Jumping in And what to start at the end

[josh0001]

First of all thanks for letting me get in, I've already read some articles and its seams like a fun and engaging community without too much animosity to one another.

As said in the title I am trying to get in to the Hifi listening expiring but am hitting brick wall after brick wall.
I started of with the Fiio FD5, great bass but not really as precise as I wished for since I compared them with the campire IO (still in my Hifi infancy, I thought that was amazing resolution lol). So...I started looking for a mix between Fiio FD5 and IO so I bought the Campfire Andromeda Andromeda. I Fell in love with the imaging, detail, and sound stage but was missing the bass response. Next I tried my luck with the popular choice, the Blessing 2 Dusk. One problem...it wouldn't fit without me enlarging my ear with a drill bit so that was a no go. My last attempt were the XENNS UP, great resolution and bass though the later a bit to strong, but I was still craving the imaging and the resolution of the Andromeda...I swear I wish I could just take the Andromeda and squish in a DD.

Any how, I'm now looking at he Monarch MKII or the UM MEST MKII (custom to get the best out of the BC driver) but Im not sure which would be best and I really what to be done and have the IEM with which to waist away the day with all the best tracks. What do you suggest, monarch or MEST? dose the Mest justify the 700.- difference or rather not? is there anything better in that price range you have you're eye on or have you've given your hart to?

Best Josh

 

[One Fan To Another]

Well, I can't speak to the MEST, but I can tell you that the Monarch MKII is the single best IEM I've ever heard. While I do own a number of sets of headphones/earphones the Monarch MKII is the only above-$400 earphones I've owned (I own more expensive headphones), but straight out of the box I thought, "Yep, end-game right here." Keep in mind, as you likely already have read many times, people put audio devices in two basic camps: "Fun" and "reference". The Monarch MKII leans more toward reference than fun. The first Monarch was 'too' reference for some people, so Thieaudio sprinkled in some 'fun' and called it the Monarch MKII.

I usually have to tune the hell out of every audio device I buy but the Monarch MKII, even just on my iFi Zen-DAC/Zen-amp combo, is as good as I need.....

.....until the next itch needs scratching.....

 

[IDrinkLava]

It sounds like you're falling into the common audiophile mistake of buying more expensive headphones (or in-ears in this case) as different EQ presets. Instead of buying more and more expensive products in a short time frame, why not experiment with EQ software and listen for what sound signature you really like? A headphone that sounds the best to you is worth more than any "holographic soundstage" or "instrument separation" that unwilling salespeople hype up.

 

[One Fan To Another]

It sounds like you're falling into the common audiophile mistake of buying more expensive headphones (or in-ears in this case) as different EQ presets. Instead of buying more and more expensive products in a short time frame, why not experiment with EQ software and listen for what sound signature you really like? A headphone that sounds the best to you is worth more than any "holographic soundstage" or "instrument separation" that unwilling salespeople hype up.

This is the best advice, of course. I thought the FH3 sounded pretty bad - then I EQ'd it and now it's my daily driver (though, I think the Timeless will replace it). I thought the ESP950 left much to be desired - then I slapped a BBE Sonic Maximizer I had laying around on it and now it's my go to for gaming and watching movies. Etc.

 

[earmonger]

Keep in mind that if you do get custom, you'll have very limited resale value.

 

[IDrinkLava]

This is going to sound counterproductive, but I think the path most audiophiles should take is to actually downgrade, not upgrade. Every audiophile ends up in a routine where they save up more money for more expensive upgrades, but honestly I've learned so much more just from experimenting with cheap stuff that I don't have to worry about breaking.

There were times where I owned the Moondrop Blessing 2, the JVC HA-FDX1, and the ER4SR. I thought each one was better than the last, but I always felt like I was missing something from each one as well. I found some interesting advice about shorter eartips reducing treble from the Lypertek Tevi review on Oluv's Gadgets. I tried some short eartips made for the Samsung Galaxy Buds on the Sony MH750s I bought out of curiosity and they wound up fixing all the problems I had with them. I thought the poor imaging and harsh treble were just because the drivers were cheap and low-resolution, but it turns out I just wasn't getting a proper seal with any of the 3 included eartip sizes. The Sony MH750s actually sounded just as good to me as the $250-$350 in-ears I tried, but without any of the flaws.

If I had listened to audiophile communities, they would've convinced me to keep buying more and more expensive IEMs to get "better imaging" and "higher detail". The unfortunate reality of the audiophile community is that it clouds common sense behind esoteric solutions. The only real way to learn the truth about how audio works is to experiment for yourself.

