Looking to try some open back headphones, I'm usually an IEMs or clip-ons user. I don't want a heavy or clamping feel on my head, which is on the bigger side. Under $200 if possible. For sound I like warm and smooth, I'd read some reviews of entrylevel ones that sometimes mentioned being a bit...

Thanks, e500 does sound promising. Those both seem to be $25 which is a factor though. Anything more cheap that is ok with this design style? Won't die after a few months etc? I've got some nicer ones for music at least.

Thanks folks. Good info to know, much appreciated.

Question, does the "difficult to drive" stuff mentioned in reviews mean I shouldn't get a E3000? Since I just use a Galaxy S7 phone and have never had a portable amp or anything like that. Also, is E500 a good $25 pick? And does that one sound good on just a phone? Thanks.

My go-to nice cheap IEMs for mostly podcasts were Soundmagic ES18. Anything to top that these days, for under $20 USD? And with a light "bullet" style or similar cord down design? A lot of the cheap ones I'm seeing lately look bulkier with cord over ear. I like to have even lighter than that if...

Thanks! If you get a chance, could you link me to the NiceHCK cable you use with 05S, or which kind? When you say unmodified, do I need to modify anything to get it to fit enough? And how if so? I've looked at cables but I've never bought one before, so I'm not sure what would work. A review...

Right on! Thanks for recommending the BL05S by the way! It's the best thing I've ever heard, I've been blown away. To me it sounds so warm and bassy, with great clarity and mids, exactly what I was hoping for and then some. It's almost more bass than I even need. When I read reviews saying...

Thanks again! A lot of good fun food for thought. I'm a layman with the equalizer and chart stuff, it does seem like a cool tool though. I think I saw some of the reviews mention the Ikko OH01 had maybe too prominent high-mids, and on my old Samsung S7 default equalizer I only have 7 settings to...

Question, I'm looking for more tips to try. I've always used Comply T-400 or equivalent sized foam tips (Veritas, New Bee etc). And I use small size, comfy for me and I get a good seal with the small bullet style Soundmagic E10 and similar I've always liked. Today I just tried out my dad's Ikko...

Thanks! That's a lot of great info, I appreciate all the help for this head-fi padiwan. Definitely a lot of cool stuff to try out and look into. I've got a bit of OCD, so it's tough to pick, I'll have to bookmark a few to try. There's always a "catch" for my taste it sounds like, like the Aria...

Thanks again! Is that for all the ones mentioned, or some in particular? I saw a review on Amazon mentions the CCA CA16 has a 2mm or so nozzle. You've given me a lot to work on already, I've been reading hours of reviews on and off. Plus the reviews of other compared IEMs mentioned in those...

Much appreciated! Do you know the foam tip compatibility of some of those, or the nozzle size in mm etc? Part of the reason I've stuck with the ol' Soundmagic ones is because I've always used that T-400 or similar style of foam tip.

Hi, I'll throw my recommendation question in here too. I've been using Soundmagic E10s for years, they sound ok, but you have to make them really loud to feel you hear vocals well etc. In the orange range of volume settings on a Samsung phone etc. So I really like warm sounding a bit bassy ones...

I'm not. It was just a way of trying to describe the difference between stereo speakers and these earbuds. I know that stereo speakers output in stereo, but like I was saying, it kind of mingles in the air before hitting you. It just sounds different and to me a bit better than the earbuds I've...

It's tough to describe, since I do see separation listed as a good thing by most. I guess for me with the ES18 it just feels there is too much L/R separation, like it feels 2D or flat somehow, compared to speakers, where the sound will mingle in the air a bit in front of you as it hits you. I...