The Ultimate IEM Ranking Hub

Subtonic STORM

• Jays Audio: The best IEM I've ever heard. Best timbre. Super natural. TOTL tech. It's just good. That's all.
• Gizaudio Axel: The most detailed IEM I’ve ever heard.  Exceptional resolution, neutral sound signature.  Hard to drive.
• Precogvision: Easily at the top for resolution and dynamic contrast, accompanied by rigid transients and pinpoint layering.
• Tim Tuned: Subtonic STORM closes the list as the ultra-high-end, “one-and-done” pick—the kind of most expensive flagship that needs no hype because the name says it all. Chosen for a “ versatile ”...  The most extraodinary normal sounding IEM ever. Amazing all-around  big and heavy shell
• Smirk Audio: World-class resolution and layering. Extreme, almost exaggerated dynamics. Staging is large but not class-leading.
• Web Search: The Subtonic Storm delivers a balanced sound signature characterized by a generous sub-bass boost, neutral midrange, and an elevated, articulate treble response. Its standout feature is the...
• Shuwa-T: Comment: TOTL tuning with TOTL technicalities to boot.  Perfectly tuned, unparalled detail retrieval, staging, imaging, and proper holographic background as a cohesive package  The price I guess
• Bad Guy Good Audio: Subtonic STORM lands as a $5,200 flagship built around novel SLAM balanced-armature tech: the dual BA “subwoofer” and “woofer” are separated and crossed over independently, joined by a...  Technical excellence (accuracy). Near perfect tuning. Bass...great  Price. Wait.
• Head-Fi.org: 4 community members have rated the Subtonic STORM at an average of 4.5/5 on Head-Fi. Overall sentiment: Outstanding.
• Yifang: Neutral: Staging is intentionally different to traditional IEMs and has forward projection. Can be pro or con depending on preference and genre, but makes any "real" music far more real than other...  Tonal perfection, technically unmatched, other high end IEMs may compete in some aspects, but never all at once. The single best available and works as an all-rounder.  Requires tremendous amount of source gear investment to perfect it, low availability, and makes the whole system expensive and less convenient.

Brise Audio Fugaku

• Precogvision: World-class bass with incredible depth and dynamics. Held back by a slightly unrefined treble response.
• Smirk Audio: World-class bass dynamics and slam. Coherent and fleshed out soundstage. Full-bodied notes. Slightly relaxed treble and lower mids. Upper mids slightly forward. Cons: Price, requires proprietary...
• Web Search: The Brise Audio Fugaku represents a radical departure from conventional IEM design, functioning as an integrated portable audio system rather than standalone earphones. Its core innovation lies in...
• Bad Guy Good Audio:  Cutting edge tech and innovation  Lacks slam on 808 drops. Cannot be EQ'd to do otherwise. Is a crippling handicap for people with Hip hop and EDM trance libraries.
• Fox Told Me So: Fugaku is a MEMS-powered IEM that wears its identity loud and clear: air—tons of it. The moment you hit play, you’re greeted by an open, shimmering atmosphere that screams treble authority....

PMG Audio Apx SE

• Smirk Audio: Great resolution and layering. Great bass texture and punch. Mids have a small timbral issue. Refined, resolving highs. Analogue tone. Engaging yet non-fatiguing. Cons: Shells prone to cracking.
• Z-Reviews: The PMG Audio Apx SE comes out swinging with a $6,000 price tag and a $1,600 cable that looks the part but fights the ear with stiffness and springy memory. The shells flaunt real lapis lazuli ...
• Bad Guy Good Audio: The PMG Audio Apx SE comes out swinging with a $6,000 price tag and a $1,600 cable that looks the part but fights the ear with stiffness and springy memory. The shells flaunt real lapis lazuli ...  Game changer. Most resolving accurate replay in the hobby. No specific qualifier to wave off potential buyer..nada  Price is extreme but presentation reflects that. No sonic flaws. 1st set in 10 years that gets that.
• Head-Fi.org: 6 community members have rated the PMG Audio Apx SE at an average of 4.5/5 on Head-Fi. Overall sentiment: Outstanding.
• Yifang:  Tonally acceptable and one of the most technically competent sets to exist. Surprisingly non-fatiguing listen. Extremely standout stage size AND most notably, huge note size within that stage. Extremely phenomenal in this regard.  Timbre and coherency need improvements. Driver coherency issues are somewhat obvious on highly dynamic EDM, particularly the extension in both ends of the frequency spectrum, making technicalities feel unnatural. Treble in particular is more problematic and affects timbre & smoothness, particularly female vocals and anything on the higher pitches. Low availability and high price.

Unique Melody Mason FS Soleil Tomb

• Smirk Audio: Highly resolving, technical, and balanced across the frequency spectrum. Is shouty/edgy in the upper mids/lower treble. Cons: Price, treble peak.
• Web Search: The Unique Melody Mason FS Soleil Tombé delivers a neutrally balanced sound signature characterized by a smooth, analog-like tonality across lows and mids, paired with naturally resolving treble....

