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.
I think you can get some better stuff still quite cheaply if you don't mind going for slightly older models. I would recommend the Fudu Verse 01 because it is:
a good, medium-warm IEM with decent detail that is good to listen to; pretty inexpensive; really nice build quality; and the tips you get with it are fantastic. If you're new to IEMs and want a taste of what you can get out of them, I don't think there's a better option below 50.
Out of these two, definitely the Zero Red. I would steer clear of KZ based on both the slightly odd, plasticky sound I have got from others in the range (although this one has a pretty good rep), and general QC concerns.
Fosi Audio IM4 (in black), Celest Wyvern Abyss (original, not the remaster), Celest Phoenixcall (clear not the red) , Elysian Pilgrim, Binary Acoustics EP321 in the mosaic color (zero interest in buying it though), Moondrop Blessing 3, Moondrop Blessing 2, Campfire Andromeda 2020, Binary Chopin, HiBy Yacht 10, Celest Pandamon V 2.0 (absolutely gorgeous shells), Tanchjim Soda, Simgot EW300, Softears RSV Mark I, Softears RSV Mark II, Tanchjim Fola, Juzear Defiant in emerald green, Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite in green, Letshuoer Cadenza 4, Simgot EM6L, Crinacle Dusk, Truthear Nova (beautiful shell), Mangird Tea Pro, Truthear Zero Blue 2 (gorgeous shell), Tangzu Xuan NV mainly because of the box art, Tipsy M3 (mid sound, but the shells are drop-dead gorgeous), Moondrop Meteor, Letshuoer S12 Ultra, Moondrop Chu 2, ROSESELSA Aurora Ultra in blue, Softears Volume S, Dunu Kima 2, GK Kunten (hate the shilling but the design is nice), Moondrop Variations in black, Simgot Supermix 4, HiBy Ace, Final Audio A4000, Letshuoer S08, Binary Dynaquattro, Tanchjim Force, Tanchjim Origin, 7Hz G1 in white (too bad the sound isn’t great), Moondrop Kadenz, Divinus Fuduverse Version 1 (not v2), and Tangzu Xue Tao, which I’m pretty sure is what originally sold me on it visually.
Edit: Twistura Woodnote, Cadenza 2, Juzear Harrier (in the blue), Ddhifi Surface too
Maybe the Truthear Pure, but if you didn't find the Explorer comfortable, you'll probably find the Pure quite uncomfortable.
If you can still find one (it's discontinued), you also might like the Tangzu FuDu Verse 1, which is really small & comfortable. The tuning is actually quite similar to the Pure in a lot of ways.
If you want to try something cheap-but-good, give the QKZ HBB a try and don't be too put off by the $15 price. It does have slightly pushed back vocals, but I find it sounds more natural than the Explorer, which comes across as both veiled and sibilant at the same time to me. They're slightly bulky, but I find them surprisingly comfortable anyway, as long as I'm not trying to wear them while lying on my side or something. These are my "wear all day" IEMs, especially for background listening, as they are very non-fatiguing at lower volume (or they can be bass monsters if you crank it up, but don't damage your hearing).
BloOdy_Jo
