So i am new into this hobby and full of questions that are basic- things you all have moved past…well in the past. If you feel like sharing your experience tho please do! I am not an audiophile, i am just a 50 year old who likes tunes and games so if you can kindly try to explain your answer like you are talking to a noob that would be great. Answer any or all.
FR vs quality of sound vs subjectivity in iems- essentially “the difference”. I understand everyone’s anatomy is different plus manufacturing variance, but how do you determine what sounds good in one iem over another? I imagine (because of lack of experience) that 2 different iems could share the same FR graph but one would sound muddled and the other clear, or both sounding the same until a certain amount of power/gain is applied. I also imagine those same 2 could share the same FR/quality but tips change the subjective experience. Should subjectivity be the determining factor when trying to get the most out of the music?
Value. What is value in iems and does that factor into your own enjoyment?
Does FR really matter vs how it makes you feel for a specific genre? If i am looking to puchase more iems in the future but cant purchase all iems in the future, is determining my “preferred” FR more worthwhile or is investing that time by listening to individual iems regardless of their FR a better idea?
From what i can gather, iem’s- via competition and tech advances- have dropped in price and muddied the difference in sound quality at different price points in the last 18 months. Shills aside and wanting the latest/greatest iems, is price an indicator of overall quality AND experience? I hear so many reviewers saying that “this iem punches above its class” (or some variation of that) that i question the roll of price at all in the market. So many have observed that a lower price point achieves 90 percent of the next higher point (no matter the product-cars, computers, etc.), but i dont know in iems if that is true. If, in the past, the class tiers were say $15-$50, $51-$100, $101-$200, $200-$400, $400-$600, $600-$800, and $800+ to now where you achieve 98-99 percent of the next class, then the audible quality of an iem that cost $75 is tip roll away from a $380 iem. If this is the case, is looking up in price point for the next “fix” (better experience) wise?
So far i really dig this community- people are relatively respectful of differences in opinion of various iems plus in comments in general. These questions will help align my frame of reference to the hobby.
I live in the middle of nowhere in tennessee, 2 miles past nowhere fast and my house is on the side of side road. Literally i can holler to get my neighbors attention as the call bounces off the hill in the bowl i live in. Thinking about moving back to civilization…
First things, first: WELCOME to HiFiGuides, man! Always nice to have another animal in the zoo.
Now, for some itemized deductions:
There is much less objective truth in this hobby than many think. Some are slaves to graphs and base purchasing decisions on squiggly lines. I think that’s daft. Frequency graphs are a guidepost to give you an idea of an IEM’s sonic signature. They’re just one tool in the box – that’s it, at least to me.
The only true arbiter of sound quality in this hobby is your ears and brain. Everyone’s are different. A treble peak seen in a graph may not bother you, yet it may be nails on a blackboard for me. A slight mid-bass bloom into the mids may be something I dig, yet it may drive you into a rubber room with a straitjacket on.
I think the best way to learn is to try various IEMs, either through cheap purchases on AliExpress for budget models (many good IEMs for $40 or less), buying some from Amazon with its generous return policy or visiting an audio trade show. You will learn the sonic signatures you like.
Also watch some reviews on YouTube from knowledgeable people like our own Jaytiss, ToneDeafMonk, Jay, Gizaudio and many others, and non HiFiGuide reviewers such as Audio-In, Super*Review, Vortex, The Honest Audiophile, Paul Wasabi and others (sorry if I omitted any OG’s here - just going from memory).
You will learn the reviewers who have similar sonic preferences as you, and if they like something, there’s a pretty good chance you will, too.
And as much as I decry slavish devotion to graphs, they can be handy when using an IEM you own and love to another. Squig.link allows you to overlay the frequency curves of a variety of IEMs so you can see similar signatures. Pro tip: Try to compare measurements from the same dude for consistency, as users measure differently, have different levels of aptitude with measurement gear, etc.
Tips also matter with IEMs. Really matter. Tips not only will provide more comfort, but they also can alter/smooth the sonic signature for many IEMs.
Value used to be a lot easier to determine in IEMs as recently as two years ago. But there has been an EXPLOSION of budget Chi-fi sets at $50 and under in the last 12 to 18 months that could have sold for $100-200 just two years ago. Seemingly everything these days coming out of China is insane value.
Still, yeah, value matters. Comparing various models can help you determine value. But if the herd here says an IEM punches above its weight, it’s probably true – with one caveat.
Again, so many new quality IEMs – many with tremendous value – are being released every damn week by Chi-fi manufacturers that the hype trains run at bullet speed and the Flavors of the Month are more plentiful than Baskin-Robbins in its heyday.
So, my rule of thumb is to let a molten IEM that’s torching the forums with praise sit for a good month after release date before I consider a purchase. If nobody is buzzing about a hyped IEM after a month, it probably was Flavor of the Month and isn’t really that good. Yes, the hype trains move that fast these days.
I own four IEMs, and they’re all different. That’s by design, both for music genres and technology.
The AFUL MagicOne is a single balanced armature (BA) with some unique acoustic engineering. It has wonderful midrange and is superb with acoustic, strings, folk, etc. – with Final Audio Type E tips (note tip rolling here!)
The Kefine Delci is a single dynamic driver (DD) that is a party for your ears. Big bass, fairly detailed treble, solid mids. Just a fun, fun, fun IEM when neutrality isn’t high on your list. Fun with rock, hip-hop, EDM, pop.
The AFUL Explorer is a one-DD, two-BA set that is the ultimate chill set. Smooth as a baby’s ass. Excellent bass. Warm signature with just enough detail to keep it interesting. A great, comfortable set for extended listening when you just want to get lost in the music and not focus on the last detail. Classical and other detail-oriented genres are about the only ones that don’t work with it.
