Earbuds Round-Up

[WoodyLuvr]

I haven't read about earbuds in a long while and I would love for any directions or recommendations!

As for some sort of reference, I like the sound signature like the Hifiman HE-1000v1. Warm, a bit recessed upper midrange though without the piercing treble like on the HE1K. Bump in the bass is A-ok with me though as long as it doesn't creep into the lower midrange too much. I like the treble quantity to be at about where most of the midrange is with no crazy peaks. I'm thinking of using full foams.

Other things:

-Preferably plastic or lightweight earpieces
-Relatively flat-design so that when I lay on my side, it doesn't push into my ear. As a reference, the MX500 shell is fine.
-<150 USD
-Doesn't matter if cables are non-detachable though it'd be a bonus

Not sure if I'm missing a criteria.

Can't go wrong with the low-profile, neutral to slightly warm sounding (has tamed treble), and highly regarded Venture Electronics (VE) Zen LL (150Ω) aka "Sleeping Bud"
This earbud's impedance is 150 so some will say it requires "amping" but I am not sure why as the sensitivity is 109 dB/mW and I did not find it difficult at all to drive from a mobile source (smart phone) when I listened to them awhile back at a mobile audiophile meet-up.

I nearly bought a pair myself but also had heard a pair of 500 ohm Puresounds at the same event and shortly thereafter settled on a pair of 600 ohm Puresounds instead that were simply divine to my ears. The VE Zen LL are on my "to buy" list along with the Yinman 600s.

Other options to consider are the Edifier H180, Qian39, or VE Monk Lite. The Qian39 are extremely comfortable if I recall correctly but it has been many years since I last listened to a pair.

 

[Feilong4]

Can't go wrong with the low-profile, neutral to slightly warm sounding (has tamed treble), and highly regarded Venture Electronics (VE) Zen LL (150Ω) aka "Sleeping Bud"
This earbud's impedance is 150 so some will say it requires "amping" but I am not sure why as the sensitivity is 109 dB/mW and I did not find it difficult at all to drive from a mobile source (smart phone) when I listened to them awhile back at a mobile audiophile meet-up.



I nearly bought a pair myself but also had heard a pair of 500 ohm Puresounds at the same event and shortly thereafter settled on a pair of 600 ohm Puresounds instead that were simply divine to my ears. The VE Zen LL are on my "to buy" list along with the Yinman 600s.

Other options to consider are the Edifier H180, Qian39, or VE Monk Lite. The Qian39 are extremely comfortable if I recall correctly but it has been many years since I last listened to a pair.

Do you so happen to know how the Zen LL compares to the original Zen or Zen 2.0? I had both a really long time ago and I think I preferred the original Zen since it was a bit more lively sounding (though my tastes have changed a lot so idk what I would think of either now). Is the fit better with the Zen LL?

*Edit: Sorry, got another question: Is the Zen LL SL Edition essentially a cosmetic difference with a different cable from the standard if you know?

I'll be using them mostly in bed hooked up to a Topping A90 so powering shouldn't be a problem.

Oh I think I have the Edifier H180 but I have no idea where I put them. Shoot, what a throwback.

 

[WoodyLuvr]

Do you so happen to know how the Zen LL compares to the original Zen or Zen 2.0? I had both a really long time ago and I think I preferred the original Zen since it was a bit more lively sounding (though my tastes have changed a lot so idk what I would think of either now). Is the fit better with the Zen LL?

*Edit: Sorry, got another question: Is the Zen LL SL Edition essentially a cosmetic difference with a different cable from the standard if you know?

The LL are probably the warmest model in the Zen series. No idea on the SL Edition as I never heard them.

 

[FranQL]

Talking about something different, I asked some questions to the Smabat official shop in Ali, about the M2 Pro, that had a great price at the moment, and they answered that the M3 would be more convenient, as it will allow changing the driver without soldering. I share this as I think they don't have any interest in keeping it secret, given they have said it to a random buyer. No need to say that I'm very interested in that solution, that seems as the logical and more user friendly evolution. The icing on the cake would be if they release more driver options.

wow, a great notice,

Well, I'm very curious to know how easy it will be to change the controller, as well as to know what controllers will be available.

 

[FranQL]

@WoodyLuvr , In the next promotion I will pull the trigger with yinman 600, it is a personal bet.

