Symphonium Crimson VS QDC 8SE

IEM Comparison: Expert & Community Scores Side-by-Side

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Symphonium Crimson and QDC 8SE use 4BA and 8BA driver setups respectively. Symphonium Crimson costs $1,500 while QDC 8SE costs $1,800. QDC 8SE is $300 more expensive. Symphonium Crimson holds a decisive 1-point edge in reviewer scores (8.4 vs 7.4).

Insights

Metric Symphonium Crimson QDC 8SE
Bass 8.6 7.4
Mids 7.7 7.4
Treble 7.5 7.4
Details 8.1 7.4
Soundstage 8.3 7.4
Imaging 8.5 7.4
Dynamics 7 7.4
Tonality 8.1 8.3
Technicalities 8.3 9
Take these comparisons with a grain of salt—we don't have enough QDC 8SE reviews saved yet to provide an unbiased result.

Symphonium Crimson Aggregated Review Score

Average Reviewer Scores

Smirk Audio Jaytiss
Yifang Nymz Shuwa-T Precogvision Head-Fi.org
Z-Reviews Jays Audio

Average Reviewer Score:

8.4

Very Positive


QDC 8SE Aggregated Review Score

Average Reviewer Scores

Kois Archive

Average Reviewer Score:

7.4

Generally Favorable


Reviews Comparison

Symphonium Crimson (more reviews)

Symphonium Crimson reviewed by Z-Reviews

Z-Reviews 9.5 * score rescaled + normalized
Youtube Video Summary

Symphonium Crimson lands with a bang: a four–BA, four-way crossover design that somehow delivers epic energy without a dynamic driver. Tonality reads neutral-bright with thunderous sub-bass—not a basshead hump, but a slab of solid, deep extension that stays clean. Mids stay clear for vocals and strings, treble rises for sparkle and excitement, and the presentation spreads out like pulled-apart audio “shreds” across a big canvas. The effect is clarity, detail, and slam that feel bigger than the driver count suggests, making music and film scores straight-up addictive.

Technical notes matter here. Nominal impedance is a weirdly low ~6Ω, so source pairing can swing results; the set scales and sounds happiest on robust gear that can keep low-impedance loads stable. Despite the armature array, coherency stays intact, dynamics hit harder than expected, and volume headroom invites goosebumps. It’s not a “bass monster,” yet the sub-bass authority and lively treble make it exciting rather than polite, with imaging that feels wide and tactile.

Ergonomics are the gripe list: the short nozzle can challenge seal and the premium cable lacks a formed ear hook, encouraging twist and loosening—tip rolling (even reversed-orientation tricks) helps. Build is flashy—carbon-fiber shell, red inlays, metal case that’s too hefty for travel. Pricing sits around $1,500 (or $1,700 with 8-wire cable); for sheer fun, impact, and best-in-brand performance, the value argument holds. For all-day softness, something like Twilight stays comfier; for movies, big scores, and “wow” sessions, Crimson feels like a must-grab and arguably the best Symphonium to date.


Z-Reviews original ranking

Z-Reviews Youtube Channel

Symphonium Crimson reviewed by Jays Audio

Jays Audio 9 Reviewer Score
S Tuning
S Tech
U-shaped/Slight V/W Shaped. Energetic treble. Great tech. Fun signature.

Jays Audio original ranking

Jays Audio Youtube Channel

Symphonium Crimson reviewed by Yifang

Yifang 8.5 Reviewer Score
S- Tuning
S- Tech

Symphonium Crimson reviewed by Nymz

Nymz 8.5 Reviewer Score
A+ Tuning
S- Tech
Great bass, holographic stage and top of the shelf dynamics. Probably my favourite rendition of a W-shaped tuning to this date. Treble might be spicy for some, but using Divinus Velvets (stock black) seem to help a lot.

Nymz original ranking

Nymz Website

Bass: S Mids: A+ Treble: A+ Details: A+ Imaging: S

Symphonium Crimson reviewed by Shuwa-T

Shuwa-T 8.4 Reviewer Score
A+ Tuning
S- Tech
The bassier Helios with no sacrifices to clarity

Shuwa-T original ranking

Shuwa-T Website

Bass: S- Mids: A+ Treble: S- Soundstage: S- Details: S- Imaging: S-

Symphonium Crimson reviewed by Precogvision

Precogvision 8 Reviewer Score
A+ Tuning
A+ Tech
Colored tonality done correctly with incredible bass and dynamics. Upper-treble can be slightly too zingy depending on source.

