
Moondrop - DUSK
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The mangrid Tea pro, the Dusk has a weird treble issue that had to be corrected with a DSP cable, dont get me wrong, its still an awesome IEM and a class leader, but it all depends on how you like your treble, just to ruin your day, the other options around that price range that you should be looking for would be the Hype 4, the Aful P5+2, the simgot ET142 and the new kiwi ears planar.
r/iems • Moondrop Dusk or Mangird Tea Pro? ->Next expensive set of IEMs I have are the Truthear Hexa, which might be an upgrade for some, but also a downgrade for others since the Hexa have less bass. The Wan'er 2 are amazing, but I own both a set of Moondrop x Crinacle Dusks as well as a set of Softears Volume S, which both are much better than the Wan'er, or at least they are to my ears. It just depends on your preference. But generally speaking, sets that are significantly more expensive will most likely be better than the Wan'ers
r/iems • Tangzu Wan'er 2 - The blind buy nobody will regret ->I instantly thought the Volume S was too shouty, but I still tried to gaslight myself into liking them. In the end I returned them and that was a good decision. Also the first set of Dusks that I got, the left side had this horrible rattle so I had to exchange those too, but in the end I got a set that was fine and I really enjoyed it
r/iems • Which IEM made you go 'nope' instantly? 😆 ->I haven't heard the Tea Pro, but I have herd the Volume S. I don't recommend them and I actually returned them. Way to shouty for me and they didn't actually sound as warm as others described. I'm still in love with my Dusk though
r/iems • Which one to buy, Xenns Mangird Tea Pro / Softears Volume S / other? ->I don't know if I'm a v-shape tuning type of guy but I really love the Ikko OH10, though you can certainly do better above it's price point and below your limit. I think most people would say the Moondrop Blessing 2 and the Moondrop DUSK are some of the strongest contenders. I have the DUSK and like them a lot and would make the case for them, but I'm no expert and truth be told I think it's likely the community is in a bit of a honeymoon phase with them, I'd be interested to see what the consensus is in a year's time. The Blessing 2 on the other hand have stood the test of time as a great proposition at their price point, imo.
r/inearfidelity • Best IEM under $400? ->The KE4 and the DaVinci should be good for the sound signature you're after. The Ziigat Odyssey have a V-shaped tuning, which is not really neutral, but if you're looking for a V-shaped IEM those are the ones to beat right now apparently. If you can pony up $50-$100 more I can personally recommend the Moondrop Dusk, the default DSP tuning aims for the same meta tuning the KE4 and the DaVinci aim for, which is a mostly "neutral" sound signature with a slight bass boost.
r/iems • IEMs within $200 to $300? ->I think the Dusk is the best choice for you. Electronic music require some bass boost and Dusk provides the best bass in it's price range. Alternatively you can wait for the Project Meta. From what I can see it's going to be a more resolving version of the Dusk.
r/inearfidelity • Best 350-400$ iem for trance/electronic music lover ->Moondrop DUSK. DAC beeping noise when no sound is playing, practically the same issue as Moondrop May USB cable DAC. The hassle to EQ when using normal wire.
r/iems • Which IEM made you go 'nope' instantly? 😆 ->Sound anywhere near as good as what? I have the Tops, the B2:Dusks, the Zero Reds, and a handful of other products. Outside of the Tops, after a few minutes I adapt and can't really tell the difference.
r/headphones • Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite ->I was searching for ones that are gaming related myself. No one wants to wear a headset all the time after years of doing it. I got some Arctic nova latest pros but I don't want to always wear em. Got me some moondrop Dusks, changed the eartips with the kiwi ones and now I can enjoy music and incredible gaming. At one point, I was buying a couple iem to test out, but I realized if I wanted a solid pair, I probably needed to spend more. Dude was selling these local for 300 and I picked them up immediately. Now I use both my Arctic and these, just whatever I'm feeling.
r/iems • "IEMs for gaming", let's be real. ->I really like the Dusk especially if you can get it around $300 but it’s less usable on IOS than android especially if you don’t have an adapter
r/iems • $200-$300 iems? Too many options ->After spending some time looking at various IEM's around what would be considered the 'mid' price brackets, it seems you just can't win with everything (not even close). From needing to EQ various areas to try and get the sound you want through to lots of QC or design issues - even a lack of aesthetic choices. Example of IEMS I'd buy: Hype 4 - Shell itself and 2 pin connection issues. One owner clearly resorted to a gluegun being used to try and hold the connection in. Maybe a batch issue? EQ tweak fine. Dusk - 3.5mm EQ essential + new 3.5mm cable as the one provided wouldn't be out of place on a budget IEM, channel imbalance issues (notable if you look at frequency response - may not be always heard), resin cracking around 2 pin connection underneath the connector (not visible unless cable removed, likely to worsen over time) plus possible moisture issue (minor). Davinci - EQ essential due to bass. Size issue plus nozzle size issue at 6.7mm widest point (why not bond a nozzle on that's less wide?) Mega5est - 2 pin connector on shell possibly not fully flat resulting in the connection of normally left side constantly coming out slightly - reported here and on atleast one review that's even pictured. Unsure if design was revised and if this is a regular problem. Difficult or not possible to know if you would get a revised design when ordering online. EQ tweak fine.
r/iems • what to expect: Mangird Tea PRO ->IMO it is a sidegrade when compared to the B2 Dusk. Both are great for the price. Davinci has much better bass and lower mids with better soundstage depth in comparison to B2 Dusk. B2 Dusk has better midrange transparency and vocal forwardness. It is noticeably brighter than Davinci. Soundstage is also noticeably wider in comparison. Overall sound is cleaner. Timbre is much better on the Davinci. B2 Dusk sounds plasticky and its treble sounds like glass
r/headphones • I just got the Dunu x Gizaudio DaVinci! Ask Me Anything ->Same, its a flavor game for me as well. All of the default tunings are what make IEM's unique. I always feel like its a bit cheat to DSP tweak an IEM's sound. Sure, it can make a mediocre IEM Good, but i would rather jsut have a better IEM by default. Because unless the price is going to come down to mediocre, its not worth it (looking at you, DUSK).
r/iems • I think I’m done for 2025 ->There's CCA Hydro at $125. If you want high end, there's Moondrop Dusk DSP and Simgot EM10 above $350. Although, I would say, get Castor Pro if that is what you like you can invest more in similar tonality.
r/iems • Review of the Kinera celest Wyvern black and tangzu waner sg ->They are really beautiful, I think I’ll try them before the end of the year, if I can try them I’ll ping you. Dusk is a great Iem, a tough competition
r/headphones • My IEM tierlist 2024 ->Of the ones you posted my favorite is the Dusk. Another one of my favorites is the Studio4. Those I would recommend
r/iems • Looking for recommendations. ->Amps are nice but for items absolutely not required, you can get a small dongle sac but beyond that, sound improvement really is marginal at best. They will give you more power to get more volume but depending on the items the port on the controller should be more than enough. At that price point I'd be looking at the dunu da Vinci, kiwiears orchestra lite, softears volume or if you can stretch your budget a bit more, the moondrop dusks.
r/inearfidelity • Best IEM for both gaming and music? ->moondrop qc is incredibly ymmv . but the consensus is any and all freedsp derivative has issues . i currently own the may dsp , dusksp , and freedsp — all has noise and it has made me switch to analog for their respective iems
r/iems • Best out of these as my first iem ??? ->blessing 2 then eq to b2: dusk all the way
r/iems • Help me pick IEMs (around 100-150$ used) ->OP, have you tried out the Tea Pro yet? I'm kinda stuck between getting the tea pro and Dusk. Currently wanting to upgrade to one of the two since my ears are getting tired while wearing my Blessing 2 dusk :(
r/headphones • My IEM tierlist 2024 ->Yeah, I've had my b2d for 2 years now, but I can't wear them comfortably after 30 minutes or so lol
r/headphones • My IEM tierlist 2024 ->Sell it save up and buy Dusk.
r/inearfidelity • Regret buying the Moondrop aria ->The Moondrop Kato is pretty close to that target. The new Kadenz may be even closer with a bit less bass than the Kato. Since you are EQing to Crinacle's target, if you can save a bit more than the thing you really want is probably the Dusk. Also for about $60 the original Titan S is closer to that target than the S2, without any EQ. I think the Kato is closer on a graph, but sounds a bit more v-shaped than the Titan. The Titan has very slightly grainy treble while bass on the Kato can occasionally sound a bit boxy. My ideal would be Titan S bass & mids with Kato treble.