Zen LL does not quite attract my attention, the way to sell it by venture is not the best either (sleeping buds or multimedia)

 

[WoodyLuvr]

All About Flathead Earbud Cushions
by @WoodyLuvr, @assassin10000, @furyossa, and @jogawag
Picture Source: Head-Fi Archive Mostly

Earbud "cushions" aka "covers" or "pads" are used to provide a securer fit and/or to improve the sound signature (e.g. tame the highs or bring up the bass) and fall into two (2) main categories: sponge foam and silicon rubber:


SPONGE FOAM aka "FOAMS" or "FOAMIES"

Foam Density aka Thickness​

Sponge foam density/thickness is generally categorized into four (4) sub-types:​

​

Ultra Thin​

Ultra Thins by Venture Electronics on left​

​

Thin​

​

Medium aka Standard​

​

Thick​

Hiegi Black Thick Foam Cushions​

​

​

Foam Hole Gauge​

Sponge foam material gauge can also be furthered categorized into two (2) sub-types:​

​

Small Hole aka Normal Gauge​

​

Large Hole - Large Gauge​

Trig Rain Ultra Thin Large Gauge Foam Cushions left and right​

​

​

Style or Type​

Sponge foam cushions are categorized into two (2) styles/types:​

​

Full​

​

Donut (Small and Large)​

​

Color​

Literally a plethora of available colors...​

SILICON RUBBER

​

Style or Type​

Silicon rubber covers are simply categorized into the following three (3) main types:​

​

Full​

​

Ring​

Typically coming in clear, gray, white, and/or black colors​

​

Hook​

Typically coming in clear, gray, white, and/or black colors with a hook to firmly secure the earbud into the ear​

​

EARBUD CUSION COMBINATIONS

The following are some of the more popular cushion combinations & alterations that earbud users utilize to help improve fit and sound signature.​

​

The first example is double foam (donut foam on top of full foam), which @furyossa and @jogawag cleverly refer to as "cold weather" mode. ​

​

​

RECOMMENDED EARBUD CUSHION BRANDS

Hiegi @ Penon Audio​

Trig Rain on aliExpress​

Open to any/all corrections or suggestions and of course any cool pics you may have!

 

[FranQL]

foams was evaluating these:

https://a.aliexpress.com/_uJArZb

https://a.aliexpress.com/_vsWU8H

https://a.aliexpress.com/_vcvQ5r

 

[cqtek]

It seems that the store where I bought the Thin foams disappeared. But I have found the same product in other stores, for example:

https://es.aliexpress.com/item/4001197803258.html

By searching for "Black Sponge Earbud" other stores can be found.

 

[pfropfen]

Hey all,
Is there any consensus about the Openheart OH860s (https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4001180479742.html) ? I recently ordered them as my first chi-fi earbuds after not finding much about the brand online except that some people seemed to like them. Of course only afterwards did I find a thread on this site where someone showed that some other model from this brand is apparently just generic parts glued together with cool product images attatched.
Are they legit, or did I get boofed?

 

[cappuchino]

Can someone talk me out of buying the Datura-X for 7 USD?

I've been reading extreme reviews on them (really good and downright trash). But I just saw the package with lots of foams, case, and the build...

I don't know if I really need them...

 

[baskingshark]

Can someone talk me out of buying the Datura-X for 7 USD?

I've been reading extreme reviews on them (really good and downright trash). But I just saw the package with lots of foams, case, and the build...

I don't know if I really need them...

Honestly, the costs of buying multiple budget gear does add up to a midfi gear soon enough. I learnt that the hard way after getting many sidegrades, which I find it hard to sell away now (as the resale value of cheap CHIFI isn't as good as say some more established stuff like Sony or western brands).

But I suppose buying a cheap IEM/earbud is useful to sample the different sound signatures if you are not sure yet. And there's also a case to argue that buying multiple cheap sets can give a pokemon collection (gotta catch them all) to suit different music genres and sonic preferences. But once u know the sound u like, it might behoof you to just upgrade from there to midfi (or even TOTL) and call it a day. Easier said than done though, FOMO is strong and new hypetrains come out on an almost weekly basis in CHIFIland!

 

[FranQL]

But I suppose buying a cheap IEM/earbud is useful to sample the different sound signatures if you are not sure yet. And there's also a case to argue that buying multiple cheap sets can give a pokemon collection (gotta catch them all) to suit different music genres and sonic preferences. But once u know the sound u like, it might behoof you to just upgrade from there to midfi (or even TOTL) and call it a day. Easier said than done though, FOMO is strong and new hypetrains come out on an almost weekly basis in CHIFIland!

Once you get to this point (from knowing what you like or what sounds really good to you) ... you go on to wanting to have a backup ... the ruin never ends, it is a spiral that takes your € or $ ....

 

[cappuchino]

Once you get to this point (from knowing what you like or what sounds really good to you) ... you go on to wanting to have a backup ... the ruin never ends, it is a spiral that takes your € or $ ....

I've long since made it a motto to never think back on your purchases Just continue moving forward, no regrets.


That motto doesn't help at all with anything. I don't know why I still believe in that.
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But is there anyone active in this thread that still has the Datura-X? How is it?

 

[FranQL]

I've long since made it a motto to never think back on your purchases Just continue moving forward, no regrets.


That motto doesn't help at all with anything. I don't know why I still believe in that.

Once that motto is applied, it usually has a reaction that translates into:

Have you bought something from aliexpress?
of xxx €?
not other headphones right?
But what do you expect to hear that you haven't already heard?

 

[WoodyLuvr]

Update regarding the Blur Angel

Another pic of the Blur Stingray

https://www.instagram.com/blurearbuds_boleh7/