Elysian Annihilator 2023

• Gizaudio Axel: Hands down, my favorite IEM.  Powerful, impactful bass, the best treble I’ve experienced in an IEM, endgame-level detail.  The bass might be too much for some people.

Subtonic Storm

• Gizaudio Axel: The most detailed IEM I’ve ever heard.  Exceptional resolution, neutral sound signature.  Hard to drive.

Softears Enigma

• Gizaudio Axel: Endgame-level detail paired with great tonality.  Exceptional detail, high-quality bass, balanced tonality, and excellent timbre.  The bass has a fast decay.

Elysian Apostle

• Gizaudio Axel: Exceptional in every way.  Incredibly textured bass, forward vocals, top-tier EST treble, and insane detail.

Elysian Diva

• Gizaudio Axel: One of the best IEMs for vocals.  Dynamic driver-like bass, natural vocal reproduction, and an incredibly smooth tonality.  Could use a bit more mid-bass for my taste.

Dunu Glacier

• Gizaudio Axel: Reveals every detail in your music, both the good and the bad.  Exceptional bass, ethereal treble, remarkable clarity, and outstanding detail.  The upper mid-range might be a bit too much for some people.

Thieaudio Monarch Mk2

• Gizaudio Axel: Outstanding tuning.  Smooth, balanced tuning with natural vocals, beautiful timbre, and excellent tonality.  Detail and could use more bass. Treble depends on ear tips.

Aful Cantor

• Gizaudio Axel: One of the most resolving IEMs. It reveals details you’ve never noticed before.  Exceptional detail, neutral tuning, and great bass quality. Very revealing.  Could use more bass for my taste.

Softears Twilight

• Gizaudio Axel: My top choice for timbral accuracy.  Beautiful warm sound signature with outstanding timbre and an open sound.  I wouldn’t change a thing.

Softears Volume S

• Gizaudio Axel: A benchmark for tonality and timbre.  Studio 4 with DD bass, great bass texture, tonal accuracy, forward vocals, and natural timbre.  High impedance mode sounds bright.

Softears Studio 4

• Gizaudio Axel: A benchmark for tonality and timbre.  Neutral, accurate sound with great bass, tonal accuracy, forward vocals, and natural timbre. Excellent isolation.  Unvented design and BA bass may not suit everyone.

qdc Anole VX

• Gizaudio Axel: A highly detailed IEM.  Endgame-level detail.  BA bass and timbre.

Moondrop Solis 2

• Gizaudio Axel: I prefer more bass.  Great bass quality, vocal clarity, and detail.

Softears RS10

• Gizaudio Axel: I prefer more bass.  Great tuning with forward vocals and excellent detail.  Unvented design, BA bass, and can be slightly shouty on some tracks.

Xenns Top Pro

• Gizaudio Axel: A refined, genre-versatile all-rounder. One of the best in its price range.  Balanced tuning with clean bass, smooth vocal-forward mids, refined airy treble, and excellent detail and separation.

Lime Ears Terra

• Gizaudio Axel: Excellent balance of detail and musicality.  Harman-like tuning with full-bodied sound, great sub-bass, and solid detail.  Could use more mid-bass impact. Slightly bright treble.

Moondrop Variations

• Gizaudio Axel: A solid benchmark.  Great sub-bass, Harman tuning, and excellent detail.  Can sound thin.

Dunu SA6 mkII

• Gizaudio Axel: Similar to the SA6 Ultra but with more bass, airier treble, and improved soundstage and fit.  QDC Anole VX tuning, excellent resolution, and great bass with a practical bass switch.  Unvented design.

Dunu SA6 Ultra

• Gizaudio Axel: Tuning style is a matter of preference.  QDC Anole VX tuning, excellent resolution, and great bass with a practical bass switch.  Unvented design.

Dunu SA6 EST

• Gizaudio Axel: I prefer the SA6 MK II.  QDC Anole VX tuning, excellent resolution, and great bass.  Unvented design, no bass switch, and less airy than the SA6 MK II.

