[Lamim Rashid]

Cross posting from a different forum but I don't expect to get much help so I'll try here too.. So here's my dilemna, I love my starfields (w/ foam tips) and haven't found anything I liked more yet.

This includes the KATO, Dusk, FDX1, ISN H40, Penon Orb, kbear believe, Tripowin mele, ER2XR, 1more triple driver, bgvp dmg + lz a6 filter and whatever else I've tried.

The closest I've gotten to the starfields in terms of enjoyment are the ER2XR (triple flange), and then after that the KZ DQ6 (foam tips) w/ tape mod + a little eq and in third place I guess the ISN H40 (foam tip).

I played around with the apo eq on my PC using my e1da 9038s, I liked the oratary target more than stock on my er2xr, but I didn't like it more than stock tuning on my starfields. My favorite eq target outside of stock tuning on the starfields was leaving the bass shelf unadjusted and adjusting the upper range to crinacle's ief neutral target. I believe this was the older ief neutral target, before crinacle added a few extra db in gain. I still preferred stock tuning on most tracks but on some tracks where the treble or upper mids were a little more harsh I found the ief target eq to work better.

I'm looking for something under $300 that can fit what I'm looking for and sound better than the starfields. Here's what I've figured out so far many iems later..
- I'm really sensitive to harsh upper mids and treble so this has made my search a little hard. Even the mele hurt my ears with it's "tame" treble because of the larger than usual peak at 8k. The Kato as well hurt my ears for some reason and sounded a bit thin in comparison to my starfields, I don't like a thin sound. Of all my iems I've had only the starfields and er2xr don't hurt my ears without eq.
- FR curve wise in the upper range, I think I want something in between the starfield tuning and crin's ief neutral target. I also really like boost and extension in the air region, like that boost at around 15k that the starfield has, but this isn't a big deal for me.
- Bass quantity wise I consider the starfield perfect, it had not too much, and not too little. I won't be bothered if there's a tiny bit more, but having significantly too little would be an issue. Tactility and physical impact is nice.
- I find too much sub bass fatiguing but still like a nice impact, so I like having a little mid bass focus, which is why I really like the shape of the starfield's bass shelf.
- I'm open to hybrid and ba iems as long as they don't have noticable ba timbre. I found it noticable on the dusk which ruined it for me. I also don't like the metallic timbre of the fdx1.
- My music library is (ordered from most to least) mostly pop, hiphop, rap, metal, indie rock, rnb, and some Lofi/trap/house/edm/dubstep. Most of my music has vocals, around two thirds of it male vocals.

I was considering the Hana 2021 but it not only looks a bit brighter in graphs, but was also said to be less warm in super review's review so it sounds like it's a step away from what I'm looking for, the oxygen being an even further step away since it supposedly sounds a bit thin (relative to the starfields). I also don't like the flat bass shelf of either iem since I prefer a bit of a mid bass focus. I may end up trying one anyways if I can find one for cheap but I'm looking for other alternatives that will hopefully fit what I'm looking for better. I was interested in the mangird teas as well but that bass shelf again looks like the opposite of what I'm looking for. The timeless 7hz looks interesting but the fairly large 8k spike compared to the starfields on super review's squig and crinacle's squig remind me of the mele and how it ended up being too harsh for my ears. So hit me with your other recs, help me find a starfields successor so I can finally retire them. Let's see if anyone can help me find something I like more or if I'm just gonna keep going deeper down this rabbit hole then end up back with the starfields again..

 

[silent-circuit]

7hz Timeless? Used Audiosense AQ7 (yes I know Crinacle hates them)? TCA FIBAE 4 if you get really lucky and find a pair used in budget.

 

[ProtegeManiac]

Cross posting from a different forum but I don't expect to get much help so I'll try here too.. So here's my dilemna, I love my starfields (w/ foam tips) and haven't found anything I liked more yet.

This includes the KATO, Dusk, FDX1, ISN H40, Penon Orb, kbear believe, Tripowin mele, ER2XR, 1more triple driver, bgvp dmg + lz a6 filter and whatever else I've tried.

The closest I've gotten to the starfields in terms of enjoyment are the ER2XR (triple flange), and then after that the KZ DQ6 (foam tips) w/ tape mod + a little eq and in third place I guess the ISN H40 (foam tip).

I'm confused. Why is this a problem? Did you lose them? Did they break? Or they were not comfortable to wear?

