SGOR - Luna

My first IEM is SGOR Luna, better than my tws which is JBL

Same although i have the dsp ver. Planning to wait for warmer dac and balanced cable to arrive before i make conclusion. So far my SGOR Luna sounds better

Some may differ, but my two Planar IEMs, my KZ PRX and SGOR Luna sound much better. Better tuning and precision. But, these are power hungry af.

Hey man, good review, pretty insightful... Love the comparo with the Luna (love that cheapie planar), the Aether is in my top 3 of iems currently (and with a better cable, eartips and eq... Ohhh boys and girls).

Budget planars actually have a DD like bass and no noticeable planar timbre, your friend can go fine with the Sgor Luna, Artti T10 and KZ PRX, all of those offers an enjoyment other kind of iems for the same price usually don't. For the Luna and PRX you can just cable rolling, a cheap FiiO KA11 dongle dac does the job done for driving those bad boys, and of course eartips fitted for your friend liking, anyways my choice is trn t eartips, offering me the best bast and soundstage with those macro and microdetails i love. And being just 1 driver, takes eq like a champ so your friend can experiment with the tuning he likes the most, for me is the HBB target, and other targets are fine. Other redditors are talking about the Luna, I'm glad those iems having the attention and recognition it deserves.

I have both Luna and PRX, yes, the PRX have a smaller shell, but is kind of the same drivers (i don't know if it is the case) just different tunings. Awesome iems ngl.

There's a lot of more than nice options mate: -Kefine Klean (but there's reports of channel imbalance and issues with the nozzles, my unit is kicking ass fine) -Inawaken Dawn ms, a little less technical than Klean but more musical (waiting it to arrive soon) -Sgor Luna one of the best planar iems for less than 50 bucks (loving it mine) -KZ PRX the best planar by the brand, trades blows with the Luna (waiting it to arrive soon) -KZ Vader Balanced/CCA Trio oh yes, so fun, musical and technical (loving my Vader Bal and HighRes) -Artti T10 the best planar for 50ish bucks -7hz x HBB Elua oh yes , a better and more technical and fun driven iem than legato, basshead approved (loving my unit, is a well received iem in head-fi) -Simgot EW200, dude, that iem doesn't need presentation 😅 -TRN White Tiger, impressive good tuned, interesting config, I'm not so much into the shell looking but is made of metal and well builded, is what matters to me

I have the Luna, and it is a really really good planar for the price, but if I were to indicate an entry level planar plus a DAC, I would say, T10 + AKLIAM Pd5 or similar.

Technically T10's is in another league, I don't hear the mp145 but the T10 and S08. To me the Luna despite being very capable and for an unbeatable price (disclaimer: I'm a big fan of SGOR) can't keep up with these two, but in this hobby, everything is very subjective, right?

Kinera Celest Wyvern (Abyss/ Black) - Cheap in price but punch well above their pricetag - Great All-rounder Kinera Celest IgniteX - Bright ish well done V shaped, technically capable lil Beast - Top under 50 SGOR Luna - Best Budget Magnetic Planar Juzear Clear - Great Bassy iem - In quantity and quality.

Thoughts on treble comparison between the two? I only own the Luna and haven’t seen anything negative about it aside from muffled midrange, but I’ve seen a fair amount of complaints regarding treble on the t10

I have the Luna, spoke with many ppl who own both and they said the Luna is more fun to listen to has better bass

Luna has dynamic driver-like bass except snappier, the midrange is a bit muffled on stock tuning but is easily fixable via eq

SGOR Luna is a great option too wdym

They released pretty recently I’ve had them for like a month and they’re so fun to listen to they honestly might be my endgame, been using supermix 4 the past few days and these are more technical, but the Luna was just more entertaining to me and has imaging on par or better (both with eq to my preference)

SGOR Luna + a dac

SGOR Luna + a dac is the real answer, only ppl who experienced it can confirm

Check out the SGOR Luna for a budget planar, my pair arrived damaged but it’s still super fire imo

Based on your selections: 7hz x Crinacle Salnotes Zero 2 \- A decent IEM overall, tuning is based on Crinacle's preference. If you want to follow Crinacle's tuning and other IEMs then this is the best bet for you. \- This has a weird shape for an IEM, idk if your ear would work for it. KZ Castor Pro Bass (best go for the OG, if small ears, and go for the Silver version much more versatile than the Bass version) \- If you said you have small ears, and still wants to include the KZ Castor in the list, go for the original KZ Castor Bass as the Pro version is abit more larger in both the IEM and nozzle size vs the original. \- Also this is a 2DD IEM, some phones can have issues with lower volume and inadequate power required (small margin of phones). But still easy to drive than a planar or a multi-driver hybrid IEM. \- The both this and the original uses a much more common and smoother IEM shape than the Zero 2, though will be heavier than the Zero 2 having 2 DDs inside. 7Hz G1 \- This is seems a abit more safer tuning IEM vs your other selections, much closer to Kiwi Ears Cadenza or Tangzu Wan'er SG/2's tuning of good sub-bass, and a more mellow treble. \- Some people didn't like the cabling and accessories that comes with the G1. \- Metal case, pebble-like appearance might work for small ears. SGOR Luna \- This is one of the decent planar sets that is at the budget range. Also this is a planar IEM not a DD IEM, so recommended to use a USB-C DAC to power it. \- More leaning to a U-shaped tuning vs the rest of the IEMs of your selection. \- Planars are usually large, therefore its shell might also be large as well. Might not work for some people. Kefine Klean \- Has 2 tuning nozzles for either a warm abit more bassy tuning, and a more v-shaped brighter feel. Has better accessories and unboxing, maybe on par to Tangzu Wan'er SG/2 standards. From your selection, I would either go (personally) \- Kefine Klean \- KZ Castor Silver Or try (smaller or more smoother shaped IEMs) \- Moondrop Chu 2 \- Rosetechnics Aurora Ultra \- Kiwi Ears Cadenza In the end though its your own preference on what IEM you prefer and weigh in their pros and cons. Tbh all of your selection are good selections, just that it depends on your tuning preference, IEM design preference, accessories, and general feel about the IEM. Hope this helps! Also don't forget to at least read my [beginner's guide into IEMs](https://www.reddit.com/user/NinjaSiren/comments/1jil8re/beginners_intro_guide_to_iems/), general guide before, while, and after using the IEM and gaming stuffs. My IEM Collection: https://preview.redd.it/u7hrt5cbdsue1.png?width=8100&format=png&auto=webp&s=143abf7fcc2940c5cf7c29c0048017f201b60a61

depends on your budget. I'd go for luna but if you have \~$70 try shozy p20

depending on your budget, there are some options, but a bass that "covers other instruments" its what people call muddy, and muddiness is not only about the bass being boosted or not. For around your price range, iems that would work better for that would be: ew300 if you can do the strech, or Sgor Luna should work too and its a planar too, that just has a bit More mid-bass. Kefine Klean is another really good pick around $50 that would give you that extra bass, but it might or might not be too much extra bass (with the silver filter).

