Angelears - Delci AE

I love metal body iem like my kefine delci ae

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've tried several IEMs under the $100 range, the Lesthouer S08, Kefine Delci AE, Kefine Klean, Sivga Que, Simgot EW300, Isn Audio H20, and Turthear Zero Red. All of these IEMs are excellent for the price paid, and the ones I liked the most are the Lesthouer S08, Kefine Delci AE, and Sivga Que. https://preview.redd.it/86zc1z7oabtf1.jpeg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=397875ebb7606dfc6e3d1de604e148efbf11c483

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1sHR4QwC1-YprWbjDEHtrz9qCQskY_uuOsAo-Amjznts/edit?gid=0#gid=0 Fresh Reviews list is probably the most comprehensive Gaming IEM list out there. Personally, in that price range, i would look at the 7Hz Sonus, or my personal favorite sun $100 IEM from 2024...the Kefine Delci AE with the Gold Nozzle.

Kefine Delci AE is tuned a little better than the OG Delci, IMHO. The new Kiwi Ears Airoso is a great alternative, especially for gaming, as it has better treble extension than both the Delci or the EW300. Personally i am NOT a fan of the EW300. I think its overhyped. And if it doesnt agree with your ear anatomy, it sounds "off". Myself, Jaytiss, and Tone Deaf Monk all experienced this problem. As do plenty of others in many HiFi Forums.

The Delci's have warmer bass presentation. Where as the Airoso has a faster more tactile bass presentation. By that i mean the bass on the Airoso does not get that lush subwoofer feeling to it. Because the Airoso leans so heavily on the BA's in the treble and mids, that faster bass actually nicely tunes the DD to the BA's, giving them good matched tonality. When you look at an IEM like the Tangzu Fudu (another favorite of mine), the bass can sometimes present as being bloated, just because the decay speeds between the BA's and DD are so different. You really feel like the DD is pulling duty as a subwoofer. So, the Fudu feels like a small bookshelf speaker with a 12" subwoofer, where as the Airoso feels like a full tower, full range, speaker. So while the Airoso does have a tendency to make some bass notes feel a little dry. This is really only an issue if you are listening to something like Jazz or Big Band, where notes from an upright String Bass are prominent in the mix, and the bass plucks loose some of that natural warmth because they fade out a little quicker than our ear might hear it naturally. So, while it is accurate to the recording, the timbre can feel a little dry and clinical in some songs, if you are used to hearing them a certain way. Which is something people new to Planars often experience for the same reason too, the speed of the driver can make it feel less natural sometimes. That being said, if you predominantly listen to EDM, or any kind of electronically produced bass, like from a Roland 808, they are perfectly capable of replicating the rolling bass notes, and really replaying the bass notes with authority, provided the song is mixed for them to play that way. So in the right songs, sometimes the bass of the Airoso feels more impactful than the Delci, because it can really dig out some of the texture of very low sub bass frequencies, in a way the Delci cant. Overall, the Delci is going to have generally warmer tonality, and timbre, and represent a subjectively "better" bass presentation for most music types. Owning all three, musically, i will go for my Delci AE with the Gold Nozzle, and for gaming, or YouTube videos, i will go with the Airoso. And as a lot of my music is Popo and EDM based tracks, it works fine. I might consider something different than those two if i wanted to listen to metal or classic rock, because i think they fall on either end of where you want an IEM for that kind of music. Comfort wise, i have no complains with either. I regularly sleep with my Delci's in, because they have a very thin profile, and they disappear into my ear. The Airoso is a little thicker, so its not a sleepable IEM. But I have no issues with all day comfort with either. They fit my ear very well. As always, make sure you use the right tips, and try every tip you have available to you for the best seal, comfort, and tonality. Tip selection is SUPER important. Sorry if thats an overwhelming amount of data, but i hope that helps.

For your preference, i would look at the Kefine Delci AE, or the KiwiEars Airoso (provided its still available under $100). Both offer fantastic bass impact, and solid treble details, that translate well to gaming. I would also consider getting the Fosi DS2 USB Dongle for using with your phone and PC. The measurements for it are stellar, very neutral, maintains good musicality, and clarity for gaming. And the price is excellent.

