Mega5EST Bass+

Well, I found a few and my top contenders right now are: 1. Mega5est Bass+ 2. Thieaudio Hype 4 The Hype 4 is considerably cheaper than the Mega5 but also has a narrower soundstage and lesser bass (I never thought so before I tried the Mega5EST Bass+). It does have more emphasized treble though which makes it more exciting at times when listening to EDM and electronic music though where it exaggerates the treble a bit. It's also not as open sounding at the Mega5EST. I just recently got the Mega5EST Bass+ and I chose this over the Mega5EST because I know I like bass and because it was on sale for the same price as the original, non bass boosted version. The Mega5EST sounds A LOT CLOSER to headphones or speakers than any other IEMs I've tried so far. One difference between it and the Hype 4 is that the Hype 4 sound more 'in your head' than the Mega5. Listening to the Mega5EST sounds like you're not wearing IEMs at all, like your ears have windows and they're open. They also don't over emphasize the treble and you can't hear any sizzling sparkles at the top end. I think they are a lot easier to tolerate for long listening periods because they're super chill sounding and everything sounds more relaxed like you are in a room and listening to speakers instead of IEMs. No harsh treble even in the most treble rich music. Also, the bass quantity and quality on these are amazing! Not quite Hifiman Edition XS level but close. The bass can get too boomy at times though. Conclusion: I think the Mega5EST Bass+ along with the Qudelix T71 with 7.1 surround sound virtualization take the crown for me. I'm a bit sad because I just got the Hype 4s. Oh well, the Hype 4s are a close second and I will probably use them for electronic music more but honestly, the Mega5EST Bass+ do a splendid job with electronic as well because of the phenomenal bass and overall 'open' and natural feeling sound. You could check out this audio demo of the Hype 4 vs Mega5EST to get an idea about the difference: https://youtu.be/oxo_pR7D7MY. The Bass+ has significantly more bass though.

Thanks so much for your reply, we certainly meet again. It makes sense what you say, and yes the comparisons we made were just as you say. Did you end up picking up a set of anything in the 11.11 sale? I ended up buying the Mega7 which I receive tomorrow. I like Hiseniors ethic and they seem to have put a lot into the iem, although I am expecting a reference tuning. The Mega5est Bass+ I've gotten a little more used too, tip rolling helped somewhat and the divinus velvet are what's working best, also removing the metal gunk/fluff filters (unfortunate to not have the protection) to help more treble and detail come through unimpeded. I also raised the 4k region another dB or two. I'm starting to wonder if maybe est drivers for highs are just too smooth and subtle for me. That's why the DD+BA of the Mega7 will be interesting. If that fails to satisfy then most likely it will be Archangel next. Keep me posted on your moves

Will get Mega5est Bass+

What's your feeling on bone conduction? So far I've avoided iem that feature BC Been moving the armor you recommended. Just got the Mega5est Bass+ yesterday. They are very good, but I still love the Armor, such value for the price. I'm still interested in trying Penon EST80 and Aful Dawn-X. But I'm just not sure if they will be any better so probably not worth it.

Thanks for the heads up, I do like decent bass and punch but of a quality level along with the other important frequencies. Hmm, Mega5est Bass+ vs the Armor, it's hard to say. The Armor is just so enjoyable you just sink into the sound and enjoy the music. It's so enjoyable it's hard to notice what it might be lacking. The Mega5bass also is enjoyable but more balanced, it doesn't do anything wrong and plays everything well. What it does better than the Armor is soundstage, it's definetly more layered and allows sounds to have their own space, quite impressive really, and as a headphone guy it's nice to know an IEM can achieve competent soundstage. The only thing that stands out which could be improved is I would like the vocals to be a little more forward, but not by much. I haven't done a full back to back a/b test yet. I want to use the Mega5est for a week to fully get used to their sound. Oh, I'd probably also say that the Armor vocals and timbre of sound seems a little more "real" but that may be part of how lush and warm it is. The Mega5est being a bit more high end and technical probably gives up some of that timbre and lushness to be more accurate. This hobbie seems to be finding that sweet spot of compromise for the sound you like, it seems you can't have it all. Probably more things they have in common than differences. Both non fatiguing. The fit for my ears of the Mega5est is perfect, Armor stems are a little short so I don't get as good fit as I do with the Mega5est which has slightly longer stems, enough that it allows me to insert the iem to a depth that suits. Very similar if not the same treble performance, which is to say typical est that gives clarity without sibilance or harshness. Really love them both and have found the sound signature I would base my other purchases on. That probably goes for the driver setup too, something tribrid to allow each technology of the driver to play to its strengths. I'd be interested in a set that also includes bone conduction, but I'm hesitant to spend money on that with the chance if doesn't work for me.

