Que

Started with the OG 2017 CFA Andromedas, have since upgraded to the Dunu Glacier, with another sidegrade in the Mysticraft Myth. Honestly, each purchase has been well worth it, considering how different they sound and how much has changed since 2017 (the Andromedas still have their place though). Compared to mid-range IEMs like the YU9 Que or the Aether, there is a significant difference that more than justifies the price increase imo. It's like instead of the music being in your head, you're truly in the music. Surprisingly, a good DAP has made a bigger difference than I'd ever expected.

Only recently got back into the game, but tried a variety of new releases besides the current gen peak-fi stuff. Would say something like the Yu9 Que or Hercules Audio Noah are easily there. They're both resolving enough to easily compete with IEMs at double the price or more like the Monarch Mk2. While from personal experience I feel that he Monarch is just a tinge better at soundstage and timbre, the Que and Noah aren't far behind. In fact, they're very very VERY close. Hence for just 400USD, I'd say they set both the new benchmark for the price-range, and also are the new lowest price-point for endgame technicalities.

many shops i go to don't display lower end iems, or a lot of them. and lower end iems are hard to buy second hand, so for me they'd have to compete with iems double the price, because second hand iems are around 1/2 msrp or less dita (forgot the exact model), ulim(almost certainly oem), elysian pilgrim, yu9 que, are worth trying out. none are worth blind buying

First, I think RSV MK2 and Archangel is pretty close in term of bass response, Archangel just have more energy up top and the Vent just leak some sound so there's report that the Archangel behave like Open-Back headphone. Usually, Balance Armature have different kind of how the bass feel than Dynamic Driver, like the BA will fill more snappy and less rumbly, But RSV Mk2 Do pretty good job by making BA bass have a rumble effect like DD. To me anyways, Each ear perceive sound different. Yeah Niche brand will always have disadvantage of less people have them on hand to compare. From what I've seen, Yu9 Que, are more Neutral bright kind of signature rather than Mid bass warm kind, They have some bass for sure but surely less than Volume S.

The Yu9 Que might seem to be up your alley since it has a lot more of a mid-bass tilt compared to the Archangel. I got to try it in-person and you'd be surprised by the perceived bass quantity despite what the graphs look like.