Best IEMs in the price range from below $50

B+

$30

Moondrop Crescent

Well-executed V-ish signature that's neither harsh nor bloated.

V-Shaped n/a

Moondrop Crescent review by super-review

7

6.5

B

$22

Tanchjim Bunny

Cheesy name, good iem. You can buy on Amazon.

n/a 1DD

6.9

7.2

B-

$50

KEFINE Klean

Same as Delci, graph and sounds the same, but cheaper with extra tuning filter
Solid set, very enjoyable.

n/a n/a

6.4

7.5

B-

$25

TANGZU Waner

I just bought and reevaluated, such a bad experience.

n/a n/a

6.3

6.7

B-

$50

INAWAKEN DAWN Ms

An OG Delci with more sub-bass rumble, and vocals pop a little more. Nice warm bassy set.
A great pick at this price.

n/a n/a

INAWAKEN DAWN Ms review by gizaudio-axel

6.3

7.3

B-

$39

Simgot EW200

A cheaper Aria 2 with less mid-bass, basically same driver and technical performance - depends on qc and unit variance between the two.
This never disapoints. You need one.

n/a n/a

6.2

7.5

B-

$30

CCA Trio

Well-balanced to endgame ie with bassy option as well, good tech for the price, soild all-rounder beginner set, $20 on sale, but kz
This could be higher if it weren't fatiguing.

V-Shaped 3DD

6.2

7.4

B-

$35

7HZ G1

V-shape sound, fun bass with good extension elsewhere
It's not a bad iem, but didn't work for me. It has a lot of driver flex.

Bassy n/a

6.1

7.1

B-

$25

Final Audio E500

Very well-balanced though plagued by the usual E-series QC problems.
For users who like ear buds, it's a great little set.
The most well-tuned Final Audio IEM with a balanced, fairly neutral sound.

Neutral 1DD

6.1

6.2

B-

$40

Blon BL03

Very pleasing and safe tuning with subpar technical detailing.
Bland, but good tonal balance. Not terrible.
Pleasant, bassy, warm tonality marred by subpar resolution.

V-Shaped 1DD

6

5.9

B-

$50

Tangzu Yu Xuan Ji

Airy treble/staging. Clean balanced sound. Good tech. 8-10K Peak isn't as big as graph suggests.
interesting iem, but bad and forgetable.

n/a n/a

6

7.2

B-

$50

Truthear x Crinacle Zero

Variations-ish tuning with sub-bass focused. Low-end is rumbly but lacks mid-bass impact/warmness in general. Fatiguing above mid-volume. Can sound light and thin. Mid-bass tuck affects libraries.
Harman tuning with nice punchy bass.
Sounds good, and fun..
Close ringer for the Harman IEM target with great bass and slightly harsh upper-mids and lower-treble.
Pros: Very well tuned, clean bass. Cons: treble can use more eveness.

U-Shaped 2DD

Truthear x Crinacle Zero review by jays-audio

Truthear x Crinacle Zero review by gizaudio-axel

Truthear x Crinacle Zero review by jaytiss

Truthear x Crinacle Zero review by precogvision

Truthear x Crinacle Zero review by tim-tuned

Truthear x Crinacle Zero review by super-review

6

6.4

C+

$6

Sony MH755

Clean notes, proper sub-bass extension and a tonal balance beyond expectations.
One of the best bass response you'll find under $500, but with too much upper-midrange and treble.

V-Shaped 1DD

5.9

5.7

C+

$25

Tangzu Waner 2

Balanced All-rounder. Basically the same as OG Waner but with a little more treble air, helps boost resolution and imaging by a tiny tiny bit. Accesories are great for the price, sancai tips + nice...
The stock USB C cable came jacked up.... lame.

n/a n/a

5.9

7.3

C+

$20

ND Planet

Slight vshape all-rounder with punchy bass. KZ EDC PRO better treble extension/smoother, and cheaper.
Maybe not a default pick, but a nice budget set 100%

n/a n/a

5.9

7.1

C+

$18

Moondrop Chu II

Another harman-ish tuning. Similar to Tanchjim One but not as smooth.

