EA500

The Simgot metal 1DDs are all very comfortable. You have the EA500LM for a balanced, but somewhat aggressive v-shape, the original EA500 that's very bright and gets fatiguing quickly, but it probably has the biggest wow factor for the price. And the EA1000 might be just in your budget depending on sales/offers and is sort of a more refined EA500 that isn't as bright or fatiguing. The EA1000 is my overall favourite IEM, but the EA500LM is possibly a safer option for more people as it's the bassiest one, and although it also has more treble than the OG EA500, it's more balanced out by the bass and it doesn't sound as bright. The other notably good 1DDs are the Tanchjim ones, but their ergonomics are terrible. They're small, but have very bad fit stability. Also the Moondrop Kato, if you can find one, is a great all-rounder 1DD and very comfortable. But it's discontinued. The Kefine Delci is really comfortable, but it's a warm, laid back sort of tuning that's not really competitive with the $100+ stuff when it comes to resolution etc. If detail is your top priority, you aren't going to beat the EA1000. Also while it doesn't have as much bass as the EA500LM, it has more "kick" to it than any other IEM I've heard, and it is very *realistic* sounding bass, especially for acoustic drums.

I haven't heard the iM4 so I can't comment on that one, but if you aren't treble-sensitive and prefer a bright tuning, you should probably look at the original EA500 (the silver one). It's an incredible IEM but it's also quite bright, so it's not for anyone treble-sensitive. The EA500LM adds a lot more bass so it's quite aggressively v-shaped, but it sounds like more of a mild v-shape than it appears on a graph. It loses a lot of the magic of the original (especially in the soundstage), in order to be a bit safer for more people. It actually has even more treble energy than the original, but it's more balanced out by a lot of bass, so it doesn't sound quite as bright. The Hexa is more neutral but IMO it has a lot of technical issues in the treble, and it also has large nozzles that can be very uncomfortable unless you have larger than average ear canals. Some people describe it as bright, but it's not really bright, it just has peaky, inconsistent treble, and lacks bass. It's actually more of a warm tuning, aside from the bass being a bit below neutral. If you're specifically looking for a brighter tuning I'd skip the Hexa and either go with the EA500, or if you want something a bit safer then consider the Moondrop LAN instead (the original version which is now discontinued, but there is still stock left).

They are bright. Very bright. So if you're at all treble sensitive, avoid. OTOH, if you're not treble sensitive or don't mind the risk of treble-fatigue, they're absolutely one of the best IEMs under $200. Absolutely insane performance for the price. They're basically a mini-EA1000 (my favourite IEM btw) but the EA1000 has slightly more realistic-sounding bass and smoother, less harsh treble. It's still bright-leaning but it's not outright bright like the EA500 and I don't find it fatiguing at all. Because of the extra treble, the EA500 actually has very slightly sharper imaging and a bigger soundstage than even the EA1000, which is known for it's very expansive soundstage by IEM standards. Most reviewers seem to agree on this, despite soundstage in IEMs being a very subjective psychoacoustic effect. You'll be hard-pressed to find a more open-sounding IEM than the EA500, especially not at the price. Keep an eye out for sales on Aliexpress. When the LM came out (not as good IMO but it's a *safer* choice, because the extra bass makes it sound less harsh to most people), there were some pretty big discounts on the OG. I thought they were planning to discontinue it, but it looks like they decided to just keep on selling it. I wouldn't be surprised if it's more popular than the LM in Asian markets, where they tend to prefer a brighter signature. Last couple of times I looked it wasn't as heavily discounted as it was just after the LM came out, but you should still expect to see some decent offers in the many & frequent Aliexpress sales.

