Sep 17, 2020 at 3:33 PM Post #2,523 of 5,427
My personal Ranking with iems I´ve tested
1) Legend X (Not only bass but a perfect iem with the right cable like Ego Audio Brandy (silver-gold)
2) Solaris SE (best allrounder)
3) Sony ex1000 (Still one of the best for Jazz and Classical Music)
4) Atlas (a great iem but not as acurrate as the Legend X)
5) Polaris 2 (Bass, Bass and more Bass)
6) Dunu 3001
7) Ibasso AM05 (Baby Andromeda)
8) IMR EDP (Great mids)
9) Blon bl03
 
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Sep 19, 2020 at 2:37 AM Post #2,525 of 5,427
Update:

1. Empire Ears Odin
2. 64 Audio U12T
3. Sony Z1R
4. 64 Audio Tia Trio
5. Vision Ears VE8
6. Hidition Viento-B
7. Campfire Andromeda MW10
8. Shure KSE1200
9. Unique Melody MEST
10. QDC Anole VX

Decided to move the LCDi4 off the Top 10 to make room for the Vision Ears VE8.

VE8 Impressions:
- very natural timbre, almost life-like
- can get a little dull though, not exciting dynamics like the U12T, MW10 or MEST
- upper mids are not boosted, so if you like hearing euphonic female vocals, this is not for you
- that being said, vocals are very realistic and tonality is spot on - male and female vocals are equally well represented
- bass is fairly light and neutral imo, great if you want quality bass, not great if you want slam and authority
- treble is damn well defined and doesn't spike hard like the U12T or Andromedas
- stage is a little above average, with Andros being the widest and VX being the smallest - has the "3D effect" similar to Odin/Trio/MEST. Tons of depth
- definitely warmth injected into the overall sound signature, particularly in the lower mids. Makes for very easy listening
- imaging is pretty incredible as is resolution. I get the same "living in a daydream" effect as I get from the KSE1200
- fit is excellent, as good as QDC stuff imo

Listening was done off my WM1A w/ a custom pure silver cable in 4.4mm which I find helps w/ the warmth a little.

Conclusion: Imo, almost as good technical ability as VX except sounds tonally much better. Probably the best "warm neutral" iems out there.

P.S. Also tried the Elysium, but overall, could not listen to it long bc of poor fit. Also, not a fan of the sound signature. Will listen to it more over the weekend and see.
 
Sep 19, 2020 at 2:55 AM Post #2,527 of 5,427
Update:

1. Empire Ears Odin
2. 64 Audio U12T
3. Sony Z1R
4. 64 Audio Tia Trio
5. Vision Ears VE8
6. Hidition Viento-B
7. Campfire Andromeda MW10
8. Shure KSE1200
9. Unique Melody MEST
10. QDC Anole VX

Decided to move the LCDi4 off the Top 10 to make room for the Vision Ears VE8.

VE8 Impressions:
- very natural timbre, almost life-like
- can get a little dull though, not exciting dynamics like the U12T, MW10 or MEST
- upper mids are not boosted, so if you like hearing euphonic female vocals, this is not for you
- that being said, vocals are very realistic and tonality is spot on - male and female vocals are equally well represented
- bass is fairly light and neutral imo, great if you want quality bass, not great if you want slam and authority
- treble is damn well defined and doesn't spike hard like the U12T or Andromedas
- stage is a little above average, with Andros being the widest and VX being the smallest - has the "3D effect" similar to Odin/Trio/MEST. Tons of depth
- definitely warmth injected into the overall sound signature, particularly in the lower mids. Makes for very easy listening
- imaging is pretty incredible as is resolution. I get the same "living in a daydream" effect as I get from the KSE1200
- fit is excellent, as good as QDC stuff imo

Listening was done off my WM1A w/ a custom pure silver cable in 4.4mm which I find helps w/ the warmth a little.

Conclusion: Imo, almost as good technical ability as VX except sounds tonally much better. Probably the best "warm neutral" iems out there.

P.S. Also tried the Elysium, but overall, could not listen to it long bc of poor fit. Also, not a fan of the sound signature. Will listen to it more over the weekend and see.

Your description of the VE8 is exactly why I love them lol.
 
Sep 19, 2020 at 8:27 PM Post #2,528 of 5,427
My personal iem ranking based on what I have owned/tried (quite new to this hobby, haven’t heard or tried many brands yet)

1) Sony IER-Z1R (Personal Unit) - Amazing bass, treble, soundstage and imaging. The best bass ever heard on iem. Don’t know why males vocal sound not as good as female vocals though. Overall my favorite so far and I like it just a bit more than U12T because the amazing bass just make the music sounds more engaging. The drawback are heavy, big size, although they fit my ear quite well but still less comfortable than other iem on this list. [Haven’t tried Thummim, Odin, Erlkonig, Sultan, King Arthur, KSE 1500, Anole VX, Fourte Nior and other high end / TOTL so don’t know if those will be better, if have a chance to demoed will put them on this list]

2) 64 Audio U12T (demoed at 64 Audio distributor office in Thailand) - Great bass for BA but still not match Z1R, very nice tonality and good balance. mids & highs sounds very pleasing.