V-Shaped 1DD

5.8

6.2

C+

$50

TRN-Medusa

Nice overall tonal quality, with just a dash of shout.

n/a 1DD

5.8

6.3

C+

$50

EPZ Q5

Can be a bit bright on pop/edm, but very good for jazz/blues/soul and warm instrumentals.
Nice Bass response, great graph, overall clean set.

n/a n/a

5.8

7.2

C+

$30

Final Audio E1000

Balanced tuning with good clarity and acceptable resolution. Surprising pick.

Neutral n/a

Final Audio E1000 review by super-review

5.8

C+

$50

Tin Hifi T2

Well-balanced tuning and an all-rounder signature that works for most.

Neutral 2DD

5.8

6.1

C+

$20

7Hz Salnotes Zero

A stock Chu with a little more bass, and smoother uppdermids/treble.
Great little set. Good Color choices.

V-Shaped n/a

7Hz Salnotes Zero review by super-review

5.7

6.3

C+

$40

Moondrop LAN

Another one
It's a 40 dollar Chu.

Neutral n/a

5.7

6

C+

$35

Kiwi Ears Cadenza

Basically the modded Zero with slight more bass. Best note-weight out of the $20 sets. Berrylium bass baby.
An example of the tuning can be good but technicals poor.
Pros: Well tuned, energetic signature. Cons: Slightly heady, can be fatiquing.

V-Shaped n/a

Kiwi Ears Cadenza review by super-review

5.6

6

6.2

C+

$15

CCA Polaris

Overall clean and balanced sound, but pinna gain is too much at higher volumes making vocals sound shrill and thin. Mid volume is nice, but KZ, so.
Has some massive issues in the air.

n/a n/a

5.6

6.9

C+

$12

KZ EDC-Pro

Nicely tuned v shape, smooth treble for the price/single DD, also very cheap on sale... but KZ.
12 Dollars, moderate your expectations, but it's ok.

n/a n/a

5.5

7

C+

$20

Moondrop Chu

An extremely well-tuned neutral IEM with a slightly bright and metallic tilt.
A bit uninspired at this point, but no less a solid listen.
Pros: Very well tuned and natural. Cons: Treble uneveness.

Neutral 1DD

5.5

5.6

C+

$45

Final Audio E2000

Not too dissimiliar to a GR07, though lacking in that last octave of bass extension.

V-Shaped n/a

Final Audio E2000 review by super-review

5.5

5.7

C+

$50

Blon BL05

A more technical but far less pleasing BL03.

V-Shaped n/a

5.5

5.9

C

$30

ZiiGaat NUO

Woohoo another harman/df! Very similar to the G10, but cheaper with heftier note-weight. Clean budget Harman, highlights vocals very nicely. Can be sharp.
Probably my budget pick under 30. But just strech for 35 for EW200.

n/a n/a

5.4

6.8

C

$40

Moondrop SSR

Probably as close as one can get to "true DF", though it's extremely shouty as a result.
Shouty thanks to 13dB of pinna compensation, but excellent note definition and imaging for the price.

Neutral 1DD

5.4

C

$20

Kiwi Ears Dolce

Well done V-shape. Very similar to CRA CCA+.
Makes you wonder why you pay more for other iems.

n/a n/a

5.4

6.6

C

$15

Moondrop Quarks DSP

Super clean with great clarity. A better tuned Variations without the tech. Pinnacle of harman tuning. Although mid-bass scoop can affect some libraries.
Pros: Very well-tuned, natural timbre. Cons: mushy details, noise floor, USB-C.

U-Shaped n/a

Moondrop Quarks DSP review by jays-audio

Moondrop Quarks DSP review by super-review

5.3

6.3

C

$25

Moondrop Jiu

Another one
Pros: Expansive stage + Great tuning overall. Cons: Can use more transient incisiveness, USB-C.

U-Shaped n/a

5.3

6.3

C

$26

Tripowin Lea

Solid set overall, just a hair tizzy in the upper-treble at times.

V-Shaped 1DD

5.3

C

$50

Intime Sora

Well controlled bass boost with slightly skewed tonality. Potential is there.
Decent tonality, perhaps a tad strident.

Neutral 1DD

5.3

C

$15

CCA CRA

High-clarity, potentially fatiguing sound with surprisingly good bass and treble extension.
Pros: Fun, well tuned v-shape signature. Cons: Details & Stage.

