Prelude

Dita Prelude are absolutely incredible for $159. For me, they're better than Aful 5+2, Tea Pro, Dunu Davinci. The best deal I got for $300 was open box Moondrop Variations, IEMs that I believe can absolutely compete with well regarded $2000+ sets... and most of my sets are $2000-$4000 (I'm older than most of you here at 45, pretty much disabled after a serious illness in 2020 after a lengthy career in music & spend most of my life lying down on my bed working, gaming, music & films... I still make decent money so I will absolutely buy silly money gear). The Variations genuinely do compete with $2000 sets & for me they're the only set that do in the $500 and below category... even going up to $1000, I'm struggling to think of a set I prefer. I think the Prestige Ltd at $1400 are the 'cheapest' set that beats them. If you can find that sort of deal, absolutely worth checking. That said, the Moondrop Dusk (which are around 350) are perhaps better for your musical preference... according to someone I trust. Otherwise the $159 Prelude are unbelievable for the money.

Everyone is different, but I think the Dita Prelude is the best under $200. I love single DD though. It comes with a dongle DAC too if you don’t have one. The cable is ass. I bought a white Tripowin to replace it. Bloom Audio and Andy’s Audio Vault both have good reviews on it.

Bang for buck: Tanchjim Bunny. Best IEM: Tie between Dita Prelude and the Kima 2. Worst IEM: Intuaura Splendor II. I got it at half price and still feel like I got scammed.

Beater-NiceHCK Tears My main IEM I rotate every week from 4 IEMs. This week is Dita Prelude. Only used for watching shows and listening to music.

None, because those expensive IEMs would have already been sold. Dita Prelude has helped knock out a lot of the expensive IEMs this year, but it doesn't beat the Twilight or my other more expensive IEMs.

The HS1750cu looks good but sounded like trash when I tried it, fit was wonky as well. Edit: to elaborate it was a bright leaning v shaped tuning with meh clarity, falls behind much cheaper single DD's like the Kima 2 and Dita Prelude. I hear good things about their flagship single DD's but not so much about their cheaper stuff.

Xenns Tea Pro for my PC Dita Audio Prelude when I'm out of the house

$400 budget for EACH: Softears Volume S: Fantastic meta-tuned all-arounder hybrid. $329. Hisenior Cano Cristales: Excellent bass tone and texture without it killing the mids. $399. Kiwi Ears Aether: Best planar under $200. $169. Penon Fan 3: Everyone needs some of that bone conduction special sauce and smooth Penon mids. $349. $400 budget TOTAL: AFUL Explorer: Great mid-bass and mids. Not enough treble extension but a killer chill listen. $99. Artti T10: Best IEM I’ve heard at sub-$100, regardless of driver type. $51. AFUL MagicOne: A single-BA with bass! Yes, it’s possible. Sublime mids. Treble can be a bit metallic. $89. DITA Prelude: Insanely good budget single DD that punches well above its price. Comes with a cool dongle, too. $159.