I used to like iems a lot back in the early 2000’s. Headphones took centerstage for me when I stepped up to higher quality headphones So I stopped buying iems until I got the Blon 03. Now I miss bassy iems. I want bass cannons in the $200 range. I listen to a lot of rnb and hip hop as a majority of my listening but I explore as many genres as I can get my ears to listen to.
So my question is, Which one out of these 3 have the better slam, punch, and quantity?
I’m leaning towards the isn H40 since ive read its got quantity and is easy to listen to and non fatiguing according to some.
The ikko OH10 seem to be an older favorite for bass so I was wondering if they still held up to other options.
Ibasso IT03 seems to be more detailed and resolving than the other 2 but how does that bass compare? Does it have comparable quantity of bass? I’d assume the bass quality is better on this pair.
One other criteria would be for good enough mids. I just dont want recessed mids or vocals that are lacking.
Add the Fiio FH3 in that list. Dont know about the IT03, its barely mentioned anymore so that could be a sign that it isnt up to the current standards. (you can probably replace it with the IT00.)
FH3 has been one I have contemplated as well. I assumed it wouldn’t have the quantity of bass compared to the other options but from what I read about the fh3 bass quality, people seem to enjoy it which makes it harder to choose. Ill look into the it00. Thanks
Judging from the graph, it does look like the H40 has the most bass and also the least treble.
Not sure which would is bassier between the OH10 and the FH3, I would bet it is the FH3 since it has much less treble quantity. Therefore you can raise the volume more without the treble killing your ears lol.
Oh right that’s true. With all the good impressions of the fh3, just seemed like it would be worth it just to hear them and selling the one I don’t enjoy as much but I would rather not have the redundancy and another pair sitting around.
I was considering the legacy 3 as well but didn’t think I’d be able to expect fill my head inundated with bass kind of bass response from the L3. I have grown to really enjoy fast defined bass used to describe the fh3 so reading that the h40 is bloated and soft could be a point against the h40.
I’ve read impressions that the H40 can be full and fun sounding so I’d be willing to look past soft bloated bass if it all comes together to for a fun and full sounding iem.
H40’s are still a favorite of mine after almost a year of owning. What’s great is how you can manipulate the sound signature with a few tweaks. Removing the mesh unlocks what this IEM is really capable of. Bass can sound bloated upon first listen (and a few days after), but either my brain adjusted or the drivers magically loosened up, I no longer have any perceived bloatiness in the low end. It plays nicely with the tips I use regularly. JVC Spiral Dot ++ for better vocals; Final Audio E Tips for more low end; and Azla Xelastec ear tips for enhanced technicalities (not by a lot, but still noticeable and it primarily affects imaging, stage, and potential bloat on some sub-bass focused tracks). Very fun and versatile IEM and definitely something everyone should own.
Although I have not heard the Thieaudio Legacy 4 or 5, they might be worth exploring as well. The way they’re described is similar to the H40’s and to be honest, I don’t think you can go wrong with purchasing either/or.
Never knew iem tips could have these effects. Really am leaning towards the H40. Being that it has a really nice stock cable is a big plus. Do you find the vocals recessed or veiled by the bass on the H40 or is the presentation acceptable with the amount of bass it puts out in combo with vocals? I do worry about things being too muddy but I dont believe the H40 would get to that point from assumptions.
Even with the Final Audio tips with its narrow bore, I never felt I was losing a great deal vocal presentation or recession, YMMV. Slight dip in the mids and highs, but no substantial roll off to any of those frequencies.
I primarily use Azla Xelastec tips these days on most of my IEMs (H40’s being the absolute favorite). If you have Blon-03’s, I highly recommend the Azla’s.
It totally depends on what you’re listening to. When I’m giving comparisons, they are exactly that, comparisons between the two. It’s not to say either are bad. The H40 is very full and has a very enjoyable frequency response. Expect a lot of bass quantity from it. Just don’t expect the bass detail of something like the Clairvoyance or Monarch which have the bass quantity and detail because of the mix of dynamic and balanced armatures making up the bass.
Yeah, let’s hear it! Could be beneficial to @SkipsMchee. OH10’s and IT03’s are solid, but the new hotness from Thieaudio might be the better value at this time.
I wrote this for another forum member comparing the L4 and L5…
The L4 compared to the L5 has less elevated bass but the bass is tighter and more defined due to the smaller dynamic driver. The DD is also made from a different material I believe. There isn’t much info on the Thieaudio DD before the L4. The L5 is warmer than the L4. The L4 is cleaner/clinical and its treble is elevated vs the L5 yet is not sibilant.
It really comes down to tuning. The L4 is more polished than the L5.
I’d compare the tuning of the L5 to be extremely similar to the Mangird Tea.
The L4 tuning is closer to the Clairvoyance or Monarch.
The difference between the L4 and Clairvoyance is that the Clairvoyance has a larger and deeper soundstage. Bass is more elevated yet retains its detail. The treble on the Clairvoyance is smoother/whispy where the L4 is crisper. Both do a great job of extending treble which is a testament to the tuning on the L4 since it uses a balanced armature for its treble vs the electrostats in the Clairvoyance. The Legacy 3 can’t touch the L4’s treble.
It’s all up to personal preference though. I’ve been listening to the L4 more than anything else lately, not because it is “better” but because it’s new and I’m learning how it sounds and how it performs with different genres. In general, I think most would prefer the L4 for the reasons I just pointed out and because it’s less expensive than the L5. It’s a steal.
I personally really enjoy the heftier sub bass of the L5 and sometimes miss its warmth when listening to the L4.
In the end, it’s all up to you and your personal preferences for how you expect your music to sound. Hope I was able to clear the differences up for you.
The H40 has great timbre, has more bass and is even warmer sounding than the L5. I’d say the bass quality of the L5 and H40 is about the same. The H40 is maybe “lush” sounding. Very smooth, but not very fast or crisp. The H40 is large and doesn’t fit me that well. I never removed the mesh.
If you want the most bang for your buck, go for the L4. It’s a very easy recommendation considering you’re getting that great new packaging and the included cable is really nice. I like the faceplate artwork too. I think the H40 is the same price. The L5 is $250 with a junk cable and 300 with the upgrade cable. At that price, I prefer the Mangird Tea to the L5.
Awesome, thank you for this. The legacy 5 sounds like an iem I may enjoy from what you describe. The clairvoyance sounds even better but thats above my price point.
I’ve been moving away from brighter sound signatures and have been enjoying what I hear so it sounds like the ISN H40 would be the way to go for me from all the descriptions. Bass, more warmth than the L5, lush and very smooth sounds like what I want. I have my eyes on a used pair of H40 at a good price so ill save a little.
Will need to pick up some Azla Xelastec tips
Thanks to everyone for the feedback, its been very helpful.
