Shure - KSE1200

Ngl despite me generally disliking Shure IEMs besides the K1200(freaking goat), if there's one thing they do amazingly, it's comfort. Still the most effortless, easy listening experience as compared to the majority of IEMs nowaday. Of course there likely are reasons behind that probably due to tuning and physical limitations due to multiple driver setups nowadays and whatnot so I understand.

For me, the IE 900 is firmly in endgame territory. I’ve tried a lot of IEMs, but my top three would have to be the IE 900, Z1R, and KSE1200—each has its strengths, but the IE 900 is my daily driver. It’s incredibly comfortable and, in my opinion, its sound quality rivals some of Sennheiser’s open-back headphones. My setup is similar to yours: IE 900 paired with the Chord Mojo 2 and Poly, using a Moon Audio Silver Dragon cable. I take this setup with me to work every day, and it never disappoints. https://preview.redd.it/mwjltc1nsl2f1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e1e59ac3a68727abbd6b7bbff7a53c7daa10206d

Shure KSE1500 in 2015 then in I think 2017 they released KSE1200, cheaper version without the DAC and EQ integrated for $1k less, they are now discontinued but to this day imo best IEMs, close 2nd(or 3rd if you count these as two different IEMs) would go to GoldPlanar GL-AMT16, those are driver that's something inbetween ES and planar, developed by GoldPlanar(they make planar drivers for a lot of other brands, they made drivers for all of the Audeze planar IEMs afaik) might be too expensive right now and are waiting for production price to go down to make a push with it because it's currently best tech we got except ES and ES need a special amp to run

Stax detail? Shure kse 1200 Literally an estat lol

Insanely bright. Some will hear that as "better tech" but the reality is just its incredibly far off neutral such that its hard to recommend (esp at the price).

As an owner of a utopia, a lcd5, and iems like kse1200, u12, and having heard the he1 I disagree. Headphones can still imitate this better as the drivers in some are distanced and angled somewhat like speakers. Kse1200 with some eq is the best resolution I've heard, id say even surpassing in some parts the he1, but the he1 again is just more real. Out ofnthe ones I own the lcd5 is the whole package, and the closest with some EQ to my mastering system with Lipinski speakers. But again, even these headphones are not convenient, as they still require being in a quiet room, and are heavy and leak sound, whereas iems are convenient. Shure kse1200 are what I use the most.

Having the KSE1200, U12T and IE900, Monarch IV in IEMS, and HD800, LCD5, Utopia headphones, the KSE1200 is more detailed than all of them (except the LCD5 probably). The wild thing is that it is not even that bright a headphone (I see some comments claiming that the detail is because its bright, but none of the others can reach the level of detail no matter how you EQ them, except for the LCD5 which is dark sounding and ridiculously detailed even before adding brightness to it). Now this is however where it gets interesting. For a portable IEM, such an extreme level of technicalities is overrated, and conveniance makes a much greater difference. Id take the Monarch IV or IE900 over all of them on the go, as they are just more fun, and are a lot less hassle. In summary As impressed as the KSE1200s get me especially with EQ to correct its wonky mids, I prefer the sonically inferior IE900 and monarch as they are either more comfortable or just a lot easier to use and a lot cheaper. Having to carry extra stuff is the worst. The u12T is amazing, but Ive noticed on the go I still appreciate the extra comfort, and ease of use of the IE900. ANyways it seems this is a month old post, but in case you still havent made a decision.