Explorer

I guess here is my take on a comparison for headphones, I'm nothing special just someone who is picky with audio likes my home theatre systems and draw most of my desire for good audio from using soundbars or more robust proper 5.1 systems i've had. Never traditionally used much for headphones aside from gaming stuff, and in ear beats and air pods. Moved to a desk setup more lately so sold some HT stuff and I'm putting it into headphones, so far i cant seem to get close to what I like. Generally WIDE, detailed deep, boomy sound but I don't need crazy rumbling bass and appreciate vocals and mids as ofc. knowing nothing about IEMs i couldn't decide from reading so I ordered a handful of sets. So i compared all of these across a range of music using the same 30 songs or so. Watched some Anime/movies, played R6 siege and did 1-3 matches with each for footsteps(most I've played in years), immersive solo games( I Used the dead space remake and Subnautica some helldivers and some forza), and then judged their comfort levels for fit after extended periods of time and then how much pain I had from Highs which is normal for me as I like to crank things a lot, and 97% of the time the sharp highs are what stop me from going further.) I listed the prices I got them for in CAD, pre much all from amazon so i could return if it wasn't a keep. And a brief summary without getting too detailed into sound description as idk what means what sometimes. Some i payed less attention to than others once i realized quickly I didn't like them compared to others I had already tried. Everything was also tested on the single ended output of my Fiio K11, except AFUL Performer 5+2 and 1 other i think. 580$ Linsoul THIEAUDIO Hype 4 (return) * music 7/10, anime/movie 8/10, FPS 7.7, immersive (DS- 8.3), uncomfortable 7/10, pain from sound 7/10 * These were solid for sure, and had some nice bass top 3 for bass for me on this list, but also the easiest no for me.... as for the price I quickly tried others that got too close to these for way less... Fanciest packaging and presentation though it wins that (but that's just a bonus) also loved their look. So naturally wanted to like these badly. These were actually pretty big though one of the bigger ones and did stretch my little ear holes a bit much maybe the most... Hurt my ears an average amount for sharp sounds. 300$ ZiiGaat x Fresh Reviews Arete (return) * music 5.5/10, anime/movie 6.3/10, FPS(possibly the best here), immersive(DS-8.0), uncomfortable 5/10, pain from sound 6/10 * Comfier fs, If all i played was competitive gaming and wanted to go all out there, id probably keep these, they handled music and shows well, but I didn't LOVE how they sounded for that... idk not the signature I wanted for those uses, but FPS def super nice however for me I don't play a ton of FPS and others were close to as good as these in that area for WAY less. Also Love the look of these. Somewhat pricey didn't make sense to keep these for my uses. **Xenns Mangird Tea Pro** 510$ seen them for 475 on AliExpress (return) * Music 7.9, anime/movie 8.0, FPS 8.0, immersive 8.4, uncomfortable 6.4, pain from sound 5,  * So I wanted to like these more than any other on this list after seeing the raves about it. Loved the packaging my 2nd fav here or fav idk. My favorite look also probably god so pretty. Definitely top 2 for overall quality IMO here was neck and neck with AFUL performer 5+2, in most areas, these MIGHT have been better by an edge.... But once I found the AFULs for 275 on Alieexpress vs 600 on amazon.... I realized these don't sound 300$ better... sadly... they sound slightly different fs than the AFULs but nothing crazy as the difference with others here, and better idk my noob ears weren't skilled enough to see the difference. Also I thought these were quiet balanced compared to others that may have excelled in some areas and poorer in others. * after extended periods prob top 5 comfiest for my baby holes :( * Also Slightly thicker at the tip than id like and one of the harder ones to get tips on, which idk less convenient to me, and di tire my ears out fit wise sooner than others, not that bad but also when i took them out after an hour or so my ears thanked me a little.... * Maybe best but hard to tell between performer 7 and these AFUL Performer 5+2 / Performer 7 4.4mm on balanced OP 600$ amazon… current number 1 overall  (KEEP) 275 alieexpress * Music 7.9, anime/movie 8.1, FPS(R6 7.3 maybe?) immersive 8.45 haha, uncomfortable 4, pain from sound 4.9,  * pretty balanced, not crazy poor or crazy standoutish in any one area imo... not uncomfy at all, maybe not the smallest or uncomfiest, but extended listening periods were no issue, seems people don't like these smooth nozzles but i loved it so far... easy to change tips and never had them budge once they are on. idk how i feel ab the open holes tho... I kinda love these fell in love quicker than the tea pros, feels a little gentler on me, I know i didn't track soundstage * don't love the look of these as much as many but they are too good for the price on alieexpress * said it above, Linsoul 7Hz Timeless II 230$ (return) * music 6.0, anime/movie solid 7.6 maybe, fps solid average didn't use for this much, immersive(DS-7.7), uncomfortable 