7Hz - Timeless Series

timeless 2 are a beast. if you're happy with these, these can hold you out till endgame which nowadays can be had for 400$\~ on sale in something like xenns top pro

oh ur good drivers for most of them are generally pretty similar just tuned diff. s12 pro, timeless 2, kiwi ears aether, even the cheaper artti t10

I got timeless 2 Saturday and the rest pros Sunday. I notified Amazon I was returning the timeless just after listening to half a song with the teas.

Timeless 7Hz. Anyone else or are these too old or surpassed now?

Timeless 7Hz is great for classical.

My first pair was some Fiio pair (o think the F3?) that everyone raved about for gaming and sound quality compared to how cheap it was....was one of THE WORST sounding hollow tin pieces of shit ive ever heard lol. I swore off all IEMs after that thinking they could never compete with "real headphones" but then I got pretty damn lucky; there was a pricing error on Amazon and I bought 2 pairs of EW300 DSP for me and my ex for $8 each (was supposed to be $80) and damn were they actually pretty fucking close, just had weird highs that I started hearing and didnt like them after 5 months, so I gave them to my niece and bought myself a used pair of 7Hz timeless and just cleaned them, absolutely my favorites so far. I fear this new hobby of mine is going to cost me more than my ex ever did, which she made off with $1000s worth of shit. Oh well I got better headphones/earbuds now 1 point for me; 3450 for her

I support the supermix 4 being overhyped, but DO NOT return the timeless 2. The sound and technicality for the price is good, plus the nozzles makes it versatile. I will return the supermix 4 and save up a bit to get a midrange iem like the hype 4 and so on

Yeah, I prefer the Tea Pros, but there are some days I just want to use the Hype 4s, I'd say that was a nice buy! I'd personally keep the Timeless 2s, since I don't really like selling my iems, but id maybe sell them if I don't use them for an extended period of time.

Knowing your recommendations here, do you have any experience with the 7hz Timeless. I have them and I like the bass on them (once I EQ a bass bump into them) but Ive read a lot of ppl saying they’re disappointed by the bass and Im wondering what something better would sound like. Im wondering how they compare to what youve mentioned above because I def like bass but Ive been underwhelmed by the Zero Blue 2s (rather fatigue-ing).

Jesus, I just got the Mest MKII, haven’t finished figuring out tips yet, but my general impression is they are very good, but I find more enjoyment from my Timeless. Surprised that was the case, thought maybe I was crazy, but good seeing someone else with the same impression. The Timeless with Dunu S&S tips just have this level of separation and speed that is in its own class. The shocking thing is that so far the Mest does not match the separation, maybe I need the right tips. But the notes are thicker and mids are better. Slightly more rumble.

I have the s08 and the s12 pro. I like the s12 pro, they sound very similar to the 7hz Timeless, and the Timeless are one of my favorite headphones of all the ones I own. I haven’t heard the MP145, but they are supposed to be incredible if they fit. The normal T10 is an amazing value. I’m not sure how good the T10 Pro are, but if you want value, the T10 is the way.

7hz Timeless IIs are the way to go, I recently got them for $155 & I quite enjoy them. Put some Crooner style ballads & you're in heaven

I myself bought the 7h timeless IIs but have yet to receive them. Got them at $155 on the spring sale through Aliexpress

Just got them this afternoon, I'm currently trying out the different nozzles out with them. The following tips are are being used for these: Spinfit W1 (Still my favorite) Tang Sancai Penon Liquer Orange Tips Dunu S&S Tips: (giving them one last chance, went through M & L sizes but they were to small. Have a XL coming in later today or early tomorrow) So far the stock nozzles with the flower on them sound nice & well balanced. Checked couple reviews & All of them said these sound better than the AEs but only slightly better than the original Timeless IEMS. So If these are your first Timeless set then give them a go. They sound amazing

bright planar: artti t10 (best value, letshuoer s12 pro like), nicehck f1 pro (letshuoer s12 pro like), Tinhifi p1 max & p1 max 2 (pandas) [little hard to drive], if the budget allows, letshuoer s12 pro. warm planar: letshuoer s08 (dark signature), artti t10 pro (s08 but not too dark), if the budget allows, hidizs mp145 (beware of large shell) overall best: kiwi ears aether & 7hz timeless II & simgot et142

While I don't currently commute much, if I'm going somewhere on public transport, I find that I prefer a more v-shaped tuning than usual, with a strong bass especially. I think maybe it helps with background noise, but also in general I prefer a more energetic sort of sound if I'm out and about. My current go-to is the Ikko OH10. I've been looking for an endgame for this use-case and so far, the OH10 is the closest, but not quite perfect. It could do with a couple more dB of bass (without EQ) and a touch less stridency in the treble. I will say though, it's pretty easy to make the OH10 perfect with EQ, it's just something I don't like doing because I'm always listening to different stuff and it's a pain to manage profiles. Plus it encourages never-ending tinkering and tip rolling is bad enough as it is. Some things I was hoping would unseat the OH10 but have not done so include the Aful Explorer and FatFreq Deuce. Some warm/bassy IEMs that I don't like as much for travelling are the QKZ HBB and Letshuoer S08, despite being my #3 and #2 IEMs overall, respectively. The HBB is too laid back. The S08 is let down by its bass, which can be a bit boxy at the best of times, but this gets exaggerated quite a lot when travelling, especially on buses. The Timeless AE is an interesting one in that it sounds perfect for walking around, but as soon as I get on a bus, it suddenly sounds like it has no bass. Been meaning to write a separate post about that one. I think there's something about "planar bass" and acoustic impedance going on there; something to do with the engine noise/vibration from buses. The same thing does not happen with DD bass drivers, regardless of whether they are midbass or subbass focused. I haven't had a chance to compare the Timeless AE, Ikko OH10 and Moondrop Kato on a train, but for a long time the Kato was my go-to for long train journeys. I find the OH10 is a bit ahead of the Kato for bus trips, as it's more v-shaped. I think if I'm going to spend 2-4 hours on a train, I'll still prefer the Kato. I'll also mention my favourite IEM overall which is the Simgot EA1000. It works for everything including travelling, but the Kato and OH10 are both warmer/bassier so those are what I'd normally go to for travelling. If I were travelling, staying hotels, etc., and wanted to take a single IEM for everything, it would be the EA1000.

