The Volume S really is special, especially for the price, isn’t it?
2 Likes
I guess it is for it made me reconsider getting the Hisenior Mega5EST back then (especially that time that I got damn scammed because of it.) Not to mention that the upgrade I get from the Volume S isn’t that much so yeah I have to settle with the Volume S in order save more money. I am still using it and I still enjoy it, but as time goes the fit for me is getting a bit wonky especially with its stock tips which is the UC Clear, some tip rolling might help but yeah the nozzles are becoming a bit of tricky thing when it comes to fitting it right in my ears.
Currently using
EPZ Q5 (the original that looks like the Meze. Great durable set for the price.)
TFZ No3 (a bit of a blast from the past I guess now. Still a great fun “basshead” which works as good as anything with old school hip hop)
Kinera Hodur
Sennheiser IE300 (I’ve got a filter on nozzle but don’t use the Senn tips with integrated dampening. The IE300 fell out of favour with reviewers very fast after a positive start. I love the warmth and whomp of this thing. I would take it over the IE600)
Tin P1 (another older set. Power is a necessity or this sounds horribly thin. But with a companionable amp this is special. I’ve got a tiny 750 filter over the vent which enriches the low mids a touch.)
2 Likes
My Current Top 5.
- Thieaudio Valhalla (In short they are the best I have heard)
- Sony IER-Z1R - (bass at its best, everything about the way these present music is great)
- Canpur CP622B (my fav when EQed closer to my sound pref)
- Elysian Annihilator 2023 (not usually into sets where the treble is the main attraction, these thoroughly buck the trend)
- Thieaudio Origin (by far my favorite bass heavy set)
Honorable Mentions
- Fir Audio RN6 (great at what they do, surprisingly lacking in out of head staging/presentation)
- Unique Melody Mest - Jet Black (hop into my top 5 when EQed closer to my sound pref)
- Audeze LCD-i4 (outstanding at what they set out to do, I prefer more standard IEM’s though, can’t take these outside without announcing to the world that they must listen too whatever I am listening too)
9 Likes
No particular order:
- Subtonic STORM
- Symphonium x Elise Audio Europa
- Symphonium x Elise Audio Neuropa (the retuned units from CanJam Socal, squig is up on Elise’s Squig as Europa2)
- Unique Melody MEST Jet Black
- Thieaudio Monarch MkIV
All of these are endgame quality for me, just rotating to taste and mood. I really should just stop spending money at this point until something makes a true quantum leap in IEM tech haha.
15 Likes
Europa is still interesting to me good to see you’re still ranking it favorably.
2 Likes
Europa is Crimson with less spice and less bass, making it more mid-forward. I found it to be better for long sessions and vocals/strings, although Crimson is absolutely no slouch. Everyone prefers one or the other but they are siblings for sure!
‘Neuropa’ aka “Europa Ltd" is yet another retune which is kind of in-between the others, having both a warmer characteristic than Europa along with a slight perceived bump in the treble, yet not as big on either as Crimson is as a U-shape. The downside to them is that there’s only ~7 in existence, so you’ll need the patience of a saint to get one at the moment. There’s no plan at this time to create more although I think they may still be demoing one of the units at certain shows/Elise Studio in the future. We’re waiting for more feedback from the other lucky souls that snagged a set, but I think the Neuropa has a place as a third option in the lineup rather than replacing Crimson or Europa tbh. It’s got more meat on the bone without all of the upper treble that Crimson is famous for, making it also better for long sessions IMO.
I got the purple set (they all have different caps made by Skedra):
11 Likes
Such a busy year for iem releases my main players at the moment
- EarAcoustic VSA-PM
- Aful DAWN X
- Penon Archangel
- Artypical Lucifer
- Xenns Mangird Tea Pro
Bubbling under
- TinHifi T7
- Ziigat Crescent
- Leteciel Encore
8 Likes
Update for Oct:
1- Ice Labs Spectrumica
2- Elysian Annhialator 2023
3- Night Oblivion Uranium
4- BGVP Solomon
5 -Yu9 Audio Que
coming soon
- Ear Acoustics Crown
- Shanling MG800
- Herc Noah (?Nov?)
