ISN Audio - H60

Isn h60 and isn est80.

Yes, but the Soundrhyme SR10 costs $449, and I think there are better options at that price. I've read that it has a slight BA timbre in the mids, and the highs are very bright with some peaks. This Soundrhyme SR5s is actually closer to the Penon House sound.

I own the ISN H60s, and they're a very versatile and balanced IEM, a slight departure from the Penon House style. The ISN H60 has very good bass, but it prioritizes quality over quantity. It's not as thick or punchy as the ISN H40 or the Penon Quattro or Globe, which have a thick, visceral bass. The H60 is cleaner and more technical in the low frequencies. It has organic, detailed, and musical mids, but it's not dense, and the highs are very extended and detailed, although there's a slight peak that can feel harsh. But with proper break-in, that sensation disappears, or you get used to it, I don't know. It's a very underrated IEM and offers good value for money. Right now, it has a big discount on AliExpress, making it a real bargain. https://preview.redd.it/xal5v9cm6v1g1.jpeg?width=2925&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=39c59da2281fe5223d57801322d8e528352c9f8b

A bit over $300 but with sale+coupons it's close: ISN H60. It can actually be endgame I think. I returned Odyssey in favor of it. Odyssey is amazing though, and it shares a lot of the same DNA for $100+ less. But like the H60 you should replace the stock cable.

Because they don't have youtubers shilling for them and focus on forum shilling instead. Also until recently they exclusively sold on their own store, along with associated brands that are also more niche like TSMR. So basically you had to be in the know to be aware of them. Plus because they only give review models to an inner circle of fans they got a bad rep among some people for not being transparent. They also sell arguably placebo cables though to be honest for a semi-boutique maker their cables and IEMs in general are far more reasonably priced than most, even their cables aren't like $600 pure nonsense and they give you a LOT of cable (as in actual metal wire) than others who charge $100+ like Effect Audio. It's undeniable they have made some incredible IEMs over the years, often out-performing more hyped and "benchmark" IEMs, and delivering more unique driver configs and tuning before other brands. I think most people just don't want to take the plunge even if they know about them because until recently none of their IEMs were cheap. I jumped in with the ISN H60 and personally I think it's the best midrange hybrid released in the last few years, better than anything Moondrop, Mangird, or Thieaudio have released. And they are at the top of my list when I can finally afford a kilobuck IEM.

The i3 is better, and stands out from most tribrids because it uses a real 10mm full planar for the highs. The "planars" you see advertised in most modern hybrids are "micro-planars" which are in fact SPD-like packages that are meant to be drop-in alternatives to BAs. They are only called planars for marketing and because they sound somewhat like a planar, but they are different. IMO tribrids with proper full planars sound better but are usually very expensive and not common. TRI i3 mk3 is the one cheap model I know of. The only downside is don't go in seeing that beryllium DD and expect big slam bass like the OH10 or something from Xenns. It is tuned for snappy but not powerful neutral bass. It has an audiophile tuning that favors mids and highs. If you can get behind that they have the best highs imo of anything until hybrids with ESTs. https://preview.redd.it/5unfc7sebvif1.png?width=2560&format=png&auto=webp&s=1b94f578c0594d06c206c60ff31975a30f76f7a7

This. A sleeper since this IEM came out over a year ago but I like it better than Odyssey and Tea Pro. There are many special things about this IEM, the only downside is the size. If you can't handle large shells and large nozzles you're gonna have to at least tip roll a bunch. For me with very small TWS tips that were a bitch to get on they feel very comfortable and the seal is great. Another great alternative is Volume S. Both have this feeling of being "audiophile basshead", meaning they have basshead driver qualities but more restrained tuning that has more mid-bass vs lots of modern sets which focus on sub-bass, and the level is overall lower but the bassy quality is still there.