Elysian Pilgrim Noir

• Gizaudio Axel: Sound is similar to the original Pilgrim.  Bassier than the original Pilgrim with similar resolution.

Elysian Pilgrim

• Gizaudio Axel: One of the most resolving IEMs under $1000.  Elysian house sound with a balanced tuning, textured sub-bass, smooth mid-range, well extended treble, and excellent resolution.  I prefer more bass.

Hisenior Mega5-EST

• Gizaudio Axel: A "plain water" type sound signature with a bass boost.  Great tuning, neutral with bass boost, smooth, safe, and balanced.  Could use more detail, incisiveness, and excitement.

Hisenior Mega5-EST +Bass

• Gizaudio Axel: Great for bassheads or sub-bass lovers.  Hisenior Mega5est with added sub-bass.  The bass might be too much for some people.

Thieaudio Monarch MK3

• Gizaudio Axel: I prefer the Monarch MK II for its tonality, vocals, and timbre, but I get why some prefer the MK III.  More bass, treble, and detail than the Monarch MK II.  The vocal magic of the Monarch MK II is gone.

Thieaudio Hype 10

• Gizaudio Axel:  More detailed Hype 4.  Too similar to the Hype 4.

Fiio FX17

• Gizaudio Axel: Warm, non-fatiguing listen.  Punchy mid-bass, warm, lush mids, smooth, detailed treble, wide soundstage.  Warm sound signature may not suit everyone.

Fiio FA19

• Gizaudio Axel: Great resolution and micro-details.  Warm V-shaped sound with bassy lows, sparkly treble, and excellent resolution.  Bass quality could be better and treble is bright.

Dita Mecha

• Gizaudio Axel: Cohesive sound with great detail.  Great bass, vocal-focused, cohesive sound with excellent detail.

Sennheiser IE600

• Gizaudio Axel: Fun, V-shaped tuning.  Fantastic bass (both quality and quantity), great V-shaped tuning, excellent detail, and precise imaging.  Treble is too much, could use more vocal focus.

Moondrop S8

• Gizaudio Axel: Smooth, detailed, and balanced tuning.  Harman-like sound with plenty of detail.  BA bass.

Dunu x Gizaudio Davinci

• Gizaudio Axel:  Bass-boosted meta tuning with excellent detail and a grand sound.  Bass may be too much for some.

Moondrop x Crinacle Dusk

• Gizaudio Axel: Excellent tuning and a highly detailed, all-around performer.  Great bass quality, rich vocals, balanced tonality, sparkly treble, and excellent resolution.  I prefer more bass.

Thieaudio Hype 4

• Gizaudio Axel: A fun and exciting IEM.  Fun, bass-boosted sound with powerful bass, great treble extension, and clear vocals.  Treble can be overly crisp at times.

ZiiGaat Luna

• Gizaudio Axel: Chill, relaxed, and detailed all-rounder.  Smooth, warm, and balanced with forward vocals and airy treble. Relaxed but still engaging.  BA Bass. Upper treble might be too much for some.

Aful Performer 5+2

• Gizaudio Axel: A detailed, engaging all-rounder that's exciting without being shouty or harsh.  Smooth, neutral tuning with a bass boost, excellent bass quality, clean mids, forward vocals, and sparkly, incisive treble. Great detail.  I wouldn’t change a thing.

Binary Dynaquattro

• Gizaudio Axel: Shines when driven properly.  Excellent bass, vocal-forward tuning, and natural timbre.  Hard to drive, could use more treble extension.

Gizaudio x Binary Chopin

• Gizaudio Axel:  Harman tuning with excellent bass, clean mids, extended treble, and balanced tonality with great detail.

Kiwi Ears Astral

• Gizaudio Axel: Great all-rounder with a bright, airy top end.  Deep, textured sub-bass, clean and forward mids, airy treble, and great detail.  Upper treble can be a bit much, and the bass tuck isn’t for everyone.