Personally, i feel the best of the three is the InAwaken Dawn. It just has a special quality about it that i find very engaging, and really enjoy. You and i listen to very simialr music, so take that as you will. Plus they look gorgeous, and come with a great accessory pack of quality tips, a good cable, and a fantastic carrying case. The Klean is also a good set. However, the tuning nozzles on it are, IMHO, a bit gimmicky. The alternative Black Nozzle is a little too bright and glaring. And, myself, and others, have experienced some QC issues with the filters. My Black Filters have one side that is quieter than the other. Some people have had that issue with the stock silver filters too. So, be aware that this may be a problem on your set also. The accessories pack on the Klean isnt anything to get excited about. Tips are sufficient, and the cable is functional, and the carrying case is decent enough. Now, i will say, that i do have some bias with the Klean. The Kefine Delci AE is one of my favorite sub $100 single DD sets. And the alternative nozzle on the Delci AE sounds amazing. And it really brightens up the tonality of what is a predominantly warm set. The Klean, on the other hand, is a little brighter on treble extension than the Delci past 10k on the stock tuning, while having very similar overall tunings. So the Klean gives at lot of the same energy i like from the Delci AE, but it gets to be a little too much with the alternative nozzles. So, this is where my personal head bias comes into play, because i am intimately familiar with the Delci AE's sound, and i find the Klean to be a little lacking in technicalities to the Delci AE, while also sounding too similar. Which is why i keep coming back to the Dawn more, because it has a different tonality to its flavor. Basically, because i have the Delci AE, the Klean becomes the orphaned step child of the two. Now, one area where the Klean will excel over the Dawn is durability. If you plan on wearing these outside a lot in direct sun, i would go with the Klean, as the Dawn being full resin, can, with time, have some yellowing, or crazing issues. As all fully resin IEM's can, when being exposed to the suns UV rays. I try to keep all my resin IEM's as indoor only sets for that reason. The Cadenza is a good little single DD set. But i dont think it is as good as the Dawn or the Klean. If you really want to have the Cadenza sound...just pick up the KBear KB01. Exact same driver and tuning made in the exact same assembly facility as the Cadenza, and its like $10 cheaper.

Kefine Delci AE There is no other option. The EW300 is an absolute joke. Over hyped, over marketed. I mean, hell, the top post in this thread literally says "I hope they sound good". THEY DONT EVEN HAVE THEM YET!!! But they are telling you they are good, and that you should buy them. And likely have nothing to compare them to either. So at this point, it is just speaking out loud to justify their purchase, and convince themselves of their own confirmation bias. Unlike the vast majority of jabronis in this subreddit, I won't comment on things I don't own.

DZ4 is a Dynamic Driver set. It is very lean on bass, and has a warmer treble roll off. Probably not your cup of tea if you like the Chu2 tuning. Also, the S08 is like 200% larger than the CHU2. So dont assume that because they are the same shape they are the same size. They are not. The S08 is significantly bigger. Still comfortable. Just setting expectations. If you like the Chu2 tuning, and want more of that, but in a more detailed and textured experience, check out the Artti R1, its regularly on sale now, and has a very similar tuning to the Chu2. Its regularly on sale now, and is a bargain for <$50. All aluminum construction too. If you want something a little higher in the price tier. My next two recommendations would be the Tangzu FuDu, which has an awesome accessories package of premium tips along with it. Easy to drive Hybrid set with 1 DD and 2 BAs. Next is also a 1DD 2BA set, and that is the AFUL Explorer. Another decent set of accessories, even if not as premium as the FuDu. BUT...it is a little more detailed than the FuDu, and sounds better than its $100ish price tag would suggest. Both of these are 3D Resin Printed IEM's, so...that might not be your cup of tea. But they are very highly regarded. Alternative, if you want something metal, the Kefine Delci AE. I fanboy the shit out of this IEM, but it is one of my favorites. I seem to always go back to it. It is very warm, and engaging, with two tuning nozzles that offer good variation and feel. All metal build, very comfortable. I am in an extreme minority here, but i am not a fan of the EW300. They are detailed. But the sound stage is flat, and details get muddied. And, if you are one of the unlucky few, like myself, Tone Deaf Monk, and JayTis, we all had an issue with the EW300, where it had this weird, almost active noise cancellation feel to them. There have been a couple of other reviewers that have also commented about similar weird interactions with stacked drivers like the EW300. Now YMMV. But generally, the EW300 is very flat, and narrow feeling, and that is about as far away from the Chu2 tuning as you can get. So be forewarned of that.