I'd say it IS worth spending £300ish if you can, because everything I've tried at around that price has been a clear step up in sound- (TSMR Armor, Martilo, Tea Pro, BGVP DMA and ISN H60 (possibly my new favourite) Cheaper- Hidisz MP145 is a value king at about £100, I daily drive the £300 ones above, and I'm shocked how well the Mp145 keeps up with them. It's a bassy planar too. Hype- Melody Wings Venus (but I don't think it's particularly bassy. Hercules Noah has major hype, and I think pretty bassy. If you're in the UK, I'd take a train to London and go to Elise Audio to try before you buy.

Ooof this is difficult because you've already had so many great IEMs in this kind of price range so I'm not sure anything left is going to really impress you- it might be time to sell everything and go end game. TSMR Armor is my favourite IEM I've bought and I'm currently borrowing a H60 and I may like it even more- it's got a really rich addictive sound.

The Armor is really versatile, yes it's got big bass but it's not dominated by it, it sounds great with every genre I throw at it. And I listen to a huge mix of stuff on Shuffle. It's an amazing all rounder - just like the H60. It's hard to describe what I like about the H60... It's got this weird special sauce I don't have the words for where everything sounds bombastic and huge. It IS occasionally more flawed than the Armor, but even more fun.

Hmmm I'm currently borrowing the ISN H60 and it's really got some magic about it. I can't really explain why, and sometimes I even notice that it isn't as clear as comparable IEMs, but IT IS SO FUN. Everything has such weight behind it. All the instruments sound right. It's addictive. I don't really bother with graphs, but Penon (ISN is their sister company) are known for "sweet Penon Mids". I think if that's what I'm hearing, I love it.

1. Everyone is just going to recommend what they've bought. You have no idea if the guy recommending XXXX IEM has even tried anything else. 2. The correct answer is ISN H60 or TSMR Armor. 3. I'm hypocritical.

There's honestly so many great choices around the $300 mark, it's going to be hard to choose just one. I've been disappointed by almost everything from $50-250 and then loved everything I tried at $300ish (I now own 4 because I can't decide which to sell) Isn H60 is probably the most exciting balls to the wall IEM I've got. It has some magic special sauce that makes instruments feel ALIVE. I don't really understand what it does differently, but it makes everything sound huge. TSMR Armor is quite similar, but the Basshead version with huge bass and less treble. Xenns Tea Pro and BGVP DMA are my other personal picks.

Excellent response, thanks. I asked because I'm currently borrowing a h60 and I am madly in love with it, it's possibly my favourite IEM So far. So whatever THAT tuning is, I want more.

Literally was my answer haha. But I've actually had a bit of a revelation too. I listen to a lot of sample based hip hop, funk, soul, rock- I've actually found that non- Basshead sets like ISN H60, Hidisz MK12, BGVP DMA can sound REALLY punchy and alive with these genres. The mids are the soul of music. Cutting midbass should be a crime.

Chat GPT doesn't know shit about IEMs. Imo, there's too many, and too similar. The most unique choice is the Diablo... To the delicate ears of our favourite Singaporean IEM God that might be a lot of bass, but there's more bass out there. The others kinda just blend together... If your goal is to experience every kind of sound and weird driver combination there is, go much further. Buy an all BA set. Buy a bass head set. Buy a tribrid. Buy a KZ Decet with 5 DDs squeezed in each side. Buy a bone conduction set- "subtle" options that boost the soundstage a bit, or "obvious vibration" sets like the Kiwi Ears Etude, Kbear03/02. Buy a treble head set. Buy something off Penon. Buy a desktop amp and see if that makes a difference or not to you. For what it's worth, I really love the MK12, and I think the MP145 is a much better IEM than the Mp143 (which is fine but a bit boring) If your goal is quality... You can afford a couple of AMAZING sets instead of 15 good ones.

Isn H60... I love the mk12, and the H60 has an even more fun engaging tuning- probably my favourite IEM. Possibly the EBC80 if you have a lot to spend (I've not heard it but I've read it's the next level H60)

My favourite in your budget is the ISN H60. It's so fun and addictive.

