[Wildcatsare1]

^Thanks!

 

[ljokerl]

Updated my IEM Buyer's Guide by sound signature here: http://theheadphonelist.com/earphone-buyers-guide/
 
New additions for 2015 include the DUNU DN-2000, Sennheiser Momentum In-Ear, Ostry KC06, and VSonic VSD3S. The older VSonic VSD1S has been removed.

 

[esteebin]

For those interested in the NHT SuperBuds, http://www.nhthifi.com/ has a 20% off sale President's day only.
 
Coupon code is $uperbud$
 
Edit: too bad the sale is not as good as the $50 introductory price...

 

[Ap616]

  Updated my IEM Buyer's Guide by sound signature here: http://theheadphonelist.com/earphone-buyers-guide/
 
New additions for 2015 include the DUNU DN-2000, Sennheiser Momentum In-Ear, Ostry KC06, and VSonic VSD3S. The older VSonic VSD1S has been removed.

I think the TTPOD T1-E should be on there at $30, joker. It would be right at home in the Warm and Smooth category, or possibly V-shaped. Good work on the updates; keep at it! 

 

[Inks]

I'll say the stuff Joker is missing that are really good deals are
 
T1E
Zero Audio Tenore
KEF M200
ATH-IM50/70 [for their build mostly but sound is solid]
 
and perhaps the Titan 1 and Zero Audio Duoza

 

[ljokerl]

  I'll say the stuff Joker is missing that are really good deals are
 
T1E
Zero Audio Tenore
KEF M200
ATH-IM50/70 [for their build mostly but sound is solid]
 
and perhaps the Titan 1 and Zero Audio Duoza

 
Thanks. The only one of these I have here is the Titan 1 but mine's imbalanced and the treble sounds a little off. Otherwise quite decent.
 
Agreed on the IM50, which is the only other one of these I've tried. 

 

[Inks]

Well as you can tell I haven't tried the Titans or Duozas, so can't say those for sure, just seem to be getting quite positive feedback, but you never know with new products.
 
I have tried the rest and I would say the Tenores are the best sounding of the bunch but also the ones with the worst strain reliefs and cable in terms of durability. 

 

[waynes world]

Well as you can tell I haven't tried the Titans or Duozas, so can't say those for sure, just seem to be getting quite positive feedback, but you never know with new products.

I have tried the rest and I would say the Tenores are the best sounding of the bunch but also the ones with the worst strain reliefs and cable in terms of durability. 

Yup, you need to try the douza's.

 

[ZapX629]

Yup, you need to try the douza's.

And the Audio Technica CKR9/10 which belong up there with the likes of the DN2000 et al.  

 

[ljokerl]

Added a review of the UBSOUND Fighter
 

   

(2C64) UBSOUND Fighter


Added Feb 2015

Fighter In-Ear Earphone from Italy-based UBSOUND
MSRP: $69.90 (manufacturer’s page)
Current Price: UK: £49 from Amazon UK; Italy: EUR 65 from Amazon.it; $85 from ebay.com (US distribution coming soon)
Specs: Driver: Dynamic | Imp: 32Ω | Sens: 92 dB | Freq: 20-20k Hz | Cable: 3.9′ I-plug w/mic & 1-button remote
Nozzle Size: 5.5mm | Preferred tips: Stock single-flanges
Wear Style: Straight down (preferred) or over-the-ear

Accessories (2/5) – Single-flange silicone tips (3 sizes) and drawstring carrying pouch
Build Quality (3.5/5) – The Fighter is a lightweight, aluminum IEM with a flat cable. There is a mic and 1-button remote on the cable, and the earpieces and I-plug are properly relieved. The raised L/R markings on the strain reliefs are difficult to see in low light
Isolation (3/5) – Average for an earphone of this type
Microphonics (3/5) – Bothersome when worn cable-down; good over-the-ear
Comfort (4/5) – The housings are longer than we’ve seen with other earphones that share this sort of flared shape, such as the RHA MA350 and Dunu Trident, but are surprisingly lightweight and comfortable. In smaller ears the outer diameter may be tricky to fit properly, but for most these should be just as comfortable as any other lightweight, straight-barrel IEM. Over-the-ear wear can be tricky because the flat cable lacks a cinch

Sound (7.6/10) – The UBSOUND Fighter is a bass-heavy in-ear earphone with a warm and smooth sound signature. The low end is well-extended, with a nice balance of sub-bass and mid-bass – exactly the kind of thing I like to hear from basshead IEMs. Control is also pretty good considering the bass quantity and mid-level price tag.

The midrange sounds somewhat recessed, as expected with this level of bass, and has only average clarity. A contributing factor on top of the dominant bass and midrange recession is an upper midrange dip. A dip like this is not uncommon among higher-end Balanced Armature-based earphones, as those often have detail and clarity to spare and just need to sound a little smoother, but it is not something often seen with bass-heavy dynamic-driver sets.

