/iemg/ Recommends

/iemg/ Recommendations guide

In this quick guide we have listed a couple of good iems, tips and cables that are recommended by /iemg/.

>Index
-Short explanation about sound, driver types, and basic things to note when buying iems
-Hall of Fame for iems
-Honorable mentions
-Eartips
-Cables
-Cases


>Terms used to describe sound
https://www.head-fi.org/articles/describing-sound-a-glossary.12328/
*A bass boost is recommended for use in loud environments such as on a airplane or for stage use, as loud background noise reduces the perception of bass.
*A treble boost or strong bass boost may be fatiguing for longer listening sessions, this also depends on your treble sensitivity.

>Driver types
Dynamic drivers, from here on out referred to as DD.
Balanced armatures, from here on out referred to as BA.
Electret drivers, from here on out referred to as EST.
Planar magnetic drivers.
Electrostatic drivers.

!!!   Important things to consider when buying an iem:   !!!
- Wide Nozzle iems (5.5mm and above) may be uncomfortable to those with smaller ears.
- Metal shelled iems are more prone to water (humidity or sweat) damage, so you should always store metal shelled iems in a case with one or more silica packets. This is especially important if the iem also uses a balanced armature or uses certain dampers that absorb water.


>Hall of Fame iems
	• QKZ VK4 $15
The QKZ VK4 is a balanced somewhat v-shaped iem, they use 1DD and have below average isolation but comfort is good for a lot of people. Some have problems with a single peak in the upper treble around 8kHz, but with some simple EQ this can be fixed. Some say these have quality control issues, but many have bought one or multiple sets without issues. They use standard 2-pin connectors for the cable.

	• Blon BL03 $25~40
The Blon BL03 are v-shaped with somewhat relaxed but sometimes spiky treble, use 1DD and have below average isolation and comfort. The treble timbre can be a tiny bit dry but other than that very natural sounding. They use 2-pin (TFZ not QDC if you want the shielding) connectors for the cable, 5mm nozzle. Replacing the cables and tips is highly recommended as the fit with the stock cable and tips isn't good for most people. You may also want to use an o-ring (like one meant to dampen a mechanical keyboard) to increase the insertion depth of your tips, to do this you would place an o-ring on the nozzle of the iem before putting on the tips. A mod you can do to increase the clarity of the BL03 is replace the mesh filters, you'll need a 4mm "Earphone Dust Network Mesh Filter" which can be bought here: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/33040223675.html

	• Moondrop Aria $80
The Moondrop Aria are Harman neutral, use 1DD, have average isolation. A cheaper but almost identical iem to the Moondrop Starfield, which itself is a cheaper but almost identical iem to the KXXS. They use 2-pin connectors for the cable.

	• Etymotics ER2SE $80-120
The Etymotic ER2SE are flat/neutral, use 1DD and have high isolation. They use proprietary mmcx connectors for the cable, 3.5mm nozzle. Some people may find the fit on Etymotic iems uncomfortable.

	• Etymotics ER2XR $80-120
The Etymotic ER2XR are Balanced or Bass-boosted Neutral depending on your perception of neutral bass tuning, use 1DD and have high isolation. They use proprietary mmcx connectors for the cable, 3.5mm nozzle. Some people may find the fit on Etymotic iems uncomfortable.

	• FiiO FH3 $140
The FiiO FH3 can be described as v-shaped or w-shaped, use 1DD + 2BA’s and have above average isolation. They use mmcx connectors for the cable.

	• SeeAudio Yume $170
The SeeAudio Yume are neutral, use 1DD + 2BA’s and have average isolation. They use 2-pin connectors for the cable.

	• Moondrop Blessing 2 $320
The Moondrop Blessing 2 are neutral, use 1DD + 4BA's, have above average isolation. They use 2-pin connectors for the cable, 5.5mm nozzle.

	• Moondrop Blessing 2 Dusk $350
The Moondrop Blessing 2 Dusk are bass boosted neutral, use 1DD + 4BA's, have above average isolation. They use 2-pin connectors for the cable, 5.5mm nozzle.


>Honorable mentions
	• RevoNext QT2S $25~50
The RevoNext QT2S are V-shaped with lots of bass, use 2DD's + 1BA, have average isolation. They use 2-pin connectors for the cable, 5.5mm nozzle. These have known quality control issues like drivers giving out quickly.

	• Tin Audio T2 $30~50
The Tin T2 are neutral/balanced sounding with little to no bass, use dual DD's, have average to above average isolation and have a natural timbre. They used to be in the HoF, but with all the new stuff there’s better options available than these for most people. Some may perceive the treble as a little too bright, foam tips should help with this. They use mmcx connectors for the cable, 5.5/6mm nozzle.

	• CCA C12 and KZ ZSX $35~60
The CCA C12 and KZ ZSX are V-shaped, use 1DD + 5BA's, have average isolation. They use 2-pin connectors for the cable.

