaeal Rosemary, Sennheiser ie200, Fiio FH7S, Fiio JD7, Fiio FF3S, Fiio FF5, Fiio FD3, Hidisz MS3, Hidizs Mermaid MS2, Kiwi Ears Cadenza, Qkz X HBB, Meze 99 Neo, Moondrop Chu 2, Grado SR325X, HiFiMan RE800 Silver, HiFiMan RE400i, Kiwi Ears X HBB Punch, 1more Penta P50, Artti T10 Pro, Kz ZEX, Kz ZVX, Kz PR1 balanced edition, Kz X HBB PR2 (first batch), Kz PR3, Kz Castor bass edition, Moondrop Chu, Kz Krila, Kz ZEX Pro, Kz LingLong, Kz DQ6, Kz ZS10 Pro X and Denon AH-C620R (Worst IEM ever, possible AE imitation). Sources: Tidal, Ipad Pro M4 13’, iPhone 16 PM Wishlist: Ziigaat Lush, Ziigaat Arcanis, Fiio M21 (on pre order).

I will share my head-fi signature below (it’s long). I have/had most iem’s that are mentioned. I wanted also to buy the DaVinci but it was recommended not do buy them. For example I like the Ziigaat Arcadia (186,-) more than the Punch (449,-). Prices, and even graphs, don’t tell the whole story. It like someone said, most important question is if you enjoy them. Also Doscinco is very good. Headphones: Fiio FT1, PSB M4U, Corsair HS70, Grado SR60X (rebought). IEM’s: Cambridge Audio Melomania 1+, NiceHCK Himalaya, Hidizs MP145, Artti T10, Aoshida E20, Ziigaat X HBB Arcadia , Tripowin X HBB Kailua, QOA Adonis New, HifiMan RE2000S Pro, Faaeal Iris 2.0, Faaeal Anchestor, Aful Explorer, CCA Trio, CCA Hydro, 7Hz Five, Kz EDC Pro, QKZ MDR, Kbear Rosefinch, Yincrow X6. DAC/Amplifier: Hiby R4, Fiio Q3 MQA, Ifi hip dac 3, BGVP T01s , Olaf dual Bocheng chip dongle, NONAME 4.4mm dongle with Apple C101 chip, Aqua Nexum. Tested but send back: Inawaken Dawn-MS, Fiio Q11, iBasso DX180, Joyodio Shine, Fiio Q3, Kz X Libra, Fiio JD3, Sony WF-C500, JBL Tune 130NC, Sennheiser HD 650, Simgot EW200, HiFiMan Sundara, Philips Fidelio X3, Philips Fidelio X2HR, Dali IO4, QOA Vesper (DOA), BeyerDynamic DT 900 Pro X, Beyerdynamic DT 990 32Ohm, HiFiMan Deva Pro wired, Moondrop Kato, Moondrop Blessing 3, Truthear X Crinacle: Red, Tangzu X HBB XuanNV, 7Hz Timeless, Simgot Supermix 4, Tangzu Wan’er SG, Austrian Audio HI-X15, XSL X-One MK4, Sony WH-1000XM5, ThieAudio Hype 2, Owned but sold: SMSL C200, Fiio JM21, 7Hz Timeless AE, Tripowin X 0DiBi: Vivace, Simgot EW-300, Denon AH-D5200, Artti R1, Aful Performer8, Jabra 75T Active Elite, TRN Conch, Ikko oh300, Fiio FP3, HiFiMan HE400SE Bilateral (China edition), Kefine Delci, iBasso SR2, Koss PortaPro, Ziigaat Nuo, Ziigaat Doscinco, Ziigaat X Jay Audio Estrella, Ziigaat Odyssey, Ziigaat Cinno, Ziigaat Cincotres, Grado SR60X(rebought), Kiiboom Evoke, Kiwi Ears Quartet, 7Hz Legato, 7Hz Salnotes Zero, 7Hz Sonus, 7Hz Timeless II, Etymotic ER2XR, Fatfreq X HBB Deuce, Blon BL-03 II, Kiwi Ears Crinacle Singolo, Faaeal Poppy, Qkz Cl8, Faaeal Rosemary, Sennheiser ie200, Fiio FH7S, Fiio JD7, Fiio FF3S, Fiio FF5, Fiio FD3, Hidisz MS3, Hidizs Mermaid MS2, Kiwi Ears Cadenza, Qkz X HBB, Meze 99 Neo, Moondrop Chu 2, Grado SR325X, HiFiMan RE800 Silver, HiFiMan RE400i, Kiwi Ears X HBB Punch, Kiiboom Evoke, 1more Penta P50, Artti T10 Pro, Kz ZEX, Kz ZVX, Kz PR1 balanced edition, Kz X HBB PR2 (first batch), Kz PR3, Kz Castor bass edition, Moondrop Chu, Kz Krila, Kz ZEX Pro, Kz LingLong, Kz DQ6, Kz ZS10 Pro X and Denon AH-C620R🤮 (Worst IEM ever, possible AE imitation). Sources: Tidal, Ipad Pro M4 13’, iPhone 16 PM, Hiby R4 Wishlist: Ziigaat Lush, Ziigaat Arcanis, Fiio M21.

