200 euro, October 18 launch in Europe.
1 Like
Edit, Posted wrong thread. Well might end up being within top 5 used coming week. Going to pair it with BTR7 while working.
KZ Castor Bass, to be a KZ its not looking so bad.
5 Likes
Best KZ to date loved the bass version hated the standard
2 Likes
Currently-
- Supernova - Review upcoming
- Monarch MK3 - Just so pretty
- Butasurr - recommended cable and tips are very plush (AmericanSpirt)
- Hexa (work iem)
- 7hz Sonus (probably selling it’s not my fav)
4 Likes
My top 5 IEMs for actually live monitoring: (I’m testing some models and brands so figured I’d switch it up a bit for the thread)
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64Audio A18t: this was a gift they sent me and it dethroned the A18s I was using before. They said they tweaked the low end from when I had originally chosen between the two and they were right. I have never heard an IEM give me better separation, relative volume sensation, dynamics, detail, and decay (cymbals mostly) that these A18ts. I mean, they’re just a step or two above anything else I have tried.
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64Audio A18s: For all the reasons I’ve gone into before.
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JH Audio JH13V2: I demoed the V1 of these years ago and I absolutely HATED them. Couldn’t hear the rhythm section at all, the guitar sounded like dying cats, and the vocalists was loud over everything. JH sent me these to try and boy are they different. Granted, they admitted that these was custom tuned with bassists and drummers in mind so these aren’t what you’d get ordering them off the shelf, but they make the rhythm section very easy to make out while still keeping the rest of the band audible. The only problem is it can be a bit hard to pick out relative value making knowing how loud to play a bit difficult.
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64Audio A12t: great for monitoring smaller groups or jazz/acoustic/etc, they just don’t quite hang with drums and a bass guitarist rippin it up full force.
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64Audio N8: This is an IEM that makes monitoring your drums a breeze, but getting the mix right on your channel to monitor anything else is a bitch. It’s an amazing studio monitor though.
I hope this was somewhat interesting. Feel free to ask questions.
9 Likes
No matter the rank :
Simgot EA500
Tin HIFI P1 Max
KBear Believe
Shuoer S12
Simgot EW200
7 Likes
That is a solid list ( I own all of them except the KBear Believe ), and all pretty affordable too.
The Tripowin Kailua has been getting nearly all of my listening time over the last month. I think it might be the best warm IEM under $200 right now.
I have been experimenting with the Tanchjim One DSP a little too. For under $30 it is pretty solid, and the DSP is interesting to play with. I don’t think it is going to be my long term pick, but I have EQ on both my phone and PC, so there is some redundancy. I do think a DSP cable, with PEQ, will be a great way to tweak some of IEMs that need a bit of help.
3 Likes
First entry, after my first summer of the true IEM madness:
Penon Serial
Dunu Talos
Penon Fan 2
EPZ Q5
(earbud ringer) TGXEAR Totem
…not necessarily in that order (Totem would be way higher if it was all usable during my commute 
)
it’s all going to get scrambled, though, when my Butastur arrives 
7 Likes
Those Serials are truly gangster IEMs. I dig mine for sure!
4 Likes
Currently:
Simgot EA500 for a daily driver it’s my go-to pair.
Seeaudio Yume Ultra sounds very much like the Moondrop Kato if you know those.
Tinhifi P1 Plus fun for the money, and compact fit
KZ X HBB PR2 basically a Hifiman HE4xx in IEM form, just as hard to power also, need current.
THIEAUDIO Legacy 4 it’s a good all around pair, but like the Moondrop Starfield better, and Kato even more.
3 Likes
Hello to you from another P1 Plus owner 
3 Likes
I think they’re worth the price, can wear those without even remembering they’re on.
I find these need quite a bit of EQ at the bottom end to sound their best. And tons of power.
…but they do sound damn good for the money.
