IEM Recommendation - Detail mostly, Imaging and Soundstage Second

[ShootingStills]

Would anyone say the IE600 suits this type of tuning and detail / resolution.

 

[Raketen]

Thanks very much. Yes I think my shortlist is something like:
SA6 / S8 / Variations / Monarch II
Also seen great things about Syphoniium Helios and is UK available.
I'll check out the Campfire Are recommendation too.

I think what I will try (TRY) and do is be patient, not something I have ever done, and wait for a sale or wait for some mint used ones of the above and try some out.
I dont want to spend 1k as I have really only just discovered wired IEM's. So I will wait for some used ones and try them out.
I actually love the write ups of the Ara's! They look very resolving and neutral.

I traded for and later sold the Ara I had for around 500-600 usd and think they have been on sale new much lower than msrp (though Ara is not the most popular IEM and Andromeda might be easier to come by secondhand and good for details & soundstage if you can stomach its warmth)

Curious about the Helios myself (along similar lines have been looking at Gaudio Nair and the Prophile 8)- based on past IEMs I think I prefer that style of tuning to ara/andro but have a suspicion it tends to be a bit of a tradeoff between "wow factor" and tonal consistency- but perhaps Helios or some of the other suggestions here have found a good balance.

 

[WilliamBlake]

Would anyone say the IE600 suits this type of tuning and detail / resolution.

I don't think, the bass is very pronounced and in detail retrieval it's overtaken by the other sets mentioned

 

[ShootingStills]

I don't think, the bass is very pronounced and in detail retrieval it's overtaken by the other sets mentioned

Thank you. Yes I think the bass will be too strong. Wiped that off.

 

[WilliamBlake]

Thank you. Yes I think the bass will be too strong. Wiped that off.

If you already have a list of iems that are available for you is easier to choose

 

[Fargeg]

I'd suggest looking at Crinacle's ranking list as a filter if you're ever shopping for IEMs. It shouldn't be taken as gospel or anything, especially how much variance there is in individual IEM upper midrange preferences. Having tried a bunch of stuff on his list, though, I'd say most people looking for mid-fi would be fine ignoring anything below B- tonality or A- technicality. Do note that Cipher EQ vastly improves Audeze IEMs' tonality, though.

Anyway, if you're thinking about the Variations in particular, I did a write-up a while back. If your limit is $500, I'd say it's a safe choice given that you're coming from the Timeless and what you're looking for. If you're very heavily indexing for imaging and stage, stretching your budget for a used Andromeda 2020 or settling for a pre-2020, depending on whether you're willing to compromise on detail a bit, might also work.

And waiting for used isn't a bad idea, although you might want to buy during a sale (like the 11.11 one going on in China right now) instead if you're concerned about warranty/reliability issues. Chi-fi tends to crash in value pretty hard because of how much the market is flooded with it.

e: Some companies (such as Campfire Audio) offer transferrable warranties, so I'd recommend doing your research there.

 

[ShootingStills]

I'd suggest looking at Crinacle's ranking list as a filter if you're ever shopping for IEMs. It shouldn't be taken as gospel or anything, especially how much variance there is in individual IEM upper midrange preferences. Having tried a bunch of stuff on his list, though, I'd say most people looking for mid-fi would be fine ignoring anything below B- tonality or A- technicality. Do note that Cipher EQ vastly improves Audeze IEMs' tonality, though.

Anyway, if you're thinking about the Variations in particular, I did a write-up a while back. If your limit is $500, I'd say it's a safe choice given that you're coming from the Timeless and what you're looking for. If you're very heavily indexing for imaging and stage, stretching your budget for a used Andromeda 2020 or settling for a pre-2020, depending on whether you're willing to compromise on detail a bit, might also work.

And waiting for used isn't a bad idea, although you might want to buy during a sale (like the 11.11 one going on in China right now) instead if you're concerned about warranty/reliability issues. Chi-fi tends to crash in value pretty hard because of how much the market is flooded with it.

e: Some companies (such as Campfire Audio) offer transferrable warranties, so I'd recommend doing your research there.

Thank you.
I can stretch the budget sure. Actually what I really don't want to do is buy something for £500 and then want something for £1000... I know from history I do that a lot. Plus the £500 ones I cannot seem to get here in the UK. The Andromeda 2020, Ara, Monarch II or Symphonium is probably where I am at right now.

I have his list open daily and its certainly a good list. I have found a few other lists out there too. Not sure if they are all an amalgamation of each others though.

 

[ShootingStills]

Umm. So I did something impulsive and not patient as I mentioned.