 

[Redcarmoose]

I don’t have any IEMs suggestions for you? Though much of this comes down to learning your own sound signature. Though even with that known, many of us will oscillate between one sound signature or another finding favorites after a year of personal ownership. Also keep in mind how important fit is as well as IEM tips. I found absolute gems in my collection just by simply changing IEM tips. So much of this gets overlooked due to not realizing how different tips change the sound.

Typically we use one IEM for a month when all of a sudden something changes? I fully don’t understand this but much of the time getting a slight midrange boost or treble boost (from tips) will enable the listener to settle back and not question audio replay.

Once you found your IEM you can concentrate on music as the IEM perception falls away. You are left with just music.

Also DAPs can affect the experience. You may read about someone finding an IEM too trebleish only to change to a warmer DAP as the vehicle to success!

It turns out there are also IEMs that do all genres well but are not particularly great at any one style of music. Still after you have got used to the slight drawbacks to an IEM, they can become less noticeable as time goes on. Meaning you can like an IEM that is well rounded, but not super special at any one genre.

With that said, acclimation is a huge thing. As it isn’t necessarily the great things the new IEM does, but how fact you can get used to your brain telling you it does stuff wrong. When in reality it could be doing stuff well, it’s just different.

That is why acclimating to the new IEM is so tricky at times, especially if is super different from the last one you heard. There is no perfect IEM but there is one that can be very close to perfect for you.

 

[josh0001]

Well, I can't speak to the MEST, but I can tell you that the Monarch MKII is the single best IEM I've ever heard. While I do own a number of sets of headphones/earphones the Monarch MKII is the only above-$400 earphones I've owned (I own more expensive headphones), but straight out of the box I thought, "Yep, end-game right here." Keep in mind, as you likely already have read many times, people put audio devices in two basic camps: "Fun" and "reference". The Monarch MKII leans more toward reference than fun. The first Monarch was 'too' reference for some people, so Thieaudio sprinkled in some 'fun' and called it the Monarch MKII.

I usually have to tune the hell out of every audio device I buy but the Monarch MKII, even just on my iFi Zen-DAC/Zen-amp combo, is as good as I need.....

.....until the next itch needs scratching.....

Thanks to your advice I made some more test and ended with pulling the trigger on them. I might get the DUNO SA6 to have something smother and less reference but I'm quite exited. Thanks for the good advise

 

[josh0001]

It sounds like you're falling into the common audiophile mistake of buying more expensive headphones (or in-ears in this case) as different EQ presets. Instead of buying more and more expensive products in a short time frame, why not experiment with EQ software and listen for what sound signature you really like? A headphone that sounds the best to you is worth more than any "holographic soundstage" or "instrument separation" that unwilling salespeople hype up.

Sure sure. I'm not jumping blind. Ive tested more or les 15 IEM's but since I live in a small country getting access to a lot of IEM's is just not possible, never mind for testing puppies. Ive tested two for 20.-, 5 fro 150ish and above with 2 over 1000.- and as you say price Isn't equal to quality be that sound or product quality. I've got them In my sights because I think that after trying the CA Andromeda, Blessing II Dusk and the XENNS Up they seem to cover what I'm looking for. I have no Idea how to eq and since I'm in the apple ecositsem all eq software sucks and usually is quit expensive so I'd rather spend once a little more and be done with it.

 

[josh0001]

Keep in mind that if you do get custom, you'll have very limited resale value.

true that's a big worry on going custom but I often have problems with IEM's to the point were I can't listen to them because of me not being able to get the right insertion depth. Now I bought the Monarch MKII and some spin fit tips so I hope better tips might help.

 

[josh0001]

This is going to sound counterproductive, but I think the path most audiophiles should take is to actually downgrade, not upgrade. Every audiophile ends up in a routine where they save up more money for more expensive upgrades, but honestly I've learned so much more just from experimenting with cheap stuff that I don't have to worry about breaking.

There were times where I owned the Moondrop Blessing 2, the JVC HA-FDX1, and the ER4SR. I thought each one was better than the last, but I always felt like I was missing something from each one as well. I found some interesting advice about shorter eartips reducing treble from the Lypertek Tevi review on Oluv's Gadgets. I tried some short eartips made for the Samsung Galaxy Buds on the Sony MH750s I bought out of curiosity and they wound up fixing all the problems I had with them. I thought the poor imaging and harsh treble were just because the drivers were cheap and low-resolution, but it turns out I just wasn't getting a proper seal with any of the 3 included eartip sizes. The Sony MH750s actually sounded just as good to me as the $250-$350 in-ears I tried, but without any of the flaws.

