Thread 106625377

How to request advice:
>Budget
>Intended use (media, source, environment)
>Frequency response preference and music examples
>Past gear and your thoughts on them

FAQ:
>Where do I buy IEMs?
Amazon, Aliexpress, Linsoul, Hifigo, Shenzhenaudio

>Shopping Guide (IEMs, PMPs, Cables, Ear Tips, etc.):
https://rentry.org/consoomer_guide

>EQ Guide (EQ 101, Targets, Myths & Misconceptions, Case Studies, etc.):
https://4ciemg.github.io/IEM-EQ-Guide/

>/iemg/'s Blog/Wiki (Archive, Books & Papers, Music Editorial, etc.):
https://4ciemg.github.io/IEMGazette/

>Frequency Response Graph Tool
squig.link

>Budget Wire Over-Ear IEMs:
• Tripowin Ruta10 (Mild V) - $18
• Tanchjim Bunny (Mild U) - $20
• Truthear Gate (Mild V) - $22
• EPZ Q1 Pro / G10 (V-shape) - $35
• Kiwi Ears Cadenza (Mild V) - $35

>Bullet IEMs:
• Tanchjim ONE DSP (5 Presets/5-Band PEQ) - $28
• Etymotic ER2XR (Neutral) - $140

>Flathead Earbuds:
• Blue Vido (Warm) - $5
• Yincrow X6 (Warm) - $10

>USB-C DACs:
• JCally JM6 (Non Pro) / CX Pro - $8
• JadeAudio JIEZI (10-Band PEQ) $18
• Tanchjim Stargate II (8-Band PEQ) - $38
• Qudelix 5K (20-Band PEQ/GEQ) - $110

>PMPs:
• HiBy R1 - $85
• Hifi Walker H2 / Surfans F20 (Rockbox) - $120
• HiBy M300 - $200

>AVOID USING:
• Mainboard audio when using multi-driver pos

Previous Thread: >>106612808

>>106625377 (OP)
I am using the Hades ones and my right ear has legit built some hard skin to adapt to the earbud, it was irritating my ear and now that area is hard as fuck

Are Trannyjims really that good or is this just a typical iemg rec meme?

>>106625421
just depends on your preferences. general house sound: not emphasizing sub bass, a touch of warmth, brighter tilt.

APP3 releases tomorrow :3
Who Is Hyped ??

>>106625421
Origin is on par with similarly priced pos (better imaging and nuance in vocals, falls behind with bass)

I currently have pic related. I can directly plug in my iem from the front but I also want to plug in my speakers at the back. Thing is, my speaker's output is a single 3.5mm.

Can i just get whatever 1 in 2 audio splitter? Like this?
I keep seeing those have indicators each for microphone and one for headphones so I'm not sure.

>>106625986
>indicators each for microphone and one for headphones
Wrong splitter.
You want 3.5mm to RCA adapter.

Tea pro vs Dunu Davinci? Tea Pro moisture issues causing severe imbalance is spooking me, apparently still an issue even in the newer revision with different filters. Would also be open to another rec in that range. Was looking at some Ziigaat but there are so many damn models I dont know which would be good for me

>>106626442
Ziigaat Luna and Ziigaat Odyssey 2 look like the two they offer i might be interested in. Odyssey 2 seems like a better all rounder but Luna seems like a better set on paper

>>106625986
>my speaker's output
You mean input?
>Can i just get whatever 1 in 2 audio splitter?
You don't need a splitter, you need a stereo 3.5mm to RCA cable, something like pic related.

>>106626442
>>106626496
so exclude the tea pro.
i would exclude odyssey2, it's quite a step down in terms of price:performance. odyssey2 sound is on the level of truthear pure, in addition to also being a metal shell like tea pro (maybe same moisture issues).
luna is all-BA. beware people can find unvented shells uncomfortable (yes, there is a visible vent on the shell. no it is not equalizing pressure in your ears, it is for the BAs to function).
so davinci is left. decent iem. bassy and warm. fyi dunu has a new 2DD+4BA+2MP in the works between $300-$400. also can consider CKLVX CK2V

>>106626643
oh and ziigaat as well have YET ANOTHER model in the works. i believe 1DD+2BA+2MP, called Horizon. skews towards the bassier end, so maybe exactly what you're looking for. i assume they'll try to compete directly with epz p50/crinear daybreak, so sub-$250.
chifi chugs on infinitely, so if you want "latest cutting edge (microplanar tweeters)" then maybe wait for the new models mentioned or go for cklvx ck2v.

I've realized that bass isn't that important in IEMs. Why? Two reasons:

1. Most people (me included) mainly use IEMs when outside in noisy environments (wind, cars, etc) and the bass just doesn't sound as audible then.

2. Even if you hear the bass, you don't actually feel it in your body, like you would with a subwoofer. So what's the point?

Therefore I don't think you should try to find the same sound in an IEM as you would with a speaker setup. IEMs have one strength = clarity. Use that instead. Get IEMs with lots of detail and clarity.

>>106626442
TSMR Armor is the best basshead set under $448.

>LAN II $60
>ONE DSP but worse $40
why are moonderp prices so high now?

>>106626496
Why those two? The one closest to the Davinci would be the Estrella.

>>106626727
leaked on amazon de

>>106626865
estrella is hot (as in scorched earth treble) garbage

>>106626868
How does that graph compare to their other ones? Is it a JM1 tuned pos like the Odyssey(1+2)?

