Smallest budget IEM?

[subwoofer]

The Sennheiser CX300 was my very first IEM, and since then I have tried quite a few including the CX300 ii and MM 30i from Sennheiser I used to replace the CX300.
 
One of the main reasons the Sennheisers worked so well for me was that I use them in bed and being so compact they are OK even if I roll onto my side. So far I've not found any that sound good and are as small.
 
They need to be budget as the lifespan is totally random. One day I might roll about a lot and rip off an earbud, or I might go years with one pair.
 
I'm hovering over getting another CX300 ii and Creative EP630.
 
Are there any others I should try?

 

[FastAndClean]

soundmagic pl50 is very low profile iem

 

[Valdorigamician]

Xiaomi Piston?

 

[subwoofer]

  soundmagic pl50 is very low profile iem

Thanks for the suggestion. It is a cable over ear design which would not work well for my main use as I regularly pull them out of my ears by the cable in my sleep (or half-sleep).
 
As a size indicator, the Meelectronics M9s I have are a little bigger than the CX300s, enough so that when I go onto my side they become very noticeable. Good sound but just too big.

 

[Ritvik]

Trinity Audio Engineering's Vyrus. They sound brilliant, come with two cables, a bunch of filters and are tiny.

While rolling onto your side with any IEM is not advised, these might just let you get away with it.

I'm not too sure but the 20% headfi member discount might still be valid on these.

 

[subwoofer]

I've now spent a few hours checking out loads of different IEMs and their size. So far the Sennheiser CX 1.0 seems to be the only IEM near the size of the CX300ii (and possibly smaller).

 

[subwoofer]

Trinity Audio Engineering's Vyrus. They sound brilliant, come with two cables, a bunch of filters and are tiny.

While rolling onto your side with any IEM is not advised, these might just let you get away with it.

I'm not too sure but the 20% headfi member discount might still be valid on these.

They look great IEMs, and might be compact, but from what I can see they still look bigger than the CX300/ii (or CX 1.0).
 
However I've not been able to find any decent photos with the ear seals fitted, and ideally next to something that let's me gauge size. Do you have some?

 

[Zelda]

KZ have great options for ultra budget, and some small designs too.
otherwise, Fidue A31s is one of the smallest IEM you can get

 

[subwoofer]

  KZ have great options for ultra budget, and some small designs too.
otherwise, Fidue A31s is one of the smallest IEM you can get

 
Those Fidue A31s look promising and might knock the CX 1.0 off my list. I've also spotted a Betron KS45 which seems ultra small.
 
Edit: Fidue A31s and Betron KS45 ordered to try and compare to the CX300ii
 
I'm still interested in any other suggestions though.

 

[smy1]

Trinity Audio Engineering's Vyrus. They sound brilliant, come with two cables, a bunch of filters and are tiny.

While rolling onto your side with any IEM is not advised, these might just let you get away with it.

I'm not too sure but the 20% headfi member discount might still be valid on these.

The 20% discount still works I just ordered one today. I forgot to put the code in so I just msg support and they refunded me the difference.

 

[Ritvik]

 
They look great IEMs, and might be compact, but from what I can see they still look bigger than the CX300/ii (or CX 1.0).
 
However I've not been able to find any decent photos with the ear seals fitted, and ideally next to something that let's me gauge size. Do you have some?

Those Sennheisers might be a bit smaller. Also, do note that the Vyrus will sit deeper when worn over the ear as opposed to with the cables down.
 
Off to work in a bit so this is the best I could cobble together for now
 
That's the Vyrus, with and without filters/tips, near a micro SD card adapter and 20 cent (Singapore) coin which is according to the web 21.00 mm in diameter. I think the Trinity thread has a couple of shots of them being worn.
 

 
 

The 20% discount still works I just ordered one today. I forgot to put the code in so I just msg support and they refunded me the difference.

 
Great stuff, I'm sure you'll like them!

 

[smy1]

Those Sennheisers might be a bit smaller. Also, do note that the Vyrus will sit deeper when worn over the ear as opposed to with the cables down.

Off to work in a bit so this is the best I could cobble together for now

That's the Vyrus, with and without filters/tips, near a micro SD card adapter and 20 cent (Singapore) coin which is according to the web 21.00 mm in diameter. I think the Trinity thread has a couple of shots of them being worn.






Great stuff, I'm sure you'll like them!

How does the vyrus compare to the delta and the ie8?

 

[GRUMPYOLDGUY]

Have you considered getting IEMs with replaceable cables? Then you could open up more options at higher price points and not have to worry so much about damaging a cable.

Sent from my E5803 using a highly trained, special forces carrier pigeon

 

[subwoofer]

Have you considered getting IEMs with replaceable cables? Then you could open up more options at higher price points and not have to worry so much about damaging a cable.

Sent from my E5803 using a highly trained, special forces carrier pigeon

This is a good point, but with size being a critical factor, the simple addition of the cable connector is adding additional bulk. If there was something small enough with replaceable cables, that would be of interest. The only issue then is the cost of replacement cables. If the cable costs more than a cheaper 'disposable' option then it may not be worth it. I do want good sound but it need not be awesome sound; ideally I'm only listening for 5-10 minutes before I fall asleep.

 

[subwoofer]

A little update as the Betron KS-45 and Fidue A31s have arrived:
 
I've been listening to them with a Fiio E12 (using L16), OnePlus 2 running Neutron, and when they arrived I was listening to some Sennhieser HD380 Pros.
 
Starting with the A31s, these are small in the overall scheme of things, but not that small in reality. The sound is ultra critical of the seal. The double flange seals very well, but I was quite aware of them so swapped to the medium single seal. Coming from the HD380s the A31s sounded very bass heavy but I am impressed by them as overall the sound had plenty of interest and detail. I'm wearing the cable down and they were comfortable.
 
Then the tiny KS-45s. They really are small, and beat the CX300-ii on this factor. The fit and seal is ultra-critical. Any slight misfit and the bass disappears. Overall the sound is thin and disappointing. It sounds like the treble is echoing round a room which makes for a weird metallic sound. So size does matter. Microphonic noise is about the worst I've ever had. I think for a set to use in bed these might be good for comfort so I'll give them a go tonight.
 
I think so far in the mission this is a failure as I suspect the KS-45s will be banished to be a BTN 'backup' set (better than nothing). The A31s are too obvious in the ear. I'll use them some time but not to go to sleep.