RikudouGoku's Database (IEMs/Earbuds/Headphones Ranking list)

I think you missunderstood a bit. I meant more like changing the star ratings for my reviews and not the rankings in my database. (since my rankings are always up to date.)

But yes, that might be a good idea to write a little about why I changed it and it doesnt have to be that long either so it wouldnt take much more time.

As for my next goals, I have bought the IEC711 so I will be able to start measuring ALL my iems. I will learn how to graph my stuff in a reliable way first before I upload anything though, but that is coming up. (I want to have my graphs up at least before 11/11, but cant promise anything due to time restraints with my school work.)

But when it comes to iems, I am not planning on going above the 300 usd limit per iem due to budget restraints. (it could change If I get more income via patreon but sadly no one has joined me lol)

Thanks for the feedback, appreciate it.

I know this will take a lot of thought and reflection, but to be honest, I’d ditch the Tier/Grade scale if you can.

In my honest opinion, I think that scale is quite flawed and only funnel buyers to a few products. (How many times have you thought… wait… why would I buy an A+ IEM when I can buy an S-tier one!) There is a lot of subjectivity and you eliminate the importance of pairing. I also think different situations brings different appropriate picks as well. It also may reduce your review time trying to decide where your new review fits into the scale. Anyways, food for thought.

While I do think you have a point. I think where tier/grade scaling is good is if the price of the iem is the limiting factor for you.

Say you want to get an iem and you see an iem that is interesting to you in S rank, but it is beyond your budget. What would you do then?

You would most likely look at the next rank (which in my system is A+) and there you might find an iem that is in your budget and since you have the help of the grade system you will know that it is close to S rank.

So it is still a very good iem in terms of SQ (and maybe better value) but maybe not at the top in SQ like something in the S rank would be.

That is something I value a lot when it comes to this system.

As for the pairing issue, I currently only use my DX160 (for my reviews and most of my “private” time) and I prefer to stick with one source for all my reviews since that would be better for consistency.
(if I didnt had to return my old Fiio M11 due to an issue, I would still be using it probably)

Hello,
I just got tin t2 plus and I’m really impressed. I’m particularly into balanced, with good detail and extension, not overly bassy that bleeds out but still relaxed sound signature. What would you say is a good upgrade with good fit and isolation? I considered FH3 but open to suggestions up to $150.

Intime Sora 2 or the Fiio FH3.

FH3 is more fun with more bass quantity (but still very good quality so it isnt bleeding), while the Sora 2 is more relaxed and has better technicalities.

2020-10-20:

Final Audio FI-EVA2020






Rank C

Not the E500 or E1000 reskin I thought it was going to be.

This is a warm-neutral sound.
But unfortunately the technicalities (details and instrument separation) are a bit below the E1000, due to the bass bleeding a tiny bit (although I prefer the tuning on this more than the E1000).

A very non-fatigueing and relaxing sound but most importantly, nothing is offending here (no bloated bass or sharp treble).
Although the soundstage is actually pretty wide and imaging is good.

(although it isnt as good in value as the E1000, due to the price increase.)

If you are wondering what iem to get between the E500, E1000 and this.
I still rec the E1000 over them both, due to the tuning, technicalities and the cable.

Sony MH750


B+ with EQ, B without

U-shaped

ridiculous SQ at this price, the naturality of the MH750 is beyond anything at this price and is only exceeded on the Blon 03. If only the cable wasnt as bad as it is, I would have recommended this to everyone (and if you can handle the 3,5k area better than me or is also able to use EQ).
Sony´s greatest accident indeed.

Although if you are sensitive to pressure, this does apply more pressure than normal in terms of comfort but it also has really good isolation.

Now I need a time machine…so I can go punch the 14 year old me that threw away the stock iems that came with the sony SBH52 (mh755…)
For some reason I had it in my mind that stock = bad when I was a kid lol.

NiceHCK ME80





Rank A+

Tonality and timbre are excellent and so are the technicalities, neutral tuning.
Sounds a bit more natural than the NiceHCK DIY MX500 but a bit less airy and smaller soundstage.

Although value wise the MX500 wins because they are not that far from each other and the ME80 is around double the price.