>>106626875
So is Davinci.

>>106626868
>graph without Y-axis
holy retards

>>106626829
retarded take

>>106626880
it's a manufacturer graph. we don't know what a real unit looks like.

>>106626929
Yeah but how does it compare to the other Ziigaat graphs? They all look that way.

do we like moondrop?

>>106626868
>9 ohm impedance
what

>>106626893
>he needs axis to graphread and audiatory hallucinate
much training ahead of you my padawan

>>106626981
>he doesn't already plug his IEM into his power amp
ask me how i know you're a 1DD

>>106626868
Looks like standard Harman 2019 tuning.

>>106626971
do they like moondrop?

Why don't charts take into account variations in genetically determined things like ear canal depth, shape, pinna features, earwax type, earwax concentration, and earwax distribution?

>>106627653
They do, you're just a science-denier.

>>106627697
that's true...

>>106627653
If they did you could just buy something and not need EQ. But you always need EQ...

>>106627715
Chink e-waste 1DD needs more than just bass boost to unfuck.

>>106627730
Everything needs more than a bass boost. If you can hear above 6k.

Random pos I bought over the past month impressions
Celest IgniteX Beast
Bought this one because it seems to be the cheapest IEM with a filled resin build.
>does not suffer from BA midrange loudness abnormalities
>BA most likely is only handling treble, or is fake
>unremarkable sound, some treble spikes but decent
>decent comfort
KZ Duet
Bought this one because they're using the semi in-ear form factor, which is quite rare for non-TWS earbuds.
>seals like an IEM even without the tip, I'd say it's only slightly more open than regular DD IEMs
>has similar suction effect to normal IEMs
>the silicone tips included are mostly unnecessary and are hard to get sealed properly
>sound becomes tinny like a regular IEM when seal is broken
>when sealed the sound is still mediocre, uneven treble, boomy bass, muted mids
EPZ P50 (Custom faceplate)
I actually really like these. Somehow they're a lot smaller than the Q1Pro shells making it much more comfortable.
>great modular cable
>new meta ish tuning, sounds similar to moondrop meteor, better treble than hexa
>filled resin build
I also bought the ddhifi tc44grip which is coming in tomorrow. I'm not sure yet where I want to install it, because I use my phone's USB C for video out sometimes.

>>106627745
My strategy is not wearing treble cannons for longer than 3 songs.

>>106627768
Post the faceplate...

>>106627786
>>106627766

>>106627766
post the faceplate

>>106627766
>I actually really like these. Somehow they're a lot smaller than the Q1Pro shells making it much more comfortable.
I wouldn't say they are a lot smaller than q1pro (well I have daybreaks but they are pretty much the same POS) btu I also was surprised how small and comfy they were

>>106627793
>>106627799
No lol
>>106627831
It feels a lot smaller in the ear for me, probably because of the reduced width of the bottom part of the shell.

Spotify is TRASH. Use Apple Music Atmos for higher DR.
https://youtu.be/YtxeuKVsogs

>>106627883
Saar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBhbxVmolTE

>>106626643
>>106626727
Appreciate the detailed response. Think I'll go with Davinci. Price is pretty good right now with coupons and 30% cash back.

Ziigaat releases too many iems to keep up with man i dont know how they expect the market to accept it

>>106626884
>>106626865
I have not heard Davinci being especially sharp with treble. I will look at Estrella graph and reviews and see if it's appealing

>>106627883
The EQplebs don't want you to know this secret but you can just AI generate more DR and AI generate out the distortion. I store my music in 32kbit because I just deeplearn them back to 1411kbit.

>>106628169
>I will look at Estrella graph and reviews and see if it's appealing
It is not. One last thing I'm maybe looking at is Aful Performer 5+2 but it didn't even make the list on the guide. Think I'm gonna bite for the Davincis though, $194 after coupons and 30% cashback brings it down to effectively $135

>>106628699
>but it didn't even make the list on the guide
your problem is taking the shopping guide seriously.

Did I just bootloop my Tempotec by trying to upgrade the firmware? Maybe.

troonsjim you owe me my 15khz hearing

>>106626829
>Get IEMs with lots of detail and clarity.
In other words get IEMs that aren't ugly treble cannons gotcha

>>106627883
>shartur

>>106628768
Fortunately, no. But apparently the 1.2 and 1.5 versions that are on the .com.cn website don't work for the Variations V1? Idk.

>>106628720
>your problem is taking the shopping guide seriously.
Why would you not? It actually has reasonable input without schizo nonsense like in the thread

>>106629393
written by whom? backed by what? (sean olive not-peer-reviewed journals don't count)

>>106625377 (OP)
Thank you for the recs and wiki guys. I am enjoying the Tanchjim ONE DSP with the KBEAR 07 tips.

GO Blu Air. I'm actually interested in this, given being cheaper than og Go Blu.

>>106629604
looks fucking hideous, why would anyone get this over the btr17/btr13/qudelix

My current setup is a Schiit Ragnarok/Yggdrasil. I run some speakers for most normal listening, and also HD800's. Interested in trying IEMs, but last time I plugged them into the Rag, noise floor was too high even on the lowest gain level. Is there a preamp or something I can get to power the IEMs directly from the DAC, or should I just plug the directly into the RCA out on the DAC and just use windows volume control to control the volume for the IEMs? Seems like a waste to get a cheap dac/amp just for IEMs when I have a yggy right here.