4.3,  pain from sound 5.5 * Balanced all around… solid for the price I think nothing crazy in anything so far but solid… came with some extra pieces others didn't, look slick and unique, very good all around and quite comfy, feel pretty worth it for the price and a good option id recommend them fs, no real complaints, returned bc i liked the afuls better for 50$ more basically and i think they sounded 50$ better or more so yeah Truthear x Crinacle Zero: BLUE2 65$ (return) * music 5.7, anime/movie 7, fps 7.0, immersive(DS-7.5), movie, uncomfortable sooo big 6.6, pain from sound 6.3 * So solid for the price most competitive w timeless perhaps less balanced, but performs great where it does and isnt terrible anywhere, these were my first I'm going to keep these pic, but after spending lotsss of time with these i determined it was not worth the discomfort, as they did unholy things to my ear holes, if i met someone with big ear holes id recommend 100%, also felt decently bassy imo, worth it as a jump from he 7hz crinnacle zero imo as well if your ear holes could fit this, pained me not to keep these AFUL Explorer 255$ (return) * Music 6.0 MAYBE? idk ab this, anime/movie 6.9, FPS 6.7, immersive 6.8, uncomfortable 1.5, pain from sound 3.5,  * Very well rounded and most comfortable maybe over alll others, almost feels NICE to wear these haha, loved them, they sounded super well rounded but also not the signature I was looking for, but sounded kinda unique compared to others imo, pleasant though... as much as i liked them they didn't draw me in like many others, they seem worth the price i guess... but idk, idk what id use them for, if they were 100$ less id consider way more i think? * Could probably wear these indefinitely Linsoul Kiwi Ears KE4 270$ (return) * Music 7.6, anime/movie 7.8, FPS 7.4, immersive solid 7.5, uncomfortable 2.4, pain from sound 3.9  * bassy.. I do like this.. best for bass so far, id say out of all these if I was a bass head these would be my pic, which i do think I am somewhat but prioritize other things as much or more so maybe not, also comfy esp for the size for sureee, * I hated this brands packaging * These kinda felt like just better supermixes... Linsoul SIMGOT SuperMix 4 213$ (return) * Music 6.3, anime/movie 7.5, FPS 8.4), immersive (DS 7.8),  uncomfortable 2.0, pain from sound 4.0,  * these feel pretty well rounded not that uncomfy… kinda like timeless but more quality sound a step up sorta, loved these for FPS arete barely edged them out i think, really liked this pair was shocked but i think id pick it over the timeless? very comfy and balanced i think, for the price it makes it easier choice id choose these over timeless... i liked this tempted to keep as they were great for FPS and performed well in most other areas, if you wanted to spend more on a pair that was good for FPS, but also wanted one pair that could handle other content maybe better than the arete(except FPS) than this would be my pick and i almost kept them, * Supermix might be bested by kiwi ears seems so in anime/movie, music is 50/50…  * i do think that - Explorer vs supermix 4 - supermix wins in all explorer wins in comfort but supermix above average still for comfort  7hz crinnacle zero:2 30$ (KEEP) * Music 5.5, anime 6.5, FPS 8.1, immersive 6.8, movie, uncomfortable 5.0, pain from sound 4.0,  * for 30$ these are one of the most worth it purchases i've ever made, sure they feel cheap and look cheap, but for 30$ i will recommend this to most people i know, also i swear they were great for fps... Linsoul Tripowin x 0DiBi: Vivace 40$ (KEEP) \- Music 5.0, anime/movie 5.7, FPS 8.3, immersive 6.5, uncomfortable 5.9, pain from sound 5.5,  \- got these purely off the top 5 gaming iem rec, and yeah prob top 5 here for it or close, for the price that's why i kept them felt fair to spend that much for how good they were for fps for the amount i play, cheaper than buying arctis novas or something just for footsteps, a few others were better sure, but i don't play enough. I disliked these for pre much everything else they were meh, will keep tho Truthear hexa 101$ (return) * Music 6.0, anime, FPS 7.7, immersive, movie, uncomfortable 5.0, pain from sound 4.7,  * Feel like some of the most purposeless here... idk what to say about them.. not bad mid in every way... wouldn't pay 100$ maybe 70 TOPS, feels like while maybe they are better than the zero blues (way comfier) they lack anything impressive... but def more balanced than the blues and don't hurt my ear holes ig I have to give it that.... Linsoul Kiwi Ears Cadenza 43$ (return) * Music 5.7, anime/movie 6.5, FPS 6.0, immersive 5.5, uncomfortable 4.5, pain from sound 5.3,  * For some reason these troubled me so much, i tried to really give these a lot of chances, bc ppl praise them so much for the price. but from the moment i put them in my ears i hated how they sounded lol, towards the end i started to appreciate them ONLY for music but in a different way than most others here... idk If i was to collect multiple IEMs maybe id keep this one next bc i felt like it was useful for a specific genre maybe? idk overall tho not the sound signature i appreciate a lot... even if maybe i did start to see it a little bit... A lot of