Best V-Shaped IEMs

Thieaudio Valhalla

• Jays Audio: TOTL all-rounder with "endgame" tech across the board, a better tuned U12T with better bass texture
• Jaytiss: Big fan, but lacks fantastic air like some other sets.
• Super* Review: I'm really tempted to go out and buy one of this things for myself - if it fit me even better, I probably would.
• Fresh Reviews: S tier for COD, borders A- for other titles
• Shuwa-T:  Deep bass despite all BA set, techs carry this set more than the overall tone  Treble is mushy for something with so many BAs, not for high frequency enjoyers
• Bad Guy Good Audio: ThieAudio Valhalla comes in hot as a true flagship challenger: a titanium shell housing 19 drivers — 14 “Sonion” and five “Knowles" —and a price planted in the ~$2K bracket. This tier...
• Head-Fi.org: 4 community members have rated the THIEAUDIO Valhalla at an average of 4.8/5 on Head-Fi. Overall sentiment: Exceptional.

Elysian Apostle

• Jays Audio: 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,...
• Gizaudio Axel: Exceptional in every way.  Incredibly textured bass, forward vocals, top-tier EST treble, and insane detail.
• Jaytiss: Instrument separation is good, and is a nice darkness, but can be silbilant.
• Web Search: 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...
• Head-Fi.org: 4 community members have rated the Elysian Apostle at an average of 4.8/5 on Head-Fi. Overall sentiment: Exceptional.
• Paul Wasabii: Mid-centric endgame with a tactile yet controlled low end, holographic space, and seamless EST extension. Demands a neutral source and may feel a touch weighty on classical.  Endgame-level mid-centric tuning with transparent mids, expansive imaging and stage, tactile LSR bass, and cohesive, effortless EST treble.  Mid-centric balance and elevated bass can feel heavy on some classical and prefers flat sources; treble engagement may underwhelm V-shaped listeners.

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.

Sony IER Z1R

• Jays Audio: 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.
• Crin: Extended yet natural treble, realistic sub-bass focus and spacious imaging capabilities.
• Precogvision: Top-tier bass, treble, and soundstage height and width. I don't approve of the midrange these days.
• Tim Tuned:  Incredible extensions on both ends  Lower midrange
• Smirk Audio: Visceral, hard-hitting bass, sparkly treble, and a large, spherical soundstage with impressive height. Fit may pose a challenge for many. Cons: Poor fit.
• Shuwa-T:  Fun sounding without going overboard with the subbass, organic timbre  The fit is atrocious, treble can get spicy on hi-hats
• Nymz: Recessed mids I can't approved but best bass tactility I've heard. One of the best stage I've heard. Top of the class treble. Fit is a massive problem for most - one of those that needs to be demoed...

Unique Melody MEST mkII

• Jays Audio: TOTL imaging chops/layering. Tons of micro-details. Great bass texture. Wide and 3D staging. Can be aggressive, and get fatiguing when cranked up/long-listening sessions.
• Crin: Pretty much the same as the Mk1, though with extra sub-bass presence.
• Precogvision: A warmer, more coherent MEST with setbacks in resolution and imaging.
• Tim Tuned:  Great balance, none offensive tuning with little to fault
• Fresh Reviews: One of my favorite for music
• Shuwa-T: Comment: Bassier Mest v1 with slight cutback in clarity.  Even more impressive bass response
• Nymz: Great bass and sheer detail, at the cost of wonky treble and not so accurate imaging queues. I find it work the best with eletronic music or modern metal. Still a solid contender to this date at a...
• Audionotions: Very engaging. I usually prefer something more balanced and neutral, but this IEM has some special sauce. Very well-tuned from bass to treble - with a little bit of spice on top. Great tonality and...
• Head-Fi.org: 13 community members have rated the Unique Melody MEST MKII at an average of 4.7/5 on Head-Fi. Overall sentiment: Exceptional.

Sennheiser IE900

• Crin: Well-resolving DD IEM with excellent treble control, though with somewhat weak mid-high harmonics.
• Jaytiss: I don't get it, not even a little.
• Precogvision: Excelllent bass - simply excellent. Midrange could use some work, as could the generally average imaging chops.
• Audionotions: I usually don't like things that aren't all rounders but this might be the exception. Bass is incredible - best in class - great texture, fantastic physicality. Treble response is great too - pretty...
• Head-Fi.org: 10 community members have rated the Sennheiser IE900 at an average of 4.7/5 on Head-Fi. Overall sentiment: Exceptional.

Unique Melody Maven II

• Jaytiss: I can see how others might like.
• Web Search: The Unique Melody Maven II delivers a balanced yet colored sound signature that excels across diverse genres. Its elevated bass offers deep rumble and punchy mid-bass without bleeding into the mids,...

Unique Melody MEST

• Jays Audio: A MEST MK2 with slightly more uppermid/bass. More v-shaped. More AGGRESSIVE than MK2. Also gets fatiguing when cranked up/long-listening sesisons.
• Crin: A smooth, relaxing listen (in custom form) backed up with good technicalities.
• Precogvision: Engaging imaging with some minor coherency issues.
• Tim Tuned:  Impressive staging and details  Aggressive signature
• Shuwa-T: Comment: Neutral yet fun due to subbass hump.  Impressive clarity, holographic soundstage

Nice HCK Himalaya

• Web Search: The NiceHCK Himalaya is a single 10 mm CNT dynamic driver (1DD) IEM housed in a titanium-alloy shell, paired with a modular cable offering 3.5/4.4/2.5 mm plugs and replaceable tuning nozzles...
• Z-Reviews: The NiceHCK Himalaya is a spectacular flagship IEM featuring a titanium alloy cavity that feels premium and has a beautiful sheen. It comes loaded with extras: a gorgeous purple and grey-blue...
• Head-Fi.org: 5 community members have rated the Nice HCK Himalaya at an average of 4.6/5 on Head-Fi. Overall sentiment: Outstanding.
• ATechReviews: Single dynamic NiceHCK Himalaya delivers superbly textured bass, forward lush mids and hyper detailed airy treble with wide stage and precise imaging, but the very energetic upper midrange can sound...  Superb bass quality with warm forward vocals, hyper detailed airy treble, wide soundstage and very precise imaging for the price.  Upper mids and lower treble are very energetic and can sound edgy or slightly sibilant and fatiguing on busy or aggressive tracks.
• Audio-In Reviews: NiceHCK Himalaya is a well built and nicely accessorized single dynamic flagship with engaging, warm neutral tuning, but some midrange unnaturalness and merely decent detail hold it back in a very...  Excellent titanium build, modular cable and accessories with engaging bass and flexible nozzle based tuning options.  Upper mids can sound somewhat unnatural with limited detail for the price, a bit of bass bleed and overall performance that struggles to stand out against cheaper competitors.

HiSenior Cano Cristales

• Jays Audio: 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....
• 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.
• Jaytiss: This is an exciting fun Bass heavy iem that gets a recomendation.
• Super* Review: Impressive and aggressive bass presentation.
• Web Search: 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...

Gizaudio x Binary Chopin

• Jays Audio: If Harman wasn't boring and had a few drinks
• Gizaudio Axel:  Harman tuning with excellent bass, clean mids, extended treble, and balanced tonality with great detail.
• Jaytiss: Solid set, thin mids. Slightly bright at times.
• Super* Review: Best Collab IEM in years. It's a nice clean tonality. Fantastic vocal presentation. Added low end warmth.
• Web Search: The Gizaudio x Binary Chopin is a hybrid 1DD+3BA design built around an 8 mm ceramic-diaphragm dynamic driver for lows, a midrange BA, and a dual-BA tweeter assembly, targeting a lively, modern...
• Shuwa-T:  Overall clean sounding, works well with quicker pop genres (Jpop/Kpop)  Male vocals recessed, does not work well with the other half of Jpop/Kpop. Lower midrange suffers from thinner note weight (tuning)
• Z-Reviews: The Gizaudio x Binary Chopin IEM is an absolute standout, delivering a fantastically unique and immersive sound signature that is heavily focused on vocals . The presentation is spectacularly...
• ATechReviews: Binary Chopin offers a natural Harman-neutral tuning with fuller mids, better bass impact and stronger imaging than the Nova, while keeping a very comfortable and ergonomic shell.  Natural Harman-neutral tuning with rich mids, impactful but controlled bass, strong treble clarity and imaging, and very comfortable, slim ergonomics for the 200 dollar price.  Treble is slightly more splashy and less strictly realistic than Nova, subbass presence is not elevated for bassheads, and the price is higher than the already strong value of Nova.