>>106629651
The CS43131 chips in this model where blessed 1000 times with medium weight acoustic holy water at a local Benihana's.

>>106629684
>Seems like a waste to get a cheap dac/amp just for IEMs when I have a yggy right here.
wrong but normal audiotard thinking
the ygg is bad for your iems, get an apple dongle or any of the dongles recommended in op and the shopping guide

>>106629684
various solutions:
get iems that are specifically not sensitive, few and far between.
use an impedance adapter plug, but make sure to use it only with 1DD iems or others that will not alter frequency response when used with an adapter.
yes get a cheaper dac/amp. variety of portable solutions: usb-c dongle, bt dacamp, or pmp.

>>106629423
>don't count
why not

>>106629710
For me it's the Sony Xperia Z5 Premium running LineageOS 19.1. No need for any of your gay dongles or DSPs because it uses MicroUSB and 3.5mm the way God intended. Cry harder.

headpos law

>>106629790
immutable and constant

>>106629787
Got resolution for days, I can post all day nigga. Praise Sony.

>>106629790
My $50 phone and $50 headphone mogs

Any iems with extra insertion?

>>106629849
every pos if you're brave enough
https://4ciemg.github.io/IEMGazette/monthly-issues/june-2025/#anon-creates-a-tip-monstrosity

>>106629849
etydildo

water cooled computer controlled phased array iems with the ability to isolate individual hairs in my cloaca for stimulation

>>106629651
qudelix has only 2.5mm as a balanced out. fuck no.

Has the list really not changed for over a year?
Can nothing below $50 mog the hexa or epz q1p?

>>106630091
what list?
>Can nothing below $50 mog the hexa or epz q1p?
q1p is recommended because it's comfortable, well built, and can be EQ'd

>One can’t hear our modern world’s pervasive RF Noise itself, but the compromises it causes robs us of detail and contrast, and outright buries so much subtlety.
Is this real?

>>106630124
>audioquest
never

I’m still mad about apple doing an aux delete

HiBy M300 or HiBy R4?

>>106630270
https://youtu.be/Qg7YgKRrA1s?si=j6xNQwisS6CXVXQt&t=1704

>>106630091
epz has been mogged since 2019 its just one faggot who keeps on forcing it into the op

>>106630406
sounds like the m300 is better, is it worth the $40 for the extra gig of ram? I have a bunch of sd cards so i dont care about storage

How did I do, bros?

>>106630991
https://youtu.be/v6ipXGd6028

>>106630406
>hissing and wifi interference on a dedicated audio device in 2025
What the fuck. Literal apple dongle doesn't have this problem.

>DT-990 Pro 250 Ohm
>equalizer APO w crinacle preset
>loud and fire
>peace eq
>quiet as fuck
do I need a new amp? I do not understand

>>106631373
The preset probably doesn't have negative preamp and you were having "loud and fire" digital clipping, which Peace detected and reduced. Show the preset.

>>106631367
DAPs are famous for having shit audio(audiophiles love shit).

After honeymoon phase with Top Pro I'm starting to think about selling it. Yeah, it has great tech and detail retrieval but it's uninspiring overall. I found out I prefer warmer tonality and smoother and more forward vocal. I just can't find tracks or genres where Top would be my first pick other than that detail retrieval party trick that gets old fast. Reminds me a bit SMG - not for minmaxing and bigger collection.

>>106631424
>retarded mix of light/dark mode
>all the text is unreadable
>junk default presets not deleted
>CCA CRA (lmfao)
eq guide has failed utterly

>>106631435
The headpos law never fails though.

>>106631457
this is actually kz law

>>106631476
Sounds like something a headpos user would say.

>>106631477
sounds like nobody has ever read the eq guide

>>106630541
What's the best V/Harman thats not built like shit under $60 now?
I haven't followed IEMs in like 2 years

>>106629090
Mr. Saurav Chala is an exceptional acoustician and a worthy successor of Floyd Toole and Sean Olive

>>106631569
No one has, and no one will

>>106629787
based
exemplary user of modern era's digital devices

>>106631607
shartman has fallen out of favor because it sounds like ass but you could try simgots ew200/ew300 if you insist on awful tuning

>>106631607
EPZ Q1 Pro

>>106631899
Nope

After all those years I'm still eq'ing my shit to variations and cut bass a little bit, nothing new comes close to that for me. Maybe I should've bought variations after all, huh.

HELP ME HARMAN I'M GOING DEAAAAAAF

>>106631477
>>106631569
>not reading the guide = headpos law
This makes too much sense.

>>106631987
eq guide again proven to be utterly useless not even worth the kilobytes of disk space it takes up on microsoft's servers

>>106631987
>Maybe I should've bought variations after all, huh.
No.

>>106631987
I just grabbed some shitty ass kz zs6 from the prehistoric era of IEMs and after doing this they too sound really nice. I hereby swear to never buy any expensive pos. Or any pos for the foreseeable future because I have way too fucking many already.

Which Sony IEMs should I get for my Xperia?