anything that has a smoother v shaped FR is already kinda bass bleeding a little, like if u dont like the ew300s, the aful explorer is dark leaning and the fact that ot has an emphasis on the bass and mid bass means its gonna overpower the mids more than the ew300s. s08 to me felt a little too dark and warm as well, i think the Delci might be more in ur range since its better balanced? but at the same time if u want proper separated mids, finding it in a v shaped iem is hard or non existent, ID rec more towards something like the new JM1DF target, the slight tuck but not really a tuck shape, helps separate the bass from the mids, or any more U shaped graph

performer 5 shell size compared to explorer ? cus Explorer redefined the good comfortable fit and I don't want to go for anything bigger

I think Simgot's single DD offerings were a bit stronger compared to the supermix, but I am not a fan of the harman target so your mileage may vary. I think the Aful Explorer is a better option in the same price range. If you are like me and find j-pop/k-pop to be too airy and sibilant in the mix, Explorer does a pretty good job of balancing it out.

Aful Explorer for bass wonderland. Simgot supermix 4 for sophisticated harman bass. Cca hydro if you wanna go crazy with it.

Almost got them, my ew300s just died and ended up at the same place you are. Went with aful explorers, my heart was on supermix 4 but I don’t know anymore lol

They are awesome, can’t wait for them to get here Sunday lol I bought tri clarions for them so hopefully tho go well otherwise I have w1s as well

Hey all. So I generally don’t do hype. I promise that if you look at my posts in this sub you won’t find me unduly hyping up a set without fairly presenting its detracting points. But this set is really something special. Although I don’t really like being overly positive, I have to say it as it is for me for this set. At $170, the Kiwi Ears Aether presents technicalities that really, actually, punch way above its price point. There, it’s the first time I use this overused phrase, but in this case, I’ll completely stand by it. By the way, I bought this set myself. For reference, my reference for tuning is the Aful Explorer and the Yanyin Moonlight 2023, and my reference for technicalities are the Mest MKIII (soundstage) and the U12T (all the rest).  If I were to summarise the Aether in a word, I’d say it’s articulate. Everything has a sense of clarity, of crispness, of articulation that is honestly simply amazing. Unfortunately, I don’t have any other planars on hand to compare, nor any budget IEMs besides the Explorer. I don’t mean to brag, but besides the Explorer, I haven’t really kept any budget IEMs, as I preferred to buy $500+ sets which keep their value at resale, and which were generally much more competent than the cheaper sets. From memory (take it with a big grain of salt), I much prefer both the tuning and tech of the Aether to other planars I’ve heard (s12, s08, briefly Melody, Solo).  Tuning wise it’s really good as well. I’d say it’s a bit more of a mid-volume set, but can definitely do high volume as well. However, I’m very sensitive to treble, so I run a HS of -3db at 10k when listening at higher volumes, as well as a LS of -3 at 150hz. Still, the treble is really beautifully smooth. As a self-declared treble hater, there’s something addicting about the Aether’s treble, even without EQ. Timbre is really good for a planar, not as good as the Explorer though.  My previous budget tech benchmark was the Pilgrim. I’d say in terms of crispness and articulation, the Arther is equal or even slightly superior to the Pilgrim due to the sheer speed and control of this planar. The soundstage and imaging of the Aether is also impressive and similar to the Pilgrim. However, I’d still rank the Pilgrim above the Aether in overall enjoyment, because while the planar of the Aether is amazingly speedy and crisp, I still prefer the “wetness” of BA’s, especially for the treble, but also for the mids. The bass on the Pilgrim, though lesser in quantity, is also more engaging. Although the bass of the Aether is perfectly fine, decently articulate, and very speedy, it’s still planar bass, and a I prefer DD and BA bass over this. The Pilgrim and the U12T have some of my favourite bass. The overall speed and articulation of this set make it really stand out for two of my favourite genres: psytrance and baroque. This set is actually endgame for these genres. Chiptune, rock, classical in general, and other genres that love speed and an articulate treble are also amazing.

