Moondrop - Aria

Moondrop aria should be the choice they are durable and have a great tuning that most of the general consumers will like .

I didn't like the Chu 2 in comparison to my Chu 1, BL03, and Aria 1s which I also own. I think my main problem is the included eartips were a poor fit for my ears, maybe foamies or springtips would have been better. I went ahead and ordered the Zero:2 and along with a multipack of the same foamies I use with my BL03s. I will report back how they sound stock, and compare both with better fitting ear tips (if the Zero:2s need em).

I hate to be the "well acktooaally" guy, but not IEMs/headphones are the same. Yes, gamers get confused about the meaning of soundstage when imaging, layering and separation are more important. Yes, there are diminishing returns on more expensive IEMs. Yes, Aceu would wreck anyone without sound at all. Not all IEMs are good for gaming. The Moondrop Aria is great for music, but it can't image for shit. As I've gotten more competitive in games, the more I've valued audio for prefiring and prioritising threats. Most times I get called a cheater or wall hacker is basically knowing the direction AND DISTANCE of a player. But I'm a top % player. 95% of players could hardly tell the difference between a Crinnacle Zero and Monarch MK3 in game.

Got iem's late last year and haven't gone back to regular over the ear headphones. Once you get used to them they're much better imo. Plus not having bulky headphones on your head is much more comfortable and the sound is a lot better too. I started if with a pair of kz's, then got a pair of moondrop aria's and now I have the kiwi ears orchestra light's.

KZ Castor Pro Bass - has bass but the other end of the spectrum was a hot mess. KBear KB02 - Having the BCD trigger at any frequency makes it only usable for music. Moondrop Chu - Not having earhooks made them constantly fall out. Moondrop Aria - Straight nozzle with no lip made it so the tips always came off in my ear.

For years, my audio journey was anchored in the vibrant world of Chi-Fi IEMs—budget-friendly gems like the KZ ZS 10 pro, Moondrop Arias to Multi kilobuck killer - Monarch mk2/3, Mest, QDC VX. These in-ear monitors delivered thrilling soundscapes with their bold price to performance value, punchy bass, and sparkling treble. Yet, curiosity led me to the Westone Mach 80, a flagship renowned for its clinical precision and studio-grade neutrality. The transition wasn’t just an upgrade; it was a paradigm shift—a rediscovery of what music could be. Build and Comfort: From Plastic to PrecisionMy audio journey and experience, while impressive in sound, often felt utilitarian in build—oversized shells, hefty cables, and fit that demanded frequent adjustments. The Mach 80, by contrast, felt like a bespoke instrument. Its SUPER LIGHTWEIGHT (Yes in Caps), ergonomic design, molded from lightweight medical-grade resin, disappeared into my ears. The over-ear cabling and deep-seated fit provided a seal so secure and isolating like a Custom IEM that subway commutes became silent even without music playing. Westone’s decades of expertise in pro-audio ergonomics shone through; these were IEMs built for marathon listening sessions, not just casual use. Sound Signature: Chaos to ClarityThe first listen was… jarring. Gone was the bombastic bass slam or the polished midrange bloom. The Mach 80 greeted me with a stark, unapologetic neutrality. Bass was lean and taut, not thunderous. Treble was detailed but never sibilant. Mids? They weren’t “forward” or “recessed”—they just were, pristine and uncolored. It felt like swapping a neon-lit carnival for a sunlit art gallery. * Bass: The Mach 80’s 8 balanced armatures delivered bass with surgical control. Sub-bass rumble in electronic tracks like Jacques Greene’s “Feel Infinite” was textured and articulate, not bloated. Double kicks in metal tracks retained their speed but lacked the visceral “thump” I’d grown accustomed to. This wasn’t a deficiency—it was accuracy. The Mach 80 revealed how much of most of the iems was bass boosted. * Mids: Vocals and instruments emerged with startling realism. On Norah Jones’ “Don’t Know Why,” her voice floated with breathy intimacy, free of the midbass bleed that muddied my Chi-Fi sets. Acoustic guitars on John Mayer’s “Neon” showcased string plucks and finger slides I’d never noticed—a masterclass in microdetail, its surgically incredible! * Treble: Cymbals on TOOL’s “Pneuma” shimmered without piercing, and orchestral highs in Holst’s “The Planets” retained their airiness. The Mach 80’s treble wasn’t “exciting,” but it was ruthlessly honest, it’s very very smooth to listen. Soundstage and Imaging: From 2D to 3DThe Mach 80’s soundstage felt expansive and holographic, a stark contrast to the intimate, head-filling presentation of my Chi-Fi collection. Listening to Hans Zimmer’s “Blade Runner 2049” soundtrack, synths swirled around my head with pinpoint placement, while the decay of reverb tails in a jazz club recording felt almost tactile. Instruments weren’t layered—they occupied distinct spaces, like actors on a stage. The Adjustment Period: Learning to Listen AgainFor days, I mourned the loss of “fun.” Tracks that once felt anthemic now sounded restrained. But gradually, my ears acclimated. The Mach 80 didn’t impose its personality—it revealed the recording’s personality. Well-mixed tracks (think Daft Punk’s “Random Access Memories”) became transcendent, while poorly mastered songs laid bare their flaws. This wasn’t an IEM for mindless head-bobbing; it demanded engagement, rewarding critical listening with revelations. The Chi-Fi Rat raceNowadays everyone is chasing the best of the best while many companies are releasing new items week in and week out, and we often forget to slow down and appreciate music more. And often with massive waves of iems releasing we often overlooked some of the brands that do not come out new model very often. Conclusion: A New BenchmarkThe Westone Mach 80 isn’t for everyone. If you crave bass heft, WOW factor or euphonic coloration, it might underwhelm. But as a tool for understanding music—for dissecting mixes, savoring acoustic textures, or simply hearing your favorite albums anew—it’s peerless. The is the most resolving IEM I have ever heard in any price range and I have heard a lot; and it’s redefined what I expect from them—and from music itself.

Yeah, if it's good stuff it will stay good. But the price sure is outdated, unless they reduce the price. Especially with tight competition like iems. Like my old moondrop aria, can be beaten by newest stuff at the same price like EW300.

My first iems were the moondrop aria (the original) and I used them until they literally fell apart, there are much better iems now at better prices now but I still have a soft spot for the arias, and I still think they are the most beautiful iems ever made, I'm a sucker for black and gold.

Moondrop Chu, and no. The Kato is the only Moondrop iem I still have and use. I liked the Aria but gave it to a friend to try to get him into iems (I failed). The Chu was good enough to get me into iems, but not good enough to keep me listening. I don't even know where they are now, lol. Of the early iems that I bought, I only have and listen to the Truthear Hexa (lifeless but decent, with wonderful imaging) and that Truthear Harmon-tuned one that Crinacle did with the subwoofer (I forget the name). It is fatiguing, but it is exciting until it wears me down. Good for techno. I listen mostly to the Aful P5, the Chopin, the Letshour S12, and the Kato now. Sometimes at home, I listen to the P8 and the Xenn Mangrid Top (they are too expensive to lug around with me--I have a $200 limit on iems that I'm willing to take in my backpack).

Moondrop Aria is small.

AirPods Pro for me, mainly for the convenience. The thing is that because I wear glasses, I don’t really like the feel of over-the-ear headphones pressing the frame of the spectacles against my ears. https://www.khadas.com/tea I did try using the Khadas Tea, together with a cheap pair of IEMs (aria moondrop), but honestly, I couldn’t really hear the difference in Apple Music, and the presence of the headphone cable annoyed me more than I thought it would. I found it amusing to pay for what was essentially a very expensive headphone dongle, but it is what it is. 🤣

First one was Moondrop Aria, still using it. Then got the Final Audio A3000, using that too.

Ah sorry, the topic said what the first one was. I would say the Final Audio. Much more clear and better soundstage, just lacking in bass compared to the Aria.

