OH10 Obsidian

Ikko oh10 obsidian are a nice/fun set

Have you tried just adding a bass shelf with EQ? IME most basshead IEMs aren't actually really basshead without EQ anyway. Even something like the FatFreq Deuce needs the impedance adaptor to become true basshead, and I still don't find that as good as my Ikko OH10+10dB bass shelf (Harman standard settings). In terms of tips, I'd suggest trying Penon Liqueur Orange for the maximum amount of bass, although they're probably not going to add much over Kiwi Ears Flex, which is already pretty bassy (especially for a vented tip). And for that matter Divinus Velvet aren't too far behind either, though I do fairly consistently get a bit more bass with Liqueurs than those. The problem I have with the Flex tips is they're very springy and non-grippy, so they just push themselves out of my ear while making a squeaking noise for about 60 seconds. You also might find Faaeal H570 tips good for sub-bass specifically because I usually find they don't produce the same total amount of bass as Penon Liqueur, but they have a bit more extension into the *really low* sub-bass than other tips. But I'm really talking about doing frequency sweeps below 10Hz here. There's almost no content that low in actual music because it's typically high-passed at 20Hz to avoid intermodulation distortion. In most cases, having more of a boost around 50Hz is going to sound more sub-bassy than having more extension below 10Hz.

If you want *clean* bass stay away from the Fudu and the Legato. They're both quite muddy. The cleanest sounding one I have is the Ikko OH10, but I suspect some of the newer hybrids like the Ziigaat whichever-one-is-the-bassy-one might be as good or better. The OH10 certainly isn't perfect & has a bit of a coherency mismatch between the slower bass driver and faster BA, although that seems to improve over time (maybe driver run-in is real, maybe it's something else). You also have the Aful Explorer which is very good in the bass and treble, but I find that it makes vocals sound a bit muffled and sibilant at the same time, due to the reduced eargain, with relatively more 5kHz than 2-3kHz. That's the kind of thing that can sometimes be fixed with eartips and they might match your HRTF better than mine, but I tried just about all 50 tips in my collection and couldn't get them sounding right. Probably the best option if you do get a good HRTF match though, as they're technically excellent - just the eargain tuning does not work for me at all. Also if you like the EW200 you could try the EA500LM. It's pretty much a direct upgrade: similar tuning but much better driver & shell.

There's quite a broad range. For example: * Aful MagicOne - pretty, but not overdone * Ikko OH10 - good looking, nature-based & reserved * 7Hz Timeless, Timeless AE, Simgot EA500 - minimalist * Tin C2, Dunu Titan S (black/red version), Truthear Hexa/Pure - industrial There's a whole load in the middle that are just random swirly colours which has become the default low-effort design. Something like the Thieaudio Legacy 2 does that well IMO because its just one colour with a bit of texture, not all the colours, all at once. If you want a plain black cable, look at the KBear ST12. There's lots of options out there. I notice the stock cables often don't match the IEMs very well, and intentionally or not, this most likely helps sell a lot of aftermarket cables.

Ikko OH10 if you can find one for sale anywhere. They're still making them, but only in smallish batches, so there's often no stock. There's also the OH10S which is apparently tuned almost identically (I haven't heard it because there didn't seem to be much point in buying nearly identical IEM) with the main difference being the faceplate design. There are a few newer hybrids that are apparently quite good as well such as the Ziigaat Doscinco, but I haven't heard it myself. Audio Amigo has a good roundup of all the Ziigaats which is worth watching, as there's a ridiculous number of them, all with fairly similar tunings. Might be slightly outside your budget unless there's a sale though (which there very often is). On the cheaper side the Aful Explorer isn't bad either, although it's mostly a softer, very warm tuning and doesn't have the same sort of weighty bass punch as the OH10. Also I find vocals on the Explorer very sibilant, but not everyone seems to get that problem. Personally with the exception of build quality & comfort, I actually prefer the QKZ HBB over the Explorer and it's warmer & bassier too. And it's only $15. Out of the 3, the HBB is the best for volume scaling before the treble gets too intense (without EQ). The Explorer is a bit more resolving though.

