[Sherry Zhang]

In your opinion, what is the best earphone under $500?

 

[kckc]

For $500, you are basically asking for the best universal earphones other than the FAD SS and AKG 3003.

 

[kmhaynes]

Best at what?  Universal or custom?  Are you going to spend $500 on earphones?

 

[Carsonwen]

Under 500, there are lots. There is no best iem, as they are all different. What music do you listen to?
 
there are (as much as i can think of) : Shure SE 425, Shure SE 535, Westone UM3X, Westone 3, Westone 4, Westone 4R (coming soon), EarSonic SM3 V2, Ultimate Ear Triplefi 10 pro, Sennheiser IE8, Klipsch X10i, Westone UM2, Westone 2, and Etymotic ER-4. There are much more but these are some of the more popular ones you may wanna look into. Good luck!

 

[nikp]

No such thing as best, just different. Looking at your budget, just go for customs instead.

 

[ZARIM]

Buy used JH13Pro from F/ S forum and reshell it, they are superior sounding than any universal IEMs and detail level is amazing with superb imaging and huge soundstage. The universal IEMs like EX1000, Westone 4R, PFE232 are highly recommended.

 

[Spyro]

I'd go JH5

 

[Sherry Zhang]

I was just asking what you thought as the best whether it's custims or not.

 

[tannerbnd]

ultimate ears triple 10s

 

[Carsonwen]

Westone 3

 

[rangerid]

IE8 with Beat Audio Supreme Pro Cable >> any other universals I have heard

 

[imackler]

From my experience so far w/ the top tiers (W2, W3, UM3X, W4, ER4P, SE535, IE8, EX1000, GR07), which compared to many others here is limited, I'd pick the W4 if I had to for all genres. If you're into pop/light rock, I'd pick the SE535. I find something dissatisfying with all of the above though, so next stop for me is the GR10, which looks like it should "fix" what I find lacking in the W4 and SE535. I'd listen to those who recommend entry level customs, but I can't personally testify whether they are better than universals. Spyro speaks highly of the JH5 and portable amp. I do enjoy the easy pop in/out of universals, especially the Westones or Sennheisers.

 

[leylandi]

ex1000