Mega7 beat my Mega5est Bass+ and Archangel much to my disappointments. Expensive hobby finding what works for you

Definitely try Hisenior Mega5est (i like Bass version more)

They are sold on AliExpress though. And I don't know the model, that would be much cheaper than its rivals with common drivers. I compare price range $500-800. Would be grateful if you will point me on something value interesting. I own Mega5est and wait for Tangzu Xuanwu Gate to come

Pay extra and get Hisenior Mega5est Bass! They are worthy every penny - exceptional iems!

Mega5est any day of the week!! https://preview.redd.it/ndgtfd8w2f5g1.png?width=1440&format=png&auto=webp&s=a85f2b934bd951affdfebfc4621321e0b007f3b3

What are legendary iems?? Please share 🥺🙏 About 1k. I purchased Monarch MK3 not long ago, and already selling them. I just couldn't believe, that they asked 1k for that muffled bass and sibilant highs without good definition. My Mega5est and Tangzu Gate outperformed them.

For my preference I would try and find used Hisenior Mega5est any time of the day. It is very pleasant set, musical, non fatiguing, yet detailed.

Everything that I heard about Mega7 as well as graphs, tells me, that it will lack bass punch and texture for me, and subbass extension.

This is Hisenior Mega5est Bass with Yongse Stormrise cable.

I've bought Mega Bass used for $350 and cable on sale for $35.

These iem have best tonal tuning for me! They should take it, add some ESTs for highs, maybe add a little bit of subbass and sell it for a 1k+. For the context : I own also Mega5est, Tangzu Xuanwu Gate and Aful Dawn-X!

Myth is great. Makes me to listen more, analyse less! But it took me some time to get used to the V shape sound. I preferred smoother, more linear iems before: like Mega5est and Aful Dawn-X. https://preview.redd.it/scw89o6spwyg1.jpeg?width=1540&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5d492732ad85de75a2be43825955436e6814ce87

I think Myth is more versatile among those two, not the most versatile on the market though. In Dawn-X bass was to smooth for me. If it was faster, keeping it's layers and texture, I would have endgamed there). Bass on Myth is the best, I've heard. But there's pleeeenty of it. Have to get used to. The mids sounded quieter immediately after Aful. And highs are sparkly, plenty of them, but never fatiguing or sibilant. Mids are very detailed though, so your ears and brain readjust for lower volume fast, collecting more information. At the end Myth is the most engaging iems. As I already mentioned, I just began to listen to music more, and analyse less.

Not sure about Mega7, though.

I'm afraid them to be too bright and thin, as graphs and some real life feedback say: they are significantly lower on mid bass, than Mega5est. The later were balancing on the edge of lacking some punch and texture for me, but always stay pleasant with overall balance. https://preview.redd.it/wfrj75yhpi2g1.png?width=2400&format=png&auto=webp&s=87a7b352276a1c7521ec4216cabdb603b2295a04

After my experience in buying low - and medium IEM, I have settled on my end-game out of box tuned amazing IEM that kicks the crap out of much higher end IEM that I have tried and will not justify spending the money on. Anything over $1k is just stupid money tossing out the window. I have had sub kilo IEM that did not impress me at all. The set I got are in my name, and the tuning is insane on these, and they are ridiculously multi genre amazing. Hisenior Mega7, $449 and I have never seen Hisenior ever go on sale for good reason. They price them as they should be. I have tested their Mega5EST, and Mega5EST Bass+ and the Mega7 is the better of them both. If you want a higher bass shelf, EQ a little. It's the next gen of their line-up and insane. Don't let the Squig.Lijnk fool you.