r/iems • This is the way I listen to my Titan S2. I'm thinking of buying a new set around 200usd. I have Letshuoer Cadenza 4 in mind as i like neutral sets. Can you recommend anything good around this price point? ->Hey man welcome. I think I can help! Most audiophiles come at this with a different view than what you posed, simply because we have different priorities. I'll also try to correct some of the things you wrote that are not true. You posted so many good questions and points, though. This is going to be a long response. >i just found it expensive enough Yes and no. Some high end stuff has crazy prices. Some of the super expensive stuff straight up sucks, too. But good IEMs can be had for under $50. >not even wireless Not the main priority of IEMs or headphones for audiophiles/musicians. We generally prefer a reliable connection that doesn't rely on a time limit (battery). We also want to squeeze every drop of audio quality, and wireless means bluetooth which means compressed data. (That's changing, though!) Wires are 100% reliable and gives 100% of the performance. More importantly, ANC IEMs (e.g. Apple Airpods Pro 2) tend to be much more expensive for the sound quality they provide. Going back to the last section, IEMs are not more expensive than their wireless counterparts. Wireless is convenient! You'll see many people here rocking ANC IEMs for our daily, and going home to our wired IEMs. I'm one of those many. >Headphone provide better sound noise isolation No, they don't. Ignoring ANC, IEMs tend to isolate the best. Some can isolate even better than actual earplugs. They isolate so well, musicians use them to isolate themselves on stage during LIVE performances, and those get super loud! >Headphone are more comfortable More of a preference thing. Generally speaking, headphones will rarely have a "bad fit" issue because they go around your ears. Any decent set of cans (hehe) is light enough to be mostly unnoticeable. IEMs can be very comfortable, and doesn't get in the way of anything. But, you'll run into more fitment issues on larger IEMs or IEMs with thicker nozzles. >Latency Yep, wired means close to 0ms latency, software and interface aside. Again, we're trying to squeeze every bit of performance. For music making, we want <10ms. For gaming/listening, hardly matters. Most people aren't dropping big money to buy IEMs for gaming. Honestly, how many of us is good enough to warrant that for gaming? lol **Okay! Now to your questions.** 1) Advantages and disadvantages. You'll have to understand the differences first, and it is one of preference. Normally we listen with our entire ear and head. Like the fleshy bits of our ear is a bit part of our listening. But with IEMs, we bypass the ears entirely and the sound goes right into our earholes. It creates a completely different experience than headphones/speakers. It's like the music is in our heads, and feels different than "listening". Advantages: - If you prefer the aforementioned sound, the IEM sound cannot be replicated by headphones, speakers, or earbuds (the ones that sit outside your ear canals). - Dollar for dollar, IEMs will provide more performance than headphones and definitely speakers. - Portability. Not even close compared to even headphones. And speakers lmao. ANC buds and IEMs win over wired anything in this category; you'll have to pay for it, though. - Isolation. It keeps the noise out passively, without ANC. I'd say for certain frequencies (e.g. human voice), a good passive isolation is superior to ANC. ANC just isn't very good for higher frequencies. And for most audiophiles, they'll pick open-back headphones, which provide basically negative isolation. Disadvantages: - Soundstage, or how it replicates space in audio recordings. Because you're bypassing the earflesh, space is not replicated correctly. If you love to "hear" the stage, headphones are much better than their IEM equals. Some IEMs are great with this, but a good headphone will still beat it easily. - Fit/comfort. Not every IEM is for everyone. Most are fine, but look up reviews/try them would be ideal. This is more of an issue with more expensive IEMs ($250+) that shoves a ton of audio components into the IEM form factor, and the shell/nozzle has to be enlargened. Famous examples: Sony IER-Z1R, ThieAudio Monarch Series, etc. You also got something that is touching your ear canals for potentially hours at a time. Some people can't stand it. Some people have no issues. Again, personal preference. 2) What is the best overall IEM (ignoring the price)? Oh boy. Ignoring price? Probably the Subtonic Storm. But it's $5K, has very few reviews, and the waitlist is closed. It's been reviewed well by reputable reviewers, but hype is a thing in this space. Time will tell, but that seems to be the one to have if you can swallow the price tag. Outside of that outlier, best overall IEMs will cause arguments in this hobby. People have differences in preference, but they can be summed up in a few categories: 1) neutral tuning, 2) mild-V/U tuning, 3) V/U tuning, 4) bassheads, 5) trebleheads. I'm condensing a few groups together for the sake of brevity (ironic), don't @ me. Let me know if you read this far and want me to provide examples for each. The best IEMs or headphones in the world don't attempt to do everything the best. They do one or two things exceptionally well. For most people? You don't have to spend anywhere near $1000. You want something neutral? Hisenior Mega5EST. You want something a little more exciting? Moondrop x Crinacle Dusk 2. You want to feel like your brain is on meth? DUNU Braindance. There are so many more great IEMs in this price bracket. There really is a great IEM for around $500-600 for every taste. Even just 5 years ago we did not have this level of luxury in choice. Anything beyond $500-600 really is diminishing returns. Not really worth it, and this is from someone who has many IEMs over $1K. 3) Are there any accessories/peripheral for IEMs (other than eartips)? Yes, but eartips make the most difference. Required: buy Q-tips, lens cleaners, small brush (like from an electric razor), and, if your wallet can stomach it, an IEM vacuum. Cleaning your IEM is important and not often talked about because frankly it's so boring. Debated: buying cables for sound quality. Buy a cable if you want an upgrade in comfort or cable noise (microphonics). If you don't like the sound of an IEM, return it. No cable is going to solve that for you. Also debated: DAC and AMP. Again, you don't have to spend a lot, or at all. If you have an Apple Dongle, it really is good enough. Especially for IEMs, power is almost never an issue unless you're deaf or you want to be deaf. However, if you want to get into the hobby of finding amp sounds, that's a different story, and outside the scope of this post. DACs should be colorless and we've basically perfected the technology. You're paying for features now. Which brings us to the point: you can buy portable bluetooth DAC/AMP combos for your wired IEMs! (Back to BT compression, a little sacrifice of sound quality and money for added portability.) Welcome to the hobby, hope this helped!
r/iems • Tell Me About IEM Basic Knowledge ->This is the answer. Dusk is actually not nearly as good for gaming as most people think. Well. At least competitive gaming. The sound staging is just not there vs headphones. Or buy cheaper iems as a start to see what I'm talking about. Dunu titan S's are good and I daily drive them. But there not as good as a decent headphone. Truthear blues and reds are perfect imo. And they're only $50
r/inearfidelity • Need advice for IEMs in gaming ->For gaming Tanchjim kara ,i have dunu Davinci, mega5est , origin , dusk , kinera skuld , and many more. best staging and immersive feeling for gaming is tanchjim kara. But If i want to listen music and play games i would chose Mega5est.
r/inearfidelity • What iem should I buy for everyday use? ->I have used Sennheiser IE 300, Moondrop Blessing 2 Dusk, Phoenix Call, Chu 2, Tanchjim Origin, Tanchjim kara, Dunu Da Vinci, Mega5est, Simgot EA500, Kinera Skuld, Tin T2, Tanchjim One.and softears volume s on the way soon.
r/inearfidelity • IEM recommendations under 500$ ->Personally I'd go Dusk and use the Bass+ DSP profile
r/iems • Moondrop X Crincle Dusk or Softears Volume S ->Hey thanks for making the tier list. I wanted to get my first decent pair of iems for electronic music, I mostly listen to older 90s/2000s trance music with female vocals or stuff like orbital. I am torn between dusk / davinci at the moment I can get davinci about 90 less than dusk but don't mind paying for dusk if it would fit that style of music better. Both seem to be pretty great for the price category just wondering if you had any advice between the two, and thanks.
r/headphones • My IEM tierlist 2024 ->Hey I never got to try the davincis out, I ended up finding a hype4 during a good sale so I got them along with the dusk and listened to them for a while, the hype4 were far more of my preference but they had a sharp spikey upper treble at times that I found to be too much for me, I realize I could have eq'd that out, but I felt for the price I should not have had to do that. plus the nozzles were a bit big for my ears making them slightly uncomfortable. Going off graphs which doesn't tell the whole story the davinci seem to be very close to that without the spike but I don't believe in graphs alone so i'm not sure if it would have been a different story. For that type of music genre though if you like a thicker bottom end the hype4 were better in my opinion - the dusk are highly detailed but lack the thickness that I prefer in that style of music. I do miss the hype4 at times and still going off those as a reference here were a few iems that I wanted to try at some point: Davincis, Mangird Tea Pro, Estrella and QoA Adonis but never got around to trying them, I just use a cheap pair of zero 2s at the moment and im happy with them so I quit looking down the rabbit hole. I realize im probably going to get slaughtered for saying these things since they don't fit what most would say about these iems but just letting you know my opinion.
r/headphones • My IEM tierlist 2024 ->I've auditioned stuff like the Clear MG and the 800S, but I won't be putting those here. For headphones I have personally bought I'd do something like this: FT1 > 6XX >> 620s >> Bose QC45ii >> M50s/any other ANC headphones I've tried Blessing 2 Dusk >> Moondrop Chu 1 >>> everything else. The FT1 is what blew me away this year for sure, there's only a few things I'd even want changed about its sound, but considering the price I can definitely live with those few minor flaws. For IEM's, I bought Blessing 2 dusks when they came out and have had no desire to switch. MAYBE I'd switch to something with a smaller shell, and that's about it. I bought the Chu 1's for the eartips lol but they don't sound bad. Just annoying to put on and feel a bit cheap.
r/headphones • Rank your headphones (2025 edition) ->Agreed, except for me the B2 Dusk. I was ready to upgrade my Hexa, then applied that EQ and have no desire to upgrade anymore. Turns out all I needed was a little scoop in the midbass
r/iems • Upgrades from the Truthear Hexa ->I got dusk. It's infinitely better than sm4 for music, and for gaming you can just apply EQ if you want.
