Blessing2:Dusk (1DD+4BA)

Started with the Moondrop Blessing 2 Dusk as a blind buy, found it a bit sharp in the trebles at first. Took my ears months to actually get used to the sound and really hear the details coming from the vocals and some instrumental separations. At first, I didn't really enjoy it, tbh. I was craving for more bass so I bought the Moondrop Variations, and that was what I was looking for but at that time I found the sub bass a bit lacking. Why? Cause I came from the Sony XM3 headphones, that's why. It also took me months to years to actually appreciate the sounds coming from both the Dusk and Variations. To my ears, the Variations sounded like a subwoofer whereas the Dusk sounded like someone was singing right in front of me where the instruments are slightly further away. My ears actually started to ring after the listening sessions so I went and got myself a portable DAC(Qudelix 5k), and the listening sessions were more pleasurable with the right volumes. The Qudelix 5k does make them trebles a bit zingly as well. Overall, it took me months to years for my ears to actually discern the details and appreciate what sounds l actually find fun or analytical to listen. I found out that I did not like the Harman tuning as much as the others when it was well known and loved few years back. I ended up with the Thieaudio Monarch Mk4s now after taking a break at the Variations and the Timeless few years back.

Not entirely sure, but some otherwise good IEMs are just bad for distinguishing direction. Channel matching is certainly one thing, but rarely big enough to be the reason. Not just tuning either it seems. IEMs like B2 Dusk, Timeless and Performer 5 if I remember correctly were rather bad for gaming compared to Zero Red, Vivace or EM6L which are perfectly good. Looping the same gaming recordings with the first ones I struggle hearing directions that already know in advance while with the others it's obvious.

Most aren't. Imo those aren't, but Vivace, Zero Red (far prefer it over Zero Blue) EM6L and some others are practically as good I'd say as headphones (I have AKG Q701 as my main gaming headphones, but have HD800 and others as well). There are personal preference things to consider certainly and I overall prefer the experience of headphones a bit, but could do all my gaming (including Siege where locating sounds probably as important as it gets) with IEMs as well. I see no benefit in spending more than $100ish for IEMs from a gaming perspective though the Dusk are my favourite IEMs and in general highly recommended.

For me the Dusk was the first one to sound open and not like a Harman IE box I was sticking my head into.

Define good bass. For example Dusk doesn't have that much quantity, but the quality is fantastic.

Dusk DSP, Verum Two, FT1, E3. Maybe more correct and balanced than strictly neutral with FT1 especially since it's rather bassy. In general I don't see why closed and open should have a different target for neutral.

I preferred my old Dusk DSP for example.

No, haven't heard those. The tuning felt rather safe and middle of the road so that the bass (lower) on the Dusk felt much more impressive though the mid-bass punch was pretty nice on the MKIV. They were nice and I loved the bass switches, but I didn't spot anything that special. I thought about keeping them and EQing, but with IEMs I'd really appreciate the ready tuning to be good as is.

Mostly neutral perhaps slightly on the brighter side: Hexa, Daybreak, Dusk, Volume S. Generally good ones, but nothing like HD600 for sound: Zero Red, Pure, Explorer, Defiant, MP145, Odyssey.

I normally have a favourite, typically my latest set (but not always). Sometimes i might have a sidegrade and switch between sets but that is rare. One thing that cannot be said enough is how important comfort is. You might have something that performs great but is agony to wear for long periods of time (I’m looking at you B2Dusk!).

Odeyssey is already damn good. I would suggest expanding the budget and going up a tier unless you re-purchase your Odysseys. Honestly I couldn’t find anything that was beating the Odyssey for their price. I lost my Blessing 2 Dusks which I got for around £250 used a few years back. Could not find one on the used market for a reasonable price, tried the Dusks and was not impressed. So, I said fuck it and upgraded to Monarch Mk2 for around £450 (used - I have my ways). Haven’t looked back since. If you want to play around this price range I think Softears Volume S, Hype 4, Annihilator are some great options. I have heard these personally and I really like them. If I did not have Monarch it would probably be one of them.

for gaming check out freash reviews tier list, there are better options in lower and similar price-range for gaming specifically. For music id go with the moondrop dusk as it is more compatible with eq and would say is just a bit of an upgrade to the blessing2:Dusk. im however not treble sensitive at all, and some people have reported unpleasant experiences with the analog version of the moondrop Dusk. I quite liked it but depends on your preferences

for gaming check out freash reviews tier list, there are better options in lower and similar price-range for gaming specifically. For music id go with the moondrop dusk as it is more compatible with eq and would say is just a bit of an upgrade to the blessing2:Dusk. im however not treble sensitive at all, and some people have reported unpleasant experiences with the analog version of the moondrop Dusk. I quite liked it but depends on your preferences