As a result, the Fighter has lower vocal intelligibility than similarly bass-heavy sets with a more v-shaped response – for instance the Brainwavz S1 - though there are many lower-end earphones that sound still muddier and more veiled through the midrange. The dip in the upper mid region has another effect – the Fighter sounds very smooth, which is most noticeable when comparing it to earphones that aren’t normally considered harsh, such as the Nuforce NE-700X. At higher volumes, its inherent smoothness can make the Fighter sound more natural despite sacrificing some clarity.

In fact, that’s the real asset of the Fighter – it is smooth and non-fatiguing even at high volumes, yet carries decent overall treble energy. The Fighter is far from the crispest, clearest-sounding IEM in its price range, but there are earphones with even warmer sound that - at reasonable listening volumes – tend to sound downright treble-deficient compared to the Fighter. The presentation of the Fighter, likewise, doesn’t have the greatest depth or air but is not small or overly congested.

Narmoo S1 ($45)

Compared to the NarMoo S1, an enhanced-bass earphone currently included in my Earphone Buyer’s Guide, the Fighter is similar only in the general sense of being quite bass-heavy. The S1 follows a more v-shaped sound signature with even punchier bass and brighter – but also harsher – treble. It is clearer and has a wider soundstage while the Fighter is smoother, which at times makes it sound more natural. The Fighter has more recessed mids, especially upper mids, and vocals sound less clear and intelligible as a result. However, it is much more forgiving of sibilance and maintains composure better at louder volumes.

Tekfusion Twinwoofers ($50)

The Twinwoofers from India-based Tekfusion are a better sound signature match for the Fighter than the NarMoo S1 but are not able to keep up with the UBSOUND in performance. The Twinwoofers have more bass, but also more bloat, sounding boomier as a result. The Fighter, while less bassy, is still quite impactful and has a similarly warm tone. Its mids are a little recessed compared to those of the Twinwoofers, but overall the Fighter is clearer, smoother, and more refined, making the Twinwoofers sound a little harsh in comparison. Overall, the Fighter is quite a bit better.

Beats by Dre Tour 2.0 ($150)

The second-generation Beats by Dre Tour is a respectable bass-heavy IEM, but does not have much of a performance advantage over the less expensive Fighter. The Tour is a little warmer overall thanks to a slightly larger mid-bass hump, whereas the Fighter is a little more balanced and neutral. The Fighter has better treble energy, yet is even less harsh and more forgiving than the Beats thanks to its upper midrange dip. The tuning is a two-sided sword, however, as the Fighter is also less clear as a result of that same dip. Overall, I ended up preferring the Beats at low-to-medium volumes but at highest volumes the smoother nature of the Fighter was a strong asset, allowing it to remain more natural-sounding.

Value (7.5/10) – The UBSOUND Fighter is a unique-looking, lightweight, surprisingly comfortable earphone with the caveat of a slightly microphonic flat cable. The performance of the earphones hinges on plentiful bass – not unusual in this price range – but sets itself apart with a smooth (perhaps even smoothed-over) sound courtesy of a recessed upper midrange. It is not a hallmark of balance and accuracy, but it was nearly impossible to extract any sort of harshness from the earphones, and just for that it’s likely to be a great match for many bass-loving listeners.

Pros: Bass-heavy and extremely smooth sound; lightweight and comfortable
Cons: Upper midrange dip leads to mediocre clarity; can be microphonic when worn cable-down; packaging and accessories pretty basic for the price

 
The latest IEM ranking can be found here.

 

[lilboozy]

@joker base quantity wise do the Apple Earpods have less or more bass than the Momentum In Ears?

 

[ForeverSymphony]

What about the Meelectronics M6 Pro? Quite a step up from the OG M6's, detachable cables, plenty of accessories, respectable build quality and after some burn in, quite a nice sound for the price ($50), thanks ljokerl. 

 

[ljokerl]

  @joker base quantity wise do the Apple Earpods have less or more bass than the Momentum In Ears?

 
Less. The Momentum is pretty bassy - not a bass monster, but I don't think anyone will find it lacking. 
 

  What about the Meelectronics M6 Pro? Quite a step up from the OG M6's, detachable cables, plenty of accessories, respectable build quality and after some burn in, quite a nice sound for the price ($50), thanks ljokerl. 

 
Not sure - I didn't try them at CES when I tried their new Pinnacle so no idea how they sound. The feature set is impressive for $50.

 

[gearofwar]

What a great thread; I have been owning JH13FP but up to this point, i do have to admit there are higher-end models, would be great to see if you could review Noble Kaiser 10 , Roxanne..

 

[heart banger-97]

Hello @joker , I'm thinking about a side grade to my w4r. An iem which is more suitable for my taste.
I've read your review of A83 and I liked it very much. You have compared it with w40. Do those comparisons between w40 and a83 hold true between w4r and a83?
 
I want an iem which has a little more air in its treble (currently I'm using sony hybrid tip with my w4r. w4r with silicon tips is way more veil) and a little more engaging and aggressive. vocals are great currently.  A little less bass is rewarding too.
 
 
Thank you for your help.