Letshuoer (Shuoer) - Mystic 8

Tried it, not impressed

IE600s are notoriously v-shaped IEMs that are pretty far out from neutral with exaggerated bass and treble. In terms of form factor there isn't really a like-for-like replacement for something as small as the IEs. Some additional recommendations worth checking out: Aful Dawn-X, laid-back and natural sound, almost inoffensive. Symphonium Crimson, aggressively fun like the IE600. 4 BAs make it one of the simplest constructions in that price range. Symphonium Europa, a more balanced brother to the Crimson. Letshuoer Mystic 8, very dry tonality but that's also what makes it special. A statement piece of an IEM. Actually close to neutral, as in, most people will find there's too little bass. Yu9 Que, if you could get your hands on one. The hype mainly comes from its price-performance ability and it could absolutely go toe-to-toe with many $1k sets, though I find its tuning stereotypical. It's a solid all-rounder choice if I don't know what your tuning prefs are. 64audio Tia Trio, if you're considering the U12t already you could also consider this. Some of the best bass I've heard in an IEM bar none. U12t sounds boring by comparison. Sony IER-M9, another laid-back oldie and a perennial competitor to the IE600. Depending on where you are, they could be had for cheap. Warm neutral presentation with treble boost, dynamics are its Achilles heel. Thieaudio Valhalla, much more refined v-shape presentation than the Monarch MkIV and more comfortable. Given your budget goes up to $2k, this is very much worth checking out. In terms of fit, Thieaudios are notorious for big shells and contentious comfort, so the advice is always to try before you buy if you could. You'd have the best luck with 64audio, maybe Symphonium, but Symphoniums will take some time getting used to because they aren't vented.

I'm probably going to get flogged for this but I didn't like how it sounded when I tried it with Canjam. I tip rolled like crazy on it too. Pretty bleh sounding imho.

These are what I feel are the best at their respective price points for 2025 releases(though older releases may be the best overall). Only included what I've tried, so there may be better out there. Bang for buck: Truthear Pure/Plunge Audio Unity Dynamic/Yu9 Que Best bass quality: Dita Mecha Best vocals: Letshuoer Mystic 8, Tanchjim Nora Best treble quality: Moondrop Meteor Most musical: ISN EST80 Most lifelike: Dita Mecha Disappointment: Craftears Omnium Ti, not because it's bad, just that midrange is too pushed back for my liking. Volk Audio Etoille- driver flex🥲 sounds great tho.

As a vocalhead I sold my top pro after a week so I'm surprised you kept it. The timbre on both male and female vocals both sound wrong. Male vocals are way too thin and lack body to them. Female vocals sound especially sizzly and hot, easily running into sibilant territory and possessing especially overbearing metallic ba timbre. It's a shame because top pro is amazing for everything else, instruments sound great, techs can trade blows with kilobuck units like my mystic 8. It just doesn't work for my heavily vocal-centric library. And believe me I really tried to make it work, rolled my entire collection of over 40 types of eartips.

Yup arcanis is absolutely fantastic and top tier for vocals. It's my daily on the go iem. It lays bare every vocal inflection, technique and detail so beautifully with the lip-smacking end-consonant bite that's simply on another level. Mystic 8 is the purest, cleanest and ethereal female vocals but arcanis is the most nuanced and revealing. These 2 are absolutely goated for vocals in their own unique way. Something like the tanchjim origin is what many call vocal magic but I find that it overly smoothes over vocals, hiding any 'flaws' and sweetens voices to a slightly unnatural extent.

For neutral vocal sets, it would be the letshuoer mystic 8. Xenns top pro also has insane levels of detail retrieval rivalling many kilobuck sets.

Mystic8. Defo NOT treble or midtreble centric, but from its neutral tuning it really brings out vocals within the tracks.

i also felt like the hexa sounded like a blob and i had to get rid of it because it felt like i had hearing loss but when i used the mystic 8 which graphs extremely similarly it easily has the best seperation and micro contrast of the ones ive heard

There are way better vocal sets, like mystic 8

You are not impressed by the vocals of mystic 8?

LetShuoer mystic 8, best female vocals

If you ask me, my best purchases: - Aoshida e20, Quintet(not on the list, since i gave it away), Pilgrims, Shozy p20, HBB Punch and the Mystic 8(not in the list since its New and im testing). It covers most needs, and it's 1 set of each kind. Missing a Bone conductor but still indecisive of which one.

Neutral to what ? Harman, JM1 DF or something else ? I would say Letshuoer Mystic 8 and Moondrop Meteor if you look for Hexa on steroids. If you want neutral with bass then Thieaudio V16 Divinity, but its also double the price, but still in your range