[JoeDoe]

Tralucent Audio 1Plus2

Rooth LS5X

Fischer Amps FA-4E XB

Heir Audio 5.0

KEF M200

Ostry KC06A   

Ortofon e-Q5

Sony SBH80

Sony MH1

EarSonics SM64 v2 

Unique Melody 3X 

HiFiMAN RE-600 

Logitech UE 900

Yamaha EPH-100

Audio-Technica ATH-CKS1000

KZ IE-80

Apple EarPods 

Moxpad X3

Vsonic R02 Pro II

Vsonic R01

Why does the SM64 fall so far down on the list?

 

[maricius]

   
 
It has some upper mid/ lower treble harshness, but otherwise yeah it really is. Crazy, crazy detailed, transparent, and open sounding.

 
Is this even after it's been burned in? Do you know if it's different in the not Van Den Hul cable version?

 

[redrising98]

Based on overall sound quality:
W40 > SM64 > W3 > PFE 122 = BA200 > KEF M200 > HF3 > mono8320
 
Personal preference though (bolded are still with me):
W40 >> BA200 = PFE 122 >> SM64 > W3 = KEF M200 > HF3 > mono8320

 

[tracyca]

Shure se 846
ASG-2 stealth
Westone 4r
MTPC
MTPG
Trumpets

I tell you ASG-2 with DHC silver Litz cable , off the hook!

 

[fnkcow]

Why does the SM64 fall so far down on the list?

It's still a very capable IEM, just my personal sound signature preference. I tend to favour neutral to slightly bright rather than dark sounding. 

 

[cn11]

   
Is this even after it's been burned in? Do you know if it's different in the not Van Den Hul cable version?

 
Yeah, even with some burn in. I've got probably 50-60 hours on my pair so far. Hoping more like 200 hours tames it down some more. And yeah, I have the Van Den Hul cabled factory Truth version, nothing unique or different about my pair. 

 

[maricius]

   
Yeah, even with some burn in. I've got probably 50-60 hours on my pair so far. Hoping more like 200 hours tames it down some more. And yeah, I have the Van Den Hul cabled factory Truth version, nothing unique or different about my pair. 

 
Quite hoping it does tame too. Good luck cn11 (now there are talks of a balanced version)… so much for non-replaceable cables.

 

[rc3ilynt]

Personal Preference
 
JVC FX-700 >= Shure SE535LTD > Audio-Technica ATH-CK100PRO > etymotic ER-4PT > Logitech TF10

 

[Noobmachine]

A new list of mine, listed in order of personal preference:

DITA Answer
Sennheiser IE80
Roxanne (UIEM)
Shure SE846
Final Audio Heaven VI/V
Heir 8.A (from memory)
GR07
Shure 535 RED
Sound magic E10

 

[cn11]

A new list of mine, listed in order of personal preference:

DITA Answer
Sennheiser IE80
Roxanne (UIEM)
Shure SE846
Final Audio Heaven VI/V
Heir 8.A (from memory)
GR07
Shure 535 RED
Sound magic E10

 
The Dita Answer must seem like a drink of crystalline water after the IE80 from how I recall it sounding in the past....

 

[truckdriver]

   
The Dita Answer must seem like a drink of crystalline water after the IE80 from how I recall it sounding in the past....

 
I think you have to consider the fact that this particular IE80 is ranked higher than the much heralded Roxanne. I love Headfi.....

 

[Grayson73]

Zero Audio Carbo Tenore ZH-DX200
KEF M200
Philips Fidelio S2
TDK BA200
Monster Gratitude
Xiaomi Piston 2.0 (remove foam mod)
VSonic GR07 MK2
Zero Audio Carbo Basso ZH-DX210
NuForce NE-700X - new and improved version
Hifiman RE-400
Astrotec AX30
MEElectronics A161P
Audio Technica ATH-CKN70
Philips SHE3590
Hifiman RE2

 

[Atronach]

  Zero Audio Carbo Tenore ZH-DX200
KEF M200
Philips Fidelio S2
TDK BA200
Monster Gratitude
Xiaomi Piston 2.0
VSonic GR07 MK2
Zero Audio Carbo Basso ZH-DX210
NuForce NE-700X - new and improved version
Hifiman RE-400
Astrotec AX30
MEElectronics A161P
Audio Technica ATH-CKN70
Philips SHE3590
Hifiman RE2

Thanks for sharing this. It's really tempting to buy tenore after seeing it on the top of your list (and also because it's cheaper than most of IEMs below). I wouldn't expect Piston to be above GR07, Basso and RE-400 but I have never heard any single one of them so what do I know. I also noticed that you should receive Ostry KC06 (which I have) any time soon and I'm  REALLY curious how high it would place in your list.

 

[Grayson73]

  Thanks for sharing this. It's really tempting to buy tenore after seeing it on the top of your list (and also because it's cheaper than most of IEMs below). I wouldn't expect Piston to be above GR07, Basso and RE-400 but I have never heard any single one of them so what do I know. I also noticed that you should receive Ostry KC06 (which I have) any time soon and I'm  REALLY curious how high it would place in your list.

It comes down to preference because all of them are good in their own right. Piston and Basso are bassy and fun while GR07 MK2 and RE-400 are more neutral and boring.  All 4 are good so it comes down to preference.
 
Tenore is not as bassy as Piston and Basso, but is more fun than GR07 MK2 and RE-400.  It's closer to neutral while still being fun.  Tenore is my favorite because it has beautiful, silky, airy vocals, tight, punchy bass, and wide soundstage.
 
I ordered KC06 because a friend said the vocals are better on KC06.  We'll see if that's true.

 

[vrapan]

InEar SD2 >>> RE-400==Ety HF5
 
With the clarification that the RE-400 beats the HF5 in terms of comfort/mids while the Ety properly inserted (hard to do as it can really be a painful experience initially and comes out of the ear easily which reduces sound quality by quite a bit) reveals more detail and has more textured and at times it feels like it has punchier bass - again Ety's insertion is absolutely key to how they sound.
 
SD2s are on a different league of course especially when it comes to presentation, micro-detail as well and quality of bass. I might be getting a CE BA4 in the near future as I managed to smash the shell of my SD2 and will update the post with that comparison too.