He’s absolutely right. Great vocals, great clarity, but it’s hard to distinguish details in the AirPod pro 2nd gen. They literally are incapable of delivering frequencies that will lead to a fuller, more dynamic sound. All of my decent iems kick the shit out of them (salnotes dioko, moondrop aria, truthear hexa). I own all the iems you mentioned aside from the blon so I understand where you’re coming from, because those iems aren’t that great. There’s a huge jump in quality around the $100 mark. The kz castors have MUCH better bass than AirPod pro 2 and they’re 25 bucks.

I personally have the DUNU SA6 MK2 so I'm gonna have my bias on that. Everything just sounded smooth...and not in a bad way. Instruments and vocals have very good separation while sounding full, vocals don't sound nasally like what some people would say about the Truthear Nova Bass is very thumpy since I used it with the bass switch on day one, not sure how I would describe the bass versus my 2nd in line Moondrop Aria (the original), but it has definitely much more mid bass punch than just plain sub bass Treble is very well controlled and there isn't a time where I'll hear hissing/sibilance nor is it dark. Soundstage is just icing on top and has this 3D-ish thing going on, and paired with their imaging I was able to pinpoint enemy location everywhere precisely some people might prefer the original over the "artificial smooth" sound of the MK2, but I liked it, and then there's the new EST version that's a little not worth for the money but u could try if u want

I have sennheiser hd6xxx powered by a schiit stack and imaging/soundstage beats any of the iems I have BUT I haven’t used my hd6xx in like a year. iems are comfortable for long wear,takes up less real estate (on my head, desk, etc.), and are overall much cheaper so you can find a set you like Honestly if you’re interested in iems, unless you’re spending 500+ you’re not going to notice any difference between a $50 set and a $200 set. If you’re looking for a set, moondrop arias are tried and true Truthear crinnacle zero red get good reviews Linsoul 7hz x crinnacle zero 2 can be had for $20 I’m currently dailying kz x hbb pr2 because they have an open back that helps with sound stage that iems lack

Moondrop Aria, Blessing 3 or just got full on to SE535

I have Drumeo IEMs, SE535, SE215, Moondrop Aria, KZ Pros. I cannot recommend the Drumeo IEMs unfortunately. They are just tuned weirdly. If you get them free, go for it. Otherwise I would get Aria or KZ, if you want to spend, look at Shure.

Paid 41 dollars for these. Excited to hear them. My Moondrop Aria were starting to lose their paint so was looking for a new daily driver. Would you say it's a decent replacement for the Aria? I own the Artti T10 and they sound amazing but the fit isn't comfy enough to wear for a full working day.

Aria does have bass though. You using any Dac Amps?

It would be, but the dawn pro was the last product, outright defective that I bought from moondrop. The previous 2 were the chu which the cable came apart at the iem (on both ends!) which ok, they were really cheap and then the first aria lost a lot of its paint though I only had for several months at that time. As such 3/3 for me with qc issues so a big no for me for any future products from this sham of a company.

My Moondrop Aria's (1st gen) paint has been peeling off for the last 2 years. Would you say that these are a good purchase if I'm looking to replace them?

Om the rare occasion I commute it's the Moondrop Aria, it bangs

I daily drove the arias for like 2 years, never had any issues with them. Went from tin hifi t2 -> arias -> dusks. The last jump is definitely really big but the arias sounded good for someone who didnt experience the higher price ranges

mine did not start tearing until about a year of continuous use

Up to you. For me though, I personally think that the Moondrop Robin is solid but it's a collaboration product, so it's likely that Moondrop didn't cheap out for this particular product because been using it for a few months and it held up much much better than the Aria ever could.

OG Moondrop Arias. Still daily drive them after 3+ years. Don't know if it's because I've just got used to them but they just sound right to me(especially for YT + Gaming). I don't have many other IEMs, only KIWI EARS Cadneza (Arias miles ahead for me), but I do have high end headphones that I use time to time when I want to focus on the music (HD 660s2) but always return to old faithful :) Will probably upgrade in the future but will likely have to spend a bit more for a noticeable difference.

Only problem with them is I've had to replace the filters quite a few times which has been a known issue. I'm running out of filters :0

and also a bit of the coating coming off but I like my IEMs like I like my cars... If they do the job well, I don't care if they look rough around the edges

I have the Cadenza and (had) the Space Travel (2 pairs lost while at airports, 1 pair brokey, waiting for Robin rn for both waifu and tune lol). Use(d) both semi-regular, now I'm rocking Moondrop Aria1 (discontinued) just because Cadenza tuning is a bit too safe and may be bored after a long while lol. Space Travel's bass is decent. HOWEVER, there are some songs that the Space Travel struggles (ala FF16 Find The Flame), it would buzz and a bit hissy. For those songs, I'd prefer the Cadenza. However trying out Daft Punk's Random Access Memory (both normal and drumless), both pairs work well, though I would prefer the Cadenza a weeeeeee bit more if not for wireless handy dandy. But for some rock songs (GG Strive OST lmao), Space Travel is quite pleasant, then again, both are p neck-to-neck w slightly different tuning. Then again, I would say Cadenza tune overall is a bit safe-y, comfy but may bored ypu after a long while listening. Space Travel is quite safe but more interesting (beside some weird limitation but kinda depend on the song itself), and also TWS soooooo...yeah. The ONLY issue I have with Space Travel is low volumn-ish. I'm already the lower volumn person yet must crank the bar quite high (70% or perharps more when outside). A trick is enable ANC mode to kinda isolate noises a bit but kinda useless when in a quiet room hmmm. *Space Travel is also so nice with ANC and on airplane tho* Edit: anyway I still prefer Aria if for bass among my pairs lol

I definitely think you are making a mistake getting these over ChiFi. The IE200 are a bit of a mess compared to something like the Moondrop Aria (and I assume the Aria 2, but I haven’t heard them)

Yeah, I’ve tried them both. When I bought my current IEMs (Moondrop Kato) a couple of years ago, I tried the Aria, the IE200, CCA CRA+, and the S12. The IE200 were the most comfortable, but they come with an awful cable and sounded worse than everything else I tried besides the CRA+. The Aria were more comfortable than anything else I tried besides the IE200, including the Kato that I ended up keeping and sounded better than everything except the Kato.

I got mine today. Have been using it with the apple USB C dongle. coming from Moondrop Aria, honestly I am not impressed. I feel like the Aria sounds more alive and enjoyable. I am going to give it some hours to "burn-in" and then see but so far, I feel like there is a lot of hype and everyone uses these vague words to explain/review an IEM but I at least havent felt like this has been an upgrade. idk if I am missing anything here.

I am not an audiophile, but was using hte OG Aria for a few years. then tried to see what else might be available, and read much praise about the S08 and bought it during hte holidays. I am not sure I like them any more than the Arias. yes, in some songs there is more details of instruments, but I feel like bass is slight harsh, and lacks the clean thump, if that the right word to describe it. idk, someone advised I use a dac with it, and I did order one off of Amazon, but then returned it as there wasnt a noticeable difference in sound quality. not sure if it is helpful, but just wanted to share my own experience with it. maybe there are some songs I enjoy listening to but its not for every song, and my playlist is a mix of every genre so I cant change iems in the middle of listening to music.

