Personal Favorites
It's been almost a year to the day I purchased my first real IEM, and wow, what a ride it's been. I still fondly recall thinking to myself, "Dang. Why's this stuff so expensive? And who drops $500, much less upwards of $2000 on an IEM?!" not too long ago. Well, the results have been...surprising, to say the least. Never would I have imagined that I'd get to hear half the stuff that I have (60+ IEMs at this point!), get to know so many awesome, fellow hobbyists, much less land a job writing about what I like doing. And speaking of that job, I believe we're going to be making a tier-list of sorts soon for our favorite headphones/IEMs.
Which got me thinking...what do I actually like? After a couple of busts (looking at you, Noble X and Moondrop B1), I got
real picky about the stuff that I was buying. And unfortunately, to my ears, most of the stuff that I hear - even the flagship stuff - is pretty average to mediocre; I have a tendency to cycle through stuff I don't like pretty quick. But amidst the plethora criticisms that I spew in my reviews and this thread, what follows are my current, favorite IEMs that I struggle to knock, that I fall back on time and time again. I think some of my picks are a bit cookie-cutter, but good ones nonetheless. No need to agree as usual, and I make no claims that this is any way objective! They're not ranked by technicalities, tonality, order, or anything of the sort specifically. I'll probably update this list going forward in the future as well.
64 Audio U12t
Yeah, you already knew this would be making the list. The U12t follows what would be pretty close to my ideal target curve: a strong sub-bass emphasis, a linear midrange, and an easy-on-the-ears yet superbly extended treble response. The 2-5kHz dip to the upper-midrange is my favorite part of the tuning, begetting an unprecedented sense of depth I’ve not heard in another IEM; the U12t excels at projecting the center image, making it feel like the vocalist is actually there in front of you. Intangibly, the U12t also knows no equal to my ears. While I don’t think the U12t is the most uber-crisp IEM, as there’s a certain softness to its transient attack, the U12t’s macrodynamic ability, layering, and BA bass are all top-notch. There's not much else that hasn't been said before, but make no mistake that the U12t is one of the best, if not
the best, BA IEMs on the market if only by virtue of how well-rounded it is. It likewise remains my top recommendation whenever I get asked which flagship IEM I'd buy.
64 Audio Nio
While the Nio doesn’t quite graph like the U12t on paper, intangibly they share a lot of the same traits from 64 Audio’s signature imaging to the soft, easy-on-the-ears transient attack. The main allure of the Nio, though, is its DD subwoofer. It’s not the cleanest - in fact it’s almost downright dirty - but it’s the good, raw kind of dirty that comes from a juicy subbass shelf. The Nio’s midrange is thick, and the treble more laidback if not well-extended. This has some consequences such as sheer resolution taking a hit, and the Nio struggling with layering at times. Of course, that’s where the MX module comes in, as much as it’s really not to my preferences. And this effect, while the Nio’s not the most coherent or technical IEM at the flagship level, it’s a solid IEM that I think many will appreciate given its flexibility with the Apex modules.
Campfire Andromeda 2020
It’s no U12t and I can’t speak for previous iterations of the Andromeda, but the Andromeda
2020, at least, is a standout IEM in the kilobuck bracket. The tonality is something of a W-shape with a similar 2kHz ear gain and subsequent 2-5kHz dip as the U12t. I didn’t appreciate the treble enough when I had the Andromeda 2020; it’s some of the most crisp and well-extended treble out there. I
would, however, cut some of that lower-midrange presence which exhibits a poor juxtaposition between overly thick and hollow thanks to the Andromeda 2020’s lack of transient density. And along these lines, intangibly, the Andromeda 2020 falls prey to many common BA IEM pitfalls: Textureless and anemic bass, generally compressed macrodynamics, and static microdynamics in the midrange. But the imaging, oh man, it’s to die for. The Andromeda 2020 is one of the few, truly holographic IEMs, and coupled with its sheer ability to diffuse the image and stellar layering chops, makes for my favorite kilobuck IEM. Campfire may get a lot of ****, but you won't hear me saying this IEM is anything short of excellent.
Dunu SA6
This is probably the weakest link on the list for my preferences, but what strikes me as impressive is just how darn solid the SA6 is all-round. The tonality is very good, something close to neutral or slightly U-shaped. Bass is certainly above average for a BA IEM, presenting dynamic slam and texture in moderation at the expense of some transient attack thanks to the vented subwoofers. The midrange is solid, never entering sibilance, if not being somewhat unnaturally forward at times due to the 4.5kHz peak. Treble...I think it might have a bit too much mid-treble; there's a sort of unevenness given the lower treble dip, but I'll need more listening time to fully assess it. While the SA6 also won't be taking home any awards for technicalities, as it does seem to struggle with layering, it's a competent performer. Dynamic contrast, in particular, is impressive given the price point. The SA6 is a worthy step over the Moondrop B2 which I had far too many issues with in retrospect (but I'd hang onto your B2 if you already have one). And while I don't think the SA6 is an IEM I'll enjoy as much in the long run, it stands as one of the most solid IEMs in its price-bracket.
Moondrop KXXS
While this IEM doesn’t see as much ear time from me these days, I’ll always have a soft spot for it. The KXXS follows a Harman-esque tuning with a good deal of subbass, an upper-midrange emphasis, and a fairly subdued treble response. It can come off a bit bright, and my own preferences have shifted from 3kHz ear gains, but make no mistake that the KXXS is a very pleasing IEM tonally. Technical performance is fairly middling, perhaps decent for its price-bracket. In particular, the KXXS struggles with transient attack in the mid-bass (there’s a certain pillowy-ness to hits); this in tandem with the more laidback treble lends itself to a warmer, less-engaging listen. But that's of no ill consequence; I enjoy the timbral coloration plus DD timbre a good deal. The KXXS, KXXX, Starfield, whatever. They all sound nigh identical (although you
do get slighted with the waifu packaging on the Starfield), and the KXXS is one of the best all-rounders money can buy under $200.
Sony IER-Z1R
It’s been too long since I’ve heard the IER-Z1R, but whatever, it’s making the list anyways. The IER-Z1R’s tuning is something of a mild V-shape. The bass,
damn, is hands-down the best bass I’ve heard in an IEM. The transients are exceptionally dense, and sheer dynamic slam, texturing, it’s all there - perhaps even more notably, never bloating. The midrange and treble of the IER-Z1R don’t fare as well in retrospect, though. There is an unpleasant grittiness and dip to the lower-midrange, and the IER-Z1R’s treble is characterized by heavy amounts of lower-treble impact which can get fatiguing over extended listening. So yeah - not the most well-tuned IEM in my opinion. Indeed, what really carries the IER-Z1R into top-tier status is its intangibles. Despite transient attack being skewed to the slower side of things, there is a certain density to the IER-Z1R’s transients which makes it seem incredibly resolving (it’s not, by the way). And the overall presentation, oh my. There’s just something incredible about the way the IER-Z1R images - I’m inclined to say its mostly soundstage height, which most IEMs lack - that simply makes you feel like a king. You either like the IER-Z1R or you don’t; if you do, you’d better hope that your ears are deemed worthy cuz it's a chonker.
