By the way, any thoughts on the Moondrop Starfields for classical? Single dynamic driver and a relatively neutral/reference tuning…Sounds like a contender for the best sub-$200 option.
Tanchjim Hana 2021 is the current champ for sub 200 usd, since it seems to be quite similar to the Oxygen.
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I believe you dinged it and suggested a mod. Can you explain?
No, its the new one. That is different from the old Hana and doesnt need any fix.
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Thanks. I’ll be making a purchase soon but my finances got weird for all sorts of reasons, so my budget remains a big question mark. I’m trying to have a sense of, “If I can spend X, I’ll buy Y.” There are a ton of options at the $USD 260-360, including the Oxygen, the Blessing 2, etc. At $650 I guess is the Dunu Zen…but up past that I’m within range of used flagship stuff like Andromedas.
I’m also taking my time because my current IEMs, old Fischer DBA-002 mkIIs, are not deficient in any way. They’re head and shoulders above my Tin T2s (which themselves are surprisingly pleasing), and mainly I want “better” out of curiosity. Sort of, if that’s what my $150 got me in about 2015… I’d be curious to know if $110 for Starfields will outperform the Fischers, or more likely the $180 Hanas.
This is the time of the year where you will see a lot of new releases, so if you can. It is recommended.
(Dunu Falcon Pro is one for example.)
You can not see it when your using it. I think the variation is less than attractive but still thinking seriously about getting one. I own an H 40 and yes timbre is pretty good,
I ended up buying a pair of second hand Starfields for budgetary reasons, mainly out of curiosity. I am eager to get a taste of Harman tuning and to see what lower-end ChiFi does. Will post listening notes. Should arrive today. I am curious to see how they compare to my 8-yr old $150 Fischer DBA-02.
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Starfields arrived. What do I think?
There’s too little bass, and I don’t like the highs–violins in particular–but I have a hunch it’s a problem with the tips. None of the included silicon tips are doing it for me. I was able to dig up a comply foam tip from another set–but only one–and all of a sudden there was more bass, and I suspect it mellowed out the highs. I ordered some new Complys and will report back when they arrive. If the tips don’t improve the sound, I’ll be dissapointed. Also, do these things need burn in?
FYI I’m running them off my BTR5, which is my on-the-go rig.
They do pass one test well: If you watch this youtube video of Beethoven’s Mir ist so wunderbar from the opera Fidelio, the four singers are arranged in a line. Closing my eyes, I found I could place them all exactly in space. Nice.
Cellos and pianos sound really nice. This is really good:
On the other hand, I just listened to the last movement of Saint-Saëns’ organ symphony, and while much sounded really good, the crashing symbols seemed overly loud.
Similarly, Hilary Hahn doing Bach violin partitas…a touch shrill. She’s better than that.
Switching back to my old Fischer DBA-02 mk 2, the Fischer are better. Hilary is just as clear yet a step back from shrill. As for Saint-Saëns, there is more sub bass rumble (it’s a pipe organ!) and the symbals are a touch less loud.
The Starfields, I hate to say it, just aren’t a step up. Perhaps the price should have been an adequate clue. But here’s the question, what do I have to pay before I sit up and say “that’s better”? $300? $600 Andros?
On the plus side, they are better than Tin T2s. Much more revealing.
Update: they have become a tad less shrill but are still sort of meh compared to my old Fischers. I think I’ll be selling them. They shine on pop but when I out in my voila da gamba tracks, for example, there’s a shine and a clarity that’s just missing. Not bad, mind you, just missing a 5%>
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I’ve been really enjoying my new Blon BL05s with Comply AP foam tips for classical so far. Listened to Vivaldi, Bach and Buxtehude organ and they have bass and even sub bass but not bloated, high are crisp but not painful and the soundstage is decent. Very well balanced imo.
On some recordings i can clearly here the musicians breath or the keys/chords.
Edit: I’ve tried them with silicone tips and they sound even clearer.
These might be only good for Classical however…
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I guess it’s just a bad trait of this hobby that even though I clearly have a perfectly fine IEM I’m still actively shopping for “better.”
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Curses for blessings, eh? (or whatever brand you want to try next) 
There’s a long list of things I want to try. Oxygen.
Ety er4xr . Blessings 2. Illumination. Campfire Holocene. Mangird Tea.
What I really want is a library from which I can check out IEMs. And then when I find the “one” I’ll happily shell out the dough.
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I’m also considering the Mangird Tea… I hope to find an IEM that works with my entire music library 
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Teas are a great all rounder and I love them for classic.
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What do you guys think of the Final B2 for classical?
The few reviews i watched said that it was great for acoustic music.
Massive upper-treble roll-off. I doubt its good…
I was tempted by this when I saw the price (50% sale) but this graph really looks bad.
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I recently picked up a set of Etymotic ER4XR and really like them for classical. I got them new on Ebay for $160, and it’s easy to find at $200 or close to it.
They have fantastically clear treble that somehow isn’t overly bright…it sounds clear yet not boosted. Revealing but not sharp. No sibilance. Bass sounds fine to me: excellent quality and appropriate quantity. Imaging is excellent. Timbre sounds fine to me. Holy cow the isolation: get a good seal and the rest of the world is on mute.
I’m still putting them through their paces. But so far a strong recommendation, at least at $200 and below. I suspect I’d need to jump up to at least $300 to best them, though I don’t know. These are the best IEMs I’ve ever tried, but that’s not really saying much.
I just put on Beethoven’s 9th and am listening to the end of the finale, where the four soloists are doing their thing. And then the orchestra booms and I hear those lovely, lovely trumpets and can also make out the double bass and cellos. The triangle and glockenspiel aren’t lost. Really great. Switching over to Beethoven’s sonatas for cello and piano. Jacqueline Du Pré sounds great.
Here’s a great timbre test. I suppose I really need to A/B this with a DD or maybe even my big Sennheisers, but I’m satisfied.
There’s a school of thought that the ER4SR is the better choice for this genre. That might be true, but I can’t judge without being able to compare for myself. I suspect the difference is slight.
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@dcofficehack Good to know…I considered the 2s some time ago. I’m not much
of an iem person, but those sound great. I do have their ER20XS -20 db plugs which work really well at taking the sharp edge off snare and cymbals when I’m at the local music clubs. 
JVC FDX1. Great resolution, coherency and tuning.
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