Deal on Cheap Highly Reviewed IEM +
What is a deal anyway?
A few days ago I posted a link to a site that
reviews budget Chinese IEMs and had created a ratings chart (sortable by rating score).
On my previous post I linked to some UiiSii Hi-805 phones that were highly rated in the chart and were then available for $6 shipped on Amazon (since sold out but available elsewhere for $20). To my ears they sound great, easily beating many IEMs that cost me $60-$150. They seem to me to be surprisingly well built, and fit well. I did have to use different tips than those included.
Possible bargain: Amazon through the original manufacturer has
SEAF AWF-0009 selling for $9.81 which the chart rated significantly higher than the UiiSii Hi-805 I like so much. The SEAFs are about $15 shipped on eBay and the Chinese sites where you wait a month to receive them. So, a deal probably...but mine will arrive in a few days and I have not heard them yet.
BUT, after liking the UssSii Hi-805 so much some cognitive dissonance ensued.
How can $10 IEM's sound so good? And, is 70% off an expensive but mediocre phone a better deal they paying list price for a $20 phone that sounds better?
Sean Olive, of Harman
posts a chart they created testing IEMs comparing sound quality to price. They found NO correlation (in fact, there was a slight negative correlation).
Link to an interview that discusses it (IEM discussion starts at about 40 minutes)
Discussion could go way off topic...including the impact of expectations on our evaluations/ double blind testing etc.) But the lesson for me is that when I look for a deal on excellent sound, do not dismiss all cheap IEMs and do not focus exclusively on discount percentage.