7 Likes
A quick update for this month of October and here are the following:
1.) Elysian Acoustic Labs Pilgrim - The king of the collection since I have no money to replace it and as well as the most versatile of all. Plays all of my library well and I have been using the non-mesh filter mod on it since I got it, replicating it to the pre-production CanJam tuning.
2.) Softears Volume S - Second in command, the running mate of the Pilgrims and the more natural sounding of the collection despite the tinged warmth on the lower end for me. Basically the palette cleanser of my collection due to it being neutral, and a way to take a break from my IEMs that has a different tuning compared to it.
3.) Aful Performer 5+2 - Still the 3rd best and probably the only V-shaped set that I have that is tuned to my liking, just the right amount of bass and treble in such a way, it’s balanced and neutral enough for me, though it might not be neutral to some. This is the 2nd set btw since I got mine replaced previously and I am so glad this hasn’t encountered any QC issues, because if it did I might replace it with a new set.
4.) EPZ P50 - Well done EPZ, well done! You have left me an impressive first impression from you since this is the first IEM I have bought from you. The replacement for my previously Pula Anvil 114, not because it had a bad tuning but the fit and size for me were too much therefor I had to let it go. Also despite this being “open-back” sound isolation and fit for me were awesome, and not to mention the tuning, like man, this hobby has been getting crazier and probably for the best.
5.) Juzear X ZReviews Defiant - To be honest I just picked this one for the looks for it really looks damn beautiful especially with the blue color. Despite me getting this by just the looks alone, the sounds and tuning? Very impressive from Zeos, and this is one of the sets that despite it being a V-shaped, I like it. One of best for 100USD in my opinion, I mean look at it! It’s so beautiful.
3 Likes
Current listens are:
MIM Dark Magician (original) - This is a loaned set so first time I’ve heard it. Very mid centric with bass and treble nicely (tastefully) balanced. Reminds me of ThieAudio Elixir a bit. Another mid focused DD, although a while since I’ve heard it. The DM seems to resolve highs and lows better. Something I’d expect more from an all BA set - which got me listening to some. Nice. Um, bit boring.
Kiwiears Orchestra Lite
Dunu SA6 (original)
FAudio Dark Sky - A favourite. Warm but resolving DD.
Symphonium Meteor - Just back from being loaned out. I’d hoped absence would make me like it more. Not really. Sounds constrained. Not ideal with bass heavy music or electronic. Noticeable absence of some frequencies. Works well with guitar music, traditional rock.
6 Likes
Current listens -
Dark Magician (original). Loan set. This hasn’t grown on me. It’s good with pretty much all eartip styles which is rare. Midcentric neutral, very listenable, nothing jarring, nothing attention grabbing. For a cult set I’m not hearing the “specialness”.
Hifiman RE2000 Pro Silver. Another loan. A old premium set now available for £150. Really charmed me on first listen. Warm midbass and spacey staging. But extended listening threw up some resolution problems in cluttered tracks or vintage sounding production. Charm turned to irritation. Might be a fit issue as well. Shame really. There’s something there.
YU9 Que. Just arrived. I’m a fan of the YU9 404. The Que share similar natural tones but improve on resolution and separation. Natural is the best way I can put it. Nothing forced or frantic, everything sounding honest. Very good on first listen.
A budget clone of the Campfire Trifecta. Another loan. Haven’t heard the Trifecta. Very much doubt it sounds like this. Fun bassy set. Cheap plastic shells. Fine.
Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite. Before Linsoul started chugging out endless disparate IEMs under the Kiwi Ears branding. Although heavily covered I think these were underrated and under appreciated on release. They’re more unique than they’re given credit for. Final E tips resolved the initial lacklustre bass.
