iKKO - OH300

Yes. The HBB is just a very warm & relaxing tuning, but it's also good for focusing on other things, because vocals are a bit less forward than usual. The OH300 is very similar but more vocal-forward and has very immersive soundstage.

I also love the OH10, but I find the treble can be a touch strident at times. The OH10 is my default "walking around" IEM, but I don't find it the best for listening at home. Sound aside, the fit stability on that thing is amazing. On paper it should be the least comfortable IEM ever, but it's the exact opposite of that. Sadly the OH300 is a totally different shell. The OH300 doesn't have quite the same deep, full-bodied "rounded" bass as the OH10, but it's pretty close; I think it's just got a bit less sub-bass extension. And it does bleed into the mids a touch, but in a way that I quite like as a colouration rather than it being bothersome (this is one place where the S08 is technically ahead, as the mids are a bit cleaner; though the bass isn't necessarily). The OH300 isn't as resolving as the OH10 either, but the treble doesn't bother me as much if I just want to relax for a bit. Where the OH300 is a bit special is, at least to me, it sounds incredibly holographic, especially in terms of depth/layering. I don't get that from the OH10. It's something that previously I'd only heard from the S08. The S08 is a touch more precise in its imaging, but both have a very similar effect, which is to create a very immersive 3D bubble of sound around you, but especially in the centre image rather than pushed out to the sides. They are also both fairly vocal-forward with a lot of bass. So the presentation is quite intimate, although the OH300 is a bit more "normal". I've described the S08 as like being trapped in a cupboard with the band, with the vocalist singing right into your face. The OH300 isn't quite that, but it's also not a super laid-back presentation like the QKZ HBB (which also has some similarities in terms of bass tuning and is another 1DD). In terms of bass quality, the OH10 is the best of these, but the OH300 beats out the more expensive S08, which can sound a bit boxy. Though being a planar, it is very resolving when it comes to things like instrument separation in the bass. The OH300 is a great example of why I like cheap 1DD IEMs. You have it at around $50 and the QKZ HBB at around $15 that really stand out as something unique. I tried the Falcon Ultra and didn't really like it - or more accurately I think it had too many issues for the price. I liked it more than the EA500LM and would have kept it if were priced around that level. Whereas something like the OH300 is very unique and didn't cost much. I actually only bought it on a whim because it was on sale and I thought the faceplate looked cool! When I first got it I listened to it for a few minutes, thought "meh" and put it to one side. It was only a few weeks later when I decided to try some tip rolling and actually listen to it properly that I discovered it's actually really good. Since then I've become more and more addicted to listening to it, to the point where it's been pushing out more expensive sets. Of course just around the time I discovered this and started recommending it to people, it disappeared off Aliexpress.

I like the S08 a lot, but it's quite tip-sensitive and the bass quality isn't the best for its price. It lacks detail/texture, especially compared to S12-like planars. It's a warm, dark sound with very intimate soundstage. More of a relaxing set than a high-volume, high-energy set. I don't rate the Explorer all that highly because the eargain makes vocals sound veiled, but they are also quite sibilant. That only gets worse with more volume. So far I haven't found any eartips that fix it. Other than that it's really good though and definitely the sort of tuning that would scale well were not for the sibilance, which may not be a problem for some. Haven't heard the Odyssey. I haven't found the perfect set for this purpose yet. The closest I have is the Ikko OH10, which is my main walking-around IEM. It's not perfect though as the treble can be a bit strident (with some sibilance too, though less than the Explorer). It's easily fixed with EQ and it can be fun to stick a 10dB bass shelf on as well, but for the most part I prefer not to EQ, so I'm still looking for something with no flaws. I bought the Explorer hoping that would be it, but was disappointed. I prefer the OH10 because while I do notice the flaws, but they don't bother me as much. On the budget end the QKZ HBB scales really well. The only reason that's not my walking-around IEM instead of the OH10 is for that use-case I prefer a bit more vocal forwardness. The HBB has set-back vocals, but very natural timbre (albeit the overall tuning is definitely warm & bassy, so *everything* sounds a bit warmed-up). The Ikko OH300 is a really nice mid-budget set as well (sometimes goes on sale for around $40 which is a bargain IMO). It's somewhere in between the OH10, HBB and S08. Bass is punchier than the S08, imaging is more holographic than the other two (close to S08 just not quite as sharp), less strident than the OH10 and more vocal-forward than the HBB. It can't compete with higher-end sets on resolution though, that's where it shows it's a budget set. It also can't quite get to the same levels of bass quality as the OH10, which is deep, rounded, punchy and textured all at the same time (with the right tips anyway; it can be a bit slow/muddy with the wrong ones).