Simgot ET142

• Jays Audio: Lots of variety with nozzles.Tames down 2K, keeps treble extension, basically a Timeless 2 with better fit and more detail with blue nozzle.
• Fresh Reviews: Border B
• Z-Reviews: SIMGOT ET142 comes across as a sleek, chrome-heavy hybrid with a planar + PZT setup, dressed in CNC’d stainless shells and a surprisingly thick premium cable , plus a magnetic case and...
• Audio Amigo: A 3-in-1 IEM. It can sound like an S12, S12 Pro, or S08 depending on what nozzles you're using. Great acessories and build quality. Stellar Sound with all nozzles
• Paul Wasabii: Flexible nozzle system gives smoother treble options and near-reference planar tuning. Superb shell and LC7 modular cable.  Outstanding build and LC7 modular cable with flexible nozzle and foam system that caters to treble-sensitive listeners.  Less resolution and top-end extension than S12 2024, and the gold or blue nozzles can be too bright for many.

Sennheiser IE600

• Jays Audio: Tons of detail and amazing clarity. Stage is smaller than most IEMs at/below its price tag but very well defined details and imaging within that space. Bass is detailed, but amount is not as much as...
• 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.
• Crin: Well-tuned mids, powerful yet controlled sub-bass, with highly extended (and somewhat spicy) treble.
• Jaytiss: Lots of upper trebble.
• Precogvision: Well-extended on both ends of the spectrum and adds back in the upper-midrange the IE900 lacked.
• Tim Tuned: Sennheiser IE600 hits with a confidently V-shaped signature: powerful yet tidy bass that thumps with dynamic-driver slam, a flat, clean lower midrange, and lively upper mids that make vocals and...  Very well rouned fun subbass focus sound  Treble might be too much
• Super* Review: $700 buys a compact, 3D-printed metal single-DD that looks mature and fits like a glove. The IE 600 arrives with two cables ( 3.5mm and 4.4mm ) that are thin and comfy but a bit microphonic ...
• Shuwa-T: Comment: Stock eartips are a disgrace.  Superb clarity with good tuning and bass response  Treble is on the energetic side
• Nymz: The most technical DD I've heard. Tuning is not perfect for my library - V-Shape. Get's a rec for those that really enjoy a well done V DD. Could use more stage size and bass impact. Fit is not the...
• Audionotions: Engaging sound signature with authoritative bass and very good treble. Mids are no slouch either. Can be spicy for some, but for what it's worth, I have no issues with the treble. Pretty impressive,...
• Head-Fi.org: 15 community members have rated the Sennheiser IE600 at an average of 4.3/5 on Head-Fi. Overall sentiment: Excellent.

Dunu DK-3001 BD

• Jays Audio: Technical, but thin, and bright tilt with LOTS of planar sizzle and timbre. Needs more low-end (small scoop), noteweight is very light, not peaky, but just artificial. Needs 10hm adapter to be...
• 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.
• Jaytiss: I prefer this with the adapter, but is fine without.
• Precogvision: Not to my taste - treble sounds slightly brittle and harsh - but plenty of resolution and clean presentation.
• Super* Review: My second 5 star IEM in 2024. The Braindance is a very satisfying IEM to listen to.
• Fresh Reviews: Some titles arguably A-
• Z-Reviews: 10/10 verdict out the gate: Dunu’s DK-3001 BD “BrainDance” is a $500 monster that punches like a flagship. The recipe is wild— 9 drivers total with the same dynamic driver from the...
• Head-Fi.org: 27 community members have rated the Dunu DK-3001 BD at an average of 4.6/5 on Head-Fi. Overall sentiment: Outstanding.
• Audio Amigo: Probably the most detailed and technical IEM around $500. You pay for the detail with a fatiguing, sharp treble presentation. Great accessories and looks. Impedance adapter mellows this out a LOT,...
• Paul Wasabii: Brain Dance delivers a highly refined, end to end tuning with top tier technical performance that feels genuinely top of the line at its price. A slightly lighter bass density and forward mids at...  Exceptional end to end technical performance with airy sub bass, super resolving mids, smooth extended treble and a spacious stage with precise imaging and layering.  Lighter bass density and forward, revealing mids mean it prefers higher volumes and can be a bit too intense with hot or aggressively mixed tracks.

TangZu Tian Peng

• Jays Audio: A cleaner more neutral Bajie with less bass and more treble energy. Clean, slightly vocal forward with some bite. Azla tips for more bass and treble energy/bite but can get shouty - Sancai Nobles for...
• Jaytiss: Packaging is fantastic, sound isn't...
• Web Search: The Tangzu Tian Peng offers a V-shaped sound profile that leans towards reference while maintaining musicality, with bass quality being notably source-dependent - it requires amplification to achieve...

Eminent Ears Ruby

• Jaytiss: SPARKLIE! super early
• Head-Fi.org: 8 community members have rated the Eminent Ears Ruby at an average of 4.3/5 on Head-Fi. Overall sentiment: Excellent.

Gaudio Clariden

• Crin: Somewhat reminiscent of a more mid-y Andromeda, though with extra wonkiness.
• Head-Fi.org: One community member has rated the Gaudio Clariden at an average of 5.0/5 on Head-Fi. Overall sentiment: Masterpiece.

CCA HYDRO

• Jays Audio: The best KZ so far, tuning swithces allow lots of options. Good tech, all-rounder sound with bass boost, but, KZ.
• Jaytiss: When this hits it's very fun. Insane value.
• Head-Fi.org: 2 community members have rated the CCA Hydro at an average of 4.5/5 on Head-Fi. Overall sentiment: Outstanding.

DUNU x KOTO ITO

• Jaytiss: It's a fun tuning that I think people will like.
• Web Search: DUNU x KOTO ITO is a $199.99 hybrid IEM built with Japanese reviewer Kaji Kaji (“Koto”). It uses a 2DD+2BA array (10 mm bio-diaphragm DD + 8 mm LCP DD, plus two treble BAs), comes with DUNU’s...
• Z-Reviews: Dunu’s collab with Japanese creator Kaji Kaji lands as the ITO , tuned nothing like the stereotype of “treble ’til you die.” The presentation leans smooth , warm , and open, with a notably...
• Head-Fi.org: 5 community members have rated the Dunu x Koto ITO at an average of 3.8/5 on Head-Fi. Overall sentiment: Strongly Favorable.
• Audio-In Reviews: The Dunu x Koto E2 is a bold $200 basshead set with powerful but controlled low-end and solid technical performance. Its strong bass focus and upper-mid energy make it better suited to listeners who...  Powerful, high-quality bass with good separation, natural overall tonality for a basshead tuning, strong imaging and soundstage, plus an excellent cable, case and tip selection for the price.  Bass quantity and elevated upper mids can overpower vocals for some listeners, and more balanced competitors still offer a more neutral tonality and slightly higher technical performance at this price.

Audio Hekili

• Precogvision: Slight U-shape for a wholly fun sound.
• Shuwa-T: Comment: Essentially a Lokahi with too much bass.  Balanced tuning  Bass region blooms into midrange
• Audionotions: Probably among the most overlooked IEMs I have had the pleasure of listening to. Built by hand using a very high quality 3D-printed shell with excellent QC (channel matching on these is amazing), the...
• Head-Fi.org: One community member has rated the Audio Hekili at an average of 5.0/5 on Head-Fi. Overall sentiment: Masterpiece.

Hidition Violet

• Crin: Strong sub-bass presence, slightly cut-back upper mids. A fun IEM through and through.
• Precogvision: The best BA bass that I have heard, otherwise marred by poor imaging and slight congestion issues.

Empire Ears Valkyrie Mk2

• Crin: Not too dissimilar to its predecessor.
• Head-Fi.org: One community member has rated the Empire Ears Valkyrie MKII at an average of 5.0/5 on Head-Fi. Overall sentiment: Masterpiece.

