TRUTHEAR - White Tiger

Месье! Посоветуй Не могу подобрать уши к shanling m1 plus. Слушаю в основном металы и электронку. Сразу кажется с непривычки, что вообще нет баса Castor pro с тублерами 1100 - уже почти к ним привык, но чего то не хватает. V образные TRN white tiger - середина и вокал сильно лезут вперед, отодвигая остальное на задний план. че-то не идут Truthear Crinacle zero - слабо звучат, но дефолтный кабель паршивый, норм кабель еще едет Вот теперь на форуме вместо вышеперечисленных рекомендуют эти KZ ZVX PRO, мол на голову выше звучат, хотя везде пишут, что баса маловато Как бы ты сравнил эти уши с вышеперечисленными? Спасибо!

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

# After a few months of my first mega list of options under $50 dollars...  \---------- ***Click here for the sub $50 list:*** [https://www.reddit.com/r/iems/s/WfhfLLl0np](https://www.reddit.com/r/iems/s/WfhfLLl0np)  \---------- ... Finally, after so much corrections and problems, I can post my next list, I’m sorry for coming this late though, I hope people still finds it useful, this time, I came with options ranging from around $110 dollars (counting in discounts) down to $60 for those looking for a little more advanced options, either to make an upgrade to your cheaper IEMs, or to get started in the hobby, in any case, you are welcome.   Unlike the first list, this time I won't detail so many things before listing options, if you want to know about where to possibly buy IEMs safely, which reviewers to check on YouTube for second opinions, and even understand a bit more of the terminologies used in the “audiophile lingo”, please check out the Sub $50 list, this one has two parts and explains a lot of this already.   \---------- # PLEASE DO TAKE IN MIND: That I’m just a single person doing this compilation of information, this list is based off the general impressions of various trustworthy reviewers on these iems. This is **NOT** a ranking list, this **NOT** my personal best picks, and I do **NOT** own all of the iems on the list. This IS just a list for you to have alternatives to pick of fairly recent, good, safe-ish iems to pick from.   There is so much a single person can do, so, **if you see any glaring error** with the description of any iem, or if you think there is any model left out that should be on this list, **please do let me know**, remember that this list only goes up to $110 because it will drop down to under $100 often on discounts, please do not mention iems over $110 or under $60.   Here, before I start, I'm just going to make some specific clarifications that people should keep in mind when looking to buy any IEM in this price range. Do consider that **I’m being very superficial here**, this is **not** full audio engineer knowledge being explained in a simplistic way, rather, this is more like **summarized general concepts** to help people grasp basic ideas that they could need to know when entering the hobby. \---------- ***Over-reach Update:*** Per request of various people in the post, I will be adding iems around $120-$130 to consider grabbing if you see it below $100. # Gaming Update: As quite a lot of people have been asking for gaming options, ill make this update marking iems with performance rakings from the "WALLHACK CERTIFIED IEM TIER LIST" of Reviwer Fresh Reviews, who is pretty well known for recomending 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 its 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 sufficient to be able to play video games with. The way I will mark it would be putting the score besides the name "(with FRS: “Mark obtained”)" (FRS = Fresh Reviews Score), example: Truthear Zero Red (FRS: C+), if you don't see this mark, it means that either Fresh Reviews did not consider it good for gaming, or did not review the product. \---------- # Relevant clarifications:  **---** * **“Hybrid IEMs = Better?”** A constant question you see these days is “are more drivers better than one?” and the answer is always: in budget price ranges? absolutely not, especially under $100. What mostly dictates the sound quality and technicality of a headphone is the quality of the driver(s) used, it doesn't matter if an earphone has 20 drivers per side at this price range, if another company is selling you one with only 1 driver, and people say it's good, that's because it usually is, the amount of drivers in lower price ranges means almost nothing, there may be extra benefits of having more drivers, but those benefits are not a “game changer” in this price range, pick based on performance, use case and sound preference, not on driver config…UNLESS you dislike the way that one specific type of driver produces sound..  \--- * **“What’s a Planar?”** IEMs that only use planar drivers are a special thing because usually drivers of this type offer very good and balanced technicalities in general at this price range, you know: separation, detail, resolution, soundstage, and all those terms you have heard. What happens is that most of these drivers also have some disadvantages that pay in return for the techs, among them the most common ones are: * That some people consider that the noise they produce in vocals and treble sounds somewhat “metallic”, which can be annoying or distracting. * \- * The second problem is that usually planar drivers, at least in this price range, do not have the most textured or impactful bass, they may have good bass presence and rumble, but they usually do not get to be as intense and feel as physical as a good dynamic driver can. * \- * And finally, planar drivers usually require a decent amount of amplification from a DAC to perform to the best of their capabilities, if you plan on choosing a full planar IEM, you really, ideally, should be running them with a DAC, unlike other driver types or even hybrid configurations at this price range, a planar IEM can exhibit noticeable changes in sound and performance when not properly amplified, especially reducing their overall technicalities and sounding less clean than they should. IF YOU CAN, hook them to a good dongle DAC with a 4.4mm cable for the best amplification possible. That's why, when I say that a planar will need “good application”, I mean that you'll probably want to use something more than the typical apple dongle recommendation to move a planar earphone, mostly just to make sure you are powering them correctly.  \--- * **“Should I get a dongle DAC?”