Why do I smell a bit of hyperbole? Will have to take these claims with a whole dash of salt. I've had $300-ish IEMs, and not one "devastates" even a $200 full-size in any way, let alone "every way." Maybe you didn't get the best matching DAC and amp to go along with your Sundara. I certainly felt mine was lacking until I gave it the right kind and amount of juice. Listening to anything that has big bass transients, every IEM sounds "cute" to my ears. It's not even close in terms of sense of engagement and immersion. With vocals, I sometimes may prefer a good IEM's presentation, but that's an exception, and I'd have to be in the right mood and in the right setting for it. I think I cried once sitting in a bus, because the music and my mood just juxtaposed beautifully somehow.
The old myth that is "IEMs generally have more details than full size" is still well and alive, I see. -smh-
Its no myth, but no fact either.
Sure my Elysian Annihilator blows the Sundara out of the water in every aspect but with such a price gulf it'd better.
Regarding dynamics, I do understand what you're saying which is actually why I got a proper pair of bookshelf studio monitors.
Now THOSE make headphones sound cute.
Imo, iems let you hear details better due to their more focused presentation but at the cost of expansiveness.
Headphones are wider but honestly speaking, they don't rumble like iems do. Its generally a more diffuse feeling to the bass.
Now when you get to speakers, it's a whole different ball game. Yes it's not as micro detailed as iems and headphones can be but it's detailed in a different way. The way the soundstage is expanded gives it far better layering that allows you to pick out each instrument better. On the flip side, the more diffuse presentation doesn't allow texture to come though as readily as in iems and headphones.
But the one thing unique to speakers is the feel of the sound. No iem/headphone I've listened to gives the sense of weight and power to grand orchestral pieces like speakers can.
Pricing of course is another matter. Iems are getting more and more competitive nowadays whereas headphones are a slower market, speakers doubly so. So as of the current state of the market, you can definitely find better bang for buck in iems.
Granted I have had the opportunity to test the best each category has to offer so your opinions may differ depending on which specific setup you're listening to. As you should know in this hobby, just being more expensive does not mean its better.