Fiio FH7S

• Jaytiss: Warm done well, but not good enough.
• Precogvision: Warm and gooey with some sparkle. Relatively pleasant overall.
• Super* Review: The FiiO FH7S comes in at around $400 and feels like a course correction after the troubled FH5s. Build is robust with an angular, all-metal shell and a handsome—if stiff —stock cable that...
• Head-Fi.org: 4 community members have rated the FiiO FH7S at an average of 4.5/5 on Head-Fi. Overall sentiment: Outstanding.

Jays Audio x ZiiGaat Estrella

• Jaytiss: Great soundstage,very V shapped, to those sensitive to those regions.
• Super* Review: 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.
• Web Search: 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...
• Fresh Reviews: B in Valorant, B- to C+ in Apex, C+ in COD
• Shuwa-T:  Solid pickup all rounder, tonality works for most genres with decent techs
• Z-Reviews: Ziigaat x Jays Audio Estrella is a 2DD + 4BA hybrid that dresses up nicely—sparkly shells, thick build to house those dual 10 mm PT “coaxial” dynamics , and clean two-pin sockets. The...
• Head-Fi.org: 21 community members have rated the Jays Audio x ZiiGaat Estrella at an average of 4.4/5 on Head-Fi. Overall sentiment: Excellent.
• Audio Amigo: Probably the most detailed and technical IEM around $300. You pay for the detail with a fatiguing, sharp treble presentation. Looks and sounds great, IF you can handle it. Accessories are a straight...
• Kois Archive: Rating: A+ | Value: ⭐⭐ | Gaming: 🎮🎮 | Comfort: 8  fun vshaped, great bass and treble  mids not the best
• Paul Wasabii: Estrella is a mod friendly hybrid that moves from bass heavy fun to a more balanced, expensive sounding signature once the sub bass is tamed with the micropore or tape mod. Technical performance is...  Very refined hybrid technicalities with natural no shout mids and resolution that makes the set feel more expensive than its price.  Stock tuning is overly sub bass heavy and even with the micropore or tape mod the upper treble can sound a bit bright and flatten the stage at higher volumes.

Ziigaat Doscinco

• Jays Audio: Benchmark bass set before the UP. Low-end is impactful, rumbly, heavy, and slams hard with reverb detail. Ideal for hiphop/rap/r&b/rock. Separation & resolution not the best around its price, but...
• Jaytiss: This is a mini Monarch MK 3, U shaped.
• Fresh Reviews: Can border B-
• Head-Fi.org: 5 community members have rated the ZIIGAAT Doscinco at an average of 3.8/5 on Head-Fi. Overall sentiment: Strongly Favorable.
• Audio Amigo: Super well executed V-Shaped IEM. Wonderful thick bass, good vocals, enough treble sparkle to balance things out. Lots of fun without sacrificing too much detail or tonality. Accessories are a...

DUNU EST 112

• Crin: Good tonality, though the treble extension is its big Achille's Heel.
• Jaytiss: Has some great things. Nice technicalies. But lacks in tonality.
• Super* Review: The DUNU EST 112 is a compact-yet-chunky tribrid at around $490 , pairing a 13.5 mm dynamic driver for low end with a BA mid and dual EST tweeters. The unboxing is generous: multiple tip...
• Head-Fi.org: 9 community members have rated the DUNU EST 112 at an average of 4.6/5 on Head-Fi. Overall sentiment: Outstanding.

qdc White Tiger

• Shuwa-T:  Midrange focused, niche tuning that does not sacrifice too much on clarity and ease of listening  Subbass roll off, has the softest presentation within the entire upper 25%

Dita Mecha

• Gizaudio Axel: Cohesive sound with great detail.  Great bass, vocal-focused, cohesive sound with excellent detail.
• Jaytiss: This is the best Dita iem that I've heard, I dig it. Big and Bold Sound
• Super* Review: Warm laid back and base-forward. competes with other IEMs in it's price range.

Empire Ears Legend X SE

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

Vision Ears VE7

• Crin: Fairly inoffensive tuning with solid technicalities.
• Precogvision: Very pleasant tonal balance for the astute midrange connoisseur and solid technicalities.
• Shuwa-T:  Atypical VE tuning that leans bright, detailed and resolving without being overly sparkly
• Head-Fi.org: 6 community members have rated the Vision Ears VE7 at an average of 4.4/5 on Head-Fi. Overall sentiment: Excellent.

Nicehck NX8

• Jays Audio: An Explorer with better vocals but doesn't scale as well. Odyssey and Arcadia better for clean and bass sound.
• Gizaudio Axel:  Great tonality, solid bass impact.  PZT timbre.
• Jaytiss: Nice overall tuning, best thing NiceHack has ever done.
• Shuwa-T:  Balanced frequencies throughout, no standout weaknesses and relatively safe tuning with decent technicalities
• Head-Fi.org: 10 community members have rated the Nicehck NX8 at an average of 4.2/5 on Head-Fi. Overall sentiment: Very Positive.
• Audio-In Reviews: Warm, bass boosted tuning with surprisingly textured and dynamic low end and smooth relaxed mids, but only average technical performance and slightly thin treble timbre keep it behind the strongest...  Excellent bass quality with strong dynamics, a warm smooth tonality, and generally easygoing tuning that many listeners will enjoy across a wide range of music.  Average technical performance and slightly brittle treble timbre leave it trailing behind several more refined and resolving competitors at this price.

Tekusai Lucid

• Jaytiss: Lacks contrast.
• Audio Amigo: Warm, fun, relaxing tuning while still keeping some nice detail retrieval. Engineered to work with higher impedance sources without much change. Good Accessories.

FATfreq x Effect Audio: Quantum

• Jays Audio: Bright and full sound, very detailed, sparkly, airy, tons of treble extenstion... but it gets fatiguing with the stock filters. Blue filter has the best balance but still doesn't scale too well. 300...
• Jaytiss: I don't want to like, but I love.
• Shuwa-T:  I struggle with this, perhaps it was insertion depth but that unconventional iem shape should never have been greenlit  Average bass, thin midrange, unbearably sibilant treble
• Head-Fi.org: 3 community members have rated the FATfreq x Effect Audio: Quantum at an average of 4.0/5 on Head-Fi. Overall sentiment: Very Positive.
• Audio Amigo: An interesting sort of Science Project IEM. FatFreq tried to extract as much Sub-bass power and texture while making an airy, detailed planar that isn't fatiguing. They succeeded, and with the Super...
• Kois Archive: Rating: A+ | Value: ⭐ | Gaming: 🎮🎮🎮 | Comfort: 4  very technical. wide. well tuned planar  grainy treble due to the air

Letshuore EJ07M Kinda Lava

• Precogvision: Basically the EJ07M with some adjustment to the bass for more clarity.
• Tim Tuned:  Balanced, Versatile. HBB's Best  Small EST (treble) incoherency
• Shuwa-T: Comment: My favourite out of the EJ lineup.  Excellent tonal balance, engaging midrange and somewhat pronounced treble  Driver flex is annoying though
• Nymz: Less sub, a hair more mid-bass 07m but well done. Keeps the techs and the other frequencies, adding warmth and bones to the mids and better clarity/coherency. I prefer it to stock 07m by a hair, but...
• Audionotions: One of the most solid all-rounders I've tried. Great bass, great mids, good treble extension. Very natural sounding. The only con I can think of is the bright red shells (my KL has the black shells)?...

Artti T10

• Z-Reviews: The Artti T10 is a 14.2 mm planar dressed in an unapologetically industrial shell—textured, raw, almost “1980s test-gear” chic. In the box: case and a solid cable with a 3.5 mm or 4.4 mm ...
• Head-Fi.org: 17 community members have rated the ARTTI T10 at an average of 4.3/5 on Head-Fi. Overall sentiment: Excellent.
• Audio Amigo: The best value planar on the market. Essentially a slightly less sparkly S12 for half the money. *Moves up to "You Should Buy This" if on sale for $50 or less*

Dunu Falcon Ultra

• Jaytiss: Bassy boy that lacks air and detail.
• Nymz: A better tuned FP, with less mid-bass bloat, but still warm. Good at what it does, especially the bass dynamics, but not an all-rounder.
• Audionotions: Like Kato but better. Accessory kit is top tier, build top notch, cable is excellent, included tips are plentiful. Bass is punchy with great texture, good clarity, smooth vocals, treble is nice but...
• Head-Fi.org: 19 community members have rated the DUNU Falcon Ultra at an average of 4.6/5 on Head-Fi. Overall sentiment: Outstanding.
• ATechReviews: Warm, mid-bass-focused single dynamic with lush, natural vocals, strong detail and an outstanding accessory pack when used with the blue nozzle. Average soundstage and the brass nozzle tuning can...  Rich, natural tonality with powerful yet detailed bass, lush vocals, great comfort and a generous, high-quality accessory pack.  Mid-bass warmth can feel heavy, soundstage remains intimate, and the brass nozzle option pushes vocals back and makes the overall signature too dark for some listeners.