** And the last point, although speaking of amplification again, above $50 you really should start considering getting a dongle DAC for your IEMs, because, while even at this price point, most iems could work pretty fine without it, you could likely end up leaving some performance “on the table” if they are underpowered. It is not obligatory for you to get one, specially if you dont get a planar, but also don’t be surprised if your iems doesn’t give you enough volume or if your new iems doesn’t seem to perform as great as most people say, you don’t need anything too fancy, just try a basic dongle dac in the $15-$40 price range, the normal cheap rec is the Apple dongle (US version), but you can always get something a bit more durable, and then judge your experience based on it. And if it’s possible to you, specially with planars, using a 4.4mm cable (on a compatible DAC) to get the most energy out of your dac will ensure that your iems aren’t under-amplified in most cases, is not a must in any way, shape of form, but you could try it if you can (but please, just dont use 3.5mm to 4.4mm adapters as those could damage some of your equipment if they are made improperly). By the way, the reason why i recommend a 4.4mm is because you can easily get more energy out of your same dac (if it has both conections, of course) using a 4.4mm vs the 3.5mm on the same DAC, you can always, get a very decent 3.5mm DAC too.   \---------- # SUB $100 IEM MEGA PICK LIST: (This list now cover iems mostly\* down from $60 up to $100, with some extra options that could be around $120, but that could be picked below $100 if on sale, please take that in mind. The prices listed are just the stock price, often lower on sales). ***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. The option for people looking for a bassy, rumbly, thumpy or just warm and relaxed experience, if you want good bass, check here. **NOT EVERYTHING HERE IS BASS HEAVY.**  \----- * ***($109) 7hz Legato (FRS: C+):*** The bass canon pick under $100, plenty of quality bass for your basshead needs, with just enough of upper half energy on the sound to not be unusable. It’s recommended to be used with things like wide bore eartips for extra clarity. Technicalities are a bit below average since the heavy bass isn’t the best for detail, but still very competitive, the basshead upgrade path from the QKZxHBB. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mqJdKzH)  \----- * ***($90) Tangzu Fudu (FRS: B-):*** A relaxed, bassy and smooth experience, most people say they are pretty comfortable, but the nozzle is slightly on the large size. It has an overall clean-ish sound, nice and warm-ish well-done vocals, and smooth treble. Average good technicalities despite the extra bass and the smooth presentation. Should Work for gaming, although bass could be a bit too distracting for competitive. Also, the bass is not super powerful, as it is more of a relaxed set, so don’t get it just for the amount of bass it has, but also for the style of sound. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mqvuzOT)  \----- * ***($75) Kefine Delci/AE (AE FRS: B):*** A pretty good bass leaning iem, some consider it the step up from the BLON BL03, as it manages to have great bass qualities while still presenting nice enough vocals and detailed treble. There is some warmness in vocals, not the cleanest sound from the price range, but it makes for a more relaxed and bassy listening experience, that manages to be engaging when it needs to be, especially with the pretty thumpy and rumbly bass. Vocals are natural enough despite the extra warmness, just not the main focus of the iem. The treble is on the energetic side, but not too intense that it makes it a V-shape. Technicalities are fine for the price range, but the bassy sound just makes it a not so “clear” sounding iem, a better if you are into bassy stuff. If you would like the performance of the Delci for bass, but also would like to be able to use it for gaming, check the Delci AE with the interchangable nozzles for 2 tunings and more versatile usage. Not a common recommendation for gaming, at least not for competitive gaming. But the usual bassy recommendation under $100. Check it out here (Regular): [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mKaEwxD) Check it out here (AE): [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mKT5q5H)  \----- * ***($70) TRN White Tiger:*** Funny and energetic, yet not aggressive, bassy V-shaped iem, nice bass quality for the price, with good balance between sub-bass and mid-bass, the bass does have a bit of muddiness (bleed) to it, but doesn’t drown the vocals at all, is tastefully done and vocals are fine enough, the treble is a bit forward, but nothing too intense, nice technicalities for the price, an alternative to the Titan S2 if you feel like lacking bass and too much vocal energy. It comes with 3 different tuning nozzles, so check each one, but most people likes the green or red ones. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mMYoBHt)  \----- * ***($99) Letshuoer S08 (FRS: B-):*** Bassy focused approach to a planar iem, nice rumbly bass, although not the most physical or hard hitting one since it’s a planar, but it definitely does a better job with the bass than other planars around this price point, it still shares all those great technicalities of planars under $100, but also still requires good amplification, that said, it is slightly less "power hungry" than other planars in the list, so an “apple dongle” type of dongle might be just enough, but if you can get something better, could be the better option. Should work for gaming. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mL3X5zv)  \----- * ***($120) Aful Explorer:*** Warm-bassy, Inmersive IEM. The bass is rumbly, thick, with body, but its not on the intense/super punchy side, sub-bass over mid-bass approach. Vocals are on the clean side, with some Energy, but not pushed as foward as on balanced sets, not that natural in the upper vocals though. The treble is enough, smooth and detailed, but is not that detailed or open feeling, safer relaxed treble over detailed and clear sound. Technicalities overall are good for the elevated price. Should work for gaming. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mNhhRI3) \----- * ***($126) CCA Hydro:*** V-shaped, clean-cut Harman style bass, energetic IEM. The direct step-up all the way down from the Castor Bass and the CCA Rhapsody. The bass sacrificies a little bit the amount for extra quality: control, tactile thumpy punch and clean deep rumble, still giving good body to deep male vocals with minimal "bload", you can always boost it up a bit with the tuning switches though. Vocals mamage to be correct and Somewhat natural and detailed, they pop out enough and dont get as thin as other V-shaped iems. Treble is on the energetic side, maybe could be borderline too intense for some, but it also manages to give nice detail while not being too aggressive with it, be aware if you are sensitive to treble tho, this time, the bass cant be boosted too much with the switches to balance things out, also, the sound of the treble could come as a bit "metallic" for some thanks to the driver config. Technicalities are decent but stock price is a bit too high. Should work for gaming. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mPV3RvZ)   \---------- # BALANCED/NEUTRAL IEMs. Here you will find anything with just enough of both bass and treble for your music needs, some might lean a bit into the bass, others might have some extra treble, but the lean is not big enough to call it bassy or bright. **NOT VERYTHING IN HERE IS “NEUTRAL"**.  \----- * ***($80)*** [***Dunu Titan S2***](https://www.reddit.com/r/iems/comments/1h8nzjb/the_rekindled_spark_dunu_titan_s2_review/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button) ***(FRS: C+):*** A mild V-Shaped balanced iem with an edge on vocals, specially female vocals, pretty engaging energy, it uses some extra bass and treble to balance things out compared to the original Titan. The bass is pretty rich and clean, but it also loses a bit of body on male vocals vs the OG Titan, still warm, just not the same focus, it has good punch to it and decent rumble, with focus on the mid-bass but not too boosted over sub-bass, and has decent texture, overall great bass quality. The vocals, because of the V-shaped style, do sound slightly less natural than on the OG, but they aren’t as recessed as other V-shape sets. The treble quality is good but could come as a bit too forward in some cases, so it can be a bit fatiguing for some, especially for people sensitive to treble. Technical performance is great overall, above average, good detail retrieval, some say that it could almost compete with planars. but the soundstage is not as big as other options, in resolution is competing with benchmark iems like hexa. Should work for gaming. It also should work well for Rock music genres, even with busy tracks. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mOdiyY7)  \----- * ***($70-$80) Simgot EW300 (Comes with Type-C/DSP option) (FRS: C+):*** A balanced yet energetic iem that breaks with the “Simgot has peaky treble” tradition. Nice allrounder sound, punchy bass, good decently natural vocals, enough treble presence, and good technicalities for the price. A warning is that the iem could feel a bit heavy resting on the ears for some. Should work for gaming. This one comes in 3 versions: Normal, HBB and DSP - They are all almost the same, just pick based on connection necessities, price and looks (sound is just barely different that it could be just unit variance as well – in the words of some reviewers). Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mskLcPh)  \----- * ***($90) Simgot EA500LM (FRS: C+):*** Balanced, Neutral leaning, yet V-shaped sound, still the treble could be a bit too much for some, but it’s very well controlled compared to other options from Simgot. Bass has good texture and quality, and it’s more boosted than in the EA500 so it balances the sound more, it is not too boosted still, so with presence but not the main focus. Vocals are good, correct and natural, but also forward and energetic. The treble has also presence, but not too much; in reference to vocals and bass, is not as extra boosted for the V-shaped kind of sound. Some people consider it detailed and smooth, but others still can find them a bit too intense, so, again, a warning for treble sensitive people. All in all, works like a more energetic Titan S2, with also great technical performance, slightly above average, it favors a nice and natural kind of performance rather than ultra-wide soundstage and very obvious detail retrieval, still resolution is pretty good for the price, fighting above its price range with the Hexa and the S2. It comes with interchangeable nozzles, try them all, but most people seem to like the gold and red nozzles better. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mqBqcnt)  \----- * ***($90) Moondrop Aria 2:*** A pretty balanced, natural, good performing IEM that remembers a bit the sound of the Tangzu Waner, just overall cleaner, and with very upgraded technicalities according to its price range, very safe sound with just enough of everything in punchy bass, natural vocals and detailed treble, plus an average overall technical performance for the price. Should work for gaming. If you don’t know what to pick, this is your best starting point. Several people, however, do not like that the build quality is not that excellent, especially the paint scratches easily and moondrop as a brand sometimes does not have the best quality control. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mOIoiwJ)  \----- * ***($80) Truthear Hexa:*** A balanced, neutral leaning iem with a sub-bass boost. Is a set that focuses ln detail and performance, a somewhat clinical sound that might not be too engaging for some, but excellent technicalities for the price. Bass is decent and detailed, but the small amount of mid-bass could be too little for a fair amount of people. The vocals are nice and natural, but also not that energetic, and the treble is mostly detailed and controlled, with maybe some slightly too boosted areas in the lower treble, so, because of the small amount of warmness in the bass, some people can find the Hexa a bit bright sounding (sound leaning into the treble), with some female vocal energy being also pushed forward, if you are sensitive to treble is not the safest pick. Be aware that the nozzle is quite large, so comfort might not be that great for some, Woks pretty well for gaming, as this is usually the technical benchmark to beat under $100. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mt0zJjz)  \----- * ***($80) Tangzu XuanNV (FRS: B-):*** A vocal forward, slightly warm sounding iem, good bass dynamics but not the main focus, a bit extra boosted on the upper mids (female vocals lean), but most people consider them smooth and not fatiguing. Treble is there and has enough detail but is nothing too impressive. Just a very nice, pretty safe sound. Average technicalities for the price. Be aware that they need some good amplification to work the best. Nozzle leans to the large side but doesn’t seem to have much fit problems for people. It’s a pretty safe pick if you don’t know what to pick, but you know you like vocals. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_m0DwmLZ)  \----- * ***($110) Kefine Klanar:*** Pretty detailed balanced (borderline U-shaped) iem that leans a bit to the bass, so plenty Energy on bass and treble too but nothing too much, although vocals could feel slightly on the background for some people, it has just enough energy there, so vocals don’t thin out. It’s a planar so great technicalities, plenty detail and clean bass, but will need some extra energy to perform to the best of its capabilities, and bass probably is not going to be the punchiest, since it’s a planar iem; I should also mention that the treble could be borderline too energetic for very sensitive people. This one is considered a cheaper Letshuoer Z12/S12 pro. Should work for gaming. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mMIgDej)  \----- * ***($100) NiceHCK F1 Pro:*** Pretty similar to the Klanar, kinda balanced, but this planar leans some more into the vocals and treble over bass, with a good but controlled amount of bass, plus some crisp highs, not recommended for people sensitive to treble. It might be the closest one to the sound of the Letshuoer S12 tuning, with even slightly less bass. Being a planar, will have great overall technical performance, clean sound, and should work for gaming. Will need good amplification as most planars do. And the bass on planar, like this one, will not be the strongest or physical one. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mP9caUx)  \----- * ***($70) Artti T10:*** A very affordable balanced planar, it has a decent boost on the sub-bass for some rumble, clean mid-range and nuanced enough treble that is sparkly but can be a bit too intense for some people (similar to simgot models). It’s supposed to have the same driver tech as more expensive iems like the Letshuoer S12, so, if you don’t mind the basic build quality, it’s a very good, technically competent, cheap alternative, although it might just had some more Sub-bass and less treble than the S12. It does also need some good amplification as with the other planars, ideally a 4.4mm power output. Should work for gaming. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mOJiup9)  \----- * ***($110) Simgot EM6L (FRS: B/B-):*** V-shaped Neutral, somewhat bright leaning iem. Bass is there, it warms the sound, but for the price is nothing impressive, not as clean as other options and it could feel like somewhat soft or not that texturized/punchy, under $100 other picks have some better quality, it’s just decent enough. The vocals are forward, clear but not as clean, not that natural, even a bit on the warm side of sound, so with body, especially male vocals, but that can play against female vocals. The treble is forward in the sound, with maybe a bit too much energy, but that manages to not be super aggressive, some consider it pretty smooth actually, so you will hear it, but you might not “feel” it as much, it do adds a lot of detail and helps with the openness of the sound. Technical performance is where this iem is notorious, while the soundstage is not the best, the tuning paired with the overall good-for-the-price technicalities, helps a lot for uses like gaming, usually considered the default best budget gaming pick around this price range. For music is just not going to be the most technical or detailed listening, just be aware that people very sensitive to treble could still find it a bit too much. **Some people have had the nozzle or filters of the iem falling off, usually fixed by glueing them back on, but you should know this info.** Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mqM2p3z)  \----- * ***($65) Moondrop May (Comes with Type-C/DSP only):*** A soft V-shaped iem, with good technicalities for the price. The whole point of them is to be used with the DSP cable and the Moondrop app to personalize the tuning with sound pre-sets or a bit of EQ. Also works fine with a 3.5mm Jack with the stock soft V-shape sound, but you will have to provide the cable. Should work for gaming. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mP5XKDz)  \----- * ***($80)*** [***Dunu Titan S***](https://www.reddit.com/r/iems/s/wxjSiXSolr)***:*** Neutral, vocal focused iem so it could feel a bit shouty for very sensitive people. Bass is decent in quality, but the quantity is around what most balanced neutral iems have, maybe even a bit extra boosted on top, and it focuses on mid-bass over sub-bass. The treble is quite well controlled and not that pushed foward, its smooth and precise but could lack some sparkle for some, vocals are very nice, very clean and natural, being the main focus as said earlier. Resolution and overall technicalities are good, resolution is the strongest part since it was above average when first launched, but somewhat average nowadays, the rest of the techs are just fine for the price, the S2 does present an overall decent technical upgrade over the original Titan. As a warning, the nozzle fits a bit deeper than other iems, so do expect the extra reach inside your ear. Should work for gaming, but I wouldn’t recommend it because of mid-range focus, ir could be a good vocal upgrade from Waner. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mM6hN4B)  \----- * ***($89) Kiwi Ears Canta:*** Energetic and balanced Vocal focused iem with some bright leaning to it. The bass is a kind of a V-shape approach, where the focus is more on a nice bass punch rather than sub-bass rumble, however, because of the treble, the nice bass qualities would not be as apparent, it is not the focus of the sound but is there and does a very good job. The vocals are very clear, detailed, clean, but also very forward, it could even get a bit sibilant or shouty for some tracks, so this is an energetic kind of tuning, more of a “W” shape than a “V”. The treble has presence, clarity and detail, but it can get unnatural thanks to the extra emphasis, although is not that aggressive. The tuning does make for a wide soundstage, but overall technical performance is just slightly above average, with an edge on separation and detail, at the cost of the intense sound. The EW300 is a more relaxed, balanced version of this one. Despite the technical performance though, doesn’t seem like the best pick for gaming. Check it out here: [Linsoul.](https://www.linsoul.com/products/kiwi-ears-canta?srsltid=AfmBOor8SGQG1NeTFgA-LY3I0SSdC_HvyTyZtY4bdj_CMLzKrCOqHwyc)  \----- * ***($77) Sivga Que:*** Balanced U-shape-Ish IEM that has an interesting balance between nice bass and crips treble. Bass is impactful, has a decent amount of rumble but it’s a clear mid-bass over sub-bass kind of sound, gets the job done but is not the most texturized or detailed bass. The vocals are a bit warm, mostly the male ones, so it has nice body to it, while managing some cleanness with the bass, is not the most natural, but is also not as thin, muddy or as unnatural as other similar sets can get, the area of female vocals is pretty forward, most people didn’t find it shouty, but it has the potential to be, at least for very sensitive people. The treble has presence, it brings good detail to the sound, but it manages to not be too intense or sibilant, just energetic enough. Technicalities are pretty good for the price, with some extra detail on top thanks to the mentioned treble style. It should be able to manage rock music even with busy tracks. Should work for gaming. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mtfpmTh)  \----- * ***($70) Tanchjim 4U:*** A balanced/Neutral iem with a switch system that lets you go from a warm iem, a sound style that reminds of the (R.I.P.) Truthear Hola, to a neutral balanced set, to a neutral bright-ish set, to a full neutral, vocal focused, set. The overall sound and technical performance is fine, but it is nothing impressive for the price, maybe even a bit outdated thanks to recent releases around the same price, safe in the treble too, not too intense. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mNYKbZ1)  \----- * ***($99) Ziigaat Cinno:*** Slightly warm, very correct sounding iem that is great for people both sensitive to treble and shoutiness, a bit of a "flat-liner" in the sound but maintains some musicality to it, with a natural enough sound. Technicalities are fine for the price, nothing too impressive. Should work pretty good for more detailed music genres like classical music. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mNDingn)  \----- * ***($140) Aful MagicOne:*** Balanced-warm leaning IEM. Technicalities are somewhat below average for the price\* but it works well in this (sub $100) price range. Bass is not the most Detail, punchy or rumbly, is overall a bit too smooth, but also pretty relaxed. The vocals are nice and natural-ish, but there is warmness from the bass, not the cleanest typw of sound, but it plays into the relaxed balanced sound. Trebel is smooth but detailed, not underboosted, foward enough to balance things out. An interesting, relaxed pick if you dont want going for bassy stuff like the Fudu. It doesnt seem to work well for gaming. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mtDTpsR) \---------- # BRIGHT IEMs. Here you will find the focus on vocals and treble: reduced bass amounts, very natural vocals and even sparkly trebles, anything for that high-pitched clarity and detail. **THERE IS GOOD QUALITY BASS IN HERE TOO**.  \----- * ***($120)*** [***Dunu Kima 2***](https://www.reddit.com/r/iems/comments/1gk0xcm/i_challenged_they_delivered_dunu_kima_2_review/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button)***:*** Balanced (a bit bright leaning) Neutral IEM With an excellent performance for natural vocals. Bass has very good replay, but its not the most Detailed, punchy or rumbly, it works more as a complementary approach to the tuning, the focus is on mid-bass over sub-bass, and its not too boosted, sub bass is also fairly reduced. The mids are natural, clear, clean but with body, transparent-like, excellent timbre, nothing shouty. Treble is clear, foward thanks to the reduced bass, detailed but very well controlled, pretty smooth. Overall technicalities are just fine for the price, it has great detail retrieval although is not too obvious about it, Soundstage is just fine and instrument separation is not the best out here, but all in all is fairly competent. Could work for gaming, but wouldnt recomend it. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mO6feEP)  \----- * ***($60) 7hz Sonus (FRS: B-):*** A very affordable Neutral-bright leaning IEM, a step up from the Salnotes Zero OG, great technical performance, above its price tag. A clean, neutral and natural sound, with a lean into the vocals and treble. Good but controlled bass, with decent quality in the hit and a boosted sub-bass rumble. Treble is nice and detailed, but not that bright, not that boosted. The biggest downside is the hybrid driver configuration which some people say is not totally cohesive, like there is a small separation between bass and the rest of the sound, but not a deal breaker for most people. Just watch out that for some it could some a bit Shouty on the vocals. Considering the cheaper price on the list, the overall technicalities are above average for the price, or on average with some more expensive iems in this list. This one is considered kind of a “Mini-Hexa”. Nozzle leans to the larger side. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mOUBJJ5)  \----- * ***($80) Simgot EA500:*** A bright V-shape-ish iem that also has some warmness to the vocals, so, not the most neutral because it has some sound coloration. Pretty good bass quality, over quantity, has good but somewhat forward vocals, specially energetic female vocals, the treble is quite forward but can get fatiguing or even harsh for some. Technicalities are just decent for the price. This iem is for people that like bright sound without overlooking the bass, a possible upgrade path from the Ziigaat Nuo. Not recommended for people with sensitivity to Shoutiness and harsh treble. It comes with 2 tuning nozzles that don’t show much difference but try both just to make sure. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mtyc6Bh)  \-----   \---------- # Final comments. Thanks again for the good feedback for this post, remember again that im just one person and can make mistakes, so please mention me if you see anything wrong.   If you are looking for more overall information on IEMs, or the sub $50, look here:    ***Click here for the sub $50 list:*** [https://www.reddit.com/r/iems/s/WfhfLLl0np](https://www.reddit.com/r/iems/s/WfhfLLl0np)   I hope this list is of some help, and if you need to know more, don’t be afraid to ask… although this is honestly mostly how high in price my knowledge goes, and I don’t know much about dongle DACs, so, I will do my best to help as I can.   ***I hope you like what you pick from here, all feedback is well appreciated, good luck, the Budget Knight bids farewell, good luck... O.E. :)***

# Overview (TL/DR) The Pula Unicrom is a well done, slightly bassy, balanced V-shape, with a pretty decently punchy and rumbly bass, a bit thin but mostly correct mid-range with very lively female vocals, and a present enough treble that’s inoffensive for the most part, just a bit of sparkly on top. A solid V-shaped choice under $100usd. Its soundstage is average but with accurate imaging, solid resolution, and fine detail retrieval for its price. Separation is remarkable for a single-driver config, note weight strikes a nice balanced of enough physicality without being too intense, and replay is good on well-mixed tracks, though it can feel bland on poorly mixed music. ---------- # Quick note: From August 14th to 28th, you can get the Unicrom for just $69.99usd with a $10 early-bird coupon, Use code: 818UNICROM, valid on HiFiGo, Amazon, and AliExpress. ***Code: 818UNICROM*** ---------- \---------- **WOULD RECOMMEND:** * For people that like energetic (V-shape) kind of tunings. * For people that like lively vocals, specially female vocals. * For people that want good quality bass, that is still quite balanced. * For people looking for a comfortable IEM (The best seal out of the