>>106631889
simgots at least have body and warmth to them which acts as a balance for shrill upper mids, whereas the shartman target is thin and castrated

>>106632057
lol
Tranny SuperTuck

>>106632152
sir redeem Sony Ericsson HPM-20 earbuds kindly please

>>106632280
Thanks. I also need a rec for my wife's boyfriend's son's mom's trans sister please. Is Tanchjim fine?

>>106631420
Should've gone for the Mega5-EST instead.

>>106629393
Nothing says that you will agree with whoever wrote the shopping guide. I don't. For example he puts Tangzu Wan'er SG2 in the S tier category. I don't like that pos at all. Too bright. So that just destroyed every ounce of credibility the author had. I haven't looked at the list since.

>>106631420
Should've invested in the humble TRN VX Pro+.

>>106632392
Just EQ the brightness. But that would require you to read the EQ guide, which you haven't.

Why read the eq guide when you can just go to peqdb, pick target, pick your pos and boom violin, all done

>>106632447
Ok I'll admit the EQ guide is just copy and pasted from RationalWiki but you gotta admit it has style that aids (pun unintended) in posting on iemg discussions about 1DD IEMs.

>>106632447
If your EQ looks like a target you fucked up.

>>106632416
I tried reading the EQ guide but I never saw any advice on what to do except to get your measuring rig etc. Seemed complicated. So got bored and gave up.

>>106632532
https://4ciemg.github.io/IEM-EQ-Guide/how-to-eq/target-modification/

Do you guys own those amp/dac things with knobs and glowing tubes which cost like 1k buckaroos? I went to the audio store to test a few and I heard no difference whatsoever between their carefully curated premium experience of tubes and knobs and my trusty ibasso dc06 pro, granted I used iems and not headphones but still, I expected SOMETHING different, you know.

>>106632565
>he doesn't hear the difference between different knobs
It's over. Just use normal DACs for normal people.

Let me guess, you need more.

K11 R2R $120 https://a.aliexpress.com/_mtV1rZb
TA-66 $185 https://www.amazon.com/LEAUDIO-XDUOO-Headphone-Amplifier-High-Performance/dp/B0CXDLDVC5
VX Pro+ $30 https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256807161125648.html

>>106632608
nobody needs tube amps for pos

>>106632729
>I need more.
I already knew

>>106632781
not even close to what I said, you turd.

>>106632539
I read from here until the end and I appreciate the work. I didn't know how much of a difference individual ear canals make and how they can change FR. EQ just seems complicated to fully learn though (aside from a few small tweaks like a low pass and a high pass filter for bass and treble respectively). It seems like you've gotta buy an IEM with mids and treble that you generally like, and then you can maybe EQ the bass. To do much more than that seems it would take hours and hours of practice.

If I hear shitty mud with bloated bass and non-existent highs after using harman iems for a long time then the new one is a neutral tuned iem, right? Why the fuck I bought those things, ew.

>>106633322
EQ isn't complicated, the guide only makes it seem that way because it's badly written.

>>106633322
>>106633424
probably the only valid flaw i have for the guide, it seems to put as much importance in the small detail as it does with the more meaningful stuff
eq isn't complicated if the only goal is to improve your pos, you only need that link and every part before, not after

>>106633424
Why are you making shit up. It has levels of EQ. Level 1 is as simple as squig's guide. Progress further when you become less retarded. You haven't progressed beyond "this guide is long". Instant brain death.

>>106632608
>cheapest r2r on the market
>cheapest power stage amp on the market
ngmi

>>106632608
What do those tubes do?

>>106632346
>Is Tanchjim fine?
no, see >>106607161
>trans
anything with Shartman target, but not just Shartman-adjacent stuff, the tranny tuck HAS to be there and has to be deep, below the neutral baseline

Just ordered a pair of truthear gates. is there a Bluetooth adapter set available for them like with KZ's or would I have to use a separate receiver to achieve wireless?

>>106630991
Sound good with foam tips and bit of EQ.

What would be a good upgrade?

>>106632608
>R2R

well, fuck
crinacle made an IEM I will actually buy
shit

guys... do we like moondrop? anyone tried moondrop lan or pills?

lmaooo all primed measurements are showing the same thing as the Dave2D. Enjoy your tranny tuck and brighter APP3 :3
loser

Omg look at what I got :3
Listening to your tunez doesn't get anymore soulful than this

>>106635194
fake and gay

Out of the hundreds reviewed by Audio Amigo, here are his only "must buy" picks:

- Letshouer S08 ($100)
- Aful Explorer ($100)
- Artti T10 Pro ($100)
- Simgot ET142 ($220)
- Softears Volume S ($320)
- Punch Audio Martilo ($329)

Agree with this list?

>>106635235
>buys shit gear
how's that so hard to believe?

>>106635285
I agree its his personal and arbitrary list that he says is arbitrary 1000% of the time

>>106635235
No it's real, I bought it off https://a.aliexpress.com/_mK77tyD

>>106635317
believe me, I remember showing a pic of one of my pos and was accused of, "that generic pic is everywhere..blah blah"
these faggots don't know how to deal with being wrong, they match that insecurity with hatred and simply take it out on whoever. I mean we all know this lol

>>106635194
Nice vape

Yincrow X6 just broke, is there something a bit more sturdy flathead on the list that doesnt sound too bad?

>>106635763
>sturdy flathead
lol nope

I'll buy anything from Sony. Literally anything. Unless it's a fucking Playstation. Praise the R10.

