[Willber]

Trick is to not order too many things at once, I make single purchases so packets are sent out in multiples

Do you know what the threshold price for avoiding customs in the UK is?

 

[j4100]

Do you know what the threshold price for avoiding customs in the UK is?

No idea, but I thought it might be a bit more than $34!!!

 

[j4100]

Trick is to not order too many things at once, I make single purchases so packets are sent out in multiples

Funnily enough, this is the first time I have paid anything to the Customs, despite ordering various more expensive bits of kit, never mind multiple earbuds of varying costs. Karma, I guess

Amusingly, I didn't get whacked for my other delivery today from Rholupat - Vunbuds, Raid V2, and Willsound Mk2 VJC 2.5mm. Merry Xmas to me

 

[Willber]

No idea, but I thought it might be a bit more than $34!!!

Looks like you're right:
https://www.gov.uk/goods-sent-from-abroad/tax-and-duty

VAT charged on goods over £15
Customs Duty charged on goods over £135

 

[j4100]

Looks like you're right:
https://www.gov.uk/goods-sent-from-abroad/tax-and-duty

VAT charged on goods over £15
Customs Duty charged on goods over £135

I'd complain, but they would probably put me on the naughty step.

 

[HungryPanda]

£16 is the UK threshold, then %20 & £8 Royal mail charge, DHL charge £11

 

[mbwilson111]

I'd complain, but they would probably put me on the naughty step.

They probably put the value at $20 which would put it above the threshold in pounds resulting in £4 VAT plus £8 royal mail handling charge (that is a set amount). Some sellers do not realize that the current exchange rate will cause that... at one time it was probably safe to put $20. I remember when $20 was £10. If you had ordered each item separately it would have been ok.

 

[j4100]

They probably put the value at $20 which would put it above the threshold in pounds resulting in £4 VAT plus £8 royal mail handling charge (that is a set amount). Some sellers do not realize that the current exchange rate will cause that... at one time it was probably safe to put $20. I remember when $20 was £10. If you had ordered each item separately it would have been ok.

This time they quoted the $34. Oh well!

Yeah, hasn't the round nose-dived? Not good for us buying overseas...

 

[BlacLord]

The sound of Sennheiser MX475 focuses on treble. However, the sound of the Sennheiser MX375 which is brothers model is focused on bass as like Monk+.
Since the sound of the MX375 is closer to the sound of Monk+ than the sound of MX475, I recommend MX375 as the upgrade of Monk+.

If you like MX500 housing which is same as Monk+, I recommend HE150 for the soundstage and bass.
If you like PK housing which is small, I recommend SR2 16ohm TPE WIRE at Aliexpress for the soundstage and bass.

Thanks for the heads up! So there is a worthwhile difference between the Monk+ and MX375?

Also, the HE150 is a 150ohms bud right? Would they be suitable for iPhone? Thanks again.

 

[Willber]

Thanks for the heads up! So there is a worthwhile difference between the Monk+ and MX375?

Also, the HE150 is a 150ohms bud right? Would they be suitable for iPhone? Thanks again.

I found a conservation we had a couple of years ago:
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/earbuds-round-up.441400/page-1065#post-13148150

What did you think of the Qian39?

To my mind there are now many budget buds that are 'better' than the Monk+. My personal favourite is the Snow Lotus 1.0:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/FAA...445.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.360a4c4dctk165

I find they have the warmth and clarity of the Monk+ in the mids with better extension of bass and treble as well as a larger soundstage. But with something as subjective as earphones different people will give different advice.

 

[seanc6441]

荣K68+
K's (凯) Little Black Bell (LBB 小黑铃)
MoonDrop VXC
MoonDrop VXJ

Not sure if we need to keep asking (as I'm sure you will write impressions in due time) but what are your initial impressions on the K's LBB and Moondrop VX C/J?

 

[jogawag]

Thanks for the heads up! So there is a worthwhile difference between the Monk+ and MX375?

Also, the HE150 is a 150ohms bud right? Would they be suitable for iPhone? Thanks again.

Since the MX375 is sufficiently "clean and dynamic" sound compared to Monk+, it is key whether you feel the difference worth it for you.

Next, the HE150 with a slightly brighter wide sound stage can be used well on my Android Phone because the sound efficiency is good.

Edit:
As for my personal opinion, how about enjoying the difference of Sound by purchasing both HE150 and "DIY SR2 16ohm TPE WIRE" totaling less than $30?
Both are excellent Earbuds with very high cost performance!
If you try them you will be amazed at that wonderful sound.

ReEdit:
IMO HE150 sounds like bright TM9, and "DIY SR2 16ohm TPE WIRE" sounds like dark SWD2+.

 

[exavolt]

As for my personal opinion, how about enjoying the difference of Sound by purchasing both HE150 and "DIY SR2 16ohm TPE WIRE" totaling less than $30?

That's exactly a kind of suggestion to enter a rabbit hole.

"These are good, now I wonder what other earbuds sound like."

 

[BlacLord]

I found a conservation we had a couple of years ago:
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/earbuds-round-up.441400/page-1065#post-13148150

What did you think of the Qian39?

To my mind there are now many budget buds that are 'better' than the Monk+. My personal favourite is the Snow Lotus 1.0:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/FAA...445.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.360a4c4dctk165

I find they have the warmth and clarity of the Monk+ in the mids with better extension of bass and treble as well as a larger soundstage. But with something as subjective as earphones different people will give different advice.

I ended up getting the Monks over the Qian39...

 

[Willber]

I ended up getting the Monks over the Qian39...

IMO things have improved since both of them.