Tanchjim Darling

• Crin: A tad shouty but with excellent imaging performance.
• Precogvision: Excellent imaging, but with too much shout and an uneven treble response.
• Shuwa-T:  Imaging is TOTL  Somewhat wonky upper midrange
• Head-Fi.org: 2 community members have rated the Tanchjim Darling at an average of 4.5/5 on Head-Fi. Overall sentiment: Outstanding.

TRI Starshine

• Crin: A good example of "too much of a good thing": treble extension. Sibilance issues abound, but otherwise fine.
• Head-Fi.org: 5 community members have rated the TRI Starshine at an average of 4.4/5 on Head-Fi. Overall sentiment: Excellent.

Empire Ears LEGEND-X

• Crin: High resolution hybrid flawed only by lack of control in the bass regions.
• Precogvision: Bass lacks texture, but a fairly holographic, "grand" presentation that is unique for a V-shaped response.
• Bad Guy Good Audio:  Bass, details,sparkle  Bass (too much for some genre) mids

Dita Prelude

• Jaytiss: Juicy, lovely.
• Web Search: The DITA Prelude aims for a mild V-shaped presentation that stays easy on the ear: bass has a gentle lift, mids stay clean, and treble adds air without harshness. DITA itself describes the Prelude as...

Fiio FX15

• Jaytiss: Unique tuning, but the switch would be better in the mids or bass.
• Precogvision: Odd recessions in frequency response lead to unique imaging but uncanny tonality.
• Head-Fi.org: 4 community members have rated the FIIO FX15 at an average of 3.8/5 on Head-Fi. Overall sentiment: Strongly Favorable.

Kiwi Ears ETUDE

• Jays Audio: Reverby, bouncy, and extended decay in the sub-bass. Unique bass play back and adds more texture to the low-end. Although reverb can bleed into the vocals - maybe the drivers work too well lol. A...
• Jaytiss: This is a unique sound, for neutral I prefere Airoso.
• Web Search: The Kiwi Ears Étude offers a distinctive listening experience centered around its Kiwi Vibration Transducer (KVT), which adds a subtle tactile sensation to bass frequencies. This isn’t a...
• Z-Reviews: The Kiwi Ears Étude comes in the usual Kiwi Ears packaging with the standard case and cable, but the shells themselves are ridiculously pretty — like layers of gold sand swirling in the ear...
• Head-Fi.org: 26 community members have rated the Kiwi Ears ETUDE at an average of 4.2/5 on Head-Fi. Overall sentiment: Very Positive.
• ATechReviews: Kiwi Ears Etude is a very unique and fun bone conduction experiment with strong physical bass impact and smooth treble, but the hollow mids and smeared imaging stop it from being a safe all round...  Unique, very noticeable bone conduction effect with fun punchy bass, smooth non fatiguing treble and strong value as an affordable way to experience this tech.  Hollow echoey mids and smeared imaging reduce separation and naturalness compared to more conventional 100 dollar IEMs.

Ziigaat Cincotres

• Jays Audio: Great bass texture, vocals, treble, solid all-rounder. Similar to Variations but with a smaller/delayed scoop, more mid-bass, but not as much treble/air. A fun bassy sound but still well-balanced....
• Jaytiss: This is a mini Monarch MK , V baby.
• Fresh Reviews: Can border B-
• Shuwa-T:  Very musical presentation with less aggressive vocals, treble is surprisingly good for such a relaxed tuning  Separation and less of a clear definition between the lower midrange and bass region
• Head-Fi.org: 3 community members have rated the ZIIGAAT Cincotres at an average of 4.0/5 on Head-Fi. Overall sentiment: Very Positive.
• Audio Amigo: A bassier, more fun take on a harman-ish signature. Lean, clean lower mids and sparkly treble make for a clean, lean sound with sub-woofer style bass. Acessories are a dissapointment.

Kinera Celest Relentless

• Jays Audio: Slight v-shape with good tech and detail, treble can be too much but has that sizzle and sparkliness some people will like.
• Gizaudio Axel: Foam tips improve the sound a lot.  V-shaped tuning, powerful bass, great technicalities.  Bright treble.
• Jaytiss: A fun V -Shape. Great upper mids.
• Head-Fi.org: 20 community members have rated the Kinera Celest Relentless at an average of 4.2/5 on Head-Fi. Overall sentiment: Very Positive.
• Paul Wasabii: Low-volume hybrid with clear, forward vocals and airy extension; becomes shouty and thin at moderate volume.  Clear forward vocals at low volume with airy upper treble that keeps the presentation extended.  Becomes shouty, thin and fatiguing at higher volumes, with limited sub-bass weight and modest resolution.
• ATechReviews: Celest Relentless combines powerful low end, very high detail and strong technical performance that feels above its price, but can sound bright for treble sensitive listeners. Recommended especially...  Excellent bass slam, very high detail retrieval and strong technical performance for the price with a soft high quality modular cable.  Treble can become spicy with silicone tips on bright or compressed tracks, soundstage depth is only average and very treble sensitive listeners or heavy metal and EDM fans may need foam tips or a smoother alternative.
• Audio-In Reviews: Celest Relentless delivers a fun, energetic and surprisingly technical v shaped tuning with strong slam, lively treble and immersive stage for the price. In return it trades some midrange naturalness...  Highly engaging and technical v shaped tuning with strong bass, lively extended treble and wide immersive stage for the price.  Bass bleed, recessed low mids and occasionally splashy, fatiguing treble make it less suitable for listeners who prefer a neutral or relaxed presentation.

KZ AM16

• Web Search: The KZ AM16 is an all-BA in-ear monitor using 8 BA drivers per side (16 total) and offered in two editions—Balanced and Bass-Enhanced. Independent listings and user reviews confirm the per-side...
• Paul Wasabii: A fun, bass-leaning all-BA tuning with relaxed treble and natural tonality. Technicalities are decent for $57 but need some volume to shine.  Engaging, thicker tuning with thumpy mid-bass, natural vocals, and minimal BA timbre for the price.  Relaxed upper treble and a 5 kHz dip reduce air and perceived clarity at low volumes; large shell may challenge smaller ears.

NF Acous NA20

• Web Search: The NF Acous NA20 is a single dynamic driver IEM built around the MC2L-100M unit with a beryllium-plated diaphragm and the brand’s SRA (Selective Reflection Adjustment) acoustic scheme that uses...
• Kois Archive: Rating: C+ | Gaming: 🎮🎮 | Comfort: 10  great bass and decent mids  nf audio treble peak strikes again
• Paul Wasabii: Low-volume-optimized single dynamic with a warmer, more musical tilt. Bass presence and clear vocal focus work well at moderate levels, but turning it up can sound thin/bright.  Coherent low-volume tuning with warm bass, clear vocals and a surprisingly open stage for a single dynamic driver.  Becomes thin and bright when played loud and is not ideal for heavy EQ or reference monitoring.