ew300 is basically the less bright tunned iem simgot has, so should be fine. Luna is like a less bright/less harsh ew309 with a bit more technical performance tho, and also comes with a basic dongle dac if you buy tur type C version

Happy new year brother xd. This is a Sub $50-ish iem list i made: [- Click Here -](https://www.reddit.com/r/iems/s/ewQg6y32HB) In there you can search some options to pick from. definitely the Kefine Klean is worth a check for what you want. Tripowin Vivace is also pretty nice despite the cheaper price. Sgor Luna is another interesting pick that you can get bundled with a dongle dac for under $50. If you happend to be looking at the Delci, you will find it here: This is a Sub $100-ish iem list i made: [- Click Here -](https://www.reddit.com/r/iems/s/OXgg8IsbYi) however, i dont think the sound style is what you are looking for, not at least the normal version.

If thats what i think is a game soundtrack, then you just want a correct and balanced replay, unless more bass is what you want, also, well yeah, decent Soundstage is relevant, but something like the klean should work just fine, delci might have much aggressive bass and feel narrower in Soundstage so is not the best of ideas. Anything more balanced like Sgor Luna too, should be fine.

As a person that owns a planar and DD iems. it really depends on what Is your friend looking for, i personally dont find planars timbre bas or metallic but for some people it can be distracting, that said, BA deivers are said to be prone to that aswell so a hybrid with BAs could be counter-productive. Now, the 2 main problems i find with planars is first, they need quite good amplfication, some more, some less, but you will need a dongle dac always basically. On the other hand, DDs usually suffer a bit less even if they are underpowered. the other problem with planars is that for some the bass might not had enough punch. planar bass is good, but not that good vs a good DD Bass. For cheap, Sgor Luna is a pretty good starting planar pick tho, you can even bundle it up with a dongle dac, so its a good option, but it doesnt seem to compete with better planars for its lower price, it does perform well for its price tho. If your friend like the zero2, it could be a decent new step, but for more performing planars, you dont want F1 Pro or T10 since the focus is more on the sub-bass Rumble over mid-bass kick, the least you could do is the Klanar, and specially the Letshouer S08 if he wants a bassy sound. As for non-planars, ill rather recomend the normal delci as long as he is not planing on gaming too much, since doesnt work all that well, and the AE tunings arent exactly the best use of the driver and is more expensive. EW300 is a pretty decent pick, but some people find them heavy on the ears, so do take in mind. As for other options, similar to Zero2, there arent exactly much closer to, but you could also check the Tangzu Fudu. But honestly, if your friend can go for planars, i think it would be a better pick in this budget, and if you know he likes bass, specially the S08 from planars. If not, Delci would be the safer options between delci and EW300. If your friend plans on doing gaming the Delci AE could be more versatile, but i think you would be sacrificing a good bassy tuning vs 2 just decent tuning. Talk it with your friend and narrow down options. If you are interested in more options for $50 or below, i have a whole pick list of you are interested.