So, with all the positive stuff out of the way, I have to mention this is definitely not a perfect set. For genres that prefer a slow, warm, liquid sound, I still definitely prefer my Aful Explorer and Yanyin Mahina 2023. Both have an enveloping, muscular sound that the Aether just can’t do. Hip-Hop, jazz, Cello’s, and all that, are better on the Explorer. Not to say the Aether is horrible on these genres, but it will focus on giving an analytical interpretation of these genres, rather than a relaxing or engaging presentation which I prefer for these genres.  Another minus point is the build. Although I actually find the shells really beautiful, the shells are bulky (they’re rather tall) and the nozzle diameter is around 6mm (rough measurements). That’s a bit too big for me unfortunately, but I have tiny ears and it should be fine for most people I guess.  I could compare this to some headphones, but the truth is I’ve actually never liked a pair of headphones I’ve owned (Bokeh Closed, DT990, FT1, Ananda, M50X, a few others), so it would just be me saying I prefer the Aether (and Explorer too) over all these headphones. Do with this info what you want I guess. That’s about it. If you’re looking for a really technical set at any price point, I can definitely recommend the Aether. It is very analytical without having the typical analytical sound signature, which has not enough bass, too much pinna gain, and uneven treble. But if you’re not looking for the best tech, and prefer something more relaxing and engaging at the same time, I still definitely stand by my default recommendation of the Aful Explorer. Honestly, if you get both these sets, you’ve got two amazing sets that complement each other perfectly and cover every genre and mood for $270. 

Haven't heard the Timeless II, but I'm very curious about it. I can't find the nozzle diameter anywhere, so I'll wait until I can find it. The Explorer is still an IEM I love, despite having owned many much more expensive sets. The tuning is near perfect for me (I sometimes EQ the sub bass down just a bit), and the fit, nozzle, and venting are all top notch. It's way more comfortable than the Aether for my small ears. My main complaint with it would be the lack of speed, it just doesn't resolve faster genres well enough for me. But it's probably the IEM I use the most still! It like my favourite blanket, or my favourite comforting tea. Also, take the s08 comparison with a grain of salt, it's based on memory and new toy syndrome haha. I remember liking it, but the tuning is just a tiny bit wonky. Something about the mids. The lack of treble is something that I liked about it though. Nozzle is 6.0mm as well, damn you chi-fi, why can't you just make smaller nozzles like western IEMs?

Preferred music genre - jazz, reggae, soul, opera, lofi, ambient music, classical music, nordic folk music, elevator music - whatever the Plants vs Zombies ost belong to Upper left to right - HiBy Beans, Kinera Celest Pandamon 2 Bottom left to right - Truthear Hexa, Letshuoer DZ4, Aful Explorer Order of preference: 1.) Aful Explorer - all-rounder for a relaxing listen and worked with all music genres I listened to - favorite IEM cable out of everything I tried 2.) Truthear Hexa - general use and palate cleanser - favorite design 3.) HiBy Beans - BASS, for lofi and sleeping purposes - favorite lightweight IEM cable 4.) Kinera Celest Pandamon 2 - for more relaxed vocals 5.) Letshuoer DZ4 - for less bass and mellow listen

The most recommended $20-$30 ones. Anything past that are thing’s ai’d consider “requires a decent amount of research” which is just googling reviews and impressions and trying to see a middle ground. My personal blind buy is the Aful Explorer since I prefer laid back sounds

i agree with all your points, especially the one saying that timbre is it’s strongest asset! my friends that aren’t in the iem scene really like the explorer over my other (more expensive) sets solely for the timbre, definitely a solid starting set!

I love my Aful Explorer and I reeeeally want to get my hands on Performer 5+2. Beautiful IEMs with a warm, rich sound signature that I adore. I know people love V shaped, but I gotta have my full bodied mids.

I always thought anything that’s good for music would also be good for gaming but I’ve heard specifically multi driver iem’s help, so I’d personally recommend the aful explorer

The explorer is still my favorite IEM right now, at its price of 95 I feel like its such a good pickup for most people

just after I chose the eplorer noooo

Yes that is exactly my thought process ahah Most of the time I will use it in the bus and I already have a very nice headset at home, so I think it will be just fine !

I was in the same position than you and I bought the aful explorer for less than 100€ in the 11/11 offers.

I'm not a good person to ask, tbh. I don't have much experience. Just kinda wanted to talk about the Explorer, since I just bought it. If you wait two weeks I can tell you how it sounds... Also, since you look like you are after a very specific tuning, why not just buy something with good tech and eq it to your taste?

I own both of these sets, the Supermix 4 is a good Harman tuned IEM. The Harman tuning is what Harman Inc. Found the majority of people prefer. I believe it's normally priced higher than what you wanted to spend. The Explorer is more of a new Meta tuning. New Meta is a flatter tuning with less ear gain usually making the IEMs easier to listen to at higher volumes. I am not a big fan of the new Meta tuning I normally listen at lower or a medium volume, so I prefer the boost in the upper mids and treble and a boosted bass. I hope this helps.

Neutral warm: Aful explorer Balanced sound: Moodrop aria 2 v shaped: EW300 I think for blind buy, never buy too expensive iem because there is always a chance that you dont like the sound.

I can really recommend the Explorer! It has a warm, relaxed sound signature. Very good for relaxed listening. What it's not so good at is dynamics. It's not so good for electronic, hip-hop or metal. It lacks the "kick" and the punch in the upper bass. The sound is rather boring in this Areal. Apart from that, the Explorer is really fun. Highly recommended for classical or classic rock.

Hexa is great. Very clean sound. S08 doesn't have sharp treble. Might not be a crisp sounding as you prefer, but it's a very good option. Personal favorite in your list is the Explorer. Something about it... Kinda addicting.

