DUNU - Titan S

Dunu titan S is pretty small and fits me better than the tangzu fudu, might be worth a try, but the ie200 seems like a safer bet for you tbh.

Fosi DS2 is one of the cleanest and most neutral DAC/Amps you can get, and at $50, its a steal. If you HAVE to get something off of that list, then i would go witht he Fiio KA13, just for the Fiio App, and ease of support and firmware updates through Fiio. If you want something without overpowering bass. You can basically write off the Lagato, Fudu, EM6L, Hexa, and DZ4. They all have a rumbly sub bass texture to them, the Legato is basically a bass canon, and a bad one at that. The DZ4 and the Hexa do have a slightly leaner lower mid bass region, but that just makes the sub bass more pronounced sounding. The only really vocal forward, low bass IEM in that list is the Aria2. But it is kinda older now, and i think there are some better tuned IEM's out there with a similar sound signature. The Titan S2 is a good IEM, very balanced, vocals are a little less prominent than the Aria2, but the upper mids have more authority, so female vocals are a little stronger. The mid bass of the Titan S2 is also strong, which can make it feel bassy on some rock or traditional jazz tracks. But it balances nicely with the upper treble. If you want something that has less lower mid kick, the original Titan S, or the Sivga Que, might be a better fit.

Fosi DS2 is one of the cleanest and most neutral DAC/Amps you can get, and at $50, its a steal. If you HAVE to get something off of that list, then i would go witht he Fiio KA13, just for the Fiio App, and ease of support and firmware updates through Fiio. If you want something without overpowering bass. You can basically write off the Lagato, Fudu, EM6L, Hexa, and DZ4. They all have a rumbly sub bass texture to them, the Legato is basically a bass canon, and a bad one at that. The DZ4 and the Hexa do have a slightly leaner lower mid bass region, but that just makes the sub bass more pronounced sounding. The only really vocal forward, low bass IEM in that list is the Aria2. But it is kinda older now, and i think there are some better tuned IEM's out there with a similar sound signature. The Titan S2 is a good IEM, very balanced, vocals are a little less prominent than the Aria2, but the upper mids have more authority, so female vocals are a little stronger. The mid bass of the Titan S2 is also strong, which can make it feel bassy on some rock or traditional jazz tracks. But it balances nicely with the upper treble. If you want something that has less lower mid kick, the original Titan S, or the Sivga Que, might be a better fit.

Right? I get why people love them, but I'd always rather listen to the Dunu TItan S (or frankly any of a half-dozen IEMs under $25).

I really, really like the Dunu Titan S. Here are my quick notes about it: "Treble is very nice and present without being harsh. Vocals are perhaps a hair recessed (particularly female vocals), but clear and with nice timbre. Bass is strong and present but not splattery or fuzzy (maybe the best reproduction of "Limit To Your Love" I've heard from an IEM). Soundstage is good but not great; better front-to-back than most. Solidly built metal body, nicer cable than I expected at this price point (slender, minimal memory, minimal tangles). Comes with probably the nicest case of any IEM I own outside of Campfire (velvet lined pleather)." I'm digging the Moondrop Aria 2 so far: "Bass is emphasized but not overly so/splattery. Treble is clear and forward but not harsh or sharp. Vocals are average plus; not exceptional but nicely reproduced. Surprisingly good at quiet tracks; lower sensitivity so gives you more headroom for volume control (especially with headroom management). Heavy IEMs with a solid cable; feels like a premium product and is very satisfying to use. Appreciate that it comes with both a 3.5 mm and 4.4mm pentaconn connector, though the way the cable connects to the IEM will make using non-OEM cables a challenge." I also mostly like the Artti T10 but it can be a little bit thumpy at times without EQ (and of those three, the build quality is the cheapest). Oh, and the Hexa is good, just ... a bit boring?

Hey, I've been waiting for your review on this one :) I'll just add a couple of thoughts from my perspective: 1. At the TSP of around $50 now, I think these are really good value for money and I'd take them over the Zero Red any day of the week for a neutral-ish set. The build and comfort are much better aside from anything else. 2. It's easy to overlook how well these handle hip hop, with many reviews describing them as "bright neutral" which I find strange. I'd say they're more of a warm-neutral with some vocal forwardness. But they do male vocals particularly well, without the Harman-like cool tilt and without excessive warmth either. They maintain a strong enough bassline while keeping the vocals front and centre. And while they might be lacking technicalities in some areas compared to more expensive IEMs, they are particularly good at *bassline separation*. They're my favourite IEM for rap over other, bassier IEMs that intuitively you'd think would be better. I also think these can be seen as a pretty direct upgrade from the Wan'er for anyone who likes that sort of tuning but wants something that's better in every way really. The only thing I can really point to as a negative of the Titan S is the treble can be a bit grainy at times. It's only really noticeable on maybe 1 in 10 tracks, so it's not a really major flaw, but it is there. Were it not for that I'd put them at around the same level as the Moondrop Kato. I actually think bass on the Titan S is slightly better than the Kato, which can occasionally get a bit boxy.

It's kinda grown on me over time a bit. It literally is a purse (I guess they got them from a purse factory), but it's also a very nice shade of blue in person. It also has a really good quality feel to it compared to most IEM cases, but it's a bit impractical. On the one hand it's quite big, so it's not very pocketable. But it's also quite thin, so IEMs don't fit in it very well. I keep my Titan S in a different case and keep my Tanchjim Oxygen in the purse, because it's quite small and I've got it on a blue cable, so it matches.

The Moondrop Kato is pretty close to that target. The new Kadenz may be even closer with a bit less bass than the Kato. Since you are EQing to Crinacle's target, if you can save a bit more than the thing you really want is probably the Dusk. Also for about $60 the original Titan S is closer to that target than the S2, without any EQ. I think the Kato is closer on a graph, but sounds a bit more v-shaped than the Titan. The Titan has very slightly grainy treble while bass on the Kato can occasionally sound a bit boxy. My ideal would be Titan S bass & mids with Kato treble.

I have about 50 IEMs, so it's a fairly long list. But my current favourites are: 1. Simgot EA1000 2. Letshuoer S08 -- currently tied with Ikko OH300 3. QKZ HBB 4. Moondrop Stellaris -- specifically with Dunu Candy tips^[1] 5. Moondrop Kato -- tied with Ikko OH10 (order changes if I'm inside or outside). 6. Dunu Titan S ^[1] Just because these tips work for me doesn't mean they'll work for anyone else - with other tips these are super bright and fatiguing to listen to.