I wouldn't list the QKZ Hades, as it's pretty universally hated, unless you specifically mention that it's a *very* niche tuning most people don't like (even most bassheads). And even among people who like it at all, it's generally a one-genre set. I'd strike the Juzear Clear off the list because it appears to have [really bad unit variance](https://old.reddit.com/r/iems/comments/1insj4z/some_thoughts_on_the_juzear_clear_and_myer_audio/). I still recommend it for the cable if it's on sale for $20, but only if you really want that cable (it normally costs about $15-20 on its own). It's not a highly recommended IEM anyway, it just had a brief period of hype as a basshead IEM. Rarely gets mentioned nowadays. Neither of my two units are true basshead sets (and one is quite bright), so clearly some golden units went out to reviewers. The Blon BL03 ii hasn't got particularly good reviews. It seems to be that if you care about tuning, the original is better. The new one has 2-pin but it has all the ergonomic problems that plagued the original, so I don't think it should be recommended at all, with maybe a nod to the original as being a classic if people are able to pick one up cheaply. I don't think the KBear KB02 is worth recommending unless you specifically want to know what a BC driver does, in which case it's the cheapest way to get one. I got one for that reason. It sounds pretty bad. All the reviews point out the same issue - there's some weird "springy" resonances, especially noticeable with spoken word. It also makes everything sound like you're listening through a cardboard tube. It's just weird, not good. Audio Amigo and Paul Wasabii both have good reviews btw, I agree with pretty much everything they say about them. I don't see the Tin Hifi C2 mentioned on your original list or the new one. That's a 2025 version out recently. I have both and they are both excellent. Lots of reviews out there, but fewer for the 2025 version. I'm not sure if the old one is being discontinued, but it seems to be still for sale for about $20 while the new one is closer to $40. The difference between the two versions is quite subtle. The Moondrop Starfield 2 got pretty universally terrible reviews. The Juzear 41t and the Flame are the same IEM, so I'd put them on the same line - the flame just has a different faceplate. I have the 41t and it's good aside from the annoyingly bad venting, but I'm hesitant about recommending it for the reasons mentioned in my post about the Clear. Since it's a hybrid it really *should* be fully vented and I now consider this an engineering flaw rather than "just the way it is". Every other manufacturer seems to be able to vent their hybrid IEMs properly. The 7Hz Timeless probably shouldn't be on the list because it's very outdated nowadays. It's only a classic because it was the first reasonably-tuned planar, not because it's good by current standards. It was still an early and not-very-refined version of a formula that's been iterated on continually since then. The AE is better but less widely reviewed. The 2 seems to be getting good reviews but I believe it's closer to $300.

EA1000 is my favourite IEM at any price, that I've heard so far. It's a very good driver, which easily competes with planars like the Timeless & S12 Pro as far as resolution goes, but it has better timbre. The quality of the treble is about 90-95% as good as the Variations, which probably has the best treble under $1000. I haven't heard the Timeless 2, but I have the Timeless AE. Haven't seen any comparisons, but I suspect the T2 is very similar to the AE. The [graph](https://audioamigo.squig.link/?share=7Hz_Timeless_AE,7Hz_Timeless_2_Gold_STD) looks nearly identical. The AE is quite bassy, mainly sub-bass focused, so is good for electronic music. A bit less spicy than the S12 Pro, but still very much from that generation of planars with similar planar timbre etc. It's maybe 5% better than the S12 Pro, for double the price. The EA1000 has a bit less sub-bass, but it has really exceptional midbass and makes acoustic drums sound more real than any other IEM I've heard. I don't know if you've heard the original EA500, the EA1000 is basically that, but more refined, less spicy treble, a bit better timbre (which is already pretty good) and better bass quality. I didn't really like the LM compared to the original. The extra sub-bass ruined the soundstage and masked a lot of the ultra-detailed sound the OG has. The EA500 actually sounds slightly bigger and has sharper imaging because it has so much extra treble. The EA1000 is still about 95% of the stage size & imaging precision, but much smoother and more natural sounding. I did some experimentation with the LM while I had it, but nothing I did could make it have the same magic as the OG, so I ended up returning it. The only thing I would change about the EA1000 is it has a Harman-like cool-tilted midrange, so male vocals can be missing some huskiness compared to some warmer IEMs. It's not a true Harman tuning though, because it doesn't have the midbass tuck. I haven't heard the ET142 so I can't compare, ~~but I did check a few reviews of it before and it sounds like the treble is a bit harsher than the EA1000, because of the PZT. That was the thing that put me off trying it.~~ Edit: It wasn't the PZT, it was something else, but I can't remember why I wrote this one off. In fact, most of the trustworthy reviews (Paul Wasabii, Audio Amigo, HBB's updated review) are very positive about it and it has a more S08-like treble tuning with some of the nozzles (which is a good thing).

I don't know where the ET142 sits in that order but I'd put the EA1000 ahead of the Timeless - at least the AE. The main difference I think is going to be in the bass. The bass on planars is generally more resolving, but less punchy. So if you have for example a bass guitar and kick drum playing, the planar will make the separation between them more obvious, but the DD, especially on the EA1000, will have more of that punchy quality to the bass. I especially notice if I'm out walking around or on a bus with the Timeless AE that the bass loses even more of its impact because it gets drowned out by e.g., the bus engine noise & vibrations. Whereas on my DD IEMs, the bass continues to cut through any background sounds. On the planars it sounds almost like the tuning has changed, but with the DD it doesn't. In terms of bass quality overall, the EA1000 is definitely better & more realistic sounding for acoustic music. The deeper rumbly sub-bass on the Timeless can be better for some electronic music. Most recording don't have much sub-bass at all. I would imagine that the bass performance of the ET142 will be fairly similar to other planars like the Timeless, the S12 Pro and Artti T10, as it's the same sort of driver and these effects are pretty similar for all of them.

