1. CA Vega 2020: This is the only easy choice in my rankings. I really enjoy all my gear but these iems are my favorite things ever! I originally had these tucked away as a guilty pleasure listen but after a year I can't get enough of these things and they easily get 75% of my daily use. Also, I'm a basshead and they don't disappoint on that front.
2. CA Onyx: A great compliment to the Vegas for me. This ranking may be more recency bias but they're great for doing stuff where music isn't at the forefront but still matters. I use them for the gym, doing chores around the house, morning walks... the most comfortable iems I've ever worn.
3. ZMF Atticus: My go-to for hanging at the house and listening to vinyl. I'd love to upgrade to the VC stabilized/resin at one point if ever, but these things sound amazing and the build quality is amazing.
4. HFM Ananda: My go-to for movies. Very amp-dependent but these sound amazing when properly paired. I'm not really a headphone person, I prefer bassy iems over anything, but these sound beautiful even if the voicing isn't the most natural.
5. CA Mammoth: They glow in the dark and are a ton of fun to listen to. I took a walk downtown in fresh fallen snow listening to these last week. Perfect!
6. CA Cascades: OK, I admit... I'm a Campfire fanboy, Oregonians unite! lol. I don't use these that much since I haven't travelled any significant distance since the pandemic started. They sound like the best headphones ever made about 10% of the time but mostly they're very solid basshead cans. They do get a little hot with "S's" and a few high frequencies for my taste. Wish they had a more comfortable headband and CA offered small and large suede pads. I think CA missed a really great opportunity with accessories and upgrades on this product but I still reach for them occasionally. Mine are a little beat up and are worth more to me on a personal level than what I can get monetarily for them.
7. CA Honeydew. Probably a recency bias thing again since I've had the Onyxs. These could easily be #2 on the list but I feel like the Onyx is a better overall performer at a lower price-point. And they're limited edition so that makes me appreciate them a bit more. These sound incredible for natural voicing and the midrange sounds like perfectly whipped buttery goodness. Hands down the best I've heard for audiobooks and ambient music. Unfortunately kick drums can completely take over a track and while being fun, the bass can get a little out of control at times. These are a very beautiful sounding iem with certain tracks and have that ability to immerse you into a different world.
I'm stoked on my current collection. It's a 5-way battle for #3 to be honest. Also, I love this thread! It's very cool seeing how different we all are even as audiophiles or appreciators of music making devices.
