IEM discussion thread (Part 1)

IEMs / Other In-Ear Monitors (IEM)
22

How do you guys sort your tips? I am just showing them all into a carry case so it is pretty chaotic when I try to find a specific one lol. :joy:

23

tips
tips1250Ɨ1000 1.3 MB

6 Likes
24

what tips do you personally recommendā€¦ i dont like the built in silicone because whenever i use them (not really using the earhooks) they often fall offā€¦ i dont want it to be stuck on me all the time so easy enough to remove but also not enough to be difficultā€¦ also i like when it feels cold

25

  1. Sony hybrids (EP-EX11) / Final Audio Type E

  2. Spinfits CP145

  3. Azla sedna / JVC Spiral dot/Spiral dot++

I prefer narrow bore tips because they tighten the bass and reduces treble peaks for me (the hybrids and Type EĀ“s are doing that the most).

26

Final E, Azla Xelastec, Spiral dots, Epro Horns. If you need a longer stem the Azla sedna are good for that. My ears dont do well with the pressure from foams as I like the IEM to disappear as much as possible lol

27

iā€™m surprised that the recommendations are often for silicone tipsā€¦ i thought most people agree that goam is better

28

I hate foam tips lol. Takes too much time and is annoying to put inā€¦forgot how they change the sound, been too long since I last used them :joy:

They also need to be replaced after a few months, which makes them quite expensive.

1 Like
29

ok so no dekoni or comply tipsā€¦ i can try the final E or spiral dotsā€¦ i dunno which one i would prefer

30

IMG_20200731_232745
IMG_20200731_2327453000Ɨ4000 3.74 MB

IMG_20200731_232801
IMG_20200731_2328013000Ɨ4000 3.91 MB

3 Likes
31

another topicā€¦ what wire do you like usingā€¦ i dont need any special format since im just getting an easy to drive shozy form 1.1ā€¦ but i wonder if i might like one if i ever get a dap or a fiio btr5 (probably a dap just so streaming stuff like tidal will still work full) AFTER i move from an LG phone/DAP

32

If you want to hear the full potential of what your IEM can accomplish, foam will never get you there. Do the work to get use to silicone in your ear and find the right sizes for the IEM and your ears. Short stem IEMs will require larger tips and longer stem IEMs will require smaller tips. The bore/hole size makes a difference in the sound and sound stage and the silicone denseness/softness all contribute to how good your seal is for your ear. Getting a complete seal that is comfortable for you is essential.

3 Likes
33

This is a widely suggested IEM cable and wonā€™t break the bank. Zeos has also stated this is the IEM cable he recommends. They are really soft, donā€™t tangle easily and come in just about every connection combination youā€™d need. I have a bunch of them.

https://www.amazon.com/TRIPOWIN-Braided-Earphone-Replacement-Connector/dp/B07SSBDPCX/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=TRIPOWIN+C8+8-Core+Silver+Copper+Foil+Braided+Earphone+Replacement+Upgrade+Cable&qid=1596233707&s=electronics&sr=1-1

2 Likes
34

I think if you try a silicone try to grab the final E first, since you can see exactly how big your canals are, then you can get spirals of the same size. Then you have wide and narrow bore. From there you can experiment or get long stems if needed. I see the epro tips as if you want something Wierd lol so wait on them :smiley:

Edit: also Xelastec tips are largers so you will have to go down a size or 2 when getting them, but they are a strong recc when possible,

35

This is difficult because you need to go on a personal journey to find what works best for you. Personally, it can take weeks of tip swapping and listening and forming opinions of what works and what doesnā€™t for every IEM. Sometimes I prefer different tips for different reasonsā€¦ fit, sound/FR, dynamics, sound stage etcā€¦Try everything. Find what works for you. Donā€™t rule anything out.

Like what I said earlier about foamā€¦ You might enjoy a more laid back sound but your IEM is hot and very punchyā€¦ In this situation, foam might work to tame it into the perfect IEM for you. That probably just boils down to that IEM not being the right IEM for you but tips and proper seal are a HUGE part of proper IEM enjoyment.

I canā€™t recommend Spinfit enough for most IEMs.

1 Like
36

I use this one for most of my iems (including the shozy form 1.1): https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000400771561.html

measures really well at only 0.3-0.4 according to slater on head-fi.

This is also a nice cable: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000717813281.html
and this one: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4001166709135.html

Although the TRN T3 is better than the NiceHCK LITZPS cable: https://www.head-fi.org/threads/low-end-cheap-generic-otherwise-bang-for-buck-cable-thread.891911/page-301#post-15753197

0.3 vs 1 ohm is quite a big difference.

1 Like
37

Hey Rikudou Goku! What are the shipping times like on Aliexpress? Iā€™ve never ordered from them because it always appears that the shipping times are crazy. What are your experiences with them like?

Thanks!

38

To Spain AliExpress takes around three weeks if no other factors , read Covid, affect the shipping

1 Like
39

It depends on what shipping option I pick. If it is the standard aliexpress shipping (free by most sellers) I usually get it in a month. Of course this year has been more weird with times from 1-3 months.

If I pick dhl express I can get stuff in a week.
If it is something over 100 usd I would pay the extra for dhl. (20-40 usd not counting in the tax + fee when I received it)

1 Like
40

Anyone tried this cable? : https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4001244591805.html

Looks very similar to the Tripowin C8 but much cheaper.

41

Nice find. It does indeed.