Under $100 for Valorant, Kefine Delci AE. End of discussion. If you want to go for a budget option, check out the Tripowin Vivace. Very similar tuning tonality to the Delci, but not nearly as high quality a driver. Cables are purely for aesthetic purposes. There are some absolute dog shit cables out there on super cheap sets, that, yeah, replace those, because they are uncomfortable, and pick up a lot of static. But i dont have any problems with the cables on the Vivace or the Delci, and there is no real need to replace them. Its just bling, or comfort. So, unless you REALLY hate the stock cable, its not necessary, unless you need/want a different connection type.

Damn, didn’t expect the EW300 to rank that low compared to Delci AE—knowing how hyped it is in this sub as the best all-rounder under 100 USD. By the way, have you tried EQ-ing the S12 Pro's bass to match the tuning of the S08? I was thinking, since most planar IEMs in this price range have a single planar driver—and usually share the same one—why not buy the most technical one and then EQ it to your preferred tuning. Planar drivers have low THD anyway, so you won’t easily get distortion from boosting frequencies compared to DD. Maybe increasing bass instead of decreasing treble would also make it less bright—to your liking.

What do you think about the difference in bass between the Delci AE and the S08? Do you think it's worth getting a planar IEM just to experience that planar bass? I’m planning to upgrade from the Zero 2 to the Delci AE, and I’m wondering if it’s also worth getting the KZ PRX just to try out planar sound, even though I’ll already have the Delci AE.

I REALLY love the way they sound. Unfortunately my right IEM goes very quiet after 30min-1hr. So they are unusable... the manufacturer and the seller have 'noped' out of helping me beyond "change the filter, clean them." They were broken right out of the box, but I was dumb and chalked it up to high humidity because it rained a ton when I first got them and I'm my research they hate humidity. None of the trouble shooting has helped and I'm stuck with $80 IEMs (my first pair) that are useless. I tried storing them in an air tight container with silica and they still don't work for long. This was a big purchase for me so I had to downgrade to Kiwi Cadenzas. They don't sound as good, but at least they work. I'm heartbroken over it, they sound so SO good for a short time.

IMO the EW300 is pretty overrated and this sub can be a huge echo-chamber at times. The reviews from well-known/trustworthy audio reviewers mostly put it at "OK". It's got a pretty safe tuning though and the way it sounds is, at least on initial listening, much cleaner and more resolving than more budget IEMs. However, the EW300 seems to have coherency issues that mean the mids can get very muddled with busy tracks. It also has an annoying upper treble peak (possibly caused by the PZT) that takes some tip-rolling or EQ to fix. That doesn't solve the coherency issue though. TBH I wouldn't put the Delci much above it either. The Delci is just a nice 1DD that's not a huge technical upgrade over the $20 ones, but it has a slightly better driver and very well tuned. And a general advantages of 1DDs, unless there's something badly wrong with them, is no coherency issues. It's also built really well and is extremely comfortable, so all those things combined make it a very good IEM. It's not quite on the same level as the Kato or other higher-end 1DDs though. Even the EA500 and EA500LM are much more capable technically, but the Delci is tuned better, without any harshness in the treble.