Hey y’all, I got a review copy of the Kiwi Ears Aether in from Linsoul and I wanted to share my thoughts. The Aether has gained a lot of hype since its release, so I was really happy to get the chance to try it out. However I was a bit tempered in my excitement as I absolutely fucking hate single planar driver IEMs. Ok, hate is a strong word, but I hadn’t met a single planer driver IEM yet that competes with any of my other single dynamic or hybrid/tribrid/quadbrid driver configuration sets. The original 7hz Timeless was my first hope but I found the sound thin, V shaped, and fatiguing. The huge 14.5mm driver of the Hidizs MP 145 was another contender, but that harsh V shape destroyed my ears in a way you can’t understand. No nozzle change could tame the planar timbre, that certain “zing” that most single planar driver sets have a lot of trouble shaking. I thought I needed something with a confirmed smooth tuning, so I gave the Letshoure S08 a shot. And sure, it has a lot of low end, but I personally found a lot of boom and not as much texture. Resolution is supposed to be a strength of planar drivers but I found the sound digital and grainy. I tried the Letshoure S12 Pro and its bright tuning had me tearing them out of my ears. Still feeling like I needed to find “my” planar, I demoed a Letshoure S15. The S15 has a more neutral tuning that I thought would be to my liking, but the dreaded hiss of planar timbre and sub-par bass response followed me even to this price range. I liked the S15 at first, but my ears were ringing after 20 minutes of listening, and I found myself giving up on single planar driver IEMs. That is, until the Kiwi Ears Aether came along with its 15.3 mm planar driver, unique design, and pretty faceplate to pique my interest once more. The Kiwi Ears Aether comes with a simple but elegant and functional black cable. Alongside we have hard case and 3 sets of eartips (Bass, Balanced, and Neutral). The simple accessory package is a stable of Kiwi Ears, and I do think that’s an effort to put more attention into the development of the IEMs themselves. The IEMs themselves are fairly large and feel a bit light in the hand. I believe this is partially what leads to the Aether’s ethereal soundstage; the planar driver needs room for its sound to resonate around in the larger space on its way to your ears. This gives us a vast, open soundstage that feels dynamic and lively, not flat like most of the single planar sets I’ve heard to this point. The bass response was the standout improvement over other single planars. Not only was it well resolved, it didn’t have the same unnaturally fast attack and decay that planar sets normally have. It still has a quicker attack and decay than a typical single dynamic set, but not as abrupt and unnatural as many of the planars I’ve tried to this point. Plenty of subbass immersion and midbass kick to satisfy many bassheads. I have a need for natural, lush male vocals, and Aether is the first planar set that’s been able to give that to me. The tuning allows vocals to be forward and present without ever becoming shouty or overbearing. The only con I can give to the sound is the slightly smoothed out treble. While resolution is a strong point for the set, the 6k tuning dip may mask some of a songs microdetails. This is easily mitigated with EQ, but I personally enjoy the smooth sound and don’t feel the need. Finally I have a planar set with a stock tuning that’s well resolved, balanced, and comfortable. Overall I feel like the Aether easily punches above its weight in the world of single planar driver IEMs. It has a smooth, balanced sound that never becomes harsh or fatiguing, even at louder volumes. In fact, the 6k dip allows me to crank the volume a little more. It’s nice to see Kiwi Ears bringing us an innovative product at a relatively modest price when you consider that this is the largest planar driver on the consumer market. I think the hype is real. The size of the driver is doing a lot to kill planar timbre as we know it. For that, I am thankful. And to you as well, thanks for reading.

Se tu comparar o gráfico no squiglink você irá ver a diferença entre o Timeless AE e o Zero Red, pô, não tem como tu chamar o Timeless AE de neutro, o Heyday possui bem menos graves que o Red e o Timeless, bem menos mesmo, sua fonte deve estar zoando seus fones

Faz sentido, gráfico não representa um fone bem mesmo, o Timeless AE e o Heyday usam o mesmo driver, soam parecidos, mas iguais nunca, ele forma tunados de formas diferentes, mas cada experiência é única e cada ouvido também, cada experiência é única mesmo

I recently tried the S12 Pro, S12 Anniversary, Timeless II, Timeless AE, Simgot ET142, Artti T10, Hidisz MP145, and Zetian Wu Legend. It's tough to pick a personal favorite since they all have their pros and cons, but if I had to choose, my top picks would probably be: * Timeless II or Timeless AE (whichever is cheaper). I like the Timeless II, but it can be prone to sibilance. The Timeless AE isn't as sibilant, but its upper treble is definitely a bit too much for me. * Simgot ET142. These are actually really good. The bass reminds me of the Timeless II/AE and the treble isn't as harsh as, say the S12 Pro. My only issue is the apparent peak in the upper-mids. * S12 Pro. Mostly because they're one of the cheapest options and the fit is easy as hell. They don't lack in technicalities compared to the rest either but yeah, the treble can be a bit too much for me. * Lastly, the MP145. The fit can be tricky, but when I get a good seal, they're good. Plus in my country they can be cheaper than the S12 Pro. As for the Artti T10, I had a hard time getting a good fit so I'll probably pass on that one. Still haven't tried the Zetian Wu Heyday or the Kiwi Ears Aether tho.

7hz Timeless is the best IEM I've had. Definitely buy another should the current one break.

7hz Timeless is the best IEM I've had. Definitely buy another should the current one break. Moondrop brands are a go to some audiophiles. KZ are best buy value imo.

