[jmwant]

What would be the least expensive set-up that you could truly live with? Now I’m not asking for exactly your preferred set-up, but the minimum you could possibly get by with?

Here is mine.


Shanling UA3 Dongle $109.00
7Hz Salnotes Zero IEM $19.99............maybe?

Or

Dunu Vulkan IEM $379.99
Shanling UA3 Dongle $109.00..........probably.

+old phone $Free

The minimum I could possibly live with.

Apple Dongle and Blon Bl03

 

[Surf Monkey]

Rebranded Penon Tail in purple?

PMD-70 Fever Portable Lossless HIFI Decoding Small Tail Typec

https://a.aliexpress.com/_mrM90Wc

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

So the similarly priced Simgot EW200 vs the Salnotes OG Zero.

I get how folks could like it (OG Zero), based on it's clarity, wide soundstage, and above average for budget imaging, but A/B'ing between these and the EW200, we're talking higher resolution, better detail retrieval, better midbass (now, it's not a huge difference, and actually, it's a tad more midbass, so just a bit more bass weight, but not by much), more transparency in the spaces and more air and weighty timbre in the highs with the EW200. Stage is no slouch, though it isn't as 3D as the Zero, but overall, the Zero is for someone who isn't fixated on midbass, who wants as safe a signature as possible. It's like ordering a shirley temple, and being satisfied with that safeness, vs the EW200, which is a well prepared/mixed Margarita.

Winner : Simgot EW200. It's probably the best budget DD IEM (under $100) I've heard?

 

[Ace Bee]

The cheapest setup that I can live with is Oriveti OD100 and... Nothing!

Truly, nothing. I use the OD100 straight outta my phone and absolutely love the output. I love them so much for the totally hassle-free yet wonderful sound, that lately I've been reaching for them 75% of the time, even though the OD200 and the OH700VB are on hand as well!

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

The cheapest setup that I can live with is Oriveti OD100 and... Nothing!

Truly, nothing. I use the OD100 straight outta my phone and absolutely love the output. I love them so much for the totally hassle-free yet wonderful sound, that lately I've been reaching for them 75% of the time, even though the OD200 and the OH700VB are on hand as well!

I've been enjoying the OD200 as well. Enchantingly musical.

 

[Leonarfd]

New BT dongle from HIBY

 

[bixby]

Working on the impressions of Neo5 made me bring out the ancient Aria 2021 for comparison. Anyone has a strong nostalgia seeing the Aria? Remember that waifu black box? Remember how every reviewers and their grandmas gushed over these IEM? Remember horror stories about paint chipping? These were my second IEMs ever. Despite all nitpicking, it was such a nicely tuned single DD IEM.

Now that I take these out for A/B again, it suddenly dawns on me: maybe the “industry” has not progressed as far as I imagined.

Arias, remind me of body surfing at the beach and getting a crotch full of sand.

 

[PROblemdetected]

Working on the impressions of Neo5 made me bring out the ancient Aria 2021 for comparison. Anyone has a strong nostalgia seeing the Aria? Remember that waifu black box? Remember how every reviewers and their grandmas gushed over these IEM? Remember horror stories about paint chipping? These were my second IEMs ever. Despite all nitpicking, it was such a nicely tuned single DD IEM.

Now that I take these out for A/B again, it suddenly dawns on me: maybe the “industry” has not progressed as far as I imagined.

I still having my KANAS PRO at home.

Not need new dynamics from MOONDROP since then.

 

[o0genesis0o]

New BT dongle from HIBY

With all the photos of the graffiti, hiby forgot one important photo: THE CONNECTORS AT THE TOP. Is this dongle balanced or not

I still having my KANAS PRO at home.

Not need new dynamics from MOONDROP since then.

I suddenly remember one thing: I want a Moondrop KATO.

It’s so nostalgic to feel hyped about something from Moondrop. I wonder when Crinacle’s Blessing 3 would drop. I might blind buy it. The B3 has a good foundation, just needs a retune.

 

[chickenmoon]

I guess I could live with the V40 and JD7 and be happy if had to.

 

[PROblemdetected]

I suddenly remember one thing: I want a Moondrop KATO.

It’s so nostalgic to feel hyped about something from Moondrop. I wonder when Crinacle’s Blessing 3 would drop. I might blind buy it. The B3 has a good foundation, just needs a retune.

I heard the KATO, yeah its cleaner, but the KANAS is the most analogue sound MOONDROP ever made (I never tried the S8)

About dusk version... just add some db from subbass to 100k. Enjoy

 

[o0genesis0o]

I heard the KATO, yeah its cleaner, but the KANAS is the most analogue sound MOONDROP ever made (I never tried the S8)

About dusk version... just add some db from subbass to 100k. Enjoy

Just tune B3 to 10dB target and keeps the good technical performance alone, I would be happy. The B3 is pretty sharp at 3kHz as well. Moondrop is going more and more towards etymotic with bass boost, it seems.

 

[PeacockObscura]

For those interested in the Sonic Memory SW2
A comment on the SW2 is they made an error supplying 3.5mn single end cable these tiny iems need power to perform after switching to 4.4mm balanced using the Shanling M6 Ultra on high gain at 40 or the Hiby R8 in turbo mode high gain volume set at 62 the bass deepens and warms up , improving dynamics, the imaging improves the resolution is more apparent the mids thicken up giving superb natural detailed vocals the treble is less strident.
Conversely on the Sony Nw-WM1A or Zx507 even on balanced the bass is there but not as satisfying the mids are thin but still natural timbre just recessed and the treble is more prominent.
With balanced and enough power the SW2 is unmatched in my collection and I have single DD iems over the £700 price bracket.
This and the OD200 are the perfect Yin Yang of my collection. The technicals and resolution on the SW2 is just on another level even when compared to many multi driver sets in my collection. When considering that it's an 8mm DD I find this incredible

 

[baskingshark]

New BT dongle from HIBY

Looks a bit kiddish to bring out IMHO.

Certainly will make a good pairing with another graffiti gangsta' themed source, the XDUOO POKE II

I suddenly remember one thing: I want a Moondrop KATO.

It’s so nostalgic to feel hyped about something from Moondrop. I wonder when Crinacle’s Blessing 3 would drop. I might blind buy it. The B3 has a good foundation, just needs a retune.

The KATO honestly is obsolete in 2024, just my 2 cents. Many cheaper CHIFI single DDs kill it in technicalities - eg Simgot EA500, Tripowin Olina SE etc.

Some single DD in the same price bracket, eg Oriveti OD200, DUNU Falcon Ultra, Simgot EA1000 wipe the KATO on the floor, and by quite a vast margin. ok the EA1000 is technically not a pure single DD (it has a PR) but it is still functioning thereabouts as a single DD.

 

[r31ya]

New BT dongle from HIBY

BTR15 have all the things i want from a simple Bluetooth dongle right now, (power bypass switch for desktop/laptop mode~!)
Unless it have big difference in sound sig or cheaper by decent margin, i wonder whether this could get recommendation over BTR15.
---

Looks a bit kiddish to bring out IMHO.

Certainly will make a good pairing with another graffiti gangsta' themed source, the XDUOO POKE II

I've tried the OG Poke before and it sounds really good. It have distinctly better soundstage and better clarity compared to my dongle at the time, DFR
it just happen to be priced a bit higher than other smaller bluetooth dongle and have that particular image design.
Xduoo have good stuff but their goodstuff have tendency to be a bit bigger (including, the technically portable XD05) and less aggresively marketed/priced.