The S08 actually doesn't really suffer from planar timbre and if you can get the right tip match, it's probably the best one out of these for what you want. The bass is a bit of a nitpick and rules it out for me as a walking-around set, but it's still my #2 favourite IEM, even with all the caveating. The driver is it's very resolving despite the dark tuning. So it doesn't sound in-your-face detailed like the S12 Pro and the like, but the detail is mostly still there, just a bit more subtle. It has a tendency to surprise you now and then with how resolving it is, because you forget it's a planar. It also doesn't have that metallic treble sheen that you get from the Timeless, S12 and all the others from the "planar wars" era. AFAIK the only other one in the same category of heavily-damped planars is the Artti T10 Pro, but I haven't heard that one myself and IDK how it compares or if it's less tip-sensitive. IDK about the Odyssey, but I'd check out [Paul Wasabii's review](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHX0_qR7LNc) if you haven't already. I'm a bit sceptical of some of the Ziigaat hype, but Paul is generally very reliable, albeit his presentation can be a bit dry and hard to follow at times. Also his point about impedance is good to know if you're considering it, as you'll want to check the specs of your DAC/amp.

Overall, Simgot EA1000. Partly because it resolves about as well as any of my planars. But lately I have been mainly listening to my Ikko OH300, which cost about $40. Sadly looks like it might be discontinued, because it disappeared from Aliexpress a couple of weeks ago.

It's very well regarded. Some reviewers slightly prefer the Tanchjim Origin, but I skipped that one because some other reviewers say it's more of a downgrade or sidegrade from the Oxygen, which I already have. The EA1000 is definitely in another league technically when you compare it to 1DDs like the EA500LM, Kato, Oxygen, Dunu Falcon Ultra, etc. Even the reviewers who prefer the tuning of one of the other 1DDs acknowledge that the EA1000 is ahead on technicalities. The Origin is the only one out of that list I haven't been able to hear and compare myself. I also haven't heard the stupidly high end ones like the SoftEars Twilight, but that one interests me, to hopefully try in the future. Oh also I keep forgetting that technically the EA1000 isn't actually a 1DD, it's more like a 1.5DD because it has a passive radiator. Most people group it together with the rest though and it's unclear if the passive radiator actually contributes anything. I think it *might* because the bass on the EA1000 is pretty unique too. If I had to pick from the ones that are true 1DDs, in terms of enjoyment I'd rank them OH300 > Dunu Titan S > Kato > Oxygen, but in terms of "technically-the-best" it goes Oxygen -(tiny difference)-> Kato -(big difference)-> Dunu Titan S -(big difference)-> OH300. Also worth calling out the QKZ HBB for being stupidly good for what it costs (about $15). It's roughly my #3 favourite IEM at any price, but maybe drops down to #4 because of the OH300 (I haven't decided if the OH300 completely replaces the S08 or not). The HBB is just very unique for it's super laid back, warm tuning, so I can't see it ever leaving my collection.