3) 64 Audio Tia Trio (demoed at 64....) - very nice but like the U12T a bit more

4) 64 Audio U18T (demoed at 64....) - great technical, separation, detailed and good layers but sound a little flat and dry, less musical than U12T and Tia Trio

5) Campfire Andromeda 2020 (Personal Unit) - maybe lacking a bit bass but overall sounds very clear and pleasing

6) 64 Audio Tia Fourte (demoed at 64....) - Super detailed and technical but don’t like how vocals sounded

7) Campfire Solaris (gold one not 2020 (demoed off my friend unit) - overall sounds good but dislike the presentation of the mids



Gap



8) Shure SE535 (Personal Unit) - good for thai pop music, very prominent vocals on pop tracks

9) TFZ Queen (Personal Unit) - very pleasing for vocals especially female, nice bass, I think I prefer this sound sig

10) Moondrop Starfield (Personal Unit) - more technical and detail especially on upper region then SE535 and Queen but not my prefer sound sig

Small Gap

11) TFZ Tequila (Personal Unit - mid sounds meh but a fun v shape sound with quite wide soundstage. Sounds airy because it’s semi open iem.

12) Shure SE215 (demoed off my brother unit) - good all rounder but find it a bit boring

13) KZ ZS10 (Personal unit) - nice starter iem better than free AKG iem given with Samsung phone, overall good tonality

14) AirPod Pros (demoed off my brother unit) - Does something good , but something meh but my brother swear by it





Large Gap





15) Denon brand iem given as free iem with purchase of Nokia phone (Personal Unit) - overall ok but very bad timbre some instruments sound very poorly unrealistic and harsh

16) AKG iem given with Samsung phone - better than nothing
 
Sep 21, 2020 at 10:02 AM Post #2,529 of 5,427
Haven't heard nearly as many as you fine folks, but...

1) Campfire Andromeda 2019

LARGE GAP

2) Campfire Orion CK
3) JVC HA-FDX1
4) Moondrop Starfield
5) KZ ZS10 Pro
6) Tin T2

The Andromedas really live up to the hype. I kept trying to get them to fail at something, and all they failed at was failing at something. I think I might actually understand separation now.
 
Sep 21, 2020 at 10:34 AM Post #2,530 of 5,427
Haven't heard nearly as many as you fine folks, but...

1) Campfire Andromeda 2019

LARGE GAP

2) Campfire Orion CK
3) JVC HA-FDX1
4) Moondrop Starfield
5) KZ ZS10 Pro
6) Tin T2

The Andromedas really live up to the hype. I kept trying to get them to fail at something, and all they failed at was failing at something. I think I might actually understand separation now.
There's a reason they call the Andromeda the 'gateway drug' to high-end IEMs. It gives you a taste of what's possible for 'reasonable' money, then makes you want more, more, more...
 
Sep 21, 2020 at 10:38 AM Post #2,531 of 5,427
There's a reason they call the Andromeda the 'gateway drug' to high-end IEMs. It gives you a taste of what's possible for 'reasonable' money, then makes you want more, more, more...
It always starts with an Andromeda...
 
Sep 21, 2020 at 10:42 AM Post #2,532 of 5,427
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Sep 21, 2020 at 10:45 AM Post #2,533 of 5,427
There's a reason they call the Andromeda the 'gateway drug' to high-end IEMs. It gives you a taste of what's possible for 'reasonable' money, then makes you want more, more, more...

I fell victim to this. Started with an andromeda in sept ‘17 and ended up owning a Tia Fourte in December.
 
Sep 21, 2020 at 10:58 AM Post #2,534 of 5,427
i feel like my first uiem i bought by reading stuff here back in August 2010 (a 100$ Hifiman RE-Zero) was the getaway drug

the (c)iems that followed were just me upping the dosage , fooling myself that everything was under control

sure, it took me 7 years to go from the $100 Hifiman RE-Zero to the 2400$ EE Zeus XR , but still upgraditis was always there lurking in the shadows and laughing with my inability to show i am the boss

Luckily , i have stayed put those last 3.5 years but this has probably more to do than i am broke usually and I would need to spend 3-4K to get a significant sonic upgrade from Zeus, than me getting wise (and sane)
 
Sep 21, 2020 at 11:05 AM Post #2,535 of 5,427
i feel like my first uiem i bought by reading stuff here back in August 2010 (a 100$ Hifiman RE-Zero) was the getaway drug

the (c)iems that followed were just me upping the dosage , fooling myself that everything was under control

sure, it took me 7 years to go from the $100 Hifiman RE-Zero to the 2400$ EE Zeus XR , but still upgraditis was always there lurking in the shadows and laughing with my inability to show i am the boss

Luckily , i have stayed put those last 3.5 years but this has probably more to do than i am broke usually and I would need to spend 3-4K to get a significant sonic upgrade from Zeus, than me getting wise (and sane)
Oh man, I had a re-0 or one of it's variants way back when. Not sure what happened to it... I definitely didn't sell it, but I have absolutely no idea where it might be. It wasn't my favorite signature (was really bass light) but it was so detailed and revealing compared to the other crap I had listened to before then. And so tiny and portable...

I think I may finally be at my (likely temporary) end with the 64 nio. They are very clearly not the most technical or best performers out there, but yea in satisfied. Ingot through periods where I just wanna try new stuff, but to what end?

Still have never managed to actually hear the andromeda though after all this time (and money), unless the andromeda gold counts, which I don't think it does.
 

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