Intime GO




Rank B+

cable: 0.44ohm

L-shaped sound

I was most hyped for this one out of the 4 I got.

But what a dissapointment after the Sora 2, they traded bass quality for quantity and also lost the very unique treble the Sora 2 had.

Technicalities are also worse than the Sora 2 due to the bass that needs to be tighter.
Even the mid-bass is quite loose.
Mids and treble does sound very good with good tonality and isnt sharp at all.
But has a very loud driver flex on the right side.

Guess I am glad I bought a second hand unit, because paying more money than I did would have been an even bigger dissapointment
(I paid 80 usd, instead of the 130 usd for a new set).

Updated review ratings (* = I dont have it in my collection/going from memory):

IEMS:

JadeAudio EA3* : From 4.5/5 to 4/5. Because at the price it is at, other newer iems are a better option.

Dunu DM-480* : From 4.5/5 to 3.5/5. Timbre is very unnatural and technicalities aren’t good enough to compensate for it. An iem such as the Ibasso IT00 is a better pick nowadays for a bassy, natural and technical set. (although the isolation in the DM-480 is still in the top.)

Final Audio E5000 : From 4.5/5 to 3.5/5. Too bloaty bass and price is too high in the current market where for example the Ibasso IT00 is very similar to the E5000 but at a fraction of the price. (Also, the LZ A7 exists in the E5000´s price range.)

Final Audio E2000 : From 4/5 to 3.5/5. Just mesh mod the Blon BL-03 and you get something better in basically everyway, the E2000 is too average and too close in price to the E3000.

Final Audio E4000 : From 3.5/5 to 3/5. Wasn’t worth the price back when I first reviewed it and even worse now with the Ibasso IT00 doing what the E4000 does but better and at half the price, while the Fiio FH3 exists in the E4000´s price range.

Hisenior T2 : From 4.5/5 to 4/5. Newer iems in this price range are better in SQ and technicalities. But most of them aren’t full BA´s, so the value in the T2 hasn’t dropped completely.

ISN D10 : From 4.5/5 to 3.5/5. The Ibasso IT00 and the Fiio FH3 are somewhat similar in profile but performs better in SQ and in the case of the FH3, also better technicalities. Price is too high and the good value from the cable is lost now that we got a lot of great budget cables (20 usd range) with the Faaeal litz copper, Tri Through, Kbear Rhyme and the Kbear Limpid cables.

Moondrop Blessing 2 : From 4.5/5 to 3.5/5. A lot of BA timbre that bottlenecks the naturality of the sound and the Tanchjim Oxygen is just better than the B2 in a lot of ways and is also cheaper. The LZ A7 also exists in this price range with completely superior SQ and technicalities.

Urbanfun ISS014 : From 4.5/5 to 3.5/5. Not because of sound but because of their continued failure to fix the QC problems AND the fact that you STILL do not know if you are getting the beryllium or a noble metal version. Even after increasing the price from the original 40 usd to the current 70 USD and after months of them telling us it has been fixed over and over it again, simply unacceptable. Shame, because it does sound great.

EARBUDS : I have to apologize for my review of these buds, as they are not as good as I though back then when I didn’t have many buds. I sincerely apologize to anyone that got them based on my review and were disappointed.

Moondrop Shiroyuki : From 3.5/5 to 3/5. Surpassed in every way by the NiceHCK DIY MX500 that is also cheaper.

Moondrop Nameless : From 4.5/5 to 4/5. Surpassed in almost every way (sound) by the NiceHCK DIY MX500 that is also cheaper. But the build and cable quality on the Nameless is very good.

Moondrop VX Classic : From 4.5/5 to 3.5/5. Surpassed by the NiceHCK DIY MX500 that is much cheaper, while the K´s Bell-LB is on a similar SQ (better technicalities in the VX classic) and has similar shape while it is cheaper.

Qigom S130 : From 4.5/5 to 4/5. Surpassed by the Yincrow X6, cleaner and more fun with a MUCH better bass. Although technicalities on the S130 is better than the X6 and is still very good, but the price of the S130 makes it drop in score.

1 Like

Any thought about the Mangrid IEM? Find them on linsoul, the build and design look nice to me :laughing::laughing:

Dont have it, but at that price it competes with the LZ A7.