r/inearfidelity • Has supermix 4 stood up to the hype? ->I honestly can't remember exactly, I just remember the lows being on a next level on dusk, as well as the vocals and the pitch being much better. And after a few days I just realized how ear piercing and unnatural the supermix was and so that was kinda it, I didn't wanna use supermix for music anymore. The sound stage I only checked for fps games, supermix has much better vertical distinction for enemies. I only spent time eq for fps games to check if I could replicate the verticality of supermix, and I think i got close enough. That's kinda it. Although I ended up using it 99% for fps games and 1% music so in the end I should've probably just used supermix and saved the money. No eq needed. But yeah music wise I highly recommend the 'new wave' or whathever it's called. If I see 'harman' and 'iem' in the same sentence I will just auto dismiss from now on.
r/inearfidelity • Has supermix 4 stood up to the hype? ->Timeless are still a very strong IEM, even at the old price point, the DUSK in particular is a noticeable upgrade but not a nessecary one You still have a top tier IEM and it’s diminishing returns past that, go out and try/buy some iems if you want to, but you don’t need to
r/headphones • 7hz Timeless vs new wave of IEMs ->So far for me it's Dusk. The bass is a few dB below my preferences, but is so tight and punchy that I'm still surprised. A lot of IEMs EQ to great bass, but the Disk is different when you can feel the vibration of the bass in your ears.
r/iems • Which is the best bass you have heard in an IEM? ->I'd take a Dusk over the half of those I've heard and it matches your criteria. It's an insane sounding IEM with the "new meta" tuning like Hype 4 and Mega5est. The default DSP lacks some mid-bass for some metal and IEM, but just EQing more bass ruins the openness and balance so needs a different tuning altogether.
r/inearfidelity • Best overall IEMS for MUSIC under 600€? ->Find the tuning you want. Might be $10 or $100. I love KZ Libra as well as Dusk for different music.
r/iems • How much $$ for good not just good for the money ->Two very subjective aspects. For me Dusk would be pretty high on the list.
r/iems • Best IEM for under $1500? ->EQ settings are relative to frequency response. It's like asking how much should I add salt to fries without the information if they're already saltes. The question is what kind of a tuning is ideal for metal and as a metalhead at least in my youth I find that a very interesting question. Preferences matter a lot as well and someone who loves the sound of one IEM maybe just hasn't heard something better yet and can't imagine what the improvement might be. The best tuning for metal I've heard so far with maybe fifty IEMs and some EQ on top was Oluv's mainstream preset for the Free Pro 2's. Really fun yet clean bass and you could push the volume really high without any fatigue etc. Gave me chills with a lot of metal music. With IEMs I have to say I haven't found anything excellent yet and actually KZ Libra (balanced) is easily on of the best for that and costs $10. The bass is pronounced, but much cleaner than the measurements seem to imply. The straight rising bass boost might be the reason instead of a bass shelf. Old but gold would be a Tin Hifi T2 Plus as it really pushes vocals pleasantly forward and has that big energetic feel to it. Not detailed etc at all, but really enjoyable. IEMs I love otherwise like Zero Red, Hexa, MP145, Timeless, B2 Dusk, Dusk DSP just don't impress me at all with metal specifically and I would take the Libra over probably all of them for that. You can make an EQ preset for the Chu to match KZ Libra on the AutoEQ website and elsewhere. Give it a try if you want.
r/iems • What's the best eq settings for rock and heavy metal type songs ->EQ settings are relative to frequency response. It's like asking how much should I add salt to fries without the information if they're already saltes. The question is what kind of a tuning is ideal for metal and as a metalhead at least in my youth I find that a very interesting question. Preferences matter a lot as well and someone who loves the sound of one IEM maybe just hasn't heard something better yet and can't imagine what the improvement might be. The best tuning for metal I've heard so far with maybe fifty IEMs and some EQ on top was Oluv's mainstream preset for the Free Pro 2's. Really fun yet clean bass and you could push the volume really high without any fatigue etc. Gave me chills with a lot of metal music. With IEMs I have to say I haven't found anything excellent yet and actually KZ Libra (balanced) is easily on of the best for that and costs $10. The bass is pronounced, but much cleaner than the measurements seem to imply. The straight rising bass boost might be the reason instead of a bass shelf. Old but gold would be a Tin Hifi T2 Plus as it really pushes vocals pleasantly forward and has that big energetic feel to it. Not detailed etc at all, but really enjoyable. IEMs I love otherwise like Zero Red, Hexa, MP145, Timeless, B2 Dusk, Dusk DSP just don't impress me at all with metal specifically and I would take the Libra over probably all of them for that. You can make an EQ preset for the Chu to match KZ Libra on the AutoEQ website and elsewhere. Give it a try if you want.
r/iems • What's the best eq settings for rock and heavy metal type songs ->Those are an insane IEM so can't complain about the choice and they're good for gaming as well though overkill for just that. Simgot EM6L is the more sensible option and have an easier fit for example.
r/inearfidelity • Need advice for IEMs in gaming -># TL:DR Hype 4: I like more the sound signature and the punch bass that comes wihout EQ. DUSK: It feels slightly more comfortable to my ears and i percibe the instruments and vocals more "widely open" and i enjoy that alot. My wallet can only hold one. I accept other iems suggest that have the best of this two. \--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I wanted a 450€ iem and decided to try these two. Let me tell you my experience: # Accesories DUSK comes with a good good presentation, two cables (3.5mm and DSP cable) and a leather case. Hype 4 its only the 3.5mm and you\`re done. # Comfort The Moondrop DUSK hugs my ears while the Hype 4 are OK but fels slithly bulky. # Volume I always drive my iems with the Qudelix-5k. If i don't touch the volume, at 25%, the Hype 4 has more volume than the DUSK, last one need to be at 38-40% volume to match the Hype 4. # Sound - THIEAUDIO Hype 4 I feel it like a V shape and that bass at 50-100 Hz, oh boy that makes me happy, hearing drum & bass and Jazz its a pleasure. I notice that the vocals are a little above the rest of the spectrum, i like that in some songs like "As the world caves in" or "Sunflower - Rex Orange County". The imaging when playing games its ok, It's not perfect, like when footsteps come up behind you on the left, they feel close and narrower. # Sound - Moondrop x Crinacle DUSK I know these are more neutral and maybe there isn't any frequency that stands out above another. But the instruments, voices, drums... I can hear each instrument separately. Maybe I'm exaggerating, or maybe I'm subconsciously giving these headphones more love than I should. Nothing distorts and by equalizing the frequencies between 4 KHz and 8KHz 3-5 dBs it makes them majestic to listen to any song where vocals predominate. The imaging in games, everything feels more open, with more space, not cramped. I can tell when sounds are coming from above, to the right, or behind, to the left, with better precision than with the Hype 4. When i try to EQ with the Qudelix i feel like the bass is not that punch than the Hype 4, and that "jars" me a bit. Maybe im doing something wrong when i eq this ones, i didn't try to import a custom eq yet. If someone can share her eq profile i would be glad to try it.
r/iems • Help me choose: Hype 4 vs DUSK ->Thanks everyone for the comments. I've finally found the almost perfect EQ for the Dusk. It's just a harman profile with: 100 Hz 3.5 dB Q0.8 125 Hz 3 dB Q3 I'm thinking of trying the Mangird Tea Pro in the future and doing a mini review of them.
r/iems • Help me choose: Hype 4 vs DUSK ->Tea Pros for gaming for sure. Dusk is not as clear.
r/inearfidelity • Picked up my first pair of iems for gaming. Overkill but its insane ->Rock, EDM, Rap. They slam. But if I’m looking for a more relaxed experience I go with my Blessing 2 dusk.
r/inearfidelity • Best IEM under $400/500? ->IER-Z1R and Dusk DSP. Haven’t gotten the chance to try Grand Maestro or SE yet though. Did try the Symphonium IEMs but they didn’t really do anything for me
r/iems • Which is the best bass you have heard in an IEM? ->Love my Dusk. Never listened to the Chu though so I can't say.
r/inearfidelity • Budget IEM vs Expensive IEM ->I will avoid the ie 600 for awful QC. Been one of the too many unhappy customers and since bought used, I just lost 450$. Just happened to buy the Dusk and find it even better than IE 600 for details retrieving, bass and smoother treble.
r/inearfidelity • Any IEM recommendations for $500-850? ->I am getting slightly bored of my dusks (despite them being by far the best IEM/audio device ive used to date) and am looking for an upgrade up to the ~1000-1500usd region. The main things I love about the dusk is how the level of detail and separation between instruments was unlike any other set ive used before, which is definitely a quality I would like from my next set as well. My music tastes range very widely from rap, r&b, kpop, country, edm, and classical depending on the time of year. I would also like slightly more soundstage than what the dusks have if possible (i know it is hard to achieve with iems). Any recommendations as to what to purchase next? Is it even worth going that high in terms of price bracket or should I buy more iems within the 500 usd range? Is there anything out there that has higher levels of detail and soundstage than the dusk? Thanks in advance
r/iems • Upgrade from Moondrop Dusk ->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
r/inearfidelity • Regret buying the Moondrop aria ->My favourite from their lineup has actually been the Moondrop Dusk. It's pretty much good at everything lol but the preorder wait was a good 2-3 months.