I like 7hz timeless 2

I went from the Timeless to the S12 to the Artti T10 and I honestly prefer the T10 for metal. They're all very similar, but luckily I like the cheapest one the best.

Depende de que jeito você gosta de ouvir metal. Tem quem prefira focar na parte rítmica e goste de fones mais escurinhos, onde a bateira e baixo têm mais destaque, e os pratos não tem muito ataque. Tem quem goste de um som um pouco mais brilhante, pra pegar mais detalhes e ouvir melhor os pratos. Essa é a minha preferência. Escuto muito metal, principalmente metal extremo, e os meus fones favoritos pra isso são em V. Se o seu gosto se alinhar com o meu, recomendo pegar um planarzinho em V, tipo T10, S12, Timeless etc.

7hz Timeless AE for me.

My first headphones were sundara. Then i got tangzu wan’er just to see what iems were like. Enjoyed them enough that i got 7hz timeless. Liked the timeless more than the sundara. Fit was part of it, but detail to i think. I got high and did an a/b one night to private investigations live by dire straight. With the sundara, i felt like i was in the crowd at the Hollywood bowl watching the performance play out. How awesome is that? I can be at home and feel like i am at a live concert? Tremendous. Then i went to the timeless. I wasnt in the crow anymore. I was walking around on stage just hanging out next to the musicians. I wasnt listening to music, i was in the music. Ok both are excellent but these win. Then i ordered arya stealth and was hoping they’d have the intimacy of the timeless mixed with the presence of the sundara. And i think thats a decent enough description. I love the aryas but i still feel them on my head and it sounds like listening to speakers. If i want the music to feel like it’s beamed directly into my head it has to be an iem.

EQ settings are relative to frequency response. It's like asking how much should I add salt to fries without the information if they're already saltes. The question is what kind of a tuning is ideal for metal and as a metalhead at least in my youth I find that a very interesting question. Preferences matter a lot as well and someone who loves the sound of one IEM maybe just hasn't heard something better yet and can't imagine what the improvement might be. The best tuning for metal I've heard so far with maybe fifty IEMs and some EQ on top was Oluv's mainstream preset for the Free Pro 2's. Really fun yet clean bass and you could push the volume really high without any fatigue etc. Gave me chills with a lot of metal music. With IEMs I have to say I haven't found anything excellent yet and actually KZ Libra (balanced) is easily on of the best for that and costs $10. The bass is pronounced, but much cleaner than the measurements seem to imply. The straight rising bass boost might be the reason instead of a bass shelf. Old but gold would be a Tin Hifi T2 Plus as it really pushes vocals pleasantly forward and has that big energetic feel to it. Not detailed etc at all, but really enjoyable. IEMs I love otherwise like Zero Red, Hexa, MP145, Timeless, B2 Dusk, Dusk DSP just don't impress me at all with metal specifically and I would take the Libra over probably all of them for that. You can make an EQ preset for the Chu to match KZ Libra on the AutoEQ website and elsewhere. Give it a try if you want.

Not entirely sure, but some otherwise good IEMs are just bad for distinguishing direction. Channel matching is certainly one thing, but rarely big enough to be the reason. Not just tuning either it seems. IEMs like B2 Dusk, Timeless and Performer 5 if I remember correctly were rather bad for gaming compared to Zero Red, Vivace or EM6L which are perfectly good. Looping the same gaming recordings with the first ones I struggle hearing directions that already know in advance while with the others it's obvious.

i own the blessing 3s and the 7hz timeless among others and i still really love my tanchjim ola i just really love how vocals sound on it.

I was genuinely baffled in not just music but in games as well with my 7hz timeless iems, never going back

I think for sth as subjective as sounds, if you define better as in your subjective opinion about sth then a 5000 dollars iem can still be worse than a 50 dollars iem. Because personal taste is something that cannot be measures nor argue with. Yet if we talk in product terms a 500 dollars iems means that your money could go into aesthetic, material, technical qualities, chipset, design, engineering, packaging, longetivity, durabilities, quality control between units or even brand prestige and marketing. Would that make an iem worth 1000 dollars ? Now that is another question but its a marketing one. Its a hobby so people tends to just buy whatever they like and justify it later. Personally i do find that my timeless is no where capable of producing the jaw dropping bass quality of my z1r , and for my own personal experience, the price of the z1r is justified. That's my 2 cent

As a big fan of Timeless and especially Timeless AE. I can say PRX is perfect choice for very little cost, incredible value.

Of this list, my pick would be the S12 Pros. They can do the ethereal and detailed sound for things like small ensemble jazz or classical and then crank it up to 10 for harder metal and rock styles with equal aplomb. The S12 series have been my favorite ever since the introduction of the OG S12s which quickly replaced my OG Timeless. In the years since I've owned or tried most of the major players in the planar market and they have remained my favorite single planar until you get to the CFA Supermoons.

Firstable, compliments for the excellent review. I partially agree and partially disagree with your review (clearly i respect 100% you opinions and mostly your personal taste. I 'm using them mainly with the default golden ones with flower. WIth Dunu tips I really don't any issue with Treble grain and they are also extremely comfortable and I can easily wear them for hours. Personally I like them becasue still being V - shaped they still somehow have a sort of neutral feeling, due to the balanced sub bass. They are not flawless? No, infact I bought the Odissey as complementary ones to have that kick that misses in TM2 but If I want to enjoy the good music, TM2 are still my main choice

I use the 7Hz Timeless AE with 3rd party cable although it was a pricey purchase, I play a lot in bed on my side and due to it being round and flat, it doesn't hurt and push into my ear like other wired and wireless earbuds. I'm not an audiophile so don't ask me about sound.

I know what you mean, I upgraded from HEXA to 7HZ Timeless 2 (not AE). And they have incredible separation and soundstage (for me at least). I love to listen to music and seperate the vocal and instruments in my head. So maybe its Planar you're looking for? Unfortunately I have only tried HEXA and Timeless 2, so don't know about other IEM's.