It doesn't seem to me that you actually LIKE the tuning of the Daybreak. It has no problems for you, but it's not got things you love either. I find those tunings pretty dull- and I didn't even realise that until I tried a lot of others, because that's how many new IEMs are tuned. I finally think I found my sweet spot with the ISN H60. I don't understand why, but it just has the most engaging bombastic sound I've heard so far, it's so fun and addictive and seems to elevate almost every song... It sucks, but it may take a lot of blind buying to find something you truly love. A flight to Singapore to try everything in their audio shops may be cheaper.

Yeah couldn't get a good fit with H60 due to the nozzles.

I don't know if I'd say they're hugely worse myself. They're deliberately neutral for gaming with a focus on imaging, and not... exciting like Doscincos or the other collab Ziigs. However like you mentioned the Tea Pros have spectacular imaging _and_ are exciting too. Even Fresh said they surprised him. Quite a bit more cash, though. edit: also I bit the bullet and ordered the H60s you recommended in another comment. Looking forward to them.

Yes, I am hoping I can find a way to deal with the nozzle issue, but am excited to try them. Again, I appreciate the suggestion. I didn't even know ISN or Penon even existed until your comment.

ISN H60s. e1da 9038s. I’m generally wary of spending big money (to me) on IEMs, but the H60s opened my eyes to what’s possible once you move higher in the price range. They sound phenomenal.  The 9038s makes my harder to power audio gear sound noticeably better. It is definitely not for a non-hobbyist (make sure you read the wall of text on the website before buying), is a bit Apple-unfriendly, gobbles power, and it lacks niceties that are common place with other DACs such as volume control, but the creators’ obsession with performance is absolutely evident. 

Many of the sub-$100 recommendations in this sub-Reddit are older models that have been superseded by newer stuff. Still plenty of Harman-tuned models being recommended, and that tuning -- while OK -- is as old as grandpa's buckskin rubber. As for improvements being minute over $500, I sort of believed in that line of thinking until I bought the BGVP Astrum, which costs $679 new. It is SIGNIFICANTLY better than my three $350ish benchmarks, the Softears Volume S, Penon Fan 3 and ISN H60.

I've been avidly in the audiophile headphone and IEM game -- not Beats and Sony wireless shit -- for a decade. I know what sounds good and doesn't, and I can tell you the Astrum is SIGNIFICANTLY better than most of my $150-200 sets. I have patiently climbed all the price rungs of the audio ladder with both headphones and IEMs so I can discern the differences in sonic quality at each step. I climb because I want better sound, not so I can show off. Nobody in my family and friends circle gives a fuck about audio, anyways. And if you think the sound quality of an elite set at $679 isn't significantly better than an average set at $200, then you're just practicing reverse placebo psychology to justify your choice not to spend more or mollify your sadness that you can't afford better. That's not a blanket statement. There are some kilobuck sets that sound like ass, especially in a hobby as subjective as this. But I have not found diminishing returns yet with IEMs at $650ish. I'm sure that threshold will come soon. But not yet.

I bought the h60 and ebc80. Did not like h60. The EBC80 however… damn near brought tears to my eyes bro. The bone conductors really do wonders for me. I want to listen to all of my music over again now. Thank you for recommending them to me!

Ya i came to same conclusion , but EPZ P50 sounds better to me then day break ! They are similar but the P50 sounds smoother and has better detail retrieval and imaging ! The daybreaks are boring imo and nothing special , if you just want regular clear sound and normal ok tuning sound ! And just want it only cuz it says CRINEAR be my guest ! This was a blind buy cuz I wanted to see , but once you have the H60s ! There’s just nothing in the price bracket or under that’s even worth getting anymore if you like high detail and reference level . And my H30s already have the best neutral/natural sound signature iv ever heard even better then Hexa imo . But crin made it sound like he gave the daybreaks the highest quality /price ratio he could . But I didn’t hear that ! These cost me $169 plus tax . And they sound exactly like $169 sound . I guess if you like this sound signature and just want to own the crinear brand to collect it . I understand . But this was a disappointment for what I was expecting . Idk why my hopes were to high ! I mean I could give more of a burn in for another few days ! I do like the faceplate and the cable is alright , the fit is better than most, the comfortable fit reminds me of the MOONDROP Mays fit . What I can say is there really well made and feel solid ,durable !