uncomfortableness felt with IEMs is noticed after I take them out, they immediately feel achy and I notice my ears feel better with them out, in is still an issue though for some. In the end I found a few that didn't bother my ears at length, My scales here aren't perfect from IEM to IEM, some are pretty accurate on MY scale others not 100 from IEM to IEM if yknow what i mean. Did all the IEMs first and didn't realize how much more i liked them over the coming Open backs which were new to me entirely. For fun Beats fit pro 200$ (KEEP) * Music 5.0, anime/movie 4.0, FPS, immersive, uncomfortable, pain from sound,  * Just for fun I connected these VIA Bluetooth to my pc, they are my main out of the house headphones love them super comfy and been through the wash and dryer 5x lol, and sweat on them a ton in the gym over 4 years i think, still work as good as day one battery never dies on me, and never fall out of my ears god I love them. * Ofc right away I confirmed the IEM chase was worth it as these sucked lol but I don't notice that in the gym and cant stand wires on the move. 590$ 490 pros (debating) * don’t sound as boomy, but listening pain is severely reduced from intenseness, only pain is slight sharp highs, biggest downsides perhaps needing to turn it up higher bc sounds less boomy in ears meaning more risk for sharp highs, less boomy up front but beats lots of the IEMs for the pro/cons in some areas, gain on high at 40, I love these but the more I used the more i realized they cost double he performers and I was picking the performers for like everything over this, these definitely allowed me to listen to music in a way i haven't before, but also.... left me wanting moreeeee, detailed and analytic to me... but too simpleeee didn't draw me in enough i feel too far from the music idk considering the price I am pre sure I will keep, but prob top 3 comfiest over ears I've worn in my life, and maybe best sounding I guess hard to say? I feel like Over ears should be able to sound this good for less... * music 7.9/10, anime/movie 8.5/10, fps 7.5, immersive(DS-8.0), uncomfortable (slight pressure on top of head and ears 3.5, pain from sound 6.5/10(only bc I have to crank them to feel what i want in music... ) DT880 290$ (return) * tight fit not my favorite, 600 ohm barely enough on k11, but enough to listen and judge, honestly sounds way worse than 490 pro, also firm pads and tight fit on my big picky ears, not the comfiest, worst open backs I’ve tried (out of 5), expected to love these for the price came in excited and loved the look, almost failed in every way.... looks nice tho... nice lil bag it came with? * anime 6.7, music 5.0, fps 4.0, rest doesn't matter maybe I’m picky but I hate these to me they suck ATH-R70x 340$ (return) * sounds way better than DT880, still needs GAIN on high at around 75 to be loud enough, sound is almost competitive with 490 pros , not as good but for price comparison I’d take these except… these get very hot very quick, and hurt my ears, 490 pros are top 3 comfy I’ve ever worn these made me appreciate the 490 pros comfort, if comfort didn’t suck I’d keep especially if I could get them like 50$ cheaper 300$ CAD flat  * Lightest headphones I’ve ever felt * Not the comfiest though no adjustment… * More competitive with hd490 pro * Anime/movie 8.3, music 7.8, fps 6.7, for most of it these are a touch under the 490 pros in most if not all areas, * but for the price I was going to keep these, then as i wore them more I realized absolutely not 490s are way comfier, I HAVE always been super picky with over ear headphones my whole life though for comfort and these were no different sweaty hot and hurt my ears So I did not expect this but so far I think im not keeping any over ears, opposite of what i expected before i started, wondering If i just dont like open backs... so im trying the DT 770s and the FIIO FT1s this week, aside from that I have AKG K702 coming as well, but my hopes aren't high anymore. Can i not afford the taste I have in headphones or something? I said id spend up to 900CAD on a pair of over ears if they nailed it all right now, but I'm thinking that wont even do it, and I feel like Im happy enough with my AFULS, however I would like the option of over ears at least one pair for solo gaming/movies/music that I don't have to put in my ears when I wanna give my holes a break. How hard can it be to find some that don't disgust me for under 1000? haha I have also tried on Audeze MM100s, HD600s, and Arctis pro Nova 1 or whatever the top ones all quite a bit but didn't test on my own stuff or time. I liked the MM100s a lot out of these, the HD 600 sounded great but too simple 3 separate soundstages kinda and boring to me. MM100s were nice but like idk i dont rmemeber being blown away that much. I also briefly tried on LCD-2s and yeah they were pre sweet worth the price idk ab that, also didnt test enough to really say. So based off all this and maybe my weird tastes idk where should I go from here? or do I need to chill and just stop entirely :( I just want headphones that make it sound like im in front of my 1300$ 5.1 HT system kinda yknow lemme feel that width and immersion w out losing detail and the important stuff Def biggest post ever for me lol

