Rank the IEM's you've heard
Oct 1, 2019 at 11:23 AM Post #2,071 of 5,061
Small update, new champion:

1) QDC Anole VX
2) Campfire Solaris
3) Sony IER Z1R
4) Campfire Atlas
5) Campfire Andro Gold
6) 64 Audio U12t
7) Campfire Andromeda
8) Empire Ears Phantom
9) 64 Audio Tia Trio
10) Noble Kahn

can you give some feedback on why you preferred the andro golds over the og andros? I’ve heard reports saying it has gotten rid of the sparkly highs due to the emphasises midrange
 
Oct 1, 2019 at 11:33 AM Post #2,072 of 5,061
can you give some feedback on why you preferred the andro golds over the og andros?

I preferred the bass in the AGs. To be fair I think they should have called the AG something other than an Andro as the "sparkly highs" are what make Andro Andro.
 
Oct 5, 2019 at 10:03 AM Post #2,074 of 5,061
01. Custom Art FIBAE Black (Universal)
02. iBasso IT04
03. Empire Ears Bravado (Universal)
04. Campfire Audio Vega
05. EarSonics Velvet V2
06. Oriolus Forsteni
07. Heir Audio 5.0
08. Campfire Audio Lyra II
09. Massdrop x Noble X
10. Noble Audio Trident
11. EarSonics ES3
12. iBasso IT01
Update: add Spartan, FH1 and SM2-IFI

01. Custom Art FIBAE Black (Universal)
02. Empire Ears Spartan-IV ADEL (Universal)
03. iBasso IT04
04. Empire Ears Bravado (Universal)
05. Campfire Audio Vega
06. EarSonics Velvet V2
07. Oriolus Forsteni
08. Heir Audio 5.0
09. Campfire Audio Lyra II
10. Massdrop x Noble X
11. Noble Audio Trident
12. EarSonics ES3
13. iBasso IT01
14. FiiO FH1
15. EarSonics SM2-iFI
 
Oct 8, 2019 at 10:41 PM Post #2,076 of 5,061
Alright, it took me some time to decide, but here we go:

1. Sony Z1R
2. Shure KSE1200
3. Audeze LCDi4
4. Anole VX
5. Campfire Andromeda (v3)
6. Sony M9
7. Empire Ears Zeus XIV
8. Empire Ears Legend X
9. Campfire Andromeda Gold
10. Noble Audio Khan

Had to think really hard about it, but after extensive listening to the Andromeda Gold, I’ve bumped the EX1000 off the list and moving down Khan down to 10.

The Andromeda Gold do not wow on initial listen, but they’re so so pleasurable to listen to as you use them more. Excellent imaging, massive soundstage, detailed bass, some of the most direct and realistic vocals I’ve listened to and still has the Andro OG upper treble hidden away a bit with the boosted bass. But dang, these just jive with me. I listen to a lot of indie rock and the sound signature + tuning just works. Also great for extended listening. Detailed without being fatiguing. Layering for days as same as OG Andro.

Not to mention the long nozzle which improves isolation and fit. It’s also among the comfiest IEMs I’ve ever worn. Complete isolation on noisy subways.

EX1000 has super nice bass (quick and flat) and laser imaging but I just gotta push it down because of the lack of isolation and odd fit. Also, mids and upper treble are outperformed by other IEMs on this list.
 
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Oct 8, 2019 at 11:47 PM Post #2,077 of 5,061
Here’s mine:


1) Tia Trio
2) Tia Fourte
3) Dita Dream
4) Hyla CE-5
5) Andromeda
6) Rhapsodio Solars
7) CA Atlas
 
Oct 9, 2019 at 3:32 AM Post #2,078 of 5,061
Alright, it took me some time to decide, but here we go:

1. Sony Z1R
2. Shure KSE1200
3. Audeze LCDi4
4. Anole VX
5. Campfire Andromeda (v3)
6. Sony M9
7. Empire Ears Zeus XIV
8. Empire Ears Legend X
9. Campfire Andromeda Gold
10. Noble Audio Khan

Had to think really hard about it, but after extensive listening to the Andromeda Gold, I’ve bumped the EX1000 off the list and moving down Khan down to 10.

The Andromeda Gold do not wow on initial listen, but they’re so so pleasurable to listen to as you use them more. Excellent imaging, massive soundstage, detailed bass, some of the most direct and realistic vocals I’ve listened to and still has the Andro OG upper treble hidden away a bit with the boosted bass. But dang, these just jive with me. I listen to a lot of indie rock and the sound signature + tuning just works. Also great for extended listening. Detailed without being fatiguing. Layering for days as same as OG Andro.

Not to mention the long nozzle which improves isolation and fit. It’s also among the comfiest IEMs I’ve ever worn. Complete isolation on noisy subways.

EX1000 has super nice bass (quick and flat) and laser imaging but I just gotta push it down because of the lack of isolation and odd fit. Also, mids and upper treble are outperformed by other IEMs on this list.

why do you place the original andromeda above the gold? Does the gold not have more detail with the 2 extra drivers? And such a low rank for the legend X!
 
Oct 9, 2019 at 4:14 AM Post #2,079 of 5,061
why do you place the original andromeda above the gold? Does the gold not have more detail with the 2 extra drivers? And such a low rank for the legend X!

Extra drivers =/= extra detail
 
Oct 9, 2019 at 10:56 AM Post #2,081 of 5,061
I know that but I’ve read a few reviews that state that this is the case with the golds in the bass and mids
The 2 extra drivers were both dedicated to the bass (maybe some lower mid freqs?). I could take a guess that the extra detail arises from the frequency repsonse (the extra dBs in the 1+ kHz region). However, not everyone will perceive this the same (unique ear structure).
 