I tried KZ AS10 and DQ6, Blon BL-Mini and A8 Prometheus, Moondrop Kato, B2, B2 Dusk and S8, Softears Studio 4 and TinHiFi T2 Plus. Tin were trash. KZ AS10 was okayish but not really. DQ6 super comfortable, lightweight decent SQ for the price and comfort but nothing crazy. From Kato to B2/Dusk there's a significant step up in SQ. From B2/Dusk to S8 there's an improvement but it's not something crazy. The Blons sound OK, BL-Mini is quite decent in terms of price to performance, A8 are overpriced in terms of SQ but they look amazing. Both are lower in SQ than the Kato. Studio 4 sounds amazing to me, it's a more mid centric sound signature. The S8 has a more spacious sound and has more perceived space between instruments but the S4 is just godly in terms of it's timbre, everything's sounds just right, notes are weighty of I had to describe it somehow, and vocals are on another level altogether. I'll soon hear the RSV MKI. Thus far from this lineup I'd say diminishing returns start at the Blessings, now... The S4 I think is a justifiable step up, the S8 if you have the disposable income yeah, otherwise you spend more and you get more but not that much more. The S4 is cheaper than the S8 and I'd surely recommend the former. I guess it boils down to how much you are willing to spend. There is an improvement in SQ but it's definitely not a linear function, it's evidently logarithmic, just like horsepower in cars. I'm sure though there's plenty of snake oil sets out there. I'm sure if you bought the Hexa or the Nova and compare them with the Kato the latter would feel like a scam. That being said SQ is not the only factor, I have the Blons almost exclusively for how they look. I've met people that were like meh they all sound the same. I think I trust myself as I found the S8 underwhelming compared to the cheaper S4, and I really wanted to like the S8 as they look gorgeous, but I truly believe the S4 are the better pair. And bro, damn... those TinHiFi T2 Plus, 60 bucks? I wouldn't take them for free... Everything sounds like an out of tune banjo with only two strings left played by a crackhead that lost half his fingers.

I tried KZ AS10 and DQ6, Blon BL-Mini and A8 Prometheus, Moondrop Kato, B2, B2 Dusk and S8, Softears Studio 4 and TinHiFi T2 Plus. Tin were trash. KZ AS10 was okayish but not really. DQ6 super comfortable, lightweight decent SQ for the price and comfort but nothing crazy. From Kato to B2/Dusk there's a significant step up in SQ. From B2/Dusk to S8 there's an improvement but it's not something crazy. The Blons sound OK, BL-Mini is quite decent in terms of price to performance, A8 are overpriced in terms of SQ but they look amazing. Both are lower in SQ than the Kato. Studio 4 sounds amazing to me, it's a more mid centric sound signature. The S8 has a more spacious sound and has more perceived space between instruments but the S4 is just godly in terms of it's timbre, everything's sounds just right, notes are weighty of I had to describe it somehow, and vocals are on another level altogether. I'll soon hear the RSV MKI. Thus far from this lineup I'd say diminishing returns start at the Blessings, now... The S4 I think is a justifiable step up, the S8 if you have the disposable income yeah, otherwise you spend more and you get more but not that much more. The S4 is cheaper than the S8 and I'd surely recommend the former. I guess it boils down to how much you are willing to spend. There is an improvement in SQ but it's definitely not a linear function, it's evidently logarithmic, just like horsepower in cars. I'm sure though there's plenty of snake oil sets out there. I'm sure if you bought the Hexa or the Nova and compare them with the Kato the latter would feel like a scam. That being said SQ is not the only factor, I have the Blons almost exclusively for how they look. I've met people that were like meh they all sound the same. I think I trust myself as I found the S8 underwhelming compared to the cheaper S4, and I really wanted to like the S8 as they look gorgeous, but I truly believe the S4 are the better pair. And bro, damn... those TinHiFi T2 Plus, 60 bucks? I wouldn't take them for free... Everything sounds like an out of tune banjo with only two strings left played by a crackhead that lost half his fingers.

Yea, I was hyped for this one since my Blessing 2 Dusk has a crack in the shell. But it looks too dark for me. Less treble and more midbass than JM-1 even switching it to tilt which I slightly prefer over Crin's bass/treble adjustments. I guess good sound is good sound so I'll probably get the Hexa if my B2D gets worse.