The 7Hz Legato has the *most* bass, but most people EQ it because out of the box it sounds pretty muddy. I returned mine for that reason. If you want to EQ then the Aoshida E20 is a cheaper option, although the build quality is quite cheap compared to the Legato. Still, could be a killer combination with a Qudelix 5K if that fits in budget (or the Legato as well but that's getting even more expensive). In that price range the Aful Explorer probably has the best quality bass out of the box. Also, one of my favourite IEMs is the QKZ HBB, which is only $15. It's not as resolving as the Explorer, but I prefer it because it has more natural-sounding tonality. Vocals on the explorer can sound a bit muffled and sibilant at the same time, although it's an excellent IEM in every way other than that. Also the Ikko OH300 which is like a more vocal-forward version of the HBB, with exceptional imaging/layering - and it's only $50 (maybe 40 if you can find it on sale, but they all sold out for several months and I'm not sure if it's back on Aliexpress yet, just the Ikko site at RRP). In terms of ergonomics the Aful is miles ahead of the rest. The Aoshida is probably the 2nd most comfortable. The Legato is nicely built but it's quite large. The HBB and the OH300 are both a bit chonky and cheap feeling, but still fairly comfortable in the ear - they just stick out a bit (don't feel as large as the Legato but all are quite wide).

Look for tuning. Drivers don't matter, except that certain driver configurations may help to achieve a particular tuning. Different drivers can have slightly different characteristics, but generalisations don't always apply 100%. You just need to go off what people say about that specific IEM. Out of my IEMs the one that most fits what you're looking for is the Ikko OH300, but it's only a $50 1DD so it may not be exactly the upgrade you're looking for. It's probably better than the Blue 2, but I can only go off what I've heard about that since I haven't heard it myself. I also have the Aful Explorer, but it's pretty bad for vocals. Another one that possibly fits is the Artti T10, which has quite a lot of bass, is vocal forward, and very resolving because it's a planar. But it has "planar bass" which may or may not be what you want. You get a lot of bass, and a lot of detail / instrument separation in the bass, but you don't get the same kick that you typically get from dynamic bass driver.

The HBB is one of my favourite IEMs at any price. It's just really well-tuned, so the driver isn't being pushed beyond its capabilities. It's still a cheap driver though, and you notice it in terms of resolution. If you want to compare something that's similar-but-better (in a way) see if you can listen to the Aful Explorer and notice how much more textured the mids and treble are. I suggest that one because the tuning isn't a million miles away from the HBB. But I actually prefer the tuning of the HBB (vocals sound a lot better on it), so I'm not recommending you go and buy one as an "upgrade". Just see if you can listen to one to satisfy your curiosity. And if those differences aren't something you care about, there's no point in chasing them - just stick to an IEM like the HBB with a tuning that you like. On the one hand, there *are* differences as you go up in price (to a point) especially when you get different driver architectures. On the other hand, diminishing returns are very much a thing, and more expensive does not automatically equal "tuned better". Also, if you like the HBB and fancy something a tiny bit different, give the Ikko OH300 a try. It basically sounds the same as the HBB, except that instead of having vocals pushed back, it's more vocal-forward. That's pretty much the only difference. It's not some subtle nebulous thing like "more texture" or "resolution". It just actually presents music in a slightly different way. It's only about $40 as well and also one my absolute favourite IEMs. There are other things it does slightly better than the HBB and some places where they "trade blows" depending on the mood you're in - but whether or not you'd notice those I don't know, so I won't list them, they're all quite subtle.