Oct 10, 2019 at 12:20 PM Post #2,082 of 5,061
Brainwavz B400 > iBasso IT01 > Brainwavz M1 > Brainwavz M2

Not necessarily true for me (because I no longer have some of these so it's been a while since I've heard them) but this is the order I'd rank these headphones in. IT01s have a fun bass, the M1s were incredible for my first IEMs (truly loved them when I came from cheap headphones) and the B400s have great clarity and comfort.
 
Oct 12, 2019 at 8:36 AM Post #2,083 of 5,061
Update: add Spartan, FH1 and SM2-IFI

01. Custom Art FIBAE Black (Universal)
02. Empire Ears Spartan-IV ADEL (Universal)
03. iBasso IT04
04. Empire Ears Bravado (Universal)
05. Campfire Audio Vega
06. EarSonics Velvet V2
07. Oriolus Forsteni
08. Heir Audio 5.0
09. Campfire Audio Lyra II
10. Massdrop x Noble X
11. Noble Audio Trident
12. EarSonics ES3
13. iBasso IT01
14. FiiO FH1
15. EarSonics SM2-iFI
Update: add A2H, FIBAE 1/2/3 and TE-05

01. Custom Art FIBAE Black (Universal)
02. Empire Ears Spartan-IV ADEL (Universal)
03. iBasso IT04
04. Empire Ears Bravado (Universal)
05. Campfire Audio Vega
06. EarSonics Velvet V2
07. Custom Art FIBAE 2 (Universal)
08. Oriolus Forsteni
09. Heir Audio 5.0
10. Custom Art FIBAE 3 (Universal)
11. Campfire Audio Lyra II
12. Massdrop x Noble X
13. Noble Audio Trident
14. EarSonics ES3
15. iBasso IT01
16. Custom Art FIBAE 1 (Universal)
17. FiiO FH1
18. Fostex TE-05
19. AAW A2H Pro V2
20. EarSonics SM2-iFI
 
Oct 12, 2019 at 2:16 PM Post #2,084 of 5,061
**updated - Ares II 8 wire on the Bravado moves it up the list from number 6 to number 4. Not technically better than the Andromeda but the bass makes it so interesting that I prefer it.

Well... after seeing @Colors list and considering we've bought/sold a few items back and forth here's my list for what it's worth:
<< I've never owned more than 2 or 3 at a time so direct comparison gives way to memory of how I felt about them at the time>>

1. Empire Ears Phantom.. (with Eros II 8 wire these may never be topped.. Timbre and tone are just perfect to my ears.. ) Eyeing the Legend X now though as the Bravado bass has really won me over.

2 Noble Encore (extremely good but I prefer a little more meat on the bones..)
3. Noble Katana - Wizard model (fit issues )
4.Empire Ears Bravado - Ares II 8 wire tightens up the bass..
5.Campfire Andromeda
6.Noble Audio Savant - I prefer the soundstage to S8F but weaker than it in all other areas
7.Fearless Audio S8F - technically very good but not as interesting as those above it.
8.Noble Audio Sage
9.Empire Ears ESR
10.Campfire Jupiter

11.Audiosense T800 - surprised I didn't really like these considering how much others do..
12.Tin Audio P1 - terrible fit for my large ears but very clear sounding.
13.Campfire Orion - better tonality that should put it at #11 but doesn't have the extension.
14.Fearless Audio S4
15.BGVP DM6

Others: Fearless Crystal Pearl,Campfire Nova, Kanas Pro, TenHz P4 Pro, IT-01, BGVP DMG, Shure SE535/315/215, Dunu DN-2000J, Focal Sphear

An update to my top ten. I recently acquired the Legend X which were a bit of a bassy mess with the FiiO M11 but I found a somewhat local Sony WM1A and the pairing is phenomenal. Makes me wonder what the others would sound like with them.

1. Empire Ears Legend X
(Everything below is an unknown now that I have the WM1A)
2. Empire Ears Phantom
3 Noble Encore
4. Noble Katana
5. Campfire Andromeda
6. EE Bravado
7. Noble Audio Savant - I prefer the soundstage to S8F
8. Fearless Audio S8F
9. Empire Ears ESR
10. Noble Audio Sage
 
Oct 12, 2019 at 8:21 PM Post #2,085 of 5,061
Making this list is harder than I thought it would be. Here's my top dozen on absolute sound grounds alone (other issues have been ignored so this is based on sound in non-mobile conditions)
I've also included as many of the others I've heard that I can remember in an alphabetical list to provide some context.

1. Empire Ears Legend X
2. 64 Audio Tia Fourte Noir
3. 64 Audio U18t
4. Jomo Trinity Brass
5. 64 Audio Tia Fourte
6. Empire Ears Wraith
7. InEar ProPhile 8
8. Campfire Audio Solaris
9. Noble Khan
10. InEar StageDiver 4
11. Shure SE846
12. Noble Kaiser Encore

Alphabetical list of others I've heard/owned.
Etymotic ER4P; Etymotic ER6; Fiio FH7; Meze Rai Penta; Noble Savant; oBravo Cupid; oBravo Ra C-Cu; Shure 115m+; Shure E2c; Shure E3c; Shure E5c; Shure E5c; Shure SE500; Shure SE530; Shure SE535; UE TF10; Westone 4; Westone 4R; Westone UM3x
 
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