This is my First formal IEM Pick Mega Guide – "Revamped" (Last Updated: January 2025) PART 1 Oh well… here we go again. And this is going to be LARGE, so buckle up, this is a part 1 because turns out reddit wont let me publish this much text in one single post, so yeah, ill link the Part 2 right here: * [For part 2 Click - HERE -](https://www.reddit.com/r/iems/comments/1f332k3/the_iem_pick_megaguide_part2/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button) # UPDATE: Now i also have a Sub $100-ish list if you want to check it: [https://www.reddit.com/r/iems/s/OXgg8IsbYi](https://www.reddit.com/r/iems/s/OXgg8IsbYi) /---------------- # Gaming Update: As quite a lot of people asks for gaming options, I’ll make this update marking iems with performance rakings from the "WALLHACK TIER LIST" of Reviewer Fresh Reviews, who is known for recommending iems for gaming use, just be aware that this does not reflect my opinion about each IEM nor does it ensure that you will have an excellent video game experience just because the iem is listed. The Fresh Reviews system gives letter grades where “S” is the best grade, going down from S-A to C+, where C+ means that they are the minimum for video games. I will mark the IEMs by putting the score besides the name: "( FRS: “Mark obtained”)" (FRS = Fresh Reviews Score), example: Zero Red (FRS: C+), if you don't see this mark, it means that Fresh Reviews did not consider it for gaming, or didnt review the product. /---------------- **So, lets continue with part 1:** Some people might identify me already, I’m one of the redditors in this sub that’s usually giving recs and trying to help people left and right, things doesn’t always work, but I hope that I’m being of some help. So yeah, I finally gathered the will to do a proper post about this, I’ll try to pour everything I know after around 4 years of checking reviews and trying around more than 27 different iems (mostly under $100).   ***BTW, IF YOU SEE SOME GLARING ERROR, ANYTHING THAT JUST DOES NOT SEEM RIGHT, PLEASE LET MY KNOW, IM DISLEXIC TOO, SO YEAH XD, THANKS FOR THE FUTURE HELP.*** \----- # CONTENTS: Part 1: * Where to buy? * List of mostly recommended iems under $50. * Reviewers List. Part 2: * FACs (Frequently Asked Concerns lol – I recommend you to read this one first if you are a newbie). * Final extra details. Now, remember that I’m just another person, I have preferences and some degree of bias towards some sets, especially ones that I own, my intention is not to tell you “You should pick this”, but rather to point you out to a clearer direction as to what you might like or need. This info is not “absolute” as preferences and music library plays a huge role on the experience, but at least I hope I can make this decision less complicated for you. \----- # Where to buy? So, first, I don’t know what store you are planning to use but most common recs for buying are: * Mostly free shipping Stores: Shenzhen Audio, Amazon, and alsoAliExpress, but with ali, you need to pick the seller carefully, I have got 3 iems and some cables from there without any problems, but it isn’t as safe as Amazon and Shenzhen could be. * \- * They usually charge shipping Stores: Hifigo, Linsoul. I would recommend the free shipping Stores better since, besides free shipping, I have had less problems with them (in my very personal experience) and they usually do as much as possible to help their clients, however, this doesn’t mean that you can’t have problems with each store, sometimes life sucks and online stores do too, so always be careful when ordering online, specially check sellers on AliExpress Also, when buying, remember that if you wish to have a cable that comes with a mic, since IEMs don’t always come with one, especially around $50 and above, you need to specially pick the option of having a cable with mic when selecting the IEM for purchase if the options is given. \----- # Usually recommended IEMs under $50 If you don’t feel like reading or you have some IEM experience, skip or ignore the “FACs” part, HOWEVER, if you are new to this hobby, I recommend you to check that first, it could help clear your mind about a lot of questions you might have. ***The price in brackets is the original base price of the IEMs.*** ***Purchase links disclaimer:*** The links included are affiliate links, but make sure to check vendor reviews when you make any AliExpress purchases. The links have no influence on which IEMs are recommended or picked for the list.   # ----- # BASSY IEMS IEMs that their key point Is the lower end of sound, more Rumble and/or bass punch/kick, if you want some good bass, check this one, there will be iems from bass heavy to balanced, but overall, picks that have an elevated bass area, even if that also comes with some extra treble. * **($16) KZ Castor Bass enhanced edition (Black colored):** An IEM with a heavy, but still somewhat clean, punchy and rumbly bass, that can have the amount of bass and treble adjusted with switches, can have some more treble energy than QKZxHBB, but bass is very prominent, so vocals do get a bit overshadowed and might feel lacking intensity, recommended mostly for electronic music or bass heavy genres like hip-hop or R&B, not really recommended for vocal centric music genres like rock or ballads, Works for gaming, but bass might be too distracting. Nozzle is on the larger side. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mt6hFPl) * \- * **($17) KZ Castor Pro:** A small upgrade to the Castor bass OG, a bit more Rumble, a bit less punch, it is overall better than the OG Castor, but also comes with a larger nozzle. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mKmDf4B) * \- * **($20) QKZxHBB (FRS: B-):** A lot of rumbly bass with decent vocals, altough it can sound muddy for some at fist, is mostly for those who really like a lot of inmersive bass but also still want enough vocal and treble detail. Works for gaming. Nozzle slightly on the larger side. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_msetV8R) * \- * **($50) Truthear Zero (blue) (FRS: B-):** They are actually balanced sounding, bass, vocals and treble all are very energetic, but this IEM was made to have very clean bass, like a mini “subwoofer” effect, and that’s the main focus of It, although their nozzles (the part of the iem that goes into your ear canal) are some of the biggest on the market, if you happen to have small ear canals, or you are looking for comfort, they could hurt or not fit well when using them (the biggest nozzle from this list). Usually recommended over the Zero Red for gaming, from the less bassy picks in the bassy section. You should consider using a dongle DAC if the sound is too quiet with them. If you happend to have fitting problems, check the Spinfit CP155 eartips, could help a lot, but those tips get streched kinda easy and can fall out of the nozzle, so do take in mind. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mOGUNun) * \- * **($24-34) BLON BL03:** Great hard hitting bassy IEM, a lot of Energy and intensity with enough intense treble, biggest downside Is that Fit might not be great thanks to their particular shape and short reaching nozzle (the nozzle might not be large enough to enter properly into your ear canal), the nozzle itself is on the smaller side. Not a bad pick, works for gaming, but a bit outdated. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mqDowxp) * \- * **($50) CCA Rhapsody:** THE Castor bass upgrade, better techs, some more clarity, all in all, a great bassy package for the price, but shell is VERY large and nozzle not so smaller, so, if you have small ears, then maybe this is not the best pick, nozzle size is in a middle ground. Works for gaming. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mMQ1ytz) * \- * **($35) BLON Z300:** A very specific pick since they are just somewhat bassy, they could sound balanced for bassheads, and muddy for non-bassheads, the bass works better with well produced/mixed files, for poor quality tracks they might lack punch, they are decent for vocals, but might feel a bit on the background. They are decent for an inmerssive bassy sound, and have pretty good resolution and detail, also, sound direction is good, if you like ASMR, those are good bot a bassy relaxed replay on a budget. Should work for gaming, nozzle is pretty small, should have a comfy fit. If you want clarity and cleaness is not the best option. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mrDU1eF) * \- * **($50) Blon JOJO:** this one is like a more bassy, aggressive QKZxHBB, techs are just decent for $50, but because of its quantity of bass, aren’t the best for clarity or detail. Might work for gaming, not really recommended, best for bassy music genres. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mOT3o83) * \- * **($37) CCA Trio:** This ones comes like a small upgrade from the Castor Bass, if you feel that Castor bass would be too intense, might as well go for this one, this is more of a bassy V-shaped or balanced set, but with the ability to increase the bass or treble just like the castor. should work for gaming. Vader Balanced is a good alternative if you find it cheaper. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mPAIXdp) * \- * **($31) KZ Vader Balanced:** Energetic bassy V-shape-ish sound with a less "Harman-style" approach (less obvious clean-cut bass, some warmness on vocals), so it has a bit more body, but not that much, mostly a bit less V-shaped CCA trio, a good alternative to it. Decent techs for the price, get whichever is cheaper. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_m05R5aF) * \- * **($50) INAWAKEN Dawn Ms:** Warm, rumbly, a bit thick, bassy V-shaped iem, could feel slightly less technical than other iems, but clean-ish sound still, relaxed upper treble but a bit foward lower treble (shoutiness warning), warm-ish vocals, pretty good bass performance. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mKp2ac3) * \- * **($25) Tachjim One (has DSP/Type-C option too):** A bullet style earphone that has a focus on Mid bass over sub bass, it’s somewhat V-shaped and energetic, a bit foward on the lower treble, and it has a bass that should work better for rock genres since it gives energy to drums without making the sound way too bassy. Could work for gaming, but being this mid-bass centric, wouldn’t recommend It. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mPULWWP) * \- * **($22) Tanchjim Tanya (DSP):** Another bullet style, the only reason I’m mentioning only the DSP version (Type-C cable connection) is because this one would pack a very good amount of bass, while keeping it reasonably clean, slightly better than Castor bass in that specific regard, but keeping an affordable price over other picks like Trio or Zero Blue. Could work for gaming, still similar problem to Castor. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mKWofm3) # -- # BALANCED IEMS Section for more balanced and somewhat neutral IEMs: (For clarification on what’s “neutral” and what’s “balanced” please check the FACs) * **($19) Tangzu Waner:** a slightly rumbly IEM that has a lot of vocal qualities, with a close-to-neutral and pretty balanced sound, great for long listening sessions, not great for directional sound/gaming in my personal experience. A very versatile starter pick, but bass area can come as a slightly muddy at first, so, better for people that like some bass presence and nice body on male vocals. Nozzle size is in between, not too big, not too small. As a side note, some people say they work for gaming, i dont find them particularly good for that versus other options, your call. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_m0Z0EQr) * \- * **($30) Tripowin Vivace (FRS: B-):** A nice slighlty bass leaning iem that has good technicalities for the price, almost performing above its price range, a very safe sound overall, on of the safest sounds on to pick from the list. The best cheaper allrounder starting point under $30 and arguably the best gaming pick under $50. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mKx3o0L) * \- * **($38-44) Sgor Luna:** While it’s a planar, it doesn’t exactly compete with other planars around this price, however, it’s a very cheap good option to try a planar driver, plus you can pick them bundled with a dongle dac which should take care of your amplification needs. As far as technical performance goes it is decent for its price range (which is around $40) but the best part is that it is like a less intense Simgot ew200, it might have an edge over them technically speaking, but the tuning of the luna doesn’t make it too obvious. It has a better bass quality and presence, making it a pretty decent and very safe pick for the price, as long as you use a dongle with them OR a DAP with decent amplfication on the 3.5mm conection. *PROBABLY THE SAFEST PICK AROUND $50.* Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mKynQSJ) * \- * **($19) Truthear Gate:** A correct and pretty balanced iem, similar to waner but with a tilt to female vocals and treble, also, bass might sound slightly cleaner than waner, but just a bit. Should for gaming. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_m0ebw6r) * \- * **($25-30) Kinera Celest Wyvern (Abyss/black, Quing, Pro) (should had a Type-C option):** the 3 verions are around the same, pick the most appealing to you. Tuning is similar to waner with a bit of more overall energy on vocals and presence on the bass, maybe a tilt to female vocals too, and slightly cleaner in the bass. Should work for gaming. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mrlZ1Ij) * \- * **($20) Simgot ew100p (There is a DSP/Type-C variant):** Another similar one to Gate and Waner, maybe an inbetween from gate and waner, but all in all, a very decent, balanced set, slightly more treble energy than other models, nothing too much. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mqIAQHH) * \- * **($19) Moondrop Chu II (There is a DSP/Type-C variant):** A pretty balanced and clean IEM, detail is nice, and they are a bit more forward on the female vocals and treble than Waner, still not too intense, another great starting pick, especially for people that do want to hear some bass, but don’t want it to affect the rest of the sound much. As a heads up tho, these are especially known for having problems with humidity and moisture because of its metal shell. Works for gaming, nozzle on the smaller side, should have a comfy fit. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mK6uRmj) * \- * **($25) 7hz Salnotes Zero 2:** A more bassy leaning version of the Chu II, the second safest allrounder performer after Vivace for any kind of music genres under $30, a good gaming replacement for the Vivace too, nozzle is slightly on the larger side. This one is not on the bassy side since it has less bass than most of the other Bassy picks, around the same as the Zero Blue, but without any fancy “subwoofer” approach. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mqKyRcR) * \- * **($35) Kiwiears Cadenza:** A more energetic version of the Tangzu Waner, with a more v-shaped approeach with extra sub-bass and female vocals, overall good performance if you like that energy in your music, however, bass isn’t like super strong or super punchy, is there, is nice and has some presence, but it isn’t the focus of its sound, works well for ballads or rock style music, with some extra versatility for some electronic music, not recommended for bassy music genres like hip.hop or R&B tho. Watch out for sensitivity to 4Khz peaks, vocals in general might come as shouty for some people, I wouldn’t recommend it for people looking for bass quality, as the vocal energy can get in the way for enjoying them,. Works for gaming, nozzle leans to the larger side. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_m0ZUrDt) * \- * **($40) Simgot EW200 (FRS: C+):** a somewhat neutral IEM that intends to be balanced but actually has a lean on the vocal an treble side of sound, so there Is more clarity and you will perceive more detail on the sound, but some people might feel that the treble can be a bit too intense, bass is there and has presence, but Is not the main focus. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_m0hfYft) * \- * **($55) Truthear Zero (red) (FRS: C+):** this is a bit more expensive version of the Truthear Zero blue, It has the same build quality but the sound Is a bit more balanced and less overly energetic, it works well with more music genres. The IEM comes with an adapter to increase the bass quantity to Zero Blue Levels (in stock it has less amount of bass), but It also shares the big nozzle of the blue version. Usually less recommended for gaming over the Zero Blue. Recomended to use a dongle DAC for amplification, to get te Best performance out of them. If you happend to have fitting problems, check the Spinfit CP155 eartips, could help a lot, but those tips get streched kinda easy, so do take in mind. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mMrjPcX) * \- * **($50)** [Kefine Klean](https://www.reddit.com/r/iems/s/7PVWrvBEU2)**:** A good balanced sounding set with a small bass lean, great techs for the price and a decent fit with an average size nozzle, all in all, probably on of the best picks on the list if you have $50, want the best performance and don’t know what to pick. ***I must mention that some people have encounter situations of channel imbalance with their sets, it could be the filters unscrewing or just not being properly put on on the first place, check that if you have any problems, also, be careful with humidity since its a metal shell, and if you have any actual problem, please do contact the store where you get them from for help with the issue, or the people at Kefine for direct Help*** Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_msWNk9V) * \- * **($15) Tangzu Princess ChangLe:** A mild V-shaped bullet style iem that would be pretty versatile for most music genres but technicalities like resolution, soundstage and instrument separation (check FACs if you don’t know what these means) are slightly worse than most other sub $20 options. Its price and comfort is pretty good still, a good gift option, wouldn’t recommend it for gaming. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mNZJZK7) * \- * **($10) KZ EDC Pro:** Very cheap yet good sounding iem, some less technical than its $20 peers but costing significantly less, the cheapest yet best starting point to test what iems have to offer, however don’t expect the best build quality, also, some people find the treble a bit too intense. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mrXq3FN) * \- * **($16)** [TRN Orca](https://www.reddit.com/r/iems/comments/1cbec6e/trn_orca_consumer_pov_review/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button) **(should had a Type-C option):** This is another pretty nice, inexpensive pick for people on a budget that doesn’t know what they like and cant spend too much money, Orca is a metal shell iem that has a kinda V-shaped tuning but with a lean on the bass, however, thanks to its 3 tuning switches, you can adjust the sound to either something kinda bassy clean like the Chu2 (switches Down Down Up – DDU), to a very V-shaped bassy tuning similar to Zero 2 (UDU) to a very bass heavy sound somewhat similar to QKZxHBB or Castor Bass (DUD - works particuarly well when amplified with a dongle dac for a somewhat "subwoofer" feel). They also gain some extra resolution when amplified with a dongle dac. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_msqEjYX) * \- * **($55) TKZK Ouranos (FRS: C+):** This one might show the similar shouty vocals than the Cadenza could have, but it is kinda the direct upgrade from them. It has a noticeable more punchy bass, but it’s very balanced with the rest of the sound, very prominent upper mids, intense in the note weight -the weight the sound hits with- and has very good techs for its price, slightly better than Truthear Blue and Red, but would recommend to get it discounted below its $55 price. Overall great if you like vocal forward leaning sound, specially female vocals, it has a bit less aggressive treble that EW200 might had. Not recommended for bassheads at all, as bass quantity will let you wanting more. Should work for gaming. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mMsadP9) * \- * **($50) Tangzu YuXuanJi:** Decent techs for the price, bright leaning sound, focus on vocals and treble over bass. Around in brightness to the ew200, open back design doesn’t do much for the sound, controlled amount of decent quality bass, and fairly good technical performance. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mPz7wQn) * \- * **($30-40) TinHifi C2 OG/2025:** Very balanced sounding, enough of everything from bass to treble, good alternative to the Vivace, with a vocal focus + slightly less boosted bass. Good technicalities for the price. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mKfH9Jd) * \- * **($30) Twistura D-Minor:** Somewhat V-shaped energetic set with average technicalities for the price, nice accessories that comes with a dongle dac, if you feel that it lacks bass or needs more bass try the different tuning nozzles. Basic but complete starting point pick. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mtr7wKB) * \- * **($50) Celest IgniteX Beast:** Balanced but slightly bright leaning (focus on vocal and treble) set that performs as its price point, semi-custom shell that can fit either really good or not so good depending on your ear. Decent techs for the price. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_m0Luh8J) * \- * **($30) TRN Conch:** This is a risky pick for the price, is better to get it on sale. The biggest upside are the accessories it comes with, is like an upgrade combo of a nice interchangeable connections cable, some decent eartips and a metal box, that comes with some extra iems included. The thing with the Conch is that it comes with interchangable nozzles, but just 1 of the 3 is useable for most people, the red nozzle, as the other 2 have a pretty forward and intense treble. The Conch has a V-shaped kind of sound, its somewhat similar to the ew200 but with more presence on the bass, which packs good punch, rumble and texture, and its also pretty clean; vocals are just fine, not that natural sounding iem, but also not bad; the treble Is energetic with some peaks of intensity, not the most refined but not super harsh, so your mileage may vary, just dont pick them if you are sensitive to treble. It works fairly well for rock genres. The nozzle is on the smaller size, however, because of the weird shape of the shell of the iem, its possible that the fit wont be the best for you, since its like a bullet style earphone, with just a cylindrical weight at the end that has very little support in the ear, so, keeping them in while moving too much could be a problem. Again, its not too bad, but it has a few “buts” to consider before buying it. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mK0gJK7) * \- * **($70) Artti T10 (and other planars):** I know the T10 stock price is around $70 bucks, but in some sales in AliExpress, and with new customer discounts, you could find it closer to $50 or even less. The main reason why I mention this one is mostly to talk about Planar iems, those are know for having good overall performance in sound and techs, but that also comes with a not so cheap price, and the need for some extra anergy from a dongle DAC to work the best. The T10 has a somewhat balanced, slightly V-shaped sound, that has just enught bass, but some people could use a bit more, overall excelent quality of sound when properly amplyfied. Build quality is also fairly good. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mKBFQ47) * \- * **($50) KZ PRX:** Mild V-shaped energetic planar, technically-wise competes with its planar peers but for a reduced price, however, it needs some good amplification, you should also get a better cable, 4.4mm cable with a dongle that has the connection, if possible, would be great. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_ms7AueR) # -- # BRIGHT IEMS Now for more "bright" IEMs: Bright IEMs are more focused on vocal clarity, and especially treble intensity and details of the sound, they are not for everyone since most of the time the bass Is quite controlled and don’t really have much presence. * **($23) 7hz Salnotes Zero (Originals)(There is a DSP/Type-C variant):** Pretty detailed, vocals do take the main stage while bass it’s pretty tamed, still being plenty enough for it to be musical. The most sub $20 IEM recommended pick for gaming thanks to its price, performance and clarity. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mK0Lu71) * \- * **($39) TKZK Wave:** A very technically competent pick, borderline neutral sound, with a clear yet small emphasis on treble, boosted enough for a detailed replay, the bass is clearly very reduced, but you can still hear some of it, dont expect much bass rumble. The bass might be too little for gaming. Check it out here: [Linsoul.](https://www.linsoul.com/products/tkzk-wave?srsltid=AfmBOopjxSmV08WMQvk-Rl0f6qiqRi0A-7hiIFV35tn3Q_6sqzbao6Ht) * \- * **($16) Tachjim Zero:** slightly more mid bass than the TKZK wave, slightly less overall technicalities, but in accordance with its lower price, similar focus on vocals with less treble. And, as it’s a bullet style it should be a comfy fit in your ear. Bass might be too little for gaming. Check it out here: [Linsoul.](https://www.linsoul.com/products/tanchjim-zero?srsltid=AfmBOooqEkFsn3ddSoCxeNxxA9ZhUqALVc7TAQVwn-j-wvSlP4B-8t5f) * \- * **($21) Tangzu Waner SE (Studio Edition):** A slightly brighter, but also cleaner Waner, with some more energy on vocals and treble, nothing else special other than the memory foam ear hooks in the cable that might or might not help with comfort. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mMI8dSb) * \- * **($30) Ziigaat Nuo (FRS: C+):** A more bass energetic Salnotes Zero OG, the focus is on vocals and especially treble, but it doesn’t overlook the bass, has good performance for the price, but not a safe pick for people with treble sensitivity. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mKr0NOF) * \- * **($40) Moondrop Lan (FRS: C+):** This could be a small upgrade from the Salnotes Zero original. A very decent build quality and technically competitive for the price, it has a nozzle on the small side just like chu 2, so should be very comfortable. The sound might have around the same to slightly less bass than the Zero OG, but, it will also have slightly better vocals than it, besides that, they are pretty similar, good if you don’t like much bass and you just enjoy a treble focused sound, but not with an overly intense replay. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mO5eyD5) * \- * **($60) 7hz Sonus (FRS: B-):** This one might be a bit out of budget but you can find it for less than $50 on a sale. Sonus Is said to have pretty good technical performance that is above its price range, however, the biggest downside it might had is that the sound could not be as "cohesive" as it should because of the dual driver implementation, that means that some parts of the sound around upper mids and treble might sound somewhat slightly separated from the lower mids and bass, most people don’t find this as a glaring problemm but you are warned. Of course, bass is reduced, but around the same as the Zero Original, this would be more like a direct upgrade, and should work well for gaming. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mrnxgiR) * \- * **($40) Tanchjim OLA:** A bit outdated for the price, but still the special pick if you want to know what “neutral” is actually supposed to sound like, pretty similar to the Wave but it has almost no noticeable Sub-bass, in favor of a very clean sound reproduction, it has some mid-bass to it but mostly for getting that specifically neutral sound, and has just enough vocals and treble intensity for the sound to be correct and very natural. This is not a pick that is recommended for daily use, but if you love vocals and clean instruments, this one is still a great choice, although technicalities might be slightly below average at this point. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_msI48If) * \- So that’s It, those are some of the best IEMs to pick for under $50, there are more that I didn’t mention and it doesn’t mean they are bad, is just that these are the most commonly known to be good and considered that most people would probably enjoy. Also, there aren’t many KZ or CCA options here because there are already some better options for similar tunings. Besides, KZ and CCA accesories and quality control is not from the best, and they have had other problems in the past like possible silent revisions of iems (changing drivers or tunings without prior notice) so they dont give me enough trust to recommend them so easily. Any question just Let me know. Notice that I do own or have owned some of the IEMs mentioned, but most of these recs are made by checking and comparing various Reviews from different sources. # -- # Reviewers List The purpose of this is so you can check the opinion of various people that had already checked a good bunch of other iems so you can have a wider perspective of what you might deal with, don’t take the word of just 1 or 2 unless you are sure they share your exact taste in audio, ideally use them just as a reference, compare any already owned iems with their opinions to see where their preferences stand in relation to yours, DO NOT trust only one opinion just because you like it better or the reviewer just sounds more knowledgeable. * HBB (YT Is called: bad guy good audio Reviews).\* * Paul Wasabi.\* * Super Reviews.\* * Jays audio. * Audio-in Reviews.\* * Gizaudio (Channel now run by ATechReviews - New Channel TimTuned). * WhatsNew. * SuperChonk.\* * Audio Amigo.\* * AndyAudioVault. * Acho Reviews. * Tone Deaf Monk. * Prime Audio Reviews. * Akros. * Ian Fann. * Hobby Talk. * Vortex Reviews. * AV Atmos. * Joyces Reviews. * Lumerion. * Honest Audiophile (I find him to be very biased by his own taste in sound, but it’s good to have every single second opinion in this case). * Joshua Valour (More headphones but still) * Kenneth Tanaka (this Is More for TWS/Blueetooth earphones) * Dan's audio Review (mostly for IEM sound comparation).\* \--- * *And please, do not take Sharur seriously, he Is trolling most of the time.* The names marked with a “ \* “ are the ones that are mostly well known and somewhat generally respected by the community and I. There is also the Legend "Crinacle" but he stopped doing "serious" reviews, i wont explain his lore, but if you find a review of an iem from him, especially in his "Crinacle" channel, he is also very respected, but he also sells iems now, so he has a lot to gain from you buying some sets. Now timmy, original host of Gizaudio has joined Crin into his Store Channel.

