AM16 Bass-Enhanced Edition

I only started getting into IEMS in Feb of this year. Forced to stay at home from a tragic work injury, with nothing to do and money to spend. I knew there was life after earbuds, and hence, my first IEM purchase, the Wan'er SG. Best bang for the buck: Kunten, easily. Best of the year: AM16 Bass version. Going from the Kunten and my other single DD to this is like... WOW! Biggest surprise of the year: Well, I have to say the Wan'er, because that blew me away after years of JBL and Sony earbuds. It was my first IEM and it felt like hearing Heaven after earbud hell. Biggest letdown: Truthear Zero:Red. Without the resistor, it has no bass. It doesn't really have treble. And it really doesn't have mids. It has nothing... (Crinacle face zoom)... for $55. Other good ones: 7hz Elua Ultra. KZ Castor Pro bass. KZ EDC Pro, KZ PRX Others I didn't like: 7hz Zero 1 (no bass), KZ Duonic (too v-shaped), SGOR Luna (didn't fit well, and very ugly), Chu2 (It's OK. My other single DD's sounded better)

I am very, very happy with my KZ AM16. Huge bass from a balanced armature. Even more than my Castor Pro bass and my decent KZ PRX. Great mids and highs too.

The Zero2 is a great IEM. IMHO, I do think the GK Kunten is slightly better, but they sound very close to each other. The Kunten is usually priced lower. Also, buy a DAC if you are using a smartphone. I'm partial to the JCally JM12, which essentially is nearly the same as the more expensive JadeAudio JA11. The DAC will output more power to your IEMs and will sound better. As far as the more expensive IEMs, I only own two in that price range. The KZ PRX and KZ AM16. I prefer the AM16. But I am sure there are probably better IEMs in that range others here will recommend. To suggest an IEM, the community here would need to know what genres of music you like, as well as your music tastes (EDM, rap, metal, k/j pop, etc.)

While in the house, I go for harder-to-drive IEMs, like my PRX, AM16, and my dual DD's/Hybrids (Castor Pros, Eula Ultra, and Duonic). Outside the home, usually my single DDs, like my EDC Pro, Saga bass, Zero 2, and my Rosefinch. So, save power when on phone battery, use power hungries at home. Include 30mW DACs vs 60mW DACs. Which DD to take outside the home? Depends on which one I haven't used in a while. I think I use the Saga bass most though. Works with the EDM I listen to more than any other genre.

if you want v-shape (actual v-shape not mild v-shape) then juzear clear are very good. excellent bass extension + quality and you get alot of it. bonus points for the very good included cable if you want something fun but still technical then kz am16 bass version

I got the AM16 Bass edition, however I like my T10 Pro a lot better. Voices sound "unnatural" on the AM16 and the treble sometimes hurts. with some EQ though its sounds reasonably good for the price point.

So what's ur use scenario? My suggestion in general for whoever enter this hobby (it they care about gaming) is getting the Tripowin Vivace+ Azla asmr max tips (obbligatory with this iem) cus i think even up to 500 there is nothing (in game) that outperform by a huge margin this. So if u care about gaming u can choose this combo first and then also buy an iem where u can focus only on ur music preferences (+ having the Asmr max automatically open u the doors for every harsh treble iem, cus this can tame anything). And with 120 u can do something like: Vivace combo+ Kz Am16 bass (best Kz with Ba rn and pretty cheap on Ali, meanwhile the best DD from Kz is in their Kz Zenith that i put way above the Zero Red if the qc is good). Anyway my favorite iem under 50 are the Cadenza, i read someone above saying that the Zero red is overall better, but for me the Cadenza is way better than the Zero red (not in game) the timbre is of the Cadenza is better (Cadenza Berillium timbre is my favorite timbre even up to 300) and the bass hit more satisfing and that bump in the high give u an impression of high technicality and is pretty berable + they are way more comfortable (worst than the Red in gaming if u use the adapter and obv they have a worst final extension in the trebble as u can see in graphs) some people prefer the Kefine klean in this price range and overall can do more things (especially in gaming) but music wise i prefer Cadenza. So i covered the combos...now let's talk about the best all rounder/sets under 120 (sometimes with discount) Kiwi ears Airoso (incredible iem for music,for me the best, a direct upgrade from Cadenza, not the best in game but still usable) Kefine Delci Ae (great valuable iem) Simgot Ew300 (not great in game, but 🔥 music) Juzear Defiant (if the qc is good, pretty close level wise to the Airoso if not better for someone) Arti t10/t10 pro if u want to try planar Truthears Hexa (neutral and all rounder, exquisite, better than the Red, but can be boring) Simgot Em6L (great allrounder) Aful explorer (if u want to raise the volume, this is great, in game they kinda 🙃😅) Tanchjim Fission (best 1DD at this price) Idk if i forgot something but this should be pretty 😏. This is kinda it i think.

Glad I could help! All BA sets are usually pricey. You could try the tuning with the KZ AM 16 which are a heck cheaper than any all BA set out there. Depending on your preference you'll choose between the bass and balanced versions. I own the bass versions and I like them. If you are still set on the SLT6 caliber of iems you could do your research on the EPZ 530. This one is mentioned in almost the same vein without the pressure build up and hbb praises it for having named drivers. These are the value picks for me. Other than these, you are probably looking at a higher price range for other sets.

I have the Moondrop Arias as well and they were the best sounding IEMs I've ever had right up until one side randomly decided to be one-fifth of the volume of the other lmao. I've been using KZ AM16s I bought recently which certainly has great wub wub and oonse oonse, at least when I can get them to fit in my stupid asymmetric ear holes 😤 However all my opinions are worthless because my hearing has the sensitivity of a boomer comedian; 20-20,000Hz? Brother I can't hear anything above 14,000Hz 😅

KZ ZS12 Pro X is competent. Not a bass monster. Put some Tang Sancai Noble tips for better bass over stock tips. KZ AM16 is really good, fun set. My current favorite that I have.

KZ AM16 is a fun set.