I would go with the EM6L out of that list. The Hexa fits your description except for soundstage, which is quite narrow. The EM6L has excellent imaging and a decent soundstage which is why it is one of the consistent top recommendations for gamers. It's also a fairly neutral sound. Bassier than the Hexa, but I'd say the Hexa bass is a bit below neutral and is a bit limp as well. The Aria 2 AFAIK is also a good choice. I haven't heard it but it's supposed to be very similar to the Kato, which I have. The EM6L is probably a bit ahead for technicalities though, especially stereo imaging. I haven't heard the Titan S2 but most reviews say it's not as good s the original Titan S, which I have and is a great IEM. If you can get the Titan S, it fits what you're looking for. Vocals are one of its particular strong points. You don't want the Legato, that's a basshead ridiculous mud-fest. The Fudu is also warm, bassy and a bit muddy. Not what you're looking for. Haven't heard the DZ4, nor can I recall seeing any reviews of it. A cheap dongle like the Apple dongle or JCally JM6 Pro should be all you need unless you're considering a planar like the Artti T10 (there are no planars on your list). There's no point in spending a lot of money on DACs as the difference they make to the sound is tiny, whereas the difference the IEM makes is huge. You just need one with enough power to drive your IEM and most IEMs don't need much.

It depends on the price range... Up to 150 dollars, Titan S (1) without a doubt.

I've already tested a lot of things... but the image and soundstage equal to the combination of Dunu Titan S (1) + Divinus Velvet Wide Bore still surprises me to the point where I adopt it as my definitive IEM for games. The black variant with these tips also has an aesthetic that I really liked...

Thanks for the suggestion! I've had the Titan S before and tried using autoeq on it with the harman target. With this eq, I've found the harman tuning to be too forward in its vocal. Does the Wyvern Abyss have the same issue? And also would it be equal or better than the Titan S in terms of technicality?

It's out of stock on HDZ when did you get one? Also if you have more IEMs tried what's a good pair for Indian music scene for reddit kinda people..I assume wide range from pop, Bollywood, classical, musical like coke studio etc. I have alba and dunu titan but praises for tea Pro are too much maybe I should've combine budget and got to tea pro range?

(amongst the iems have I owned) s tier: kiwi ears ke 4 and truthear hexa a+ tier: Ikko OH10, Pula PA02, Shuoer s12 pro, Sennheiser ie200, Kefine Delci, Dunu Titan S OG a tier: Dunu Titan s2, Tanchjim One, pre revision CCA CRA+ A- tier: Binary Chopin, Tangzu Waner Studio, KZ PR2 pre revision, Tripowin Olina SE B+ tier: Kiwi Ears Quintet, Tangzu Xuan Ji, Simgot EW 200, Truthear Gate and Hola, Tangzu Wan'er SG B tier: Moondrop Chu 2 and OG, KZ EDA Balanced, Kiwi Ears Quartet, Moondrop Aria Snow, FiiO Jade Audio JH3, Tripowin Lea B- tier: 7hz zero OG, Truthear Zero Blue, Whizzer BS1 C tier: KZ CRN D tier: Moondrop Quarks honorable mentions: Koss KSC75 in A minus, Porta Pro in B, Moondrop Space Travel in B-, Galaxy Buds Plus and 2 in A minus along with Airpods Pro Gen 1, and Galaxy Buds 2 Pro in A plus.