>>106635066
yes xister the troondrop pills are bussin

>>106635285
they all have warmer bass emphasis, and most can be described as dark and smoothed over.
s08, t10 pro, and et142 have subpar fit ergonomics.
3/10 list
if you like bass, sure the >$300 options are among the choices

I just bought KZ Castor Pro, did i do good bros

>>106635763
fiio ff1 and nicehck ydx have replaceable cables. frankly replacement cables probably cost as much as buying another pair, but i think it's built better than the stuff just wired into the driver with little strain relief / wire protection

>>106635926
straight up to endgame, congrats bro!
just hit play and enjoy the music

>>106635824
how about woke leftoid trannyslop, would you buy that?

>>106635763
Just buy another one

>>106631420
pretty understandable. luckily you should find buyers quick since it's still a fotm.
>warmer tonality and smoother and more forward vocal
maybe softears volume s, ddhifi surface, or upcoming moondrop meteor de.
mega5est too, but some people perceive it more on the relaxed side for vocals

anyone tried the tangzu xuan nv?

>>106636262
Decently/highly rated by Audio Amigo but not S tier.

>>106636262
poor quality assurance (imbalanced units), poor sales
they should be discounting it near $30 or less

>>106636305
it turned out to be much smoother than what I'm used to, but not convinced its an actual negative.

What are the best cheapo IEMs? Budget is $15 or less. Having a mic would be a plus. Mostly for media and gaming.

I keep seeing QKZ ENZO and CCZ DC01 for this price range but maybe you guys know something better.

Is it retarded to buy this headphone cable (Moondrop FreeDSP) to adapt my current Moondrop IEMs to my next phone (Pixel 10) ?
I don't care that much about audio quality since I use them maybe once a month (and I need something without battery).

>>106636403
>Is it retarded
nah. it connects to the moondrop app that lets you load different eqs.

>>106636403
is moondrop good? looking at the lan

>>106636403
pixels don't tend to work well with dongles, and freedsp already has it's own issues.
get from amazon so you can return easily

>>106636431
just buy it. you'll likely enjoy the shit out of it.

>>106636436
So what's my best alternative ?
I need something compact and that don't need to be charged (I don't know in advance when I'll use it).

>>106636511
get a non poor person phone (iphone)

xixtas...

>>106636731
jim is looking real good, wonder if xhe's had bottom surgery yet

I've been going on the the reddits making fun of sportify fools talking about buying hifi setups when all they need is an apple dongle and 1dd

>>106636927
I bet they shat on you for being a dumbass

>>106636008
it's a fucking Playstation

>>106637005
just because they think i am doesnt mean i am because i'm right

>>106637013
what the fuck is a playstation

>>106637051
Snoy's video game division, unrelated to their other divisions such as Bravia, Alpha, Walkman or the based Xperia

>>106637100
their media division (crunchyroll etc) is just as bad hiring garbage wokealizers and doing retarded region locks on music (see ototoy)

>>106636927
>Apple dongle
Would agree if listening on your phone was a good experience. I had to stop coping with UAPP after I fucked up my Surfans F20 and went and bought a Hifwalker H2. I don't care if Hisszo says it's problematic that there's a non-intrusive hiss when nothing is playing, it still mogs any player on the market.

>>106625377 (OP)
>Kiwi Ears Cadenza (Mild V) - $35
These things are made out of paper. I just had my second pair fuck up on me in less than 6 months.
IEMs kind of suck. I want to try a normal big headphone for home use but I'm worried that I'm spoiled by the noise cancelation that IEMs provide.

Thank you for reading my blog.

>>106637100
Xperia is unbased as fuck, made like 2 phones worldwide so now the only way to get a VII is by paying a chink 2K USD on a 12 GB phone with 512 GB of Storage WITHOUT snapdragon elite. That plus the fact you now have to pay sony monthly to use the phone as a camera visor which used to be a free feature if you purchased Sony cameras. Only based thing about sony is the audio division. But I wonder for how long…

>>106637276
Also, their 5G Support is worse than chink versions of western phones like the oneplus 13, which don’t even have full coverage for america, let alone mmWave (sony is somehow worse)

>>106637027
right about what? apple dongle doesn't even have a volume rocker, of course they gave you shit

>>106637250
Just wait for a good ANC over ear headphone to be invented by 2030 or so

>>106637177
you're not wrong, overall it's their media distribution divisions (Sony Music, Sony Pictures, CrunchyA1NipplexCloverworks and of course PlayStation) that's cucked beyond comprehension
>>106637276
your whole post is pointless and will remain as such until a proper competitor shows up with a 3.5mm headphone jack, expandable storage via card slot, unlockable bootloader with solid AOSP support and removable battery without risk of breaking the screen
if manufacturers go back to old pro-customer values I'll gladly consider any other option, but for now the $1000 Xperia is way better both in terms of quality and performance-per-dollar than cheaper but crippled demo versions of smartphones

Soon I will have an Sgor Luna for $0

>>106637526
>$1000 Xperia is way better both in terms of quality and performance-per-dollar than cheaper but crippled demo versions of smartphones.
I know you're trying to drive a point home and whatnot, but if your snoy mobile isn't the sole driver of all your pos, why are you actually praising it? $1000, you can fuck right off trying to gatekeep mobile phones. nobody cares you loony tune