I prefer IEM and Earbuds. Comfort is inportant for long gaming session. I use the Samsung buds 3 pro( earbuds), sometimes change to Moondrop Aria( Iems) for no latency. They have wide soundstage and transparency, the midrange is smooth and the bass isn't stupidly bloated like many " gaming " headphones

Tbh I think you should go without until you can spend the extra 30 and get the original aria.

probably in the 50-70 bucks range like the Moondrop Aria's and the like if you never experienced good IEMs before. Y

my mondrop aria only last for 1 year, and the build quality is awful the skin keep tearing apart

I’ve never owned the Moondrop Blessing 3, but I have owned the Variations, original Arias, Kato, Chu, Chu 2, Moca, Sparks, and Dawn Pro. While I liked all of these products at the time, I realized I was just buying them for the box art and not considering that I could have purchased “better” alternatives. In other words, I could have chosen an IEM from a company with better quality control compared to Moondrop or better price to performance. I think it's good to experiment with other brands and not stick to one, like I did. I hope all this makes sense, lol

Sounds like you've been on quite the journey! For that warm, lush sound you’re after, have you checked out the Moondrop Aria? It's got a nice balance of warmth and smoothness with good tonal richness—perfect for someone who likes a lush sound but doesn’t want to break the bank. Definitely a solid step up from the QKZ x HBB without going too far into the pricey zone. Plus, it’s fun and pretty versatile, so it could pair well with a lot of genres!

I have been eyeing this iem for the past month but I am hesitant buying it blindly. Sadly, in my country, there are no physical stores where I can sound test before buying. Are they good in terms of detail retrieval, layering, soundstage, and female vocals? My music preference are usually korean ballads, pop songs, soft rock, and classical. Lastly, does pairing it with CX31993 dongle enough to maximize its potential? If not, are there any budget dac alternatives you can recommend? I am also planning to pair it with spinfit W1 eartips. My past iems are: Moondrop Aria -> Truthear Zero Reds, if that helps. Thanks!!

Yeah I've owned them for a while and never really preferred them for music listening. The bass amount is adequate for me but is pretty unsatisfying. They have a decently resolving upper midrange/treble but also a weird quality about them that I never quite liked. Comfort is good though.

Haven’t heard the deuce yet but would say try every tip you have laying around before giving up on them. To not be impressed coming from bl-03 sounds crazy. I’ve had the bl03, arias, OH10 and now doscinco and the OH10 & doscinco are so much better than the arias/blons it’s not even close. From the feedback I’ve found this doesn’t sound right and may be a tip sealing issue. If they just don’t work for you, can def recommend the doscincos. They aren’t basshead stock but with the iso dd drivers they take EQ like a champ and become monsters.

I just got mine too, coming from Moondrop Arias that had the dreaded moisture issues. They're taking me some getting used to as well, so I dialed in a bass shelf on the EQ and plan to slowly decrease it over the coming weeks to make the change more gradual.

Here is my list of headphones and iems that I have used to play games that are better than my Hyperx Cloud 2: Headphones - Philips SHP 9500 - Philips X2HR - Takstar Pro 82 - Oneodio Pro50 And more expensive ones that are too obvious like Hifiman Ananda. IEMs - Tin Hifi C2 Mech Warrior - Moondrop Aria - Moondrop May - Tangzu Heyday - 7hz Timeless AE - KZ Zsn pro - KZ ZS10 Pro X ALL that you cant get the most out of with something like a Moondrop Dawn Pro Dac/amp or similar. In my experience, any decent headphone or iem gives a better sound experience than most high end gaming headsets, you Just Need to do a little research on sound signature that you think you Will like and see what its best within your budget. In the long run its always better to invest in proper audio gear because you cant replace most things that break easily.

The in ear that made me fala in love with headphones in general was the Philips SHE 9000. I had an Xperia Phone back then and I had a blast with those. First pair of proper iems were the KZ ZSN pro with the meizu HiFi Dac, mindblowing for the time. A While later I got the Moondrop Aria that made the KZ sound like trash and Just a bit after I got the 7hz Dioko that made the Aria sound like a muffled boomy mess too. And that went on for a While until I got to the Tangzu Heyday and 7hz Timeless AE. Now I have my endgame but I still collect cheaper iems.

I enjoyed mine for like 2-3 days, after that, the classic volume moisture problem, and they became e-waste. Or you spend 1h each day constantly swapping filters for them to get 1h of normal listening time lul.

I was disappointed with the Aria too when I got it. It sounded shrill and there was no bass so I put it in the draw with the others. After a while I got it out and started trying different tips. Boom, there's the bass. I used a much smaller tip than I usually use and the bass appeared out of nowhere and it sounded great.

Love the 215’s. They are the first IEM’s to show me an audio equivalent of a physical form for my music. Ive had the Moondrop Arias, FiiO JD7 and Letshouer S12 Pro up to that point so at first I didnt realize what I was hearing and they just sat in a drawer until one day I decided to give them another shot. I plugged them in, scrolled through Reddit and I dont know when but all the switches unconsciously flipped in my brain and I could isolate and pick out every detail of every sound I was hearing. I heard the full range of vocals from the low to the top end more fully and clearly than any other monitor up to that point. They sounded so real and once I got used to them nothing stepped on one another and I finally understood why these are directed towards musicians and DJ’s. They present the sound in a way that you can hear all the essential parts of the song but hear everything as clearly as those necessary parts are needed in order to keep time. They are the only pair of monitors I have where I can accurately keep track of where I am without confusion because these are designed to do that, to be stage monitors first. And yes, they sound great. I feel like a lot of the hate is from people expecting these to be leisure devices and then hearing something that doesn’t meet their expectations.

Moondrop arias i got secondhand for 45 bucks. They survived two trips in the wash and still rock. No paint left, gives them a rugged look I like, I have to replace the filters once or twice a year, still my go to pair most times. Super comfy for my ear shape too, i wear them to sleep.

Interesting, idk I might be deaf but I can't notice that much of a difference between my KZ ZS 10 Pro and Moondrop Aria, I actually regret buying the Aria for that reason, they also are waaaay more fragile and the paint coming off is a very common problem with them Maybe something changed in the last few years, I haven't bought a new IEM in a while (and I only have these two so I can't compare them with anything else)

Moondrop Aria absolutely obliterates the KZ ZS10 in sound and build quality ~~at the same price.~~ I was wrong, it's $20 more. I don't think the Zs10 is worth double the Salnotes Zero 2, and I think the Aria is worth $20 more dollars than the ZS10 by a landslide.

Shure, Westone and KZ are all terrible. The sound and build quality is bad. Get some Salnotes Zero 2s, TruthEar Zero, TturthEar Hexa or Moondrop Aria. All under $100, just get some foam tips to go with them.

I go between open back headphones (HD650) and IEMs, the IEMs I use are Moondrop Arias, for the price the sound and comfort are very impressive.

Moondrop Aria by far, i already have a KZ PR2 and i think my next IEM will be the Aria

You like bass go for the aria

Oof, we'll be here all day . Ok here is a list , whatever comes to mind ,, the list is going to be absolutely massive. 7hz Salnotes Zero (both 1 and 2) Moondrop Chu ( 1 and 2) Tangzu Wanner Ziigaat Nuo Kiwi Ears Cadenza Simgot EW200 Kefine Delci QoA Vesper 2 Moondrop Aria 2 Moondrop May Truthear Hexa Truthear x Crinacle Zero (all of them) Simgot EA500LM Final Audio E500 - E3000 7Hz Sonus Tanchjim Zero Tanchjim 4U Tanchjim Ola and Ola Bass HZSound Heart Mirror Pro Truthear Gate Kinera Celest Pandamon (both) Kinera Celest Plutus Beast

Aria 2, Hexa , Vesper 2 , but that's just personal preference when OP makes the list you'll know what the entire sub thinks .

I really, really like the Dunu Titan S. Here are my quick notes about it: "Treble is very nice and present without being harsh. Vocals are perhaps a hair recessed (particularly female vocals), but clear and with nice timbre. Bass is strong and present but not splattery or fuzzy (maybe the best reproduction of "Limit To Your Love" I've heard from an IEM). Soundstage is good but not great; better front-to-back than most. Solidly built metal body, nicer cable than I expected at this price point (slender, minimal memory, minimal tangles). Comes with probably the nicest case of any IEM I own outside of Campfire (velvet lined pleather)." I'm digging the Moondrop Aria 2 so far: "Bass is emphasized but not overly so/splattery. Treble is clear and forward but not harsh or sharp. Vocals are average plus; not exceptional but nicely reproduced. Surprisingly good at quiet tracks; lower sensitivity so gives you more headroom for volume control (especially with headroom management). Heavy IEMs with a solid cable; feels like a premium product and is very satisfying to use. Appreciate that it comes with both a 3.5 mm and 4.4mm pentaconn connector, though the way the cable connects to the IEM will make using non-OEM cables a challenge." I also mostly like the Artti T10 but it can be a little bit thumpy at times without EQ (and of those three, the build quality is the cheapest). Oh, and the Hexa is good, just ... a bit boring?