# TL/DR: The Dunu Titan S is a quite safe, balanced, vocal focused iem, that has surprising quality and very decent amount of bass, with really nice rumble, very decent punch and fairly good texture while keeping it mostly clean. The mid-range is the star of the show, but is not too intense, instead, it is quite smooth despite being forward over the rest of the frequencies, giving you a correct sound with decently nuanced and fairly bodied vocals, without turning shouty or thin most times. The treble is also smooth and nice but feels complementary, not particularly boosted, not too sparkly, yet still present. Technical performance, especially on resolution and imaging, is below average, but given that is quite an old model that you can get for cheap, I don’t consider it a downside, unless you are a “technical-head.” A really good, and now quite cheap, vocal focused tuning for people looking for this kind of signature without it being too analytical or “lean,” really good for a collection if you get it on a sale. \---------- **WOULD RECOMMEND:** * For people that enjoy vocal focused or mid-range forward music (like ballads). * For people that like balanced sound signatures, with extra mid-range. * For people that want a vocal forward, but not analytical or lean, sound presentation. * For people wanting great quality of bass but not a big amount of it. * For people that want good (and even legendary) sets for an iem collection. * For people that like to EQ, since it works decent with it. * Actually safe enough for people with mild sensitivity to shouty mid-range or harsh treble. * Safe enough for high volume listeners. \----- **WOULD NOT RECOMMEND:** * Not for people looking for the “best bang for buck” at stock price. * Not for people who are very sensitive to shouty mid-range. * Not for trebleheads. * Not for people looking for great technical performance. * Not the best for rock music genres (thanks to the signature and technical performance). * Caution ad high volumes if you know you are sensitive to upper mid-range or lower treble. \---------- # The Intro. After trying some of the best stuff that Dunu had to offer, I requested to try something that was arguably legendary, one of the first sub $100 iems that came to shake the market, and yet again, the great people at Dunu thankfully let me try this oldie… ***Full disclosure, this set was send by DUNU, I did NOT buy it with my own money.*** I used to saw Titan S reviews a few years back and think to myself “well, a lot of reviewers mostly say that those are very focused on vocals, but is it like that?, I mean, a lot of people seem to like it, maybe my ears aren’t refined enough?”, but of course, it was hard for me to even consider get an iem that I didn’t even knew that I would like it, but honestly, now that I have it, I consider it, with a discount, to be an amazing value set, but overall, what I feel the most is annoyance, because I think that reviewers, in order to not hype them too much with the vocal forward tuning, they might have done Dunu dirty when talking about the Titan S. \---------- # The Bias. Just before commenting on my experience, I need to mention a few things about me. Remember, every person listens in a different way, and those preferences and bias are key to understand what each person specifically likes and dislikes and how that will translate into the opinions given for a review. My preference is neutral with bass boost, I don’t like too boosted treble, however, I do can handle intense upper treble quite a lot, so, what is not bright or too treble forward for me, could actually come as harsh for you, and what is bassy enough for me, could be too bassy or even muddy for you. Another relevant thing to note is that I’m a bit susceptible to shoutiness and harshness on iems with boosting on the lower treble, around 4Khz-6Khz, which affects female vocals, high pitched male vocals, and part of the treble. A lot of people doesn’t have this problem, but I do, and it gives the sound this intense and harsh energy that doesn’t let me enjoy music, so if I personally find something what I consider “shouty,” understand that I’m mostly talking about this. Last thing is that I don’t struggle with iems with the called “Metallic / BA / Planar” Timbre that some people can’t really enjoy, I personally don’t have problems with neither of those. \---------- # The Review. * ***Fit and Drivability.*** When I tried them I did noticed what other reviewers pointed out, that the nozzle digs a bit deep into the ear, I personally don’t think it is outright uncomfortable, but from all the included eartips, just one pair fitted me the best, the other 2 felt just not right, it was only with the red atmospheric stock eartips, that Dunu provided with this set, that I didn’t had any kind of discomfort despite my small ear canals, but you should take this in mind if you plan to get them. In terms of power that this unit needs, it actually works well from a simple phone 3.5mm jack connection, you absolutely don’t need a dongle DAC to drive those, but, might be just me having some placebo going on, is just that, with more power, it felt like the Titan S got a bit more bassy, like having more presence in the bass region, something that I appreciate, but either way, in general, you should be fine with whatever source you use, as long as is not too old or too poorly made. \----- * ***Technicalities:*** I guess time doesn’t go unnoticed, the technical department is a bit underwhelming for the current $80 price bracket standards, that said, is not too bad, may even say that it aged decently, but is outdated nonetheless. The detail retrieval is just fine, with the treble not being particularly forward on this set, you might find hard to hear some microdetail, is not bad by any means, is just that the Titan is going to be pretty discrete with some details, that you will kind of need to look around for them, I guess the tuning does care mostly about vocals in that sense. Timbre is very correct, vocals are natural and have a hint of warmness to make male vocals have body without messing with the natural and energetic presentation of female vocals, I personally find it like an upgrade from the other budget legend, the Waner. Resolution, soundstage, and imaging are the areas where the technical performance struggles more noticeably, being below average versus most other $80 iems, not to say that is terrible but it sure is not a strong point of them. Sound is not as crisp as it could be, the direction of the sound is a bit lackluster, almost “left to right” kind of presentation, and position of things is also not that clear, you would have a pretty rough estimate on that side, is along some $50 iems or so. Note weight is decent, is on the soft side but is there, you can feel it on some tracks, but I do think it plays on the favor of the iem since it makes it a bit relaxed yet well rounded. The replay across the board is pretty good, badly mixed tracks or low quality ones would sound pretty fine, I think the not so crisp resolution do help with it, as for well mixed tracks, they also work pretty well with the Titan S, it has good replay capabilities, so I think this is one of the strongest points of the set. \----- * ***Treble:*** The treble is well controlled, not too boosted, and could even feel a bit dark for some trebleheads, but it is still there, is just that it feels mostly complementary to the sound rather than being directly sparkly or similar, however, I should mention that this is mostly because the upper mids are noticeably boosted over the treble and bass, not because the treble is reduced in itself. The sound presentation, with a vocal focus, of the Titan S does require some lower treble energy, but surprisingly, it doesn’t introduce harshness to the sound, the downside is, as said before, that detail on treble, texture and overall presentation is a bit mediocre, it makes for a more relaxed but fun sound rather than lean or analytical as some reviews might make you believe it could be like. In what concerns to sibilance, because of the vocal centric presentation, there are some very specific moments where it can get to show some presence of it, but for most part, it does control sibilance pretty well, even with tracks that had recorded sibilance it is not so aggressive, but this also could have to do with the eartips used, so, if you use different stocks, or tip-roll, this could be more noticeable. There is not much more to say, is a very simplistic, yet nice, approach to treble, but one that I do like if you are looking for something a bit relaxed but don’t want too bassy, or even muddy, sound to achieve that. \----- * ***Mid-range/Vocals:*** Being what was supposed to be a vocal focused iem, probably some people would be expecting something amazing, but I don’t think the mid-range is that remarkable, however, I don’t mean that in a bad way at all, let me explain. As I just mentioned early, timbre is very correct, there is just enough of everything to make for nice, bodied vocals that are neither weirdly warm nor noticeably shouty. The mid-range, in general, is actually quite approachable, it sure is forward over everything else, but is quite smooth and a bit texturized, detailed and as crisp as the resolution lets it be, all that while keeping the presentation quite clean, now, I must admit that I don’t think it sound like super clean, maybe for some it could feel just a tiny bit muddy, but I think is not a deal breaker at all, especially because it does help with male vocals. Something I must warn is that people that are very sensitive to shoutiness might struggle with those either way, at the very least at higher volumes, since from time to time it does get a bit peaky on that front, specialty when replaying female vocals, but given the smoothness of it, is not offensive most of the time. \----- * ***Bass:*** Watching a lot of reviews, one could assume that the bass is just decent and quite reduced, in my experience though, not exactly… I could even say, with me being somewhat of a basshead, that the bass is fairly boosted and pretty well balanced with the rest of the sound, especially on the sub-bass, which is surprisingly rumbly for, again, what was supposed to be a vocal focused iem. The bass can reach quite deep and is decently punchy, reminding you why people like “DD bass”, the rumble feels pretty physical and texturized, although it is not that fast it is also not noticeably sluggish, which amounts to a pretty great detail overall in this area, still, the amount of it is not that much, it is just a bit above “balanced/neutral” amount, specially in sub-bass, it sure has more presence than what most neutral iems usually have, but remember, it is not a bass canon, that said, with some EQ or maybe some narrow bore eartips, it could easily get into bassy territory. It is not the punchiest, not the most physical, is even a bit boomy, but it is still quite nice and a very good complementation to the vocals so the sound doesn’t come as too boring or bright. \----- * ***Overall sound:*** The Titan S is just a quite safe, balanced, vocal focused iem, that has nice quality and decent amount of bass, with nice rumble, decent punch and fairly good texture while keeping it mostly clean. The mid-range is the star of the show, but is not impressive for being too intense, instead, is quite smooth despite being somewhat forward, giving you a correct sound, decently nuanced and fairly bodied vocals, without turning shouty or thin most times. The treble is also smooth and nice but feels complementary, not particularly boosted, not too sparkly, yet still present. Technical performance, especially on resolution and imaging, is below average for the original price, but given that is quite an old model that you can get for cheaper, I don’t consider it disruptive at all for enjoying music. Unless you are a “technical-head.” I honestly feel like the best way to describe the Titan S is like a cleaner, more well-rounded and vocal focused Tangzu Waner, the upgrade that a lot of people were looking for, kind of relaxed, but cleaner and better nuanced, allrounder material for a lot of people, is just that the original price is not competitive anymore, at around $50 bucks though, this iem is an excellent choice for people that like excellent vocals but don’t want a full blown “analytical” kind of tuning for it. \---------- # Unboxing Experience. The unboxing experience is on the simple side, you open the box and there is the soft carrying case with the iem inside, and the few accessories included are contained in a black box below it, so, arguably not that bad for 2025, some sets nowadays, for around $80, still have the same amount of accessories or even less; it is not up to recent Dunu standards, but is still quite decent. \----- # Accessories. * The titan S comes with a… well, it the official info says it comes with a “high purity silver-plated copper cable” that looks to have a brown/bronze type of color, but it seems to have changed in the unit I got since mine is white with silver accents, anyway, it feels quite nice on the hand and is very lightweight, with no problems with microphonics, all in all I really think it is still a good stock cable, only downsides I could point on is the 2 pin connection having a design that mostly matches the Titan S, but will likely look ugly in other iems; and the lack of interchangeable connections even if it doesn’t need the 4.4mm, call it a nitpick though. \----- * About eartips, Dunu only includes 3 pairs with this model, their classic atmospheric red core eartips, the vocal blue core ones, and the balanced stock grey ones. * Neither the grey balanced (too big even the smaller ones) nor the blue core vocal (make the nozzle feel uncomfortable) eartips helped with the fit, but the red atmospheric eartips were quite comfortable and small enough for my small ear canals, I still think people should try each to see which works better, but I personally think the red core atmospheric eartips are the best pairing. \----- * The only other 2 things to mention are the clear blue soft carrying pouch that is quite useful but, being real with you, looks like a cheap granny purse (although I honestly like it because of the color), and a clothing clip for the cable. \----- Is not the extravagant and big display of quality accessories that Dunu has us used to, but again, I would even die on the hill that is still reasonable for the price bracket and even more reasonable with a discounted price, and at the end of the day, is your choice whether it is worth or not. \---------- # Conclusion: I really don’t have much to say at this point, I really enjoyed my time with the Titan S, but I must admit that forward vocals is kind of my guilty pleasure even if I don’t actively seek that kind of tuning specifically, the only thing I wish would have done different was the reviews from other people, since the image painted of the original Titan feels a bit misleading once I have tried the set, again, each one hears different, so is their opinion, but maybe some things could have been said in a better way. \--- So, if you are looking for a vocal focused iem on a budget, and don’t know what to get, Titan S for me goes into blind buy territory as long as you really want this kind of tuning; I hope Dunu will launch a proper replacement to this iem sooner or later but only time will tell, for now, might as well grab it while you still can if you want it for a collection. \----- ***Thanks a lot for reading, the budget knight bids farewell, wishing you and Dunu the best, good luck. – O.E.***