Sounds like you enjoy a detailed yet smooth experience... I would watch this video by Jay, I trust his ears very much. https://youtu.be/XclO362Ll_U?si=_ZiYp5rR-UoYzABQ I think you would enjoy Aful Explorer $95, Ziigaat Odyssey $230 or Simgot EW300 $70. They are very smooth but quite airy and with a good healthy bass foundation. It's very unlikely they should tire your ears too. The first two are actually tuned to be listened to at high volume. The Odyssey is definitely the best out of those three, which makes sense given the price.

Aful Explorer, or any other lower pinna gain set. Truthear Zero (og), the other side of the coin for me, shouty and harsh.

Aful explorer, after so many IEMs they are the only ones that do not hurt my ears at all, so I can use them for many hours every day. I also bought kiwi ears aether recently and they are amazing, they don't hurt much as others do but I'll just stick to the explorer.

I have Letshuoer s08. It’s a warm sounding Iem . If that’s your liking in sound you can go for it. I would recommend it happily. They are easy to listen to and no fatiguing so can wear them for longer periods. Another option to consider would be Aful Explorer. Again same warm sounding Iem. Between S08 and Explorer I chose S08, but they are both very similar in sound.

Same here. Chose S08 over explorer. Although I found both to be very similar in sound. It’s just the s08 was more comfortable to wear for longer sessions

Aful Explorer or Letshuoer S08 , those two are good options to consider. Not a very informative person on audio technicalities but, S08 is clear enough to enjoy movies and music. Explorer is pretty similar in sound to S08. IMO you can go with either one.

No iem will give you wallhacks or anything like that, the Aful explorer does what I need and more even compared to my supernovas and dusks and performer 8s. Spending this much just for gaming is not worth it

Below $100, you can try the Kefine Delci. From what I recall it has a lot of sub and mid bass although it can sound a bit sharp in the treble. Below $200, you can try the Aful Explorer which is very popular for large amounts of bass and a dark, yet smooth treble response. Excellent for high volume listening. If you’re open to the used market, you can find a few sets with great bass for below $200. Some would be the Dunu Davinci, ZiiGaat Estrella or Doscinco, or Binary Dynaquattro.

For gaming, Letshuoer S08 no debate, better technicalities. Now for music, it would depend on your preference, they are both dark, maybe S08 is a tad bit brighter compared to explorer but still dark compared to any planar IEM. In terms of bass, S08 hits harder(mid bass), but the Explorer has a better sub bass rumble. I currently own the S08 and loving them a lot, only tried the Explorer from a fellow hobbyist and I know it's a worthy purchase. Check out Audio Amigo's review on Aful Explorer or Letshuoer S08 on Youtube, he compares both and gives a good insight.

Explorer has a clear lean on the bass, while still being clean-ish in the sound and having a decent performance for the price, good if you like inmersive sound or a somewhat relaxed bassy replay. SM4 would be noticeably more energetic and even a bit leaning into the treble, a lot of people say that is very refined in technical performance, but the treble could be a bit too much for some, the truthear nova is the the slighly less energetic (specially in the treble area) equivalent, both having a technical edge over the Explorer, but not for much.

for that price, ill say either Aful explorer or to check the Letshouer S08. Its worth mentioning that you didnt mentioned the Delci and that was pretty much considered to be the BL03 upgrade from some reviwers.

having the QKZxHBB (besides other models like Kefine Klean, and having tested Cadenza, Salnotes Zero blue and so on), there arent that many similar warm options around $50, and around $100 there are options but with some things to consider, first, the closets i think would be 7hz Legato, but not sure how different is going to feel since is also a bass heavy iem but it has more amount of and a stronger presence of bass vs the QKZ one, so thats a bass heavy option if you want one. If you want something just more warm and relaxed, the Aful Explorer is the way, but might be too expensive if is not on a sale, so, Tangzu Fudu, if you can find it, comes quite close, but is a VERY relaxed set, so you might need some time to get used to it even if using the QKZ. And if you have a dongle DAC to power them the Letshouer S08 could also be an excellent choice for warm and bassy. If you havent checked it yet, This is a Sub $100-ish iem list i made: [\- Click Here -](https://www.reddit.com/r/iems/s/OXgg8IsbYi) Youn can get a bit more insgiht on each one of the mentioned iems if you wish.

Excellent post. I've done pretty much exactly what you've detailed in this post by myself. I started out knowing pretty much nothing and picked up the KZ ZS10 Pro because it was reviewed well on youtube at the time. I now know that I absolutely despise that type of tuning. After picking up another few sets in the 20-50 range as well as the hexa and playing around a lot with EQ, I've finally settled onto a sound signature that I prefer for extended listening sessions. Just recently picked up the aful explorer and it's everything I could have wanted from an IEM. Incredibly comfortable and not at all fatiguing for me as someone that's quite sensitive to treble, while still giving me all of the details I want out of the highs. I don't foresee myself wanting to upgrade for quite some time now. My current finances honestly can't justify going into the 200+ market and even then I wouldn't even be sure the improvement over the Explorer would be worthwhile. Sure I could have probably afforded a $300 IEM with the amount I've spent so far but I would have been completely blind buying and would have likely ended up with something I like less than my current setup.