Tea pros, Arcanis, volume s, dunu sa6, sa6est, isn h60, any hybrid, tribrid, or multi BA iem around $300-600

H60, EST50, EBC80 are all bangers

I had Sennheiser HD 660s and now Focal Azurys, went into iems early last year. Man I have a 70$ Sivga Que that has a beryllium coated driver and is all metal/wood built iem that is better tuned than the Focal… and imho 90% of it’s technical ability. I also have other sets but my flagship is ISN EBC80 with 2 Dynamic drivers for bass, 2 balanced armatures for mids, 2 electrostatic drivers for highs and 2 full range bone conduction drivers. It is 699$ though, but it smokes all other headphones I have tried in my life. To be honest though, the best price/performance in lies in the 250-350$ range. To get a noticeable improvement you have to spend more and more and the improvement gets less and less. I currently ordered Ziigaat odyssey and that may be the nee ~200$ benchmark. On the 350$ I swear by ISN H60. As for planar iem try the new Artti t10 pro.

Arete I’d buy mainly for gaming, I’d rather pick Doscinco or Odyssey. I have the Odyssey and it’s quickly become one of my favourite iems. I was quite underwhelmed by their config when they came out… yet the positive reviews and word of mouth did it’s thing and yep… they are great. Very immersive tuning, you can crank up the volume with these and immerse yourself. The vocals are kicked back in the mix giving you the impression of sitting in the front row instead right dead on the stage with the band. They are easy on the ears and I have worked with them for 4-5 hours without taking them out. They might feel slightly odd at first as most people are used to harman/v shape tuning coming from tws world and such. Odyssey has lower pinna gain and is more of a relaxed, warmer listen with some twinklies in the top end. To spice things up a little. Ziigaat did an awesome job with this tuning. I do own some more expensive stuff of more than 2x the price but this one is special and I would gladly recommend it. 8/10 for me. And I paid the full price. For 143$ ? No brainer. My only wish would be for it to come with a nicer cable, and a modular one at that. As I advise slapping a 4.4 on this guy. The closest upgrade I could think of that I heard and owned by the way would be the a bit more vocal forward ISN H60 With 2DD coaxial setup and 4 BA. This one has AMAZING BASS and great technicals. 350$ Also slower and lower pinna gain, similar approach.

We could basically throw every Penon and ISN iem on the list as well. Still too little people know of their existence. But from the more recent and still obtainable for many I’d say Penon Fan 3 with 50% off coupon and definitely ISN H60 which is now available in black. And the good ol’ Penon serial.

Then look into ISN and Penon, also Ziigaat Odyssey. Ziigaat Odyssey is that a bit better explorer, I love that thing and currently it’s my nr 1 most listened to iem. ISN H60 would be a bit more spicy, a bit more vocal forward, with better technicals and better bass. I used to own it and it is an amazing iem, although it has a large nozzle. I sold it only to buy their flagship the ISN EBC80. And tbh I miss the H60 as it had a different tuning, closer to odyssey. Old Penon Globe used to be this low pinna gain and bass tilt warm iem. Penon ( They Own ISN it’s the sister brand ) did this “meta” mids long before they were called meta. Not all of their iems are like that, you’d need to look them up in squiglink, and look for the older ones second hand as for whatever reason they do not come down in price.

After I sold Hype4 i got the ISN H60 AndI think it’s ( in my opinion ) superior. It has very natural mids and timbre, lower pinna gain ( close to those meta mids before it was even a thing ) but it has more sparkle to not male the sound dull or boring. Bass just as good if not better than on the Hype’s ( more midbass presence, hence more physicality-super satisfying) HYPE4 is fantastic if someone digs it’s sound character, I did not, so it was an easy kiss and farewell to me.