If I had listened to audiophile communities, they would've convinced me to keep buying more and more expensive IEMs to get "better imaging" and "higher detail". The unfortunate reality of the audiophile community is that it clouds common sense behind esoteric solutions. The only real way to learn the truth about how audio works is to experiment for yourself.

Your decently right. I tried the Blessing dusk and the aren't to far from some 600-700 IEM's to the point were It's a Jocke that people go for them rather than the cheaper stuf. I also tried the JVC HA FDX1 but I guess I'm treble sensitive since no kind of dampening helped, not even the blue tips. But I have to say that they had some of the best bass I have here'd up until now. Including the XENNS UP.
The advice bought shorter air tips Is great! thanks for that!
I often think that talk of how the pieces around the driver and how they effect sond is snake oil kinda stuff. With ear tips this is different. I don't believe in burn in beyond 10-20 h and either do I believe that a DAC is needed for most (99.9%) of IEM's. Ear tips are different and I first noticed this with the CA Andromeda, tip swiping changed a lot. Not to the point were the IEM got bad if good or the other way around but enough to say that the sound was worth the price and then not at all anymore.
I'd like to find someone that can make custom ear tips but I don't even know if there is such a thing.

I defiantly agree with you and believe that the first diminishing returns start at 300, the next hit in my opinion is at 600-700 and I'd say I wouldn't go over 1500.- on any day. And as you say It's all about personal preferences so you might want coherence and a second person carse more for sound stage.

Anyway thanks for the answer/warning and the good examples

 

[earmonger]

EQMac is an equalizer app with a free tier on Mac, in case you want to play around with EQ.

 

[josh0001]

I don’t have any IEMs suggestions for you? Though much of this comes down to learning your own sound signature. Though even with that known, many of us will oscillate between one sound signature or another finding favorites after a year of personal ownership. Also keep in mind how important fit is as well as IEM tips. I found absolute gems in my collection just by simply changing IEM tips. So much of this gets overlooked due to not realizing how different tips change the sound.

Typically we use one IEM for a month when all of a sudden something changes? I fully don’t understand this but much of the time getting a slight midrange boost or treble boost (from tips) will enable the listener to settle back and not question audio replay.

Once you found your IEM you can concentrate on music as the IEM perception falls away. You are left with just music.

Also DAPs can affect the experience. You may read about someone finding an IEM too trebleish only to change to a warmer DAP as the vehicle to success!

It turns out there are also IEMs that do all genres well but are not particularly great at any one style of music. Still after you have got used to the slight drawbacks to an IEM, they can become less noticeable as time goes on. Meaning you can like an IEM that is well rounded, but not super special at any one genre.

With that said, acclimation is a huge thing. As it isn’t necessarily the great things the new IEM does, but how fact you can get used to your brain telling you it does stuff wrong. When in reality it could be doing stuff well, it’s just different.

That is why acclimating to the new IEM is so tricky at times, especially if is super different from the last one you heard. There is no perfect IEM but there is one that can be very close to perfect for you.

I totally agree when you say that ear tips selection is important: I might go even so far to say that its a s critical as finding the IEM with the fitting signature to your tastes.

My problem is that finding the right IEM signature is hard. A graph helps but isn't really indicative of sound. Since I live in a small country demoing isn't a real possibility.

Yes library definitely might be as important to listening pleasure as all the aforementioned elements.

Acclimationg Is a real problem and I believe that's a big reason why a lot of people start by only looking for a good IEM and end up making it a hobby. Always hunting for the big jump from AirPods to IEM's which is hard to come by and therefore often ends in disappointment or frustration with the hobby it self.

 

[josh0001]

EQMac is an equalizer app with a free tier on Mac, in case you want to play around with EQ.

never heard of It but I'll decently give it a try If it isn't to expensive. thank's!

 

[Redcarmoose]

I totally agree when you say that ear tips selection is important: I might go even so far to say that its a s critical as finding the IEM with the fitting signature to your tastes.

My problem is that finding the right IEM signature is hard. A graph helps but isn't really indicative of sound. Since I live in a small country demoing isn't a real possibility.

Yes library definitely might be as important to listening pleasure as all the aforementioned elements.

Acclimationg Is a real problem and I believe that's a big reason why a lot of people start by only looking for a good IEM and end up making it a hobby. Always hunting for the big jump from AirPods to IEM's which is hard to come by and therefore often ends in disappointment or frustration with the hobby it self.

Yes, funny I decided to buy my favorite 2 IEMs actually before listening and did a 5 minute listen upon time of purchase. The thing is is you can learn a lot from peoples reviews. But more than that if you’re reading a really good and accurate review, you just kind of know what they are trying to say. Not always, but my main purchases have been that way, almost instinctively?