if you Didnt like EW300 stay away from Fudu. you likely should check a planar for clean sound with yet punchy enough bass, maybe Titan S2 if wide Soundstage is not a must. You want specifically bassy yet clean (S08) or just clean balanced?

If you havent see it yet: [My Review On The S2](https://www.reddit.com/r/iems/s/PhN4PM6OUo) Overall technical performance is really good, resolution too, but my 2 biggest "but" with it is that 1.- is a very energetic iem that im not sure if you will enjoy, and 2.- Soundstage is a bit narrow for the price range, is not like super close in, but is not that "open" either. Woks for gaming too, but yeah, just take those things in mind.

# After a few months of my first mega list of options under $50 dollars...  \---------- ***Click here for the sub $50 list:*** [https://www.reddit.com/r/iems/s/WfhfLLl0np](https://www.reddit.com/r/iems/s/WfhfLLl0np)  \---------- ... Finally, after so much corrections and problems, I can post my next list, I’m sorry for coming this late though, I hope people still finds it useful, this time, I came with options ranging from around $110 dollars (counting in discounts) down to $60 for those looking for a little more advanced options, either to make an upgrade to your cheaper IEMs, or to get started in the hobby, in any case, you are welcome.   Unlike the first list, this time I won't detail so many things before listing options, if you want to know about where to possibly buy IEMs safely, which reviewers to check on YouTube for second opinions, and even understand a bit more of the terminologies used in the “audiophile lingo”, please check out the Sub $50 list, this one has two parts and explains a lot of this already.   \---------- # PLEASE DO TAKE IN MIND: That I’m just a single person doing this compilation of information, this list is based off the general impressions of various trustworthy reviewers on these iems. This is **NOT** a ranking list, this **NOT** my personal best picks, and I do **NOT** own all of the iems on the list. This IS just a list for you to have alternatives to pick of fairly recent, good, safe-ish iems to pick from.   There is so much a single person can do, so, **if you see any glaring error** with the description of any iem, or if you think there is any model left out that should be on this list, **please do let me know**, remember that this list only goes up to $110 because it will drop down to under $100 often on discounts, please do not mention iems over $110 or under $60.   Here, before I start, I'm just going to make some specific clarifications that people should keep in mind when looking to buy any IEM in this price range. Do consider that **I’m being very superficial here**, this is **not** full audio engineer knowledge being explained in a simplistic way, rather, this is more like **summarized general concepts** to help people grasp basic ideas that they could need to know when entering the hobby. \---------- ***Over-reach Update:*** Per request of various people in the post, I will be adding iems around $120-$130 to consider grabbing if you see it below $100. # Gaming Update: As quite a lot of people have been asking for gaming options, ill make this update marking iems with performance rakings from the "WALLHACK CERTIFIED IEM TIER LIST" of Reviwer Fresh Reviews, who is pretty well known for recomending iems for gaming use, just be aware that this does not reflect my opinion about each IEM nor does it ensure that you will have an excellent video game experience just because its listed. The Fresh Reviews system gives letter grades where “S” is the best grade, going down from S-A to C+, where C+ means that they are the minimum sufficient to be able to play video games with. The way I will mark it would be putting the score besides the name "(with FRS: “Mark obtained”)" (FRS = Fresh Reviews Score), example: Truthear Zero Red (FRS: C+), if you don't see this mark, it means that either Fresh Reviews did not consider it good for gaming, or did not review the product. \---------- # Relevant clarifications:  **---** * **“Hybrid IEMs = Better?”** A constant question you see these days is “are more drivers better than one?” and the answer is always: in budget price ranges? absolutely not, especially under $100. What mostly dictates the sound quality and technicality of a headphone is the quality of the driver(s) used, it doesn't matter if an earphone has 20 drivers per side at this price range, if another company is selling you one with only 1 driver, and people say it's good, that's because it usually is, the amount of drivers in lower price ranges means almost nothing, there may be extra benefits of having more drivers, but those benefits are not a “game changer” in this price range, pick based on performance, use case and sound preference, not on driver config…UNLESS you dislike the way that one specific type of driver produces sound..  \--- * **“What’s a Planar?”** IEMs that only use planar drivers are a special thing because usually drivers of this type offer very good and balanced technicalities in general at this price range, you know: separation, detail, resolution, soundstage, and all those terms you have heard. What happens is that most of these drivers also have some disadvantages that pay in return for the techs, among them the most common ones are: * That some people consider that the noise they produce in vocals and treble sounds somewhat “metallic”, which can be annoying or distracting. * \- * The second problem is that usually planar drivers, at least in this price range, do not have the most textured or impactful bass, they may have good bass presence and rumble, but they usually do not get to be as intense and feel as physical as a good dynamic driver can. * \- * And finally, planar drivers usually require a decent amount of amplification from a DAC to perform to the best of their capabilities, if you plan on choosing a full planar IEM, you really, ideally, should be running them with a DAC, unlike other driver types or even hybrid configurations at this price range, a planar IEM can exhibit noticeable changes in sound and performance when not properly amplified, especially reducing their overall technicalities and sounding less clean than they should. IF YOU CAN, hook them to a good dongle DAC with a 4.4mm cable for the best amplification possible. That's why, when I say that a planar will need “good application”, I mean that you'll probably want to use something more than the typical apple dongle recommendation to move a planar earphone, mostly just to make sure you are powering them correctly.  \--- * **“Should I get a dongle DAC?”** And the last point, although speaking of amplification again, above $50 you really should start considering getting a dongle DAC for your IEMs, because, while even at this price point, most iems could work pretty fine without it, you could likely end up leaving some performance “on the table” if they are underpowered. It is not obligatory for you to get one, specially if you dont get a planar, but also don’t be surprised if your iems doesn’t give you enough volume or if your new iems doesn’t seem to perform as great as most people say, you don’t need anything too fancy, just try a basic dongle dac in the $15-$40 price range, the normal cheap rec is the Apple dongle (US version), but you can always get something a bit more durable, and then judge your experience based on it. And if it’s possible to you, specially with planars, using a 4.4mm cable (on a compatible DAC) to get the most energy out of your dac will ensure that your iems aren’t under-amplified in most cases, is not a must in any way, shape of form, but you could try it if you can (but please, just dont use 3.5mm to 4.4mm adapters as those could damage some of your equipment if they are made improperly). By the way, the reason why i recommend a 4.4mm is because you can easily get more energy out of your same dac (if it has both conections, of course) using a 4.4mm vs the 3.5mm on the same DAC, you can always, get a very decent 3.5mm DAC too.   \---------- # SUB $100 IEM MEGA PICK LIST: (This list now cover iems mostly\* down from $60 up to $100, with some extra options that could be around $120, but that could be picked below $100 if on sale, please take that in mind. The prices listed are just the stock price, often lower on sales). ***Purchase links disclaimer:*** The links included are affiliate links, but make sure to check vendor reviews when you make any AliExpress purchases. The links have no influence on which IEMs are recommended or picked for the list.   \----- # BASSY IEMs. The option for people looking for a bassy, rumbly, thumpy or just warm and relaxed experience, if you want good bass, check here. **NOT EVERYTHING HERE IS BASS HEAVY.**  \----- * ***($109) 7hz Legato (FRS: C+):*** The bass canon pick under $100, plenty of quality bass for your basshead needs, with just enough of upper half energy on the sound to not be unusable. It’s recommended to be used with things like wide bore eartips for extra clarity. Technicalities are a bit below average since the heavy bass isn’t the best for detail, but still very competitive, the basshead upgrade path from the QKZxHBB. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mqJdKzH)  \----- * ***($90) Tangzu Fudu (FRS: B-):*** A relaxed, bassy and smooth experience, most people say they are pretty comfortable, but the nozzle is slightly on the large size. It has an overall clean-ish sound, nice and warm-ish well-done vocals, and smooth treble. Average good technicalities despite the extra bass and the smooth presentation. Should Work for gaming, although bass could be a bit too distracting for competitive. Also, the bass is not super powerful, as it is more of a relaxed set, so don’t get it just for the amount of bass it has, but also for the style of sound. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mqvuzOT)  \----- * ***($75) Kefine Delci/AE (AE FRS: B):*** A pretty good bass leaning iem, some consider it the step up from the BLON BL03, as it manages to have great bass qualities while still presenting nice enough vocals and detailed treble. There is some warmness in vocals, not the cleanest sound from the price range, but it makes for a more relaxed and bassy listening experience, that manages to be engaging when it needs to be, especially with the pretty thumpy and rumbly bass. Vocals are natural enough despite the extra warmness, just not the main focus of the iem. The treble is on the energetic side, but not too intense that it makes it a V-shape. Technicalities are fine for the price range, but the bassy sound just makes it a not so “clear” sounding iem, a better if you are into bassy stuff. If you would like the performance of the Delci for bass, but also would like to be able to use it for gaming, check the Delci AE with the interchangable nozzles for 2 tunings and more versatile usage. Not a common recommendation for gaming, at least not for competitive gaming. But the usual bassy recommendation under $100. Check it out here (Regular): [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mKaEwxD) Check it out here (AE): [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mKT5q5H)  \----- * ***($70) TRN White Tiger:*** Funny and energetic, yet not aggressive, bassy V-shaped iem, nice bass quality for the price, with good balance between sub-bass and mid-bass, the bass does have a bit of muddiness (bleed) to it, but doesn’t drown the vocals at all, is tastefully done and vocals are fine enough, the treble is a bit forward, but nothing too intense, nice technicalities for the price, an alternative to the Titan S2 if you feel like lacking bass and too much vocal energy. It comes with 3 different tuning nozzles, so check each one, but most people likes the green or red ones. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mMYoBHt)  \----- * ***($99) Letshuoer S08 (FRS: B-):*** Bassy focused approach to a planar iem, nice rumbly bass, although not the most physical or hard hitting one since it’s a planar, but it definitely does a better job with the bass than other planars around this price point, it still shares all those great technicalities of planars under $100, but also still requires good amplification, that said, it is slightly less "power hungry" than other planars in the list, so an “apple dongle” type of dongle might be just enough, but if you can get something better, could be the better option. Should work for gaming. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mL3X5zv)  \----- * ***($120) Aful Explorer:*** Warm-bassy, Inmersive IEM. The bass is rumbly, thick, with body, but its not on the intense/super punchy side, sub-bass over mid-bass approach. Vocals are on the clean side, with some Energy, but not pushed as foward as on balanced sets, not that natural in the upper vocals though. The treble is enough, smooth and detailed, but is not that detailed or open feeling, safer relaxed treble over detailed and clear sound. Technicalities overall are good for the elevated price. Should work for gaming. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mNhhRI3) \----- * ***($126) CCA Hydro:*** V-shaped, clean-cut Harman style bass, energetic IEM. The direct step-up all the way down from the Castor Bass and the CCA Rhapsody. The bass sacrificies a little bit the amount for extra quality: control, tactile thumpy punch and clean deep rumble, still giving good body to deep male vocals with minimal "bload", you can always boost it up a bit with the tuning switches though. Vocals mamage to be correct and Somewhat natural and detailed, they pop out enough and dont get as thin as other V-shaped iems. Treble is on the energetic side, maybe could be borderline too intense for some, but it also manages to give nice detail while not being too aggressive with it, be aware if you are sensitive to treble tho, this time, the bass cant be boosted too much with the switches to balance things out, also, the sound of the treble could come as a bit "metallic" for some thanks to the driver config. Technicalities are decent but stock price is a bit too high. Should work for gaming. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mPV3RvZ)   \---------- # BALANCED/NEUTRAL IEMs. Here you will find anything with just enough of both bass and treble for your music needs, some might lean a bit into the bass, others might have some extra treble, but the lean is not big enough to call it bassy or bright. **NOT VERYTHING IN HERE IS “NEUTRAL"**.  \----- * ***($80)*** [***Dunu Titan S2***](https://www.reddit.com/r/iems/comments/1h8nzjb/the_rekindled_spark_dunu_titan_s2_review/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button) ***(FRS: C+):*** A mild V-Shaped balanced iem with an edge on vocals, specially female vocals, pretty engaging energy, it uses some extra bass and treble to balance things out compared to the original Titan. The bass is pretty rich and clean, but it also loses a bit of body on male vocals vs the OG Titan, still warm, just not the same focus, it has good punch to it and decent rumble, with focus on the mid-bass but not too boosted over sub-bass, and has decent texture, overall great bass quality. The vocals, because of the V-shaped style, do sound slightly less natural than on the OG, but they aren’t as recessed as other V-shape sets. The treble quality is good but could come as a bit too forward in some cases, so it can be a bit fatiguing for some, especially for people sensitive to treble. Technical performance is great overall, above average, good detail retrieval, some say that it could almost compete with planars. but the soundstage is not as big as other options, in resolution is competing with benchmark iems like hexa. Should work for gaming. It also should work well for Rock music genres, even with busy tracks. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mOdiyY7)  \----- * ***($70-$80) Simgot EW300 (Comes with Type-C/DSP option) (FRS: C+):*** A balanced yet energetic iem that breaks with the “Simgot has peaky treble” tradition. Nice allrounder sound, punchy bass, good decently natural vocals, enough treble presence, and good technicalities for the price. A warning is that the iem could feel a bit heavy resting on the ears for some. Should work for gaming. This one comes in 3 versions: Normal, HBB and DSP - They are all almost the same, just pick based on connection necessities, price and looks (sound is just barely different that it could be just unit variance as well – in the words of some reviewers). Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mskLcPh)  \----- * ***($90) Simgot EA500LM (FRS: C+):*** Balanced, Neutral leaning, yet V-shaped sound, still the treble could be a bit too much for some, but it’s very well controlled compared to other options from Simgot. Bass has good texture and quality, and it’s more boosted than in the EA500 so it balances the sound more, it is not too boosted still, so with presence but not the main focus. Vocals are good, correct and natural, but also forward and energetic. The treble has also presence, but not too much; in reference to vocals and bass, is not as extra boosted for the V-shaped kind of sound. Some people consider it detailed and smooth, but others still can find them a bit too intense, so, again, a warning for treble sensitive people. All in all, works like a more energetic Titan S2, with also great technical performance, slightly above average, it favors a nice and natural kind of performance rather than ultra-wide soundstage and very obvious detail retrieval, still resolution is pretty good for the price, fighting above its price range with the Hexa and the S2. It comes with interchangeable nozzles, try them all, but most people seem to like the gold and red nozzles better. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mqBqcnt)  \----- * ***($90) Moondrop Aria 2:*** A pretty balanced, natural, good performing IEM that remembers a bit the sound of the Tangzu Waner, just overall cleaner, and with very upgraded technicalities according to its price range, very safe sound with just enough of everything in punchy bass, natural vocals and detailed treble, plus an average overall technical performance for the price. Should work for gaming. If you don’t know what to pick, this is your best starting point. Several people, however, do not like that the build quality is not that excellent, especially the paint scratches easily and moondrop as a brand sometimes does not have the best quality control. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mOIoiwJ)  \----- * ***($80) Truthear Hexa:*** A balanced, neutral leaning iem with a sub-bass boost. Is a set that focuses ln detail and performance, a somewhat clinical sound that might not be too engaging for some, but excellent technicalities for the price. Bass is decent and detailed, but the small amount of mid-bass could be too little for a fair amount of people. The vocals are nice and natural, but also not that energetic, and the treble is mostly detailed and controlled, with maybe some slightly too boosted areas in the lower treble, so, because of the small amount of warmness in the bass, some people can find the Hexa a bit bright sounding (sound leaning into the treble), with some female vocal energy being also pushed forward, if you are sensitive to treble is not the safest pick. Be aware that the nozzle is quite large, so comfort might not be that great for some, Woks pretty well for gaming, as this is usually the technical benchmark to beat under $100. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mt0zJjz)  \----- * ***($80) Tangzu XuanNV (FRS: B-):*** A vocal forward, slightly warm sounding iem, good bass dynamics but not the main focus, a bit extra boosted on the upper mids (female vocals lean), but most people consider them smooth and not fatiguing. Treble is there and has enough detail but is nothing too impressive. Just a very nice, pretty safe sound. Average technicalities for the price. Be aware that they need some good amplification to work the best. Nozzle leans to the large side but doesn’t seem to have much fit problems for people. It’s a pretty safe pick if you don’t know what to pick, but you know you like vocals. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_m0DwmLZ)  \----- * ***($110) Kefine Klanar:*** Pretty detailed balanced (borderline U-shaped) iem that leans a bit to the bass, so plenty Energy on bass and treble too but nothing too much, although vocals could feel slightly on the background for some people, it has just enough energy there, so vocals don’t thin out. It’s a planar so great technicalities, plenty detail and clean bass, but will need some extra energy to perform to the best of its capabilities, and bass probably is not going to be the punchiest, since it’s a planar iem; I should also mention that the treble could be borderline too energetic for very sensitive people. This one is considered a cheaper Letshuoer Z12/S12 pro. Should work for gaming. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mMIgDej)  \----- * ***($100) NiceHCK F1 Pro:*** Pretty similar to the Klanar, kinda balanced, but this planar leans some more into the vocals and treble over bass, with a good but controlled amount of bass, plus some crisp highs, not recommended for people sensitive to treble. It might be the closest one to the sound of the Letshuoer S12 tuning, with even slightly less bass. Being a planar, will have great overall technical performance, clean sound, and should work for gaming. Will need good amplification as most planars do. And the bass on planar, like this one, will not be the strongest or physical one. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mP9caUx)  \----- * ***($70) Artti T10:*** A very affordable balanced planar, it has a decent boost on the sub-bass for some rumble, clean mid-range and nuanced enough treble that is sparkly but can be a bit too intense for some people (similar to simgot models). It’s supposed to have the same driver tech as more expensive iems like the Letshuoer S12, so, if you don’t mind the basic build quality, it’s a very good, technically competent, cheap alternative, although it might just had some more Sub-bass and less treble than the S12. It does also need some good amplification as with the other planars, ideally a 4.4mm power output. Should work for gaming. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mOJiup9)  \----- * ***($110) Simgot EM6L (FRS: B/B-):*** V-shaped Neutral, somewhat bright leaning iem. Bass is there, it warms the sound, but for the price is nothing impressive, not as clean as other options and it could feel like somewhat soft or not that texturized/punchy, under $100 other picks have some better quality, it’s just decent enough. The vocals are forward, clear but not as clean, not that natural, even a bit on the warm side of sound, so with body, especially male vocals, but that can play against female vocals. The treble is forward in the sound, with maybe a bit too much energy, but that manages to not be super aggressive, some consider it pretty smooth actually, so you will hear it, but you might not “feel” it as much, it do adds a lot of detail and helps with the openness of the sound. Technical performance is where this iem is notorious, while the soundstage is not the best, the tuning paired with the overall good-for-the-price technicalities, helps a lot for uses like gaming, usually considered the default best budget gaming pick around this price range. For music is just not going to be the most technical or detailed listening, just be aware that people very sensitive to treble could still find it a bit too much. **Some people have had the nozzle or filters of the iem falling off, usually fixed by glueing them back on, but you should know this info.** Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mqM2p3z)  \----- * ***($65) Moondrop May (Comes with Type-C/DSP only):*** A soft V-shaped iem, with good technicalities for the price. The whole point of them is to be used with the DSP cable and the Moondrop app to personalize the tuning with sound pre-sets or a bit of EQ. Also works fine with a 3.5mm Jack with the stock soft V-shape sound, but you will have to provide the cable. Should work for gaming. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mP5XKDz)  \----- * ***($80)*** [***Dunu Titan S***](https://www.reddit.com/r/iems/s/wxjSiXSolr)***:*** Neutral, vocal focused iem so it could feel a bit shouty for very sensitive people. Bass is decent in quality, but the quantity is around what most balanced neutral iems have, maybe even a bit extra boosted on top, and it focuses on mid-bass over sub-bass. The treble is quite well controlled and not that pushed foward, its smooth and precise but could lack some sparkle for some, vocals are very nice, very clean and natural, being the main focus as said earlier. Resolution and overall technicalities are good, resolution is the strongest part since it was above average when first launched, but somewhat average nowadays, the rest of the techs are just fine for the price, the S2 does present an overall decent technical upgrade over the original Titan. As a warning, the nozzle fits a bit deeper than other iems, so do expect the extra reach inside your ear. Should work for gaming, but I wouldn’t recommend it because of mid-range focus, ir could be a good vocal upgrade from Waner. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mM6hN4B)  \----- * ***($89) Kiwi Ears Canta:*** Energetic and balanced Vocal focused iem with some bright leaning to it. The bass is a kind of a V-shape approach, where the focus is more on a nice bass punch rather than sub-bass rumble, however, because of the treble, the nice bass qualities would not be as apparent, it is not the focus of the sound but is there and does a very good job. The vocals are very clear, detailed, clean, but also very forward, it could even get a bit sibilant or shouty for some tracks, so this is an energetic kind of tuning, more of a “W” shape than a “V”. The treble has presence, clarity and detail, but it can get unnatural thanks to the extra emphasis, although is not that aggressive. The tuning does make for a wide soundstage, but overall technical performance is just slightly above average, with an edge on separation and detail, at the cost of the intense sound. The EW300 is a more relaxed, balanced version of this one. Despite the technical performance though, doesn’t seem like the best pick for gaming. Check it out here: [Linsoul.](https://www.linsoul.com/products/kiwi-ears-canta?srsltid=AfmBOor8SGQG1NeTFgA-LY3I0SSdC_HvyTyZtY4bdj_CMLzKrCOqHwyc)  \----- * ***($77) Sivga Que:*** Balanced U-shape-Ish IEM that has an interesting balance between nice bass and crips treble. Bass is impactful, has a decent amount of rumble but it’s a clear mid-bass over sub-bass kind of sound, gets the job done but is not the most texturized or detailed bass. The vocals are a bit warm, mostly the male ones, so it has nice body to it, while managing some cleanness with the bass, is not the most natural, but is also not as thin, muddy or as unnatural as other similar sets can get, the area of female vocals is pretty forward, most people didn’t find it shouty, but it has the potential to be, at least for very sensitive people. The treble has presence, it brings good detail to the sound, but it manages to not be too intense or sibilant, just energetic enough. Technicalities are pretty good for the price, with some extra detail on top thanks to the mentioned treble style. It should be able to manage rock music even with busy tracks. Should work for gaming. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mtfpmTh)  \----- * ***($70) Tanchjim 4U:*** A balanced/Neutral iem with a switch system that lets you go from a warm iem, a sound style that reminds of the (R.I.P.) Truthear Hola, to a neutral balanced set, to a neutral bright-ish set, to a full neutral, vocal focused, set. The overall sound and technical performance is fine, but it is nothing impressive for the price, maybe even a bit outdated thanks to recent releases around the same price, safe in the treble too, not too intense. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mNYKbZ1)  \----- * ***($99) Ziigaat Cinno:*** Slightly warm, very correct sounding iem that is great for people both sensitive to treble and shoutiness, a bit of a "flat-liner" in the sound but maintains some musicality to it, with a natural enough sound. Technicalities are fine for the price, nothing too impressive. Should work pretty good for more detailed music genres like classical music. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mNDingn)  \----- * ***($140) Aful MagicOne:*** Balanced-warm leaning IEM. Technicalities are somewhat below average for the price\* but it works well in this (sub $100) price range. Bass is not the most Detail, punchy or rumbly, is overall a bit too smooth, but also pretty relaxed. The vocals are nice and natural-ish, but there is warmness from the bass, not the cleanest typw of sound, but it plays into the relaxed balanced sound. Trebel is smooth but detailed, not underboosted, foward enough to balance things out. An interesting, relaxed pick if you dont want going for bassy stuff like the Fudu. It doesnt seem to work well for gaming. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mtDTpsR) \---------- # BRIGHT IEMs. Here you will find the focus on vocals and treble: reduced bass amounts, very natural vocals and even sparkly trebles, anything for that high-pitched clarity and detail. **THERE IS GOOD QUALITY BASS IN HERE TOO**.  \----- * ***($120)*** [***Dunu Kima 2***](https://www.reddit.com/r/iems/comments/1gk0xcm/i_challenged_they_delivered_dunu_kima_2_review/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button)***:*** Balanced (a bit bright leaning) Neutral IEM With an excellent performance for natural vocals. Bass has very good replay, but its not the most Detailed, punchy or rumbly, it works more as a complementary approach to the tuning, the focus is on mid-bass over sub-bass, and its not too boosted, sub bass is also fairly reduced. The mids are natural, clear, clean but with body, transparent-like, excellent timbre, nothing shouty. Treble is clear, foward thanks to the reduced bass, detailed but very well controlled, pretty smooth. Overall technicalities are just fine for the price, it has great detail retrieval although is not too obvious about it, Soundstage is just fine and instrument separation is not the best out here, but all in all is fairly competent. Could work for gaming, but wouldnt recomend it. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mO6feEP)  \----- * ***($60) 7hz Sonus (FRS: B-):*** A very affordable Neutral-bright leaning IEM, a step up from the Salnotes Zero OG, great technical performance, above its price tag. A clean, neutral and natural sound, with a lean into the vocals and treble. Good but controlled bass, with decent quality in the hit and a boosted sub-bass rumble. Treble is nice and detailed, but not that bright, not that boosted. The biggest downside is the hybrid driver configuration which some people say is not totally cohesive, like there is a small separation between bass and the rest of the sound, but not a deal breaker for most people. Just watch out that for some it could some a bit Shouty on the vocals. Considering the cheaper price on the list, the overall technicalities are above average for the price, or on average with some more expensive iems in this list. This one is considered kind of a “Mini-Hexa”. Nozzle leans to the larger side. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mOUBJJ5)  \----- * ***($80) Simgot EA500:*** A bright V-shape-ish iem that also has some warmness to the vocals, so, not the most neutral because it has some sound coloration. Pretty good bass quality, over quantity, has good but somewhat forward vocals, specially energetic female vocals, the treble is quite forward but can get fatiguing or even harsh for some. Technicalities are just decent for the price. This iem is for people that like bright sound without overlooking the bass, a possible upgrade path from the Ziigaat Nuo. Not recommended for people with sensitivity to Shoutiness and harsh treble. It comes with 2 tuning nozzles that don’t show much difference but try both just to make sure. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mtyc6Bh)  \-----   \---------- # Final comments. Thanks again for the good feedback for this post, remember again that im just one person and can make mistakes, so please mention me if you see anything wrong.   If you are looking for more overall information on IEMs, or the sub $50, look here:    ***Click here for the sub $50 list:*** [https://www.reddit.com/r/iems/s/WfhfLLl0np](https://www.reddit.com/r/iems/s/WfhfLLl0np)   I hope this list is of some help, and if you need to know more, don’t be afraid to ask… although this is honestly mostly how high in price my knowledge goes, and I don’t know much about dongle DACs, so, I will do my best to help as I can.   ***I hope you like what you pick from here, all feedback is well appreciated, good luck, the Budget Knight bids farewell, good luck... O.E. :)***