I too am a Val and rivals sweat but I also enjoy music so I would say try the truthear blues or Hexa through amazon for their return policy and if you like them you could keep them or if you still want more you could return it and put in another $70 and try the aful explorer as it’s a much warmer sound and probably won’t be as shouty or fatiguing although they may not be as sharp footsteps it’s not like you’re gonna hear footsteps in the wrong places as most iems have good imaging so you can’t really go wrong with one or the other but in my case I started out with the zero blues and then upgraded to the nova but I’m looking to eventually get the hype 4 or origin if my pockets can take it lol

Aful explorer is fantastic for loud volumes. You’ll get the bass you want and a nice smooth sound with fantastic imaging and separation. Soundstage is intimate, but holographic.

S12 2024, sliivo sl41 mkii and aful explorer.

Good alternatives in the same sub-$90 price range if you want more bass and more note weight: -- **Kefine Delci**. $60 on AliExpress. Plenty of sub-bass, nice treble. Classic U-shaped tuning, as the mids are still there but just a bit recessed. A ton of fun. You have the 109 Pro. Have you heard the Meze 109 Classics? The Delci are the budget IEM version of the 99 Classics. Warm, bassy, fun. Easy as hell to drive. An Apple dongle will do just fine. -- **Artti T10.** $51 on AliExpress. THE default budget planar. No planar at this price range can come close. The T10 has nice balance, decent bass, nice treble extension without sibilance and very few annoying upper mids or treble peaks. They need some juice, but I see you have a quality Schiit amp. A dongle with some power will do just fine, too. Two other suggestions, one above and one below your budget: -- **AFUL Explorer**. $120 on Amazon or AliExpress. Excellent bass, with an emphasis on mid-bass punch. Solid mids, with no Harman-ish shouty upper mids. Treble is relaxed, without a ton of extension, yet still has detail. The ultimate warm, cozy chill set at this price range. Easy to drive. -- **Kinera Celest Wyvern Black**. $25-30 on AliExpress. I haven't heard these, but most reviews I've read and seen praise them as one of the best budget sets or the new benchmark for under-$30 IEMs. Good luck. Don't believe the brain burn-in crap with the Hexa. Yes, brain burn-in is real, but if you don't like the sound after a few hours of listening, brain-burn isn't going to fix that. Get something YOU like, not something people say you SHOULD like.

The Explorer is a better deal. It's a fun, warm, easy-to-listen IEM. Nice, punchy mid-bass, peek-a-boo treble that's there when you need it but doesn't kill you. No shouty mids, either. I'm testing the Volume S right now. It's safe, competent, very well tuned. But it's not exciting. It's not special. It's very good, not great. Linear bass, smooth, non-offensive treble and mids. A very linear sound signature. Oh, and the high-impedance mode is a total waste. Tinny as hell sound. The Explorer at $105 is a better value and 80 percent of the way there to the Volume S, which is $330. Definitely more clarity with the Volume S, but the difference is not going to blow you away. Volume S is a solid upgrade from the Explorer. I just don't think it's worth three times the price.

You won't like the Hexa if you're coming from the Sony XM4s. Those Sonys are bassy as hell, and the Hexa are pretty lean on the bass. The Hexa has more "correct" sound, but that doesn't mean you'll like it. I would lean toward the AFUL Explorer on sale this week for around $100. That has a warmer, bassier sound signature while still being significantly better than the XM4. You also may like the Kefine Delci for around $70, as it has a bassy, V-shaped sound signature similar to the XM4s, but better. The Kefine Klean is $50. A bit less bassy than the Delci but still very engaging.

Yes, as long as you don't want very peaky treble and enjoy fairly prominent bass. Explorer is an excellent set.

No such thing, as we don't know your preferred sound signature and the types of music you like. But ... the upcoming AFUL Performer 5+2 has received raves from reviewers as an excellent all-arounder. Supposed to be on the market within a week or two at around $300. P.S.: I just read more of this thread and saw your sound preferences. I have the AFUL Explorer, and its relaxed tuning is pretty damn good for aggressive music. Fatigue-free, and the Explorer really scales up -- especially in the treble -- with volume. I still would keep an eye on the 5+2, though. Glowing early reviews.

Good shout. The Explorer is excellent. But it's also $120. A smidge more than $20-$30 ones. :)

Explorer is an EXCELLENT choice. Own and love them. But my favorite under $300 is most definitely the Penon Fan 3. Retails for $350 but can be purchased new for much less with the Penon VIP email code.

