I did notice they do well with lots of volume. I suspect they would respond well to a balanced source.

Pleasant surprise of the day is the KZ EDX Pro X. The fact that you can get an IEM like this for less than 10 bucks is a bit crazy.

Been spending more time with the Hydro. It's still a "it's just okay". Someone somewhere will probably love this IEM, but it has a lot of energy up top and in the mid-bass with sorta scooped mids. I'm also not finding the tech aspects of it very impressive, it's pretty average for the price imo...

Kinda measures similar to the Audiosense T800

I'm gonna need a bigger IEM box soon 😅

Threw the PR1 Pros in just to compare against some of the other stuff I've been listening to lately. Jesus, talk about bright.

CCA Hydro is in. First impressions are... It's fine? Idk. Bass is kinda sloppy, highs are kinda tizzy. Mids are okay. I'd say there's better IEMs for the same price. The upgraded cable is super nice though.

Been listening to stuff other than my usual daily driver, the Audiosense T800. Namely the EPZ K5 and Soundrhyme SR5. I decided to give the T800s a listen after a few days spent with the hybrids and man. What a special IEM. It's going for $200 on AliExpress these days, and while that segment is...

SR5 is quickly growing on me... I see why this IEM made such a big blip on the ChiFi radar last year.

There's a big consolidation/distribution centre there. A lot of stuff coming from China goes there before it gets sent to North America.

Quick comparison between SR5 and K5: Very similar signatures, but SR5 is more sub bass focused while the K5 has more mid bass thump. K5 has more articulate bass but SR5 seems to dig deeper. K5 and SR5 mids are very similar but the K5 has more natural timbre. I'm picking up BA timbre on the...

Hmm that's disappointing

The original P1 Max was criminally underrated. It was a great IEM and I wish I hadn't sold mine. If this V2 captures the same magic of the original it should be a banger.

Take those things to an electronics recycler lmao

That was me haha. Glad to hear someone here managed to snag it!

Supermix will apparently be $150ish

There's a seller on AliExpress selling the Juzear Flame (pretty much the same IEM as the 41t) for like $80 less than everyone else so I obviously had to pick that up. Also snagged the KZ Merga for $7, those stacked DDs piqued my interest. I'm gonna have to actually start writing reviews...

Huh sorry you've had such a bad experience. I've ordered probably hundreds of things from AliExpress at this point and have never had a single issue. They have pretty good buyer protection at least.

Kinda reminds me of the Audiosense DT600 with better treble extension and channel matching

This happens to me when I order from AliExpress sometimes, except they get bottlenecked in a distribution centre in Northern Europe before getting sent to North America. They'll sometimes sit at that centre for weeks. It's irritating. If they don't get stuck there they make it in like 1-2 weeks...

Has anyone measured the Tiranderhe Tiandirenhe (I hate spelling this word and I 100% got it wrong the first time) TD20? I have one on the way and the manufacturer provided graph looks pretty good but I'm curious how it actually measures.

I was able to procure a Sound Rhyme SR5 for a good price (thanks ToneDeafMonk) so I'll be able to compare between the SR5, EPZ K5, TRN ST7, CKLVX D41, and CCA Hydro. I know some of them are kinda old now and not "discoveries" perse, but, battle of the budget hybrids?

Impulse ordered a bunch of stuff the last 2 days. I come and go from the hobby so it's time for my yearly update lol. Just excited to see how KZ has improved, seems they're becoming a really respectable IEM maker. Also heard good things about the D41 so looking forward to that. Anyway, the list...

Just needs an overpriced cable and he'll be good to go. Endgame stuff right there.

This kind of tuning with a replaceable cable for like 6 bucks is insane.