1 Like
Received the Symphonium Crimson just a couple days ago and honeymoon period notwithstanding the tuning alone places it easily in my top 5. Really can’t seem to put it away. Color me impressed, which is something not many IEMs have managed to do since the Jewel and Odin. Looking forward to Symphonium’s future releases…
7 Likes
My list for September
IMR ACOUSTICS Titan
FiiO FH9
Penon 10th AE
FiiO FD7
IKKO OH5 ASGARD
3 Likes
- GL-AMT16 (6.0/3.8) w/ Legato Filter
- 7hz Legato
- Simgot EA500 (Red Nozzle) and 6x5 High Density Foams
- QDC 8SL
Pulled the foams I had for the AMT16 and just kept the paper filter and that’s pretty much a wrap there. Really a TOTL experience OTG.
AMT-posting of the month aside, I’m copying what I did over on the other thread mainly just to continue gushing over the Legato. I actually really like the “bleed” that this has over the clean “elevated-bass” implementations like the FHE and Variations that I’ve previously owned (doing the audiophilac version of this regarding quality bass and anything that wasn’t a v-shaped signature.) I think my endgame is just one hyper-detailed IEM and one portable ghetto blaster.
Also, the EA500 with the foams is like a really good YouTube/Podcasts IEM. Super inoffensive sounding (I tried to get the KE Cadenzas for that purpose, but they’re a bit gimped in some upper frequencies) and I don’t mind dragging them everywhere.
4 Likes
LOL dang, you pulled that one out from way back! I haven’t seen/heard anyone use ghetto blaster in a long time. 
3 Likes
Ok top 5 for now is changing.
- Monarch Mk 3 (Bed side iem_
- Supernova (Gaming computer iem)
- Hexa (work computer iem)
- Choppin (Which I say as Choppin’ not Showpan.)
- Nova
4 Likes
Top used last weeks.
1 AüR Audio Alita
2 634ears Miroak-II
3 Sound Rhyme DTE900
4 FranQL Pegasus
5 Fatfreq Maestro Mini
6 Likes
Top five right now in no particular order:
Subtonic Storm: These have really grown on me and are an incredibly impressive set from a technical perspective. They have a presentation and authority like no other and actually come the closest to providing studio monitor level sound of any IEM I have ever heard. Will likely have a custom CIEM reshell done on these soon.
MMR Thummim: There is no IEM I have ever heard that can match the power and refined dynamism of the Thummims. They are by no means neutral with slamming bass and warm, rich mids with nuanced highs, but they also provide superb technical performance with great separation and layering, a massive soundstage with great height and depth, and oodles of macro and micro detail throughout the sonic range. They’re just so engaging to listen to and they pair perfectly with my Cayin N8ii in tube mode.
SoftEars Twilight: The best single DD I have heard under $2k. What more needs to be said. Super cohesive with the most accurate and natural timbre and tone. Everything sounds as it should on these bad boys.
Campfire Supermoon CIEMs: The best planar IEM I have gotten my ears on. Incredible detail and speed while having timbre that’s much more DD sounding that typical planar timbre. These have been floating in and out of my top five, but the last couple weeks I’ve been diggin’ them as I’ve been listening to a lot of math rock which they recreate beautifully.
Dunu EST112: A bit of a surprise pick for many of you I’m sure, but these guys have become my go to put and about IEMs when walking around with a couple grand worth of gear isn’t appropriate like in downtown LA for instance. That said, I even find myself listening to them when I have more expensive choices like those above. The tuning profile is very close to what I would have tuned these to myself and makes for a great allrounder that can go from metal to prog to punk to jazz and blues pretty effortlessly. They also have some crazy synergy with my lowly iBasso DX160 which makes that combo my go to work/out and about rig.
Honorable mentions: Orioles Szalyis and AKG N5005 which have both seen their fair share of ear time recently as well. For the record, I intentionally don’t take into account any of the 64Audio or JH Audio CIEMs that I have for actual monitoring for business, legal, and personal reasons so don’t judge my opinion of them by this list. 
15 Likes