Blue2 apparently decided fit was an issue, and made the nozzle a bit narrower and shorter. The OG was too uncomfortable to wear for me, and I promptly gave them to a friend, who really enjoys them.
I will keep an eye on these, and overall have enjoyed most of the Truthear releases. I still think the Hola, along with the QKZxHBB, are the two greatest budget sets made. The Gate sucked out too much bass to enjoy them.
I agree with this sentiment and it makes me realize on how I much really miss the Holas. The Gates when they came out isnāt the same and nowadays, I just overall disappointed with it. The build quality is not the same and not to mention during that time, there were IEMs that are much better than the Gates.
I have only just got a QKZ HBB and I rate it. But what I love more is Kiwi Cadenza. I bought that the other week, too. I find the bass is so well-judged. The thing that really gets me is the tactility though - this is why I love this IEM more than many others at the moment.
Sounds so good on my R4.
Listening to them today at work 
I have a pair of those at the office, and I do think they are the best under $40 set on market. I have never heard anyone complain about the fit on them, but they are small with short nozzles. |
I think beryllium helps the impact and decay on bass. This was the set that I learned the beryllium coated driver was the main reason. That led me to try the Artti R1, which is still one of my favorite sets ( and currently under $60 on Amazon ).
I also keep the Hola, QKZxHBB, and KBear Stellar flatheads, in my desk. I also have a pair of ND Planet, and a Koss KPH40 there currently. I am really liking the 40 with the Yaxipads, plus people leave me alone more if I am wearing them, but the orange pads are easy to spot against my grey hair.
QKZ HBB is at my desk daily. The bass still surprises me on these.
Kiwi Cadenza fits great, the main issue I have is the timbre.
I have 10 single DDs in my current rotation and couldnāt name a consistent top 5 with a gun pointed at me but at least those 10 sets havenāt ended up in a box or sold off like so many before them.
That desk setup is straight-up legendary! Youāve got budget kings, classics, and even a stealth mode with those KPH40sāorange pads as a built-in āleave me aloneā signal is next-level thinking. 
Also, beryllium-coated drivers really do hit differentāArtti R1 still holding its ground under $60 is crazy. Might have to start taking notes from your playbook!
I feel seen, and thank you.
Same here. Liking my modded 500LM quite a bit, even the OG EA500. To my ears the LM can easily trade blows with some MidFi single DD in some departments; some folks prefer them over the EA1000 and I hear them, albeit to my ears it pretty much boils down to another apple vs. orange comparison and Iām happy to have them both in my rotation.
Bottom line: for the 64 Euro I paid itās one of the best deals I got in decades of my audio journey. YMMV.
What did you do to mod them?
My notes from my time with the EA500LM: Nice, narrow stage, in your head Struggles with complex passages, Crinkly distortion above 70dB in treble Sounds cheap.
Donāt remember who mentioned his experiences with sample variance among the 3 sets of LMs he had. I guess I got lucky with the (only) set I got and a bit of modding.
As to the mods, I opened the shells, applied some dampening materials to minimize reflections and resonances (standard procedure), replaced the wiring and the filter on the port hole with AFAIR an Y2.
As to the nozzles I went through my collection (14 pairs) and ended up with Simgot steel nozzles with slightly reduced inner diameter, no metal mesh and a 300 filter.
Took some time to nail it (rolling, rolling, rolling) but sounds pretty good to my ears and again, holds its own against some MidFi single DDs but I need to mention that I usually stay below 70dBA. YMMV.
Edit: just had another session with the LM and the Timsok T-316 and FWIW might as well pick up another set of the LM for comparisons sake.
Top 5 of the week
I think Iām on the plateau might actually be satisfied 
Please do you recommend the Mirai shock.
I am interested in my first iem with switches but skeptical of the overly positive reviews on head-fi.
Also do they look better in person than the photos
Thanks
Absolutely the shock are superb zi got a custom colour I went with transparent black it cost an extea $60 for custom colour
Thanks.
I canāt see this as an option on the site so i guess I have to request through an email.
Ok a quick update since I have recently got a new IEM set and have to eventually sell some of my old ones for my new set.
Elysian Acoustics Lab Pilgrim - Fucking wow! Just wow! I have to thank my best friend for helping me looking for this set, for I was originally gonna get the Softears Volume S instead, but he suggested this for me to try. What do you know? The tuning of the Pilgrims is what I overall love and that would be its neutral tuning. Also yeah I got this for like 244USD which is a deal, but it sucks that this one uses a Pentaconn connector which makes my options looking for a modular cable for it limited. Also my very first Elysian product which never thought in my life that I will get a set from them, until now.
AFUL Performer 5+2 - Yep, this one still works since this was replaced previously for the left earpiece of the original ones got broken and luckily this new set that I got as a replacement wouldnāt have issues anymore. I love it still, I still really love it when I have the Penon Liqueurs on it as well for the isolation, tuning, seal and comfort got even damn better on it. Also giving this one the Dunu Lyre Mini, made it even better in my opinion.
Pula Anvil 114 - My weirdos, my unique ones and the bone conduction driver IEMs that is a partner in crime with my AFUL Perfomer 7s. Itās still going strong when it comes to my use but lately it has been taking a break for a bit, for I have used it a lot during the time when my P7s were getting replaced by the seller at the time. I love it still, and despite it being a divisive IEM set, I am one of the users who like and appreciate it.
Truthear Hexa - I fucking love this still! And no I disagree on it being all boring to some, because to me itās not! I cannot wait to find an IEM set that is like a direct upgrade from this for this is too good for its given price and probably still is to this day. (Correct me if I am wrong though, for I know there are other IEMs out there right now from the same price range as the Hexas as subjectively better than it.) It got even better in my opinion, when I have replaced its cable with the Gateās cable and the tips once again, the Penon Liqueurs.
Tanchjim Bunny - My go to budget set, my go to beater set when working out and yes these are spectacular to my ears and yes they are better than the 7Hz Zero 2 when it comes to the overall tuning and sounds that I get from it. Sure with the stock tips I was already fine with it but with some tip rolling, yep itās a bang for your buck cheap IEM set once I have the Penon Liqueurs on it, for the low end on the Bunny got even better although itās not much noticeable but hey, the seal and sound output for me makes it even better with those tips on and the Bunnies are really good.
Yes thats how i dod it
Good list!
The grand oriveti is one of the classiest sets I have laid my eyes on. IMO pictures dont necessarily do it much justice.