	• Final Audio E2000 $40~60
The Final Audio E2000 are balanced, laid back and natural sounding with strong, clean bass with slight sub-bass roll-off. They use 1DD and have average isolation. the cable is non-removable. These come with one pair of all five sized of Final type E tips.

	• Final Audio E3000 $45~65
The Final Audio E3000 are a warmer bassier E2000, use 1DD and have average isolation. The cable is non-removable. These come with one pair of all five sized of Final type E tips.

	• Tin Audio T2 Plus $50
The Tin T2 Plus have a warm v-shape, use 1DD and have average isolation. Some have problems with the treble being too sharp on these. They use mmcx connectors for the cable.

	• Taobao ER4 Clones $60~80
These are clones of the ER4B/S/P which are bright neutral, neutral and neutral with relaxed treble respectively. They all use 1BA and have very high isolation. Mainly an alternative to the ER2SE for those outside of the US who can’t get them for a decent price.

	• Tanchjim Oxygen $270
The Tanchjim Oxygen are about Harman tuned, they use a 1DD. They are very close in price and sound signature to the B2 Dusk, B2 Dusks are better at a lot of stuff but Oxygens have better imaging.

	• Tanchjim Darling $420
The Tanchjim Darlings are bass boosted neutral, they use 1DD and 2BA's. They might be a step up from the MoonDrop Blessing 2. They have very good imaging, but they are also more expensive than the B2 and have a larger pinna gain boost (3kHz boost) which may lead to some people finding them too shouty.


>Basics of eartips
Supported tube diameter width, the width of the sound tube of the iem that these tips fit onto. You can often squeeze tips meant for smaller size tubes over slightly larger ones, the other way around they will just fall off the tube when pulled out of your ear.
Silicone tips, often lower isolation than foam or hybrid, but you can wash these to keep them clean and they will probably last for years if cared for properly.
TPE tips, like silicone but take on the shape of your ear canals when they warm up by coming in contact with your skin.
Foam, foam tips have better isolation, but lower longevity than silicone tips.
Foam silicone hybrid tips, tips with silicone on the outside and foam on the inside, high isolation and better durability than plain foam.
*some good websites to look for earphone tips you can't find in local stores/local websites are amazon.co.jp; mtmtaudio.com; aliexpress.com; linsoul.com

>Recommended eartips
 • Below $5 per pair
- Foam
	Anjirui 20 Pair Pack
	Tennmak Ultra Strong
- Silicone
	Tennmak Whirlwind
	Reversed KZ Starline	(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ak4T0mfP_UY)
	Sony Hybrid
	Misodiko S270D/S210T
- Hybrid
	Misodiko Mix460

 • Above $5 per pair
- Foam
	Comply Tx series
- Silicone
	JVC Spiral Dots
	Azla Sedna Earfit
	Spinfit CP800/CP100/CP145/CP155
	Final E Type
	Klipsch double flange
	Spinfit CP220/CP240
- Hybrid
	Symbio W/Wa/Wn
	Sony triple comfort
- TPE
	Azla Xelastc


>Terms used to describe cables
Connectors:
2-pin, a connector type using 2 pins with a 0.78mm gap between the pins. Often seen as more durable.
MMCX, a connector type using a coaxial connector that snaps into the female connector on the iems. Rated for up to 500 pairing cycles but may last longer, often seen as less durable.
Plugs:
3.5 unbalanced, the plug used to plug into common headphone jacks.
2.5 balanced, the plug used to plug into 2.5 balanced out that some pmp's and dacs/apms use.
4.4 balanced, the plug used to plug into 4.4 balanced out that some pmp's and dacs/apms use.
* Recommended brands and places to buy
Yinyoo, NiceHCK, Kbear, Tripowin and Kinboofi make very good budget cables, have a look at their aliexpress stores yourself if you don’t like any of the cables listed below.
Aliexpress is the best place to get cables since the price is by far the lowest for the exact same cable, if you need it quickly you can also order Yinyoo, Kinboofi and Tripowin from Amazon.

>Recommended cables
 • Under around $5
KBEar 4 core	https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000272626428.html
 • Under around $10
NiceHCK 8 Core	https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32971728152.html
 • Under around $20
FAAEAL 4 Core	https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000400771561.html
Kbear 16 Core	https://www.aliexpress.com/item/33045414046.html
 • Under around $30
Tripowin C8 	https://www.aliexpress.com/item/33038475232.html
 • Under around $50
EAC RS 4-core	https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000413868760.html
EAC 6N 4-core	https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000009633191.html


>Iem cases
-Pelicase 1010 micro, durable case.
The case is able to be submerged under 1 meter of water for up to 30 minutes in accordance with IP67 testing parameters and is Watertight, crushproof, and dustproof.
-Campfire Audio Leather/Canvas case, nice looking case.
-Etymotic ER38-65-4SX Deluxe Zippered Pouch, useful case.
The case features Three interior pockets; two interior zippered pockets.