IEM Shootout Shopping Cart - Suggest The BEST!

[CT007]

Gearing up for a big IEM shootout, up to ~$300 range. I already have FD5(incredible detail...), and I'm looking for competition, basically. Give me the bass. Give me the purest of tone. Give me magic. Make it sound like HE-6!

SHOPPING CART (Edit 4, final?):
- LZ A7 Penon Orb (waiting for next pay check...)
- Penon Fan (ordered!)
- KBear Believe (ordered!)
- Legacy 4 (maybe weak bass?) BGVP DM8 (ordered!)
- (TELL ME WHAT GOES HERE )

ALREADY HAVE:
- FH3 (LOVE the bass)
- Tape Pro (fantastic for FPS gaming)
- Legacy 3 (BEST FIT; used to really like the sound, then everything somehow changed)
- BLON-03 (they're OK)
- YBF (they're OK; nice spaciousness and clarity)
- Tin T3 (OK, but too bright)
- TFZ No.3 (kickin' bass! But bad sibilance and treble spike(s))

NO INTEREST (but feel free to convince me):
- Mangird Tea ("aggressive treble"; "Orb favorable")
- DM8 (can't justify the price, for probably less than ideal bass)
- Blessing 2/Dusk (too friggin huge, and bright - owned B2)
- ISN H40 (too bass-smeared & colored - owned it)
- A4000 ("lean bass")
- KP / KXXS (boring and soulless - own KP)
- Etymotic
- Tanchjim Oxygen ("very short nozzles")
- Legacy 5 (<L4)
- Other ThieAudio's
- Other FiiO's
- BQEYZ
- Reecho/Peacock

 

[pjones5]

Gearing up for a big IEM shootout, up to ~$300 range. I already have FD5(incredible detail...), and I'm looking for competition, basically. Give me the bass. Give me the purest of tone. Give me magic. Make it sound like HE-6!

SHOPPING CART (Edit 3):
- LZ A7
- Penon Orb Penon Fan (ordered!)
- KBear Believe (ordered!)
- Legacy 4 (maybe weak bass?) BGVP DM8 (ordered!)
- (TELL ME WHAT GOES HERE )

ALREADY HAVE:
- FH3 (LOVE the bass)
- Tape Pro (fantastic for FPS gaming)
- Legacy 3 (BEST FIT; used to really like the sound, then everything somehow changed)
- BLON-03 (they're OK)
- YBF (they're OK; nice spaciousness and clarity)
- Tin T3 (OK, but too bright)
- TFZ No.3 (kickin' bass! But bad sibilance and treble spike(s))

NO INTEREST (but feel free to convince me):
- Mangird Tea ("aggressive treble"; "Orb favorable")
- DM8 (can't justify the price, for probably less than ideal bass)
- Blessing 2/Dusk (too friggin huge, and bright - owned B2)
- ISN H40 (too bass-smeared & colored - owned it)
- A4000 ("lean bass")
- KP / KXXS (boring and soulless - own KP)
- Etymotic
- Tanchjim Oxygen ("very short nozzles")
- Legacy 5 (<L4)
- Other ThieAudio's
- Other FiiO's
- BQEYZ
- Reecho/Peacock

You need some representation from KZ - check out KZ ZAX -or- KZX (or both). KZ ZAX are very detailed and have great sound stage for the price. Running them 4.4mm is

Moondrop Starfields! Warm, smooth, detailed - love them.

iKKO OH-1s are pretty nice. V-shaped and bassy. Could splurge for the OH-10s.

 

[CT007]

I do still like my AS10! Pretty unique/interesting sound. I got the ZSN Pro recently, which is quite balanced and clear! Also have ATE, which is total trashballs lol.

 

[pjones5]

I do still like my AS10! Pretty unique/interesting sound. I got the ZSN Pro recently, which is quite balanced and clear! Also have ATE, which is total trashballs lol.

I got the ZSN Pro for my girlfriend, I like them, but the ZSX and ZAX are next level good. The ZAX were an endgame for me in terms of price and level neutral detail. Not everybody likes them, but I love them. I still play around with other lower mid range IEMs out there to see what’s new, but I always find myself going back to the ZAX. Though I did also just get the FH3s and those are very very good. Took some getting used to initially, but now they’re one of my favorites. I’m thinking about getting FiiO’s Bluetooth connector for those to use at the gym.

 

[CT007]

Yep, I got FH3 and all my other IEMs couldnt compete lol. Now here I am, after an FH3 super upgrade, just a short while later..! KZ seems to be slowly improving. Will be interesting to see how they sound once they break into the $100-200 range. Direct competition with Tin!

 

[baskingshark]

Yep, I got FH3 and all my other IEMs couldnt compete lol. Now here I am, after an FH3 super upgrade, just a short while later..! KZ seems to be slowly improving. Will be interesting to see how they sound once they break into the $100-200 range. Direct competition with Tin!

KZ weren't too successful with their attempts to try to attack the $100 USD market eg KZ AS16, KZ ASX. The reviews were not the best, you can check them out.

The general consensus in audio forums is that KZ is good for the sub $50 region, but not as great in the $100 region, partially cause of diminishing returns the higher up you go, and also cause the $100 market has very tough competition against other established big boys, and buyers at that market are more "discerning" due to the price.

 

[CT007]

and buyers at that market are more "discerning" due to the price.

God damn right, we are!!

 

[silent-circuit]

I don't agree that the nozzles on the Oxygen are a problem, and it's one of my favorite IEMs. Definitely worth a try.