Jmop
Headphoneus Supremus
- Joined
- Sep 17, 2014
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Love the idea of investing in multiple pieces of gear with that $500 cuz you sure as heck won’t get your money’s worth if you blow it all on a single IEM.
This is fabulous advice. Many people with some cash in their pocket (me included) can’t be bothered to be patient. But man, this is great advice.My advice would be to buy a CRA and nothing else.
Frequency response doesn’t warrant the price to me, but I’m not sure how different v3 is.How many of you would buy the Westone W80 v3 for 399.00?
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If it means you can’t afford to buy the Timeless 7Hz or Dunu Talos, then no not me.How many of you would buy the Westone W80 v3 for 399.00?
You will need additional ear tips, mmcx cable to have W80 to sound modern. From 399+ tax, you will have a warm and laid back sounding mellow IEM. I guess many audiences will feel that tuning “muddy”.How many of you would buy the Westone W80 v3 for 399.00?
Let me give you some suggestions, which will be different than everyone, simply because not a lot of people have heard it.Then maybe a better question is what is the best all-rounder iem under 500 dollars?
I totally agree! I spent 8 months with my CRA before I moved on. I've tried different tuning options and other IEMs to figure out what I want.You never know, you might be 100% happy with the CRA and feel no need to buy anything else.
You always provide a new perspective and that’s what discovery thread is dedicated for, love that infoLet me give you some suggestions, which will be different than everyone, simply because not a lot of people have heard it.
The best iem under $500 that I have experienced is 634EARS MIROAK-S. A japanese iem, you have to contact them via instagram, where they are very much active...although I like to believe I interact with the proprietor, Musashi Saita San, there, but I am not sure, neither have I confirmed. It is a single DD, LCP diaphragm. To my ears it is one of the best all-rounder iem. I also compared it to Softears RSV and found the MIROAK-S superior. Yeah, RSV had a bit bigger note in the midrange and fatter midbass slam, but that was all. MIROAK-S sounded more airy, with a fuller subbass and more controlled yet punchy midbass, slightly smaller midrange note, but still quite realistic and airy with plenty of details, and, in comparison to RSV, a brilliant treble with sufficient energy and extension. Now, it is a balanced iem, so neither the treble pierces or sparkles with over the top brightness, nor does the bass slams thunderously. However, the complete sound is so much matured that I really have yet to find anything better than this around $400. Its list price is $420, but if you buy B-Stock, it can be availed for much less. Contact him via instagram to find out B-stock availability and price.
I have heard the Dunu Vulkan also, and from memory, I could not find it being anything special. The midrange did not sound engaging enough, the top end sounded rather dull, and the low end was also a bit controlled.
Now, let's say you want a solid option at around $200. Again, balanced, but still dynamic sounding. No peaks, but enough sparkles and bites in the notes, full sounding bass and yet slightly controlled, open and spacious presentation...I give you Hiby Lasya. I have reviewed BQEYZ Autumn, Moondrop Kato, 7Hertz Timeless, See Audio Bravery...and absolutely nothing comes close to it in regard to holistic performance. Yeah, KATO and Timeless might sound more detailed thanks to their sharper notes, but if you give the time you will find Lasya has all those details as well, just not immediately jumping at you like them. Lasya feels more matured, refined, and complete. @gadgetgod can attest to that. I have not heard BQEYZ Winter, so I am not sure how that holds up to Lasya. @gadgetgod has listened to both, he might provide you with more details.
In case you decide to go with Lasya, you will still have some cash left. Let's take something with a different presentation - with more bites, more sparkles, more transparency. You can take either Penon Vortex, if you love fuller and bigger and highly textured notes, fast and punchy bass, and intimate soundstage. Or you can take MEAOES Eagle, if you want a vastly spacious sound, lots more energy and sparkle in the top end, highly transparent midrange, although slightly leaner notes, and a slightly more powerful low end but still controlled.
If you are taking both the Hiby Lasya and Penon Vortex / MEAOES Eagle, you will still have some cash left. Get a Shanling UA3. It's marvelous! The high end gets a bit controlled, but the low end is fuller sounding, and the stage has a very nice depth added - elevating the imaging noticeably.
There you go, my 5 cents