Hidition Waltz

• Crin: Neutral-fun signature that works both as a reference monitor and a rock-out IEM.
• Precogvision: Fun tuning with Hidition's mid-treble sparkle and none of the Viento's nasty resoance.
• Shuwa-T: Comment: Nothing too amazing, V-shape with recessed mids.  Energetic sounding

JUZEAR x Z Reviews Defiant

• Jays Audio: Another all-rounder with good balance. Doesn't do anything right or wrong, but has qc issues with channel imbalance (and also my case ziper broke within a few weeks), it's ok but there are better...
• 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.
• Jaytiss: Fun engaging set!
• Precogvision: Pleasant, neutral warm tuning with good treble extension that wholly belies its price point.
• Tim Tuned: The JUZEAR x Z Reviews Defiant executes on an old meta, IE 2020 tuning with a bass boost, and it does it exceptionally well. The bass is present but not overwhelming, and the treble is smooth and...  Great balanced tuning with a vocal emphasis
• Super* Review: Exciting and contrasty. Very well tuned. Sub-bass focused. Vocal area pretty well tuned. Treble surprisingly well tuned. Tasteful V-Shaped sound signature.
• Web Search: JUZEAR x Z Reviews Defiant is a budget hybrid with a 1DD+3BA configuration and a 3-way crossover, housed in precise 3D-printed shells—specs that are unusually complete around the ~$100 bracket ....
• Audionotions: Nicely balanced IEM with a tough of warmth. Very pleasantly tuned throughout. Relaxed and lush sounding. Good job Zeos!
• Head-Fi.org: 2 community members have rated the Juzear x Z Reviews DEFIANT at an average of 4.0/5 on Head-Fi. Overall sentiment: Very Positive.
• Audio Amigo: Explorer but Brighter, EM6L, but Warmer. A fantastic All-Rounder set with good technical performance, great accessories, and fantastic looks. Can potentially have pressure issues.
• Kois Archive: Rating: A | Value: ⭐⭐⭐ | Gaming: 🎮🎮 | Comfort: 9  just wow for $100  technicalities I guess
• Audio-In Reviews: Defiant delivers a mature, neutral-to-V-shaped tuning with clean, controlled bass and excellent build and accessories for $100. Technical performance and treble detail are good for the price but not...  Strong build and accessories, clean and controlled bass with a neutral-to-V tuning that feels closer to $200 sets.  Average technical performance and treble/detail resolution compared to the top performers at this price, with only modest soundstage and layering.

Kinera Hodur

• Head-Fi.org: 5 community members have rated the Kinera Hodur at an average of 4.4/5 on Head-Fi. Overall sentiment: Excellent.

Softears Turii

• Crin: Resolving and fairly well-tuned dynamic-driver IEM.
• Precogvision: One of the more technically proficient single-DDs on the market.

Fiio FH9

• Jaytiss: A different try on Reference.
• Precogvision: Pretty alright overall. Warm and reasonably well-balanced in the upper-midrange and lower-treble unlike some of Fiio's other IEMs.
• Head-Fi.org: 10 community members have rated the FiiO FH9 at an average of 4.4/5 on Head-Fi. Overall sentiment: Excellent.

Clariar i640

• Shuwa-T: Comment: BA set without the BA timbre.  Japanese tuning with subbass hump  The fit is absolutely ridiculous

EarAcoustic STA Pro Max

• Web Search: The EarAcoustic STA Pro Max is a dual-dynamic IEM using a 10 mm LCP diaphragm paired with a 6 mm titanium-plated dynamic driver (2DD). Retail listings also show basic specs of ~110 dB...
• Head-Fi.org: 4 community members have rated the EarAcoustic STA Pro Max at an average of 3.8/5 on Head-Fi. Overall sentiment: Strongly Favorable.
• Kois Archive: Rating: B+ | Value: ⭐⭐ | Gaming: 🎮🎮 | Comfort: 9  great warm tuning  oddities in the treble
• Paul Wasabii: STA Pro pushes upper mids/treble and loses the Pro Max's bassy fun and resolution. Go with the Pro Max.  Sturdy build with an attractive faceplate and a dual-DD concept at a more affordable price.  Brighter tuning masks the bass, with lower resolution and scaling that trails the Pro Max.

Faudio Dark Sky

• Precogvision: 5kHz runs slightly hot and technicalities aren't enough to push it above the single-DD competition.
• Shuwa-T: Comment: Expensive but not justified.  Bass-oriented, good treble extension  It's not great bass, treble is splashy yet not well defined
• Head-Fi.org: 5 community members have rated the FAudio Dark Sky at an average of 4.6/5 on Head-Fi. Overall sentiment: Outstanding.

Simgot x HBB EW300 HBB

• Audio Amigo: Most crowd-friendly Simgot Set. Great Sound. Slight Metallic Timbre. Recessed Mids.
• Paul Wasabii: EW300 HBB Edition subtly adds sub bass extension and treble energy, shifting the balance a half step away from the smoother original EW300. Still a solid and resolving variant, but not the most...  Slightly deeper sub bass extension and extra presence give the EW300 tuning more low end weight and sparkle while keeping a quick and tidy bass.  Lifted upper mids and treble around 5 to 7 kHz can make the tone and stage less relaxed than the original EW300 and may not suit sensitive listeners.

ZIIGAAT x HBB Arcadia

• Jays Audio: Niche/high volume set. Great scaling, warm, bassy, thick, comforting listen. A mini MEGA5EST Bass. Initmate and immersive experience. Not the most technical for the price, and vocals can be a bit too...
• Jaytiss: I don't get it, very dark. Lifeless.
• Fresh Reviews: C+ Apex, B to B- COD, B Val
• Head-Fi.org: 6 community members have rated the ZiiGaat x HBB: Arcadia at an average of 3.5/5 on Head-Fi. Overall sentiment: Generally Favorable.
• Audio Amigo: Baby Mega5Bass or KiwiEars Punch. Vocals are a little recessed and affected, but the treble does well to balance out the signature overall. Probably the best Basshead set at or under $200.
• Paul Wasabii: Bass-tilted hybrid with controlled sub-bass and mid-bass, full mids and relaxed treble; wide, diffuse stage but not for clean or treble-forward preferences. Scales with power and prefers neutral,...  Well-executed basshead tilt with controlled sub- and mid-bass, full mids and fatigue-free treble plus unusually wide, diffuse staging for a warm hybrid.  Not very resolving or fast, imaging is soft with limited stage height, and it can sound muddy on warm or low-power high-impedance sources.

Audeze Euclid

• Crin: Certainly far better tuned than its predecessors with the same excellent technicalities.
• Precogvision: Very detailed, but treble rolls-off which makes it hard to tell sometimes.
• Head-Fi.org: 5 community members have rated the Audeze Euclid at an average of 4.2/5 on Head-Fi. Overall sentiment: Very Positive.

Empire Ears Legend Evo

• Head-Fi.org: 5 community members have rated the Empire Ears Legend EVO at an average of 4.8/5 on Head-Fi. Overall sentiment: Exceptional.

Aful Performer 5

• Jays Audio: 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.
• Jaytiss: Still a king.
• Precogvision: Inoffensive other than being a bit too gritty and clacky in the treble.
• Tim Tuned:  Balanced tuning with fantastic treble extension  imaging could be better
• Fresh Reviews: Can sometimes reach B
• Shuwa-T: Comment: Neutral-warm with zero cut-backs on technical performance. Price defining..  Tonal balance, technical performance at price bracket  Subbass slightly sluggish on crowded tracks, more laid back in vocal presentation. Staging is questionable.
• Nymz: Great tonal balance and resolving power at the cost of intimate stage. Missing the last touch of refinement on timbre and coherency, but a solid rec nonetheless.
• ATechReviews: Strong subbass, detailed inoffensive treble and excellent imaging make the AFUL Performer 5 a very competitive midrange IEM, though softer midbass slam and slightly recessed vocals hold it back from...  Excellent subbass extension, smooth yet detailed treble, top tier imaging, very comfortable ergonomic shells, and an unusually good stock cable and case for this price.  Midbass slam and impact feel a little restrained, vocals sit a bit behind the mix, and there is no stock 4.4 mm balanced cable option.

Meze Alba

• Jaytiss: Aceptable, but not great value.
• Super* Review: Build Quality and Fit are stand out. Fantastic Fit. Sound-Wise very engaging. Cons: Little bit sharp and contrasty.
• Audio Amigo: Middle-ground tuning when compared to the rest of the $200 single DD Sets. Not as bright as Simgot, not as relaxed as Kato. Super small, comfy shells. Included Dongle DAC is nice.
• Audio-In Reviews: Meze Alba offers a refined mild V-shaped tuning with natural vocals, tasteful bass and engaging but controlled treble. Strong technical performance and build make it one of the most compelling...  Refined mild V-shaped tuning with natural vocals, strong technical performance and excellent overall balance for the price.  Stock cable tangles a bit and feels thin, and some listeners may want more bass weight or could find the lower treble slightly forward.