I have galaxy buds 2 pro...timeless 2....moondrop may.... Timeless 2 is a level above galaxy buds 2 pro...difference is so clear....be it clarity, sound separation, treble or bass texture. Moondrop may is similar to galaxy buds 2 pro.... If you are stuck to cheaper iems...obviously you might not get that great quality....go to a headphone store with iems for trying out before buying.

I was in the same situation. I am mainly an AirPods user, and I also use some Sony. AirPods Max battery died, Sony whyxz (or whatever it's called lol) battery died. So I had enough. For music listening, I want quality sound and reliability. So I kept only AirPods 4 for meetings and when I don’t want a cable around + Sennheiser Momentum 4 for “anc” and overblown bass sound 😀 I am a headphone collector, but I bought my first iems last week (Kiwi Ears Aether + 7hz Timeless 2). The sound is superb if you enjoy the V-U-shaped sound, but the clarity is great. I am already looking for some neutral-sounding iems , so I have different options. TLDR: Go for it. If you don’t mind cable, you won't be disappointed.

I have kiwi ears aether and 7hz timeless 2. I like 7hz way more.

The Timeless 2 and the S12 Pro performance fit in that bracket too though they were cheaper (compared them all)

I game too I use 7hz Timeless 2 - it has nice layering of sounds like 'transparent' because I can hear everything even when lots of going on in the game

Odd diatribe. Are you some kind of mind reader who somehow knows that most IEM buyers are lying to themselves and are actually just getting hoodwinked into wasting money by spending more? And how can you possibly know that IEMs aren’t “worth” their price? Worth is subjective, in the eye of the beholder. I disagree with your central claim that IEM buyers are not “getting quality for what they are paying.” I’ve owned IEMs across a reasonably wide price range from $15 to $1,300. The list of them includes the KZ ATE, Moondrop Aria, 7Hz Timeless, Sony IER-M9, Thieaudio Monarch MK4 and Nightjar Singularity. I also listened to the Elysian Pilgrim and Pilgrim Noir for a week when they were sent around on a demo tour. My source has either been a dongle DAC/amp (L&P W2, Cayin RU7) connected to an iPad or the Chord Mojo 2 + Poly streaming Roon. Each of the IEMs I listed sounds different and the sound quality is strongly, positively correlated with the price of the IEM. So as an example, the $220 7Hz Timeless sounds good and most people would be happy with it, but it delivers wooly, somewhat bloated bass. It’s really noticeably inferior in sound quality when compared to the Monarch MK4 or Nightjar Singularity, both of which sound much better to me. When I consider whether to buy an IEM, I don’t care about aesthetics in the slightest. I use IEMs exclusively at home and neither I nor my wife cares how they look. What I do care about is whether an IEM will last, meaning I greatly prefer IEMs with recessed 2-pin cable receptacles or MMCX connectors and try to make sure that the IEM manufacturer offers good long-term customer support. I won’t spend more than $1,500 on an IEM and think the pricing of TOTL IEMs has become absurd. You can buy a really good 2-channel system that will last forever for the price of some IEMs. You’d have to be very gullible to be “tricked” into buying IEMs by YouTube reviewers or comments from internet randos. Most hobbyists do a fair amount of legwork before buying. Ideally, you attend meets to actually demo IEMs to narrow down to the ones you like. On top of that, it’s worth seeing whether a consensus forms around an IEM among people you personally know or at least trust from their post history on various forums, but only after a new IEM loses its flavor-of-the-month status. And it makes sense to talk to retailers to see if the brand offers good long-term customer support. Finally, headphones offer a different listening experience from IEMs. I own a high-end headphone rig to listen to a set of HD800s. Yes, it offers a more realistic soundstage and better dynamics than IEMs, but the downside is that good full-size open-back headphones (which almost always sound better than closed-backs) don’t block out external noise, they leak noise to people around you, and are heavy and uncomfortable to wear for long periods. IEMs are more “in your head” but I really like how comparatively weightless and comfortable they are and how well they isolate from external noise.

Aful 5+2, Timeless 2, Tanchjim Origin, SoftEars Volume S, EPZ P50. Above 400 you have Kiwi Ears Punch as the obvious choice, as long as you like bass. But truly do not underestimate a good source, don't neglect it. Tubes are becoming more normal for portable use now so I would strongly recommend the iBasso Nunchaku and try to stretch your budget a little.

