Best V-Shaped IEMs

S-

$1,999

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Thieaudio Valhalla

• TOTL all-rounder with "endgame" tech across the board, a better tuned U12T with better bass texture
• Big fan, but lack fantastic air like some other sets.
• S tier for COD, borders A- for other titles

V-Shaped 19BA

9.1

8.6

S-

$1,799

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Elysian Apostle

• Clean, neutral, and clear vocals. Reminds me of a cleaner Volume S or slightly better OG Oracle, but very expensive, maybe if you can find one around $1000 since it's more of a sidegrade to RSV,...
• Incredibly textured bass, forward vocals, top-tier EST treble, and insane detail. Exceptional in every way.
• Instrument separation is good, and is a nice darkness.
• The Elysian Apostle delivers a V-shaped signature with a powerful, sub-bass-focused low end that offers substantial rumble and physicality, though some listeners might find it occasionally...

V-Shaped 1DD+2BA+2EST

9

7.8

A+

$499

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Xenns Top Pro

• Very technical, amazing resolution and detail for the price, treble is slightly crispy and sparkly, clean but dynamic all-rounder. Mid-volume set for the most part as treble can get hot at higher...
• Early, might go up.
• Pros: New meta tuning with boosted bass and upper treble. Cons: BA timbre.
• The Xenns Top Pro delivers a V-shaped signature with potent sub-bass impact and energetic treble extension, courtesy of its dual dynamic drivers and Sonion/Knowles balanced armatures. While the...

V-Shaped 2DD+8BA

8.5

8.6

A

$1,700

Sony IER-Z1R

• Best of the best in most areas, but vocals and mids can be thin due to fit issues. Insane bass texture/detail and HUGE soundstage. One of the best trebles I've heard.
• Extended yet natural treble, realistic sub-bass focus and spacious imaging capabilities.
• Top-tier bass, treble, and soundstage height and width. I don't approve of the midrange these days.
• Pros: Incredible extensions on both ends. Cons: Lower midrange.
• Visceral, hard-hitting bass, sparkly treble, and a large, spherical soundstage with impressive height. Fit may pose a challenge for many. Cons: Poor fit.

V-Shaped 2DD+1BA

8.4

7

A

$4,500

Elysian X

• Basically a more sub-bass focused Annihilator 2021 with some trade-offs in technicalities.
• Pros: Near excellent timbre, fantastic bass. Cons: Slight uppermids uneverness.

V-Shaped 1DD+4BA+4EST

8.2

6.7

A-

$254

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Jays Audio x ZiiGaat Estrella

• Great soundstage,very V shapped, to those sensitive to those regions.
• A little bit overcooked. It is certainly not a bad IEM. It does a good job in give you a lot of bass and a lot of physicality in the bass and not compromising in separation and imaging.
• The Jays Audio x ZiiGaat Estrella delivers a thrilling V-shaped signature that prioritizes fun and engagement. Its standout feature is the commanding sub-bass, powered by dual dynamic drivers, which...

V-Shaped 2DD+4BA

7.6

8.1

A-

$399

Buy on HiFiGO (affiliate)

HiSenior Cano Cristales

• Exciting v-shape, graphs and sounds like a more aggressive/sharper Estrella that's less smooth/refined and more peaky. Uppermids can get shouty and fatiguing. Needs some sonions to smooth things out....
• The Cano Cristales stands out with its ergonomic shells that are surprisingly comfortable for extended listening sessions, housing a complex 2DD+8BA driver array. The nature-inspired design, blending...

V-Shaped 2DD+8BA

7.5

7.9

B+

$2,400

Empire Ears Legend X SE

• A more upper-mid-forward variation of the original Legend X, which could come off as slightly more mid-recessed.
• Lacks control in the bass, but it's so fun. Excellent imaging performance that belies its tuning.

V-Shaped 2DD+5BA

7.4

5.9

B

$2,300

Empire Ears Legend X

• High resolution hybrid flawed only by lack of control in the bass regions.
• Bass lacks texture, but a fairly holographic, "grand" presentation that is unique for a V-shaped response.

V-Shaped 2DD+5BA

6.9

5.5

B

$720

ThieAudio Excalibur

• Probably the weakest of the ThieAudio tribrids, but still great on its own.
• Better clarity than the Oracle and more dynamic than most of ThieAudio's IEMs at the expense of some shoutyness.

