The discovery thread!

[baskingshark]

Such a shame that I have a so bad fit with A4000 and ze3000.
They seem to sound so nice...

Fit is the most important thing in an IEM IMHO.

No point having a heavenly sound if you can't tolerate the comfort for more than a few minutes. Fit also influences seal -> bad seal = bass frequencies are first to be lost and the sound signature is skewed.

Tanchjim Kara is 1+4 hybrid and price seems to be confirmed now. Another contender in the 1+4 hybrids.

I tested a prototype version of the Kara at Can Jam Singapore a few weeks back.

I would describe it as mid-centric with thick note weight, very musical and fatigue free. Great for vocals and acoustic stuff. Technically decent too. While that wasn't the final tuning, if the $179 USD price is legit, I wouldn't mind buying a pair if the final tuning keeps the goodness of the protoype.

 

[Carpet]

Be really mindful of the store if you're ordering, make sure they've been around a while and have feedback.... There's a pretty common scam at the moment, things are usually 30% cheaper, you'll get a fake tracking number that in my experience showed as delivered in an impossible amount of time, the seller will then offer you a portion as compensation if you complain and pocket the difference. The store I experienced this with was pretty new.

Another quick check is use the "Top Selling" tab. That gives you an idea of what they have actually been selling to get their feedback rating. Some establish a rating selling crap like fridge magnets, cheap plastic toys and hair ties, then put up more expensive items for a ridiculously low price. Check the pattern of feedback for the item you are buying, that is WAY more important than whether 280 people got their bag of rubber bands.

Sometimes legit stores will make a really good offer. But "too good to be true" offers from new stores aren't worth the risk.

Also ALWAYS check the shipping cost, gouging on that is common with baited prices!

 

[ToneDeafMonk]

PENON 10th anniversary edition IEM Review is live for me too.

 

[Asakurai]

Yesterday Audio Meet with Recode and Neptone (they quite shy so it's censored by request) and many others


and obviously it's an opportunity to graph my collection IEMs
here you go
忘夜HF16: https://recode.squig.link/?share=hf16
忘夜20: https://recode.squig.link/?share=ys20
YS Sword: https://recode.squig.link/?share=ys12

it will uploaded later on neptone when he has the time

 

[Odyopile]

Hi guys, I just want to ask what are good iem’s below 200 usd?my current iem is Theiaudio legacy 3 and I want an upgrade.Thanks

 

[Asakurai]

Hi guys, I just want to ask what are good iem’s below 200 usd?my current iem is Theiaudio legacy 3 and I want an upgrade.Thanks

if you want single DD go either Oxygen or Kato, both is good, a bit brighter than L3 but definitely better in quality
if you want the same warm tone, i would go to Yanyin Aladdin or if you can find used mangird tea also good

if you want bright sounding and good technical than above IEM, for sub $200 you can choose Audio Lokahi (or the real name from the builder is storm), buy from the builder using proxy merchant like superbuy / cssbuy / etc

 

[Ace Bee]

I know I said that I was going to retire from IEMs since I have discovered earbud...but the collector and the treasure hunter in me itches when he finds out another artisan IEM maker hidden in the alleys of instagram.

Presenting D's Audio

He is a customiser from Hong Kong, who not only makes IEMs (Single DD, Single BA, Hybrid...you name it), cables, USB Dongle DAC/Amp, interconnects...but also customises DAPs to improve sound quality! Now that is something I was not expecting! Surely the man has skills!

And hence I ordered another single DD model from him, midrange model (3880 HKD). He provided me a generous discount too in exchange of a review, which I am going to publish for sure. This adds to my collection of fully handmade IEMs.

D's Audio First Heart
10mm Carbon DD
SL.02 Cable - 6N OFC Copper with Silver Coating, 26 AWG 4 strand

Excited to hear them! Hopefully will be in my hand in two weeks.

 

[Ichos]

For anyone interested, two good sounding IEMs with good value and a balanced tuning.

Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite

https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/kiwi-ears-orchestra-lite-universal-8ba-iem.26387/review/30902/

And ISN Audio H30

https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/isn-h30.26130/review/30858/

 

[Leonarfd]

I know I said that I was going to retire from IEMs since I have discovered earbud...but the collector and the treasure hunter in me itches when he finds out another artisan IEM maker hidden in the alleys of instagram.

Presenting D's Audio

He is a customiser from Hong Kong, who not only makes IEMs (Single DD, Single BA, Hybrid...you name it), cables, USB Dongle DAC/Amp, interconnects...but also customises DAPs to improve sound quality! Now that is something I was not expecting! Surely the man has skills!

And hence I ordered another single DD model from him, midrange model (3880 HKD). He provided me a generous discount too in exchange of a review, which I am going to publish for sure. This adds to my collection of fully handmade IEMs.

D's Audio First Heart
10mm Carbon DD
SL.02 Cable - 6N OFC Copper with Silver Coating, 26 AWG 4 strand






Excited to hear them! Hopefully will be in my hand in two weeks.

Nice, I love new discoveries and even better small custom makers.

Got any first impressions yet, or are you waiting for delivery?

Also welcome back friend

 

[Ace Bee]

Nice, I love new discoveries and even better small custom makers.

Got any first impressions yet, or are you waiting for delivery?

Also welcome back friend

Shipped on last Saturday...twiddling my fingers for a good two weeks. It's a long way to India from Hong Kong.

Haha, this is just a detour...I have already plunged headfirst into the earbud world!

 

[Leonarfd]

Shipped on last Saturday...twiddling my fingers for a good two weeks. It's a long way to India from Hong Kong.

Haha, this is just a detour...I have already plunged headfirst into the earbud world!

Talking about earbuds, I have 3 more ordered from VE. Been dipping my feet slightly into the water, lately I have been using the cheap Monk Pro buds at work. Great for easy listening with jazz trio/quartets, or just podcasts.

I have the Zen 3.0 and like it very much, but this stay at home.
What I ordered is Monk V2S, Monk Slim metal and another Monk Pro, also got a friend sending me his Azura 3.0.

Maybe I will try some smaller makers later also

 

[Ace Bee]

Talking about earbuds, I have 3 more ordered from VE. Been dipping my feet slightly into the water, lately I have been using the cheap Monk Pro buds at work. Great for easy listening with jazz trio/quartets, or just podcasts.

I have the Zen 3.0 and like it very much, but this stay at home.
What I ordered is Monk V2S, Monk Slim metal and another Monk Pro, also got a friend sending me his Azura 3.0.

Maybe I will try some smaller makers later also

Sweden isn't very far away from you, right?

Why not try some Rikubuds from our very own beloved @RikudouGoku ? I promise you, they are worth their price!

Also, @ValSuki makes earbuds in UK that are widely lauded as well. You could try one of his very recent Lazybud if you want a relaxed sound.

 

[baskingshark]

More CVJ sidegrade pokemons? (CVJ is the sister company of TRN)

CVJ Nebula and CVJ Interstellar

$25 USD
10mm graphene DD

Graph looks a bit worrisome in the treble, but CVJ/TRN store graphs usually are like a toddler's scribble, so best to get an independent measured graph.

https://aliexpress.com/item/1005005584432725.html

 

[Leonarfd]

AüR Audio Aurora is now open for orders:

https://www.auraudio.store/product-page/aurora

750 SGD or roughly 550 USD

I am super psyched and already have one that is shipped from first batch soon.

 

[Xinlisupreme]

Instagram

Reality