Long useless post, TL;DR reached endgame. MH334SR good. Started with the KZ ZS1 a long time ago, with many incremental upgrades until I landed on the 7Hz Timeless. Then, after moving to Japan, I replaced it with the Variations paired with a DT990 for gaming. Somewhere along the way, I became that guy who kept making a fuss about cables, claiming they made everything sound so much better. I turned into a file format snob, only wanting to listen to FLAC and DSD. I kept talking about it to my friends (damn, I must have been really annoying). Ultimately, I purchased a used LCD i4 as a reward for enduring all the hard work of labor and finally landing a much better job. It stopped me from wearing headphones entirely since the soundstage and sound quality were more than enough. The bass and soundstage were incredibly addicting. At this point, I started to realize that cables were just snake oil, Bluetooth was a godsend, and my ears didn’t even care when listening to 128kbps audio. Qudelix is life. Recently, I got myself a pair of Diamond 220 speakers. However, they ruined my i4 in a sense that listening to speakers became so enjoyable that I spent less and less time with the i4. It felt like the entire area in front of me was a sound field. It was quite wild to be able to "see" (or feel) sound moving in front of me. The speaker itself looks like "muted", I don't hear sound from the speaker itself. Idk how to describe it haha. I still needed an IEM for outdoor use, though. Demoed the Z1R, Monarch, and others. They were okay, but it was hard to justify their sound when my main IEM was the i4. So, instead of deciding based on sound, I thought, why not prioritize comfort? That’s when I started looking into custom IEMs and came across the MH334SR on sale for 200k yen. Checked the frequency response, Immediately pulled the trigger and went to their clinic the next day to get ear impressions. It took about a month from there until the IEM was completed and delivered to my apartment. Honestly, I wasn’t expecting great bass (I thought it might be bloated) since it’s just a BA. But damn, maybe it’s the seal. It’s definitely not on the same level as the i4’s airy bass, but it’s good enough to satisfy my ears. The mids, highs, and technicalities are fine. At this price point, they’re as resolving as expected, just tuned differently. I listen almost exclusively to Japanese songs. Specifically, those leaning more into vocaloid, UTAU, visual novel OSTs, etc. If I see weeb art, I play it. Artists like DAZBEE, Nanami Urara, and Isekaijoucho are my daily dose. Below is just me trying too hard to explain the sound of the MH334SR: The highs are slightly above my preference (not that the IEM is harsh, but I butchered 4kHz in my i4). However, I got used to it pretty quickly in few hours. All instruments have presence. I don’t have to try hard to distinguish them (which is different from being able to hear all instruments). I can clearly hear vocal harmonies, which is a big plus. Can’t hear the sub-bass (drum) sound in the Aster Lore song at 3:37 - 3:50 though, which is a bit of a bummer (though so far, I’ve only been able to hear it on the Timeless). The beats are satisfying, most likely due to a bump at 200Hz. It’s not bloated, just a nice, punchy drum sound. I love that I don’t have to use EQ at all. I might even replace the Qudelix with something that looks nicer and has a knob in the future. But damn, the comfort is just peak, and the isolation is awesome. It’s close to Etymotics-level isolation without violating my ears. I desire nothing more for IEMs now (more like I don't care that much anymore), but I’ll still visit the shop regularly to demo IEMs since friends often ask for recommendations, especially in the budget range. Hopefully this doesn't make me plunge into speaker rabbit hole which is many times scarier. But so far satisfied since I only listen in very-very low volume anyway.

ooh congrats on getting the 7Hz Timeless II, (personally) one of the best IEMs. (Including the original Timeless as well) Definitely enjoy those amazing planar IEMs, and **welcome to the IEM community as well!** [*Beginner's Guide through the world of IEMs*](https://www.reddit.com/user/NinjaSiren/comments/1jil8re/beginners_intro_guide_to_iems)

ooh congrats on getting the 7Hz Timeless II, (personally) one of the best IEMs. (Including the original Timeless as well) Definitely enjoy those amazing planar IEMs, and **welcome to the IEM community as well!** [*Beginner's Guide through the world of IEMs*](https://www.reddit.com/user/NinjaSiren/comments/1jil8re/beginners_intro_guide_to_iems)

The Timeless 2 for me. Its versatile and has an amazing sound.

I tried TheAudio Monarch and Oracle (don't remember Mk numbers) some time ago and wasn't impressed really. The do sound good, and have good technicalities but nowhere near the headphones at this price (Arya or LCD-2C) or substantially better than good quality $200-300 planar IEMs. Tonality is different but that's taste more than anything else. Timeless (1 or 2) is where IEM peaks for me personally, and diminishing return is hitting hard after that. At least based on my hearing abilities.

I’d say the et142 is a fantastic choice, same with timeless 2, but since you like the lm the et142 would be closer. Both have 4 different nozzles to tame or boost the upper mids/lower treble. Timeless 2 also has those bullet nozzles that create a spacious sound…a little different but spacious. Ea1000 is pretty much the lm with red nozzles (or the og ea500) but slightly better. I prefer the dunu falcon ultra and tanchjim origin for single dd in that range (also fiio fd15, which is $150). Rather than those 2 planars I’d get the s12 2024, imo it’s still the best planar aside from s15

Will you also get the Timeless 2s? My old ears definitely didn't have issues with planar timbre with that set and it's been frequently compared as a more flexible & more resolving Aether.

Of the ones I tried, it might actually be the Simgot SM4s with the Timeless 2s a close second. I thought the Odysseys were good but preferred the above.

Surprised you didn't mention the 7Hz Timeless 2. It's got useful tuning nozzles and imho has a lot of the good bass and detail you want from a planar. I thought they were one of the best sets I tried at CanJam NYC Only issue is fit. For me they fit great but I'm also using Spinfit NEOs.

This is why I'm surprised to hear so little about the Timeless 2. It has all of the benefits of big planar with N52 magnets with a far more natural sound. Although, it's more expensive for good reason

Timeless 2 for sure

Not bright at all, but highly detailed and musical. I recommend it because it scales very well with higher volume and benefits from using an amplifier. There's some potential for it to sound bright but that might not be the case for you. There are four different options of tuning nozzles that come with the timeless 2 that each offer different frequency responses. The bullet shape tips are quite interesting because they lower the treble region in a way that reduces brightness and produces a more dynamic soundstage that feels wider and deeper. Note that the effect exists only with the blue ear tips that come in the box because they hug the holes on the sides of the bullet shape nozzles. Overall, it's hard to beat the timeless 2. However, the Elysian Acoustic Labs Pilgrim is on sale at hifigo on Amazon for 30% off, bringing the price down to $298 USD

Timeless 2 for sure. The shell acoustics are what puts it above the s12 2024 and kiwi ears aether for me. that and the customizability it has out of the box