Unique Melody Amber Pearl

• Smirk Audio: Visceral bass, lush mids, and smooth treble. Great dynamics and overall techs. Cons: Price.
• Yifang:  Extremely smooth and organic sounding warm mids and truly phenomenal when the correct genres are being played. Technicalities are competent.  Tonally does not work as an all rounder. Extremely high price and low availability. Perceived technicalities are often covered by tuning. Cheaper alternatives argubly exist.

Forte Ears Macbeth

• Shuwa-T:  Feels like a remastered VX in terms of clarity and staging  The tonality is too off for regular listening, timbre is also off in general
• Head-Fi.org: 10 community members have rated the Forte Ears Macbeth at an average of 4.6/5 on Head-Fi. Overall sentiment: Outstanding.

Unique Melody Multiverse Mentor

• Smirk Audio: Immersive soundstage. Euphonic, lush mids, and inoffensive treble. Lacks incisiveness and upper mids can get a little intense. Cons: Price.
• Shuwa-T:  Midrange lush, thick instrument note weight  Price, what else

Rhapsodio Supreme V3

• Smirk Audio: Cons: Price.
• Head-Fi.org: 8 community members have rated the Rhapsodio Supreme V3 at an average of 4.8/5 on Head-Fi. Overall sentiment: Exceptional.

Aroma Jewel

• Smirk Audio: Demoed on Eletech Victoria cable (not stock). Very fleshed out stage with convincing depth. Strong imaging, layering, and res. Bass can use more body and decay.
• Shuwa-T:  U-shaped tuning that focuses on clarity over musicality  Noteweight in the midrange can be too thin for certain genres
• Yifang:  Tonally good and works as an all-rounder.  Very expensive for what it is now, treble recession may make it a bit boring for some. Other better & cheaper alternatives that are similar enough exist.

AME Mousa

• Jaytiss: Energetic Bassy fun set, but so excellent.
• Smirk Audio: Cons: Price, bass bloat.
• Head-Fi.org: 12 community members have rated the AME Mousa at an average of 4.5/5 on Head-Fi. Overall sentiment: Outstanding.

Elysian X

• Precogvision: Basically a more sub-bass focused Annihilator 2021 with some trade-offs in technicalities.
• Tim Tuned:  Near excellent timbre, fantastic bass  Slight uppermids uneverness
• Nymz: A more sub-bass focused Annihilator without the same level of technicalities and treble.
• Yifang:  One of the most technically competent, all tonal qualities are of the highest level, with treble perhaps being the best to ever exist.  Low availability, sounds a bit bright and lean, does not work for all genres, likely to be very fatiguing depending on the listener. Important to note preferences.

Aroma Audio Fei Wan

• Jaytiss: Impressive tech, is even better with EQ. Has a special sauce.
• Smirk Audio: Decent bass and lush, "wet" mids. Has a treble peak that can be pesky to some. Great overall techs. Cons: Price, treble peak, build quality.

Oriolus Traillii Ti

Astell&Kern x Empire Ears NOVUS

• Smirk Audio: Excellent bass dynamics and texture. Cold timbre and driver flex. Otherwise excellent technicalities and solid tuning. Cons: Driver flex, cold timbre.
• Audionotions: Very engaging IEM. Bass extends deep and hits hard and fast, mids are clear and lush with very good weight and tactility. Treble is clear without fatigue. It's a pretty warm IEM but has clarity that...

Alpha Omega Fulgrim

• Smirk Audio: Elevated, bouncy, and dynamic bass. Somewhat normal sounding midrange and highs; pleasant for sure, if somewhat boring. Overall good set with a questionable price tag. Cons: Poor price-to-performance...
• Head-Fi.org: One community member has rated the Alpha Omega Fulgrim at an average of 4.0/5 on Head-Fi. Overall sentiment: Very Positive.

Oriolus Traillii

• Precogvision: Dull microdynamics and treble at a not-so-dull price.
• Smirk Audio: Very natural and balanced-sounding set. Exquisite voicing and tuning. Soundstage is somewhat intimate. Bass is plasticky and lacks slam/texture. Cons: Price.
• Bad Guy Good Audio: It looks like the transcript content didn’t come through. I’ll still provide a concise, provisional summary in Bad Guy Good Audio–style based on well-known impressions of the Oriolus Traillii....  Pleasant tonaity, great detail retrieval  polite bass and stupid $$ for nothing evolutionary

Vision Ears Erlkonig

• Crin: Good tonality, high resolution and an overall decent all-rounder.
• Precogvision: Good detail retrieval and tonal balance on settings 3 & 4. Poor midrange micro-dynamics, though, and quite boring.
• Shuwa-T: Comment: Smooth without compromising too much on details.  Warm yet spacious  Might almost sound dark

MMR Thummim

• Crin: More resolving than the Homunculus, but also comes with bass bloat.
• Precogvision: Gives me the impression that I'm hearing things from underwater.