Ihmo one of THE BEST iems in the 350$ range is the ISN H60. I try to sway more people into trying out Penon/ISN ( same company ) as they still are relatively not widely known ( despite being around for 11 years ) but they create some truly soecial iems. And folks on headfi that were able to try H60 and Tea Pro picked the H60. It has some similiarities to the Ziigaat Odyssey or maybe the other way around as H60 came before the Odyssey. In that it jas this later and lower pinna gain. It is a bit more vocal forward as Odyssey’s vocals are a bit recessed. Has MUCH better bass, more natural midrange and better technicalities. It looks way better in real life, than on photos, especially once in ear. The only downside is the large nozzle. But that can be remedied with right tips. I currently own it’s successor which has the same nozzle the EBC80, and I have normal sized ears. And it’s not a big issue once you find the tips that fit you well

Seeing Penon tips, I then assume you are familliar with this gem of a manufacturer. Try out the ISN H60, imho it’s one of THE BEST 300-350$ range iem of recent years. Now also available in black. Although it has a large nozzle, so there’s a downside. Going back to pilgrim, how does removing the mesh affect the sound signature?

I’d choose neither. Wen’t with ISN H60 which has amazing bass, equal if not better than HYPE4, more midbass, more physical, more visceral. Yet it has the natural vocal presentation of this “meta” ish approach of later and lower pinna gain. ISN H60 on top of that has no planar timbre, minimal BA timbre, ( WAAY better than HYPE 4 in this regard ) And the technicals are on par. The only downside is a large nozzle, and trust me they Do look way better in real life and especially in ear, than on the pictures. And it’s 350$ so cheaper than both. Knowles, Sonion 4BA Dual DD coaxial setup And if Youy REALLY want DA BASS, either Kiwi ears HBB Punch which has EST and the Ziigaat Juliters’s DD in it. Or Tansio Mirai X

I prefer ISN H60 over Tea Pro, and those on hewdfi that tried both like Dung Le agrre kn this, but as many said already those difference in this price range are not huge. It mostly comes down to tuning. I’d take Tea Pro over Hype 4 any day though, way more natural sounding.

I have the Delci AE and there is something wrong with this iem. i cannot describe it but it is just off for me. And is literally first time something was too small. I had to wear the L sized tips for it to stay in place. I have had ISN H60 in the 350$ range and I can say the jump there is quite substantial. But after that, You have to spend 600-700-1000$ to hear any significant upgrade and even then it often comes down to tuning preference. Now, that being said I have a solution for you. Instead of spending on tea pro, get Yourself Ziigaat Odyssey. Trust me mate it is SOOO GOOD. I have a 700$ est and bone conduction hybrid set, and despite it being technically better in every way, the odyssey is tuned so well and it’s so addictive, that I listen to it more often. You won’t regret. And it’s around 200$. Just get yourself a nicer cable and you are all set. ~130$ saved

I had the H60, LOVED them, and then EBC80 came out and I threw my money at MR. Chi. ( the owner of Penon Audio and ISN ) I’m in a facebook group where he’s posting, and he secured me a pre launch unit :) Anyhow, the H60 is probably one of the best/bang for buck I heard. It can totally be an end game iem. It was better than HYPE4 for me. Amazing, punchy, meaty bass, visceral even. Wide sounding. Very natural well spaced midrange. They are very Fun and have very good technicalities on top. They are 80-85% of EBC for 50% of $. Be warned though, they have one major flaw, a big nozzle. It was not an issue to me as I have medium-medium/large ears with wuite tolerant ear canals. But for someone with small ears they might be an issue. Same as zero reds from Crin. If I were to point people to buy an ISN it would be either the Neo5 or the H60. H60 is now also available in Black, although the blue one looks great in real life and especially in Ear, way, way better than on pictures. I also have H20 on the way.

You can check H60, it is half the price and has a bit better midbass impact, due to a different tuning. It is a bit more fun. EBC has Sonion Bone Conduction drivers that enhance the stage and add texture, so they tuned vocals to be a bit closer. H60 feels a bit more like Ziigaat Odyssey, but better.

Isn H60 has super fun and punchy bass, and great technicalities overall. Buuut it jas a lrage nozzle 6.8 mm :/