The EW200 has a lot of treble energy but also a lot of bass (although this is very dependent on getting a good seal with the eartips), so it's more of a v-shape than a bright set per se. It's a slightly more aggressive v than the Chu 2, but still the same general tuning concept. Probably the best bright-neutral set is the Moondrop LAN. There isn't really anything better than the LAN with that style of tuning until you get up to the level of the Blessing 3, which is quite a big jump. If you want to spend a bit less, the 7Hz Zero is also bright-neutral, but it doesn't sound as smooth & refined as the LAN. If you want something that has tons of treble energy and resolving ability, while also being a mild v-shape so there's a bit more kick to drums etc. (but very much a bright IEM) then consider the Simgot EA500. The original silver version, not the LM or the new black one. This one comes with a health warning though, because it is *very* bright and potentially quite fatiguing. Definitely one to avoid if you're at all treble-sensitive. This is an incredible IEM in short bursts, but I can't listen to mine for more than an hour or so at a time. It sometimes goes on sale for as low as $50 since the LM got released. It's by far the most technical IEM at that price other than maybe the Artti T10.

They are bright. Very bright. So if you're at all treble sensitive, avoid. OTOH, if you're not treble sensitive or don't mind the risk of treble-fatigue, they're absolutely one of the best IEMs under $200. Absolutely insane performance for the price. They're basically a mini-EA1000 (my favourite IEM btw) but the EA1000 has slightly more realistic-sounding bass and smoother, less harsh treble. It's still bright-leaning but it's not outright bright like the EA500 and I don't find it fatiguing at all. Because of the extra treble, the EA500 actually has very slightly sharper imaging and a bigger soundstage than even the EA1000, which is known for it's very expansive soundstage by IEM standards. Most reviewers seem to agree on this, despite soundstage in IEMs being a very subjective psychoacoustic effect. You'll be hard-pressed to find a more open-sounding IEM than the EA500, especially not at the price. Keep an eye out for sales on Aliexpress. When the LM came out (not as good IMO but it's a *safer* choice, because the extra bass makes it sound less harsh to most people), there were some pretty big discounts on the OG. I thought they were planning to discontinue it, but it looks like they decided to just keep on selling it. I wouldn't be surprised if it's more popular than the LM in Asian markets, where they tend to prefer a brighter signature. Last couple of times I looked it wasn't as heavily discounted as it was just after the LM came out, but you should still expect to see some decent offers in the many & frequent Aliexpress sales.

If you want to try something underrated, the Ikko OH300 is one of my favourite IEMs that seems to have flown completely under the radar. It's very warm/bassy, with exceptional imaging/layering. I won't say it's without tuning flaws as it has a couple of minor issues, but it's incredibly addictive to listen to, and great value for around $40. I listen to it more often than most of my more expensive IEMs. Another great value one (but maybe not as underrated) is the QKZ HBB. The HBB and OH300 actually sound very similar, except that the HBB has very pushed-back vocals, while the OH300 has them slightly forward. The HBB doesn't have the same sort of imaging/layering as the OH300. But it is only $15 and also one of my all-time favourite IEMs at any price. If you want soundstage then the original Simgot EA500 (the silver one, not the LM) is a bit underrated as well (although it did have a brief period of mega-hype). It is *bright* though, and can get a bit fatiguing. It's basically a mini EA1000, which is my overall favourite IEM. The EA1000 improves the bass and smooths out the treble so it's no longer fatiguing, but still very resolving. The EA500 is actually a tiny bit ahead on soundstage & imaging just because of the extra treble. These are both great soundstage IEMs in different ways. The EA500/1000 sound very open and spacious (at least by IEM standards). The OH300 sounds a bit more intimate, but the extra bass gives a "sound blanket" effect and it excels at depth/layering rather than width & overall sense of space. Of course it's important to bear in mind that imaging and soundstage aren't the same thing, and how people perceive soundstage is related to their own HRTF. So especially with IEMs, it can vary a lot from person to person. Reviews of the EA500/1000 do seem to mostly agree about them sounding more open than most IEMs though. I haven't seen many reviews of the OH300 and most have been very surface-level. TBH, I almost put it in a drawer and forgot about it after giving them a quick listen on the stock tips (I bought a few IEMs in the sale and 3 turned up at once, so the one that caught my attention at the time was the Aful MagicOne). It was only a month later when I decided to try some other tips that, perhaps by sheer luck, the first ones I happened to try sounded amazing. I've never bothered trying other tips on them. I should probably check at some point in case it turns out that they only sound that good with perfect tip-matching (something I find to be the case with the Letshuoer S08, which is the only IEM I've heard with better layering than the OH300).

