Personally I would go pandas all day under $100
9 Likes
Interesting, I hadnāt considered that option. How do they compare to the EA500? Are they superior in everything? Are they just as versatile?
Sorry if there are too many questions or if this is not the right thread. Itās my first purchase over $50 (and my last in quite some time, money is tight). I donāt want to make the wrong decisiĆ³n, and I want them to be versatile haha
1 Like
EA500 and Panda would be my two choices for one-stop shopping under $100. If you want more energetic treble and a brighter sound go with EA500. If you want a warmer tonality and planar technicalities, get the Panda.
I think both would do well, but Iād pick Panda if I were in your shoes
4 Likes
EA500 is super good, but a warning on certain metal music can become to hot. I am not that sensetive to treble so it might just be since the mid ear gain is raising quite fast. Same is also true for the EW100p.
But still this must be one of the most resolving sets under $100 and has wonderful tonality.
8 Likes
EA500 is somewhat like Olina, great tech but bright leaning. If EQ is an option it is a price to performance winner.
4 Likes
I only use my iems outside, while Iām going somewhere or just walking around. Therefore, perhaps a warmer option would be more appropriate, specially considering thatās where my preferences lie: I love my BL03. So Pandamon it is.
That said, I struggle to justify such a horrible faceplate hahahaha.
Thank you so much all of you.
2 Likes
please elaborate
1 Like
With Panda they donāt mean the Pandamon. They mean The Tin P1 Max. It also has the Nickname Panda
6 Likes
My God, Iāve been looking at reviews all night to decide. Luckily I havenāt bought anything yet haha
1 Like
Yes, this is correct. If you want a warmer tonality, the P1 Max is a better choice than either EA500 or Olina
1 Like
oh okay
i understand now.
1 Like
Just one last question, how easy is it to drive? I only use a jcally ja3, with a cx33193 chip and 1vrms. The reviews are pretty good. Will it be enough to get good use out of it? I donāt want it to sound dull or lacking dynamics because of the source. And I donāt want to spend more money on an amplifier or a dap haha.
Thank you so much in advance and sorry for the confusion haha
3 Likes
Youāll be fine. They are planar, but theyāre not that hard to drive well. I wouldnāt have hesitated to use them on just an Apple dongle (US version) so I believe youāll be fine
2 Likes
@GooberBM said it better than I could. The P1 Max is warm neutral and full bodied but not muddy or bloated. Midbass hits really well and treble is damn near perfect with planar details. The only downside for me is the lack of subbass but it you donāt need that or got that covered by another set itās hard to fault them.
4 Likes
Thought Iād share my experience so far with the EA500.
- Important: I tested a bunch of tips, and consistently found the Final Audio E type to produce the best fit and sound for me. No treble hotness, and prominent but clean mid-bass
- I use the red filter and added a Y1 filter to the vent, although honestly I donāt think Y1 affects the sound. Yet to try with Y3
- Iām a low-med volume listener
- Library: jazz, film scores, classical, occasional pop
- What I like: timbre & tonality are good, noteweight is good. Decent imaging, decent staging; once I was using these at work and I had to look around to see if someone was talking to me or if the sound was from the music (it was the latter!)
- What I donāt like: sub-bass rolls off, so Hans Zimmer tracks donāt rattle my brain; mediocre passive isolation
Hope everyone is enjoying their set!
11 Likes
The ability to change nozzles is so great! I think EA500 can be turned into many many flavors. I have Kato nozzles and they are great to lower pinna gain, then you can swap foams from black nozzles into the Katoās to lower treble by couple db. Possibilities kinda endless. Canāt wait for the official tuning kit to be released. Need more nozzles 
I retuned my black nozzles trying to match something I want to buy badly, but canāt at this moment.
I understand Studio 4 is all BA and will sound different, but may be overall tonality is close. I love how EA500 sounds with this tuning!
8 Likes
Dunu S&S Eartips + EA500 = perfect synergy!
I have posted a graph in above post of my EA500 retune. I love the balanced, smooth, and lush but still very detailed playback. My only complaint was soundstage depth and height. The soundstage was wide, but depth and height was so so.
With S&S eartips I got deeper stage, more height and even more width! Imaging has improved too! Itās so good, I canāt stop smiling. This tips truly live up to its name. They preserve all frequencies balance, and improve stage and imaging. This is a perfect match.
Now comparing to Studio 4, they are very, very close now! I think I prefer EA500 now due to better bass impact. I truly donāt think any DD can compete with this EA500 retune + S&S tips. Incredible!
I have EM6L coming in couple days. Will see if it is an improvement.
6 Likes
I was planning to go all in on the Moondrop Starfield 2, until I saw the reception on it so far and it hasnāt been exactly that positive and just not overall upgrade from the OG Starfield that I love.
Since I am part of the EA500 cult now and to this day, and itās August now, I still love the EA500, therefore I have decided to get the EM6L at some point, for so far that one based on the reviews and impressions I saw, itās an upgrade from the EA500 apparently and I hope itās true.
Have to save up again for a while though, but it will be worth it.
3 Likes
Oh wise-one. When will you drop on us peasants your guide to such superb FR? :<
1 Like
I am experimenting with EA500 tuning kit and some additional materials. I probably will post a guide this coming Sunday if I have the time.
4 Likes