box I have got). * For people that like to do EQ, since it works fairly decent with it (Basshead potential with EQ applied). * For people that want decent accessories. * A good upgrade coming from Kiwi Cadenza or TKZK Ouranos, especially if you want more bass. * Similar tuning approach to Artti T10 or TRN White Tiger but a bit more bassy and with less treble sparkle, better technical performance than Tiger and very close to T10. /----------/ **WOULD NOT RECOMMEND:** * Not for people that don’t like V-shaped, too energetic, or too intense sound signatures. * Not for people that like very thick and fuller (lush) vocals. * Not for people sensitive to bass (it could sound too bassy for some). * People who are sensitive to upper mid-range (high pitched vocals), should be cautious with this set. * People that use iems at high volumes should be a bit cautious with this set. ---------- ***Full disclosure, this set WAS provided by HiFiGO, I did NOT buy it with my own money, but the opinions, as always, were given on my own accord.*** ---------- # REVIEW # INTRO With Pula entering the sub $100 IEM competition, and with a (so far) short history in the IEM market in general, their new budget model, the Unicrom, has become PULA´s gateway set for people to be introduced to the brand, and as we all know, first impressions are very important, so, how does Unicrom compares in a market with a lot of competitive sets nowadays?. Let me be honest, when I first saw the pre-release* frequency response graph of the Unicrom I was a bit skeptical, however, Pula listened to feedback given on their pre-release tuning and, for my surprise, once I tried Unicrom, I can say that they have done a tuning style that I never thought I would be willingly recommending, until now. ---------- # Fit and Drivability Out of the box, nothing seem too impressive, I mean, the unboxing experience is fairly premium (more on that later), the nozzle doesn’t seem too big and shell shape is quite generic so it should be fine, nothing seemed too impressive until I put the Unicrom on. Unicrom is the first iem ever to fit me like a glove, no slipping out, no constant adjustment, and after some tip rolling, using the stock blue colored, red core, small eartips for this review, there is a good chance Unicrom would offer a great, comfortable fit for a lot of people out there. As for what you need to drive this, arguably you can connect Unicrom to any kind of source and should work mostly fine, the only possible difference I found from my 4.4mm 150mW DAC output (Dunu DTC480) to my phone jack was that, with less power output, the bass had a tiny bit more presence, but overall presentation of the sound was just about the same. Suffice to say any basic dongle DAC like the Apple dongle, or anything with 30mW+ of power output, will do just fine for Unicrom, those get quite loud easily, despite the 101dB sensitivity and the 32 Ohms impedance. --------- # THE BIAS. Just before commenting on my experience, I need to mention a few things about me. Remember, every person listens and perceives in a different way, and those preferences and differences in perceptions are key to understand what each person specifically likes and dislikes and how that will translate into the opinions given for a review. My preference is a “neutral with bass boost” type of tuning, I don’t like too boosted treble, however, I do can handle intense upper treble quite a lot, so, what is not too bright or too “sparkly”, treble forward for me, could actually come as harsh for you, and what is bassy enough for me, could be too bassy or even muddy for you. Another relevant thing to note is that I’m a bit susceptible to iems with boosting on the upper mid-range and the lower treble are of the sound (around 4Khz-6Khz), which affects high pitched vocals, some instruments like cymbals, and part of the treble. Having boosting peaks in those areas gives the sound this overall intense and harsh energy for me, so if I personally find something that I say it could be “shouty,” or too intense in treble or vocals, please understand that I’m mostly talking about this. Last thing is that I usually don’t struggle with iems with the called “Metallic / BA / Planar” Timbre that some people can’t really enjoy, I normally don’t have problems with neither of those. ---------- # SOUND # Bass After trying a few iems that, on graph, had a quite boosted bass area and expecting a decent presence of it, just to be disappointed, Unicrom is a breath of fresh air to that trend, being boosted enough to balance the sound and also having a pretty nice, pretty punchy bass presence with just the right amount of physicality to enjoy music without getting too aggressive. The bass area is well balanced overall, but the mid-bass, where most of the punch is, does feel like slightly more boosted over the sub-bass rumble, this is more of an “allrounder” kind of bass approach that would deliver rumble or punch when the song calls for it without much problem. The sub-bass has a decent rumble quality that, along the bouncy mid-bass, gives a fairly good texture and detail to this area of the sound, and despite being fairly boosted, it maintains a mostly clean presentation, with barely any “muddy” presence into the mid-range. Overall, a good quality and quantity of bass across the board. ---------- # Mid-range (vocals) Mid-range, where vocals live, is the only part that would receive a nit-pick from my part, but to be clear, this is more of a preference issue rather than a flaw in itself, and is that the mid-range do is a bit on the thin side, with some part of the vocals feeling a bit “on the background”, however, versus other V-shape style sets, Unicrom is far from the worse offenders, since vocals don’t feel totally “in the back” just a bit reduced overall. Lower mid-range, where a lot of instruments and specially male vocals live, is the more affected part of the sound, which you might feel male vocals aren’t as full as they could be, still in terms of correctness, thanks to the controlled amount of warmness coming from the bass are, male vocals sound quite natural and also quite clean overall, well separated. In terms of upper mid-range, the part where there is more high-pitched sounds, it is on the boosted side, this means that female vocals are very lively and energetic and, while it sure come feel shouty for sensitive people, they are also quite well controlled and fairly natural. If you like this kind of presentation, I think they are from the better done ones in IEMs since even I, with my sensitivities, can enjoy it. ---------- # Treble Treble is one of those cases that is just good so there is nothing much special to mention but also not much really to critique about, is decently extended, a bit airy, sense of detail is good, texture is fine, is