I find Divinus Velvet or Render tips (RIP) work best on the EW200. It tends to sound unbalanced and too bright unless you get a really good bass seal (Tang Sancai are highly variable for that - I usually get a lot of bass but most people don't). Every single time someone posts about the EW200 sounding harsh (which happens fairly often), it's because they weren't getting a good enough seal and losing the bass needed to balance out the treble. Usually they try some other tips and start liking them. I haven't listened to mine since I got Penon Liqueur Orange tips, but I should probably give those a try as well, as they pretty much guarantee a good seal. I haven't tried Whizzer SS20 on them either, but if insertion depth is as important as you say those should work well too, and they're also pretty cheap (the KBear Coffee tips, which are the same tip, are often even cheaper). The downside of Divinus Velvet is that a pack of them cost about the same as the IEM itself. The only reason I'd recommend collectors skipping the EW200 is that it's blown completely out of the water, for not that much more money, by the EA500 (the OG if you're OK with loads of treble or the LM if you prefer a warmer v) and the build quality isn't great (the EA500, by contrast, is built like a tank). Although it's metal, it's very thin and flexes if you press the side. Mine has driver flex as well, although that doesn't bother me as much as it bothers some people. It's a great introduction to the Simgot house sound though, for anyone just getting into IEMs. Still very good value and I agree with how OP summed it up relative to the Cadenza. The Cadenza is smooth & relaxed, the EW200 is more aggressive.

There's quite a broad range. For example: * Aful MagicOne - pretty, but not overdone * Ikko OH10 - good looking, nature-based & reserved * 7Hz Timeless, Timeless AE, Simgot EA500 - minimalist * Tin C2, Dunu Titan S (black/red version), Truthear Hexa/Pure - industrial There's a whole load in the middle that are just random swirly colours which has become the default low-effort design. Something like the Thieaudio Legacy 2 does that well IMO because its just one colour with a bit of texture, not all the colours, all at once. If you want a plain black cable, look at the KBear ST12. There's lots of options out there. I notice the stock cables often don't match the IEMs very well, and intentionally or not, this most likely helps sell a lot of aftermarket cables.

Better, at least according to Super Review. I like the original LAN but it does lean slightly bright (especially if you compare to something like the Hexa, although the Hexa has peakier treble and worse bass than the LAN - IMO the LAN is the better IEM out of the two). Apparently the LAN 2 REF is even brighter, so at that point it's probably just a bit too bright unless you're a serious treblehead. And Mark who is normally a fan of slightly brighter tunings didn't rate the REF very highly at all and only gave it 2 stars. Whereas he recently called out the OG LAN again in a recent video of things he underrated (even though he did rate it quite highly at the time). The comparison I'd be more interested in (and have not seen yet) is LAN 2 REF vs Simgot EA500, since the latter is an outstanding IEM, but it's definitely bright, so it's only for trebleheads or at least people who aren't treble-sensitive. I'd also like to see a proper comparison of the LAN 2 POP vs the Chu 2 because their FR graphs are basically identical but the Chu 2 is less than half the price (in fact the Chu 2 being so good is why the original LAN got overshadowed for a long time).