The Hexa are nicely technical but (to my ear at least) boring with music. I'm a big fan of the Aria 2; well built, good sound, 4/5 soundstaging, nice, easy to use cable.

Does S08 has that good sub-bass rumble & weight behind the note?? I want something for rock & metal genre. I have Aria 2 & Nova in my collection, which are excellent for female vocal & sounds angelic. I love them both, but they feel light / thin when it comes to rock / indie rock kind of tracks. And how is S08 compared to Aful explorer?? I like that IEM's bass presentation but vocal feels like it's coming behind of a blanket.

yup, Aria 2 is kinda warm neutral with smooth treble & on the other hand, Nova is harman with smooth treble. Generally, when I want to relax, I just put on Aria 2 & when I want to hear J-pop or any female vocal stuff, I put on Nova.

I'm using Moondrop Aria 2, I would recommend that 😊😊 Solid build, good modular cable with both 3.5 mm & 4.4 mm termination. And it sounds beautiful. Balanced sound with slight warmth & good bass thumps (not overwhelming, but pleasant). And Aria 2 is also my favourite IEM in my small collection 😏

Best ones: 7hz Salnotes Zero 2 Tangzu Wan'er Truthear Zero:RED Truthear Hexa Moondrop Aria 2 (no, Simgots are not better) Edit: newlines

Tried them both and I preferred Aria 2. It was my first IEM. The market is constantly evolving though. Good luck

Under $100 of the ones I tried, I liked Aria 2 and Hexa

Slow down 😄😄😄 Aria 2 is my favorite right now, great choice!

literally no one agrees with this but I have aria 2s so I am compelled to just say aria 2

it's good and I think it's good, but most of this sub agrees that they're average for their usual price and that there are many others around the same price point that are better. I personally can't say much since I don't have a lot to compare to, but I got my aria 2s for cheaper than usual ($65). people say that at $65 it's decent but not at $80-$90 which it's usually priced at. so basically, most people say it's good but not amazing. I love my arias tho, they're very pretty (yes, appearance was a deal breaker for me which is why I didn't choose hexas) and they meet my needs. I'm not a huge audiophile or collector so I don't plan to get any other iems until my arias have served their time.

I'd say from a technical standpoint, the Moondrop Aria 2 (under 100 bucks) and Sennheiser IE600 (500+) aren't far away from each other. But the Aria 2 tuning is total shit (to my ears) with that giant mid boost and huge drop in the trebles. The IE600 have a lot more trebles. But sound stage and bass response etc. is pretty similar. So is it worth 500 bucks? Well maybe not entirely. I mean in the end, It will always be my second choice right after my over ear headphones. They just have a much better tonal balance like almost nearly flat and with the open back design, just an incredible soundstage. The IE600 however is very portable and works well with my phone or iPod classic on the go. Much better than nearly any true wireless buds on the market.

i personally use Moondrop Aria 2 for gaming, mainly Apex, Valo, Xdefiant, can't complain

There are quite a few options under $100, however im a bit busy, you could check my answers, i have been answering options for that budget recently, if not, you can remind me later and i can try to help you, but either way, the fast answer is, something balanced like ew300, Dunu Titan S2 or moondrop Aria 2 should be fine, the ew300 being the cheaper and safest option.

