2021-12-18: Sony MDR-EX1000 cheaper alternative:
Take the Sony MDR-EX800ST, remove the foam and the plastic “disk” inside the nozzle and you have the EX1000.
(FYI: This is a risky mod since you are likely to ruin the plastic disk or/and the foam!)
Impressions:
Bass: a bit tighter/faster and more textured on the EX1000, but nearly identical.
Mids: Very similar tonality, but a bit cleaner and more detailed on the EX1000.
Treble: a bit cleaner and more detailed on the EX1000 but peakier and more fatiguing, slightly warmer on the EX800ST.
Soundstage is a bit wider and airier on the EX800ST. Imaging and separation are identical. Detail is a bit better on the EX1000.
Conclusion: After removing the foam (and the plastic “disk”) in the EX800ST, they are extremely similar, the biggest difference is that the EX800ST has an airier and a bit wider soundstage, while the EX1000 seems to have more detail (COULD be because of the brighter tonality, they are that close…). If you are using PEQ, they both respond similar to it and you also have the possibility of blocking (tape or blutack) the vent on the EX800ST to turn it into a basshead iem.
TLDR: Get the EX800ST remove the foam and you have the EX1000.
(You can add some regular mesh filters to protect it against dust/wax since otherwise nothing is blocking the way. )