Good questions, I figure I have tiny baby holes bc I seem to complain about big nozzles maybe more than the average person so I figure I’m a tiny cry baby, and can’t take a proper nozzle, also 4.9 vs 4.8 isn’t supposed to mean much, however it’s more of just a HUNCH as I suspected one might have been slightly more uncomfortable than another, but it was also so close so hard to say without extensive back and forth between two, so I just went with a ratinglike that, I do think that’s somewhat true, but also as someone else reading this one that’s that close I wouldn’t take into consideration too much, as it’s so close I’d say either could fit you better, as you have differ t holes and it would probably sit different at that level of similarity for me. If that makes sense…

So far… they aren’t as good as the 490 pros no doubt… but I wouldn’t ever complain about them they sound great I quite like these, came with a nice vase and way better packaching than 490 pros, more satisfying to hold and look at, feel way more premium and are heavier, nothing wrong w the sound for me, I do think the sound is simpler than the 490s… biggest difference though is the comfort they beat the DT 880s and the ATHs I tried, and really not that bad I don’t get sore yet after an hour, but the moment I swap to the 490 pros to compare a song it’s like WOW A BREATH OF FRESH AIR MY SKIN AND HAIR CAN BREATHE AGAIN HAHHA, both sound wise and comfort these are selling me more on the 490 pros lol