just well controlled in general, not really for trebleheads but also not super “tamed”, just the right amount of it for the overall sound presentation. The only potentially problematic thing to point out is that there is a tiny area of the treble that is audibly emphasized over the rest of the treble, which makes for a bit of a “splashy”, a bit sparkly presence on some specific sounds that some sensitive people could find too intense, more so depending on the music genre but for the most part it isn’t really fatiguing, still, using high volumes or, again, being sensitive, can make it more problematic If sibilance is something you are worried about, I’ll say Unicrom actually controls sibilance quite well but it would really depend on each specific song, especially if there is recorded sibilance involved, it might be a bit be a bit annoying in those kind of tracks, all in all though, it controls it just fine as most decent IEMs do. ---------- # Technical performance I recently reviewed another iem that had a similar tuning but had a hybrid driver configuration, 2 dynamic drivers plus a small planar, and this is what I mean when I say “driver quality is always more relevant than driver count”, because Unicrom, with just a single 10mm Beryllium-Plated Dynamic Driver, manages to beat the hybrid configuration, even on things that it should do better for being a hybrid. Soundstage is fine, not the most open feeling, but also not the most narrow, is the average for most IEMs, imaging is pretty accurate, on brand with most good sub $100 iems, resolution is pretty nice, realistic enough, detail retrieval is fine but maybe not the most obvious when listening to it, again, everything is as good, as crisp as it should be for the price bracket Unicrom is at. Something that did surprised me is that, despite the single driver, the separation on the Unicrom is surprisingly good, and I mean, remarkably good for both the price and for not being a hybrid IEM, plus, it does it in a bit more cohesive way that some hybrids do. Finally, stuff like note-weight, how physical the notes feel on the iem, is in the middle ground of being aggressive or being too soft, just the right amount for enjoying music. About replay, how good the IEM can convey the mixing on a song, for well mixed tracks it does very well, giving you the full experience, but it might feel a bit bland with poorly mixed tracks, not bad, but maybe lacking some “wow” factor. ---------- # Overall sound All in all, I find the Unicrom to be a well done, slightly warm, slightly bassy, balanced V-shape, with a pretty decently punchy and rumbly bass, with a clear focus on the mid-bass hit, without leaving the sub-bass rumble behind, a bit thin but mostly correct mid-range with very lively female vocals, and a present enough treble that’s inoffensive for the most part, just a bit of sparkly on top, so sensitive people should be careful. I am going to be real with you, I really hate V-shaped iems, I don’t like thin mid-range, I don’t like boosted upper mid-range (4khz to 7khz) and I don’t like too boosted treble, and in general I just don’t like how noisy yet hollow music sounds with V-shapes, so you got to imagine my surprise when I was not actively hating using the Unicrom which do check some of those boxes. Would I even buy it with my own money? Not really, but not for other reason than because is just not my style, however, if I had to use a V-shaped iem without EQ for the rest of my life I will, for sure, be picking Unicrom from all the other V-shapes I have tried, it just gets the job done, is well balanced and I can actually enjoy it in a personal level. Is it a new benchmark in the price range? Is the best iem I have hear under $100? Again, no, but what Unicrom do is, is a well-made, a well thought out set that I can actually see myself recommending to people looking for things like an upgrade or even as an allrounder / daily driver set under $100. ---------- # COMPARISONS I don’t want to make this too large, but I did promised to compare this set, something that I don’t do often, but in this case, with how so much competition is in the sub $100 price bracket, and with other similar tunned iems, I think it’s a helpful thing to do. /-----/ **- Dunu Titan S2:** Similarly comfortable fit for me, S2 has more full feeling vocals while keeping the lively feeling to them, treble is also more sparkly than Unicrom, but it has some less amount of bass so it could feel a bit brighter, Unicrom does sound a tad bit cleaner, so it does better in terms of a funny engaging sound but they are ultimately just 2 flavors of similarly performing sets, Unicrom might feel a bit more open than S2 but technical performance is pretty much the same, only separation being more obvious on Unicrom. /-----/ **- Dunu Kima 2:** Kima 2 has more treble so it feels a bit more open than Unicrom, more notably airy, but surprisingly Unicrom has the more lively vocals, Kima 2 just comes across as less energetic, more relaxed, and less bassy than Unicrom, it does have fuller, more controlled vocals so if you like that, Kima 2 is still the clear vocal winer for me, in technical performance though, they are pretty close, maybe Kima 2 is just a bit more resolutive /-----/ **- Artti T10:** This is a close one, both are similarly V-shaped, but right out of the bad, getting a good seal isn’t as easy as on Unicrom, clarity do is better on T10 given that it has more treble and is fairly smooth with it, but vocals feel more pushed to the back, bass is also less punchy on T10, it doesn't sound bad, mind you, but Unicrom does make it feel a tad weaker when compared, soundstage, similar to Kima 2, feels more open too, and in technical performance T10 has a small edge in resolution and detail retrieval, but for separation it feels like a tie. /-----/ **- Artti T10 Pro:** T10 pro has the better bass here for sure, but is not a big gap, treble is also quite more notably splashy when compared to Unicrom and even normal T10, vocals are nothing special and comfort is similarly tricky as T10, both are kind of V-shaped, but if I had to pick on to use with EQ, ill go for Unicrom, technical performance is also on the same level for both iems. /-----/ **- TRN White Tiger:** Ill be straight, Tiger almost feels like the budget version of Unicrom, despite stock being near the same, treble is more sparkly but also way less controlled than on Unicrom and it doesn’t make it that much more open on soundstage though, bass is pretty similar but it fills less punchy overall thanks to the better seal on Unicrom, mid-range is also similar as both aren’t that pushed to the back, but thanks to the smoother and crispier sound on Unicrom they feel more approachable, Unicrom is an small but almost direct upgrade from the Tiger, specially in technical performance