I played around with the apo eq on my PC using my e1da 9038s, I liked the oratary target more than stock on my er2xr, but I didn't like it more than stock tuning on my starfields. My favorite eq target outside of stock tuning on the starfields was leaving the bass shelf unadjusted and adjusting the upper range to crinacle's ief neutral target. I believe this was the older ief neutral target, before crinacle added a few extra db in gain. I still preferred stock tuning on most tracks but on some tracks where the treble or upper mids were a little more harsh I found the ief target eq to work better.

If you already like the stock tuning on the Starfields, or anything really, unless you lose them or they broke, or you need something that has a similar sound for a very different use case like a fullsize headphone for more comfortable use over longer periods or you want a cheaper IEM that sounds like it but being cheaper can be your gym/beater earphones.

I'm looking for something under $300 that can fit what I'm looking for and sound better than the starfields. Here's what I've figured out so far many iems later..
- I'm really sensitive to harsh upper mids and treble so this has made my search a little hard. Even the mele hurt my ears with it's "tame" treble because of the larger than usual peak at 8k. The Kato as well hurt my ears for some reason and sounded a bit thin in comparison to my starfields, I don't like a thin sound. Of all my iems I've had only the starfields and er2xr don't hurt my ears without eq.

But you don't even need to EQ the Starfields, correct?

Then what's wrong with the Starfields?

- FR curve wise in the upper range, I think I want something in between the starfield tuning and crin's ief neutral target. I also really like boost and extension in the air region, like that boost at around 15k that the starfield has, but this isn't a big deal for me.
- Bass quantity wise I consider the starfield perfect, it had not too much, and not too little. I won't be bothered if there's a tiny bit more, but having significantly too little would be an issue. Tactility and physical impact is nice.
- I find too much sub bass fatiguing but still like a nice impact, so I like having a little mid bass focus, which is why I really like the shape of the starfield's bass shelf.

For very tiny differences like that I'd just use EQ or if it doesn't work then just live with it if it doeesn't pierce your ears and the ergonomics are good.

Not everything has to be exactly perfect, especially when it's too different to get to a subjective definition of perfect while the objective perfect ie very flat response is not even possible yet.

I mean the HD600 isn't perfect but I've had it for over a decade and I'm not really planning on replacing it nor adding to it for my desktop listening. Haven't really spent on the desktop system - most of my expenses since had more to do with replacing broken IEMs.

You're already lucky to find one IEM you like and to know how hard it is to find something better. Consider this being it for now. Hell, maybe buy another one, just in case they go out of production, which buys you more time with that sound until such time that something like it or better finally comes along.

I was considering the Hana 2021 but it not only looks a bit brighter in graphs, but was also said to be less warm in super review's review so it sounds like it's a step away from what I'm looking for, the oxygen being an even further step away since it supposedly sounds a bit thin (relative to the starfields). I also don't like the flat bass shelf of either iem since I prefer a bit of a mid bass focus. I may end up trying one anyways if I can find one for cheap but I'm looking for other alternatives that will hopefully fit what I'm looking for better. I was interested in the mangird teas as well but that bass shelf again looks like the opposite of what I'm looking for. The timeless 7hz looks interesting but the fairly large 8k spike compared to the starfields on super review's squig and crinacle's squig remind me of the mele and how it ended up being too harsh for my ears. So hit me with your other recs, help me find a starfields successor so I can finally retire them. Let's see if anyone can help me find something I like more or if I'm just gonna keep going deeper down this rabbit hole then end up back with the starfields again..

Why does it always have to be like a girl going through a story that sounds like an allegory for hallucinogens.

Sit back and enjoy what you have, listen to your music through it instead of obsessing over something better that may not even exist. This is an IEM, not a new physics theorem or materials science/engineering discovery (that may make a better IEM possible).

 

[dw1narso]

@Lamim Rashid , aside from e1da 9038s, what source are U using? or is that your main source?

 

[Lamim Rashid]

7hz Timeless? Used Audiosense AQ7 (yes I know Crinacle hates them)? TCA FIBAE 4 if you get really lucky and find a pair used in budget.

I was interested in the timeless, unless that 8k peak is more than just the coupler (which it does look like it is). The AQ7 look a tad bit too sharp for me on graphs.

@Lamim Rashid , aside from e1da 9038s, what source are U using? or is that your main source?

Tidal on my phone.

 

[dw1narso]

you might be want to check KB Ear Aurora, it is livelier Harmanish tuned... IMI it could match your requirements... (sufficient bass push, excellent male vocal)

if you check the graph, don't worry with 8KHz peak... because Aurora has 5KHz notch as well that will overall balance the treble...

