Introduction: Elysian Acoustic Labs is no stranger to the world of high-end in-ear monitors and most if not all of their IEMs hold their own against the best IEMs available today. Diva 2023 and Gaea are IEMs that I enjoyed quite a bit and they both sit comfortably within the top 5 IEMs that I’ve heard to date. When the Pilgrim was announced, I was first intrigued by the name – my mind immediately conjured up an image of the black and white attired folk from England that sailed a wooden ship across the Atlantic in the 17th century to settle in...

Introduction: Kinera Celest is a brand that has been around for quite a while and their IEMs have have always maintained an aura of intrigue. And despite the brand not being as widely known as other brands like Moondrop, fans of their Kinera and Kinera Celest IEMs have seemed to like them quite a bit. The Phoenixcall is the first of their IEMs that I have been able to listen to and going into this, I had very little to go off of as far as what to expect other than pictures and description of the driver config which had me interested. Disclaimer...

WHO THIS IS FOR: Those looking for a very well balanced earbud with good detail retrieval Anyone looking to see what earbuds are capable of these days without breaking the bank Those looking for an open sound Timbreheads Anyone who finds IEMs too isolating WHO THIS ISN’T FOR: Bassheads Those who spend most of their time in noisy environments and need isolation Those who are adverse to a brighter tuning Build, Fit, Accessories: What’s in the box: In typical Dunu fashion, you can expect a quality kit. Dunu’s new case (which is also found with...

Introduction: If you’ve dabbled in this hobby anytime over the past couple years, two names that you are most likely very familiar with are LetShuoer and Gizaudio. LetShuoer is the brand behind the critically acclaimed S12 Planar IEM and the EJ07 lineup, among other less known in ear monitors, and Gizaudio is the brainchild of Timmy Vangtan, one of the most well loved and respected reviewers in the portable audio world. In conjunction with LetShuoer, the Galileo, a one dynamic driver, and one balanced armature driver hybrid is Timmy’s first IEM...

Introduction: AFUL is a company that has been making waves in China for a while, only recently entering the global market with the Performer5 last year. While I haven't personally heard it, the P5 made a big splash on release (for better or for worse) and since then has asserted itself as an excellent choice at the $200 price point. With the Performer8, AFUL seeks to improve upon their previous success, but how does it stack up? Disclaimer: Many thanks to AFUL for making this review possible! While I was offered a discounted unit, I was not...

Introduction: AFUL is a company that has been making waves in China for a while, only recently entering the global market with the Performer5 last year. While I haven't personally heard it, the P5 made a big splash on release (for better or for worse) and since then has asserted itself as an excellent choice at the $200 price point. With the Performer8, AFUL seeks to improve upon their previous success, but how does it stack up? Disclaimer: Many thanks to AFUL for making this review possible! While I was offered a discounted unit, I was not...

Intro In recent months, the budget segment of the IEM (in-ear monitor) market has become a hotbed of activity with new “Aria-killers” popping up almost every week. The cost of entry into this hobby has never been lower, and the sheer number of options available to consumers has never been greater. With this increased competition, IEM manufacturers are racing to produce better-tuned IEMs at lower prices, providing consumers with a seemingly endless selection to choose from. However, for those looking for a step-up in quality without venturing into...

WHO THIS IS FOR: Those looking for a very engaging IEM to get lost in the music with Those looking for a very well executed U-shaped IEM Those looking for a set with some very satisfying bass while not being too much for basslets! Those looking looking for something different from the endless stream of Harman and neutral-with bass-boost IEMs that have flooded the market Honestly, anyone with $300 dollars to spend on an IEM WHO THIS ISN’T FOR: Those who prefer very forward mids Those who prefer a more intimate listen Those looking for an...

Disclaimer: I purchased this unit from Hifigo with a discount in exchange for my honest review. These thoughts are my own! Come read the rest of my reviews at www.audionotions.com! WHO THIS UNIT IS FOR: Those looking for a very smooth and laid-back listen Fans of the SA6 looking for an upgrade and who weren’t able to buy the Ultra. Those looking for a set with fantastic techs Those who are looking for an expansive stage and presentation Those looking for one of the best all-rounders available! WHO THIS UNIT ISN’T FOR Timbre-heads Those who...

Disclaimer - I bought these with my own hard-earned cash. These thoughts are my own - I promise no one has a gun to my head forcing me to write this. Also thanks to @o0genesis0o for introducing this set to me. I bought these on his recommendation! Build - Probably among the best-built IEMs I've tried, let alone at the modest price of 79$. This is not surprising, considering they share the exact same metal shell as the $320 Fiio FA7S! That said, the included cable is nothing to write home about - it is a cable. And the accessories included? Well...

Disclaimer - I bought these with my own hard-earned cash. These thoughts are my own - I promise no one has a gun to my head forcing me to write this. Build - Slick black, fully metal shells. They feel like a solid improvement over the original Wu Zetian, which had a plastic shell fitted with a metal faceplate. The Heyday feels markedly more premium, whereas the original felt cheap and had sharp edges where the metal faceplate met the plastic shells. Even the driver used is different as far as I know! Sound - When one thinks of planar IEMs, chances...