r/GlobalOffensive • What earphones is Monesy using at the Blast Premier World Finals? ->Take the Dusk and EQ it with the Qudelix 5K.
r/iems • Help me choose: Hype 4 vs DUSK ->https://preview.redd.it/zrc2pcr2oere1.jpeg?width=1206&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=542e8f6977562798c38c624d580ac88347defed9 These are my filter settings. I change it from time to time, but it‘s kind of a reference. You can also do that with your 5K.
r/iems • Help me choose: Hype 4 vs DUSK ->I think you can EQ the Dusk pretty good. Even with the included DSP cable you can enhance the upper treble a lot.
r/iems • It has been 91 days since my last confession… ->I have an S12, which is very similar to Timeless, and when I got Dusk, I was a little disappointed because I didn't notice any major upgrades other than the sound signature, which might have been EQd anyway
r/headphones • 7hz Timeless vs new wave of IEMs ->The #1 most important thing is fit. The better they fit the more you'll use them and the more your money's worth you get (not to mention an better experience). So get the Dusk and the rest you can learn to EQ as best you can.
r/iems • Help me choose: Hype 4 vs DUSK ->I have a collection with those composers and many more, over 2000 albums of TV shows, movies and games. I currently use the Blessing 3 with an eq bass boost and the clarity listening to the tracks are amazing, I'm stunned every time I put them in my ears, the bass is very articulate with the boost, very pleasing. They really do put a smile on my face. If you don't want to eq then just go for the Dusk, I have them too but I don't need to use them while my B3 keep going so they are there as a backup. You will be very happy with the Dusk though.
r/inearfidelity • IEM recommendations under 500$ ->Dang awesome review! When I read your description of the EST air region presentation I was blown away, and realized I have yet to reach the summit. I still love my Dusks but have something to strive for in the Oracle and Monarch
r/inearfidelity • ThieAudio Oracle MkIII Extended Impressions and Preliminary Review ->Fellow Aria 2 alumni here. Both of those IEMs are great. I dont have direct experience with the Tea Pro, but You will not regret the Dusk. But to properly respect it, please buy a Q5K. I know it’s an extra $100, totally worth it. Moondrop’s DSP cable isn’t that great. Q5K can replicate all the DSP settings and allows you to create your own custom EQ profiles.
r/iems • Moondrop Dusk or Mangird Tea Pro? ->1. Moondrop X Crinacle Dusk (DSP tuning except I don’t massively cut 14k) 2. Fiio FT1 3. AirPods Pro 2 I just ordered Edition XS though! I’m planning to add a little extra bass with EQ
r/headphones • Rank your headphones (2025 edition) ->Canpur CP622B Thieaudio Monarch mk3 Unique Melody MEST mk2 Ziigaat Doscinco Oriverti OH700VB Dita Project M Moondrop Dusk (with the DSP cable)
r/iems • Which is the best bass you have heard in an IEM? ->#Intro Information *Hello all, thank you for clicking this review. I bought the DUSK 2 new during the first pre-order wave. I have used these IEMs on the go for passive listening, as well as active analytical listening for a minimum of 2 weeks. The review is being written primarily from analytical listening sessions using my [50 Songs playlist](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1TGxeSK1R5pb6rTN7f8i-t6bm6NP8GR2o6el8BB0jnYY/edit?usp=sharing)* *Sources* - Qudelix 5k via LDAC w/Tidal FLAC | Tanchjim Space w/Tidal FLAC in Exclusive Mode *Accessories* - Moondrop Spring Tips, Xinhs interchangeable cable in balanced options, stock cable. _____ #Packaging & Accessories Included with the DUSK 2 are an analog cable, DSP cable, 3 pairs of Moondrop Spring tips, an airline adapter, and a leather case. I really like the Spring tips on the DUSK 2, but it would have been very welcome for a different pair of tips to also have been included at this price range. The silver analog cable is thin and lightweight, but feels to be good quality and I had no issues using it for a few weeks. The DSP cable feels more robust than the analog cable by a fair margin, but I did not use it for extended periods to test comfort and feel. Lastly, the leather case is nice looking with ample storage inside. ***Grade: B-*** | The accessory list is mostly barebones, but acceptable in quality. The inclusion of Spring tips is appreciated, but other tips would have also been welcome. Adequate is how I would describe the accessory inclusion. #Build Quality and Fit The DUSK 2 are a large IEM with a clear 3d printed housing, and a forged carbon fiber faceplate that is blended into the housing decently well. The housing features a standard 2 pin plug, and is ported on the carbon fiber faceplate. Aesthetically, I think that these are pretty nice looking IEMs. The clear housing allows me to see the internals, which I find interesting, and the forged carbon fiber has an appearance of wood grain, looking much better in person than I expected based on photos. The faceplate physically sticks out from the housing by a noticeable degree, but it is finished smoothly on the face and is decently blended into the plastic along the edges. The carbon fiber faceplate protrusion does look a little goofy, but it looks worse in photos than in person. Each IEM of the DUSK 2 weighs a whopping 5.97g, which is a full 1g heavier than the Tea2 I recently reviewed. This was quite a shock to me because it does not feel heavier in comparison. My guess is that the larger housing of the DUSK 2 spreads the weight over a larger area when compared to the Tea2, which reduces the density difference that I perceive. Despite the large housing size, and the hefty weight of the DUSK 2, I actually find them to be comfortable with the included Spring tips. I often found myself wearing these for 90 minute sessions, and occasionally falling asleep with them in my ears while laying in bed. This was a shock to me as I do not typically fall asleep with IEMs, but the insertion depth, and relatively small nozzle width helps them sit in my ear canal without major pressure. Yes, I find the DUSK 2 to have a reasonably sized nozzle. It’s wild that I am considering a 5.71mm nozzle to be reasonable, but the Tea2 are 6.18mm, the PULA PA02 are 6.2mm, and the Singolo are a whopping 6.42mm. These are tiny in comparison, and I very much welcome more IEMs in this size. *Approximate IEM measurements: Nozzle Width - 5.71mm | Nozzle Length - 5.41mm | Shell - 25.04mm x 16.77mm x 17.43mm (LxWxD) | IEM weight per side (no tip) - 5.97g | Cable weight: 17.44g* ***Grade: A*** | All of my concerns about the DUSK 2 have been put to rest after actually using them. I have no major concerns with the build quality, though they could use some polish in the finish. I am most impressed with the comfort, but the build quality also exceeded my expectations.
r/iems • [Review] Moondrop x Crinacle DUSK 2, an incredible IEM even without EQ ->#Sound *TLDR* The DUSK 2 are sub-bass boosted iem with a neutral midrange, slightly relaxed treble, and a slightly pushy upper midrange. They are fantastic in the technical department, with great detail retrieval capabilities, excellent note attack and decay, stellar instrument separation, and wonderful imaging capabilities that enhance my immersion in music. Highly musical, while bringing out everything a song has to offer. They suit a wide range of music genres. **Bass** The sub-bass digs deep, fully extending and replicating any song that I threw at it. It does so with great control, and a sense of authoritative rumble. These aren’t bass cannons, but the bass pumps with good quality. Massive Attack’s *Angel* exhibits a deep growl in the sub-bass, adding to the almost ominous mood of the song. It also shows up big for *Hyperballad*, *God is a Woman*, and *xanny*, each of those songs having a big sustained bass component that the DUSK 2 pushes with authority while maintaining a separate space from the vocals. I found myself listening to these 4 tracks on repeat due to the satisfaction I had with the sub-bass quality. James Blake’s *Limit to Your Love* offers a significantly faster, but equally deep, sub-bass melody that the DUSK 2 capably plays back. The notes don’t have the same authority as the sustained notes mentioned above, and they do feel just a touch sluggish between notes. This is probably nitpicky though, the DUSK 2 does replay these notes with good quality, it’s just not as impressive as the sustained sub-bass notes. The midbass offers great tonality, fantastic control, and punchy impact, with great clarity. The adjectives “clean” and “controlled” were noted in multiple songs when describing the midbass. Two examples are the sleek punchy kick drum in *Finesse* as well as the bass guitar in *Hey,* which sounds clean and almost convinces me that the bassist is in the room with me. The midbass can sound quite punchy, giving *Don’t Start Now* plenty of low-end energy. The midbass is quality, but I did note that it was a little shy on multiple tracks. The lean midbass can help tracks that have overly prominent basslines, such as *Here Comes the Sun* and *Chamakay*. These two songs often sound overly warm and rich on midbass heavy IEMs, and the DUSK 2 keeps that in check. Other times the midbass quantity can leave songs like *The Stranger* or *Moonage Daydream* sounding a leaner than I would like. ***Grade: A+*** | As a whole, the low-end of the DUSK 2 is dang near perfect for me. I love the deep authoritative lows that are paired with a neutral to lean-ish midbass, this balance adds a sense of space between the lows and the midrange that is immensely satisfying to me. I do wish for just a smidge more midbass, but it’s not a dealbreaker. **Midrange** The midrange is detailed with great tonality, with a faithful tonal reproduction through the entirety of the range. The mids are often the focal point of my attention regardless of genre. Guitars often sound rich and lush, with an excellent ability to show the minute details present within the pedal effects or the playing style of the guitarist. The clean lead electric guitars on *Carry the Zero* sound silky smooth, and stunningly clean. Meanwhile the distorted guitar texture is faithfully replicated, highlighting the crunch and aggression on tracks like *Take the Power Back*, as well as *Carry the Zero*. The DUSK 2 attacks fast, and decays quickly, making fast solos like *Master of Puppets* easy to discern each note. Acoustic guitars similarly sound pristine, *Here Comes the Sun* specifically stood out to me as beautiful. Male vocals tend to sound natural, with Dan Snaith’s vocals on *Like I Loved You* sounding as if I’m in the studio with him. The DUSK 2 portray the texture of male vocals and the dynamics in their voices spectacularly, *Land Locked Blues* and *Here Comes the Sun* stand out as exemplary. Female vocals can sound clean, natural, and powerful as well, and the likes of Ariana Grande, Bjork, and Billie Eilish highlight this. Taylor Swift especially sounds fantastic, sounding incredibly intimate and lifelike on *Enchanted*, which gives me chills, and sultry on *Lavender Haze.