My first was Salonotes Zero (not 2), I was impressed for the price but it was downgrade compared with headphones I used at that time (Steelseries Arctis 1). Same would be with Zero 2 because even if they are improved still not the best for FPS gaming. After that I was considering getting Truthear Crinacle Zero Red but so many reviews that they are uncomfortable because of the big nozzle size. Zero Red should sound good enough for FPS tho and you could buy additional eartips to make them feel more comfortable but for some people that didn’t change much when we talk about comfort. So for me Zero Red were no go. I went for the Kefine Delci AE and I really like them soundwise and comfort too. I also play almost only FPS games (Apex, COD sometimes etc.) and can feel the difference. Even more difference when you adjust sound of your audio in the playstation 5 menu. Out of these, I would go with Kefine Klean, as a “safe pick” as they sound really nice for the price but Kefine Delci AE is little bit better in terms of sound compared to them but also for higher price. You can see youtuber FreshReviews sheet of best IEMs for FPS games too. P.S. I’m also new to the IEMs hobby and my opinions are based mostly on other peoples reviews I found od internet. I have tried only Kefine Delci AE and 7Hz Salonotes Zero so keep that in mind! EDIT: Also you need to know that not many IEMs is better soundwise when it comes for FPS and positional audio but for music it is night and day difference. Also, it depends from what kind of audio (headphones) you come from. So for people there could be biggers or smaller difference when they start to use IEMs.

I got Kefine Delci AE for $50ish. I wanted some dedicated travel IEMs that weren't too expensive.

Hi! My advise is to buy these IEMs from a place that allows returns. It's so hard to choose an IEM based on other people's opinions and experiences and there's always that possibility that you will not like the IEMs even though they meet your criteria. I say this to you because I noticed that the IEMs felt heavy after wearing them for more than an hour, and the discomfort did not go away after changing the cable and ear tips. I doubt that is the EW300s' fault. I really enjoy the sound coming out of those, but maybe they're not a good fit for me because I have small ears and I'm not used to heavy things, not even heavy earrings. I still use the DSP version of the EW300s for gaming since I spend no more than an hour on video games. However, I listen to music and podcasts for several hours, and for that purpose I use the Kefine Delci AE. Please do your research (there's lots of great info on the reddit wiki and Youtube) and try to buy from a place that accepts returns or exchanges. If you do not think that the weight will bother you, than go for the EW300s. They feel very durable and I think you'll definitely get your money's worth.

Kefine Delci AE, they're just as good as SuperMix4 for gaming, a lot worse for music tho and not worth it for $89 unless you buy them for gaming specifically but because of that they are also almost regularly $70-75 on aliex

Kefine Delci AE + a cable with mic, 95% at least of IEMs got detachable cables these days

Letshouer S08 is as good as EM6L for gaming, better for music, it's my favourite all around IEM under $200 msrp that said Kefine Delci AE is best for gaming under $100 but I don't enjoy it for music I think even their Klean is better for music but it's also slightly worse for gaming, it's amazing value tho you can get them for under $40 on sale

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

Kefine Delci AE, if you import something over 25 euros from outside of EU to EU you pay additional 25% import duties, these are $89 msrp but you can get them a lot cheaper atm on sales, on aliexpress import duties for EU are prepaid that's why prices are higher

they are, just Delci AE is better and so is Kefine Klean which is $50 msrp vs $110 for EM6L, newer stuff are now cheaper and better

improvement from T10, T10 Pro and S08, those three are noticeable improvement over what you got, $230-530 is next price range for better IEMs, Apevoix Grit being the cheapest one in that tier, I personally got Intuaura Splendor II, that's $260, there is Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite for $250, Letshouer S15 for $260, those are basically only ones under 300, the $250-260 ones go for $210-215 on sales, and Apevoix Grit I've seen under $190 recently not sure if it's still on sale, but that's all a lot more money than T10, T10 Pro, S08, you can get T10 for like $55, S08 if you are lucky 80 and that's a great package good cable and everything, buy one IEM and forget basically, it's not as good as $230+ stuff but it's under 100, can't find any fault with it for under 100, only Kefine Delci AE is better if you want something for gaming, otherwise S08 is amazing IEM, if I didn't have money to get $260 IEM I got I'd def rock S08, it's imo best all around IEM under $200, for $200 you can find better stuff but just $30 at that point only 15% increase then gets you a step up from there with Apevoix Grit

for gaming specifically Kefine Delci AE($90) > Kefine Klean($50) > EM6L($110) > Truthear Zero($60, aka. Blue 1) = Tripowin x 0diBi: Vivace($30) > Simgot EW300($80) = Truthear Zero:Blue2(70) = Truthear x Crinacle Zero: Red($65) = QKZxHBB($20) > Moondrop Rays($100) I prefer everything here except maybe Vivace and QKZxHBB over Delci AE for music tho, this is strictly for gaming how they stack up