Apevoix Grit

• Jays Audio: A better tuned Anvil, but BCD doesn't do much, bassy all-rounder sound
• Head-Fi.org: 10 community members have rated the Apevoix Grit at an average of 4.7/5 on Head-Fi. Overall sentiment: Exceptional.
• Audio Amigo: Bassy, yet vocal forward tuning with subdued treble. Bone Conduction is more subtle, while still having the tonal affectation and buzzy, springy sounds of other, cheaper BC IEMs. Accessories are...
• Paul Wasabii: Vocal-focused tribrid with polite treble and a subtle bone-conduction effect; enjoyable tuning but not the most technical around $200. Keep volume moderate to retain natural timbre.  Well-judged vocal-centric tuning with restrained treble and fast, tidy bass.  Average technicalities and stage projection; bone conduction effect is subtle and can sound less natural at higher volumes.

Simgot EW300

• Jays Audio: A smoother and more refined version of the EW200 with better layering and resolution bump. Pink nozzle is warmer and better for rock/hiphop/metal. Very good piezo implementation.
• Web Search: The Simgot EW300 offers a compelling tribrid driver configuration combining a 10mm dynamic driver, 6mm planar magnetic driver, and piezoelectric ceramic driver in a durable all-metal shell. Fit can...
• Fresh Reviews: Simgot EW300 makes a strong case as a sub-$80 tribrid benchmark, bringing a more natural timbre , better layering , and a small bump in resolution over EW200. With the red 3.5 mm nozzles,...
• Head-Fi.org: 40 community members have rated the Simgot EW300 at an average of 4.4/5 on Head-Fi. Overall sentiment: Excellent.
• Kois Archive: Rating: B | Value: ⭐⭐ | Gaming: 🎮 | Comfort: 9  good bass and solid overall  mid and treble is not the best
• Paul Wasabii: EW300 DSP keeps the original EW300 safe, slightly bass boosted tuning while splitting the difference between the stock and HBB editions with only subtle changes in bass and treble. The USB C DSP...  Keeps the EW300 balanced, slightly bass boosted tuning with solid technical performance, a convenient USB C DSP cable and sleek matte black shells.  Subtle treble bump and DSP implementation move it a quarter step away from the original EW300 balance, and the analog version remains the safer choice for very treble sensitive listeners.
• ATechReviews: Warm neutral, bassy yet controlled tuning with excellent treble clarity and imaging makes the Simgot EW300 a very safe, non fatiguing all rounder that is competitive at its price but not as detailed...  Pleasing warm neutral tuning with fantastic sub bass, non fatiguing mids and treble, strong imaging and soundstage, and good comfort and accessories for the price.  Lower mids and male vocals can sound slightly thick, overall detail, air and imaging precision lag behind more technical rivals like EA500 LM, Titan S2 or Supermix 4, and the mirror finish is a fingerprint magnet.

Tin Hifi C3

Fearless Shangri-la

Dunu Falcon Pro

• Precogvision: Notes sound grand and dynamics are good, but clarity could use work.
• Head-Fi.org: 19 community members have rated the DUNU FALCON PRO at an average of 4.1/5 on Head-Fi. Overall sentiment: Very Positive.

Letshuoer S12

• Jays Audio: The most refined S12 to date. Smoothest treble out of all the S12, and very little Planar timbre while keeping up the great tech and detail.
• Jaytiss: I think the s12 is fine, the pro and z12 don't add too much value
• Tim Tuned:  Planar with the most "wow" factor. Spacious heead stage  Treble can be too much
• Fresh Reviews: Great package and some titles arguably A-
• Audionotions: Very energetic. Very detailed. Very bright. Noticeable recession in mids - it is V-shaped after all. Planar timbre is quite noticeable and can sometimes make this sound unnatural.
• Head-Fi.org: 23 community members have rated the Letshuoer S12 at an average of 4.5/5 on Head-Fi. Overall sentiment: Outstanding.

Sony XBA-N3

• Crin: Exceptional tonal balance only limited by its slightly smoothed over definition
• Precogvision: Sinfully addictive tuning hampered only by a slight lack of detail and imaging performance.
• Nymz: Tastefully done and now discontinued. Great coherency, timbre and overall tuning. Midbass bleeds a lot. Lacks resolution, layering and imaging chops.

Tangzu Zetian Wu Heyday

• Jays Audio: Clean and neutral with treble emphasis. Great technical performance. Airy and lively treble. Bass could use more impact and weight. Vocals are on the lighter side of things.
• Jaytiss: I can't really recomend this with other planars at much cheaper.
• Tim Tuned:  More detailed than original + better bass  treble can be smoother
• Shuwa-T: Comment: Imagine getting a 2 pin cable's polarity wrong, please Tangzu work on your QC.  Smooth midrange, meaty low with characteristic planar subbass extension, relatively smooth treble; detail retrieval is above average  Transition from midbass to lower mids isn't clear cut, not as clean. Doesn't sound special tbh.
• Nymz: Mid-range focused planar for those looking for a great planar set that is not V-shaped. Love it.
• Audionotions: Well-tuned, technical, does nothing wrong. Build quality is much better than OG Wu. Even the driver used is different. They should have renamed it instead of keeping the Wu Zetian name because it's...
• Head-Fi.org: 15 community members have rated the Tangzu Zetian Wu Heyday at an average of 4.5/5 on Head-Fi. Overall sentiment: Outstanding.

Tripowin Olina SE

• Shuwa-T: Comment: An improved Olina essentially.  Balanced tuning over the OG, with generally decent tech  Upper frequencies on the relaxaed side, B-grade bass

Vision Ears Elysium

• Crin: First decent implementation of Sonion's EST tweeters.
• Precogvision: The first "passable" implementation of the Sonion ESTs. Not particularly coherent, unfortunately.

Kinera Celest Yaksha

• Jaytiss: Great sonic Value, but has a few issues I'll talk of in the review.
• Web Search: The Kinera Celest Yaksha combines a 2DD+1BA+1 micro-planar driver setup with a four-way crossover, resulting in a coherent yet distinctly V-shaped sound. Bass emphasis leans toward the mid-bass,...
• Paul Wasabii: Lower-heavy tribrid with tricky fit; a deep seal is needed for the intended bass. Sub-bass is soft and masks the top end, making the presentation closed-in for the price.  Excellent stock cable and attractive shell with generous tip selection.  Shallow fit and sub-bass emphasis blur lows, mask treble, and close in the stage.
• Audio-In Reviews: Fun, warm and bright V shaped set with good vocal clarity and decent staging, but bass cleanliness, treble naturalness and overall technical performance are only average in a very competitive price...  Fun and engaging V shaped tuning with good vocal clarity, attractive shells, comfortable fit and a solid accessory pack for the price.  Mid bass is a bit pillowy with some bleed into the lower mids, treble can sound slightly unnatural, and several similarly priced sets offer better technical performance and more refined tuning.

64 Audio Fourte

• Precogvision: Tia Trio's older brother that takes things too far off the beaten path for tonality.
• Shuwa-T:  Smoothened sound compared to u12t and Trio  Tonality is very strange, even more wonky than Trio

Simgot EA1000

• Jays Audio: Bright-leaning with the best bass texture at its price point, and one of the best under $500. Incredible resolution and clarity with stunning female vocals. Timbre is as natural as you can get given...
• Jaytiss: The only Passive Radiator iem that doesn't make me want to vomit.
• Super* Review: Technical performance is pretty solid. Bright leaning V-Shaped signature, but tasteful.
• Fresh Reviews: Can go to a C+ in some titles
• Audio Amigo: A more vocal focused version of the Moondrop style Single DD Sound. Technicalicies are in-line with the rest of the $200 DD Class. Party piece is the amazing soundstage thanks to that passive...

Tanchjim Hana 2021

• Jays Audio: An Oxygen with more bass and note-weight but at the cost of slightly worse imaging and detail.
• Precogvision: Essentially a cheaper Tanchjim Oxygen.
• Tim Tuned:  Cheaper Oxygen with small cut back in details
• Shuwa-T: Comment: Better tuned upper midrange compared to the original Hana.  Decent tonality, difficult to fault  Can be somewhat aggressive sounding at times
• Nymz: A warmer, bassier, slightly less technical and a bit more V-shaped Oxygen. Rec'd for those that love harman but want more bass quantity.
• Bad Guy Good Audio:  Great bass (accurate) mids. One of the best 1/DD sets  Ghetto cable. Looks like girls jewelry
• Audionotions: Best single DD in this price tier - a step down in imaging and separation from Origin but it is a more fun to listen to given the bass shelf. Better fit than Origin too but YMMV.
• Head-Fi.org: 3 community members have rated the Tanchjim Hana 2021 at an average of 4.4/5 on Head-Fi. Overall sentiment: Excellent.