* Lastly, drums also sound fantastic. Snares hit with a satisfying snap, sounding accurate to my ears, and toms strike with power. The upper midrange is the only place I find some problems. Snare drums can occasionally sound too strong, some sibilance is noted on songs by Ariana Grande and Daft Punk, and MF DOOM specifically sounded pretty grating.. ***Grade: S*** | The midrange continuously impressed me regardless of what I was listening to, it is so close to perfection. The upper midrange occasionally sounds hot or too forward, but I think that the issue is minor, and it’s not an issue with the DSP default EQ that many people like. **Treble** Whistling, hi-hats, cymbals, and trumpets all sound accurate and controlled. I consistently loved how the hi-hat sounded, adding an unobtrusive treble presence that livens things up, and tonality was noted as being great in the treble. My issue with the treble is that it is tuned to be more restrained than I would like. It is slightly relaxed to my ears, which makes it agreeable with anything I tested it with, but it lacks that special quality that something like the AFUL P5 has in the treble that gives air and excitement up top. If these had the AFUL P5 treble presence, then these would be perfect for me. ***Grade: A-*** | Safe and agreeable. It neither stands out, or impresses. The quality is mostly good, but I want a little more presence. **Soundstage** The quality of the soundstage is my favorite aspect of the DUSK 2, after the midrange. Imaging is accurate, and the soundstage width, depth, and height, provide enough space for the instruments to have specific spaces within it. Instrument separation and space are fantastic, never did the DUSK 2 sound congested, and the separation of bass to the lower vocals adds to this sense of space. I find myself immersed into the sound, which gives a bit of a 3d presentation that I can sometimes feel surrounded by. The sound is mostly front facing, without much air, but the sound is spacious and engaging nonetheless. It feels as if I’m in a large indoor venue. There are boundaries to the sound, but it’s never confined. ***Grade: A+*** | A better sense of air would make these about perfect for me, but the quality is fantastic nonetheless. **DSP Cable & EQ Thoughts** It is fantastic that Crin has given users a fantastic analog tuning, as well as custom tuning options built into an included DSP cable. I would have considered it to be a fantastic addition if the app worked well, and if the DSP cable offered a clean signal. Unfortunately the DSP cable has issues in a multitude of ways, which makes it an accessory that I choose to not use. Thankfully, Crin provided the EQ values which were added to my Qudelix 5k without concerns of the DSP cable. I spent some time listening to the 5 tunings, primarily focused on the stock analog tuning, and the praised DSP default tuning. After some time, my conclusion was that in the majority of cases, I prefer the stock analog tuning. My main issue with the DUSK 2 sound is that I find the upper midrange, primarily around 2k-3k to be occasionally shouty shouty, and I wished for just a little bit more treble extension. The DSP default tones down some of the upper midrange, which is great, but also dulls down the rest of the upper frequencies, which are the opposite of what I would have wanted with an alternative tuning. I can fully understand why some would prefer the default DSP tuning though. _____ #Conclusion The DUSK 2 have been met with some critical views since release, primarily focused on the DSP cable and potential QC issues. I agree with the DSP cable issues, but fortunately my DUSK 2 had no QC issues. I’m also not sure how widespread the issues are, or if the opinions are being amplified based on a rare number of instances. It does seem that a lot of people are happy with them, but I felt it necessary to address these concerns. With that out of the way, it should be easy to tell that I love the DUSK 2, and in a vacuum they get my wholehearted recommendation. We do not live in a vacuum though, and the DUSK 2 has competition. To my ears, the DUSK 2 are reminiscent of the AFUL P5, albeit an upgrade in most ways. The DUSK 2 has a similar frequency response, albeit with less treble extension. The DUSK 2 offers better sub-bass presence and texture retrieval, slightly cleaner midrange, and an upgrade in soundstage presentation quality. The P5 is likely to be a more comfortable fit due to size, and have better female vocal and treble presence. Now this begs the question as to whether the DUSK 2 are worth it over the P5, which is a difficult question but I can see both sides of it. The P5 are roughly $200 less when considering sales, and in terms of value I consider the P5 to be unbeatable at its price. If value is your concern, then the P5 wins. If you love the P5 and want to find a pretty direct upgrade under $500, then I think you would be in great hands with the DUSK 2. If you’re more concerned with maximizing your sound quality experience, then the DUSK 2 wins. Thank you for reading!
r/iems • [Review] Moondrop x Crinacle DUSK 2, an incredible IEM even without EQ ->Haven't heard any of them but you shouldn't cross out Dusk. It doesn't require app (you need it just to change eq). And you can use analog cable also, why do you omit it?
r/inearfidelity • Studio4 vs AFUL Performer 8 vs TANCHJIM ORIGIN ->Analog Dusk is good. Just 2 dB less bass from default dsp tuning. I sold my Blessing 2 Dusk and kept the Dusk.
r/inearfidelity • Studio4 vs AFUL Performer 8 vs TANCHJIM ORIGIN ->I think Dusk is 8/10 for comfort (with small Dunu s/s tips) Hexa was 7/10 (with small Moondrop spring tips)
r/inearfidelity • Studio4 vs AFUL Performer 8 vs TANCHJIM ORIGIN ->Hexa, mega5est, ej07m kinda lava batch 1, studio 4, cadenza 4, Dusk x Crinacle.
r/iems • What are the best-tuned IEMs in your opinion? ->Personally would save up for dusk 2, da vinci, or pilgrim.
r/iems • Which of the 3 should I get? ->I've had over 40 iems at this point (Assuming, I lost count a while ago) Only IEM to reduce me to tears was the Fiio FH3. Legit got them at work and slapped them in with the UTWS5 (Bluetooth earhooks) and for some reason the song I was listening to forced an emotional ass response. Was awkward. Anyways, imho worth blind trying at least. I've had The Blessing 2 dusks, which felt awkward af sounding (Low end thick bass and then mismatched highs?). The ier-m9 were so subdued. Hype 4's not even on the chart imho. If I want bass I want it to reach into my soul like the FH3's, even if there's not as much bass it needs to have that knack to it. PS. I know it's an old rec but fiio's goated asf imho
r/iems • IEMs worth a blind buy ->dusk dsp sounded perfect in comparison to the hype 4, analogue was missing a lot imo.
r/iems • Help me choose: Hype 4 vs DUSK ->Definitely Dusk over Volume S for bass. I prefer Studio 4 over both though. If your budget is $450 maybe you can consider the Kiwi Ears Hbb Punch too.
r/iems • Moondrop X Crincle Dusk or Softears Volume S ->Yeah, very. Much more punchy compared to the Dusk and Volume S, on top of that they also still have very good mids and highs. They are a really fun set if you want a basshead set. At $300(sale) it's the best basshead set I've heard. They look great too. Here's a fair review of them [https://youtu.be/0sfX6sO4JmE?t=1375](https://youtu.be/0sfX6sO4JmE?t=1375)
r/iems • Moondrop X Crincle Dusk or Softears Volume S ->Everyone's ear is different but I own the Volume S and used to own the Dusk, I would put the Da Vinci on par with either of them although they're all different. Da Vinci is better for Classic Rock/Blues/Single Player games. For me its never shouty or sibilant so I love it for the fun relaxing and immersion although it doesn't have the same details as the other 2. It's also not great on busy tracks. Volume S is great for vocal focused tracks but you need to listen to it at really high volumes to really hear the magic nuances, that creates a problem with always having to adjust the volume to prevent it from being too shouty, however, when you find the right track for it, hearing the little breaths from the vocals and the amazing definition on the vibratos are really satisfying especially if you're a singer or really into vocals. Dusk depends on whether its with the DSP or Analogue, but I think it's a better all rounder than the other two, less shouty but better low end than the Volume S but doesn't have the magic vocals. Better bass definition than the Da Vinci, but doesn't have bloomy warm fun sound that the Da Vinci offers. Better separation and details than both Da Vinci and Volume S IMO. For me they're all about on par with each other so don't let the FOMO get you. Getting another pair of $300-$600 IEMS isn't going to give you the wow factor/butterfly in your stomach feeling. At best you get something that you notice is slightly better or more to your preference. Maybe wait a year or two before buying the new hype IEMs. They get better every year. In the meantime, just enjoy what you have.
