Are expensive IEMs worth it with a cheap DAC?

[silent-circuit]

The Blessing 2 Dusk is $330... Unless you're paying really high imports or something, or not using USD?

 

[Deolum]

Absolutely worth. I love driving all my IEMs directly from my phone and when i hear phone + U12t i think it's hard to get any better sound for 1k.

 

[Evan McNaughton]

I am considering buying a pair of either Kinera Nanna 2.0 or Moondrop Blessing 2 Dusk.
Both are expensive IEMs (500$-1000$) .

My current setup is Shure SE425 connected to a DAC- Audioquest DragonFly Black.

My question is:
Does an expensive IEM sound good enough to justify its price with a not-so-expensive DAC, or even just plugged into a regular smartphone?

The great thing about most IEM is that they are super easy to power, which makes them great for plugging straight into a phone, especially if you are using a standard definition streaming service like Spotify or Apple Music on the go. I should note that in my experience with IEMs plugged into a smartphone I find that some are very sensitive to any electrical noise (my KZ Es4s in particular) so having a DAC with a nice clean sound floor is always a plus, but today's smartphones have pretty decent sound chips, and If you are an apple user using the apple lightning port to 3.5mm adapter it has a built-in DAC which, while not something to write home about, at the very least will help eliminate a bit of that noise. So to answer your question, In my opinion it is worth buying a nice pair of IEMs with a less expensive DAC and using them plugged right into your smartphone will work fine although you may find its nice to have something to help with any electrical noise.

 

[Microwavey]

Using my Blessing 2 I compared my Shanling UP4 (SE) vs phone jack - I noticed less midbass and thinner female vocals on the phone. Then tried UP4 (SE) vs Zen Dac (SE) vs Zen Dac+Can (SE) couldn't notice much of a difference. I think you too will be happy with the B2 Dusk with a not so expensive Dac+Amp.

 

[jmwant]

Depends on the IEM. IMO, amp is more important than dac.

 

[superachromat]

Exactly. The performance of Nanna indeed, outperforms many other more expensive IEM when a lot of power is given to it.

 

[iFi audio]

The DAC part is a lot less of a problem than the amp part.

I agree here, a DAC works on what it gets and isn't fussy about that data, but some amps don't do well with some headphones. IEMs have different needs that say inefficient planar cans and amps that would do well with both are rare.

 

[Darkeye999H]

Exactly. The performance of Nanna indeed, outperforms many other more expensive IEM when a lot of power is given to it.

true that...the Nanna needs an amp with at least 1W/1000 mW of output power...

 

[jmwant]

I am considering buying a pair of either Kinera Nanna 2.0 or Moondrop Blessing 2 Dusk.
Both are expensive IEMs (500$-1000$) .

My current setup is Shure SE425 connected to a DAC- Audioquest DragonFly Black.

My question is:
Does an expensive IEM sound good enough to justify its price with a not-so-expensive DAC, or even just plugged into a regular smartphone?

A better IEM would sound better even with mobile phones if the sensitivity is low. Absolutely worth it.

 

[silent-circuit]

true that...the Nanna needs an amp with at least 1W/1000 mW of output power...

... For an IEM? Even with "estat" drivers that's excessive. I have a very hard time believing /any/ IEM (save a full, true estat like the Shure KSE series, which have their own energizers) needs a 1 watt amp. To be clear I'm never opposed to headroom, I'm just saying you'll never come close to actually using a full watt of output power with IEMs, assuming you ever want to hear again.

 

[Darkeye999H]

... For an IEM? Even with "estat" drivers that's excessive. I have a very hard time believing /any/ IEM (save a full, true estat like the Shure KSE series, which have their own energizers) needs a 1 watt amp. To be clear I'm never opposed to headroom, I'm just saying you'll never come close to actually using a full watt of output power with IEMs, assuming you ever want to hear again.

Nanna's ESTs are precharged.

 

[superachromat]

Perhaps it the current matters? Anyway, drive it with an amp, it really opens up and shines.

 

[Jawsq]

currently using them with the OG mojos , it makes the mids even better (more clear) and it makes the sound more 3d.