I've got a few [standard tip recommendations](/r/iems/comments/1dw6c4l/what_are_your_top_recommendations_for_eartips/lbspp1t/) but the thing about tips is that it's always going to take a bit of experimentation, so it's worth grabbing a few different ones, that aren't too expensive, and see what works best in your ear. As a rule of thumb narrow bores tend to be warmer and wide bores tend to be brighter, but it doesn't always work out exactly like that because sometimes a wide bore can even out the treble, making it sound less bright. I don't find tips do an awful lot to the LAN though because usually when a tip is a bit warmer, it's mainly adding some bass and reducing the upper treble. But the brightness of the LAN comes from the eargain region where it's a bit forward from about 1.5kHz up to about 8kHz, especially around 5kHz: [This graph](https://graph.hangout.audio/iem/5128/?share=Hexa,Lan) comparing to the Hexa shows how big the difference is in that area. I can't put it in the link but it's easier to visualise if you click the button to normalise at 800Hz instead of average dB. The trouble is that eartips don't really target that region very well. I get sibilance from the Aful Explorer from a peak around there somewhere and couldn't find any tips that fixed it. The only ones I've found that noticeably tend to down-tilt the midrange are Dunu Candy. I normally recommend 07 tips, because they're much cheaper and very similar, but this is one unique thing the Candy tips do that 07 tips don't, at least not as much. Some other warm tips that are worth trying are Final Type E Black and Penon Liqueur Orange. Those will add a bit of bass and roll off some of the upper treble, but they probably won't do much about that sense of brightness from the ~5kHz region. If you don't have any 07 tips I'd pick up a pack of those too because they're so cheap and sometimes they work better than anything else. The ones I'm using on mine currently are H570. They don't get rid of the bright tilt but I think they do help balance out the low treble and upper treble a bit so they sound quite "correct" and they add sub-bass extension without really adding much bass level. But bear in mind that I tend to use the LAN as my "bass fatigue antidote" IEMs so I intentionally don't want them sounding warm/bassy. I actually think the Hexa has a better tonal balance for that purpose, but there are so many issues with the Hexa with a big one being the uncomfortably large nozzles. In general though, even if you can't reduce the 5kHz region, if you add more bass that will usually make it sound more balanced and less bright. I just did a quick comparison between the H570, Dunu Candy and TRN T-Tips. The Candy and T-Tips definitely did add a bit more warmth but I find the H570 sounds a bit more correct in the treble with the test tracks I tried. YMMV a lot though. T-Tps are another one that's super cheap and worth having, although they don't have a multipack so I'd recommend buying either all 3 sizes (still only about $10 for 3 packs of 3 pairs), or S+M or M+L depending on which way your ear canal size leans. They're shorter than most tips - so if in doubt go larger not smaller. T-Tips are also medium bore like 07, and Candy tips are a bit narrower. If you're going to EQ I'd probably just add one filter to bring down the 5kHz region a bit. I think that's the main thing that makes them sound bright. I haven't experimented with that, but that's where I'd start as that's usually a pretty sensitive region.

Flat out better than the Red in all ways other than that the Red has a more neutral tuning. The EA500LM is a fairly aggressive v-shape. It's quite bassy, with a fair amount of treble energy, but it actually doesn't sound all that bright because it's balanced out by the bass. And in fact it looks more v-shaped on a graph than it sounds. It sounds like more of a mild v-shape. It's a good all-rounder so it works pretty well for just about everything, and for things like rock it has a decent amount of bite. Whereas the Zero Red can sound a bit soft, almost muffled. I've heard it described a few times by other people as "too safe" which is probably about right. They seem to have some issues with unit variance too and mine definitely has very softened transients, but I believe maybe 1 in 4 or thereabouts have much better technicalities, which might explain why some reviewers are a lot more positive about them (if the huge nozzles don't bother them). I suspect there's an issue where the drivers are sometimes slightly out of phase. Akros (reviewer on TY) has 4 of them and said that one of his sounds much better than the other 3. Probably the most accurate review I saw of the EA500LM is the Paul Wasabii one, especially for covering all the negatives quite well (especially compared to the earlier EA500) I personally prefer the EA500, but in your case the LM is better because it's got a lot more bass. I also prefer it to the EW300 which gets a lot of hype these days, because the LM sounds more coherent.