Im not sure if the type of conection the iPhone 15 has, but it seems that It Is a type C, so a good options for that would be the moondrop May if you like to try different tunings with the app, if you just want good quality out of the box, check the ew300 DSP version. Both have type C and both are pretty nice, althought ew300 should perform a bit better in the technical department. Besides that, you could get a dongle dac, which sadly i dont know what model would be better, but you can get something like the Kefine Delci for a bassy sound and use the dongle DAC for the type C conection, or even get the Artti T10 which Is a very technical IEM for pretty cheap, althought Its more focused on vocals and treble over bass.

Well, you dont really need to have a proper source first, you can get the iem first, that said, i have T10 and i listen to kpop, my personal problem with it is vocals feelling a bit thin (lacking body), because of the tuning of the T10, so, is not the best option for female vocals IMHO. as for vivace and G1, it really depends on if you have any sensitivity, for me, boosted 4khz (upper mid-range and lower treble) area of the sound makes female vocals harsh and peaky for me in some cases, so, something more balanced like Vivace works for me better, but i havent directly tried the G1, so i cant say for sure. But, other people find that extra treble good for detail, and specially nice for female vocals, thats why the vivace is the safer option, but G1 is the one with an edge on performance. Both likely would work for kpop, i enjoy the Vivace with it, i can say that much, but, if rather focus on music over gaming, i still think Klean is a better option, just consider the warnings on the listing.