**$100 or less** \-- AFUL Explorer \-- Artti T10 \-- Kefine Klean

The Explorer is shouty in the treble? You must live on a different sonic planet. I've read and heard feedback from at least 50 reviews/people about the Explorer, and you're the first one to complain about "shouty treble." I own the Explorer, too. It's not even remotely shouty in the treble. It has punchy, slammy mid-bass that can turn off some people, but I love it. The Explorer is very relaxed in the treble. It stays in the background except for when called upon. Very much a "peek-a-boo" treble. If you think the Explorer's treble is hot, you are the new global king for treble sensitivity, sir.

I'm a decades long audiophile, and my final home stereo/surround system includes an Audio Research all tube amp, Audible Illusions preamp, and Mirage M3 chin high speakers. A high end Lexicon surround processor feeds the side and rear speakers through separate amps. Back in the mid-90's I purchased the Sennheiser HD580 and Beyerdynamic 990, but these were considered just 'accessories' those days. I enjoyed them with the portable devices available at the time, but my main stereo system got the spotlight. In 2020, during covid, I became more interested in headphones. I was struck by the huge community of hobbyists and all of the DACS, amps, and headphones available. So I entered the headphone world and became an enthusiast. Over 4 years and many DAC/amp/headphone combinations I settled on a recent mid-level Topping DAC, an excellent XDuoo hybrid amp, 5 Beyerdynamic headphones (including the DT 1990) as my favorites. And then I added the Arya Organic. At that point I figured the bang to buck ratio precluded the need for any further improvements. You know what happened next-- I kept seeing articles, comments, and videos about IEMs and had to see what all the fuss was about. I bought the KZ Terminator and had problems getting a good seal. I had to work with the over-ear cords to get them right. Had to purchase different tips-- and then it all started working right. I soon got the s12 pro, Simgot EW200, 300, and EA1000. I've now added the Ziigaat x Fresh Arete and Hidizis mp 145 and Aful Explorer to my favorites. So is it all hype? No, IEMs can really sound great. It's more of an intimate, in the head experience than headphones, and the sound is immersive. Are they 'better' than headphones? No. They're different, but not necessarily better. My DT 1990's and Arya Organic's still reign supreme, overall. And my home stereo system is still the best in terms of a more realistic, big-scale sound. The difference between a large speaker home setup, and headphones, and IEMs is all about the scale of the sound. IEMs just can't match the scale of the Organics, and the Organics aren't replicating music in the scale of a speaker system. But the IEM experience is very addictive. I think that part of the attraction, after the immersive quality, is the simple novelty of it all. I'm putting these tiny things into my ears and I'm getting this relatively huge experience And they're so comparatively cheap. Back in my home stereo days a component could cost 2-3K or more. The Organics cost $1300. My EA1000's cost $225, and I think of these as equal to my DT 1990's, although at a smaller scale.

AFUL Explorer for me. Small, light, easy to insert with great fit and stability. Great balanced sound. Great in just about every way.

I LOVE the look of the Aful Explorer!

I enjoy the irony of it. They make really excellent IEMs.

Aful Explorer or Tangzu Fudu. Try to AutoEq your Waners first using Squiglink (there are tutorials on how to do this) and see if you dig their sound signature before committing to purchase.

If you're working from HD650s, you're already likely in the habit of checking your mixes against other sources, as the 650s are far from a neutral headphone. The same ideology applies to IEMs; while I wouldn't recommend bass cannons, you can work with nearly any set on the market and simply give them the same time you spent with the 650s to learn how the tuning will impact your mix on different reference gear. I've used a few IEMs for mixing (although I prefer over ears and monitors); out of the options you've listed above, the Nova and SM4s will work, but I think they both making better casual listening sets. I would look at a set like the Aful Explorer for your use case. They're slightly flatter across the frequency range, rather than U or V-shaped; bass isn't too emphasized, treble isn't sibilant; very present but not shouty mids. Overall it's a relaxing listen without being too dark, or too warm (no warmer than your Sennheisers).

Sorry about that, mid-tier I consider $200-$500 USD but I realize that scale is different depending on a number of reasons. For something in the $100 range I'd say Aful Explorer. There's plenty of bass options in the <$100 budget range. Mostly will be single DD

Other suggestions based on your frequency preference. Prices listed are for new, so should be cheaper used: Aful Explorer (really great for the $100ish price) Letshouer S08 ($89) I would recommend spending a tiny bit more and get: Zigaat Odyssey ($199) FatFreq Deuce ($239 - amazing balanced bass set) Since you love bass I think you'd be happiest with the Aful Explorer or FatFreq Deuce. These sets also have darker treble for treble sensitive listeners (like me). I'd say the Explorers have the warmest treble, but is very smooth. The Deuce has great balance between bass and treble, doesn't feel like the bass muddies the vocals. I have all the above sets and they are all great choices.

Do you feel that the bass hits nice and is punchy? Cause I have mine and they feel like that

I'm glad I'm not the only one enjoying it :)

Aful Explorer, it has a decent amount of sub bass, it has a warm sound that scales so good with the volume and it's cheap.