Interestingly, the narrowed soundstage was one of the reasons I returned the LM and kept my original EA500. I've since upgraded to the EA1000, which has all the soundstage of the EA500 but without the harsh fatiguing treble. I've been thinking about getting another LM at some point, if it goes on sale at a low enough price, to experiment with tuning mods though, as it has a lot of potential. You could try experimenting with the tuning nozzles and different tuning foams. I highly recommend watching the Paul Wasabii review of the LM on YT, because his experience with it pretty exactly matches mine and covers a lot of things most other reviews gloss over. He talks a bit about modding the tuning nozzles. There's also an EA500 tuning kit that comes with another spare nozzle and a selection of tuning foams, but it's been sold out for ages and possibly discontinued - you have a spare nozzle that comes with the LM in the box though, so you could keep the one you like the most as-is, and mod the other one. You could also potentially widen the soundstage with EQ. The usual thing is to add a slight reduction around 1-2kHz and possibly increase the treble a bit, and add a narrower reduction around 10kHz. You may need to experiment a bit until you find what sounds right to your ears, as everyone's HRTF is different. The EA1000 is the best IEM for metal in my collection, and the EA500 is sort of a mini EA1000 so it gets pretty close. The LM is similar-ish, but the bassier tuning just messes a bit with the soundstage. It still has good *imaging*, but the soundstage is a bit more like a sphere around your head rather than being wide and open like the EA500/EA1000. The thing about these is that they have really fast & resolving drivers for DDs, so they're able to keep up with the transients in metal and other busy/distorted music better than most things, other than maybe some planars (but they often have similar treble-fatigue issues as the EA500). If you want to try going the planar route, I'd recommend checking out one of the new Crinacle ones: the 7Hz Divine/Diablo. The Diablo is the basshead version and I've been listening to that a bit, but IMO it needs EQ not to sound muddy. All reviews of the Diablo say it has a much better stock tuning, but part of the reason I decided to try the Diablo is that it should be easy to EQ one to the other (in theory, one filter) and the Diablo has a smaller nozzle, so will be more comfortable. Also I don't like the mirror finish on the Divine. One thing I'd add about the EA1000, if it's in your budget, is that nothing renders kick drums quite like it. The EA500 has a similar tuning, but aside from the treble refinement, the other big difference is the bass. Drums sound incredibly realistic on the EA1000 in a way I haven't heard on any other IEM or over-ear headphone. Neither version of the 500 can do it either. The reason I like the EA1000 so much for metal is nothing else has that same combination of incisiveness in the mids & treble, along with that powerful kick to the drums. It's not a basshead style tuning though, it doesn't have loads of extra sub-bass (the LM is much bassier overall), it's just a subtle boost in the midbass that adds a bit on top of the usual "slam" you get from a good DD (which is something you won't get from any planar). It might be the passive radiator that does it, but IDK for sure. I plan to sit down at some point and see if I can replicate it with EQ on another IEM, but haven't had time yet.

Cheap planar that's also good? Artti T10. Note that planar IEMs like the T10, S12 Pro, Timeless etc., all have quite v-shaped sound signatures. So while they have a similar fast planar bass like the Edition XS, they don't have that super flat down to 0Hz bass that the XS has. They're more like the XS if you EQ in a +6dB bass shelf. Note that while all these planars have slight differences in their tuning, they all sound more similar to each other than different. The only ones that are notably different are the dark-tuned ones like the Letshuoer S08 (which is heavily damped so it sounds more like a DD) and I *believe* the Artti T10 Pro is in this category as well. Then you have the brighter-tuned ones like the Stellaris and the Dioko. Apart from those 4, AFAIK all the other planars are in the same general ballpark of sounding about 90% the same as each other. And the 2 bright ones are still within about 80%, just with less bass. If you want a very flat neutral sort of tuning then you probably do need to go to one of the Blessings, though I haven't yet tried any of them myself, so I can't really compare them directly. You can get something similar to that sound for a lot cheaper with the Mooondrop LAN (around $40), but there isn't really anything in between with a good, flat neutral tuning. There is the Truthear Hexa at around $80, which I've seen called a "mini Blessing 2" but I'm not a big fan of it myself and I'd take the LAN over it, even if they were the same price. Despite its incredibly flat bass, the Edition XS is really more of a bright-leaning, mild v-shape anyway and I think the closest thing I have to that is the Simgot EA1000. The EA1000 actually has a bit more mid-bass, but I'd argue it's actually more realistic sounding when it comes to the reproduction of acoustic drums. The Edition XS is the only thing I have that gets close to them though. If you want that same sort of sound for a lot cheaper, there's the EA500 (the original not the LM) which is like a mini EA1000 but it's a lot brighter and harsher in the treble, so it can get fatiguing. It's probably a bit closer to the Edition XS in the bass tuning as well. The other option you have is to get any planar IEM you like (for comfort reasons or whatever else) and then EQ it. Something like the EA500 or EA500LM would also be a good EQ platform (and very comfortable) if you want something that has a very fast and capable driver, but without any planar timbre. If you want something that can store any PEQ profile across different devices, The Qudelix 5K is probably the best option. The only annoyance about the Q5K is it came out a few years ago so it's still using 2.5mm for its balanced output, but it's pretty much a dead standard at this point and IEMs with modular cables usually only come with 3.5mm and 4.4mm now.