V-Shaped 1DD+2BA+2EST

6.7

6.1

B

$220

Aful Performer 5

• Fun slight v-shape tuning with forward vocals with slight excitement in the treble. Separation takes a hit as a result, and treble is a bit uneven.
• Still a king.
• Inoffensive other than being a bit too gritty and clacky in the treble.
• Pros: Balanced tuning with fantastic treble extension. Cons: imaging could be better.
• Can sometimes reach B

V-Shaped 1DD+4BA

6.7

6.8

B-

$1,150

FAudio Dark Sky

• 5kHz runs slightly hot and technicalities aren't enough to push it above the single-DD competition.

V-Shaped 1DD

6.3

5.6

B-

$1,600

Empire Ears Valkyrie

• Lots of sub-bass with extremely thin mids. Adequate technicalities.
• Vibrant, intensive listen with some seriously awesome bass decay.

V-Shaped 1DD+1BA+1EST

6

5

B-

$300

Sennheiser IE300

• Fairly mainstream tuning with a treble response that's well done given its emphasis.
• Pros: Extremely comforable fit and versatile signature.

V-Shaped n/a

6

6.5

B-

$100

Tripowin x HBB Olina

• New HBB Xuan NV is just the way to go over this.
• Exellent tonality and shimmer (for a DD); nonetheless, could possibly benefit from better layering chops.

V-Shaped 1DD

6

6.1

C+

$950

Kinera Nanna 2.0

• Bass is a tad uncontrolled and the mids could use more refinement. The original is arguably superior.
• Probably Kinera's best set. Pretty decent overall.
• Pros: Good bass, decent v-shape tuning.

V-Shaped 1DD+1BA+2EST

5.8

5

C+

$300

Dunu DK-2001

• Slightly warm-tilted with a bit of treble spiciness.
• A leaner, more forward version of the 3001.

V-Shaped 1DD+3BA

5.5

5.6

C

$400

Fiio FH7

• What is otherwise a pretty good hybrid marred by a strange tonality.
• Definitely one of Fiio's better releases. Warm and pleasing, would benefit from more air and bass also doesn't sound very DD.

V-Shaped 1DD+4BA

5.3

5.4

C-

$660

Unique Melody MEST Mini

• Bone conduction driver doesn't seem to be doing much. Just your average V-shaped BA IEM.
• Definitely does not sound much like the actual MEST.

V-Shaped 3BA+1BC

4.9

4.7

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

4.8

4.8

C-

$250

7Hz Eternal

• Basically a substantial regression from the Timeless and with typical DD charactersitics.

V-Shaped 1DD

4.6

5

D+

$700

64 Audio A2e

• A rather interesting "V-but-also-not" signature. Can get a little hot in the treble.
• Bloated mid-bass and extremely dark upper-midrange and treble results in hazy, uninspired listen.

V-Shaped 2BA

4.1

3.8

D+

$300

AudioSense T800

• Generic tuning that's nothing special in terms of tonal accuracy nor technicalities.
• Bassy and has a hole in the lower-treble. Generally somewhat wonky all-round.

V-Shaped 8BA

4.1

4.1

D+

$510

Kinera Norn

• Reasonably good extension on both ends with gritty decay in midrange and a very V-shaped tuning.

V-Shaped 1DD+4BA

4

3.8

D

$4,500

MMR Thummim

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

V-Shaped 1DD+4BA+4EST

3.6

2.7

D-

$150

Jaybirds Vista

• Extremely scooped out midrange with piercing treble.
• Generic mainstream tuning and low-level detailing.

V-Shaped 1DD

3.4

3.2

D-

$130

Shuoer Tape Pro

• An attempt to fix the original Tapes by targeting not the upper mids, but the treble. Just makes things worse.
• "I tried the most dynamic songs, and nothing. The Tape Pro taped everything shut. Sorry. Move on." - Antdroid

V-Shaped 1DD

3.3

3.7

E

$270

oBravo Cupid

• Incoherent, broken imaging, overly-shouty, sharp treble, just a cacophony.
• I'd rather listen to the sound of silence than this.

V-Shaped 1DD Planar

2.4

2.7