Depends what mood I'm in. Want warm, bassy & relaxed for mostly background listening? QKZ HBB. What warm, bassy & cosy but more focused on the music? Ikko OH300. Out for a walk? Ikko OH10. Out for a walk but want a more neutral sound? Moondrop Kato. Want less bass & lots of resolution? Stellaris. Want the most "realistic" sound possible? Simgot EA1000. And so on... I've got a lot of IEMs that I don't listen to that often. Some of those are just not very good but are too cheap to be worth selling. Some are good but not part of my core set, so I'll maybe listen to one of those now and then to mix things up a bit. I don't really do "genre-specific" IEMs because the mastering of individual albums can make a bigger difference than genres. But if I mainly want to listen to metal, I'll almost always get the EA1000 just because it's so much better than any other IEM for several things that come up a lot in rock, metal, prog, etc. If I'm in the mood for hip hop there's a very good chance I'll get the Dunu Titan S, but that's also more mood-specific and I might want something bassier. Even these "genre-specific" cases are more mood-specific anyway; just because I'm in the mood to listen to metal doesn't mean I'm exclusively only going to listen to metal, nor am I going to put Spotify on shuffle then change IEMs depending on what track comes on.

I don't go based on artist/genre so much as the overall presentation that I feel like at the time (which might also push me to listen to certain genres more than others, but not always). These days I listen to random playlists more often that specific albums, so I'm not a "this headphone for this album" sort of person. Generally if I'm going for a walk somewhere I'll pick up one, or if I want to just listen to music for a bit, I'll pick one. I won't normally change during a listening session unless I'm specifically A/B comparing them, or if I thought I was in the mood for a particular style and then realise I was wrong and swap over to something else. Occasionally I might hear something in a particular track and think "I wonder what that sounds like on such-and-such", but I keep a bunch of headphone-specific playlists so that I can just bookmark it for later. Although occasionally I will just want to hear how it sounds *right now*. The ones I'm listening to the most lately are: * QKZ HBB - these are mainly what I listen to when I'm doing something else; they have a similar warm, "wrapped in cotton wool" type of sound with recessed vocals that help to make them less distracting at lower volumes. * Ikko OH300^[1] - similar sort of warmth to the HBB, but also vocal-forward with incredible depth/layering - very relaxing but also engaging if I want to get fully absorbed into the music. * Aful MagicOne - another good one for relaxing, but more midrange focused without the bass of the HBB/OH300. I don't grab this one as often, but it's pretty unique. I'd probably listen to it a lot more if it was vented, but it doesn't bother me as much as my other unvented IEMs. * Moondrop Stellaris^[2] - Quite open and airy sounding with incredibly detailed treble and extremely linear bass, which just stays out of the way when it's not called for, and incredibly forceful when it needs to be. There is a bit of shout, but I don't really mind it and it's nowhere near as bad as they graph. Where the OH300 is for getting absorbed into the music, these are for getting absorbed into the overall soundscape, space and texture of the instruments, if that makes sense. You could call them analytical, but certainly not clinical. * Ikko OH10 - these are my main "walking around" IEM because the v-shape that combines deep, rounded bass with some good treble clarity makes them ideal for blocking outside noise. They're also incredibly comfortable. * Moondrop Kato - another mainly "out and about" IEM but they're slightly more neutral than the OH10, so I prefer these for longer trips on trains etc. They're probably the best "all rounder" IEM I have; can listen to them anytime, anywhere. I've also been listening to them more generally, since I started using my Shanling M0 Pro as my main DAC/amp instead of the Fiio BTR7. The BTR7 is a bit warm in a way that really completements the OH10, but the M0 Pro makes the Kato sound a lot cleaner. It's a really tiny difference, but it's enough to notice. Also the Simgot EA1000 remains my overall favourite IEM, but it's kind of similar to the Stellaris in a lot of ways with pretty different style of bass. There might be some recency bias that's making me grab the Stellaris more often lately. Both of them fall into the category of IEMs that can do certain things no other IEM/headphone can do (at least none that I've heard so far). ^[1] I'm not sure if the OH300 has been discontinued. I'd be recommending it to everyone if it wasn't sold out. Sounds incredible for ~$45 and it's mostly replaced the Letshuoer S08 for me (they have a lot of similarities, but the OH300 has better bass and the slight technical downgrades are barely noticeable). They dropped off Aliexpress a couple of months ago. I managed to grab a spare before all the stock disappeared from the Ikko website, but they're gone now. It now says "coming soon", so it might just be that they produce them in small batches and more will be available in the future. Not sure. ^[2] The Stellaris completely changed for me with Dunu Candy tips and quickly became one of my favourite IEMs. With most tips they are bright like a thousand suns and quite fatiguing. IDK if they'll work for everyone, so I don't recommend going out and buying a Stellaris (if you can find one: they're discontinued) but if you have one and have Candy tips lying around, I *highly* recommend giving them a try (and also let me know how it goes!)