Precogvision original ranking

Precogvision Youtube Channel
Bass: S Mids: A+ Treble: A- Dynamics: A+ Details: A+ Imaging: A+

Symphonium Crimson reviewed by Smirk Audio

Smirk Audio 7.9 Reviewer Score
A Tuning
A+ Tech
Excellent bass, dynamics, and resolution. Very large soundstage with great imaging. Mid/upper-treble may be too elevated for some.

Smirk Audio original ranking

Smirk Audio Head-Fi Profile

Bass: A+ Mids: A Treble: A- Dynamics: A+ Details: A+ Imaging: S-

Symphonium Crimson reviewed by Jaytiss

Jaytiss 7.8 Reviewer Score
B+ Tuning
A- Tech
Suffers from BA bass, and super Zingie Treble.

Jaytiss original ranking

Jaytiss Youtube Channel
Mids: A- Treble: A- Dynamics: C+ Soundstage: A+

Symphonium Crimson reviewed by Head-Fi.org

Head-Fi.org 8.3 * score rescaled + normalized
29 community members have rated the Symphonium Crimson at an average of 4.4/5 on Head-Fi. Overall sentiment: Excellent.

URL to full Review

Head-Fi.org original ranking

QDC 8SE (more reviews)

QDC 8SE reviewed by Kois Archive

Kois Archive 7.4 Reviewer Score
A+ Tuning
S Tech
Rating: A | Gaming: 🎮🎮 | Comfort: 7 neutral with really good vocals could be boring

Kois Archive original ranking

Kois Archive Youtube Channel

Symphonium Crimson User Review Score

Average User Scores

Average User Score: n/a

Based on 0 user reviews

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QDC 8SE User Review Score

Average User Scores

Average User Score: n/a

Based on 0 user reviews

No user reviews yet. Be the first one who writes a review!

Symphonium Crimson Gaming Score

Gaming Score & Grade

  • The gaming score is prioritizing technical capabilities of the IEM (Separation, Layering, Soundstage) and good value.

Gaming Score

7.2

Gaming Grade

A-

QDC 8SE Gaming Score

Gaming Score & Grade

  • The gaming score is prioritizing technical capabilities of the IEM (Separation, Layering, Soundstage) and good value.

Gaming Score

7.3

Gaming Grade

A-

Symphonium Crimson Scorings

Average Technical & Tuning Grades

Average Tunign Grade

A+
  • Tuning feels refined, blending frequencies with convincing realism and engagement. Transitions between registers feel effortless.

Average Technical Grade

A+
  • It sounds refined and controlled, keeping instruments neatly separated with immersive staging. Busy arrangements remain neatly organized.
Bass S-
Expect a gripping low-end presence that marries clarity with visceral impact. Dynamic swings land with thrilling force.
Mids A
The mid band shines with organic tone and finely rendered textures. Long sessions remain fatigue-free.
Treble A
Highs feel superbly executed, revealing micro-detail without hint of sibilance. Highs stay smooth even at volume.
Dynamics A-
Dynamic performance is excellent, combining sharp transients with strong contrast. Transients snap with authority.
Soundstage A+
A panoramic, wraparound presentation suspends each element in a convincingly airy bubble. Instruments float with pinpoint spacing.
Details A+
Exceptional resolution that uncovers the deepest layers while maintaining natural timbre. It uncovers hidden layers with ease.
Imaging S-
Even dense mixes remain locked in place, reinforcing the illusion of physical performers. The stage remains stable regardless of complexity.
Gaming A-
Good fundamental spatial awareness for most gaming scenarios. Handles basic positioning well but may lack nuance in complex situations. Bad value-to-cost for gaming purpose - not recommended

QDC 8SE Scorings

Average Technical & Tuning Grades

Average Tunign Grade

A+
  • The tonal balance is polished and expressive, highlighting emotion without sacrificing accuracy. It keeps emotional weight without sacrificing accuracy.

Average Technical Grade

S
  • Expect an effortlessly clean presentation that keeps complex mixes perfectly organized. There is zero sense of congestion even at high volume.
Gaming A-
Good fundamental spatial awareness for most gaming scenarios. Handles basic positioning well but may lack nuance in complex situations. Bad value-to-cost for gaming purpose - not recommended

Symphonium Crimson User Reviews

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QDC 8SE User Reviews

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