Moondrop KXXS

• Crin: Well-tuned single DD with proper timbre and decent technicalities.
• Precogvision: Excellent timbre; not the most resolving set, but very easy on the ears.

Thieaudio Excalibur

• Crin: Probably the weakest of the ThieAudio tribrids, but still great on its own.
• Precogvision: Better clarity than the Oracle and more dynamic than most of ThieAudio's IEMs at the expense of some shoutyness.
• Shuwa-T:  Decent tuning  Narrower sounding, not as holographic soundstage as Oracle

KBEar Aurora

• Head-Fi.org: 21 community members have rated the KBEAR Aurora at an average of 4.1/5 on Head-Fi. Overall sentiment: Very Positive.

KZ Saga Balanced

• Audio Amigo: KZs more mature next gen V-shaped tuning in a great all-metal shell. Fun all-rounder type of sound. Super premium feeling shells let down by KZs typical awful stock cable and woeful acessories...
• Kois Archive: Rating: B+ | Value: ⭐⭐⭐ | Comfort: 8  good well rounder. banger for the price  filter could cause imbalance

Oriolus Isabellae

• Jaytiss: Awesome shimmer, and cool unique sound.
• Precogvision: Midrange doesn't sound very DD-like; more along the lines of etched and gritty perhaps due to 11kHz peak in treble.
• Shuwa-T: Comment: Impressive sound from a single DD.  Warm and pleasing tuning, sweet coloured vocals  Treble peak may annoy some
• Audionotions: Beautifully sweet mids, good fun bass - maybe not the most resolving but sinfully enjoyable. Slight weirdness for some female vocals but other than that, it sounds great
• Head-Fi.org: 8 community members have rated the Oriolus Isabellae at an average of 4.3/5 on Head-Fi. Overall sentiment: Excellent.

Kbear KB02

• Jaytiss: Nice little banger of a set. Bone Conductor iem.
• Head-Fi.org: 11 community members have rated the KBear KB02 at an average of 4.0/5 on Head-Fi. Overall sentiment: Very Positive.
• Audio Amigo: Bone conduction on the cheap. Buzzy, springy tonalty that makes for fun bass, but carries a little too much tonal affectation. Like a baby Kinera Plutus Beast
• Kois Archive: Rating: B+ | Value: ⭐⭐⭐ | Gaming: 🎮 | Comfort: 9  fun bone conduction for bass  mids and treble not the best
• Paul Wasabii: Warm, bass-focused $40 set with clear, separated vocals and a relaxed treble; closer to an upgraded BL-03 than the bright BL-03 2. The bone conduction element seems to add fullness, while staging is...  Coherent warm tuning with strong sub-bass, clear vocals, and better-than-expected stage for the price.  Upper treble is relaxed with limited air, and unit variance around the 200 Hz dip plus the bone-conduction implementation may be inconsistent.

CCZ CZ10

• Web Search: The CCZ CZ10 (“TianGong”) is a budget hybrid IEM built around a 1DD+4BA array in a full zinc-alloy shell with 0.78 mm QDC 2-pin connectors. Street pricing hovers around $48–49, placing it...
• Paul Wasabii: Flashy 1DD+4BA with wide stage and strong perceived detail. Overboosted treble adds BA timbre and fatigue; EQ helps.  Solid all-metal build, wide stage and strong perceived detail for the price.  Upper-treble is overcooked, causing BA timbre and fatigue while the bass lacks weight without EQ.

Raptgo Hook-X

• Jaytiss: Cool concept. I love the presentation and the sound, just not the price.
• Precogvision: Sounds similar to the Timeless with a smoother sound, less detail, and better imaging (seems less congested).
• Tim Tuned:  Pleasing warm tuning  can be too relaxed
• Shuwa-T: Comment: Interesting take on open backed planar iem, currently leading the charge for planar iems < $500.  Well tuned, with very respectable technicalities to back up. More technicalities focused.  Some sound leakage from open-backed design, but not much. Somewhat fuzzy midrange.
• Nymz: A more analog but less resolving than S12/Timeless, yet better tuned. Stage is fine thanks to the semi-open design and better than its competition.
• Head-Fi.org: 9 community members have rated the Raptgo Hook-X at an average of 4.5/5 on Head-Fi. Overall sentiment: Outstanding.

Moondrop Kato

• Jays Audio: Good detail, clarity, and imaging, but can sound thin. Similar tuning as Hana, but I found Hana to have better note-weight and bass.
• Jaytiss: For $200, I'd probably recomend other iems. But it's solid.
• Precogvision: A slight improvement over the KXXS all-round in the technical department.
• Tim Tuned:  KXXS with better vocals and details
• Shuwa-T: Comment: Moondrop's best "budget" single DD iem.  Solid tuning, backed with surprising clarity that is a step up from the kxxs bunch  Lower mids thin sounding
• Nymz: A bit thin, pillow light bass. Treble and stage could use some more refinement. A tecnical upgrade to Aria.
• Audionotions: Decent bass, decent mids, vocals presented nicely (tastefully forward), treble is non-fatiguing but a little darker but maybe a bit weird. Sounds a little blunted to my ears. Fit may be an issue for...
• Head-Fi.org: 25 community members have rated the Moondrop Kato at an average of 4.2/5 on Head-Fi. Overall sentiment: Very Positive.
• Kois Archive: Rating: A- | Value: ⭐⭐ | Comfort: 9  nice female vocals  treble a little lacking

Tin Hifi P1 Max

• Jays Audio: Mid-centric, relaxing, warm, airy, comforting. Very unique listening experience. Could use better separation/resolution and bass slam.
• Precogvision: Probably the weak link out of the planar resurgence.
• Shuwa-T: Comment: A blank slate that can be EQ-ed to oblivion, even more so than timeless and s12.  The only neutral planar so far from planar wars, with much improved tonality and technicalities over its predecessors  Clarity from instrument separation lacks as a result of flatter fr

7hz Timeless

• Jays Audio: Great details. Good stage in front but lacking in wideness/3D. Imaging is good and speration is great, but uneven treble peaks. Planar timbre. Vocals and notes can be thin. Fatiguing at higher volume...
• Gizaudio Axel:  Clean, impactful bass, great detail, fast transients.  Upper mids are a bit intense, bright treble, planar timbre.
• Crin: Easily the best-tuned planar IEM by a country mile, the Timeless is also no slouch on the technical front.
• Precogvision: Has the planar advantage with most of its disadvantages and a reasonable tonality.
• Tim Tuned:  High details for the price, good fun tuning  Metallic timbre
• Shuwa-T: Comment: A superb planar IEM, beware the planar bass shelf.  The best tuned planar IEM  Narrow soundstage, mushy transients
• Nymz: Insanely resolving for price. Good planar timbre. Tuning is slight colored but doesn't seem to affect mids as much. Stage depth and width will be the weakest points. QC gamble on first batches. Get...
• Head-Fi.org: 31 community members have rated the 7hz Timeless at an average of 4.1/5 on Head-Fi. Overall sentiment: Very Positive.

Tanchjim Oxygen

• Crin: One of the best-tuned DDs tuned somewhat to Harman. Defined and detailed.
• Precogvision: A better KXXS with slightly out-of-head imaging.
• Tim Tuned:  Great energy for a harman signature
• Shuwa-T:  Solid tuning, a more mature sounding Hana  Forward upper midrange may not be for everyone
• Nymz: Great IEM for accoustics etc, but terrible fit. Tripowin Olina is the better option for almost a third of the price.