After my experience in buying low - and medium IEM, I have settled on my end-game out of box tuned amazing IEM that kicks the crap out of much higher end IEM that I have tried and will not justify spending the money on. Anything over $1k is just stupid money tossing out the window. I have had sub kilo IEM that did not impress me at all. The set I got are in my name, and the tuning is insane on these, and they are ridiculously multi genre amazing. Hisenior Mega7, $449 and I have never seen Hisenior ever go on sale for good reason. They price them as they should be. I have tested their Mega5EST, and Mega5EST Bass+ and the Mega7 is the better of them both. If you want a higher bass shelf, EQ a little. It's the next gen of their line-up and insane. Don't let the Squig.Lijnk fool you.

I recently purchased Softears Volume S, Canpur Silver Flash, and Hisenior mega5est bass+. The only one I can’t stop listening to is the Silver Flash. I also have the explorer and the Silver flash kind of makes the explorer sound like a cheap KZ hybrid in comparison.

For bass go with Fatfreq Scarlet Mini, you'll not get bass like that in anything else. For warm, try Mega5est bass edition

Very different tunings; the MKIV in its default mode is similar to the MKII, and in its "rumble" mode it is similar to the MKIII, but with a bit more roundness in the mid bass. It's a little less incisive. However, I would not recommend the MKIV for gaming. Besides the fact that emphasized lower frequencies narrow stage (might not be an issue for you in immersive/single-player titles), the MKIV is bulky, with an extended nozzle. Fit/comfort issues are pretty common with the MKIV; I'd consider myself to have larger ear canals than most (I have to use XL tips or large barrel tips like the S&S), and it can be fatiguing, even for me. Sort of hard to see in [these](https://imgur.com/a/mkiv-size-comparison-DrsdZ3G) side-by-sides, but the MKIV definitely suffers from Grand Maestro syndrome. Those odd resonances you're associating with BA timbre, can still be an issue with ESTs and planars. They all have their idiosyncrasies, which is why tuning is much more important than the driver technology. When BA's are pushed to emphasize clarity and detail, as they reach those peaks in the upper mids and treble, that's where you encounter those BA qualities that some people are more sensitive to -- the myth is that a better BA driver doesn't have those qualities, and I don't know that I agree. The irony is, that's why you probably feel it's near perfect; if it were less clear and detailed, you'd likely not hear that BA timbre, but then you'd be missing the clarity and detail. Personally, my favorite gaming IEMs are mostly budget/midif IEMs; the Meze Alba, Simgot EM6L, the Hype 4, and Mega5est Bass+ edition. I run the Hype 4 and Mega5est most often for single-player titles. The Mega5est is probably my favorite for that use case; the slightly bass-boosted JM1 tuning just works really well as an all 'rounder, with that typical meta cleanliness, but with some extra sub bass energy you'd want for immersive games. I can also wear both the Hype 4 and Mega5est all day with no issues. I love the MKIV; it's Thieaudio's best iteration of the Monarch, but definitely wouldn't be my first pick for gaming.

If price isn't an issue: **Hi-fi/summit-fi** Fir Audio Rn6 (Xenon technically has more bass, but the Rn6 is a better set all around) FatFreq Grand Maestro Canpur CP622B Nightjar Singularity Penon Impact Empire Ears Raven 64 Audio Volur (not the most popular set on this list, but stellar soundstage on this set) Sony IER-Z1R (fit can be an issue for some, was for me, demo first if you can) **Midfi/lower Hi-fi** Thieaudio Origin Thieaudio MKIV (Rumble switch on) Punch Audio Martilo Penon x Effect Audio Archangel Penon 10th Anniversary Penon Rival Kiwi Ears x HBB Punch (Martilo is the better set between these two) FatFreq Scarlett Mini (requires EQ) FatFreq Maestro Mini Hisenior Mega5est Bass+ (find and use TimmyT916's/DucBloke's EQ) **Lower Midfi/budget** FatFreq x HBB Deuce Thieaudio Hype 4 (with EQ) Crinicle Dusk (with EQ) QKZ x HBB Khan (bass-forward out of the box, *requires* EQ to clean up some issues with the tuning) **Honorable mention** If you can find one of Michael Bruce's Glamdring mods, may not be the most forward bass, but some of the best tonality you can find for the price. Or, pick up a Lesthuoer S12 Ultra or S12 2024 edition and add a bass shelf -- the S12/S15 drivers can handle a massive amount of abuse in the lower frequencies, especially.

