Amazon doesn't seem to have most of those, but at least that gives me an idea of what to look at.  Thanks again!

Thanks!  Also looking at the xDuoo X3 and X10 now too.  So many options!

Fair enough.  I don't tend to jump in too deep before I know I can swim, hence only looking at the X1 and X3 to start.

Thanks!  I was looking at the X3 as well, since it's just $70 more... but at what point do I stop the "it's just a little bit more"?  What are other good portable lossless media players?  By which I mean, ones that won't make me weep whenever I look at my bank statement.

I'm just grateful that I don't have more money or I'd be blowing it all on new equipment.

Hahah.  Thanks.  I have a few smaller spare MicroSDs I was going to start with, until they were full.  (I know lossless will eat up the space quickly though.)  I was also looking at Comply tips but was going to wait to see how they fit and seal was with the stock tips.  I mean, it comes with a...

Thanks!  My source will most likely be a FiiO X1 (which I'll try to fill up with lossless rips of my favorite CDs).  I was looking at the FiiO A5 and came across the A3...  but I wanted to see if either of these would even be worth it in the first place.

Nothing overly fancy, just the 1MORE E1001s.  If I get an amp though I would be testing it with whatever IEMs I have lying around, just for ****s and giggles.

  Fair enough.  I still think it's silly.   =)  Like I said, I'll probably check them out when I'm in the market for a budget set again.

Uh...  that's exactly the point.  Why make a fake $10 headphone when you can make a fake $1000 headphone?  You don't find counterfeit $20 purses...  you find counterfeit $3000 purses.

That doesn't make sense.  At the $20 tag you can just make a normal headphone.  Making a fake $1000 IEM makes sense.  I don't think there's a lot of fake pistons 2.  I don't know what a pistons 2 is to think anything about them.

This is probably a stupid question...   do I need an amp?   The reason I ask is that I've seen about 50% of posts/articles saying yes...  and 50% saying no.  (Or, specifically, not unless your source isn't able to drive the volume enough.)  Some reviews state that IEMs perform better with an...

Why would people make a fake $20 headphone?   Quote: I might have to check them out when I'm shopping for another throw away set.  Though the one review I read about these (on here) says they're a bit light in the bass, they might not be what the OP is looking for.

As of a day ago I was in the same boat as you, and I ended up going with the 1MORE E1001s (AKA Triples).  I was also looking at the Shure 215s, Klipsch R6is and X6is, and others.  I allllmost went with the X6is (the black ones are on sale at Amazon for 118USD) but after reading a few more...

@buke9 Okay, after reading exhaustive reviews I pulled the trigger on these.  Kicking myself for waiting the few extra hours...  now I have to wait to receive them on Saturday.  I'll just leave them to burn-in as soon as I get them.