no mention of staples like Wan’er, Gate, or maybe Zero 2 for the low budget end. Aria 2 is outclassed by newer releases and the cadenza isnt even 50, its 35 and should be in the higher end of the low budget end. No mention of other mid range staples like Crinnacle red/blue, artti t1, ew300, and especially the hexa which should be close to your pref. Even the Titan S is outdated with the Titan S2 and other competition stated High end is plagued with the same issue, lack of explanation and choice Honestly, the list is outdated and you would be better off just going to r/iems and looking at their list or doing your own research

no mention of staples like Wan’er, Gate, or maybe Zero 2 for the low budget end. Aria 2 is outclassed by newer releases and the cadenza isnt even 50, its 35 and should be in the higher end of the low budget end. No mention of other mid range staples like Crinnacle red/blue, artti t1, ew300, and especially the hexa which should be close to your pref. Even the Titan S is outdated with the Titan S2 and other competition stated High end is plagued with the same issue, lack of explanation and choice Honestly, the list is outdated and you would be better off just going to r/iems and looking at their list or doing your own research

You would need a dac to bring out the best in the S08 I think. For under 9000₹ and as per your requirements, I would suggest Aria 2, Ziigat Cinno, 7hz legato(bassy), Fiio JH5(?), EW300. You could also try the Titan S2s. I had them and sadly had to return them coz of a manufacturing defect. But they had really thick bass notes and a great rumble. Not overpowering but subtle. For a party in your head try the ew300 std edition, it has dd, planar and pzt drivers so you might need a dac (atleast a dongle like the d07 or apple dongle if you are using an ios device).

I rock the Sivga que and titan s2 and they have plenty bass. Another good option can be the kefine delci.