Below is a condensed version of my full length review which can be found here: https://resonancereviews.com/7hz-timeless-ii-review-strong-performance-questionable-refinement-50e07b8697c4 To many, the 7Hz Timeless II needs no introduction. It was, and still is, a smash hit in the planar market. And this wasn’t simple hype either — these were savvy consumers, many of whom were on a budget, that found themselves impressed with the sheer value offered. But since the Timeless II has released the market has evolved. A number of highly-qualified rivals have arrived, some of which threaten to contest the Timeless II’s status as the de-facto planar recommendation in its price segment. I expect a few of my thoughts to be somewhat controversial, but even so please give me a chance to explain. **Tech Specs** * Driver: 14.5mm planar driver * Impedance: 15.2 ohms * Sensitivity: 108db/V@1KHz * Cable: 0.78mm 2-pin w/ modular 3.5mm and 4.4mm termination * Tuning filters: Yes **Sound** The Timeless II’s sound signature is V-shaped, with its lower register peaking in its mid-bassand rolling off into into well-extended sub-bass. The Timeless II’s midrange is fairly natural-sounding, though perhaps a little lacking in richness and warmth. The Timeless II possesses a peak in its upper-mids that aids in vocal intelligibility and instrumental separation. This emphasis in the upper-mids carries out into the treble where the Timeless II leans toward planar-ish brightness. Thankfully, the Timeless II is free from sharpness and sibilance. It exhibits strong technical performance and excellent transient response times, delivering robust, snappy, and responsive sound. **Treble** The Timeless II’s treble is bright and forward. It maintains strong intelligibility, but has some bloom at the fringes of its upper-treble. It manages to do a great job resolving the majority of upper-register detail, smudging and blurring only subtle elements of the upper-treble. **Midrange** The Timeless II’s midrange is cool and energetic. It leans heavily into analytical presentation that focuses on vocal intelligibility and general articulation. Instrumental separation is strong, as is layering. The Timeless II’s lower-mids are lacking in warmth and richness, and a mild increase in emphasis in the lower midrange would be a welcomed improvement. **Bass** Among planars, the Timeless II is considered to be top-tier for bass — but in my experience, it is outclassed both by cheaper, and more expensive planar sets. Tracks that dig very deep like In For the Kill (Skream Remix) entirely lack the rumble that I expect from bass-competent IEMs. This is a function of the Timeless II’s lack of sub-bass emphasis. Other tracks that place heavier emphasis on mid-bass elements sound decent, though they don’t have the tactility and shaping needed for full enjoyment. The Timeless II’s mid-bass is sufficiently controlled, though its sub-bass is still lacking in shape and hardness. Heavy-hitters like the Kiwi Ears Aether and Campfire Audio Astrolith are great examples of planar IEMs with well-shaped bass. **Comparisons** **Kiwi Ears Aether** The Aether is a calmer, less-V-shaped IEM with a larger, new-generation planar driver. It is cheaper, sometimes selling for under $125 on Amazon, and has bare-bones accessories. It has a lighter, less exotic shell and is generally more ergonomic. The Aether’s more-refined upper register makes it stand out as a more technically-proficient IEM. It also features bass with superior control, often punching and rumbling when the Timeless II fails to do so. The Timeless II’s brighter treble may seem more detailed, but that’s an illusion that can be dispelled by simply giving your ears time to adjust the the subtleties of the Aether’s upper-register. It captures the same details, and often more texture, than the Timeless II but mixed further back in the soundstage. For nearly $60-$100 discount, I find the Aether to be the more compelling of the two IEMs. Sure, it has a very basic case, cable, and eartips, but those are flaws that can be easily corrected. For example, a Pelican 1010, Tripowin Zonnie, and Plussound Hybrid eartips all add up to around $50 which would net you $10 in savings even when the Aether is not on sale. Factor in the greater comfort and technical performance and you have a strong case against the Timeless II. **Rose QT-9 MK3** I quite enjoy the QT-9 MK3’s take on V-shaped sound. While it may have lesser technical chops than the Timeless II, it does feature greater bass quantity and performance. The Timeless II is cooler and has slightly less treble and is actually noticeably more-cohesive throughout its midrange than the QT-9 MK3. I much prefer the QT-9’s cable and shells, though must acknowledge the Timeless II’s superior eartip selection and solid (though imperfect) metal case. The Timeless II also does a great job at minimizing metallic timbre in its upper-treble, a minor issue that the QT-9 does indeed suffer from. These two IEMs are a toss-up. Those who are partial to bass, particularly dynamic-driver flavors of bass, will likely appreciate the QT-9 MK3’s bombastic nature. If you’re looking for towards the midrange, then the Timeless II’s more-organic and even presentation will entice you. **Akoustyx S-6** The S-6 is a “north of neutral” planar IEM with fantastic overall performance. It is less bassy than the Timeless II and has a similar level of control over its lower register. The Timeless II has a brighter upper midrange and delivers some noticeably-more-even instrumental performances. The S-6 is vastly more comfortable though, and its tiny shells make it easy to wear indefinitely. The S-6 also has a more practical cable, though it lacks the adaptability of the Timeless II’s modular termination. The S-6 goes on sale for around $110 on sites like Drop, making it a vastly better deal for those who are looking for a neutral, analytical, and highly-ergonomic choice. Those looking for a more-mainstream tuning will likely want to stick with the Timeless II. **Conclusion** The Timeless II was at one point uncontested at this price point in the planar IEM market. But, now, there’s a plethora of options. You can step up in price and get superior performance, or step down in price to save some money in exchange for fewer accessories and simpler shells. Does that mean that the Timeless II is now a bad IEM? No, absolutely not. But now there’s other planar IEMs that, depending on sound preferences, I would recommend instead. **Who this is for** * Listeners who want v-shaped sound with strong technical performance * Those who want an IEM with striking visual design and lots of accessories * Buyers who value customization and tuning * Listeners who want a “many-in-one” experience **Who this is not for** * Those who want firm, assertive bass * Listeners who are sensitive to treble grain * Listeners who demand all-day comfort * Buyers who don’t want to hunt for aftermarket accessories As always, happy listening!

Hey! Got the 7Hz Timeless II for review. Long story short - they are indeed good and seem like the chifi large-format planar to beat. There is only very little sheen/shout in the upper mids, the technicalities are great, the bass is stellar but kind of "planar". [You can read more here](https://www.headfonia.com/7hz-timeless-ii-review/) and feel free to ask anything in the thread.