Honestly final opinion, FT1 pros are prob second best of the open backs I’ve tried and maybe all headphones I’ve tried, and possibly best value for ALL headphones I’ve tried at 300$ CAD. I’d recommend to most people I know assuming it fit their needs as a first buy. However I’ve decided I like what the the HD490 pros offer in improvements and the fact that I’m more willing to put them on and wear them at length is a major pro, I knew comfort was this important but this I’m sure of now, if it’s not maximally comfortable it directly takes away from how much you want to use them so… Also side note… I could be wrong here… but while the FT1 pros do not have sharp pericing highs which I am normally sensitive to, and I do find them quite balanced. There is this phenomena I can’t explain I don’t normally encounter where the actual sound is fatiguing to listen to without ever any sharp sounds that hurt, rather just normal sound after an hour I take them off and my head/ears were ALMOST slightly ringing… this does not happen with the HD 490s… weird… turning them down I found made this happen less but it’s weird for me bc it was at a volume level I’d normally be totally comfortable with, I’m not sure why this is or if this is a thing people find with some headphones sometime but it was a first for me… I still think they’re great j turn them down a little but that’s my only true SMALL complaint about them the rest is just that the 490 pros are better

Yeah I know, I figured as much, in some cases the numbers were more memory cues for myself to remind me, "yeah this one isn’t that much better these are too close to call, this isn’t worth rating lower or better but I liked this one better or just a hunch or feeling, I do feel like many of these performed VERY close to each other and truly almost none of the IEMs I tried actually SUCKED, they were all great, so to an untrained here, it was rather hard to differentiate at times, hence my numbers were sometimes a little hunchier than I’d have liked I think. For someone else reading this I’d pay more attention to larger number gaps, or if you had a specific question about one or the other I’d ask and I could try answering.

Fair questions yes, Hype 4 and timeless were quite different for sure, Time less came off as way more balanced and well rounded to me, while the hype 4s excelled in a lot of the music i tired as well as immersive type games compared to the timeless. For the price id pick the timeless at half price or less, but the hype 4 were a better specialist for sure, i liked their bass as well, i preferred the bass in the KE4s, but hype 4 was solid. In the end My AFULs felt like a direct step up from these and beat the timeless in every way, but had a comparable type of sound, so it was an easier choice. For under 200 CAD i think they would be a sweet choice. AFUL vs tea pro was so hard for me to tell i wont lie, the only thing im 100% sure about is the AFU:ls were more comfortable to me and I can wear for way longer. As for the sound its that point to me where sound is so close you'll be happy either way, and I'm not skilled enough to explain well, however i would say i preferred the AFULS by the tiniest edge ever in sound not just comfort, i couldn't explain it but yeah I'm more happy listening to them, Tea pros if anything beat the afuls in FPS games, and probably SOME kinds of music that's all i could give them myself. And to note more than most others on my list, this sis my opinion after Getting both to keep.. I kept the AFULS and asked for a return on the tea pros, but got refunded instead I'm in shock but have never seen that but now i have both to keep and have been going back and forth having tried tons of tips on the tea pro now i finally found some DUNUs i was happy enough to wear for a longer period not comfy but enough, and even still with these i pick the afuls if I'm sitting down to play games movies, or even a lot of music.... the sound preference id argue is subjective at this level for tea pro over aful so some might disagree, but what's not arguable for me is the cost difference i found them at and that made it an easy choice for how close they were. oh and for the comfort value affecting sound yeah, id imagine it does somewhat but idk, what i meant that rating for was purely how much they hurt my ears over time of wearing

Your candidates are good choices, and I have them all except the T10. I listen to all kinds of music myself. Pure is the only one I rarely use - if I feel for warm and smooth sound, I'd rather grab the Explorer. Defiant is more "entertaining" and less comfortable for me. HEXA is a true all-rounder. I would have a hard time choosing as I love them all, but Explorer is probably my favorite, and also the one you will be able to EQ the most.

