I think this experience is why it’s generally unwise for people who are new to this hobby to drop too much money into an IEM without finding out their preferences first. Good on you for trying out all that you did!
Unfortunately the way this hobby is, without your personal experience, you can’t accurately gauge what you are looking for just via the words of others. It’s why most of us suggested trying some stuff first. Different people like different things. There is little sense in asking what’s best value before ascertaining your own preferences first. Top of the line models tend to be specialists and all rounders tend to be a little bit ‘boring’ and ‘underwhelming’ on first listen (M9, U2T).
Perhaps the question you should be asking is what is the kind of sound signature you are really enjoying. Then perhaps we can also help guide you further. You say that you are really enjoying your blessing 2 eqed - what sort of EQ are you adding to it? More bass? More treble? Less mids?
Otherwise you could buy different cheap sets of different signatures to see which signature is the one for you then armed with that knowledge look for the upgrade.
Another alternative is if you find it acceptable right now is to just enjoy what you have. Blessing 2 eqed sounds great to you? Awesome! Now just enjoy the music!
Thanks for your input. By trying out the U12T (which seems to receive universal praise), I tried avoiding the experience Ohmboy had with the Z1R. Lucky I didn’t jump the gun and commited, since it’s only on loan.
The problem I have with most IEMs seems to be, that they are too laid back in my preference. I really like clarity and detail and can’t relate if someone complains that the Aria is too bright (as I would prefer more brightness). When it comes to headphones, I used to use a DT990Pro, which gives you an idea, however I have to admit that the DT990Pro is even too harsh for me often times.The U12T has amazing treble detail sometimes, but especially vocals seem somewhat veiled to my ears.
As you already said, word describe only so much, so here is the eq I use for the blessing 2 making it go from “boringly laid back” to “actually engaging”:
Filter: ON LSC Fc 100 Hz Gain 5 dB Q 0.6694
Filter: ON PK Fc 227.4 Hz Gain -4 dB Q 0.6932
Filter: ON PK Fc 8318.21 Hz Gain -4 dB Q 1.5
Filter: ON PK Fc 12765.3 Hz Gain 15 dB Q 3.6547
Filter: ON PK Fc 12765.3 Hz Gain -7 dB Q 6.2931
I don’t claim to know anything about eqing, but I tried to get the blessing closer to the Variation frequency curve and I am very pleased when A/Bing eq on/off. However my general experience with trying to tune an IEM according to a different IEM’s frequency response doesn’t convince me that the result is necessarily anywhere close to what the Variation sounds in real life. I tried to tune the blessing according to the u12t’s curve and vice versa and both times the result was terrible. Tuning the u12t to resemble variation was also terrible.
@Tfaduh If you could give me any recommendations based on that info/those eq settings, that would be incredible.
IEMs on my radar to try out are: timeless, variations, zex and sparks. I will see what 11.11. brings… maybe I just go full ham and get all of them and try to sell some afterwards. Their price combined is still less than half of the u12t’s
At this point it sounds like the main things you like are vocal clarity, details and strong engaging character.
The Mest MkII for me is the most engaging IEM that I own. (I now own a U12T as well). Vocal clarity is phenomenal too. It is tip sensitive however - I found xelastics to work the best for me.
I own the timeless and I think it’s not bad. Good resolution. Deep extended subbass. The Mest MkII outclasses it in all except the deep subbass extension so I use the timeless for mostly listening to movie soundtracks.
The Thieaudio Monarch is very clear an IEM as well. Engagement-wise… I couldnt get a good gauge. I only heard it for a little bit (my friend’s).
Other IEMs that come to mind (keep in mind that I have not owned or heard these):
64 Audio tia Forte
QDC Anole VX (the ultimate ‘detail’ experience apparently)
Softears RSV
Moondrop Variations
UM Mest OG
Shuoer EJ07 OG
Shuoer EJ07m
Tanchjim Oxygen
Oriolus Isabellae
Ymmv of course.