across the board. /-----/ **- Kefine Klean:** Unicrom has a bit better resolution, but they aren’t that far off, bass quality is a bit better on Unicrom too, but because of the tuning, Klean has more presence of the bass, fuller vocals and a bit more sparkly treble, technical performance in general, specially separation, Unicrom does have a notable edge over Klean, but Is not a big upgrade from one to the another, I naturally like the tuning on Klean better though, which makes me more biased towards it. /-----/ **- Kiwi Ears Cadenza:** As of right now I don’t hand Cadenza in my hands anymore, however, for better or for worse I remember the experience of using it, Unicrom reminds me a lot of it but it does feel notably better, more technical, Unicrom has more bass so is more balanced to my ears, although if you find Cadenza any bassy, it could be too bassy for you, do I recommend it as an almost direct upgrade? Yes I do. ---------- # Accessories The box the Unicrom comes in looks fairly eye-catching but I was actually surprised on how premium it felt when opening, since after removing the cardboard sleeve, the box closes with a magnetic kind of latch, when open you can see the earpieces well-presented above its carrying case and bellow it is the rest of documentation and accessories inside 2 black boxes. - The cable is a Pula branded “high-purity silver-plated copper cable” that has a 0.78mm 2-pin IEM connection with an interchangeable plug system with both 3.5mm and 4.4mm jack connections included in the package. If you ask me this is from the best stock cables I have seen on a sub $100 iem, is lightweight, doesn’t tangle much, is flexible and feels sturdy, the screwable connection system is similar to Dunu cables but they aren’t compatible. The “screwable latch” is smooth metal so it could be a bit tricky to use at first. /-----/ - The included eartips aren’t anything special however it doesn’t mean they are bad, Unicrom comes with 2 sets of eartips, the clear ones seem to be a bit more of a wide bore, while the dark blue ones seem to be a narrow bore, both came in S, M and L sizes and both felt quite comfortable in the ear, they are very usable, which despite it being an obvious thing to say, not all budget iems come with as decent as those. /-----/ - Finally, in the box comes a dark green solid carrying case that also use a magnetic latch to close, it is compact, it feels sturdy, and despite the size, feels spacious enough for perfectly carrying your iems plus anything else you would need, even a larger dongle DAC like Dawn Pro or DTC480 (yes, I managed to fit them too). /-----/ Unicrom doesn’t come with too much inside the box, but it does come with jut all you need to use them to the best of their capabilities, these accessories are well paired with this set and is nice to see it when a lot of other sets, even more expensive ones, feels like they get handicapped by the accessories. ---------- ---------- #Conclusions I might sound a bit too optimistic throughout the review when talking about Unicrom, but is very refreshing to test an iem that, despite not being my preference, it really feels like the brand knew exactly what they were doing when producing them, everything just makes sense for the most part I can realistically see what kind of public would want to get one. If you want an energetic, clean, and funny sound, if you want comfort, if you are upgrading from the Kiwi Cadenza or the TKZK Ouranos and felt like wanted a bit more bass, if you feel other V-shapes are too sparkly, if you just want a well-rounded, energetic set, Unicrom is your pick under $100, simple as that, and I can stand behind it. ---------- ***Thanks a lot for reading, the Budget Knight bids farewell, wishing you the best, good luck. – O.E.***

* Astrotec GX70 PLUS I'm amazed this being part of your list - I truly thought I'm the only one using currently as its not mentioned at all here. Its a very well designed iem, lots of small tech details that elevates it above its price peers. That said on stock tuning it maybe not typical taste, treble oriented, graphs like the nfacous nm20. But with EQ its a beast to my ears (I autoeq it to the Pilgrim noir) *juzear clear Among those In your list this is most elite choice I think. don't have it, so don't know how well it matches your needs, preferences * I'd suggest choosing a recent release, from 3Q last year to present; * outside your list I'd recommend the TRN white tiger though (own it) or the refresh the TRN Shell.

I got my hands on white tiger for 48$ and for that price it’s a fantastic deal. The quantity and quality you get with these is amazing. Excellent tips, Tuning Nozzles, 3.5mm & 4.4mm, Very good cable and a hard plastic case. I pulled trigger on these because of TDM he recommended these over EW300 and other reviewer also said that Tiger is more detailed than EW300 which actually surprised me because how good EW300 is considered for its price. My personal experience: This is my second IEM first one was KZ ZS12 Pro X. 12 Pro X can be fatiguing sometimes (Typical KZ) due to sharp trebles but still very good IEM but Tiger is on another level. It’s refined, smooth, wide, detailed while not being harsh and has above average bass (More than ZS12 Pro X) and Tiger is more comfortable with T tips included. It has that punchiness due to Dynamic Driver in which Planar lacks in. I did noticed bass bleed into mids slightly which I adjusted easily with EQ. Overall I’ll give it 9.8 out of 10. Edit: Reviewer also compared Tiger with Delci and Tiger was more detailed with more bass while Delci is more neutral but less details. https://preview.redd.it/p3nrq92z4cae1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=de504ae3375c96b4e59b078e2e608c1a1b1e4245

I like Turthear Shiroi's design and overall consistency in quality illustrations. Many Chinese brands' mascots have inconsistent quality unlike Truthear.

TRN Tiger slap. The planar makes a huge difference in detail

I second this. The white tigers are amazingly good .

I currently have MP145, SM4, Truthear Blue, TRN Tiger, and a few more planars. It powers them all without a problem. I am also using these to give the cable some extra protection. https://preview.redd.it/zmkb3ye8kqoe1.png?width=800&format=png&auto=webp&s=1a9274a065472b007d86e595a5276163571042fc

Same here I was using them for gaming I had all the truth ears up to the xenns iems for competitive fps. Then I got super lucky found a brand new sealed Astro a40 with the mixamp like a month ago bought it for $300 and i will never go back to iems like ever ever

I love the sound of the Blue 2’s, but I tried the Tangzu Fudu, Kiwis and 7hz - the only reason I’m considering others is because they feel so much better in my ears. But the sound signature has been better on the Truths by far