I'm looking for a "real" neutral iem under $300. do you have any advice?
The discovery thread!
- Thread starter Dsnuts
- Start date
-
- Tags
- aful blon bl03 db3 ibasso am05 isn d02 isn h40 jq audio jvc-ha-fx101 jvc-ha-fx40-b-earphone-kv6902 nx7 nx7 pro philips-she3580-28-in-ear-headphones philips-she9700 pioneer-dje-1500-k-professional-dj-in-ear-headphones sony-mh1-livesound-hi-fi-stereo-in-ear-headphones sphere thermaltake-in-ear-headset tri i3 vsonic-vc1000
lushmelody
500+ Head-Fier
Tanchjim Zero I guess. Its @OspreyAndy favorite neutral~etymotic like tuning
AudioNewbie76
Head-Fier
I mean, a standard recommendation for a neutral IEM is usually Etymotics. There's also the Proxima by 7th acoustics, but I have zero first hand experience with the brand
AmericanSpirit
Member of the Trade: Night Oblivion
In my understanding, the real neutral refers to no upper-mid (vocal) boosted tuning or otherwise you will have “vocals” in front of you, or somehow emphasized stage spotlight feeling for instruments/artificially generated Diffuse Field which is a musical coloration /diversion from original mixing.
For Vocal boosted neutral ones you can find varieties of selections from Truthear, Etymotic, and various others.
For true neutral, you may consider Monitor-flat styled tuning.
For multi-BA hybrids (it has the technical performance to utilize that monitor tuning), AFUL Performer 5 has monitor tuning except elevated bass. Truthear HEXA is “vocal” neutral with pretty low gain on bass floor (i.e. neutral-ish), you can apply $4usd Feaulle Latex H570 ear tips to make complete flat bass floor for HEXA, which is my favorite, and it can differentiate HEXA and Moondrop Variations for how they react to bass range.
You may consider Audiosense DT300 (I don’t have exposure to this, but the FR is telling that’s monitor flat) and apply some bass lowering ear tips(Feaulle H570 for example) to get pure flat.
Note that monitor flat IEMs do not generate artificial diffusion field, so you will hear what original source is intended to. Modern vocal songs are generally mixed with close distance reverb, so you will have very intimate staging for the most of the case.
Other than that, I’m also curious if there is any instrument -neutral monitor flat.
There is one other monitor tuned ones in mind, Thieaudio Legacy 5. I took the path to Mangird Tea, so I don’t have L5 experience. As far as my experience with other Thieaudio models, they are good at tuning.
Tea has somewhat slow responding Bass range, it is hard to recommend to someone who is seeking uncolored IEM (Tea’s bass definitely is colored )
Lowering L5’s sub-bass thru 1khz will bring you pure flat tuned IEM.
Last edited:
AmericanSpirit
Member of the Trade: Night Oblivion
Just looked up FR, if resolutions is not your concern, Final Audio’s VR3000 also has very very neutral tuning. I have it and use it with Oculus Quest 2 for VRs. Excellent image positioning with natural sound reproduction.In my understanding, the real neutral refers to no upper-mid (vocal) boosted tuning or otherwise you will have “vocals” in front of you, or somehow emphasized stage spotlight feeling for instruments/artificially generated Diffuse Field which is a musical coloration /diversion from original mixing.
For Vocal boosted neutral ones you can find varieties of selections from Truthear, Etymotic, and various others.
For true neutral, you may consider Monitor-flat styled tuning.
For multi-BA hybrids (it has the technical performance to utilize that monitor tuning), AFUL Performer 5 has monitor tuning except elevated bass. Truthear HEXA is “vocal” neutral with pretty low gain on bass floor (i.e. neutral-ish), you can apply $4usd Feaulle Latex H570 ear tips to make complete flat bass floor for HEXA, which is my favorite, and it can differentiate HEXA and Moondrop Variations for how they react to bass range.
You may consider Audiosense DT300 (I don’t have exposure to this, but the FR is telling that’s monitor flat) and apply some bass lowering ear tips(Feaulle H570 for example) to get pure flat.
Note that monitor flat IEMs do not generate artificial diffusion field, so you will hear what original source is intended to. Modern vocal songs are generally mixed with close distance reverb, so you will have very intimate staging for the most of the case.
Other than that, I’m also curious if there is any instrument -neutral monitor flat.
There is one other monitor tuned ones in mind, Thieaudio Legacy 5. I took the path to Mangird Tea, so I don’t have L5 experience. As far as my experience with other Thieaudio models, they are good at tuning.
Tea has somewhat slow responding Bass range, it is hard to recommend to someone who is seeking uncolored IEM (Tea’s bass definitely is colored )
Lowering L5’s sub-bass thru 1khz will bring you pure flat tuned IEM.
This is probably an SSR/SSP replacement which costs the same and also has a single DD coated in bery.Moondrop LAN
$39.99 USD
Beryllium plated DD - so it is not just a CHU upgrade. Also has detachable cables.
https://www.facebook.com/MoondropLa...BqV8sjGfd4wDtXA9BZADcqeaAEcNjj5p6LHG7pZd3srCl
lushmelody
500+ Head-Fier
Indeed. But lets hope its not so niche tuning. More like a CHU improved FR + SSR/SSP build quality
By the way, identical leatherish Truthear case
AmericanSpirit
Member of the Trade: Night Oblivion
Moondrop 3D Waifu vs Tanchijim 3D waifu.Moondrop LAN
$39.99 USD
Beryllium plated DD - so it is not just a CHU upgrade. Also has detachable cables.
https://www.facebook.com/MoondropLa...BqV8sjGfd4wDtXA9BZADcqeaAEcNjj5p6LHG7pZd3srCl
Good.
AmericanSpirit
Member of the Trade: Night Oblivion
Moondrop 5G
About to get Ouranos, then LAN drops. Now gotta wait for reviews of this, then the next anticipated chifi will drop. When will it end ahhh
AmericanSpirit
Member of the Trade: Night Oblivion
Welcome to Chi-Fi rabbit hole. It’s never ending!
Here are list of 2023 Big games: 1/1/2023 - 2/15/2023.
Truthear is challenging on Moondrop. Sennheiser is making a moment by new IE series.
Last edited:
By the way, identical leatherish Truthear case
The chief engineer of Truthear allegedly also works for Moondrop.
https://www.reddit.com/r/headphones/comments/ygdm3n/some_more_moondrop_leaks_and_truthears/
Truthears has always given me Moondrop vibes, from the stock tuning to the packaging used.
InvisibleInk
Headphoneus Supremus
One of these days I'll get around to listening to more Moondrop and try a Truthear. I really like the Blessing 2 a lot, and kind of like the Kato, too. The S8 has been calling to me like a siren in the distance for a while. Keep me tied to the mast, boys, or temptation will destroy my wallet.
Indeed, the LAN's graph does look reminiscent of the SSR/SSP.
Users who are viewing this thread