Ikko OH10 for a classier waifu. SeeAudio Rinko (if you can find one, as it's discontinued) for less classy waifu (also 2 waifu for the price of 1). Also this might help, although many of these are discontinued now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OU6E0xDMSUw

The weight normally helps them *not* fall out of your ears. My other "out and about" IEMs are the Ikko OH10 which is one of the heaviest IEMs in existence. It's basically a lump of solid copper, and quite a bit bigger than the Kato. That thing is super stable in the ears. Extra weight is only a problem if it's all on the outside of the IEM and tends to pull it out, like the 7Hz Sonus or Moondrop Stellaris. It's all about the centre of gravity being inside your concha, and ideally a bit towards the front so it will push itself towards your ear canal. If they're not stable in your ears then they might just not be going in deep enough. Maybe try other sizes of eartips. Or else you might just have quite small ears, in which case maybe something a bit thinner would be better, rather than something lighter. The Tanchjims are a bit smaller than the Kato, but I find them a bit less stable because they're too small to stay in place properly. In fact it could be that you have unusually large conchas, in which case a much larger IEM might be more stable. Also make sure the ear loops on the cable are supporting the weight properly so it's not just flopping around like it's loose. If they ear loops are too big then you can heat them up with a hair dryer and re-shape them to fit better. Hold in place until it cools down and repeat as needed.

It varies. I'm currently having a headphone clear-out because I tend to mostly listen to the HD650 or AKG K712 (for comfort & airflow, especially after a shower). But I find that I rotate between different IEMs for the variety of different tunings. Current favourites that I am listening to the most are: * Ikko OH300 - warm v-shape, quite vocal-forward. * Moondrop Stellaris with Dunu Candy tips - bright-neutral with exceptionally clean, very linear bass. I specify the Candy tips with the Stellaris because they really change the sound signature quite dramatically, which is crazy bright normally. IDK if those tips would have the same effect for others though. Some other favourites include: * QKZ HBB - warm and laid back; similar to the OH300 except that while the OH300 is vocal-forward, these push the vocals back a bit in the mix, which makes them great for background listening while reading. * Simgot EA1000 - balanced, mild v-shape that is slightly cool/bright leaning but also has exceptional bass quality. Other than the slight cool tilt to the midrange, these are overall the most realistic-sounding IEMs I've heard so far, especially how they reproduce drums. And they keep up with my planars for resolution (I have several, not just the Stellaris, though the Stellaris is probably the most resolving). My endgame, if I eventually find it, is probably this but a bit warmer. * Dunu Titan S - when I feel like something a bit more neutral, but not as boring as the Hexa. Probably the closest thing to my ideal tuning, although it can be a bit grainy in the treble at times. * Moondrop LAN - if I'm feeling bass fatigue and want something a bit lighter while maintaining a fairly smooth (not overly bright) upper mids & treble. * Ikko OH10 - mainly for walking around outside, I prefer more of a v-shape. While I prefer the tonal balance of the OH300 for listening indoors, these are a bit cleaner and more resolving. I like the combination of deep, thumpy bass with crisp incisive treble, although they can be a touch strident at times. The main thing is the comfort though, these are incredibly comfortable and stable. Those are the main ones I rotate between the most, along with the Moondrop Kato for another mild v that sits somewhere between the EA1000 and the OH10. Nothing really stands out, but it's just a really solid all-rounder for listening to anything, anywhere, any time.