Warm and bassy? I’m loving the Aful Explorer. Not a true basehead iem, but warm, smooth and relaxing

I have the Defiant, Explorer, and Hexa. I don’t EQ which is why I chose these 3 different sets, so I can’t speak as to how each responds to that. Hard to pic a favorite, as they are all great, but I’d say Explorer is a safe bet because they are comfortable, and although relaxed, still give great detail in the treble. The Hexa are too polarizing, you either love them or hate them because they’re “boring.” Defiant sound amazing as a mild V-shape set, but they do have QC issues, so if you go that route, make sure you order from a place with a good return policy (I can attest for Hifigo for this, as my left driver had flex and they replaced them). Hope this helps

Not sure your gonna smell sounds, as that’s synesthesia, a neurological condition. But as someone who recently joined this hobby coming from APP2, the juice is definitely worth the squeeze for me. I am currently using the Truthear Hexa, Aful Explorer, Juzear Defiant (and the requisite hype train Kunten) along with the Black Pearl. I can confidently say that these iems with the proper setup blow the AirPods out of the water (for me). I still use them for calls and exercise, but the sound quality is far inferior to my iems.

The Explorer and Kunten are very different, but I much prefer the Explorer. Kunten are V shaped, and sound good for the price, but can’t compare to the Explorer. The Explorer are more L shaped, darker sounding with more relaxed treble, and scale very well. At higher volumes, they sound amazing (they sound good at lower volumes too) and although the treble is relaxed, it’s still quite detailed. I use them when I want a more relaxed session.

'without too harsh highs' definitely not, they're a bright set i'd consider aful explorer actually for a hybrid option

i'd look into the aful explorer, quite similar but they'll be more smooth in the treble

aful explorer - for a warm *smooth* listen mp143 - warm but more detailed listen

What would you say the upper mids/treble is like on the Luna? I’ve got the Aful explorers and I like the overall warmth of the set, but I want something with better detail on the upper minds/treble. I listen to a lot of breakcore and the Explorers feel sort of low res in that region

I have the Explorer so I'm very interested in hearing your comparison between those two.

I love my Explorer with the S&S, it's my top choice. I have tried Zeos Render, Penon orange, Nicehck C04, Zhu Rhymes bamboo, kbear coffee and have always gone back to the S&S. Having said that, eartips are very personal choices for different people so just stick with whatever feels best for you.

https://preview.redd.it/dtek5ukvlonf1.jpeg?width=4080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b4eeb391a93df7a691f698dc0fd4c2abc91f1798 Aful Explorer Onix Alpha XI1 Tripowin Zonie 4.4 Dunu S&S A 4.4 cable is a must if pairing the Explorer with the Onix Alpha, a very noticeable improvement in soundstage over the stock 3.5

The Aful Explorer is the go-to when people want warm, smooth sound

AFUL Explorer is not new. Not even close. I’m skipping a wordy lead up and unboxing by hitting a few main points. - Love the case. Puck style with a zipper. The suede material to the case is very nice to the touch. - The cable is ok. Not cheap feeling but I chose a 3rd party cable as you can see in the photo. - Eartips. Good enough selection especially if these are your first IEM. I chose to use a set of modded tips (I’ll get into that a little further down) The photo does NOT do these IEM justice. I was taken aback when I opened up the box and able to look at the IEMs in person. The rich blue tones with the sparkles really is eye catching. These are not a large IEM and likely to fit most ears. My only issue with the build. Same issue i have with the Performer 5+2, as well as Truthear Hexa. There is NO FILTER at the nozzle. The openings to the sound tubes are completely “unguarded” which triggers my paranoia. This may do the same for some of you also. MY solution is to use ear tips that are equipped with “gunk guards” I chose AZLA SednaEarfit tips, specifically the ASMR Max. I like these shorter ear tips on my IEMs because they provide a deep ear fit. As I mentioned before, this specific set of tips are modded. I have used foam from a set of foam ear tips to fill the space under the umbrella or cap. Resulting in a short, filtered hybrid tip…perfect for my use and sound preference (with this set) Sound: The Explorer is a revelation. I’ve seen and read up on every review I got my hands on before buying. Each review said the same things… “warm” “smooth” “relaxing” “unique” I wholeheartedly agree with all those opinions. I think what does get missed is the details these can still reveal in a well mixed/mastered track. The soundstage is not wide, but the imaging is still superb. The bass is quite obviously notable. However, I prefer a bit more bass with this warm presentation. This is where those short hybrid tips come into play. The deep insertion plus the foam helped bring more “warmth” to the table. The resulting sound is NOT muddy nor was the treble veiled (which goes back to the details and imaging) The mids, specifically vocals, some of the tracks I listened to…the vocals seemed a little recessed. Enough for me to take notice, but not enough to prevent me from enjoying the music with this set. The Explorer IS that nice warm IEM you can sit on the couch or in bed to relax to. Is it my first choice if I want to do some critical listening? No. Is it a set I’ll pick up to vibe with my tunes…ABSOLUTELY. They perform well across genres: rock, pop, hip hop, edm, METAL! They are smooth and warm enough that JPOP and K-POP can be enjoyed at higher volumes without fatigue. Film scores (the good ones…😅) can come across as cinematic, particularly Hans Zimmer’s F1 and the two Dune sound tracks. The warm lush sound is not my preference for classical pieces nor jazz pieces. BUT, that’s just me. I really enjoy the vibe this set brings. It is my go-to for my listening session before I go to sleep. Definitely a good set to add to your collection if you have several others. If this is a prospective first set…then it’s a safe first purchase. Especially if you’re coming from TWS that are quite generous in the low end.