r/iems • Just bought the Dunu Davinci. Did I make the wrong choice? ->For me personally (truthear reds -> moondrop dusk), it was about a 10% ish improvement. It was a subtle but noticeable difference, but is it really worth the price increase? I'm not really sure tbh.
r/iems • Just how much better would the audio quality be if I upgrade from a ~$80 to $350? ->What’s your price range? IEMs, in general, are good for gaming if you’re fine with their soundstage. I’ve used mine with my ROG Ally and desktop all the time. It started with a cheap pair of KZ’s, then the Moondrop Chu 2, Truthear x Crinacle Zero:Red, and now I have the Moondrop x Crinacle: Dusk. I don’t use my cheap KZ’s anymore except with my Sony camera so I can hear audio my wireless microphones are recording. My Chu 2 and Zero:Red cycle their way through my home office (where I game) and actual office with my Dusk being my primary pair. I had a pair of Blessing 3, but was within Amazon’s return window and decided to get the Dusk instead.
r/iems • Gaming Iem’s ? ->Your budget is higher than mine. I still think there are diminishing returns after a certain price point. Going up to $300-$350 allows for some great IEMs, then it’s baby steps while spending a lot more. That’s just my opinion. In sampling other, more expensive IEMs in the $500-$700 range, I didn’t hear much of a difference between those and my Dusk or Blessing 3. I’m sure others would disagree, and that’s fine.
r/iems • Gaming Iem’s ? ->Moondrop x Crinacle dusk from the analog jack are in a similar ballpark with a little more slam, a little bit more detailed, and a slightly better soundstage, but at the loss of sounding as immediately engaging. I still need to hear the Hype 4, they may be what you want, but I just skipped that and bought a FATfreq Scarlet Mini as my bass head set and use the P5 for more natural listening.
r/iems • New Gear Alert: Aful Performer 5 🎧 ->Fit and seal is great. They are a larger iem but I had no issue there. I used the largest white tip provided with the brain dances and actually was the best fit of all the IEMs I have used seal wise. Tomorrow I'm going to try some tip rolling with the provided tips and some I have stored as well as trying out the impedance adapters. But I loved the stock sound. I will still check out what an impedance adapters does to the overall sound though. Out of all the IEMs I have (like 13 pairs in a month) coming from the 80-120 dollar iems the quality is an immediate upgrade. The sound is definitely worth the price. My two midfi pairs the dusks and the braindance just smoke the cheaper IEMs, which sound good in their own right but the difference is apparent right away.
r/iems • The controversial brain dance. ->I like both sets a lot but prefer the BDs. The dusk sound amazing too on the DSP cable. But I don't always want to use the cable. Both sets sound really good though just depends what flavor I want. There isn't anything I dislike about both pairs besides the dusks not sounding as good (still sound pretty damn good) without the DSP cable. I'll have to find the EQ settings for the dusks so I can replicate it on my dap and headphone amp. The braindance is a more fun sound to me. The treble is just so crisp. Really like the sound of drums on them. Both are amazing sets so it's hard to make a choice. I'd probably take the BDs just cuz I don't need to screw around with eq to replicate the DSP cable.
r/iems • The controversial brain dance. ->For the sake of this thread I just compared my cheaper IEMs to each other (tangzu wan'er, moondrop chu, salnotes zero 2) to the dusk and the difference was night and day. The bass response, the soundstage the finer details I literally missed with the cheaper ones. The cheaper ones don't sound bad but yeah switching to the dusk is like going from McDonald's to a steak.
r/iems • What makes "expensive" iems better? ->Yeah I was a studio headphone collector before getting into IEMs and no I absolutely hate subbass roll off and prefer IEMs. I don't really like V shaped headphones. I have the dusk and the brain dance. Both have great sub bass while having clarity. I just find the tuning of iems more fun in general.
r/iems • Iems are ... bad?? (For low frequencies) ->Not really. I haven't got a set I don't like. My current favorites are the dusk, dunu braindance, kiwiears aether, and kiwiears orchestra lite.
r/iems • IEM Endgame Achieved (Review coming soon for Music, Movies and Gaming) ->Blind bought the dusk (well all of my IEMs actually) and love them on both the DSP and analog tuning. My 2nd favorite pair and one of my daily drivers.
r/iems • What’s an IEM you’d tell 99% of people to blind buy? ->Just my opinion but I found the Hype 4 too harsh on the treble and sibilant. Dusk was quite safe and neutral, I instead went with the Mangird Tea Pro.
r/iems • Help me choose: Hype 4 vs DUSK ->I got my Dusk like a week ago and after a little bit of EQ the bass is absolutely crazy. Not overly loud, but super textured and meaty. It's like I cam feel the air in my ear move with each drum hit. I don't think I've ever heard bass like this in a headphone before, except maybe the Edition XS. That's only if you can use EQ with it though. The bass on 3.5mm os still very good but they sound a lot brighter overall (still not as bright/shouty as most IEMs that get recommended here, but they do have a much more conventional tuning).
r/inearfidelity • Which iems are suitable for a person who likes bass? ->No worries, man, enjoy the Dusk!
r/inearfidelity • Which iems are suitable for a person who likes bass? ->Meze Alba, Sennheiser IEX00, Moondrop Chu/Chu2, etc. There are also plenty of hybrid/tribrid IEMs that are not tiny, but still very appropriately sized. I find DUSK to be pretty comfortable despite being a 6-driver tribrid.
r/headphones • Upcoming Moondrop Meteor IEM ->I have the dusk, hype 4, ie600, Aful 5+2 and I can EQ any one of these to sound like the other. Fit is most important. EQ really can do the rest. As for me, dusk is more comfortable than hype 4 as well.
r/iems • Help me choose: Hype 4 vs DUSK ->I would also suggest the Dusk with the DSP cable(I own 2 sets) That iem fits my ears better than the hype 4 and tea pro. Not as good as the p7 but it’s another one that punches way above its price especially if you get an open box for $250.
r/iems • “Endgame” IEM ->IEMs photographed left to right in first two photos: Unique Melody Mest MkII, Moondrop Variations, Moondrop x Crinacle DUSK, TSMR Halo, Thieaudio Monarch MkIII, Elysian Annihilator 2023, Elysian Diva 2023. I’ve also put a close-up photo of each IEM in the order they appear in photo one. Photography is not my skill so the photos are awful; whoops! This is just update post for my collection. Again, the post is mostly for me to look back on myself in the future (for example, I said in my last post I was looking for Diva 2023 and I finally got it courtesy of a Head-Fi seller). I’m not expecting anyone to care or be interested. But on the off-chance someone cares I’ll list a few rankings off here. You can also see the driver configurations of each IEM in photo three, listed top to bottom in the order I acquired the sets. My rankings are coming from the point of view of someone who values detail and treble extension primarily, with bass a secondary concern. Sound (most important of course): 1. Elysian Annihilator 2023 2. Elysian Diva 2023 3. Unique Melody Mest MkII 4. Thieaudio Monarch MkIII 5. TSMR Halo 6. Moondrop Variations 7. Moondrop x Crinacle DUSK Comfort/Fit (essential for long listening sessions): 1. Unique Melody Mest MkII 2. Elysian Diva 2023 3. TSMR Halo 4. Elysian Annihilator 2023 5. Moondrop Variations 6. Thieaudio Monarch MkIII 7. Moondrop x Crinacle DUSK Stock Cable (maybe interesting, maybe not): 1. Unique Melody Mest MkII 2. Elysian Diva 2023 3. Thieaudio Monarch MkIII 4. Elysian Annihilator 2023 5. Moondrop Variations 6. TSMR Halo 7. Moondrop x Crinacle DUSK (both cables) Finally, not photographed except for the boxes are my two DAPs. The iBasso DX340 is clearly the better of the two but I hesitate to say it’s ‘worth it’ as an upgrade to the R4. They’re both fantastic but as a value proposition I think the R4 is great. To conclude, clearly the IEM hobby is something of a chase for perfection which you will never achieve. There are tradeoffs to every IEM, DAC, DAP, cable and eartips. If you’re seeing this post and thinking about things like diminishing returns and these sets being nowhere near ‘worth’ their price – I’d say I agree. Diminishing returns (not a phrase I like much because everything has diminishing returns but I digress) set in quite early imho. For an all-rounder that you can use with practically any device the DUSK (as an example from my sets) could easily be the pinnacle of what you’re looking for and there’s really no need to chase the latest releases or constantly be looking to upgrade. Then again, I also disagree with people who look down on someone for owning more than one set – do we limit ourselves to one pair of shoes just because we only have two feet? (Bad example but maybe you get my point.) At the end of the day, yes, the IEM hobby is rife with consumerism, as are all similar tech products, but I think the craftsmanship and the various different designs, sound signatures and so on make it a fascinating hobby to be involved in. And on second-hand sites like Head-Fi (where I got my Mest, Diva & Halo from) or even r/AVexchange you can sometimes snag yourself a bargain, or at least meet more people to talk about this great hobby with. I’d be happy to discuss anything photographed if anyone has any questions (and made it all the way to reading this)! Take care and all the best, Rob
r/iems • It has been 91 days since my last confession… ->Thank you! Yes I agree, the R4 is definitely popular for good reason. :) I’d say it’s quite far off in technicalities for things like staging, separation, tightness of bass, treble extension and so on. Mind you, it’s almost splitting hairs at this point because the DUSK itself is great. There’s a reason I still have it lol, it’s lowest on my list but I’ve kept it for good reason!
