If it’s the first IEM, I wouldn’t recommend going for something that expensive given you don’t know how you’d like the fit, the way it produces sound different from a headphone, or the tuning. It would just be a hassle if it turns out you don’t like it and have to return or sell it.
Keep looking for now and look for something that’s under $200 first, and play around with tips (changes sound signatures) and cables (aesthetic and comfort). I’d highly advise purchasing your first IEM from a platform that has an easy return policy and short fulfillment period in case anything goes wrong with your set.
That’s the reason I wanna spend less, I’m new in iem and not sounds bad start with some cheap option but seeing reviews of the Blessing 2 Dusk sounds very good for my taste
i bought to ship to brazil so im not sure about the taxes, but i asked for him to drop to 400$ usd, then used a 50$ coupon (i think its only available for brazil) and got a 10% cashback from a brazilian platform
I say it to myself, my last IE was a Sennheiser Momentum In Ear M2 and I loved it but it is damaged of the cable, the sound signature was warm but sounded very good, but the time changes and I wish a more neutral signature but with “more fun” than analytic technicims, after all it be comfortable for large periods
Sounds great, I have similar offer with a platform but doesn’t accept cashback from AliExpress unfortunately
With coupons the prices descends to 403 USD with taxes and not sounds bad at all
coming from the Aria, I was also considering getting directly into the kilobuck range, instead of gradual upgrades, which would cost me much more in the end.
I was fortunate enough to give the 2k$ U12T a try and was very disappointed dispite all the glowing reviews - ultimately I would rather listen to the 90$ (or so) Aria. Good thing I didn’t blind buy Of course your experience will be different… but my conclusion was, that a good IEM is 90% tuning which is ultimately subjective and 10% technicalities. And you may as well find a <100$ IEM which is better tuned to your preference than most >1k$ IEMs. The search is the real struggle though and without opportunities to try or buy/sell used, it can get expensive even if you end up with 5x <500$ IEMs…
But again: Spending 2500$ on finding the perfect 500$ is better spent, than spending 2500$ on one or two kilobucks and not finding the rightly tuned one.
For a first IEM, considering either the Aria, Kato, or Blessing2… Between these three, which would you choose?
Favorite headphones are the Sundara, Arya, Elex, Clear - like vocal clarity and good bass and mids, a little sensitive to trebble… Comfortable and good detail and soundstage?
Was thinking of starting with Aria but considering whether its worth skipping a level to the Kato?
I had the Aria and the Blessing 2. I personally (not recommending) think the Aria is the better one for my taste. Coming from the CCA C12 (which have harsh treble and are somewhat wonkey - but i still love them for 30 Euro), the Aria was disappointing at first. It took me some time to get used to the more balanced tuning, which I ultimately preferred.
I then went Blessing 2 and was bored out of my mind listening to it. Is it technically better? Maybe… but tuning wise it lacked treble extension and if you are looking for a lot of sub bass, the OG Blessing 2 don’t provide much in that regard (in contrast to the Dusk). That being said, after EQ the OG Blessing 2 was the best IEM I have heared so far. On top of that, again: That is just my opinion/taste.
Between the Aria and B2 I would rather recommend the B2 (preferably Dusk) to you, if you are treble sensitive (as some people say the Aria is too much treble for them, even though I personally disagree). I don’t think anyone thinks the B2 has spicy treble. Many love them (even though I think they are a tad bit overhyped). The Kato may be the better value than the B2, but I haven’t heared it, so I can’t really speak about it.
As nymz pointed out you may look at something different all together. The 7hz timeless is currently very hyped, I got it and I love it. But it is pretty treble energetic, so I still would be conservative and not recommend it to you. If you don’t need an IEM now and the 7hz looks interesting to you, you can always wait for nymz to get his 7hz and ask him for his opinion. He has listened to a lot more stuff than me and I guess his taste is closer to yours than mine is.
I’m days away from getting Tinhifi P1+ and 7hz Timeless. 7hz timeless has been acclaimed
Problem with your description is that you are treble sensitive. That puts a lot of stuff you’re looking at to the side. We need to figure out how sensitive you’re and what type of library do you listen to
I wouldnt say I am super sensitive, but just don’t like my ears getting blown out by a female vocalist… listen to a variety of stuff, radiohead, the cure, white lies, interpol, portugal the man, weezer, the strokes… also female vocals like adele, billie eilish, lorde, daily while working I listen to alot of instrumental stuff like soundtracks and scores, sometimes EDM
Acoustic tracks but also orchestral tracks, as well as more ambient electronic stuff - not really rap or metal usually
Of course your experience will be different… but my conclusion was, that a good IEM is 90% tuning which is ultimately subjective and 10% technicalities. And you may as well find a <100$ IEM which is better tuned to your preference than most >1k$ IEMs. The search is the real struggle though and without opportunities to try or buy/sell used, it can get expensive even if you end up with 5x <500$ IEMs…