2020-10-20: First batch of iem measurements using the IEC711.

BGVP SGZ-DN1S
Co-Donguri Brass (4.4mm)
Final Audio E500
Final Audio F3100
KZ ED9 (Balanced filter, dont know where the other filter is lol)
KZ EDR1
KZ ZS4
KZ ZSE
Moondrop Spaceship
VE Bonus IE

Graphs are going to be uploaded into the “IEM Measurements” page and if there are multiple configs (due to filters/switches) they will be placed next (G2, G3 and so on) to the main config (The one I use).

Unfortunately as you can see on the graphs, the bass obviously doesnt look right but I have no idea why.

Graphs are tools, and tools are as good as the person that is using them.

2020-10-21: Second batch of iem measurements:

CCA C10
Final Audio E2000
Hisenior T2
KZ ZS7
KBEAR KS2
LZ Z04A
LZ Z05A
Periodic Audio BE
TFZ No.3
Tin Hifi T3

Along with updates to ranking:

Dunu DM-480 from B- to C
Hisenior T2 from C+ to B-

1 Like

Thx for your efforts! But I’d try to fix the bass on your rig first before measuring your entire collection. Otherwise, it’s a bit odd to interpret it.

Usually, this happens when you have a noisy sound card (even an apple dongle + adapter would fix it), or just a bad seal. Also worth double check if your settings on REW are correct (https://www.audioreviews.org/rig-calibration/)

Thanks for the link. But I dont think it is the settings, because somehow I do get accurate bass readings IF I use a much higher volume:

(same iem, same everything just different volume.)

So this doesnt look like a soundcard issue either…and since im not touching the iem itself (insertion) it shouldnt be the seal…

1 Like

2020-10-22: Third batch of iem measurements:

AZLA Azel
Audiosense T800 (Brown Knowles damper)
Final Audio E1000
Final Audio E4000
Final Audio FI-EVA2020
ISN D10
Intime GO
Kinera Freya
Peacock Audio P1
Sony MDR-XB75AP
Sony MH750

2020-10-23: Fourth batch of iem measurements:

Audiosense DT200
Blon BL-05
Final Audio E3000
Ibasso IT00
LZ A6 mini
Moondrop KXXS
Tanchjim Hana
ThieAudio Voyager 3
Tingker TK200

2020-10-25: Final batch of iem measurements!

BQEYZ Spring 2
Blon BL-03 (mesh mod)
Fiio FH3
Final Audio E5000
Intime Sora 2
LZ A6
LZ A7
Moondrop Blessing 2
Shozy Form 1.1
Shuoer Tape
Sony MDR-EX800ST
Sony XBA-A2
Tanchjim Oxygen
Tin Hifi P1
Urbanfun ISS014

Finally done and a total of 55 iems measured (not counting all the different configs some iems have).

I would appreciate if you would join my patreon, as this is really taking a lot of my money. :smirk:

TRN T3 (4.4mm version)







(top = Kbear limpid, middle = TRN T3, bottom = Tri Through)

Measurement: 0.19ohms

8-core cable with a working chin-slider. But the ear hooks are very strong and worst of all the connector isnt straight so when connected to a source it is a bit bent (fortunately it works). I got 2 cables and both have that same problem, guess TRN QC is pretty bad. Oh and the divider on the picture above (the one with the TRN logo) is actually as scratched/unclean as it looks…

Cant recommend it due to that and that we got cables like the Kbear Limpid and the Tri Through that are cheaper and of higher quality.

4.4mm version costs 28 usd.

Bought a used set of the Sony XBA-Z5 lol.

375 usd rip wallet

4 Likes

Dude I’m hype for you righr now, thats a good deal, also very intrested in the comparisons, nom nom audio info lol :heart_eyes:

1 Like

Should be getting it next week. DHL FTW!

I definitely have high hopes for it and it is my most expensive iem purchase…yet :joy:

Depending on how much I love it, i might get the XBA-N3 as well. You know…because Sony stuff is more limited in units than regular chi-fi.

2 Likes

Noiceeeeee!!! Yo I suggest the jvc fdx1 from drop too eventually super worth