Depends on the IEM. For my current rotation: for hip hop, EDM, and some modern metal, I go for bassier sets like the Thieaudio Origin, Monarch MKIV, Jupiter, Hype 4, Mega5est Bass+, etc., Classic rock, hard rock, 90s alternative and grunge, I run sets like the Pilgrim Noire, Letshuoer S08, Top Pro, Meze Alba, or Dusk. Classical, instrumental, acoustic, Aful Performer8, Top Pro, or S12 2024 Anniversary Edition. For gaming, either the Simgot EM6L, Top Pro, or Truthear Blue 2. There are qualities I like about each set. There are a few "all 'rounders" I'm happy to take with me when I travel -- if I had to give up my collection, these are probably the sets I would keep. Top Pro has definitely become one of those. Anything that balances sound and comfort is on that list. Alba is another, surprisingly.

Favorite IEMs; these are sets that haven't left my rotation since I got them. Budget: Letshuoer S08, Letshuoer S12 2024, Meze Alba, Simgot EM6L, Truthear Blue:2, KZ PR2 (pre-filter removal) Lower midfi: Crinicle Dusk, Hype 4, Aful Performer 8 Upper midfi/kilobuck: Xenns Top Pro, Mega5est Bass+, Elysian Pilgrim Noir, Thieaudio Origin, Thieaudio Prestige LTD Hifi/summit-fi: Grand Maestro (w/ Black Noah modules) I'm running some combination of one of these daily. Tuning, I'm equal parts basshead, and JM-1/meta. I EQ most of my sets, so it's a bit tough to nail down. Xenns Top Pro is a new addition to the list, but was impressed enough with the tuning that it's quickly taking over much of my playtime. I've owned or tried many of the Mangird/Xenns sets, and this has definitely taken the top spot for me. Excellent tuning, probably the best IEM they've put out.

Adheres to Harman from the lower mids through the treble, but definitely very warm in the mid bass region. Not sibilant at all; somehow both relaxed in the treble, while remaining clear and detailed. Strong and very resolute upper mid and treble presentation (for the price), which is why it's a go-to pick for gaming, as that's where most gaming cues live in the frequency range. Which is exactly what I use it for. Definitely one of those cases where the graph doesn't really tell the full story. I still recommend it often.

My go-to for most kilobuck/summit-fi IEMs -- which many of them suffer from the same issue, either requiring deeper insertion with a much longer nozzle, or just being larger than other sets since many of them have a much higher driver count -- are the Dunu S&S tips. I have a large collection of tips from SpinFit, Azla, Final Audio, Kbear, Sancai, Divinus, etc. The issue with most of these is the size and shape of the tip itself. They're almost always dome-shaped, but that shape can differ from being globe-like and more rounded in the middle, or consisting of a much shallower taper, with the widest point being near the base. Adding to that, bore size can often force the pressure further outward, making wide-bore tips harder to use with IEMs that require deeper insertion into the ear. Materials also come into play, with tips like Spinfit or Kbear using a much more rigid silicone housing, which can add to discomfort. Where the S&S can help is that they are a consistent barrel-shaped tip; instead of relying on a rounded construction, which can apply pressure in a more narrow location, they provide a larger surface area and distribute pressure much more evenly -- with the added benefit of often improving the seal. These are the same tips I use with the MKIV, where other tips -- like the Divinus Velvets -- are much more fatiguing, requiring me to take a break after a couple of hours. As an aside, you're probably not going to solve your issue by throwing money at another kilobuck IEM. They all suffer from similar issues, and the MKIV is one of the best sets in the segment, competing with IEMs 2-3x its price. It's just a damn good set and one of Thieaudio's best releases (they've ostensibly found a way to put an MKII and MKIII in the same housing). I would, however, recommend the opposite approach; spend less, and find yourself a solid midfi or budget set you can run alongside the MKIV as a daily driver. I give almost as much time to sets like the Top Pro and Mega5est as I do the MKIV, simply because I can wear either of them for an entire day without issue.