Tired Brain vs Fresh Brain IEM recommendations

IEMs / Other In-Ear Monitors (IEM)
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Hi all,

I recently did a shootout with all my IEMs over a few days and learnt that some of my IEMs are great when I’m fresh and others were great when I was tired.

The ones that were great whilst I was fresh, I enjoyed less when I was tired

The opposite was true too, the ones I enjoyed whilst tired, I enjoyed less when I was fresh.

Have you guys noticed this? Maybe I’m just the only weird one.

That being said, if you guys have noticed this and have any recommendations for IEMs for each category please suggest them as that would be IMO a really helpful metric to help buying decisions.

In particular, I’m quite interested in tired brain sets at the moment.

As of now, I’m convinced that it is important (for me) to have a Fresh Brain IEM as well as a Tired Brain IEM at the end game.

My personal experiences:

Mest MkII - better when fresh
Mele - better when fresh

Dusk - better when tired

As usual, YMMV.

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Mest MkII - better when fresh
Mele - better when fresh

Naga Audio SIRIUS ( when tired)
Shozy 1.1 (when tired)

EJ07 does both so is utterly unique. Satisfies if i need. Relaxing if I need. Not sure how it does both…but it does

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EJ07 OG?

10char

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Yes the original, Universal or CIEM both do it

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Amazing! I will look into it! Thanks!

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No prob. Your thread title got my attention. I do reviews and the condition of my body and mind impacts my impression strongly so I try and follow similar patterns and remove variables.
My O.C.D is coming out so I will go now… :sweat_smile:

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Before you go… Does the EJ07m do a similar thing? Or not so?

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Z1R fresh…OG Andro kickback

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For me no. I’d rec the OG for anyone considering both.

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Paging @nymz @Godria @TkSilver @tkddans @Resolution @Rikudou_Goku @tgx @Sonofholhorse @luizgarcia

Your 2 cents is greatly appreciated!

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No thanks. Experts are already here. They got you.

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Hmmm…I don’t typically experience fatigue per se, but I haven’t had an issue with the MEST mkII so far since getting it. I CAN confirm that both the Mele and EJ07 are perfect for relaxed listening, though. The all-time dark IEM champ that I’ve used, however, is the Campfire Audio Nova. The sound signature, combined with the 2BA configuration, make for perfect naptime companions.
For me personally, it’s always about matching music to my mood/energy level moreso than transducers specifically. I can’t be listening to downtempo R&B or chamber music while I’m driving to work first thing in the morning, for instance. No Thrash Metal while I’m winding down, unless I’m super-tired already.

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Oh this is fun!

Hmmm…my best ever fresh was HD800S
My best ever tired? My brain shifts from what is tired and then fresh again someday. It’s odd!

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So I looked at this topic earlier, the main issue is that I don’t particularly think like that. I tried to answer it a few different times and ways, but really it just ends up a jumbled mess.

I guess tangentially related for the naps I have been taking the past couple of days the 7hz Timeless is supremely comfortable in my ears and the sound goes well enough with multiple genres so I don’t have to be as picky with my playlists when taking a nap.

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I am not an expert… I am sorry … And I learn from the best … hawaiibadboy… Resolution… Rikudou_Goku… nymz, and the rest…

But you already got an answer from hawaiibadboy (EJ07)

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To me it’s a combination of things, not just sets. Most important to me is library, then sets. I’ve learned to enjoy it during workloads when im tired.

  • For music libs:
    When I need work done fast: techno
    When im starting the day: female vocals or jazz play nice, old school rock etc
    When im dead brained: chill stuff, songs that give warmth and cozy feelings. Ambient

  • For sets:
    When I wake up fresh: single dd, detail monsters, sparky trebles
    When I’m tired I prefer stuff like 07m and Teas. I can also use them in any part of my day.
    If im a dead man walking and cant take it anymore, earbuds.

When you’ve been listening for 8h+ and your ears start to hurt i sometimes change to foam tips, since its just background noise by that time. Buds and full size headphones work too.

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Good idea regarding foam tips. Will try it out! Thanks for the lengthy and well thought out reply!

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Keep in mind I dont rec foams for critical listening and also theres only one brand that works for me after trying a few (comply isolation)

Depending on iem nozzle, you may need to chop it up

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Honestly, when I am tired, I just listen with my speakers.

When I am fresh, it depends on the mood, so it varies a lot.

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To add more thoughts here, for IEM’s specifically, I would say my best out of box impression or fresh take was with the ThieAudio Clairvoyance.

But freshness changes from gear to gear.

I’ve found myself not liking a treble heavy IEM (MEST) after trying warmer sets for long enough. Then the opposite becomes true. If I try the MEST long enough, then the warmer sets can seem less clear, dull, or bloomy.

It makes giving impressions and ranks difficult and temperamental at times. Opinions sway with exposure time, I’ve found in my personal experience.

So…is there a set that, with this kind of “tired” brain that’s hopped across multiple IEM’s, feels more easy to pick up and enjoy more than others?

Maybe the Clairvoyance for it’s overall smooth and easy listening. But idk…I might rather suggest finding something you would love - whether that means getting used to it for a bit and loving, or loving out of box; either way, I look for that thing that brings joy out of whatever circumstance gets me there. Tired, fresh, whatever.

That top pick for me is still the MEST, but it takes getting used to for some. If you come from the warmer sets, the MEST can be shrill. But you listen long enough to bright, and you get used to it and love the detail and separation that comes through.

Or maybe you have a cold or a bad day, making your brain “tired.” For a tired person, or weary from a lot of listening, I would probably suggest the Clairvoyanace. It takes no adjusting time, is clean and easy to listen to regardless of where you come from, and has the resolution of a tribrid.

There are probably more I could recommend, but I haven’t tried everything out there :slight_smile:

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