If only headphones it's easy: Arya Organic > FiiO FT1 >>> Sennheiser HD6XX If IEMs count, it's a bit harder, I would say: ThieAudio Origin > Arya Organic = ThieAudio Hype 4 > Ziigaat Odyssey > FiiO FT1 > Aful Explorer > Simgot SuperMix4 > Sennheiser HD6XX

Maybe aful explorer ! .... or you can check the type of driver off trn conch and search for iem with the same type off driver but this time with better tuning (... whit your target)

Ive tried the P5 and explorer and they fit me well without pressure issues. How does the magicone feel? Apparently it's unevented and some people mentioned pressure buildup on those.

not basshead levels of bass but the aful explorer has quite some bass, it's a bassy warm iem so you might like them

I own the Explorer, which is an exceptional set at price, but keep in mind it has a colored sound signature, requiring higher volume to avoid sounding rolled off and too dark. Although details will remain soft, I prefer it over the S12 Pro, which emphasizes details and clarity but can sound a bit metallic and unnatural. I would still take the S12 Pro over the Aful P5, as it can sound congested and has a hot treble to my ear. You should also consider tips, they significantly impact an IEM's presentation and sound. Consider getting a full set of KB Ear 07, Divinus Velvet Wides, and foam tips to experiment with. Aful includes awful tips, so factor that into your decision. Regarding the Aether, it's too early to tell, as initial hype can influence opinions. I haven't tried the Supermix 4, but it appears well-regarded as an all-rounder. Lastly, all these IEMs will benefit from EQ adjustments. Even a simple low and high shelf, adjusting those ratios can make a huge difference.

The problem I have with the S08 Is the way that it fits. It has a very short nozzle that terminates into a rather large bulb before meeting the body of the IEM. In my instance this meant that I could not insert it very deep into my ear and this limited the range of ear tips I could use and impacted the sound. The Explorer for me is a S tier when it comes to fit and ergonomics and it also scales much better with volume. The S08 gets crowded and congested when you try and turn it up loud, probably due to the lack of air.

You’re looking at warm leaning v shape, without the mid range too scooped out (to allow for vocals to be balanced). The SIMGOT EA500LM is a great example of that. Others with similar profile: - Aful Explorer - Simgot Supermix 4 - Kefine Delci AE There are a few iems highly reviewed/rated around $50-70 (Kefine Klean, Tangzu Fudu, Inawaken Dawn) but if your budget wants to spend more closer to $100-150 then there aren’t as many without going to the $200-300-ish range (Kiwi Ears Quintet, Mangird Tea Pro’s etc)

The Aful Explorer was on sale at its lowest I’d seen for Aliexpress’ anniversary last month. £65/$86 all inclusive of taxes/shipping etc. Wanted to give you a heads up of what they were at, so you don’t overpay or maybe wait for another super sale? Or just get the P7 without buying 2 iems.

These seem to be well liked, definitely my favourite shell design from Aful (the P5+2 is just behind) but love the starry understated design. Ahh, hope you can get some proper time with your new sets soon - did you take advantage of the crazy AliExpress anniversary sale? Definitely regret not getting 1 extra set that was in the msrp £150-200 range, esp as the current sales aren’t as good.

explorer user here and god this hurts me, but ina good way. im not going to buy this but learning that this price has such good iems is freaking good. so a thumbs up for it.

Actually looking for an intense subwoofer rumble, I tested an aful explorer and the dynaquattros and they didn’t match my simgot ew300 on that track. I’m not sure exactly how to describe the difference in the bass. The dyna and the aful sounded like a subwoofer when it rattles inside a car trunk and the simgots just had a clean thump!

Aful Explorer is good but other than that I’d suggest MOONDROP Aria 2. It’s massively underestimated. I’ve never touched my hexa since I got the aria. Bass is super satisfying and that spacy sound stage effect is really nice and cozy.

Hexa is the way to go based on what you described. For a warmer sound in bass you can go for Aful Explorer. The other options you mentioned are a step down from these.

Nothing there beats the Explorer at Price/Performance ratio. They all deliver pretty similar quality but are overpriced and/or again just don't beat the Explorer at all.

Hey, I went for the Aful Explorer for around 90 bucks, They say its like 75% of the Da Vincis for 1/3rd of the price. Im new to iems, But for headphones I always loved neutral with a warm bass boost yet detailed. Which the Explorer presumably has. Cant wait to try these out.

Kefine Klean and T10? Yea, Probably. Explorer? **NO**, it's definitely not everyone's cup of tea.

I can recommend Aful Explorer. It has more bass and sound pretty "dark".

2024 was an exciting year for me and all fellow audiophiles. So many great IEMs with unimaginable value. Here are 8 of my favorite sets from my ~15 sets collection. Right to left, top to bottom: ISN EBC80, HiSenior Mega5EST Bass + (custom design), Tangzu Zhu Bajie, Kiwi Ears Punch, Xenns Mangird Tea Pro, DUNU DaVinci, Ziigaat Estrella, AFUL Performer 5+2 Honorable mention: AFUL Explorer (best first IEM IMO), Ziigaat Arete (best gaming IEM IMO), Simgot Supermix 4 (best all-rounder IMO). I'm excited for what 2025 will bring us. Hopefully better sets with lower prices.