>>106637642
consoom your crippled demo version of a phone then
but for your information: yes, I do drive all my pos with the headphone jack in my Xperia everytime I use it to play music, as I hate dongles with passion and consider them a symbol of the great shift of Overton's window, making being retarded the default state in the society
the only place I use a dongle at is my PC, where it serves me as a desktop amp with its dedicated desktop mode (you can already take a guess which dongle is it)

Why do the airpods 4 sound worse than my fucking $30 7hz salnotes zero 2. what the fuck I was ripped off

>>106637895
Bro just buy a ROG Phone then, it’s not like you want the Xperia for any other reason besides audio anyway, on the asus you get more TWShitter codecs, better 5G support, headphone jack, 2 USB C ports and 384 kHz 32 bit audio just like on the Xperia, the only downside is the speakers aren’t as good on the Xperia (depends on who you ask anyway because the rog 9 also has great speakers)


>but muh walkman

Get a DAP or stop caring about it, audio on both of these phones is the same.

>>106637250
I have exactly zero broken IEMs... wtf are you doing with them?

>>106637936
>ROG Phone
fuck garbage without unlockable bootloaders and keep it as far as possible from me
https://github.com/melontini/bootloader-unlock-wall-of-shame/blob/main/brands/asus/README.md
>Get a DAP
I'm not an audiophool, I prefer to have all in one device just like 20 years ago

>>106637935
because of tuning why else...

>>106637250
>second pair fuck up
probably just filters. 30 second $0.50 fix.
https://rentry.org/consoomer_guide#iem-maintenance-filters

Not perfect but its pretty cool. No hiss.

>>106637250
>I want to try a normal big headphone for home use but I'm worried that I'm spoiled by the noise cancelation that IEMs provide.
Fiio FT1

perfect

>>106637973
Get the Motorola G34. It's $100 brand new and has a headphone jack. Wait, you're gonna tell me you need more, right?

>>106626971
I like moondrop
Blessing 3s are a great IEM, really nice soundstage all the way across.
Not bass cannons, but high quality bass. Really comfortable 4me too.
Kadenz, not as comfortable, a LOT more bass, sacrificing a little clarity, but still good enough.
Robins are a good TWS, not a huge amount of bass, and less clarity than wired IEMs. ANC is "ok", transparency is good too. Comfortable.
With the blessing 3, any tips that have a shorter inner section don't fit great, as the slide quite far down the nozzle, I cut the rubber section off a pair of broken springtips and slide it down the nozzle first and it fixes this.
I just put my blessing 3s on my FiiO UTWS5 and they'll probably stay on there now, really nice pairing, great sound quality, they fit in the case (the kadenz despite being smaller are awkward to fit)
All 3 are pretty difficult to sleep in, the blessing 3 are the best since they're more comfortable in the ear.

I have Tangzu Sancai wide bore on the b3s, Tangzu Sancai noble on the Kadenz and dunu s&s on the robin.

Unrelated, but I fucking love senny IEMs for sleeping in, IE 100 pro + comfy tips are bliss.

Why don't you guys ever recommend the Linsoul SIMGOT SuperMix 4?

they're in the rentry
i have them they're good

>>106636262
>anyone tried the tangzu xuan nv?
Get the Aful Performer 5+2 instead

https://youtu.be/MHQgaZ1Ghso&t=1706

Guidezo, just finished the Gangbang Klippel video, upload this one, pls. https://www.aes.org/tutorials/download/file.cfm?ID=147

>>106638215
Man this setup is just miserable. I don't think I could enjoy my music using that.

trannies, our tots??

they don't make the apple lightning headphone dongle anymore, what do I get instead?

>>106638625
zogslop

>>106635285
>Softears Volume S
Hell no. Tea Pro, Davinci, Astral, Hype4, there are many I would take before that pos

>>106637973
>unlockable bootloaders
For what purpose. Surely you don't use pajeet roms in 2025

>>106638514
Come on the q1pro isn't thaat bad

>>106637276
Skill issue, I'm using a $50 z5 premium from 2015 and my sim card is in it and I use it for work and for fucking super hot roasties with schizophrenia and daddy issues off Tinder

>>106630991
KZ shit the bed with the “””Harman””” version being insanely bright. Castor bass version is decent v-shape

>>106638749
I was talking about the phone.

>>106636701
iPhone is THE poorfaggot phone, I was using one (a free hand-me-down iPhone X) up until I paid $50 for the Z5 Premium. The 4K screen is based and I can connect my Hifiman HE-R9 directly into it and listen to my boomer metal vinyl rips in public

>>106638942
I prefer it over a regular dongle by a mile

>>106638740
I'm 100% sure the nerd who built the lineageos 19.1 for z5p is a white man.

>>106638985
Ok

>>106638625
wtf were they thinking

What's the best upgrade to the Aful Explorer? Similar relaxed neutral tuning that works on high volume but with better technicalities (better punchier and more textured bass and a bit more bite and clarity in the treble without going over the top)?

Very close to ordering the Punch Audio Martilos but worried they might be too fatiguing. I only listen to blues, and mainly live recordings.

>>106639486
any pos + eq (guide)
and no, martilo is too contrasty compared to the explorer

>>106639486
>What's the best upgrade to the Aful Explorer
doesn't exist

>>106639486
Martilos are bass cannons, its not neutral by any stretch.