# After a few months of my first mega list of options under $50 dollars...  \---------- ***Click here for the sub $50 list:*** [https://www.reddit.com/r/iems/s/WfhfLLl0np](https://www.reddit.com/r/iems/s/WfhfLLl0np)  \---------- ... Finally, after so much corrections and problems, I can post my next list, I’m sorry for coming this late though, I hope people still finds it useful, this time, I came with options ranging from around $110 dollars (counting in discounts) down to $60 for those looking for a little more advanced options, either to make an upgrade to your cheaper IEMs, or to get started in the hobby, in any case, you are welcome.   Unlike the first list, this time I won't detail so many things before listing options, if you want to know about where to possibly buy IEMs safely, which reviewers to check on YouTube for second opinions, and even understand a bit more of the terminologies used in the “audiophile lingo”, please check out the Sub $50 list, this one has two parts and explains a lot of this already.   \---------- # PLEASE DO TAKE IN MIND: That I’m just a single person doing this compilation of information, this list is based off the general impressions of various trustworthy reviewers on these iems. This is **NOT** a ranking list, this **NOT** my personal best picks, and I do **NOT** own all of the iems on the list. This IS just a list for you to have alternatives to pick of fairly recent, good, safe-ish iems to pick from.   There is so much a single person can do, so, **if you see any glaring error** with the description of any iem, or if you think there is any model left out that should be on this list, **please do let me know**, remember that this list only goes up to $110 because it will drop down to under $100 often on discounts, please do not mention iems over $110 or under $60.   Here, before I start, I'm just going to make some specific clarifications that people should keep in mind when looking to buy any IEM in this price range. Do consider that **I’m being very superficial here**, this is **not** full audio engineer knowledge being explained in a simplistic way, rather, this is more like **summarized general concepts** to help people grasp basic ideas that they could need to know when entering the hobby. \---------- ***Over-reach Update:*** Per request of various people in the post, I will be adding iems around $120-$130 to consider grabbing if you see it below $100. # Gaming Update: As quite a lot of people have been asking for gaming options, ill make this update marking iems with performance rakings from the "WALLHACK CERTIFIED IEM TIER LIST" of Reviwer Fresh Reviews, who is pretty well known for recomending iems for gaming use, just be aware that this does not reflect my opinion about each IEM nor does it ensure that you will have an excellent video game experience just because its listed. The Fresh Reviews system gives letter grades where “S” is the best grade, going down from S-A to C+, where C+ means that they are the minimum sufficient to be able to play video games with. The way I will mark it would be putting the score besides the name "(with FRS: “Mark obtained”)" (FRS = Fresh Reviews Score), example: Truthear Zero Red (FRS: C+), if you don't see this mark, it means that either Fresh Reviews did not consider it good for gaming, or did not review the product. \---------- # Relevant clarifications:  **---** * **“Hybrid IEMs = Better?”** A constant question you see these days is “are more drivers better than one?” and the answer is always: in budget price ranges? absolutely not, especially under $100. What mostly dictates the sound quality and technicality of a headphone is the quality of the driver(s) used, it doesn't matter if an earphone has 20 drivers per side at this price range, if another company is selling you one with only 1 driver, and people say it's good, that's because it usually is, the amount of drivers in lower price ranges means almost nothing, there may be extra benefits of having more drivers, but those benefits are not a “game changer” in this price range, pick based on performance, use case and sound preference, not on driver config…UNLESS you dislike the way that one specific type of driver produces sound..  \--- * **“What’s a Planar?”** IEMs that only use planar drivers are a special thing because usually drivers of this type offer very good and balanced technicalities in general at this price range, you know: separation, detail, resolution, soundstage, and all those terms you have heard. What happens is that most of these drivers also have some disadvantages that pay in return for the techs, among them the most common ones are: * That some people consider that the noise they produce in vocals and treble sounds somewhat “metallic”, which can be annoying or distracting. * \- * The second problem is that usually planar drivers, at least in this price range, do not have the most textured or impactful bass, they may have good bass presence and rumble, but they usually do not get to be as intense and feel as physical as a good dynamic driver can. * \- * And finally, planar drivers usually require a decent amount of amplification from a DAC to perform to the best of their capabilities, if you plan on choosing a full planar IEM, you really, ideally, should be running them with a DAC, unlike other driver types or even hybrid configurations at this price range, a planar IEM can exhibit noticeable changes in sound and performance when not properly amplified, especially reducing their overall technicalities and sounding less clean than they should. IF YOU CAN, hook them to a good dongle DAC with a 4.4mm cable for the best amplification possible. That's why, when I say that a planar will need “good application”, I mean that you'll probably want to use something more than the typical apple dongle recommendation to move a planar earphone, mostly just to make sure you are powering them correctly.  \--- * **“Should I get a dongle DAC?”** And the last point, although speaking of amplification again, above $50 you really should start considering getting a dongle DAC for your IEMs, because, while even at this price point, most iems could work pretty fine without it, you could likely end up leaving some performance “on the table” if they are underpowered. It is not obligatory for you to get one, specially if you dont get a planar, but also don’t be surprised if your iems doesn’t give you enough volume or if your new iems doesn’t seem to perform as great as most people say, you don’t need anything too fancy, just try a basic dongle dac in the $15-$40 price range, the normal cheap rec is the Apple dongle (US version), but you can always get something a bit more durable, and then judge your experience based on it. And if it’s possible to you, specially with planars, using a 4.4mm cable (on a compatible DAC) to get the most energy out of your dac will ensure that your iems aren’t under-amplified in most cases, is not a must in any way, shape of form, but you could try it if you can (but please, just dont use 3.5mm to 4.4mm adapters as those could damage some of your equipment if they are made improperly). By the way, the reason why i recommend a 4.4mm is because you can easily get more energy out of your same dac (if it has both conections, of course) using a 4.4mm vs the 3.5mm on the same DAC, you can always, get a very decent 3.5mm DAC too.   \---------- # SUB $100 IEM MEGA PICK LIST: (This list now cover iems mostly\* down from $60 up to $100, with some extra options that could be around $120, but that could be picked below $100 if on sale, please take that in mind. The prices listed are just the stock price, often lower on sales). ***Purchase links disclaimer:*** The links included are affiliate links, but make sure to check vendor reviews when you make any AliExpress purchases. The links have no influence on which IEMs are recommended or picked for the list.   \----- # BASSY IEMs. The option for people looking for a bassy, rumbly, thumpy or just warm and relaxed experience, if you want good bass, check here. **NOT EVERYTHING HERE IS BASS HEAVY.**  \----- * ***($109) 7hz Legato (FRS: C+):*** The bass canon pick under $100, plenty of quality bass for your basshead needs, with just enough of upper half energy on the sound to not be unusable. It’s recommended to be used with things like wide bore eartips for extra clarity. Technicalities are a bit below average since the heavy bass isn’t the best for detail, but still very competitive, the basshead upgrade path from the QKZxHBB. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mqJdKzH)  \----- * ***($90) Tangzu Fudu (FRS: B-):*** A relaxed, bassy and smooth experience, most people say they are pretty comfortable, but the nozzle is slightly on the large size. It has an overall clean-ish sound, nice and warm-ish well-done vocals, and smooth treble. Average good technicalities despite the extra bass and the smooth presentation. Should Work for gaming, although bass could be a bit too distracting for competitive. Also, the bass is not super powerful, as it is more of a relaxed set, so don’t get it just for the amount of bass it has, but also for the style of sound. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mqvuzOT)  \----- * ***($75) Kefine Delci/AE (AE FRS: B):*** A pretty good bass leaning iem, some consider it the step up from the BLON BL03, as it manages to have great bass qualities while still presenting nice enough vocals and detailed treble. There is some warmness in vocals, not the cleanest sound from the price range, but it makes for a more relaxed and bassy listening experience, that manages to be engaging when it needs to be, especially with the pretty thumpy and rumbly bass. Vocals are natural enough despite the extra warmness, just not the main focus of the iem. The treble is on the energetic side, but not too intense that it makes it a V-shape. Technicalities are fine for the price range, but the bassy sound just makes it a not so “clear” sounding iem, a better if you are into bassy stuff. If you would like the performance of the Delci for bass, but also would like to be able to use it for gaming, check the Delci AE with the interchangable nozzles for 2 tunings and more versatile usage. Not a common recommendation for gaming, at least not for competitive gaming. But the usual bassy recommendation under $100. Check it out here (Regular): [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mKaEwxD) Check it out here (AE): [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mKT5q5H)  \----- * ***($70) TRN White Tiger:*** Funny and energetic, yet not aggressive, bassy V-shaped iem, nice bass quality for the price, with good balance between sub-bass and mid-bass, the bass does have a bit of muddiness (bleed) to it, but doesn’t drown the vocals at all, is tastefully done and vocals are fine enough, the treble is a bit forward, but nothing too intense, nice technicalities for the price, an alternative to the Titan S2 if you feel like lacking bass and too much vocal energy. It comes with 3 different tuning nozzles, so check each one, but most people likes the green or red ones. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mMYoBHt)  \----- * ***($99) Letshuoer S08 (FRS: B-):*** Bassy focused approach to a planar iem, nice rumbly bass, although not the most physical or hard hitting one since it’s a planar, but it definitely does a better job with the bass than other planars around this price point, it still shares all those great technicalities of planars under $100, but also still requires good amplification, that said, it is slightly less "power hungry" than other planars in the list, so an “apple dongle” type of dongle might be just enough, but if you can get something better, could be the better option. Should work for gaming. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mL3X5zv)  \----- * ***($120) Aful Explorer:*** Warm-bassy, Inmersive IEM. The bass is rumbly, thick, with body, but its not on the intense/super punchy side, sub-bass over mid-bass approach. Vocals are on the clean side, with some Energy, but not pushed as foward as on balanced sets, not that natural in the upper vocals though. The treble is enough, smooth and detailed, but is not that detailed or open feeling, safer relaxed treble over detailed and clear sound. Technicalities overall are good for the elevated price. Should work for gaming. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mNhhRI3) \----- * ***($126) CCA Hydro:*** V-shaped, clean-cut Harman style bass, energetic IEM. The direct step-up all the way down from the Castor Bass and the CCA Rhapsody. The bass sacrificies a little bit the amount for extra quality: control, tactile thumpy punch and clean deep rumble, still giving good body to deep male vocals with minimal "bload", you can always boost it up a bit with the tuning switches though. Vocals mamage to be correct and Somewhat natural and detailed, they pop out enough and dont get as thin as other V-shaped iems. Treble is on the energetic side, maybe could be borderline too intense for some, but it also manages to give nice detail while not being too aggressive with it, be aware if you are sensitive to treble tho, this time, the bass cant be boosted too much with the switches to balance things out, also, the sound of the treble could come as a bit "metallic" for some thanks to the driver config. Technicalities are decent but stock price is a bit too high. Should work for gaming. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mPV3RvZ)   \---------- # BALANCED/NEUTRAL IEMs. Here you will find anything with just enough of both bass and treble for your music needs, some might lean a bit into the bass, others might have some extra treble, but the lean is not big enough to call it bassy or bright. **NOT VERYTHING IN HERE IS “NEUTRAL"**.  \----- * ***($80)*** [***Dunu Titan S2***](https://www.reddit.com/r/iems/comments/1h8nzjb/the_rekindled_spark_dunu_titan_s2_review/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button) ***(FRS: C+):*** A mild V-Shaped balanced iem with an edge on vocals, specially female vocals, pretty engaging energy, it uses some extra bass and treble to balance things out compared to the original Titan. The bass is pretty rich and clean, but it also loses a bit of body on male vocals vs the OG Titan, still warm, just not the same focus, it has good punch to it and decent rumble, with focus on the mid-bass but not too boosted over sub-bass, and has decent texture, overall great bass quality. The vocals, because of the V-shaped style, do sound slightly less natural than on the OG, but they aren’t as recessed as other V-shape sets. The treble quality is good but could come as a bit too forward in some cases, so it can be a bit fatiguing for some, especially for people sensitive to treble. Technical performance is great overall, above average, good detail retrieval, some say that it could almost compete with planars. but the soundstage is not as big as other options, in resolution is competing with benchmark iems like hexa. Should work for gaming. It also should work well for Rock music genres, even with busy tracks. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mOdiyY7)  \----- * ***($70-$80) Simgot EW300 (Comes with Type-C/DSP option) (FRS: C+):*** A balanced yet energetic iem that breaks with the “Simgot has peaky treble” tradition. Nice allrounder sound, punchy bass, good decently natural vocals, enough treble presence, and good technicalities for the price. A warning is that the iem could feel a bit heavy resting on the ears for some. Should work for gaming. This one comes in 3 versions: Normal, HBB and DSP - They are all almost the same, just pick based on connection necessities, price and looks (sound is just barely different that it could be just unit variance as well – in the words of some reviewers). Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mskLcPh)  \----- * ***($90) Simgot EA500LM (FRS: C+):*** Balanced, Neutral leaning, yet V-shaped sound, still the treble could be a bit too much for some, but it’s very well controlled compared to other options from Simgot. Bass has good texture and quality, and it’s more boosted than in the EA500 so it balances the sound more, it is not too boosted still, so with presence but not the main focus. Vocals are good, correct and natural, but also forward and energetic. The treble has also presence, but not too much; in reference to vocals and bass, is not as extra boosted for the V-shaped kind of sound. Some people consider it detailed and smooth, but others still can find them a bit too intense, so, again, a warning for treble sensitive people. All in all, works like a more energetic Titan S2, with also great technical performance, slightly above average, it favors a nice and natural kind of performance rather than ultra-wide soundstage and very obvious detail retrieval, still resolution is pretty good for the price, fighting above its price range with the Hexa and the S2. It comes with interchangeable nozzles, try them all, but most people seem to like the gold and red nozzles better. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mqBqcnt)  \----- * ***($90) Moondrop Aria 2:*** A pretty balanced, natural, good performing IEM that remembers a bit the sound of the Tangzu Waner, just overall cleaner, and with very upgraded technicalities according to its price range, very safe sound with just enough of everything in punchy bass, natural vocals and detailed treble, plus an average overall technical performance for the price. Should work for gaming. If you don’t know what to pick, this is your best starting point. Several people, however, do not like that the build quality is not that excellent, especially the paint scratches easily and moondrop as a brand sometimes does not have the best quality control. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mOIoiwJ)  \----- * ***($80) Truthear Hexa:*** A balanced, neutral leaning iem with a sub-bass boost. Is a set that focuses ln detail and performance, a somewhat clinical sound that might not be too engaging for some, but excellent technicalities for the price. Bass is decent and detailed, but the small amount of mid-bass could be too little for a fair amount of people. The vocals are nice and natural, but also not that energetic, and the treble is mostly detailed and controlled, with maybe some slightly too boosted areas in the lower treble, so, because of the small amount of warmness in the bass, some people can find the Hexa a bit bright sounding (sound leaning into the treble), with some female vocal energy being also pushed forward, if you are sensitive to treble is not the safest pick. Be aware that the nozzle is quite large, so comfort might not be that great for some, Woks pretty well for gaming, as this is usually the technical benchmark to beat under $100. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mt0zJjz)  \----- * ***($80) Tangzu XuanNV (FRS: B-):*** A vocal forward, slightly warm sounding iem, good bass dynamics but not the main focus, a bit extra boosted on the upper mids (female vocals lean), but most people consider them smooth and not fatiguing. Treble is there and has enough detail but is nothing too impressive. Just a very nice, pretty safe sound. Average technicalities for the price. Be aware that they need some good amplification to work the best. Nozzle leans to the large side but doesn’t seem to have much fit problems for people. It’s a pretty safe pick if you don’t know what to pick, but you know you like vocals. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_m0DwmLZ)  \----- * ***($110) Kefine Klanar:*** Pretty detailed balanced (borderline U-shaped) iem that leans a bit to the bass, so plenty Energy on bass and treble too but nothing too much, although vocals could feel slightly on the background for some people, it has just enough energy there, so vocals don’t thin out. It’s a planar so great technicalities, plenty detail and clean bass, but will need some extra energy to perform to the best of its capabilities, and bass probably is not going to be the punchiest, since it’s a planar iem; I should also mention that the treble could be borderline too energetic for very sensitive people. This one is considered a cheaper Letshuoer Z12/S12 pro. Should work for gaming. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mMIgDej)  \----- * ***($100) NiceHCK F1 Pro:*** Pretty similar to the Klanar, kinda balanced, but this planar leans some more into the vocals and treble over bass, with a good but controlled amount of bass, plus some crisp highs, not recommended for people sensitive to treble. It might be the closest one to the sound of the Letshuoer S12 tuning, with even slightly less bass. Being a planar, will have great overall technical performance, clean sound, and should work for gaming. Will need good amplification as most planars do. And the bass on planar, like this one, will not be the strongest or physical one. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mP9caUx)  \----- * ***($70) Artti T10:*** A very affordable balanced planar, it has a decent boost on the sub-bass for some rumble, clean mid-range and nuanced enough treble that is sparkly but can be a bit too intense for some people (similar to simgot models). It’s supposed to have the same driver tech as more expensive iems like the Letshuoer S12, so, if you don’t mind the basic build quality, it’s a very good, technically competent, cheap alternative, although it might just had some more Sub-bass and less treble than the S12. It does also need some good amplification as with the other planars, ideally a 4.4mm power output. Should work for gaming. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mOJiup9)  \----- * ***($110) Simgot EM6L (FRS: B/B-):*** V-shaped Neutral, somewhat bright leaning iem. Bass is there, it warms the sound, but for the price is nothing impressive, not as clean as other options and it could feel like somewhat soft or not that texturized/punchy, under $100 other picks have some better quality, it’s just decent enough. The vocals are forward, clear but not as clean, not that natural, even a bit on the warm side of sound, so with body, especially male vocals, but that can play against female vocals. The treble is forward in the sound, with maybe a bit too much energy, but that manages to not be super aggressive, some consider it pretty smooth actually, so you will hear it, but you might not “feel” it as much, it do adds a lot of detail and helps with the openness of the sound. Technical performance is where this iem is notorious, while the soundstage is not the best, the tuning paired with the overall good-for-the-price technicalities, helps a lot for uses like gaming, usually considered the default best budget gaming pick around this price range. For music is just not going to be the most technical or detailed listening, just be aware that people very sensitive to treble could still find it a bit too much. **Some people have had the nozzle or filters of the iem falling off, usually fixed by glueing them back on, but you should know this info.** Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mqM2p3z)  \----- * ***($65) Moondrop May (Comes with Type-C/DSP only):*** A soft V-shaped iem, with good technicalities for the price. The whole point of them is to be used with the DSP cable and the Moondrop app to personalize the tuning with sound pre-sets or a bit of EQ. Also works fine with a 3.5mm Jack with the stock soft V-shape sound, but you will have to provide the cable. Should work for gaming. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mP5XKDz)  \----- * ***($80)*** [***Dunu Titan S***](https://www.reddit.com/r/iems/s/wxjSiXSolr)***:*** Neutral, vocal focused iem so it could feel a bit shouty for very sensitive people. Bass is decent in quality, but the quantity is around what most balanced neutral iems have, maybe even a bit extra boosted on top, and it focuses on mid-bass over sub-bass. The treble is quite well controlled and not that pushed foward, its smooth and precise but could lack some sparkle for some, vocals are very nice, very clean and natural, being the main focus as said earlier. Resolution and overall technicalities are good, resolution is the strongest part since it was above average when first launched, but somewhat average nowadays, the rest of the techs are just fine for the price, the S2 does present an overall decent technical upgrade over the original Titan. As a warning, the nozzle fits a bit deeper than other iems, so do expect the extra reach inside your ear. Should work for gaming, but I wouldn’t recommend it because of mid-range focus, ir could be a good vocal upgrade from Waner. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mM6hN4B)  \----- * ***($89) Kiwi Ears Canta:*** Energetic and balanced Vocal focused iem with some bright leaning to it. The bass is a kind of a V-shape approach, where the focus is more on a nice bass punch rather than sub-bass rumble, however, because of the treble, the nice bass qualities would not be as apparent, it is not the focus of the sound but is there and does a very good job. The vocals are very clear, detailed, clean, but also very forward, it could even get a bit sibilant or shouty for some tracks, so this is an energetic kind of tuning, more of a “W” shape than a “V”. The treble has presence, clarity and detail, but it can get unnatural thanks to the extra emphasis, although is not that aggressive. The tuning does make for a wide soundstage, but overall technical performance is just slightly above average, with an edge on separation and detail, at the cost of the intense sound. The EW300 is a more relaxed, balanced version of this one. Despite the technical performance though, doesn’t seem like the best pick for gaming. Check it out here: [Linsoul.](https://www.linsoul.com/products/kiwi-ears-canta?srsltid=AfmBOor8SGQG1NeTFgA-LY3I0SSdC_HvyTyZtY4bdj_CMLzKrCOqHwyc)  \----- * ***($77) Sivga Que:*** Balanced U-shape-Ish IEM that has an interesting balance between nice bass and crips treble. Bass is impactful, has a decent amount of rumble but it’s a clear mid-bass over sub-bass kind of sound, gets the job done but is not the most texturized or detailed bass. The vocals are a bit warm, mostly the male ones, so it has nice body to it, while managing some cleanness with the bass, is not the most natural, but is also not as thin, muddy or as unnatural as other similar sets can get, the area of female vocals is pretty forward, most people didn’t find it shouty, but it has the potential to be, at least for very sensitive people. The treble has presence, it brings good detail to the sound, but it manages to not be too intense or sibilant, just energetic enough. Technicalities are pretty good for the price, with some extra detail on top thanks to the mentioned treble style. It should be able to manage rock music even with busy tracks. Should work for gaming. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mtfpmTh)  \----- * ***($70) Tanchjim 4U:*** A balanced/Neutral iem with a switch system that lets you go from a warm iem, a sound style that reminds of the (R.I.P.) Truthear Hola, to a neutral balanced set, to a neutral bright-ish set, to a full neutral, vocal focused, set. The overall sound and technical performance is fine, but it is nothing impressive for the price, maybe even a bit outdated thanks to recent releases around the same price, safe in the treble too, not too intense. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mNYKbZ1)  \----- * ***($99) Ziigaat Cinno:*** Slightly warm, very correct sounding iem that is great for people both sensitive to treble and shoutiness, a bit of a "flat-liner" in the sound but maintains some musicality to it, with a natural enough sound. Technicalities are fine for the price, nothing too impressive. Should work pretty good for more detailed music genres like classical music. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mNDingn)  \----- * ***($140) Aful MagicOne:*** Balanced-warm leaning IEM. Technicalities are somewhat below average for the price\* but it works well in this (sub $100) price range. Bass is not the most Detail, punchy or rumbly, is overall a bit too smooth, but also pretty relaxed. The vocals are nice and natural-ish, but there is warmness from the bass, not the cleanest typw of sound, but it plays into the relaxed balanced sound. Trebel is smooth but detailed, not underboosted, foward enough to balance things out. An interesting, relaxed pick if you dont want going for bassy stuff like the Fudu. It doesnt seem to work well for gaming. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mtDTpsR) \---------- # BRIGHT IEMs. Here you will find the focus on vocals and treble: reduced bass amounts, very natural vocals and even sparkly trebles, anything for that high-pitched clarity and detail. **THERE IS GOOD QUALITY BASS IN HERE TOO**.  \----- * ***($120)*** [***Dunu Kima 2***](https://www.reddit.com/r/iems/comments/1gk0xcm/i_challenged_they_delivered_dunu_kima_2_review/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button)***:*** Balanced (a bit bright leaning) Neutral IEM With an excellent performance for natural vocals. Bass has very good replay, but its not the most Detailed, punchy or rumbly, it works more as a complementary approach to the tuning, the focus is on mid-bass over sub-bass, and its not too boosted, sub bass is also fairly reduced. The mids are natural, clear, clean but with body, transparent-like, excellent timbre, nothing shouty. Treble is clear, foward thanks to the reduced bass, detailed but very well controlled, pretty smooth. Overall technicalities are just fine for the price, it has great detail retrieval although is not too obvious about it, Soundstage is just fine and instrument separation is not the best out here, but all in all is fairly competent. Could work for gaming, but wouldnt recomend it. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mO6feEP)  \----- * ***($60) 7hz Sonus (FRS: B-):*** A very affordable Neutral-bright leaning IEM, a step up from the Salnotes Zero OG, great technical performance, above its price tag. A clean, neutral and natural sound, with a lean into the vocals and treble. Good but controlled bass, with decent quality in the hit and a boosted sub-bass rumble. Treble is nice and detailed, but not that bright, not that boosted. The biggest downside is the hybrid driver configuration which some people say is not totally cohesive, like there is a small separation between bass and the rest of the sound, but not a deal breaker for most people. Just watch out that for some it could some a bit Shouty on the vocals. Considering the cheaper price on the list, the overall technicalities are above average for the price, or on average with some more expensive iems in this list. This one is considered kind of a “Mini-Hexa”. Nozzle leans to the larger side. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mOUBJJ5)  \----- * ***($80) Simgot EA500:*** A bright V-shape-ish iem that also has some warmness to the vocals, so, not the most neutral because it has some sound coloration. Pretty good bass quality, over quantity, has good but somewhat forward vocals, specially energetic female vocals, the treble is quite forward but can get fatiguing or even harsh for some. Technicalities are just decent for the price. This iem is for people that like bright sound without overlooking the bass, a possible upgrade path from the Ziigaat Nuo. Not recommended for people with sensitivity to Shoutiness and harsh treble. It comes with 2 tuning nozzles that don’t show much difference but try both just to make sure. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mtyc6Bh)  \-----   \---------- # Final comments. Thanks again for the good feedback for this post, remember again that im just one person and can make mistakes, so please mention me if you see anything wrong.   If you are looking for more overall information on IEMs, or the sub $50, look here:    ***Click here for the sub $50 list:*** [https://www.reddit.com/r/iems/s/WfhfLLl0np](https://www.reddit.com/r/iems/s/WfhfLLl0np)   I hope this list is of some help, and if you need to know more, don’t be afraid to ask… although this is honestly mostly how high in price my knowledge goes, and I don’t know much about dongle DACs, so, I will do my best to help as I can.   ***I hope you like what you pick from here, all feedback is well appreciated, good luck, the Budget Knight bids farewell, good luck... O.E. :)***