Z300 is good, but Klean is way safer otherwise, if you liked more bassy sounds, tapping and stuff, would be better, but for sure Klean has an upper hand on overall technical performance. Z300 is better in comfort IMO. My problem with Z300 is that is really weird to reocmend because some people find it lackin bass like me, and others find it too bassy in muddy, if you take care of your things a lot, just remove the mesh on the nozzle of the z300 (at your own risk tho, since that can let earwax go into the iem and it can show problems earlier, mine hasnt had problems despite it tho) and that would help a lot if you find it muddy (also, use white eartips, the other, i think black ones, make the sound a bit weird), if its only for ASMR, Z300 should be fine, but again, Klean is way safer sound-wise.

I have Klean, have used Cadenza And Zero Blue Original, and stock, none are that great for what you specifically want. That said, if you are planing on EQ, i really think Klean would be the pick here, however, that is as long as you dont live on a humid city since klean struggles with humidity a lot, you can always use silica gel packs when storing them but still... If you do live in a humid country, and are planing to EQ, ill recomend either the Sgor Luna for safe-ish overall pick after the Klean (which you could possibly even like stock) and specially because you can get it bundled with a dongle dac if you need type-c conection... Or the Truthear Zero Blue 2* as long as you either use it always with EQ, or with the impedance adapter on, and as long as it is in your price range on your country of course. Also, a warning that, if you know you have small ear canals, those can be a but uncomfortable since they have quire a large nozzle, they are the smallest nozzle one from all 3 Truthear Zero models, but still quite larger than average fitting size IEMs like Waner. So yeah, Thats about it for stock $50usd-ish picks, i must say that there are other (on paper) pretty overall good options like T10 but i am not mentioning them because for your specific use case they could be "problematic". Now, my next best pick, if you want to save money, want a similar tuning to the Klean minus the possible humidity struggles and with a more overall good fitting nozzle size than most other iems, there is the Tripowin Vivace, I have both Klean and Vivace, and Vivace is basically a "mini-Klean", and overall small but notable downgrade, but still quite good performing. specially $20 cheaper for like 70% of the performance. i personally cant recomend cadenza because i found it significantly shouty, and if for me Waner was OK shoutiness-wise, then you'll have Higher risks with it, Klean could also feel a bit shouty tho, but given you will be using EQ, it also has better bass performance than Cadenza so is still the better pick even if more expensive, and for $5 less than cadenza you vivace anyway. Waner 2 also seems to be a very good option so far if you want cheap and with good accesories, but is still a fairly new iem tho, With EQ it likely would do better given than original waner is a beast for EQ, but dont really expect a performance upgrade with that one tho. So yeah, that would be what i would recomend so far based on what you asked. i also have a review posted on the Kefine Klean here on reddit if you wish to check it, is on my profile or hyperlinked in the name of the Klean in the list itself here in the post. Anything else, let me know and ill see if i can help.

At that price point i think ill go for the Kefine Klean as long as you dont live in a humid city, or if is ok for you to store the iem with some silica gel packs. And the Sgor Luna as a second option, specially if you would get it with the option bundled with a basic dongle DAC for extra conectivity. Now, both options are overall pretty decent, but vocals might not be super full, they also wont be like pushed to the back tho. As third, cheaper, options there is the the Salnotes Zero 2 and the Tripowin Vivace, both being quite close overall, Zero 2 having a bit more consumer kind of tuning while being pretty cheap, while Vivace focus a tiny bit more on clarity and detail, while having a more comfortable fit, in my experience, is like a mini klean without the humidity struggles, it does have some areas where Klean wins over it, but is still a solid cheap alternative.

Sorry for taking some time to replay, if a strong punch is what you want, there are some iems that have it but most arent like that specifically bassy, iems like the Dunu Titan S2 have a really nice bass, but a more balanced, vocal foward tuning, probably, something to that level would be the Kefine Delci, while being still on the bassy side, and you can usually find it quite cheap. But if you really want a hard punch, as long as you get a good fit in your ear that is, and on a budget, is the OG Blon BL03, if you get a good fit with those, they are from the most agrressive punches i have hear on a budget, and i have tried like 30 iems or so, some way more expensive (not to flex, is just that, i rarely have found a similar quality of punch on an iem despite trying various options), grantes, most of my iems tested arent that bassy, but still. If you want punch, BL03 it is, BUT you might end up wanting to get a new cable and maybe even differen eartips because accesories are pretty basic and sometimes dont help with a good fit, being that one of the biggest downsides of the BL03, the sometimes weird fit.

probably the Simgot EW300 is a way better pick at thah point, only problem is that i believe the normal version (which is the cheapest of the 3, and sound doesnt really change much across them) doesnt come with an in-line mic if you need one, if you need one, you could check the EW300 DSP* version to see if that one comes with a mic, as long as you dont care About the type-c conection tho, if you need an in-line mic + 3.5mm Jack conection, just get the cheaper version you find (being either normal EW300, HBB version or DSP version), and swich the cable with an aftermarket one with mic with the rest of the Budget. Tripowin, Moondrop, TRN are some decent cable brands that you could check. if you want a cheaper alternative let me know, but if you need a mic, most iems over $35 doesnt really come with one. PS: you can check my sub $100 list at the start of the post if you wish to see more options for yourself too.

yeah, allthought i dont think they are as safe, Luna being the safest picking the included dongle dac (type-c) when buying.

Oh, you see, what i mean is that those first recomendations i have gave you in my first comment (ew300, Klean, etc) should work fine for your use case. You could even check the Artti T10 too, but planars often use a dongle DAC for a bit of extra Energy to work to the best of their capabilities, so not sure if you want to use that? you could go the Sgor Luna that can be picked bundled with a dongle DAC (the type-c option) for trying a planar that should work well with your music.