>>106639499
>>106639502
Ok thanks. I'll probably buy it anyway because I've been wanting to get something in the $300-$400 range just to hear what its like.

I assume the Ziigaat Arcadia would otherwise be somewhat similar, but it's less than $200 and it's just a simple 1DD + 2BA setup (same as the Explorer). At least on the Martilos you get a micro planar for the high frequencies. Of course, ESTs would be even more exciting.

>>106639486
>blues, and mainly live recordings
not gonna have that much sub bass, which means the martilo *shouldn't* (matter of individual perception) come across so bass-dominant. but no other way to say it, it is obviously designed for bassheads.
juzear butterfly 61t is in similar vein as explorer. up a bit in price maybe symphonium meteor. all-ba so beware of pressure build-up feeling, but the sound might be what you want. i believe it can be ordered from headphones dot com, and they have pretty good customer service + return policy

>>106639537
Yeah but I meant neutral with a bass boost. I guess Martilo is more of a v shape (I realize that's likely necessary when you have so much bass). Like, if I just boost the bass on the Explorers with EQ the tuning doesn't work anymore, the upper frequencies become too laid back, even for me. So I get why V shapes exist and why they're more popular than L shapes.

>>106638374
BA pos avoiders I pressume

>>106639567
> juzear butterfly 61t
> Symphonium Meteor
Thanks for the suggestions. Let me have a look at the Butterfly. The Meteor is a bit out of my price range I think.

in-ear revision general

>>106638311
Unironic garbage

>>106639674
It's just the seasoning on the e-waste.

Oh look, another retard who didn't read the EQ guide. >>106639687

and now we wait, I really liked the LAN 1 but the metal felt weirdly chalky, idk how else to put it. either way im hoping the graph is an improvement.

What happened to this?

>>106639564
there's no telling what POS will sound more technical to you. Only way to know is go out and try them yourself

new flavor of the month "exotic," diaphragm: glass dome
what do we think about it?
for some reason i imagine a nightmare scenario where hundreds of tiny glass shards implode into ear canal

>>106639744
they've been released aka PILL, Space travel II, Horizon, Para II but under moonderp brand

>>106639736
nobody has read the eq guide though

>>106639973
it's imperative we keep it that way.

>>106640059
you have no agency in this matter, the eq guide not being read is a law of the universe as much as the laws of thermodynamics

>>106640080
then let it continue to decay into the subatomic particles of shit it's been vaporized into since day one.

cringe af. only headpos law has been found to be theoretically and practically sound.

>>106640080
I read the EQ guide and still purchased VX Pro, what now?

>>106639973
>>106640059
>>106640080
>>106640113
And I thought gazettezo would be the most embarassing poster here.
/iemg/ always proves me wrong.

>>106640120
look at you, big nuts knows everything

>>106640132
you did not read the eq guide, because that would mean someone has read the eq guide and we all know nobody has ever read the eq guide
congrats on the purchase tho

>>106640120
still downstream from eq guide law, you're on thin ice

>>106640140
shhhh no need to be upset the eq guide remains unread as it shall unto eternity

>>106637951
No idea.
>>106638125
Thank you, anon!
>>106638309
These are cute, thank you.

Have a good night everyone

I am looking into replacing my current headphones (Corsair Void Elite) for a IEM + boom mic cable, to make my daily life more comfortable. I have been doing some research, even used chatgpt to discuss about it, and decided to get a SIMGOT EW300 (0.78 mm 2-pin) + Kinera Celest RUYI 2-pin boom cable (3.5 mm TRRS).
What do you guys think? Is there a better combo for this price budget (180~200 USD)?

>>106640390
Why not get a desktop mic?

>>106640390
the same kinera cable comes bundled with some of their cheaper iems. look around for it, it can sometimes be the same price or even lower than getting the cable alone
ew300 is pretty mixed. we've had several reports over time that the sound is pretty mediocre

>>106639836
>what do we think about it?
nothing
>for some reason i imagine a nightmare scenario where hundreds of tiny glass shards implode into ear canal
not realistic

>>106640403
I want something more convenient that is also plug and play.

>>106640407
Do you have any other suggestion anon? I have around 180 to 200 budget, for both the IEM and boom mic cable. My main activities will be gaming (I mostly play single player games and mmorpgs) and work meetings.

>>106640516
he was joking you uptight twat

>>106640390
>Corsair Void Elite
jesus... any pos will be better than this shit...
Not a fan of how ew300 is but even it will probably be an improvement.
If your budget is $200 might as well buy something like daybreaks

>>106640530
there are dozens of good iems on the market. just pick one. if you're ordering from amazon and such, you can just return and try again if you're not satisfied. fit comfort and such is important, and you won't know until you try a pair.

>>106640390
iem is only usable for like 30 mins.

>>106640538
where's the punchline?

>>106640390
EPZ G20

>>106640583
went over your head completely. you can work on that by taking yourself less seriously and seeking a sense of humor.

Which is more updated, the OP or the rentry guide?
I am looking for a flathead earbud, OP says
• Blue Vido (Warm) - $5
• Yincrow X6 (Warm) - $10
Rentry says
• Faaeal Iris 2.0 (warm) - $10
• NiceHCK YDX (bright) - $15

>>106640630
doesn't matter. pick ones that are cheap, enjoy em

>>106640630
blue vido is cheap enough to blind buy, considering there's like 2 people here that enjoy it.