Pula Unicrom

• Jaytiss: Smooth, energetic, nice DD.
• Super* Review: Punchy, dynamic sound with satisfying bass and a high-res feel. Limited by edgy/sibilant treble that pushes it down the ranks.
• Web Search: The Pula Unicrom offers a distinctive visual appeal with its stabilized maple wood faceplates, ensuring no two pairs look identical, paired with lightweight resin shells that deliver exceptional...
• Z-Reviews: At $80 , the Pula Unicrom (aka “Unic”) is a 10 mm single dynamic IEM that keeps the box basic but surprises with a genuinely nice cable—tight weave, slick hardware, and a stealthy screw-on...
• Paul Wasabii: Warm, smooth single-DD with tight bass and very comfortable shells. Great value at the sale price, but the strong sub-bass masks presence and narrows stage.  Very comfortable lightweight shells with a pleasing warm, smooth tuning and tight bass response for the price.  Pronounced sub-bass shelf masks upper presence and air, reducing soundstage width and imaging precision—especially for gaming.
• Audio-In Reviews: Pula Unicrom is a mild V shaped, warm leaning single dynamic that offers natural mids, airy treble and very good build and comfort for the price. It falls just a step behind personal favorites like...  Natural, mildly V shaped tuning with engaging vocals, airy and extended treble, attractive stabilized wood design, comfortable small shells and a soft modular cable that feels premium for the price.  Midbass focused low end introduces some bleed into the mids, soundstage depth and overall technical performance stay only average, and there are rivals like Deli AE that still offer better control and refinement under 100 dollars.

AAW Canary

• Crin: Poor implementation of the EST driver. Decent in tonality and timbre, but that's about it.

Tanchjim Prism

• Precogvision: Somewhat tinny in the treble and generally anemic.
• Shuwa-T: Comment: Best release so far from Tanchjim.  Well tuned with good technicalities  Offers nothing special
• Head-Fi.org: One community member has rated the Tanchjim Prism at an average of 4.0/5 on Head-Fi. Overall sentiment: Very Positive.

64 Audio Fourte Blanc

• Precogvision: Quite detailed, but lots of uncanny valley in the midrange (sounds like singers are singing into a cup) and treble is contentiously bright.

Campfire Solaris

• Crin: Similar (but not identical) upper midrange problems to the original, with added sibilance.
• Precogvision: Holographic imaging and some of the worst DD bass that I've heard.

INAWAKEN DAWN Ms

• Jays Audio: An OG Delci with more sub-bass rumble, and vocals pop a little more. Nice warm bassy set.
• Jaytiss: A great pick at this price.
• Z-Reviews: INAWAKEN DAWN Ms shows up as a $50 budget brawler with surprisingly pretty shells and a detachable 2-pin cable that’s fine-but-basic. The clear back plate proudly exposes an 11.2 mm dynamic...
• Head-Fi.org: 6 community members have rated the INAWAKEN DAWN MS at an average of 4.4/5 on Head-Fi. Overall sentiment: Excellent.
• Audio Amigo: Beautiful looking V-Shaped IEM. Sounds like a more resolving Moondrop Chu. Excellent Entry-point IEM for complete beginners
• Paul Wasabii: Warm, timbre-focused single dynamic with a heavy bass shelf, thick mids and safe treble that suits listeners who prefer a smooth, relaxed presentation over sharp detail and big stage.  Warm, thick mid-forward tuning with safe treble, timbre emphasis and solid purple-themed build quality for the price.  Heavy bass shelf bleeds into the mids, technicalities and stage are only average, and the relaxed treble plus genre limitations make it a poor fit for bass-heavy or detail-focused listening.
• ATechReviews: Strong midrange clarity and sparkly treble with a meaty, powerful low end make the InAwaken Dawn engaging, but leaner vocals, highlighted highs, and bass quality behind Delci and EW300 keep it from...  Excellent midrange clarity and forward vocals, meaty bass with solid slam, and crisp, sparkly treble for listeners who enjoy an energetic, detailed presentation at moderate volumes.  Driver flex on both sides, a midrange that can sound lean and intense at higher volumes, more highlighted treble, and less textured bass than Delci and EW300 reduce its appeal as a relaxed, safe all rounder.

Truthear Pure

• Jays Audio: Warm/dark, laid-back, smooth, scales great like the Explorer but more vocal centric (great for male vocals). Immersive with scaling, but not the best value - Less technical than HEXA & Cinno. A...
• Gizaudio Axel: Warmer mids and less treble compared to the Hexa.  Warm, smooth, and laid-back with safe, easy treble.  Might feel a bit too warm for some.
• Jaytiss: Blunted, kinda mid, but very Listeneresk.
• Tim Tuned: Truthear Pure follows the beloved Hexa with a smarter twist on neutrality: a hybrid 1DD+3BA at $90 that keeps the sturdy 3D-printed shell, slightly chunkier but similarly comfortable. The...
• Super* Review: One of the best IEMs you can buy under 100 bucks. One of the best treble in this price range. Hexa is brighter and sounds more lively and more open. But both are very much neutral sets. It's a little...
• Web Search: The Truthear Pure builds on the foundation of its predecessor, the Hexa, refining the 1DD+3BA driver configuration for a more cohesive sound. It offers punchier bass and a more solid midrange...
• Z-Reviews: Truthear Pure brings a warm, bass-impactful presentation from its 1DD+3BA setup, but the rest feels like it’s under a blanket. There’s a noticeable 2 kHz hump , then the upper range ducks...
• Audionotions: The new warm neutral benchmark. Masterclass in a slightly warm tilted neutral. I always thought the Hexa would be an amazing IEM if the bass wasn't so bloomy and uncontrolled. The Pure fixes that and...
• Fox Told Me So: Truthear Pure can be seen as a side branch of the Hexa line, 'refining' its formula with higher sensitivity (124 dB / 14 Ω) and easier drivability. Bass is generous and weighty, hitting harder than...
• Head-Fi.org: 4 community members have rated the Truthear PURE at an average of 4.0/5 on Head-Fi. Overall sentiment: Very Positive.

Tripowin Olina

• Shuwa-T: Comment: A less refined Oxygen with aggressive upper midrange.  Tuned well, about 80% similar to the Oxygen at less than half the price  B-grade bass response like the Oxygen

Artti R3

• Head-Fi.org: 2 community members have rated the Artti R3 at an average of 4.0/5 on Head-Fi. Overall sentiment: Very Positive.
• Audio Amigo: Well executed V-Shaped IEM. Warmed-up mids, good treble sparkle. Recessed mids and a slight vocal forwardness. Nice carry pouch, good driver.

CCZ Harmony

• Web Search: The CCZ Harmony (BC01 Pro) is an entry-level hybrid using a 1DD+1BA configuration (10 mm PET dynamic + custom BA), rated 16 Ω/105 dB, and housed behind a zinc-alloy faceplate. Street pricing sits...
• Paul Wasabii: Heavy-bass 1+1 hybrid with pushed upper mids and a fatiguing ~5k peak; works best with EDM but lacks refinement and stage.  Huge bass with lifted vocals suits EDM and bass-centric tracks.  Overcooked upper mids/5k peak and bloated mid-bass cause fatigue with recessed mids and cramped stage.

Kinera Celest IgniteX Beast

• Jays Audio: All-rounder with good tech and imaging. Dynamic and engaging bass and treble. A less in your face EW200.
• Head-Fi.org: 22 community members have rated the Kinera Celest IgniteX Beast at an average of 4.3/5 on Head-Fi. Overall sentiment: Excellent.
• Audio Amigo: Gorgeous Hybrid with great resolution and detail. Can be a bit bright and fatiguing, Similar to EW200. Poor Acessories
• Kois Archive: Rating: B- | Value: ⭐ | Gaming: 🎮 | Comfort: 9  balanced sound. okay for the price.  lacks air. extremely boring. a bit shouty
• Paul Wasabii: Bass and treble focused hybrid with an engaging V shaped tuning that works very well for electronic music but leaves vocals recessed and keeps it from being a true all rounder.  Engaging V shaped tuning with deep sub bass and lively treble that suits electronic and energetic music, plus a comfortable isolating shell and a good selection of tips.  Recessed vocals, unconventional presence region and an average stock cable make this set less suitable for vocal centric music and weaker as a value choice than Celest CD20 dongle in the same ecosystem.

Thieaudio Legacy 4

• Crin: Well-tuned if technically lacking in comparison. Could use some more power in the bass.
• Precogvision: Good tonal balance, but can be fatiguing. Sounds like it's trying too hard.
• Shuwa-T: Comment: A decent iem that isn't too sterile.  Well tuned  Limited by technical performance

Moondrop Kanas Pro

• Crin: Somewhat Harman-esque in tuning, not the best in terms of resolution.
• Precogvision: A KXXS with less treble extension and slightly poorer resolution.

Moondrop Aria Snow Edition

• Head-Fi.org: One community member has rated the Moondrop Aria: Snow Edition at an average of 4.0/5 on Head-Fi. Overall sentiment: Very Positive.