Audio-Technica ATH-R50x from over ears Apevoix Grit on sale from IEMs but also like for $90 Letshouer S08 is great all around \~$70 Kefine Delci AE if you only worry about gaming(not as good as Grit even for gaming but better than S08 and cheaper)

supermix 4 qc is terrible, they fall apart or drivers get disconnected for people, it's not any better(for gaming) than Kefine Delci AE that's selling for literally half the price

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

for gaming kefine delci ae

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

From this list, the best ones for gaming are hands down the Kefine DELCI AE. Not the best for valorant, as other redditors said there’s no such thing, but for competitive fps gaming!

This new Juzear x Z Reviews Defiant seems good. Read the reviews recently and not only is it good for music but I'm pretty sure it will be good for gaming as well as I keep reading how errybody's raving about it's great imaging and separation. It costs around $100 If you wanna go cheaper then go Tripowin Vivace or Kefine Delci AE (I own the latter). Only costs around $29 and $89 dollars respectively. I can attest to the Delci as I've played it on Apex Legends and Valorant. It's pretty good You might wanna checkout Fresh Reviews on YT for more info though. He basically covers gaming-related stuff, iems included

If you’re in the market for Kefine and primarily for gaming, I would go with the Kefine Delci ae

Kefine Delci AE is the best one for purely competitive gaming and you can spend rest of the money for a good DAC like anything with CS43131 chip and some good eartips.

When it comes to soundstage, the naturality of timbers, instrument separation and spatialization for me open-backs are unbeatable. Moreover I never listened to better mids than open-backs. Otherwise IEMs can do great job especially in the low frequency thanks to their conception. I also want to precise that I only have 2 IEMs in my collection : Simgot SW200 and Kefine Delci AE.

Kefine delci ae is great for this price range… I’m using one great for pubgm … & thinking of buying kiwi ears astral. Try to watch fresh reviews yt.

Go for kefine delci ae. I think it’s better.

Try kefine klean or kefine delci ae .. I bought kefine delci ae for pubg and its accurate for pin pointing location etc. Buy apple dongle also us variant

Best budget iem for gaming is Tripowin Vivace. After that at a slightly higher price its Kefine Klean, then slightly higher is Kefine Delci AE. Then the price gets alot more higher

I have these. I do not use them for FPS gaming. They are strictly used with a Bluetooth adapter at work. The footstep resolution was god awful. In order of budget for decent footstep imaging on IEMs, Kefine Klean($50), Kefine Delci AE($75), Simgot EM6L ($100), Simgot Supermix 4 ($150). I have the Supermix 4s and am able to pinpoint footsteps just fine. The Kefine Cleans are really good for the money, just make sure you use the silver nozzle for gaming if you go that route.

Chu 2 are very bad for gaming. I've never heard a serious person recc chu 2 especially for FPS games. Chu 2 arent good imo, bad cables, questionable build quality and bad imaging. Both tangzu waner and chu 2 are some of the worst for gaming, i think people who are recommending these have probably never tried multiple iems side by side. If u are playing some easy to track game, like CS2, valorant or something else with good staging then it will work ok but tougher games like Apex etc would give startled cat moments. I'd strongly suggest looking at these (ranked best to worse) * kefine delci ae * tripowin 0dibi vivace * truthear zero blue * kz castor harman (silver)/pro * qkz x hbb some channels like Fresh Reviews might be able to help u: [https://www.youtube.com/@FreshReviewsYT](https://www.youtube.com/@FreshReviewsYT)