Peeps here touched on it. A GREAT IEM now…will still be a GREAT IEM in 20 years (if the unit lasts that long) Koss and Sennheiser each have headphone models and designs that have been popular and even revered for over 40 years. That said…IEMs like Truthear Hexa and/or Mega5est will have staying power because of their reputation at their “hyped” peak. I think AFUL Explorer will be one of those IEMs that will be talked about for a long time. It has a very warm, smooth, relaxed tuning (treble) that is not common at that price point. Am sure there are fans of kilobuck or expensive mid-fi IEMs that have their favorites that they’ll swear will stand the test of time. The IEM space is quite young still. Yes, musicians and artists have been using IEMs for a long time…but for those of us using IEMs for music/gaming it is still a young development. Good luck with your collection journey. Consider using a watch box to store and display your IEMs (if you are into that)

I love how smooth and relaxed the Explorers are. I listen to them when I'm not focusing on the music. Not in the sense I'm not paying attention...but not focusing to the details and nuance. It's a set I listen to for chill time. Think you're recognizing a misstep from when you first started...that's a lot of budget sets....that may or may not sound the same. Taking a methodical approach and you'll figure out EXACTY what you like and don't like (sonic preferences) Can't comment on those apps you're askign about. My EQ solution is on my computer or my DAP. EQ is a very useful tool to get the most out of your IEMs but also to dial down to what your ears like or don't like.

Zero 2 is still a good budget set to start with. You might also want to look at Kiwi Ears Cadenza and Kinera Celeste Wyvern. I have all three of these and they perform well with playing rock music. I find the Cadenza to have the best bass performance out of these three. Zero 2 is a tad warmer. None of them are sibilant...at least nothing in my library of music. APOS x Community have the Rock Lobster which goes for around 60usd...they are "supposed" to be tuned for rock music. If that still fit your budget...it could be a solid choice for you. Moving up in price point around 100usd...gets to AFUL Explorer and Letshuoer S08. Both are warm and smooth. I have the Explorer and they are a wonderful set for rock. I'm running them through various rock genres last night. The warmth and down tilted treble allowed for higher volume listening. Was very fun!

Pure is neutral that leans warm. Explorer is WARM that leans bassy. They’re quite different tonally. The Explorer while it’s warm and bassy…can still give you some treble extension. Vocals (through my listening habits) tend to take a LITTLE bit of a back seat. The Pure, to me, really does have that HD600 feel. Neutral and pleasant. There’s “bass” but it’s not overbearing. The balance of tonality is really good…which is probably why some people call them natural. Do you have any others to contrast between the two?

From what you have and what you stated...im thinking the Explorer will be a good fit for you as well.