@nymz is a real vocalhead. Anything else you would suggest? He also used to own the Variations.
For vocals? Well, texture and detail is a must but I take presentation over those. I need forward vocals and other stuff happening around them. I also look for big soundstages with good imaging, simulating a 3D effect if possible. My target is pretty explainatory:
Best sets for vocal presentation that I’ve heard to date are:
Mangird Tea (Radius Deep Mount) - The less resolving, but my favourite tuning and presentation. Wide stage with good imaging. Dark but enough treble.
EJ07M (Tanya filters on) - Very slight worse tuning than Teas but tech god. “3D”. The closest upgrade.
U12T - needs no words, imo.
I’d avoid stuff like Variations or monarch for vocals due to more recessed mids. RSV should arrive on monday and i expect it to join or even beat the above list.
There was something on Mest vocal presentation that threw me off, but my experience was limited with that. God OCD details tho.
I own his Variations now
And I can confirm that for purely frontal vocals, Teas are superior than Variations. Teas and Variations now share the crown for my endgameS for different enjoyments: Variations for clarity and sub bass thump; Teas for mid range and vocal punch as well as front-to-back stage separation.
Honestly, when I’m listening to Teas, I get a higher chance to hear tracks sounding like this, which is pretty unorthodox to the point that I love it (personally coin it “wishbone” shaped tuning):
Thanks guys for all the recommendations. I really appreciate it
@Tfaduh Ohmboy also recommended the Mest MK 2 and for what it’s worth the mest always steals the show in dan’s review’s sound demos. I tried equing the blessing 2 and u12t to match the MK 2 as a rough indication and the results point into the right direction. (I tried the same thing with the Z1R with similiar, but worse results). All that makes me think more, that I should check it out, if I only get the chance. Also the comparison to the timeless is great, thanks!
@nymz I read a lot of your impressions of different iems in this forum, but so far came to the conclusion, that you seem to have a different preference than me, which may or may not be correct. My feeling is though that if we are talking about “great vocal presentation” that in itself is a very subjective term with many interpretations. Part of that is you mentioning the u12t, which I don’t really like all that much. Specifically the vocal presentation on many tracks was sounding off to my ears with the u12t. Still I appreciate your suggestions and if I get the chance I will definitely try to listen to some of them to confirm/deny my hypothesis. I am also looking forward to your RSV impressions. The Tea is actually one of the IEMs I am most curious to listen to… not because I think I will like it, but because it seems to be so divisive. I think I will dislike them from what I have read, but still I am super curious to hear them.
@PopinTeddy When I read “Variations for clarity and sub bass thump; Teas for mid range and vocal punch”, what stands out to me is “Variations for clarity”.
Thanks guys for all the suggestions. I guess it’s on me now to find/make opportunities to listen to different things you suggested. Some of them I may get the chance to listen to for free, if I get lucky. My suspected ranking of things I didn’t hear is as follows:
Mest MK2 > Variations > timeless and I have no clue where to put Z1R, but it is in the top 5 to try.
Regarding trying to EQ to the Mest MkII. Keep in mind the Mest doesn’t quite graph correct as the bone conduction drivers can’t be graphed properly with the usual set ups.
On the graph it looks like it’s a bit dark (lacking in the upper mids and treble) however to my ear it doesnt lack any of that at all. Cymbals have the right sizzle and female vocals don’t sound recessed.
Ymmv again however. There’s no objective evidence of the bone conduction drivers doing anything. Ha ha.
It’s all about preferences, there’s no right and wrongs! You know what you want, you just need to find it like others said, the trick is to demo everything you can
I always found Crin’s flatlined bass and mid preference interesting haha, and now that I own the Variations as an upgrade of his Dusk, I’m digging his signature.
in the dust.?..
We didn’t understand what you were looking for!
like others said, the trick is to demo everything you can 