Agree with the other comment, Truthear x Crinacle Zero (Blue/OG not the blue 2) if u want a bassy set. The cheapest would be the Tripowon Vivace and a good budget set would be the Kefine Delci AE (normal isn't as good according to reviews, AE is better) In terms of gaming performance n price: 1. Kefine Delci AE (V shape) 2. Truthear x Crinacle Zero (Bassy/U) 3. Tripowin Vivace (V shape)

skip the ew 300 and go for the delci, youll save some money, get better imaging and less wonky vocals. it has a better fit and is very good for modern indian playlists, rock,hip hop and is a direct upgrade to the type of tuning you already have in sal02 and castor

Future arc enjoyer but heavy IEM/Headphone enjoyer. I have multiple in different price brackets but can confirm for gaming purposes you can get away with something as cheap as the tripowin vivace $30, truthear zero blue $50, kefine klean $50 or kefine delci ae $70. Personal favorite is the kefine delci ae since it has a CNC metal shell. If you are plugging them into the controller directly and need a mic, there is the tripowin zombur 0.78 pin cable wich comes with a mic for $10. Some IEMs do come with standard mic cables tough. Eartips matter alot and some of my recs would be spinfit w1, tangzu sancai or dunu s&s all available for around $10-15. If you are going to use them on anything else i would recommend a usb-c dongle dac with a CS31993 chip in it, they are available for as cheap as $10. Apple usb-c dongle(US version) also is sufficient. Feel free to ask questions, GL!

Heyo OP sorry for wall of text, I dont want create new post because its standard "gaming question" TLDR at bottom also wanna say thanks for all of your guide posts, some of your warn giving me deeper search into local facebook community and saw peoples having problem with those :( Is it bad if I blind buy based on reviews, price (discount) and tier list from FRS aslong the nozzle not too big but its newly released so not many known QC problem? I'm from SEA region, the prices a bit higher than MSRP due tax unless its older item or the store (Pre)Order a lot when discount on Linsoul or Ali and my budget is max $100 usd, first I was searching for IEM under $20 but after reading more the budget increased due people recommendations. I was using hyperx cloud kingston then HP version, due earpad peeling off I'm searching alternative and saw IEMs. I'm going to used it for gaming (80%) genre fps and action rpg like upcoming PoE2, music (10%) genre pop and OST then watching anime (10%) weekly genre shonen or seinen; based on what I read so far my choice are : 1. Kefine Delci AE ($85 discount today, normally $94 but only 3 stock left) 2. Simgot EW300 DSP ($73, one of overhyped brand in my country) 3. Kefine Klean ($53) 4. 7hz Sonus ($40) I was thinking interchangeable nozzle seems good for me because it has 2 signature profile. TLDR : Budget max $100 for gaming, should I buy the most expensive one from my list? Or wait another cheaper batch new IEM like 7hz G1? Thanks for reading.

Kefine Delci AE, I bought when store has discount on 12.12. No problem so far, I just found out my left ear canal size bigger than right also AE gold nozzle better than my hyperx headset.

a dongle would be a bit hard to pick since more often have problems with the cable, but the Kefine Delci AE should do the trick. Other than that, EW300, but Soundstage wont be as open for most iems with good bass at this price point Sadly, as for dongles, cant really tell you.

Delci AE comes with 2 different tuning nozzles that change the sound, the normal Delci doesnt have them, so is just one tuning, one of the 2 nozzles of the AE version should work better for gaming.

Imaging and soundstage Kefine Delci AE, resolution Tinhifi Dudu and Letshouer S08(bit below them Artti T10), imo S08 is best all around IEM under $250 msrp and it's only $100

people in the replies giving you bad advice. i suggest simgot em6l or the kefine delci ae. i have the em6l and it is very precise in it’s horizontal delivery. i had trouble with its verticality, but it could’ve been due to hrtf enabled in valo settings. the only one i suggest to NOT get are the blue 2’s (first ones are fine).

