Rin1990
1000+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Aug 28, 2015
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Couldn't agree with you more on the last bit. It's easy to get lost in names when so many competitors rose up over the years. I don't even know if I recognise some of the older brands that I used to try like Fiio or Noble or Campfire because over the time I noticed how much I missed out on.Earphones have evolved quite a bit since even a few years back. Something like this Yanyin Aladdin about 3 years ago would have been in the $300-$400 range in price point.
There are numerous new Chinese brands that have driven the earphone market to the point where you will be shocked what you can get for even $100 range now a days for sound. The sheer variety of types of dynamics, hybrids even a cheap tribrids using 3 types of different drivers. Even your traditional single dynamics IEMs nowadays all use some type of coating that promises better sonics. Beryllium coated, titanium coated, Carbon/ graphene, composite based, Biofilm ect ect. Too many varieties to cover in one post. In fact it is not uncommon to come into this thread and see the folks here post about 2-5 brand new earphones they have seen in the market daily.
Todays mid fi level earphones was yesterdays top of the line. Todays budget level stuff sound more closer to mid fi level of earphone from several years back. Huge competition from so many manufacturers compete to make one better than the competition. This is good for the folks that enjoy this hobby but I have to admit sometimes it is very difficult to keep up with so many earphones and with new companies that pop up all the time.
And if anything I'm even more shocked there are smartphone dongles that has DACs that sounds extremely good for the asking price nowadays.
I'm especially tempted to give Hidizs dongles a go like the S3 Pro or S9 which have a freakin' ESS Sabre DAC...and they're super affordable.
Times have changed for sure since the last few years I visited here...