Rank the IEM's you've heard
Apr 4, 2022 at 6:47 PM Post #3,947 of 5,055
Apr 7, 2022 at 11:13 AM Post #3,948 of 5,055
Obviously.... But why? Where does u18s fall short compared to the others?
Nothing beats listening for yourself. Nothing is "falling short". Your missing the point. There will always be something better.
One cannot imagine, untill they try.

That moment when your mind is blown, by achieving "better", is the drug of this hobby.
 
Apr 7, 2022 at 2:27 PM Post #3,950 of 5,055
Been a while since I did this, keeping it to gear I own only. I like all of these enough to have bought them all in CIEM, so KR5 being at the bottom isn't necessarily a bad thing. I enjoy them all very much. :)

1) Aroma Jewel
2) FiR XE6
3) 64 Audio A12t
4) Elysian Annihilator
5) FiR NE4
6) FiR KR5
 
Apr 7, 2022 at 6:25 PM Post #3,951 of 5,055
crazy.

I've heard almost nothing on this list ^

:cry:
 
Apr 7, 2022 at 7:01 PM Post #3,952 of 5,055
Nothing beats listening for yourself. Nothing is "falling short". Your missing the point. There will always be something better.
One cannot imagine, untill they try.

That moment when your mind is blown, by achieving "better", is the drug of this hobby.
There's no missing the point on my end. I believe you might be missing the point here. I'm no newbie.

I was only asking for an opinion on u18s vs the other iems. Such a fair question especially for this thread. Multiple responses but not a single answer to the original question based on the listener's opinion.
 
Apr 7, 2022 at 8:01 PM Post #3,953 of 5,055
I decided to remove A18s because I suspect the demo unit I had was either faulty or there was some sort of unit variation. Hoping to hear a proper U18s eventually lol



Yeah it’s really just a preference thing. Odin upper mids can get a little intense for me at times and I would’ve preferred them scaled back just a tad. They are also quite dry tonally, and I’d prefer a touch more wetness. For the treble, I’d ideally like a little more upper treble forwardness.

Again, it’s purely preference and ultimately they are minor issues, as I still rate Odin as one of the best IEM’s I’ve heard :)
Too many people say they must've got a faulty a18s and or the tuning was off.
 
Apr 7, 2022 at 9:07 PM Post #3,954 of 5,055
Slight update with a couple additions and tweaks.

1) Vision Ears EXT
2) Oriolus Traillii
3) Aroma Jewel
4) Vision Ears Phonix
5) JVC HA-FW10000 - This IEM is highly situational due to its bass response but what it does well (string timbre, acoustic instruments, vocals) it does so much better than anything else I've heard that I can't help but rank it this highly. Organic, airy, hypnotically lifelike, magnificently coherent. A truly remarkable listening experience.
6) Fir Audio Xenon 6
7) Dunu Zen Pro
8) Campfire Audio Dorado 2020
9) Vision Ears Elysium
10) Fir Audio Neon 4
11) Campfire Audio Andromeda 2020
12) Fir Audio Krypton 5
13) 64 Audio Duo
14) Oriolus Isabellae
15) Sony IER Z1R
16) Campfire Audio Solaris
17) 64 Audio u12t
18) Unique Melody MEST
19) Vision Ears VE8
20) Empire Ears Legend X
21) QDC Anole VX
22) Empire Ears Odin
 
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Apr 8, 2022 at 1:10 AM Post #3,956 of 5,055
Thats where I have the 18s in my ranking. Dead last.
I don't know if i agree with you yet, but i can feel your pain. U18S is so different from anything 64 audio has ever did. 64 audio fans expect a certain quality or sound from 64 audio. If i blind bought the u18s and didn't like it, i would be pissed too.

Also seems like they're using old tech. Tia treble is 5 years ago. Est treble on the other hand is something special. I think they should have a high end tribid. Maybe est tweeters could help the veiled quality of the 18s i hear people talking about?...
 
Apr 8, 2022 at 6:22 AM Post #3,957 of 5,055
OK, here I go with my personal ranking (only models I have owned and/or tested at least for one week)

FIRESIGN IEM RANKING:

1) UM Mest MK2 / OG (EQ +1dB for bass)
2) Empire Ears Nemesis (EQ needed)
3) Oriolus Isabellae
4) Hifiman RE2000Pro Silver (EQ needed)
5) 7hz Timeless

-----------

6) ThieAudio Clairvoyance
7) Shuoer S12
8) 64audio U12t
8) Shure KSE1200
9) CCA CRA (EQ needed)
10) SoftEars RSV
11) iBasso IT07
12) FiiO FH7
13) Beyerdynamic Xelento
14) Itsfit Fusion
15) IMR Opus Mia
16) Sony XBA-N3AP
17) IMR R2 Aten
18) Campfire Audio Solaris
19) Dunu DK2001
20) KZ DQ6 / DQ6S
21...): Campfire Audio Andromeda, Tangzu Wan'er, 7hz Salnotes Zero, Moondrop Quarks DSP

I hate them: JVC HA-FDX1, IMR Dark Matter, Sennheiser IE300, IMR R1 Zenith

WISHLIST to try:

64a Tia Trio, Elysian Annihilator, Elysian Diva, AüR Audio Neon Pro, FatFreq Maestro SE

UPDATED: 2023-03-29

IMPORTANT:
I only listen to hard rock, progressive and metal. And that I don't like the "flat" and boring sound at all.
 
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Apr 8, 2022 at 6:41 AM Post #3,958 of 5,055
I don't know if i agree with you yet, but i can feel your pain. U18S is so different from anything 64 audio has ever did. 64 audio fans expect a certain quality or sound from 64 audio. If i blind bought the u18s and didn't like it, i would be pissed too.

Also seems like they're using old tech. Tia treble is 5 years ago. Est treble on the other hand is something special. I think they should have a high end tribid. Maybe est tweeters could help the veiled quality of the 18s i hear people talking about?...
Opinions on the 18S aside, tia treble to me is still the golden standard in the industry. Haven't heard any estat that has managed to keep me satisfied for more than a few days/weeks, and no driver is as fast in the upper treble as tia Imo. It isn't the most natural sounding, but on technical ability I find it pretty much unmatched
 
Apr 8, 2022 at 10:37 AM Post #3,959 of 5,055
OK, here I go with my personal ranking:

1) Oriolus Isabellae
2) Unique Melody Mest
3) 7hz Timeless
4) Shuoer S12
5) ThieAudio Clairvoyance
6) 64audio U12t
7) Shure KSE1200
8) FiiO FH7
9) Beyerdynamic Xelento
10) Sony XBA-N3AP
11) Sony IER-Z1R
12) Campfire Audio Solaris
13) Dunu DK2001
14) Campfire Audio Andromeda
15) JVC HA-FDX1
16) Sennheiser IE300

Wishlist: Sennheiser IE600, 64audio Nio, Campfire Dorado 2020

I leave out the cheapest models that do not deserve too much attention. I will update it when there are changes or I remember any that I have left out.

A unique and fascinating list...thanks for sharing!
 
Apr 8, 2022 at 10:59 AM Post #3,960 of 5,055
A unique and fascinating list...thanks for sharing!
Maybe I have to specify that I only listen to hard rock, progressive and metal.

And that I don't like the "flat" and boring sound at all.
 

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