Usually - great speed and extension but a bit lacking in impact.

I found them to be pretty genre-agnostic. Bass-heavy music will show off the superb bass capabilities but I never found them to be deficient in any genre. For games they should be okay.

There are multi-driver IEMs that will do better highs. The ZiiGaat Odyssey comes to mind. In terms of planar timbre, there's very little of it, so I was able to adapt to it.

Tonally they are quite similar. For that price, the S12 Pro is a better buy.

They are moderately hard to drive, so I'd look into some dongles.

Very similar. Maybe better highs on the T2. I think the Kiwi Aether is the real challenger now.

I don't think any of these are head-and-shoulders superior to one another. The only drawback I see to the mp145 is earshell size.

I'm not familiar with these but I've been happy with the 7hz timeless ae

I primarily use the timeless 7hz, I pair them with my Classic 5th gen and my touch 7th gen. One of the best IEMs I’ve ever used. I also use XM4s and sometimes Sennheiser HD598s or if I’m feeling fancy I’ll use an amp and the Sennheiser 650s

This is legit... I loved my timeless but the tea pros make the timeless sound like an old fm radio station.

Sorry a $200 iem is nowhere near a really good one at a higher price. I've had the timeless and my clairvoyance, and it's not even close.

I use the 7hz timeless and audio quality is great. But i feel like if you get custom made iems they will be 100% worth it.

IMO, ur doing a good job, return the SM4(overhyped), my only advice is maybe return the timeless 2(get the shozy p20 for 1/3 of the price with same or better perfomance).

I bought the Tangzu Heyday and 7hz Timeless AE at the same time for a great price, but It was the ewuivalent of a month salary for me. No regrets, they are my actual endgame on iems. Also, the Tempotec V6 DAP. Researched a Lot, bought one, never looked back

The in ear that made me fala in love with headphones in general was the Philips SHE 9000. I had an Xperia Phone back then and I had a blast with those. First pair of proper iems were the KZ ZSN pro with the meizu HiFi Dac, mindblowing for the time. A While later I got the Moondrop Aria that made the KZ sound like trash and Just a bit after I got the 7hz Dioko that made the Aria sound like a muffled boomy mess too. And that went on for a While until I got to the Tangzu Heyday and 7hz Timeless AE. Now I have my endgame but I still collect cheaper iems.

My all time favorite Tangzu Heyday and 7hz Timeless AE

Dunu Titan S2 Artti T10 Letshuoer S12 7hz Timeless AE (tenho um a venda kk)

God I hate kz iems. I don’t like iems in general but I quite like 7hz timeless. You can give that a shot

7hz timeless is my second favorite IEM. My first is the Monarch MKIII, so the bar is pretty high. Even then, I will often times grab my 7hz over the Monarchs because they sound soo good.

Tradeoff of IEMs. It's just a scale thing. A lot of sounstage width, height, and depth most comes from the recording, but distance from the driver also plays a large contribution. You could get close to the soundstage size of say, an HD800 or HE1000s if you spent enough, but there are physical limitations to an IEM driver just being that close. That's why orchestral productions are nearly exclusively mastered with near, mid, and far field speakers. As for imaging, that mostly comes down to driver type and quality. Admittedly, the IEMs you've listed are quite cheap, and you can only expect so much imaging accuracy out of budget IEMs. I find the sweet spot for IEMs is between $100-$200. While soundstage is largely still an issue at that price range, imaging and sheer resolution gets distinctly better. My recommendation will always be the 7hz timeless. Cliche, but they sound fantastic.

May I ask what amp you're using for these tests. With my timeless 2's I find that the bass response is VERY dependent on the amount of headroom an amp has to offer. On my fiio BTR13, the IEM definitely has bass, not very layered or impactful. The BTR13 has 220/mw@32 ohms of power. Moving onto my fiio K7 with 2000/mw@32 ohms, the bass properly extends and is immediately fuller and more impactful. The IEM continues to scale however. When plugged into into my Topping A70D with over 8000/mw@32 ohms, the timeless 2's begins to punch 100s of dollars outside of its price class. In terms of technical performance, it's damn near what I would expect out of my HE-1000s. There are moments in certain music where I could close my eyes and convince myself that I was in a room with a subwoofer. Most headphones and IEMs ive used gain some benefit  from being hooked into the A70D and usually comes in the form of a better transient response just do to the fact that the amp can deliver how ever much clean power a device could need. The timeless 2s were transformative, and responds to bigger and bigger power sources like no other IEM or headphone I've ever used.

Very willing to EQ. I'm currently using the 7hz Timeless AEs and they're pretty good but they just don't have that bass punch/slam. I saw DucBloke's video on EQing the Deuce and he raised the midbass frequencies quite a bit and said that after EQ they had 9.5/10 slam, which is the main reason I'm even considering the Deuce in the first place.

7Hz Timeless so far

Truthear Hexas are amazing for the price. Also recommended 7hz Timeless. A little more expensive, but a nice upgrade with punchier kick/bass.

The best marriage of being more than the sum of their parts is a really warm and full sound signature, with acoustic music. So I'll go with something like the QKZ x HBB and folk, or even the Hidiz MP145 as an upgrade option. That said, I could get sick of too much folk, so I'll go 7hz Timeless and synth pop. The Timeless is so resolving and fast that it makes electronic sounds a joy.

Timeless or the AE version for extra bass.

I'm looking to upgrade in the future gonna enjoy 7hz Timeless 2 for now. What are the recommendations for upgrade budget around $200 to $400 for mostly EDM music (Bass House, Trance, Electro).

Unfortunately ZiiGaat is hard to find in my country and Xenns is sold out and left the demo unit only. I tried a demo with the Xenns and Hype 4. Pulled the trigger on Hype 4 so far enjoying it. Should I sell off my Timeless 2 or is it worth keeping my only Planar IEM.