r/iems • It has been 91 days since my last confession… ->i have the dusks and ive also extensivley listened to my brothers hype 4. I find the open and more balanced sound of the Dusk analog really nice. when i listen to the hype 4, the bass is really nice but for me its a tad too much bass; i feel like it can shroud some of the details that would be there otherwise like on the dusk. the comfort and look of the dusk is also really nice, even with small tips on the hype 4, the nozzle is a bit large and can feel stiff in the ear when on the dusks i use large tips and the nozzle just floats, much less pressure in the ear. the treble on the dusks is definitely more present and quick than the hypes not just in tuning but also because of the planar tweeters. the soundstage on the dusks is something else especially when playing games. they both sound VERY similar to each other in many ways so it comes down to what you want from them.
r/iems • Help me choose: Hype 4 vs DUSK ->Some price bracket options off the top of my head: Theaudio hype 4 and moondrop dusk are probably endgame for most people $400 right now. If you want a bit cheaper there's the aful performer 5 $220. If you want entry level something like the kiwi ears cadenza $35. But regardless of what you choose you should get at least a cheap dac/amp dongle to make the potential of the iems fully realized. If you go for the more endgame sets, you should probably go with something better than a cheap dongle but even with a cheaper dongle the $300 to $500 pairs will still sound good. A really decent cheaper dongle is the moondrop dawn pro but if you want even better audio go with the fiio br17. Bluetooth and wired for desktop and mobile. A more cost efficient option is the qudelix 5k, it's great.
r/iems • Recommendation for my first IEM ->To be honest , I have tried the dusk. Didnt find it to be as good as it was hyped
r/iems • Thoughts? ->Somehow I didn’t like the dusk as much and had to return
r/iems • It has been 91 days since my last confession… ->Currently there are 2 iems that you can consider. The thieaudio hype 4 which I have not yet tried but is very praised by the community. And the moondrop x crinacle dusk which I own. Can't say much about the hype 4 but its said to be very comparable to the dusk. I'd recommend looking into it. The dusk I can speak a lot about but I'll try to keep it short. It's a very well rounded iem with a bit of a subbass boost. It's very smooth around the treble and has great midrange balance and timbre. The bass is very very clean and articulated and it's very technically capable as far as sub $400 iems go. It's said by many that it may have qc issue with channel imbalance (which may have been solved) and also issues with the dsp cable so that would be the main downside. My set is perfect without any issues but that may not be the case for you.
r/inearfidelity • Best IEM under $400? ->The Studio 4 is the most "shouty" of the bunch and it's BA bass is rather lean in the mid bass (albeit still good for BA bass). My vote would be on the Pilgrim since it is (to me) the most detailed but it's hard to go wrong with your other choices too. If comfort is a factor though the P8 and Dusk are better.
r/iems • Upgrade from Hexa - Performer 8/Studio 4/Pilgrim/Dusk ->I'd say to upscale your budget upto $100 or $200. Under $100, you get the Simgot EA500LM (treble foward but quite resolving - EA1000 near technicalities which makes the EA1000 not much value compared to these). Under $200, you can get either the Chopin or the Pula PA02/Myer CKLVX CK-D41. If you want more than that and have the budget upto $300-$400, get the Moondrop DUSK Or Thieaudio Hype 4. More than that is bad diminishing returns. $400 is the maximum threshold and breakeven in terms of value for price. You can also wait for other future releases like the DUNU x Gizaudio DaVinci and new releases and getting reviewed by Jaysaudio, SuperReviews, Hawaii Bad Boy, Bad Boy Good Audio etc.
r/HeadphoneAdvice • Best IEMs in 2024 for Under $50? ->try filtering only 2023 to 2024, i'm still quite surprised my kato is still in these list. i'm still using my kato outside home/carry. dusk and variations stays at home. still blue kato is an eye catcher when wearing outside. brass nozzle, Divinus Velvet Silicone Eartips For 3-5mm Nozzle S, Venture Electronics Odo, Stock Kato Cables. poweramp bass at 35, stereo expand 20%
r/iems • These are the most recommended IEMs on Reddit (r/iems VS others) as of Jan 2025 ->Yes. They’re one of my go-to sets under $200, tied with the S08 (out of probably 12-13 sets I’ve had on my bench in the last year or more; may change when the 2024 S12 arrives). As close to the 99/109/Liric as I’ve seen in an IEM, and a much better outing than the Advar. Warm, but without being too dark in the treble region. Typical Meze house sound; not counting the Empyrean and Elites, which were departures from their other sets. I can understand why some hobbyists haven’t taken a liking to them as they’re deviating from typical Harman, JM-1, and other popular tunings. It was refreshing to test a set that didn’t assume I was a Luddite that thinks sub bass is the only frequency that should exist below 300hz. All that aside, the hobby is entirely subjective. I have the Dusk in S tier and the Hype in A; I prefer the Noir to the OG pilgrim. I sold my Monarch MK3 (I rarely sell sets), and I run my Scarlett Mini more than the GM. Definitely to each their own.
r/headphones • My IEM tierlist 2024 ->The Performer8 is the best performer (pun intended) for orchestral music, but considering anime OSTs can often incorporate numerous other genres, you may want to consider something that's more of an all 'rounder. The P8 is the king of clarity and detail under $500. It's still one of the best IEMs in its price range for that use case. The Studio4, which is also a stellar set, is a little more mid-forward and will be more suitable for tracks with vocals and midrange instruments (strings, guitars, etc.). The Origin is one of the few sets I passed on so I can't comment on its performance as I don't like to recommend IEMs I haven't tested myself, but if you were considering the Dusk, I'd also look at the Elysian Pilgrim. It may be the best of both worlds; it has slightly more emphasized bass than the Studio4, but it is well-controlled and will add some additional energy and dynamics to OST tracks with electronic and percussive instruments. The Dusk is still a good option. This is one of the few cases where I would argue for using it in its analog tuning. The default DSP tuning wouldn't be suitable for your preferences anyways; and you could still use the DSP cable for those times when you wanted additional tunings available, or to experiment with other genres. People forget the analog tuning of the Dusk was still a very solid effort. It often gets criticized in relative comparisons to its DSP tuning, as the DSP tuning catered to a wide range of listeners, but if you remove those relative comparisons it can still stand on its own against other IEMs on the market.
r/inearfidelity • Studio4 vs AFUL Performer 8 vs TANCHJIM ORIGIN ->If we’re talking the analog tuning of the Dusk, the Pilgrim would win out for me. Dusk with both its analog and default DSP tuning, it would be the Dusk. But my preferences are different, in that I do prefer warmer tunings to neutrality and I don’t mind a bit of a veil in the upper mids and treble.
r/inearfidelity • Studio4 vs AFUL Performer 8 vs TANCHJIM ORIGIN ->Yes and No. Tread carefully with the buying IEMS. Like with any other audio equipment, you'll always naturally want to seek that "next upgrade". After that $250-$300 mark for IEMs, it's all deminishing returns. The bump in price after that range would only be for clarity but it would never justify 1.5x or even 2x the price IMO. For IEMs, I've got the Sony WF-1000XM5s, Linsoul Kiwi Ears Cadenza, Moondrop x Crinacle DUSK, and the Pilgrim Elysian, all at different price points. I tend to enjoy more of a slight V-shape sound signature and the DUSK, Cadenzas, and the XM5s are exactly that. You can get each for under $300 if you look in the right places. The Pilgrims are $400-$500 but tbh it's just not worth the offering for me even if the clarity is better the rest is underwhelming. TDLR: Find what sound signature you like best, do your research, and pick carefully. If you like a V-Shape signature like I do out of the box, the Cadenzas are great for $35. Oh and like someone else mentioned here. you only need that Apple Dongle as a DAC......nothing else.
r/AppleMusic • is going down the iem hi-res lossless rabbit hole worth it? ->I’d say probably like 400$ish. My personal favorites are the moondrop x crinicle dusk that’s about 380$ *with the dsp cable* or if you like more of a v shape tune the ie600 can be found between 500-600$
r/iems • I'm new to IEM how'd I do? ->Just got some Moondrop X Crinacle Dusk off eBay for 300$, would highly recommend if you like his tunings. Similar to Harmon overall.
r/iems • $200-$300 iems? Too many options ->Volume S is not that bassy has most ppl think. Is a sub bass oriented IEM, meaning you don't hear the punch you mostly feel the rumble, I don't know other way to explain it. The Dusk on the other side is over priced for the perfomance and technical details you get IMO, should be priced at exactly 300 nothing more and is okish. My recommendation is go with the Volume S and a 5 ohms impedance adapter or just EQ it. For that price my recommendation is go with the HBB Punch while on sale for 380 that's really endgame for 95% of bass oriented ppl it's just 1 tier above both
r/iems • Moondrop X Crincle Dusk or Softears Volume S ->I'd say Tanchjim Origin and Elysian Pilgrim are the best on that list for soundstage size (pilgrim has slightly better separation but origin is no slouch). Braindance (and, by extension, the Dita Project M) I personally love but wouldn't recommend because it seems to be quite anatomy dependent (some people find its treble god awful while others love it. If you can get it from Amazon or a store that let's u return it then maybe go for it). Tangzu bajie is on Shenzhenaudio and linsoul for around 510usd rn and that can be a consideration (I typically like neutral to neutral-bright but that iem blew me away). I actually like dusk in analog the most and its midrange is beautiful imo (especially vocals)
r/inearfidelity • IEM recommendations under 500$ ->Sorry I have not tried the Variations. The best Moondrop I've tried is the B2D. The Variations still hold up well years later and a lot of people still swear to their value.