This isn’t going to be a technical breakdown talking about graphs or fancy terminology. I don’t fully understand those yet (though I can piece some things together). Instead, this is just a random write-down and review from someone who enjoys music, and appreciates the experience, and wants to share my impressions that might help others starting out. It’s a long one, since I’ve gone through a LOT of IEMs in a short time. Firstly, I listen to all sorts of music. Classic, rap, rock, punk, pop but mostly vocal ballads and pop. I can probably also say I'm not "treble sensitive" (never tested whether I am or not) but as long as the IEM fit comfortably, didn't have a problem with fatigue. For reference, I’m using a JDS Atom 2 stack. Whether that matters much, you can decide for yourself. I started with a HyperX Cloud headset for gaming and music. Then I bought into the open-back headphone hype and got a Sennheiser HD6XX. Loved the sound, but big-head problems made them super uncomfortable after a while. That’s when I decided to try IEMs. My first real IEM was the Oriolus Finschi. Bought it on a whim, no research. Turned out great: comfy, clear vocals, decent instrument separation, and even worked well for tactical FPS games. I used them for years until the plastic wrapping on the shell started peeling. And so my budget IEM collection starts. Also if you're asking why buy so many, I just have a bad habit of making a collection. Now a quick review of these for anyone who also don't understand the graphs and want a general idea. Budget IEMs I’ve tried (ranked best to worst for me). **Kefine Delci AE:** These became my favorite as they had clear vocals and instruments with good separation and resolution, similar to the Oriolus Finschi but just a bit more lively. They sounded slightly brighter/livelier than neutral (I’ll put the Finschi and Hexa as the neutral-sounding baseline). These were fun and enjoyable—everything sounded clear and lively without being piercing. Even the bass was clear and sharp, not boomy, which I liked. **Letshouer S08:** This was my favorite until the Delci AE arrived. They were just pleasing to listen to—fun but also relaxing. Definitely a step down in clarity from the Delci AE, and probably less clear than the Simgot EA500LM, but still more enjoyable to listen to than the EA500LM. The bass wasn’t too much either; it was clear and sharp. It felt *fast*—like you could feel that it came out quickly and clearly. I’m guessing that’s the “speed of planar” people keep talking about? **Aful Explorer:** This one I didn’t like much stock, but once I applied EQ through Peace, they got significantly better. Stock, they were too dark and heavy sounding—everything was a bit muffled and muddy sounding. After EQ, they definitely improved. They were still dark sounding, but less so. Darker than the S08, but brightened enough for me to enjoy them. Vocals still felt clear, just not as clear as the Delci AE, maybe about the same as the S08. The Explorer had more of a boomy bass compared to the sharp, clear bass of the IEMs mentioned above. **Simgot EA500LM:** These had very clear vocals, which made me enjoy them for vocal ballads and pop tracks. But the background instruments weren’t as clear or well separated, and the soundstage seemed small and recessed compared to the vocals. This made vocals stand out but instruments felt like they all came from the same area, which wasn’t great for classical music. These probably had the most bass out of all the budget IEMs I got. It was boomy—the opposite of the sharp bass of the Delci AE and S08. With the Delci AE and S08 I could hear when the bass started and stopped, but here it just boomed and sort of rolled off instead of “stopping.” **Truthear Hexa:** Mediocre for me—nothing really stood out. It had clear vocals, instruments, and bass, but not to the point that it was clearer than the IEMs above. Very neutral and "boring". **Dunu Kima 2:** These had really good vocals, probably on par with the Delci AE. However, I found the background instruments very recessed, even more so than the EA500LM, making them unclear. The difference between forward, clear vocals and recessed background instruments felt weird to me. Otherwise, I think I would have really liked these—especially since this IEM comes with the best accessories by far. It’s like Dunu added the Kima 2 IEMs to their accessory set, instead of the other way around. **Letshouer S12 Pro:** Personally, I don’t understand the hype behind these. They sounded a bit unnatural and artificial—not relaxing or fun for me. They were bright, and I couldn’t EQ them properly. Toning down the brightness made them muddy. They were decent in clarity and had sharp, fast bass, but the overall tonality was just too bright and artificial for me. Still, I would pick these over the next two, just because they were clearer in both vocals and instruments which I value highly. **Kefine Klean:** These were okay, just average all around. Similar to the Truthear Hexa, but toned down evenly in all categories. Average clarity, separation, bass. Nothing wowed me, and they were a bit boring. Personally, I’d save up for the Delci AE or S08. **Simgot EW300:** Very slightly less clarity than the Klean, but a bit more bass and a livelier sound signature. If you listen to more rock or EDM, you would probably enjoy the EW300 more than the Klean. Just to quickly add: I also got the Moondrop Starfield 1 when they were popular back then, but they were heavy, uncomfortable, and mediocre. I didn’t use them for long and honestly can’t remember them well enough to describe beyond that. Currently, I’ve upgraded to mid-level IEMs and rotate between the Aful Explorer 5+2, Kiwi Ears Astral, Aether, and Ziigaat Odyssey. I found that the mid-level IEMs are definitely better than all the entry-level ones—I can clearly hear a difference when swapping back to the Delci AE or S08 in terms of clarity, resolution, and soundstage. However, the upgrade isn’t *huge*, so whether that’s worth the extra price depends on you. Maybe if people enjoyed reading this long post, I can do another crappy review for the mid-level IEMs I’ve collected.