5 Likes
This year has rearranged endgame IEMs for me and lowered their price. Still haven’t compared them all properly, so just mention some of 2025 findings:
- Moondrop Meteor - probably сlosest to ideal sound for me, shells are comfortable, but i wish they were smaller.
- Yanyin Canon Pro and Ziigaat Arcanis - very similar and beautiful sounding IEMs, easily could be the endgame for some, tincluding me. Tamer upper mids end low-highs, but more vivid after 10k for those who appreciate after-sounds.
- CriEar Daybreak - cheapest balanced endgame for me. 2-pin connector on the cable of my unit also has known problem, but non the less the IEM is wonderful.
- EPZ K9, SLIIVO SL224 - two very good balanced sets, a bit pricier than Daybreak.
- Truthear Pure - cheap, balanced warm-ish tuning, very safe set that could easily be recommended as an entry point to the hobby. Could also be the ending point for many)
Less sensible, but worth mentioning:
Thieaudio Monarch MKIV - mighty sub-bass, endgame rustle of ESTs, tasty colored yet still more or less balanced set. Rumble mod turned out to be not my cup of tea, but the switches themselves are the best I’ve seen on the market. Shells are quite heavy yet still ergonomic, and they’re miles better than the plastic mess in their previous models.
Lime Ears Incognita - beautiful balanced sounding set, i guess it could share the 1st place for the sound with the Meteor. But price-wise Incognita is a clear outsider.
Vision Ears Zen - very tasty flavored sound, very comfortable and beautiful small shells. Wish it was in my collection, but i still need my organs.
5 Likes
Haven’t bought anything since February, this hobby got very stale for me in terms of getting more gear so I retired from buying IEMs, but I do still watch IEM reviews and am fairly updated with the newer releases.
My top 5 IEMs are:
1- 7th Acoustics Supernova: Impeccable tuning with reasonably good techs overall.
2- Symphonium Helios: Best treble I’ve heard on any IEM to date, fit is not the best tho.
3- Xenns Tea 2: Hits my preference target extremely well, but probably dated in today’s market.
4- Tanchjim Origin: Pretty darn impressive for a single DD IEM, some of the better treble I’ve heard.
5- Symphonium Meteor: Not my tuning preference, but it’s pretty fun to listen to.
I’ve heard the Yu9 Que is great and the hype is basically the Supernova again given it’s not easy to find, I was considering getting one but it makes zero sense given what I have on hand.
4 Likes
- EJ10
- Cadenza 12
- Supernova
- EJ07 OG/KL
- RA
My rotation as of late, love everything on that list to bits.
11 Likes
Penon Impact
LS Cadenza 12 (2024)
LS EJ10 (demo unit)
MEST MK2
Monarch Mk3
8 Likes
Damn man my guys is balling, what abt LS3 vs LS7 ( chevy ls engine ref)
1 Like
Talking about technical performance, do you think Symphonium iems are superior to Thieaudio mk4?
2 Likes
That really depends on which metrics and the model; arguments could be made that ones such as Helios, Helios SE, Crimson/Europa/Neuropa are maybe more resolving or have better separation than the Monarch, but to my ears it’s a wash and nowhere near as big a difference as things like tuning and tonal preference are. I could also argue that Symphonium beats Thieaudio in dynamics (which is always a strong suit of theirs) but again, all but the most discerning of listeners would likely be satisfied by either/or. Sorry if that all seems fairly non-committal but I honestly think they’re all at a level where it’s so minute in difference that preference and personal bias has as much weight as anything, tbh.
7 Likes
After a long stretch of brutal tinnitus, I have been able to enjoy listening again.
- Ziigaat Arcadia
- Aful Explorer
- Mangird Tea ( the OG ) - I also have the MKII
- ThieAudio Hype 10
- Ziigaat Doscinco
I have an absurdly large collection of stuff in the $60-100 range. Lately I have been using some older ones, and really enjoying them.
- Tripowin Olina SE - I have two of the OG one stock and one modded
- Letshuoer Galileo
- Aful MagicOne
- Ziigaat Cinno
11 Likes