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IEMs

Sorry to reanimate this thread, but I’m asking the same question.
Ive just entered the world of IEMs.
A friend has gone on an upgrade spree, and I’ve taken his AQ Cobalt with a pair of ZSN Pro Classic Upgrades.
I like the overall presentation of the ZSNs, but was wondering if there’s something a tad more “airy” , budget around £150 ish.
I’m a very infrequent user, so hence the miserly budget.
Ta.
 
Try the Truthear nova, generally regarded as the best sound quality under £200 for the majority of users or perhaps the Truthear Hexa, another very well regarded iem



www.youtube.com

Truthear Hexa REVIEW! Easiest 5-stars ever

Let's not beat around the bush: I like the Truthear Hexa. A lot. But just how good is it? I spent the last week living with the Hexa to find out.See the freq...
www.youtube.com www.youtube.com

Have a look at this video as Timmy's preference is for a more vocal/airy iem

 
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I’m still very much enjoying my Timeless 7hz, not often and mostly when on the train into London or away from home.
 
Two from personal experience after ZS... and sim and having a strong bias towards 'flatter freq/low distortion' personally:
  • Moondrop Aria - really lovely, open, dynamic mid-high balance, comfy, listenable for many hours.
  • Truthear x Crinacle Zero: RED - bought simply to try, on the basis of staggeringly-low %THD measurements, because that appeals to me - and, yep, works for me, not least because the response curve is deliberately shy of the ludicrous 'Harmon Preference' BS that infects these IEM waters. As are the Moondrop Aria... - but these latter 'reds' have an ear-opening quality I ascribe to the stupendous %thd performance. (to be fair - my 'headphone sistem' is ludicrous on drive capability)
Essential things, whatever you choose to try:
  • Neither of the above use 'balanced armature' drivers, which are simply horrid resonance engines, yet no-one calls out enough as such...
  • You can buy both, for less than OP's budget.
 
There's some Massdrop X Noble X Universal IEMs on Ebay right now.

www.ebay.co.uk

MASSDROP X NOBLE X UNIVERSAL IEMS | eBay

Get Noble IEMs for a bargain price! I bought these a few years ago from Drop (previously Massdrop), enjoyed them for a while but then moved on to other IEMs. I found them in a drawer where they've sat for the last couple of years.
www.ebay.co.uk
 
This site contains affiliate links for which pink fish media may be compensated.
martin clark said:
Neither of the above use 'balanced armature' drivers, which are simply horrid resonance engines, yet no-one calls out enough as such...
Click to expand...

If they are are badly implemented, like any drive unit then I agree, however when they are designed well they can sound excellent, such as in my new Symphonium Meteor as reviewed below

Symphonium Meteor

www.youtube.com

Symphonium Meteor REVIEW! Hits different, in a GREAT way

Despite the Symphonium Meteor hitting decidedly BASSIER than my target, I bought it for myself after just one listen at CanJam. What's this $600 handmade IEM...
www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
 
I guess I don't read enough IEM reviews, because I have never heard balanced armatures described as "horrid" for any reason, never mind resonance. They perhaps can't do bass like dynamic drivers but they are superior for detail and overall sound quality as far as I'm concerned.
 
richth said:
There's some Massdrop X Noble X Universal IEMs on Ebay right now.
Click to expand...

They are not even a bargain at £10, every single review of these iem’s when they came out in 2016 absolutely slated them for the muddy bloated dead sound, they won the award of most pointless iem of the year.
 
What a shame. I know my Noble Kaiser Encore sounds great and thought the brand meant these would be good too. I am disappointed to hear they're so bad!
 
I remember when they came out as all the build up chatter amongst the rabid noble fanboys on headfi was as if the second coming of Christ was about to drop but upon release and in the hands of generally well trusted reviewers it very quickly turned sour to the point that the thread was locked for a while as the fanboys we’re spitting the dummy out.

As for balanced armatures, back in 2005 as a relative newbie to “headfi” I bought the Etymotic er4-p as I had read quite a bit about it on the forums but no matter what I did it sounded flat and uninvolving with anemic bass - the very essence of neutral. And the insertion depth whilst great for isolation was uncomfortable after 30 mins, the cable was so microphonic that the slightest touch would transmit so much noise through the iem that you had to be sitting down whilst listening to them, it was impossible to use them whilst moving.

Perhaps they had a use as “true monitoring iem’s” in a studio/recording session environment but for general listening to normal music they fell woefully short.
 
Can anemic bass be described as part of a neutral or flat sound signature? I would think a flat response means just that and anemic bass would mean a dip in those frequencies. My Westone UM3X certainly didn't have a lot of bass. From your description I would guess you'd think them anemic. But they had a very flat response because they were designed to be used by singers on stage, where colouration is to be avoided.
 
Yeah I tried a few the westones out in AudioCP Glasgow (specialist musical equipment) a few years ago and I doubt I’d even bother to try the um3x, looking at the frequency response graph says it all, these are designed for monitoring purposes and not to my taste at all.
 
Thanks, some good suggestions.
That Crinacle site is quite a resource.
My mate has moved up to Moondrop Blessing 3, but suggested Starfield as an option.
Sadly he's overseas so a demo of his kit isn't possible.
 
I have:

7Hz Salnotes Zero
7Hz x Crinacle Zero:2
Sony MH755
Sony MH750
Klipsch T5-M Wired

I bought the 7Hzs to investigate the Harman curve. The 7Hz are great if you're happy tweaking with EQ. The Zeros measure somewhat mid forward compared to Harman, and the 2s a somewhat treble-shy. And that's exactly how they sound without EQ.

It feels like I need a 7Hz version 3 that nails the Harman Curve, such a thing would be a compelling proposition without EQ ... I think!

MH755 didn't do it for me despite Crinacle raving about them at the time.

Since I have a thing about EQ, I like the last two more, for overall balance. The Sony response sounds more U-shaped and the Klipsch slightly W-shaped. The Klipsch get the nod as my favourites. Klipsch bass is reasonably present, fast and deep - the MH750 have slower bass, compared to the Klipsch which mostly get this right and this is quite important for me.

But as a £7 headphone the Sony MH750 is something you can slap in your pocket and it won't be terrible even without EQ, a least if a U-response is okay for you. See https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/sony-mh755.23501/ for insane detail on the history and versions.

I can't see the Klipsch available anywhere any more. Note last time I checked the wireless T5s use different drivers so you can't transfer my comments to those ...
 
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I've yet to find a headphone or iem that I really like, even my own fiio fh9 are only good enough, and thats with PEQ.
 
Not heard many iems but still have and use my Xiaomi Piston 2's. Bought them in 2014 and they are still going strong!
 
Tony L said:
I envy you, I’ve never found a pair of IEMs I can fit in/keep in my ears!
Click to expand...
What i used to think too, until i realised how they shoukd fit in your ears.
Just bought a pair of Sennheiser TW4s. A combination of " wings" and the ear tips have given me a comfortable pair of IEMs.
 
Eartips count a lot for fit. I use Spinfit on alline and have found them superior. They pop in and out easily too so are fine for work. The ones that take a while to get a good seal are no use when someone is suddenly talking to you over a desk.
 
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