Tanchjim Origin

• Gizaudio Axel: Smooth, detailed, and vocal-centric sound.  Cohesive, vocal-focused tuning with dynamic bass, smooth extended treble, and excellent detail.  Could use more sub-bass.

Moondrop Meteor

• Gizaudio Axel: I need more bass!  Forward vocals, super smooth treble.  Bass lacks weight, impact, and slam.

Punch Audio Martilo

• Gizaudio Axel: Great basshead set with strong technical chops. Great value, fun, and engaging without sacrificing clarity.  Boosted, clean, and textured bass. Mids are surprisingly clear for a bassy set. Treble’s smooth and non-fatiguing.  The bass might be too much for some.

Softears RSV

• Gizaudio Axel: I prefer the Studio 4.  Warmer, bassier, and slightly more resolving than the Studio 4, with great timbre.  BA Bass.

Dunu DK-3001 BD

• Gizaudio Axel: More mid-bass and less treble would be perfect  Excellent bass quality, deep sub-bass, transparent mids, and great resolution.  Low mid-bass, slightly lean vocals, and bright treble.

Xenns Tea Pro

• Gizaudio Axel:  Powerful bass with great slam, open sound, excellent imaging, and detail.  Treble is a bit bright.

Moondrop Blessing 3

• Gizaudio Axel: Excellent resolution.  Neutral, vocal-focused sound with great treble extension and detail.  Light bass, can sound lean, thin and technical.

Moondrop Blessing 2

HiSenior Cano Cristales

• Gizaudio Axel: Bass quality is top-tier  Deep, clean, and textured bass with great control. Clear, forward vocals and excellent detail.  A bit bright and can get a bit intense at times.

ZiiGaat Crescent

• Gizaudio Axel: Lively V-shape sound signature.  Clean and controlled bass. Clear, forward vocals. Airy treble with good separation.  Upper treble can be too much for some.

Ziigaat Odyssey

• Gizaudio Axel: Fun and engaging tuning. It's like a more exciting version of the KE4.  Great bass, natural vocals that aren't shouty, and excellent treble extension.  The lower treble can be too much.

MYER SL224

• Gizaudio Axel: Good for vocal lovers. Not ideal if you want a strong bass boost.  Natural vocals, clear mids, and smooth, detailed treble. Clean and balanced sound with a nice touch of air and sparkle.  Bass is polite and reserved. Can feel a bit incohesive at times.

Softears Volume

Softears Cerberus

• Gizaudio Axel:  Darkish treble.

Thieaudio Prestige

• Gizaudio Axel:  Lots of bass, good slam, controlled mid-range.  Bass quality, too much upper treble, timbre, and overall detail.

BGVP Phantom SE

Unique Melody MEST MK3

• Gizaudio Axel: A safe tuning.  Holographic soundstage.  Relaxed upper mids and treble. Overall detail.

Tangzu Xuan Wu Gate

• Gizaudio Axel:  Solid mid-bass, natural vocals, and detailed treble.  Treble is a bit elevated, and upper mids feel a bit relaxed.

Tanchjim Oxygen

Aful Performer 5

Aful Performer 8

Juzear Butterfly 61T

• Gizaudio Axel:  Warm tuning, great bass quality and texture, full mid-range, excellent resolution, soundstage, and passive noise isolation.  Some bass bleed affects vocal clarity.

JUZEAR x Z Reviews Defiant

• Gizaudio Axel: Balanced, detailed, and versatile. It sets the bar for its price point.  Punchy, textured bass, natural and forward vocals, balanced sound, with great detail and imaging. A great all-rounder.

Kiwi Ears Aether

• Gizaudio Axel: One of the best planar IEMs out there. The treble is smoother and easier on the ears than most planars.  Balanced sound with clean bass, smooth mids, and detailed treble. Great clarity, wide soundstage, and natural timbre for a planar.  Bass might be a bit light, and treble can be a little forward for some.