If you want to try something underrated, the Ikko OH300 is one of my favourite IEMs that seems to have flown completely under the radar. It's very warm/bassy, with exceptional imaging/layering. I won't say it's without tuning flaws as it has a couple of minor issues, but it's incredibly addictive to listen to, and great value for around $40. I listen to it more often than most of my more expensive IEMs. Another great value one (but maybe not as underrated) is the QKZ HBB. The HBB and OH300 actually sound very similar, except that the HBB has very pushed-back vocals, while the OH300 has them slightly forward. The HBB doesn't have the same sort of imaging/layering as the OH300. But it is only $15 and also one of my all-time favourite IEMs at any price. If you want soundstage then the original Simgot EA500 (the silver one, not the LM) is a bit underrated as well (although it did have a brief period of mega-hype). It is *bright* though, and can get a bit fatiguing. It's basically a mini EA1000, which is my overall favourite IEM. The EA1000 improves the bass and smooths out the treble so it's no longer fatiguing, but still very resolving. The EA500 is actually a tiny bit ahead on soundstage & imaging just because of the extra treble. These are both great soundstage IEMs in different ways. The EA500/1000 sound very open and spacious (at least by IEM standards). The OH300 sounds a bit more intimate, but the extra bass gives a "sound blanket" effect and it excels at depth/layering rather than width & overall sense of space. Of course it's important to bear in mind that imaging and soundstage aren't the same thing, and how people perceive soundstage is related to their own HRTF. So especially with IEMs, it can vary a lot from person to person. Reviews of the EA500/1000 do seem to mostly agree about them sounding more open than most IEMs though. I haven't seen many reviews of the OH300 and most have been very surface-level. TBH, I almost put it in a drawer and forgot about it after giving them a quick listen on the stock tips (I bought a few IEMs in the sale and 3 turned up at once, so the one that caught my attention at the time was the Aful MagicOne). It was only a month later when I decided to try some other tips that, perhaps by sheer luck, the first ones I happened to try sounded amazing. I've never bothered trying other tips on them. I should probably check at some point in case it turns out that they only sound that good with perfect tip-matching (something I find to be the case with the Letshuoer S08, which is the only IEM I've heard with better layering than the OH300).

That's interesting, I've been curious about those for a while. Maybe at some point in the future I'll be able to track down a lightly used pair to see if I get the same effect and if it's a huge jump up from my current best. I get that sort of effect from the Simgot EA1000 (which we talked about recently). That sort of thing is very recording-dependent though. One that I find is quite good is the Dire Straits live at the Hammersmith Odeon 1983, especially [Tunnel of Love](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3jw0Fjp_fU). Partly for how good the recording of the band is, and also because the crowd sound actually image properly instead of just adding a load of clipped white noise that ruins the recording. Harry Belafonte live at Carnegie Hall is pretty good too, although musically, I'd rather listen to Mark Knopfler. I also get that same effect to a slightly lesser extent but also with an added "bass blanket" effect and more emphasis on depth/layering in a slightly narrower stage from the Ikko OH300, which is $40. And an even more intimate version from the Letshuoer S08. I used to list the EA1000 and the S08 as my 2 favourite IEMs because of the contrast: the EA1000 is like standing on stage, 2m from the band and the S08 is like being trapped in a cupboard with the band, with the singer 2cm in front of your nose. The OH300 has mostly taken over the #2 spot from the S08 in my rotation, but it doesn't have that same trapped-in-a-cupboard presentation (it's very similar in a lot of ways though). The thing about imaging/soundstage is that it's mostly faked in production, hence the huge variation between tracks. Live recordings are usually mult-miked rather than binaural, but the positioning is less fictional because it pretty much has to reflect where the musicians actually were on the stage at the time. Especially if they're moving around between different mics. And then you have things like [Amber Rubarth, Sessions from the 17th Ward](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLgTaL-Q6Ig&list=PL0emVwtw4R9VbtzcZrkMkwXxqPABo9zfE), which is just cheating. It's a fully binaural recording and sounds holographic on just about anything that doesn't have completely whack channel balance, maybe with some slight variation depending on how well that particular headphone/IEM matches your HRTF. Have you got any good recordings you suggest for that sort of holographic imaging? Anything in particular that stood out on the Andromedas? Especially anything that sounds holographic on them but doesn't on other things? I'm always looking for good soundstage/imaging test tracks, that really show off the good stuff and show up the bad stuff.