The Artti T10 is a planar-magnetic driver. Fast bass. Complex, detailed passages (Rush, prog rock, some jazz) don’t get congested or mushy because of the planar driver. A very nice all-arounder.
See above. I will cede to more experienced dudes who have heard kilobuck IEMs – I have not; working on that! – for advice about the quality vs. price rubric. But, in general, the price-to-value ratio in IEMs is MUCH more favorable than with over-ear headphones.
I own a pair of kilobuck over-ears – the ZMF Aeolus. Are they better than cheaper cans in my collection. Yes. But I don’t think there’s a direct correlation between price and value. I don’t think my Aeolus at $1,200 new are 5.7 times better than my HD 6XX that were $220 new.
The law of diminishing returns arrives in every hobby. IEMs are no exception. And there are brands that charge a “tax” just for the privilege of buying their prestigious brand name, much like Apple or Louis Vuitton.
There also are raging rapids of marketing horseshit in IEMs, just like any hobby. There also are “trends” in IEMs that people think are innovations but are largely just marketing gimmicks. I’ll put tuning switches and companies’ desire to stuff as many drivers into a shell as spiking my bullshit meter – but that’s just me.
Hope this helped. Again, welcome to the forum. Feel free to hit up any of us for advice.
Enjoy the journey. And most of all – ENJOY THE MUSIC!
This, but if you want the absolute CHEAPEST method, it is to simply use Parametric Equalizer (PEQ) on something you already own (assuming it has been graphed on any of the squig databases) and then mess around with the FR to see what you like/dislike.
Thanks for the detailed responses, i appreciate it!
I guess i could have been much less verbose and just asked what makes for quality in iems, but that isnt my style- stream of consciousness (some might add or lack thereof, lol) is. It may have opened up a larger can of worms had i done that, lol.
Objectiveness is something that doesnt happen often, maybe because objectivity can be subjective if you think about it as the same stats can be used to argue on more than one side, and everyone experiences things differently, not to mention people are swayed by biases they dont know or believe exist. Thats why this hobby seems hard to me but at the same time exciting with new dopamine hits all the time. For example, i cant wait for some eartips to come in on tuesday. Excited for eartips??!!??
I have spent my hobby money aside from about $70, was thinking about buying some “cheaper” iems to the collection, maybe focusing towards gaming. I am in the process of setting up Skyrim VR with tons of mods and i know that will be all consuming in a bit. I will need easily driven iems to connect to the quest 3 so i dont bother my gf more than the excessive gameplay will already irk her. However, my hesitation is what if i like the sub $70 set as much, or more, as my $200 sets. Is that a real fear?? Lol.
Oh if its for VR use you might want to take a look at flathead earbuds, you might want some awareness while using VR and not be completely isolated from the world.
Thanks, but then what excuse would i have for not hearing her say its time for bed??? Lol!
Seriously, it is probably good advice and i will consider it.
A quick question- why do foam tips seem to have a negative connotation? I am tip rolling like crazy trying to identify what i like and i accidentally fell asleep with foams in dor an hour. Sure, the higher frequency was smoothed over/not as detailed to me but i was relaxing, seems like a good fit for that.
Foams are generally lush and vintage sounding in their characteristics. But the fit might change for a different person depending on the pressure.
Personally, I like to use a narrow bore to get those effects than Foam because Foam alters the fundamental sound uncontrollably for me which is not ideal for reviewing
TRN Conch for single Dynamic driver, performs 95% similar to Simgot EA500LM or Kefine Delci AE for $35 or less. Akros just did a mega single dynamic driver smack down and discusses the Conch value at the end.
CCA Rhapsody for hybrid, compares extremely well with many more expensive brands hybrids, highly recommended, also adjustable to tweak sound. Under $45. (See Akros video.)
Juzear Butterfly 61t, Tangzu Heyday, and pula02. Pula02 i pretty much have figured out. I have velvet wides coming in tuesday a bit smaller than the ml i have now…the ml are too big on the 61t for my ears.
I liked the stock bass tips on the heyday (maybe they came with pula) but i cant find what i did with them, lol.
Wise, but i neeeeed more lol. Actually, i will probably get a lower cost one for gaming. Need one that will drive easily as it will have to be plugged into the quest 3. Any suggestions for gaming? I know there are a few gamer iem reviews out there but suggestions totally welcomed!!!
FreshReviews budget recommendation is Truthear X Crinacle Zero Blue, ( two dynamic drivers), $49.99, impedence 10Ω, sensitivity 117.5db. His focus is gaming, others recs are over $150. Keep in mind that he uses an amp, not directly plugged into a Quest 3, so higher picks often need the power.
TRN Conch, (single dynamic driver) Impedence: 30Ω, Sensitivity: 114dB, was mentioned by another gamer as under $50 pick.
Number of drivers doesn’t mean better.
Check out his round-up, Solid Budget Picks starts at 5:04
To give my opinion briefly on some of your questions.
I have heard two IEMs that graphed the same but sounded different to my ears. I prefer not say which because ppl will disagree.
Tip rolling makes a massive difference. I have posted a lot of posts on the “tips” thread.
Ear anatomy and preference differences will have an effect. Some reviewers will differently than you do. Insertion depth has a big impact on upper treble sound.
For me, IEMs are bang for your buck in terms price to performance. I have speakers, tried headphones and flatheads. IEMs provide isolation, are portable, can give really good bass and resolution for cheap, do not require a lot amplification.