Aful Explorer

• Gizaudio Axel: Perfect for rock and metal.  Smooth, relaxing tuning, great bass with good slam, rich mid-range, safe treble.  Upper mids may be too relaxed for some, treble is a bit dark.

Kefine Quatio

• Gizaudio Axel: An engaging sound signature with good bass and natural mids.  Deep bass with strong impact, natural mids with good timbre, and smooth treble with great detail.  Lower treble can get a bit energetic, and upper treble lacks some air.

Dunu Falcon Ultra

Fiio FH19

PULA Anvil

• Gizaudio Axel: The BCD effect is awesome, but may not be for everyone.  Punchy bass, great mid-range texture, immersive soundstage, BCD that works, and excellent resolution.  Could use more sub-bass.

Pula PA02

• Gizaudio Axel:  Great tuning, fantastic vocals.

Moritz Dragon

• Gizaudio Axel:  Smooth, cohesive Harman-like tuning with a single DD.  Overall detail.

Truthear Nova

• Gizaudio Axel: A solid reference.  Harman-style sound signature with solid sub-bass, clean forward vocals, smooth treble extension, and great detail.  Could use more bass, vocals can feel lean and a bit intense at times.

Myer Audio SLA3

Myer Audio SL41 MK2

Moondrop Kato

Moondrop Aria 2

• Gizaudio Axel: A solid set.  Good bass with solid impact, slightly warm but full and clear vocals, and solid detail.  Could use more sub-bass and a more refined upper treble.

Myer Audio CKLVX CK2V

• Gizaudio Axel: More V-shaped than balanced.  Clear and detailed sound with strong sub-bass rumble.  Laid-back vocals and boosted upper treble that can get fatiguing.

Dunu Kima 2

Moondrop Kadenz

ZiiGaat Arete x Fresh Reviews

• Gizaudio Axel: Great gaming IEM.  Clean sound, accurate mids, clear vocals, great soundstage, precise imaging.  Bass quality.

Juzear Dragonfly 81T

• Gizaudio Axel:  Great bass quality, forward vocals with clarity, excellent detail, airy treble.  Bright treble.

Kiwi Ears KE4

• Gizaudio Axel: Solid reference.  Great Meta tuning.  Could use more detail, not very engaging.

AFUL MagicOne

Simgot EM10

• Gizaudio Axel:  Bass-boosted Harman tuning, forward vocals.  Overall detail, PZT timbre.

Nicehck NX8

• Gizaudio Axel:  Great tonality, solid bass impact.  PZT timbre.

TOPPING Arpegear Hane

• Gizaudio Axel:  Great tuning switches.  Hard to drive, bass quality and overall detail.

7Hz Timeless 2

• Gizaudio Axel: Sounds is identical to the Timeless OG.  Clean, impactful bass, great detail, fast transients.  Upper mids are a bit intense, bright treble, planar timbre.

7hz Timeless

• Gizaudio Axel:  Clean, impactful bass, great detail, fast transients.  Upper mids are a bit intense, bright treble, planar timbre.

LETSHUOER Z12

• Gizaudio Axel:  Clean, impactful bass, great detail, fast transients.  Upper mids are a bit intense, bright treble, planar timbre.

NiceHCK F1 Pro

ThieAudio Hype 2

Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite

• Gizaudio Axel:  Smooth tuning, clean mid-range, open sound.  Unvented design, BA bass, could use more sub-bass, safe tuning.

Dita Project M

• Gizaudio Axel:  Impressive bass, airy treble, great resolution.  Bright treble, mid-range timbre.

BQEYZ Frost

Kinera Celest Relentless

• Gizaudio Axel: Foam tips improve the sound a lot.  V-shaped tuning, powerful bass, great technicalities.  Bright treble.

Simgot EM6L

Pula Unicrom

Kefine Klean

Kefine Delci AE

Kefine Delci

Etymotic ER2XR

• Gizaudio Axel:  Great tuning with natural vocals and safe treble.  The fit.