FH9

Never really understood this premise. I have both and use them differently (and the IEMs aren't just for travel). I love the FiiO FH9 and it gives my Verite Open and DCA E3 headphones a run for their money. But there are times when I don't want something in my ear canal for 7 hours a day or want the less intimate presentation that a headphone gives. Other days I go back to the FH9. And I use Westone Mach 60 which I find the most comfortable IEM that I've used to travel around campus where I work.

To me they aren't an even/or. They are a yes with specific instances where IEMs tend to be more convenient and others were the space of a headphone is more important. The interesting thing is that the IEM market is just crazy from about $20-$250 with tons of great deals and increasingly better sonic presentation in this area. For me, this is the best bang for the buck if you have $50 and want to start listening to good music. Headphones the bang for the buck (wired not ANC) is somewhere between $250-$1000 (except for the DCA E3, which I think is a steal at $2000). Thus a bit higher a price point to get into the better headphone space compared to IEMs. I have both types, use both types and really like my FiiO FH7s and FH9 a ton.

I'm like you. I was out of the iem space for years and only just returned. I've got the Campfire Audio Polaris, FIIO FH9, KZ ZS12 PRO X, and 7HZ Timeless II. The 7HZ Timeless II is by far the best sounding IEM I've heard to date. It's a planar and my god it has bass for days, amazing instrument separation, awesome mids presentation for rock/metal, resolving highs and it was only $229 USD. The Timeless II is great for rock/metal, hip hop, and EDM. Likewise, the KZ S12 PRO X is in spiting distance of sounding on par with my much more expensive FIIO FH9. Skip the name brand stuff and check out the chi-fi scene 100%.

>If you want good soundstage, use open back headphones or... Open-back iems also offer a bit wider soundstage. I've tried my friend's Fiio FH9 with such construction and definitely found the soundstage to be better than my zero 2. I agree with your other words in general. Well, I'd aim for wired headphones such as Fiio JT1 as they're both good for gaming and enjoying music.

After years of AirPod Pro + iPhone, I modded an old iPod Gen 5.5 and added a mid-tier FiiO FH9 IEM. It sounded good, not great. I then upgraded to a modern DAP (Cayin 7+) and the FH9 now sounds excellent. But still have/had "the itch" for more and ordered a 64 Audio custom A18T (still waiting on delivery). As a hobbiest of many things for years (and/but new to audiophile hobbying) it is hard to identify what exactly satiates me to walk away from GAS for a while, if not forever. But it generally revolves around my finally acquiring what I perceive would be my end-game item. I now try to get to end-game more directly. The fact you are considering a mid-tier IEM, you will eventually get it, so just save up and make it your next purchase. The researching and studying your choice is half the fun. It is easy for those that have already spent the money and acquired their end-game to advise to not go down that path. My advice is just make that path shorter. I really don't regret any of my end-game purchases made over the years across my various hobbies. Just ensure you do copious amounts of research and assessing in advance to make the right choice once. Flipping in any hobby usually ends up being very costly and I find to be a real PITA.

I went from the FiiO FH9 to the custom 64 Audio A18t. I no longer look at other IEMs, but did buy my first (and last) headphones. Differences in IEMs at different price points are both real and psychological… but it is the psychological aspect that will rule the day and say “enough with the mental masturbation” and you move on to the next hobby.

Having collected many other things over a couple decades, when I went down the audio rabbit hole after modding an old iPod of mine I started with a mid-tier IEM (FiiO FH9). To prevent IEM churn I then went straight to end game with a custom 64 Audio A18T. Having IEMs built for my own ears has helped dampen my desire to buy more universal IEMs.