 

[lpd2]

Same company made some silver ones KXXS at a higher price. Single driver. They were great right off the cellphone or fiio bt dac, but too big for my ears. Hated to sell those, but no point in keeping them with my ears all sore. I hope they fix that issue. I think some other versions came out but just a color change. Consider Fiio multidrivers?? FH5 Fh3?

 

[silent-circuit]

I mean, the Tanchjim Oxygen basically sounds like "a better Starfield" to me, don't know why I didn't think to suggest them first.

I do own the Starfield, but it gets very little play time; mostly bought them so I could make a fair recommendation when people are asking for less expensive options, as most of my current sets are considerably more.

 

[Lamim Rashid]

you might be want to check KB Ear Aurora, it is livelier Harmanish tuned... IMI it could match your requirements... (sufficient bass push, excellent male vocal)

if you check the graph, don't worry with 8KHz peak... because Aurora has 5KHz notch as well that will overall balance the treble...

I actually really like how this one graphs. I'm keeping an eye on it to drop in price. The only thing is it seems like a step down going from beryllium driver in the kbear believe I already own (just didn't like the super v shape tuning) to the new titanium driver. Titanium drivers also tend to have a weird metallic timbre, my fdx1 I know has this issue.

Same company made some silver ones KXXS at a higher price. Single driver. They were great right off the cellphone or fiio bt dac, but too big for my ears. Hated to sell those, but no point in keeping them with my ears all sore. I hope they fix that issue. I think some other versions came out but just a color change. Consider Fiio multidrivers?? FH5 Fh3?

Which iems were those? Yeah I've considered those but most I've seen on graphs are even more vshaped than the starfields, which leads me to believe that they might be too fatiguing for me. I'm still looking though so I haven't given up yet.

I mean, the Tanchjim Oxygen basically sounds like "a better Starfield" to me, don't know why I didn't think to suggest them first.

I do own the Starfield, but it gets very little play time; mostly bought them so I could make a fair recommendation when people are asking for less expensive options, as most of my current sets are considerably more.

I'm really interested in the oxygen but I've heard from multiple ppl they sound a lot thinner than the starfields. Everyone says the kato sounds like a better starfields as well, but I when I tried the kato I found them too thin and sharp sounding, and the oxygen is supper to be even thinner and sharper than the katos. I'll probably still keep an eye out for the Hana 2021 and oxygen to go on sale or on the used market but I don't have my hopes too high on them.

 

[silent-circuit]

The Oxygen is very tip dependant. It's important to get a good seal. Definitely prefer their sound with foams vs. the stock tips. Part of the reason I don't put a lot of weight on graphs.

 

[Lamim Rashid]

The Oxygen is very tip dependant. It's important to get a good seal. Definitely prefer their sound with foams vs. the stock tips. Part of the reason I don't put a lot of weight on graphs.

I don't like putting too much weight in graphs either. There were a lot of iems that looked tame in treble in graph but hurt my ears still. On the other hand user opinions have been even less reliable from my experience.. just goes to show how differently everyone hears things. I already use my starfields with foams.

 

[dw1narso]

I actually really like how this one graphs. I'm keeping an eye on it to drop in price. The only thing is it seems like a step down going from beryllium driver in the kbear believe I already own (just didn't like the super v shape tuning) to the new titanium driver. Titanium drivers also tend to have a weird metallic timbre, my fdx1 I know has this issue.

I don't have Believe to compare with... but Aurora to my ears is not a V shape..., it sounded more like W shape since it is a little bit of intimate/forward/close sounding 'neutral' in terms of distance... not far but also not too forward... 'soundstage' thus would not be that big... (NOTE: I don't really like to use word soundstage on phones, since it is basically inaccurate in the concept of stereo sound reproduction... it might be true only if used with binaural recording)

Many times, the base is actually sounding lower in volume than the mid-treble..., unless the material played is really bassy..

 

[Lamim Rashid]

I don't have Believe to compare with... but Aurora to my ears is not a V shape..., it sounded more like W shape since it is a little bit of intimate/forward/close sounding 'neutral' in terms of distance... not far but also not too forward... 'soundstage' thus would not be that big... (NOTE: I don't really like to use word soundstage on phones, since it is basically inaccurate in the concept of stereo sound reproduction... it might be true only if used with binaural recording)

Many times, the base is actually sounding lower in volume than the mid-treble..., unless the material played is really bassy..

I think the aurora looks fantastic on graphs if that counts for anything. The opposite of the kbear believes graph/tuning wise, which were way too v shaped. I wish they took the kbear believe drivers (cause it's pure beryllium) and tuned them like the aurora.