To respond to the other comments yeah I think getting a Moondrop iem (like the chu, ssp, lan, etc.) or a magnetic planar with smaller shell would be best for comfort and sound quality on a budget. I have the Moondrop Lan + Artti T10, and they are some of my favourite sets. They fit really well and sound so natural for the price. The LAN is smaller than the T10, but the T10 is lighter due to the plastic shell. The SGOR Luna though have a pretty sizable shell, weight quite a bit, require you to insert the nozzle pretty deep into your ear, and are harder to drive but also sounds very good when properly driven. I'd avoid them if you are concerned about the comfort and portability. Can't say anything about the S08 but going by size and weight measurements I've seen online (thanks to Mr. Audio Amigo for this one) they look comfortable. (Also, shoutout for Mrs. Audio Amigo testing how their IEMs fit with a smaller ear) One other recommendation I have would be grabbing a pair of cheap flathead earphones. The FAAEAL Iris 2.0 is really good for their price (~8 USD on aliexpress) and sounds very natural. They only have around 60% of the detail retrival capability of a Chu 2, but you don't have to put anything in your ear and can still hear your surrounding. These pairs are my go-to when I'm on a walk or going to the gym.

Simgot EW300 and Kefine Klean are current stand out. if you want planar for that extra details, there are ARTTI T10, SGOR Luna, and KZ PRX are all under $70.

yup, if you want to try planar, get a decent cheapo dac-amp. or get plana iem that is in under $50 range, i suppose getting either SGOR Luna or KZ PRX with Fiio KA11 dac/amp will still at around $70-ish in total,

Your experince has some similarities with mine. I also started with the Zero (1) but it broke, so I got the Chu 2. Found the Chu 2 too V-shaped for me. Next, I got the SGOR Luna, which is like you getting the EW300. Both clearly V-shaped tuned IEM's with similar flaws. I love the Luna but it was just too V-shaped and I felt like I was missing out on the mids and vocals were distant (they never go too busy though since they're plannars). Then I got the 7hz Sonus in an attempt to save from spending for the Hexa. This was 90% there for me but it got really fatiguing ang unnatural after a month. Too "in-your-face" sound. I finally got the Hexa's and have been using them for over 2 months now. The way you describe them is almost exactly how I would too. Cheers.

Additonal Thoughts: My SGOR Luna's + bundled dongle literally just arrived today, Feb, 10 2025 and my initial impressions are that they definitely have a V-Shaped tuning. Coming from $20 IEM's like the 7hz Salnotes Zero (1), Moondrop Chu 2 and Tangzu Waner Studio Edition, the SGOR Luna's are noticeably better at instrument separation and layering. Even with very busy tracks you can hear each sound/instrument clearly. Though, this is expected since the plannar drivers are faster than dynamic drivers especially the ones that are on $20 IEM's mentioned. I would recommend the Luna's as they can get your feet wet with Plannar IEM's but you mentioned you also want a little bit more treble from the Zero 2's so these might not be exactly what you are looking for but they are really good. The Treble on them is good but just not as forward and snappy as I would like them to be.

I would just like to share the videos that convinced me to get the SGOR Luna's: Review: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAYmxnS3Gts](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAYmxnS3Gts) 2024 IEM's Awards: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhMQ8p\_sTCs](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhMQ8p_sTCs) (The Luna's won the under $50 category). Additional things about the SGOR Luna's: \-I ended up getting them because I wanted to try Plannars. \-The extra dongle DAC that is included is pretty decent so, if I end up not liking them at least I got the DAC. \-I have small-ish ear canals and they are very comfortable for me. Their housing is on the large side but also light enough for it not to bother me. Though the Luna's tuning might not be for me, I will not deny that they are an excellent V-shaped tuned IEM especially for the price. These will mostly likely end up being used by my wife as she likes their tuning. I hope I'm not bugging or confusing you more haha.

SGOR Luna. Exceptional on all of these fronts, a Planar, and. you can usually get them for around $35.

Without reading all the comments and replies I’ll leave it at this: do you know the difference between a planar driver and a dynamic driver? Because if you’re expecting a metric fuck ton of bass, I’d highly suggest you read up in planar drivers…….. SGOR Luna is a fucking bass monster……for a planar…….

Reviews or just buy the pro. I have the T10, Sgor Luna and have the S08 on order. What's one more to add to the list?

Second this. I found the stock tips to be dull and lacking. Put on my trusty Tri Clarion tips and my god they sound amazing. I will say the Sgor Luna (now that I have them) while being a planar has a slower bass decay than the T10's which also makes them fun to listen to. Again I put the Tri Clarions on as they are my go to tip these days.

There are a lot of good options for gaming under $50. I personally use moondrop LAN, OG 7Hz Zero, new 7Hz Zero 2. I've even used the Sgor Luna and Artti T10 (planars) for gaming. From your music choice I would suggest something along the zero 2 which has decent but not overpowering bass.

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

It really works well for metal, and many other genres. I just got the Sgor Luna, another planar, but described as DD, so bass decay lingers a bit longer which could be interesting. I did hear Artti is due to release version 2 of the T10 but who knows how true that is.

I'd recommend the luna with the dongle dac bundle if it's on sale. The luna has great bass and I don't know if I'm just not that sensitive to timbre but I don't really notice the "planar timbre" that much. I think I'd say that the Luna's tuning is on the balanced side but I can also say that it takes eq well (at least in my experience testing different custom eqs and auto eqs). It definitely sounds "fun" listening to the genres you've mentioned since the luna can also pump out some great and fast sounding bass, at least to my ears. It's a great value for money especially if you can get it for $32 below(I got mine for $28 with the dongle dac bundle)

Sgor Luna at below $30 is a great option. Truthear Zero at around $45 (2 DD) is a great starting point. It has plenty of bass quality and quantity (one driver acts as subwoofer, the other handles mids and highs). T10 (single large planar driver) is awesome too, but it isn't great to look at. Planar bass packs a tight punch. It's different than bass from dynamic drivers though. At around $65-$70 (on sale): S08 and Aful Explorer. I've been using the 7hz zero on the road while maining Truthear Zero at home. I have Dioko for when I want brightness and that planar sound. Recently I went shopping for something new and ended up with: 1) KZ Castor Bass (good bass, fun, connector for KZ Az09 pro bt adapter). 2) Waner 2 (to try the new release and for Sancai tips) 3) Letshuoer S08 (expecting this dark planar to be my new main IEM. Also has a bunch of accessories I wanted). 4) Aful Explorer (similar to S08 in sound signature but with different, multi-driver tech). Plus I like its shell design. Have fun with your pick.