>>106640635
>>106640647
I am only looking for something to complete my minimum purchase amount for free shipping.
I will grab a Blue Vido and a Faaeal Iris 2.0 then, thanks.

>>106640630
ydx is the only one with a replaceable cable

>>106640739
I can't tell, is that the same two pin connector as the cheap IEMs from KZ or something else?
My tinhifi uses mmcx, but I have some garbage KZs laying around that I could harvest the cables if they are the same.

>>106640565
>>Corsair Void Elite
>jesus... any pos will be better than this shit...
If it's fine for a multi-millionaire indie game dev who composed one of the best indie game soundtracks of all time, then it's good enough for me.

>>106640776
they use 2pin, but kz uses qdc on most of their pos
just get whichever is cheapest and completes your minimum purchase amount

>>106640795
Oh I see.
Well it doesn't matter anyway, I can solder if I like one of them enough to replace the cable (if it dies).
Flatheads are at least super easy to do that.

Corsair Void Elite anon here. Decided to settle for a Kefine Klanar + Kinera Celest Ruyi. Do you think this is a good combo for a starter in IEM?

>>106640861
>Do you think this is a good combo for a starter in IEM?
getting any iem is a good starter, just use them until they break
if you want to start being an audiophile (retard) , come back here and read the eq guide

>>106640861
Fuck IEMs, get another Void Elite.
If Eric Barone uses one, so should you.

>>106640861
if you're paying sales price of $90 or less for klanar then sure

>>106640794
some people are just misguided (he's probably using a proper speaker set up for composing lmao instead of this shit)

>>106640861
>Kefine Klanar
not really no lol
did chatGPT tell you to buy it? wtf even is this shit

If a nice chinese man makes a perfect and nicely tuned iem, its very suspicions that a month later a better version can come out, and then another one.
Guys are we getting scammed?

>>106641034
newfag not understanding fotm pos

>>106641034
no no anon, just believe the chinese masters
they wield the power of Techs™ and innovate consistently every year, for every pos, in every price.

>Crinacle Zero 2
>Tripowin Vivace

Which one is better?

>>106641034
You MUST follow the new Meta™, gweilo. Check out my newest IEMslop at (((Hangout Audio dot com))). The model I just recommended 6 months ago is now obsolete, what are you waiting for?

>>106641105
depends on your zodiac sign

>>106641105
maybe vivace will fit your ears better idk

>>106641034
>>106641075
>>106641108
are you people genuinely retarded?
>perfect and nicely tuned iem
is not even real in the first place

>>106641219
>never heard techs
>never experienced the very fast rise of Techs™

>>106641219
you're not real

>>106641105
Zero 2 is the best iem under $100 if they fit you well

>>106641105
Chu 2. Those Zero 2 look like McDonalds Happy Meal toys

>>106639736
It's unsalvageable garbage, its length mode behavior starts at 2kHz already and it can't even play as loud as isines because homo estat lmao.

>>106639740
moondrop lan is nice?

I want to pickup that moondrop DSP cable but is it worth it?
>>106641954
I already have the Lan 1's I eneded up exchanging them for a new pair and they dont have that weird texture to them

>>106641034
Tuning comes and goes. In the headphone world companies can spend decades to make tuning worse. Only techs always improve :^)

>>106641971
Does the Lan have better techs than the Chu? I mean for double the price it should be double the resolution right?

>>106642051
the answer is resounding no

>>106641219
wrong.

The /iemg/ blog is good. You homos are alright. HD600 is still king, though.

>>106642254
I'm using some HD650s, they're pretty QLZ as the kids say.

hiby yacht 10 y/n?

>>106625377 (OP)
>>Budget Wire Over-Ear IEMs:
>• Truthear Gate (Mild V) - $22
Why?

>>106640630
Different anon, just got the YDX, it was closer to $10 on Ali without coupons. Last time I came here was two years ago when I got the Salnotes Zero, been enjoying it ever since. Thanks for the recs.

I got my chu 2s and apple dongle this week and I can say it's one of the best iem combos I've used as a casual. Its exactly what I wanted and I couldn't be happier
Thanks bros

>>106642581
See? SEE???? I've literally been shouting in the void itt that Chu 2 is good. The performance to price ratio is absurd.

>>106642690
1 week of non clogged performance

Please give me audio extension cable recommendations (male to female 3.5mm). This peace of shit is the third cable, that I've bought, that has crosstalk. In reviews no one mentions this and there is simply no information about anything related to crosstalk in audio cables, which makes me feel insane.
I'm no audiophile and the difference would be noticeable in a blind test.
Considering how niche this issue is I've made a crosstalk test if you want to test yours: pixeldrain com/u/YmMcjaoV
I've tried using different audio sources and the problem disappears when I plug my headphones directly, or to an amplifier.

I'm looking for a DAP and IEM combo that's small, lightweight and can handle sweat since I'm mainly going to be using it for going to the gym and walking my dog. I don't really have a budget but I'm thinking of the HiBy M300 but I don't know what IEMs to get.

>>106642690
sound quality was never the problem with chu...

>>106642744
>>106642856

>>106642900
>>106642900
>>106642900

>>106642769
openheart extensions do not have crosstalk but it's 1.5m max and they are not cheap

>>106642744
>>106642856
Huh, I didnt know this was an issue
Thanks for the heads up