I bought the Monarch MK II's. They came yesterday. I need to try some different tips to get the right fit and also compare against the Timeless too. I chatted to a really helpful guy about these vs the Helios, and went for these based on a 'richer / more prominent midrange'

So I have blown my budget and am currently walking around my house finding things to sell

 

[cianuro67]

Hello guys,

I am not an audiophile, but I have always appreciated good sound quality and have a pretty decent HiFi. I have never bought quality wired headphones until recently. I have had quality wireless headphones, and still do, but I was staggered by the difference in audio quality with a wired IEM or Headphone vs a good pair of Wireless Earbuds or HP's (Cambridge, AirPods Pro, Bowers PI7, PX7 etc)

So now, I have a set of 7HZ Timeless and some Sundara over ears. I love both. But like all hobbies I am always curious about see what more is out there. I dont find the Timeless lacking in any area at all and am 100% satisfied, at the moment. That said, I have only heard those, the FH3 and Starfields... At half the cost.

There is a lot of conflicting reviews online about the 'best' IEMs. So I thought I would ask here some opinions and try to firm up a shortlist:

• I am looking for something around the £500 mark at the most.
• Relatively neutral sound - not warm ideally
• That is exceptional in detail retrieval - the most important part
• Had very good imaging and soundstage
• I am not fussed about bass with these ones - Bass - I am covered with by the Timeless - they are a very fun listen and a very easy listen I think

If you think I am just wasting my time and there isn't anything out there for that money then please let me know

If you think I need to spend more like £1000, if you can still recommend them great, I can try and find a used pair.

Thank you all

Hello, im not an expert neither (and my english its so so), i start in this world with the Tripowin melee ( i love it) them i jump to Spring 2 ( i hated) them Moondrop Aria (its Ok) , them Blessing 2 Dusk ( i love it its very very good) , them i jumped to Thiaudio Oracle ( have mixed feeling i miss the power in music that gave me the Dusk) , and return to the blessing 2 Dusk.. today i receive the SA6 Ultra..... ( its awesome) is like the blessing 2 dusk but with more detail , more stage simply sound increible, i try it with my Shanling M7 dap , perfect combo !! when i put guns n roses Appetite for destruction my mind simply blow away. i know i already sold out but i see a couple here in the classifieds

 

[steviewonderbread]

Umm. So I did something impulsive and not patient as I mentioned.

I bought the Monarch MK II's. They came yesterday. I need to try some different tips to get the right fit and also compare against the Timeless too. I chatted to a really helpful guy about these vs the Helios, and went for these based on a 'richer / more prominent midrange'

So I have blown my budget and am currently walking around my house finding things to sell

Hope you're enjoying them. I really did admire the MkII for its ability to nail the realism of live instruments, percussion timbre/texture, super subtle details in quiet passages, and how it layered instruments in e.g. orchestra pieces. It's a pretty incredible piece of tech, and the whole listening experience is so coherent, especially for a tribrid.

My only frustrations with it were how heavy the cable was (easy to replace, and not to say it isn't high quality) and how enormous the shells were, even though they are an improvement from the MkI in terms of general shape. If these items aren't a problem for you, I think you should stick with them because that's as good as it gets in your budget (and beyond, in others' experience).

 

[ShootingStills]

Hope you're enjoying them. I really did admire the MkII for its ability to nail the realism of live instruments, percussion timbre/texture, super subtle details in quiet passages, and how it layered instruments in e.g. orchestra pieces. It's a pretty incredible piece of tech, and the whole listening experience is so coherent, especially for a tribrid.

My only frustrations with it were how heavy the cable was (easy to replace, and not to say it isn't high quality) and how enormous the shells were, even though they are an improvement from the MkI in terms of general shape. If these items aren't a problem for you, I think you should stick with them because that's as good as it gets in your budget (and beyond, in others' experience).

Ill admit they are quite hefty yes. I noticed them in my ears and I didn't on the Timeless of FH3 I had for a short time... That said I will give them a good week and see if I adjust. I think maybe I was barking up the wrong tree looking for a very neutral low bass, 'all about the details' IEM. I feel sonically at least this is as good as I ever need.

 

[WilliamBlake]

Umm. So I did something impulsive and not patient as I mentioned.

I bought the Monarch MK II's. They came yesterday. I need to try some different tips to get the right fit and also compare against the Timeless too. I chatted to a really helpful guy about these vs the Helios, and went for these based on a 'richer / more prominent midrange'

So I have blown my budget and am currently walking around my house finding things to sell

Well I don't know them, but you made a good choice, enjoy!

 

[cianuro67]

Umm. So I did something impulsive and not patient as I mentioned.

I bought the Monarch MK II's. They came yesterday. I need to try some different tips to get the right fit and also compare against the Timeless too. I chatted to a really helpful guy about these vs the Helios, and went for these based on a 'richer / more prominent midrange'

So I have blown my budget and am currently walking around my house finding things to sell

You got a very very very good one i think is top 3

 

[rs172]

Awesome thank you, very helpful indeed. How would you compare the Monarch II to the S8? The monarch is available in the UK, the S8 isn't, but I can order from the US or China, just makes returns a real hassle if there was an issue.

 

[balzucker812]

the sennheiser ie600 is very detailed, yes its got alot of bass but its mostly in the subbass, although may be too bright for many people. it is my dream iem (other than shure kse1200 which are more detailed but need eq) i tried the ie600 at a store and the kse1200