Agreed. I also suggest you stay away from the Chu 2 because most IEM manufacturers have surpassed Moondrop in the sub-$100 category. The industry has sort of passed by Moondrop except for the Blessing 3, Kato and Variations. There are better IEMs than those models at the same price point, but at least those three are somewhat competitive. The Aria and Starfield used to be default recommendations for under $110. The Aria 2 is nothing special, and the Starfield 2 is trash. I've heard the May is pretty good if you're interested in DSP. But I would still buy the new Simgot EW300 DSP over the May if I wanted DSP. You can do a hell of a lot better than Moondrop in August 2024.

hexa + apple dongle, don't waste your money on a more expensive DAC to start out with, it really only influences the sound minimally. I'd rather spend the cash on a better pair of IEMs. hexa are nice for a clean analytical sound but the EM6L are still balanced but a bit more rounded and warm compared to the hexa and they tend to have fewer issues with the fit (hexa nozzles very large and people tend to complain about that). the Titan S2 could be an option as well but a lot of people find them shouty. no experience with the dz4 so I can't say anything them but the aria are more v shaped and the fudu (while I do love them) are very warm and soft and you might miss out on some detail in the highs which makes them bad if your expectation is for something truly balanced. legato are just not priced well for how they perform imo but maybe someone else who has more experience with the set can speak to that.