Ikko OH10 obsidian. An older one but still one of the prettiest I’ve ever owned.

https://preview.redd.it/gw89w6zw30yg1.jpeg?width=1320&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b1d70fc2a882d47cd55f5138308f45325e16c53a As someone that owns the OH10 and had the variations at one point, I would say look at the Hisenior mega7. The mega5est from what I’ve gathered is basically neutral with a bass boost. I’ve heard it’s boring, but some people like that. I consider getting the top pro but ended up with the xenns tea pro se (special edition). It has become one of my favorite IEM’s i’ve ever heard. It’s not as scooped out in the lower mid range like the variations or OH10. Its technical performance is extremely good. I wholeheartedly think the tea pro se would be the worthy successor of the variations. Almost forgot to mention that the tea pro se is an aluminum shell.

trn shell, kinera freya (2.0 is great also), ikko oh10 obsidian, shozy magma, tangzu nesha and tianpeng. its in no particular order but freya takes the cake by far.

trn shell, kinera freya (2.0 is great also), ikko oh10 obsidian, shozy magma, tangzu nesha and tianpeng. its in no particular order but freya takes the cake by far.

I've been using the Moondrop Variations for a few years now, but they keep breaking on me. (TLDR, sometimes I fall asleep using my IEMs and this somehow breaks them. I've broken my variations 3 times now: the right one twice and the left one once and every time I get a replacement, they're tuned slightly differently which REALLY bothers me.) I'm tired of dealing with this, so I've decided to get a new pair of IEMs. (After doing some research, I've found 3 IEMs that I think I would prefer over the Variations: The Xenns Top Pro, NiceHCK Rockies, and Hisensor Mega5 EST, but I'm having a difficult time picking between them. Some info about me: I LOVE the V-Shape sound signature. The majority of music I listen to is very Drum and Guitar focused: Rock, Metal, Alt, Indie, and Punk, which is why I prefer this sound signature over all others. One of my favourite IEMs I own is the IKKO OH10. It's bass and treble response is so punchy and fun. That being said, I still prefer Variations since it has much better technicalities, while still having strong bass and treble. Also the OH10 are a little too sensitive and pick up a ton of noise from the audio device I use (iPod Classic 5.5 gen). My biggest issue with the Variations is both the build quality and bass extension. I already touched on the build a little bit but to explain a little more, what I meant by they break is that one IEM will suddenly become significantly quieter than the other. Sometimes I can fix this by replacing the filter on other IEMs but as far as I'm aware, the Variations don't have a filter, or at least a replaceable one. Now for the bass, I just wish it had more mid bass. Its sub bass is PERFECT, but the mid bass leaves a lot to desire. I understand that that's partially how it's able to have such astounding separation and whatnot, but I would like a more middle-ground for my next pair of IEMs. So now that brings us back to my question: which IEM should I get to replace my Variations? Which one has a good V-shape like sound signature that also has great clarity and technicalities, AND has solid build quality that I can easily replace the filters on in case something happens to them? At the moment, I'm leaning towards the Xenns Top Pro (since that also boosts vocals a little bit, which is a nice bonus) but I figured I'd ask around just in case. Also if there are other IEMs you'd recommend that I didn't list, LMK as well please! Also if there's a way to fix my Variations instead, please LMK as well! Thanks In Advance!

Thanks for the options! The Elysian Pilgrims do look interesting, but it's not the ear connectors that keep breaking on me. It's the internals and the filters. Also the sound signature isn't what I'm looking for. In therms of EQ, The main device I use to listen to music is my iPod classic 5.5 gen, which doesn't have an EQ option anywhere in its software. I also find that when you EQ an IEM, they don't sound as good IMO. The FatFreq Deuce seemed okay, but funny enough, too far below my price range that I'm after. Still, I appreciate the suggestions!

The Hisenior Mega7 look like they have less bass and treble than the xenns top pro, so I think I'm gunna have to pass on those. I have considered the Tea Pro SE's though. They do look a little more V-shaped compared to the Top pro. My only worry with them is the technicalities compared to the Top Pro. From what I've heard, they're not as technical as the Top pro, but I don't know by how much, so I don't know if the tradeoff would be worth it for me or not.

I have the same issue with IEMs. I have ikko OH10s and they are very bulky. I love the sound though and just deal with the poor fit. I use SpinFit ear tips to help hold them in but they still stick out plenty. Let me know if you end finding a pair that fits well.

The Explorer could potentially be a good match eith its very warm and lush signature, but it might be too relaxed for your clarity as a key feature. The OH10 is also a very good IEM and might be worth a second listen to. What are return policies like do you can make one or two blind buys and still get your money back if it isn’t what you’re looking for?