@khighly it seems like you had problem with the it03 due to fit/seal issues. yes, it03 is not for everyone with its semi custom design. if that's the case, then no matter how good or expensive the iem could be, it will sound sux and you won't like it. that's very normal. for $250 iem, actually the cable is ok, doable. most if not all costlier iem/hp stock cables are crap tbh. that's why all of mine gears got custom cables. you might walk down that lane someday lol. maybe for improvement of sound, comfort, or both.
comparing say $100 to $1,000 iem at first could give an overall sound signature to be close but there's one thing a cheaper iem can never achieve, scalability.
@SomeGuyDude and
@Dark Helmet, one might preferred boomy, meaty, slow decay bass of dynamic driver, me
. other like fast, lean, crisp, punchy bass of ba drivers. bass will affect the overall sound sig of how you perceive if you like the product or not. guess we are all bass lover here lol.