Aful Explorer with Spinfit W1 tips. Next level for bass compared to the Nova. Haven't heard the others to compare.

Don’t do the T10 or S12 Pro. Planar timbre does weird things to cymbals. The SM4 is pretty good, but can still sound a little unnatural in the highs at times for me. I would also look into the Aful Explorer. Signed, the sub’s favorite prog metal enthusiast.

I haven't heard the Deuce but have heard the other three. Easiest decision ever, the Explorer.

I'd go Aful Explorer it's cheaper and probably has more bass tbh.

Check out Tanchjim 4U or even Tanchjim One. I hated Explorer too, and it's because it has too high of a subbass that drowns out the vocals. These might be sidegrades compared to an upgrade for MagicOne, though.

I have both. They have similar sound profile but if we talk about bass presentation the explorer is a 1 or 2 levels above the s08. Detail retrival and soundstage, s08 is a level above the explorer. Though I love the aful explorer, it's also a fact that it needs a shit ton of power, it's a high volume pair after all. The s08 is pretty efficient for a planar, I can have it extra loud with an apple dongle.

The aful explorer can pick out a lot of details, don't get me wrong. It's just easier to hear the details on the s08.

Aful explorer.

Nah, I've had it for a bit, and it does not outperform the explorer lmao. But I'm biased towards beryllium plated diaphragm drivers. In my ears, this iem is a few steps below an EQ'd aoshida e20. Though, it definitely knocks out a lot of iems below $30. Just like the ND Venus knocked out a couple kzs in the ultra budget tier.

Why you just do not EQ ? I dont like explorer treble because it has one "shouty" part and lacks pinna gain in upper mids, but with eq its amazing. On the other side Hexa lacks low end a lot compared to Explorer.

Artti T10 is ok, but Explorer is really questionable, it can be shouty in treble and lacks pinna gain, however with EQ it's amazing really.

I have it and im not really into them, however eith EQ they're amazing.

Idk what were you listening to tbh but its lacks pinna gain and air, so yeah thats laid back, but it also has sparkle in the upper treble which is standing out a bit, thats why i said "it can be shouty"

Yeah, when i say shouty people often thinks of upper mids but i think of treble. However there is also a bump in upper mids on explorer, so technically its both laid back and shouty (not much) for me, although i prefer more open sound like 5128 diffuse field

The Truthear Nova have really big nozzles, if you want a good all around pick the Supermix 4 is probably the best in the < $200 range. For me the treble was a bit fatiguing, so if you're sensitive to that you might want to skip it and get something like the Aful Explorer. FWIW I really like the Letshuoer S08, they punch completely above their price point and right now they are on sale for 25% for ($75). I think at that price they are an absolute steal.

Another vote for Aful Explorer. I bought both S08 and Explorer on the spring sale (both under $70 after coins and such). To my ears, the Explorer's bass is more punchy than S08's while mids and highs are clear. The S08 is close but the fast decay planar bass was not as good as DD bass. Also, I love the cable and case on the Explorer. The fit in my ear is much better too. https://preview.redd.it/39ea7dbyg5we1.jpeg?width=2365&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0dc2ea07a10335fc26c849cb043b7be2e3a5330d I'm good with my IEMs for now, but was considering the 5+2 too. For those who have it, what is the difference vs Explorer? What justifies almost 2x price?

Sgor Luna at below $30 is a great option. Truthear Zero at around $45 (2 DD) is a great starting point. It has plenty of bass quality and quantity (one driver acts as subwoofer, the other handles mids and highs). T10 (single large planar driver) is awesome too, but it isn't great to look at. Planar bass packs a tight punch. It's different than bass from dynamic drivers though. At around $65-$70 (on sale): S08 and Aful Explorer. I've been using the 7hz zero on the road while maining Truthear Zero at home. I have Dioko for when I want brightness and that planar sound. Recently I went shopping for something new and ended up with: 1) KZ Castor Bass (good bass, fun, connector for KZ Az09 pro bt adapter). 2) Waner 2 (to try the new release and for Sancai tips) 3) Letshuoer S08 (expecting this dark planar to be my new main IEM. Also has a bunch of accessories I wanted). 4) Aful Explorer (similar to S08 in sound signature but with different, multi-driver tech). Plus I like its shell design. Have fun with your pick.

I have castor bass, wan'er 2, truthear zero, nicehck f1 pro, S08, and Aful Explorer. Of all of them, I love the Explorer the most and it's my current fave. The bass is awesome, mids and highs are clear. Fits very well. Cables and case are super high quality and just awesome to use. Go up a little bit and wait for sale. I got mine for ~$72 with coins in the recent spring sale.