🔶 Mangird TEA (6 BA/1DD)

nymz · August 25, 2021, 2:35pm

You’re thinking way too ahead of time. Demo Teas first, see what you think of them, take out some conclusions.

Or buy something cheap in the meanwhile like Mele

NarrowProgram · August 25, 2021, 2:39pm

Mele is gonna be out of stock for a while tho, also technically a friend is gonna help with buying the Tea as like a cumulative birthday gift from over the years, so can’t totally spend on cheaper iems in the meantime because broke college student

nymz · August 25, 2021, 2:45pm

Sorry I’m getting confused, you were just talking about 550-700 usd tribids

Teas will get you very far. Spending double won’t give you double the sound. Dimishing returns are real.

Resolution · August 25, 2021, 2:51pm

Exactly. Any of these sets could be anyone’s endgame, they are the best in their particular category. It just depends if you want to spend the kind of money each tier requires.

This is why I have my Tier list for you guys…

The IEM everyone should have - Blon BL03

My favorite IEM around $100 - Fiio FH3

Best Starter IEM - LZ A7. Find your preferred tuning.

TIER1 Best IEMs around $300 - Mangird Tea, Moondrop Blessing 2, TANCHJIM Oxygen

TIER2 Best IEMs around $500 - $700 - Safe tuned - Thieaudio Clairvoyance/Oracle, Xenns Up - Subbass tuned - Thieaudio Monarch, Moondrop Variations

TIER3 Endgame - Unique Melody MEST MKII - Authentic audiophile replay at it’s finest.

Yes, any Thieaudio tribid is made to order and takes at least a month to make. Take a look at their product pages, you’ll find those items are pre-order items.

I waited to have every one on my Thieaudio tribrids made for me.

No offense to Dan, but critically judging an IEM through that system is silly. Why not take the advise of someone who owns them all and is not being paid off by companies to shill their products?

But you’re talking about buying a MEST???

NarrowProgram · August 25, 2021, 2:57pm

Pfft Sorry about that but I guess “Broke” should be in quotations. If I really wanted I can get the 1100$ MEST mkII right now, but that’s gonna literally empty my bank account. And it’s been drilled into my head to “Buy the best you within your means” and “Buy quality, buy once. Buy cheap, buy twice”

Hell it took me like a good 3-4 months of research to buy a good “afforable” pair of Japanese chef knives for the house, both of which added to about the same price as the Tea. And honestly couldn’t be happier with them and will probably use them until I’m old and crockety

nymz · August 25, 2021, 2:59pm

That’s easy. Buy Mest, eat can tuna/instant noodles

vasix · August 25, 2021, 3:02pm

That’s right. Oracle by what percentage will upgrade Tea? I don’t think it will be 100%, maybe 10-20%? I don’t know, can anyone tell? What is Oracle’s clarity about Tea?

nymz · August 25, 2021, 3:03pm

10 to 20 is a good estimation when comparing hibrids to tribids of the same tuning. Depends on the cases, tho.

For instance, Variations is a direct “upgrade” to B2:Dusk, but doesn’t worth double the price. It’s like a 10% increment.

Resolution · August 25, 2021, 3:05pm

You’ll be gaining extended treble and EST treble smoothness (detail without harshness). In addition, you’ll be getting fuller bass and Theiaudio’s stellar tuning. The Oracle and Clairvoyance are generally a good step up from the Tea.

NarrowProgram · August 25, 2021, 3:29pm

No offense to Dan, but critically judging an IEM through that system is silly. Why not take the advise of someone who owns them all and is not being paid off by companies to shill their products?

That’s completely fair. I actually read and went through a bunch of your posts discussing the Tea and Clairvoyance/Oracle and I’ve given the IEMs in your list a look and gave them a lot of consideration. And yes I understand that trying to judge the quality of an IEM through that system isn’t going to translate 1:1 through recording variables, youtube compression, etc etc. I view it as more like a sneak preview to what i could potentially sound like since before his review/demo of the Aria I had no clue of the difference solid technicalities can make. But of course I’m still going to wait on the Tea and demo it first before making any major decisions.

But you’re talking about buying a MEST???

Apologies about that, they are mostly just hopeful ramblings and what-ifs. Like I mentioned, I found a guy locally who’s selling a mkII for 1100$, kinda hard not to fantasize buying it at such a steal of a price, not to mention the seller being local to my area and not having to go through international shipping and all those other headaches and to be able to demo and test it.

I would like to apologize if I made you feel frustrated in any way with all my ramblings and questions and all in all newbie ignorance and just in general buyer’s paralysis.

Resolution · August 25, 2021, 3:51pm

No problem. Just letting you know that I actually put a lot of effort into making recs for people. I just need to know what I have to work with in order to be able to help you the best I can.

But when in doubt, simply refer to my tier list photo.

nymz · August 25, 2021, 3:52pm

Fixed that for you, bro.

Resolution · August 25, 2021, 3:54pm

NarrowProgram · August 25, 2021, 3:57pm

Honestly this forum has definitely helped a lot and is a big part in helping me pick out what I’m going to get, and your posts and tier list definitely played a big role along with several other folks being patient and welcoming.