The OG Simgot EA500. At first I thought it was very good, but over time I realized it lacked dynamics (it always seemed like the audio was compressed) and the cymbals sounded very strange. I used it very little and sold it soon after.

Yes if you like its treble. They are also insanely comfortable for me. Not sure there is an alternative at that price with similar treble.

Well first about the hexa it does have bass but very tame so that’s why people don’t feels it’s a bassy iem. Out of tour choices the ew300 is a very nice one won’t recommend the ea500 much here cause it has less bass and more treble to focus on details so beware of this. Another option or 2 i might recommend is first the aria 2 they are alamces so nothing overwhelms anything so you could say it ain’t neutral just not focusing on a single sound signature too much and the other one but is a new iem and honestly haven’t researched enough to fully say my opinion on it but might as well check it is the tinhifi t6 b_media did a video on them but wasn’t very technical so still more research is needed

If you’re after that smooth, immersive “fall into the music” kind of sound, go with the Simgot EW300. It’s slightly warm with clean mids and controlled bass, so everything sounds full without getting muddy. It’s also non-fatiguing, which is great if you’re new and using something like Qobuz. The EA500 is more about detail and brightness — you’ll hear more micro-detail, but it’s not as smooth and can feel a bit sharp

I’ve been into IEMs for a while now and it feels like around the $20–30 range covers most of the recommended frequently budget options. Stuff like: \- Moondrop Chu 2 \- 7Hz Salnotes Zero / Zero 2 \- Tangzu Wan’er sg 1 & 2 \- Kiwi ears belle \- Tanchjim bunny dsp \- GK kunten \- Truthear Gate From what I’ve seen, they all seem really close in performance, just different tuning preferences. At that point, is it more about taste rather than “which is better”? Or is there actually one that clearly stands above the rest in this price range?

My friends it seems there has been a misunderstanding. I am not a beginner, i actually create videos and help people that just stepped in the IEM world i was just wanting to do a couple of informative like talks about this price range being the most competitive and focused on right now with the influx of new guys trying IEMs for their first time. I just wanted the opinion of people about each of these cause if i do it from my point of view it becomes totally opinionated based solely on my perspective. I have all of these and tested them all myself. Just was interested on the community view on these and why

Ok so my preference are neutral with warm tuning so not everyone cup of tea but i prefer for it the chu 2 need taking care of cause of the build quality other than that vey nice. Belle is ome of the new contenders and quite nice for vocals acoustic long sessions. Gk kunten has bass with treble for like pop rock. Bunny dsp if you want to try different sound setting using eq. Zero 2 are fun like have fuller sound with bass and mid treble so edm pop stuff like that and tangzu have the best accessories hands down and have nice bright tuning

As a start for the $30 would recommend here the new dunu titan x and if you go a bit more to between $50 and $100 then simgot ew300 and juzear x defiant. Then simgot ea500 amd letshouer s12 pro. That is like the overall options for your preferences depends on your budget i wrote starting from $30 till the $150 mark

Simgot ew500 is ok a bit thin , I prefer more note weight and thickness for metal. Without going to expensive stuff , I like, tangzu fudu verse 1 (not the 2!) or fatfreq deuce for metal.

EA500 is basically the detail/clarity monster. It’s more bright-neutral, so you get great resolution and clean vocals, but treble can be spicy and bass isn’t the thickest. If you want smooth + warm + relaxed, other options will feel nicer.

From that list, I'd choose T10 > EA500 > EW300, but I believe the "marriage" between T10 and Softears UT Titanium was the reason. Excellent ear tips and almost all IEMs, but on the T10, it's absurd... it's almost like it was made for it.