- Kefine Delci AE - good bassy set with decent vocals and energetic treble without it being a full V shape. - Tangzu Fudu - own these and they’re solid for the sale price/package with tips (usually $90 on sale circa $40-50). Good rumbly sub bass/punchy mid-bass without overpowering the mids too much. Guitars don’t sound muddy and vocals are relaxing but clean. Work amazingly with the included Divinus Velvet tips. Haven’t tried it but the 7hz Legato (can find on sale around $65-75) but it’s a bassy pick, recommended to use with wide bore tips to open the treble up.

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)

At those prices, get the Kefine Delci AE. Highly rated for gaming (and a great IEM overall).

Get the Moondrop MC1 or MC2 cable to use with the Chu 2. Better mic’s than a lot of the cheaper ones. The Chu 2 has a DSP version (with mic) but unsure if that has Uac.01 mode. Also wise to get an external dac if you have any sound issues with using the jack connection. You’ll need something with Uac.01 mode for the PS5 if using the usb-c port. If going closer to your budget, it’s hard to beat the Kefine Delci AE, or for $35-40 Kefine Delci or Kefine Klean at $30. Otherwise, Tripowin Vivace or Tanchjim Bunny are good budget sets for gaming. You won’t find many IEMs with cable mic’s included, at best they’re mediocre in quality. The Moondrop ones, especially the MC2 have excellent sound quality and has a really solidly built cable; MC1 is pretty good for general usage & cable is nice and light.

Try the Kefine Delci AE for gaming. It’s around $80 or less.

Kefine Delci AE if under $100. If you can go a little more or use coupons and coins on AliExpress, Go for the Simgot EM6L.

Diminishing Returns hits faster with iems in gaming. But best Iems I have tried in the $125-175 would be the Kiwi Ears Aether or if you're comfortable with using AliExpress you could get Ziigaat Odyssey for $160. The KZ ZS10 Pro is not really that good, plus I wouldn't recommend KZ as they provide a really cheap cable and no accessories for the same price you could get something quality like the Kefine Klean or even a Kefine Delci AE.

I have the Delci AE and there is something wrong with this iem. i cannot describe it but it is just off for me. And is literally first time something was too small. I had to wear the L sized tips for it to stay in place. I have had ISN H60 in the 350$ range and I can say the jump there is quite substantial. But after that, You have to spend 600-700-1000$ to hear any significant upgrade and even then it often comes down to tuning preference. Now, that being said I have a solution for you. Instead of spending on tea pro, get Yourself Ziigaat Odyssey. Trust me mate it is SOOO GOOD. I have a 700$ est and bone conduction hybrid set, and despite it being technically better in every way, the odyssey is tuned so well and it’s so addictive, that I listen to it more often. You won’t regret. And it’s around 200$. Just get yourself a nicer cable and you are all set. ~130$ saved