An older thread, but much has changed, especially in the world of IEMs just in the last few years. I’d like to offer my 2 cents when it comes to the high end / TOTL market.
I think it definitely depends on what you prioritize and what your preferences are. I’ve learned through trial and error that I think high end IEMs are better than any headphone currently available. For headphones I own the Susvara, Elite, Empyrean II, Atrium, Clears, and HE1000 V2. For IEMs I’ve owned the U4S and U12T, and now the newer Grand Maestro. So all very high end comparisons.
With high end IEMs, the level of detail is unbeatable. The U12T makes the Susvara sound muddy in comparison, and the Susvara is known as one of the best for detail. For this reason alone I struggle to go back to headphones when there is just so much detail and clarity.
Bass quantity with “bass canon” IEMs is also just unbeatable compared to headphones. It’s so much bass quantity that it’s actually shocking when you first experience it. It took some time to get used to such a different tuning, but once you do it’s hard to go back. U12T and Grand Maestro makes open back headphones sound bass deficient in comparison.
IEMs can’t really compete on sound stage and openness, because physics, but they are getting better and better. It’s actually shocking how much sound stage you can get from the Grand Maestro. I wouldn’t say it’s as wide as most open backs but it’s really impressive for what it is. To the point where it’s not something I miss.
One complaint I have with IEMs is the way treble sounds. I don’t mean frequency response. But it sounds… how do I describe it… a tad tin-y? A little metallic? It doesn’t bother me most of the time but it does have me sometimes reaching for my Susvaras to see if maybe I’d prefer them but because of all the other qualities I like from my IEMs I always go back.
One other issue with IEMs is because they are so detailed and so close to your ear, they reveal any flaws in recordings like crazy. Even compared to the Susvaras or the sibilance revealing Elites I have never before been so turned off of certain recordings that have distortion or microphone peaking. IEMs really highlight it like nothing else.
So with all of that said, it all depends on your preferences. Do you want a flatter frequency response with wide soundstage and realistic trebles? Well you’ll probably prefer headphones. Do you want lots of bass, detail, clarity, punch, and fun? IEMs all the way then. Of course, there’s always going to be outliers to this. Not all IEMs are bass canons, and not all open back headphones have a big sound stage I.E. Atriums. And I’m really only comparing TOTL headphones to TOTL IEMs which is a different market. I’ve heard horrible IEMs at all price ranges and the same goes for headphones. And if you don’t get a perfect deal with IEMs you’ll never enjoy them no matter what. So your mileage may vary.
Lastly, when it comes to practicality, IEMs win hands down. Noise isolation, portability, low power requirements, being able to use them on the go or when exercising… no comparison.
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