V-Shaped 1DD

5.2

4.6

C

$25

Tanchjim Tanya

Remarkably well-balanced tuning and slightly out of head imaging.

V-Shaped 1DD

5.2

C

$19

Truthear Hola

Basically the modded Zero with slight more bass, airy and least shouty $20 sets.
Buy for the cable.
Pleasant tonality but somewhat slow, blunted sounding with not much else going for it.
Pros: Satisfying bass, inoffensive tonality. Cons: vocal feels cramped.

V-Shaped 1DD

5.2

5.8

C

$40

QKZ x HBB Khan

Same as the Crin Zero but with slightl more bass and less faitguing, although at the cost of more recessed vocals/mids. Mid-bass tuck affects libraries.
Hard to recommend in a competitive market.
Pros: Very well tuned, strong clean bass. Cons: treble can use more eveness.

n/a n/a

5.2

6.3

C

$20

Tangzu Wan'er

Basically the modded Zero with slight more bass. Most vocal forward out of the $20 sets.
Pros: Can't believe this is $20..... Cons: Details is only okay.

V-Shaped n/a

5.2

6.3

C

$40

Moondrop SSP

Extra bass on top of the SSR does help it a little, but also results in a more hollow presentation.
Very tiny. Good for sleeping with at night, maybe not as a daily driver.
See SSR. Just more bass.

V-Shaped 1DD

5.1

5.5

C

$20

7Hz Zero

Pleasant tonal balance with some minor treble oddity.
Pros: Can't believe this is $20..... Cons: Details is only okay.

n/a 1DD

5

5.2

C-

$20

Moondrop Spaceship

Shouty with a slight warm tilt as a counterbalance. Not the worst DF-ish IEM out there.
Slightly more balanced than the Quarks in the midrange, but not by much.

Neutral 1DD

Moondrop Spaceship review by precogvision

Moondrop Spaceship review by super-review

4.9

5.1

C-

$50

HZSound Heart Mirror

Sounds like vocalists are asphyxiating. Very thin note-weight.

Neutral 1DD

HZSound Heart Mirror review by precogvision

HZSound Heart Mirror review by super-review

4.9

5

C-

$15

Tanchjim Zero

Too shouty and lacks the bass emphasis to balance it out.

Neutral 1DD

4.9

5.1

C-

$43

Tanchjim Ola Bass

A Quarks DSP without the mid-bass scoop and more air. Smooth dynamics. More "V" vs OG Ola and exciting. A less technical Olina SE.
Pros: Smooth, energetic signature. Cons: slightly uncontrolled lower mids.

n/a n/a

4.8

6.3

C-

$23

Tanchjim Tanya DSP

A more exciting Quarks DSP with more bass. Diffuse-field done right, great all-rounder, very smooth for price.
Pros: Very fun bass, fun tuning. Cons: Too much bass hides treble details.

n/a n/a

4.8

6.4

C-

$50

Tripowin x HBB Mele

Very easy on the ears with characteristically blunted DD transients. Well-tuned, but could use with more air.

V-Shaped 1DD

Tripowin x HBB Mele review by precogvision

4.8

5.3

C-

$15

Moondrop Quarks

Sounds fairly open. Pinna compensation and transition to treble region needs work.

Neutral 1DD

4.7

C-

$14

KZ EDX Pro

Surprisingly extended treble and good bass dynamics for the price. Just crappy tuning per usual.

V-Shaped 2DD

4.6

3.8

C-

$50

KZ PR1 Pro

Solid choice at $50 for an exciting, high-clarity sound, but at the expense of an artifical brightness and timbre.

V-Shaped n/a

4.6

6

C-

$20

QKZ x HBB

V-Shaped n/a

4.5

5.4

C-

$43

Moondrop Nekocake

Neutral n/a

Moondrop Nekocake review by super-review

4.5

5.6

D+

$40

Tanchjim Ola

Heavily library dependent. Amazing clarity, but lacks low-end. Smooth uppermids/treble with decent extension. Brighter Mini-DM.
Leaner reference sound that sounds a bit too flat for dyanmics. Well-balanced otherwise.

Neutral 1DD