Dioko are not very v-shaped, neither are the Hexa. Both lean very neutral. You probably find them either too harsh in the upper frequencies, lacking bass or generally not exciting enough. You can still go for the Aria 2 which have a nice V shape but the Kefine Klean are half the price and come with a thumpier bass response compared to the much more tame bass on the Aria 2. Not much reason to go any more expensive for V shape under $100 because they're that good, save the money for something else, maybe your next IEM.

Then the Simgot EW300 are probably a safer bet, similar price to the Aria 2 but more customizable. Simgot EM6L are also an option, thanks to Omencho for bringing both of those up. Personally not the biggest fan of Simgot for different reasons so I tend to forget about them, but those are both very good recommendations for what you want.

Oh there are a few. Artti T10, SGOR Luna, Truthear Hexa, KBEAR KB02, moondrop Aria 2. Just got the 7hz G1 so testing those now. T10 is my primary go to at the moment.

no mention of staples like Wan’er, Gate, or maybe Zero 2 for the low budget end. Aria 2 is outclassed by newer releases and the cadenza isnt even 50, its 35 and should be in the higher end of the low budget end. No mention of other mid range staples like Crinnacle red/blue, artti t1, ew300, and especially the hexa which should be close to your pref. Even the Titan S is outdated with the Titan S2 and other competition stated High end is plagued with the same issue, lack of explanation and choice Honestly, the list is outdated and you would be better off just going to r/iems and looking at their list or doing your own research

Aful Explorer is good but other than that I’d suggest MOONDROP Aria 2. It’s massively underestimated. I’ve never touched my hexa since I got the aria. Bass is super satisfying and that spacy sound stage effect is really nice and cozy.

why? aria 2 is good iem

Whatever you pick between those you're good, but keep in mind that Hexa is neutral-ish tuned so it has less fun factor than others. I would pick either simgot supermix 4 or aria 2, mayber ea500lm

Well, EW300 has more sub bass but less mid bass than Aria 2 while EW300 DSP with red filter and EA500LM black filter has less bass overall but thin mids

I love my aria 2 and happy with it. If you have a chu 2 it sounds like a direct upgrade to it.

The biggest difference between my Shure/Klipsch IEMs and Moondrop/7hz (I own Chu2 and SSR and demoed Aria, Starfield and 7hz Eternal) is how bright the modern ones are. Shure (along with Westone) has a reputation for dark signatures and many people don't like them, however in their defense, the filters can be replaced (Knowles BA filters affect the sound) and they respond to EQ extremely well. Klipsch X7i is like a more "fun" Etymotic ER4 to me, it recesses the treble just about right to make it non-fatiguing while keeping the detail and relative neutrality, and does similarly with bass. Aria and Starfield sounded extremely similar (in being V-leaning) but Aria had a wider soundstage. They're basically all-rounders in my opinion, though Aria's soundstage was really outstanding, out of everything I heard it's only second to XBA-A3/Z5 (but these are hard to beat). Treble makes them sound more lively than old BA sets. 7Hz Eternal actually reminded me of Klipsch because it also seems to try and balance between neutrality and the more popular V-shape. SSR tries to achieve "true" diffuse field signature and can get fatiguing but ends up sounding very detailed, and it's impressively "fast" for a single DD. Overall they have different strengths (Shure has insane isolation and build quality and I love how drums sound on them thank to their "speed" and impact, Klipsch is a great all-rounder and smallest of them all, Moondrop SSR has amazing technicalities for how cheap it is) and I can't pick a favorite, though I mostly use Klipsch right now.

I have a set of Arias and Holas, I can confirm the tuning of the predecessor was similar, and the big notch in the harsh frequencies are a godsend for a lot of these old retro systems.  If you don’t need the isolation, HIGHLY recommend a set of Koss Porta Pros for retro gaming. Upgrade with Yaxi pads and they are incredibly comfortable and lightweight. 

The original bass enhanced Castors were a nice surprise for me and now sit next to my Arias as my go-to IEMs. I’m hoping I get to review the new Pro version someday!

I've had my aria for 3 years now and they still sound just as good as when I bought them

This and (mostly) crin's sub has a lot of younger folks looking for sub $50 recs and I can't really blame them, if not for the fact that most game sound engines are not that good that you'd notice any real difference I can directly compare my Cantor, Doscinco, Ea1000 and Arias and all I can hear is "hmm yes the sound is slightly more sound-ier on the Cantor" but I barely play any competitive FPSes since cs2 playerbase is shrinking in Asia and valorant has a particularly bad sound engine You're not going to hear notable differences unless you're getting a soundstage monster like the HD800s or just speakers lads, but it'll probably be a great investment for any other use case

New to the world of iems and daps. Watched some YouTube vids for recs and decided to try a few pairs out for my new dap. Really liking the hexas and the aria 2s reds are great as well they all sound nice. It's cool listening to the same song but different pair and hearing different stuff stand out. Think I got a problem though cuz I still have 4 more pairs coming in the mail lol 😆. Wanted to try a few lower end pairs and then maybe buy something more expensive.

My favorites out of the 4 are the hexa and aria. I got more pairs coming though. Listening to the hexas right now they sound great. Really like that the aria come with switchable jack to 4.4mm. damn wish I got into IEMs sooner. I'm blown away with how good they sound.

Out of those 4 pairs I really like the fit of the arias but all fit my ears fine. The arias are alot smaller than the hexas and zero reds and I find them the most comfortable. The zero twos are also 2nd smallest and fit very comfortably. At least out of these 4 the smaller ones seem to fit better / be more comfortable for me.

Seconded, I started with Aria's and wished I started with IEMs sooner

Not sure I'd agree with this, when I think of the "best" 100 dollar iems imo and best 300 there really isn't a huge difference even in the alternative 2nd and 3rd places. Maybe 5% or 10% difference at the very most but it's also worth mentioning even most of these differences are subjective to preference. Though I can't imagine how you can argue the difference is "big" by any stretch when there are IEMs like S12s, Hexa and Aria out there. Most of the differences you hear between IEMs is tuning, most of the price differences between adjacent or near adjacent price tiers come from accessories, R&D, build quality and some from driver quality/materials but when it comes to sound that money usually isn't going to return a large amount in objective improvement.

I believe Fresh Reviews does decent game oriented IEM reviews and will likely have various safe picks. I think the soundstage and 3D-ness of gaming headphones are over inflated anyway (long term HyperX Cloud II and Audeze Maxwell use) and good IEMs will be enough to the point where you just cant outhear what the game itself provides. Though not reccomending I have used Arias to relatively high ranks and of no performance deficit in CS so you might as well reap the other IEM benefits, the escape from hairdents, swampy ears and comming too loud is worth it alone.

Couldn't chose a single one but these are my favorites in this price range: -Fiio x Crinacle FHE Eclipse : imho extremely underrated product, such a shame it got discontinued, extremely fun, amazing sub-bass focused bass that still doesn't affect the mids that much, the highs can be somewhat fatiguing but they balance the bass quantity amazingly, with the right song they're amazing - Hidizs MP145: the comfort is quite meh, extremely large shell with a somewhat short and recessed nozzle, but they're extremely versatile with their tuning nozzles and their technical aspects are simply amazing - Moondrop aria / Letshouer Galileo : I'm going to group them together as somewhat jack of all trades neutral with a touch of bass boost, really amazing iems Haven't tried many of the new wave iems of this price category since I've moved up in the price bracket, but they're still extremely good products