r/iems • Kefine Delci and Fiio JH5 review (personal opinion) ->Tried Dusk, sent it back after a week. I don’t see the appeal at all. If you have an android and don’t have a Q5k, maybe, but the cable is like €25 separately so I don’t see how it justifies a €350 purchase. I’m currently waiting for my Tea Pro, meanwhile enjoying S12 Pro.
r/inearfidelity • IEM recommendations under 500$ ->Lol my new crinacle dusks mix up sound cues in FPS shooters wayyyy more than my PC38x. Music sounds great though.
r/iems • "IEMs for gaming", let's be real. ->Many options: Dusk(best resolving), Mangrid tea pro(most spacious) and Hype 4(most bassy)
r/iems • All rounder under 400€ ->Pilgrim and Dusk would be top contenders. Both have really good dynamics, details and resolution but I prefer the more warm-neutral tuning of Dusk DSP over Pilgrim's abit more clinical sound. Still both are pretty good and I'd give the edge to dusk because it's analogue tuning is really close to Pilgrim's analogue with abit more treble energy. Maybe it's not as well done but if you blind tested them, it'd be pretty close. If you're going pure analogue, I'd take pilgrim but if you want a more versatile IEM, Dusk is the way to go. Hype 4 doesn't make the cut for me because I find it's performance to be lacking at its price point. Dynamics and details are worse than Pilgrim and Dusk to me and the bass is really lacking. Not in quantity, it has alot of bass but the bass quality is iffy. It's not tight and accurate like the other two, it's more broad and pillowy which I personally don't like. The treble isn't the best either. I've heard people say it has good soundstage but with all the bass, I find it very hard to discern. I wouldn't spend more then $300 on it and even then, I would say DaVinci or Ziigaat Doscinco/Cincotres is better than it. You should definitely demo before considering buying this iem. There are other IEMs in the price bracket like performer 8, Blessing 3 but they're mostly overshadowed by Dusk and Pilgrim (which I find to be the best in the price bracket) One stand out is Dita Project M but it's a easy skip for most people. It's not a bad set, it's just the treble is very VERY hot. Most people I've got to listen to it have said it has a ear piercing amount for treble. It's super fit dependant and you need the right eartip, insertion depth, etc. I can't get it to work and for most people it'll be like that as well. It sucks because the rest of the IEM is really nice, the look, the accessories, the dynamics and details are all really good but I'd still skip it unless you can endure the treble
r/inearfidelity • Best IEM under $400? ->Dusk or Pilgrim for me. Both really punch above their price. Dusk analogue and Pilgrim are quite similar with both having excellent detail retrieval and overall dynamics. Pilgrim is a little more tasteful and isn't as spicy as Dusk analogue. Both of them are more clinical neutral sound than Dusk DSP tho, which is I personally love. Warm, rich, full and natural, it just sounds amazing. It's almost identical to the Mega5est but if you're not into that warm-neutral or don't want to use DSP, Pilgrim is still really good. Both are excellent all rounders but I lean more to the warm-neutral side Hype 4 is kinda mid and bad value for $400, feels a like a $250 IEM sold for $400 but to each their own. It just has really bad bass dynamics. The bass is there but it's broad, boomy and lacks incisiveness and definition to the point where it messes up the mids details and overall resolution and technicalities. The mids themselves are alright but it sounds like they're missing texture. The treble is decent too but is pretty spicy like Dusk analogue so it may come across harsh on a few tracks but overall, it's just a very mid IEM imo but these are my opinions so your mileage may vary. It's really only good until you've heard the competition at the price range but that's just what I think
r/inearfidelity • Best IEM under $400/500? ->Mega5est is one of the best for me. I really love it's neutral warm tuning and it's the best all rounder imo. Xenns Top is you want something more engaging, bassy sound and engaging sound. Hype 10 is also pretty good and, imo, the only good Thieaudio iem in released recently. It's a little pricey but atleast it's technicalities and resolution are good, I wouldn't call it good value tho. A personal favourite of mine is Softears RSV. I wouldn't call it good value either but I just really love it's slightly warm tuning as well. It just sounds so incredibly natural. Mega5est gets most of the way there but something about RSV just edges it out for me a tiny bit. Oracle MkIII is quite honestly not an oracle, it's Hype 6. It's a slightly better hype 4. Better controlled bass and a less harsh treble but other than that, it's a Hype and that's not say much. It's not bad but I think it's just okay. I'd pick up Original Oracle over mkIII anyday, it is abit more of a neutral tune but it's overall resolution is just alot better than MkIII to me atleast. I'd also look into some cheaper sets because they are pretty impressive nowadays. Dusk DSP is basically just cheaper Mega5est. They sound nearly identical in tuning and performance the only caveat is well DSP/EQ. Pilgrim is also another good one, it's like dusk analogue but I feel it's more tastefully done. It has a more tame treble and it's technically and dynamics are really good too. DaVinci is another warm tune iem but it has the Midbass that the others might lack. It's bass quality isn't as good as Pilgrim or Dusk but if you find that the bass isn't as thick as you would like, DaVinci would be a good pick.
r/inearfidelity • Any IEM recommendations for $500-850? ->I'm on Dusk's side for this one. Dusk just comes off as alot more natural, transparent and detailed compared to Hype 4. I personally use the DSP tuning and Wow, is the bass so much better than Hype 4. Not exactly in the amount of bass but the quality. Dusk's bass is more snappy, accurate and dynamic while keeping the mids clean. The treble is also handled better with it having an emphasis but not too much to where it's sharp and edgy. The Analogue tuning can be like that to some but I still find it better handled on the Dusk. The Analogue is alot more lean and bright so if you want just more bass and the DSP isn't giving to you, maybe something like Xenns Tea Pro would fit better. Hype 4... As much as I want to like it, it's outclassed by multiple IEMs below it's price point. The bass dynamics are pillowy and bloomy so it's not the most satisfying bass for me despite how much bass it has. The bass's messiness also kinda effects the mids clarity for me because the bass just crowds it out with muffled slam which just makes the mids not as detailed as I would like them to be. the treble is also a little hot on some tracks so definitely more a V style tuning but it just doesn't sound natural, clear or resolute which is what I usually like in an IEM. Below it, IEMs like Ziigaat Odyssey, Performer 5+2, META all do a better job at overall sound quality and clarity. Going at the same price tho, Tea Pro is just way better Hype 4 in my opinion. The bass punch and tactility is really just wow on that. The "Lub Dub" of kick drums and the rumbling of the sub bass really is nice and it still keeps the mids clear and details while also having a more tame treble so it's less V shaped and more of a Neutral with a good bass boost. If you want that bass => Tea Pro If you want clarity and naturalness => Dusk I find these 2 sets to be some of the best at the price point but these are just my opinion so mileage may vary but hope this helped to give more perspectives into your perchasing decision :)
r/iems • Help me choose: Hype 4 vs DUSK ->I don't think Hype 4 is an improvement from P8. To me at least, Hype 4 is a terrible value set at $400. It has pretty bad bass dynamics in the sense that it's broad, boomy and undefined. It has bass but what bass it has doesn't sound nice. It's to the point where it crowds out other aspects of the IEM like technicalities and resolution. The mids are tuned already but it lacks texture to me and the treble is decent but can be harsh on a few tracks. It's just a very mid IEM overall and really only good until you've tried the competition. You can get the same performance as hype 4 from other IEMs like Doscinco, Cincotres or DaVinci which I all find to be on par hype 4 despite being cheaper. If you can find hype 4 on sale, they're not that bad but retail price, dont. These are just my opinions so your mileage may vary. A better IEM to me atleast would be Dusk or Pilgrim but I do have a liking to neutral-warm tuning. They knock it out of the park with their details, technicalities and overall how natural they sound. Extra points to Dusk DSP, honestly one of my favourite IEMs under $1000 and there not much room to upgrade from it but the DSP cable can be a deal breaker for some. Despite that, both are honestly Peak sets and I think they're very safe upgrades from any IEM
r/inearfidelity • debating to pick up THIEAUDIO Hype 4 ->Tea Pro or Top Dusk Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite I love the Tanchjim Origin too but it's more of a vocal centric IEM
r/inearfidelity • IEM recommendations under 500$ ->Tried them. Returned the IE600, kept the dusk and variations from Moondrop. Those two I wasn't expecting the size of them, the tube seems to help making the sound a bit more airy. Dusk is quite neutral, a bit more airy than variations, and less fatique on long run. But tuning I preper variations a bit more. Both are very nice. Quite a step up from my old SE846. Thanks.
r/iems • I'm new to IEM how'd I do? ->