Wall of text incoming !
For first: enjoy your Holidays whatever way YOU like ! For me as an atheist, Christmas does not have any religious part but I understand if it has for you.
My IEM journey started 2022 July when my DrBeats Monster IEM (bought in China 2016 May) started to behave no-so-well (mean: worked, but I felt just a bit it sounded off. After 6 years).
Sure I started with some KZ modells (just to climb from the bottom up); KZ ZS10 Pro (not the X) was quite good (but sold anyhow).
I was amazed by planar IEM's hype so bought Tangzu Zetian Wu OG which was my main for a year; maybe I should test it again after ~2 month of ignoring it.
I own and use
- the only non-IEM one: Audio Technica ATH-M50x (just for films / series)
- the Rapto Hook X (green) with Sping CP145 (most expensive one; probably will sell it if I can get a good price for it)
- Moondrop Aria2 (resting now but will test again; maybe selling it)
- NiceHCK F1 Pro (Tangzu Sancai Wide bore; Dark Ambient sounds awesome on it)
- 7Hz Zero2 (TRN T Ear-Tips; trying; probably will leave)
- Simgot EW200 (resting; probably will leave)
- TruthEar Hola (resting; probably will leave)
- KZ PR2 1st gen (on my KZ AZ09 Pro ; just for walking and doing cooking / chores)
- KZ ZNA (spare for KZ AZ09 Pro)
- aaaand my unquestionable main: Hidizs MP145 balanced with Spinftit CP155. This is a keeper for sure !
I had and sold all 3 versions of KZ PR1, 2nd gen PR2 and PR3; later 2 have too much treble for me (I do not count myself treble sensitive).
Had and sold a lot other KZ IEMs (EDX Pro x4 was present 1 year ago for not-audiophile nephews; Krila, D-fi).
Had the OG Moondrop Aria (black one); got a good price for it so sold.
Had the OG 7Hz Zero: this wasn't for me. QKZ HBB: same story.
Gifted this Christmas 7Hz Legato (too much bass); TRN Rosefinch (worst sound for me or all IEMs I tried); TRN Conch (OK one); KZ EDX lite.
DAP I do not use (as I like to use USB player Pro on my phone and foobar2000 on my PC and laptop).
However, I have some DACs.
- first and foremost the Qudelix 5k, the main one when not sitting at my desk
- whooshi (bought from Kickstarter in 2019; not TOTL but quite good) (for listening in bed)
- the already metioned KZ AZ09 Pro (good enough for what I use it for)
- Shanling UA1s and UA1 Pro (good but not exceptional ones; they will leave)
- apple dongle (absolute good enough for my laptop to watch films / series)
- 3 different kind of splitter kind DACs (1 usb-c male, 1 usb-c female for power, 1 3.5mm for sound): all are OK, all are for travel-like situation (most probably I will keep only one)
- Hidizs S9 Pro (NOT the plus 'Martha'): it is an OK one, but eats a lot of power (measured with a "TC66C" device) (has to go)
- iBasso DC04 Pro (awesome with about all my planars, definately a keeper)
- some CX31993 based noname DACs (about 3.5USD a piece) to put in a grinch bag
- and an iBasso DC03 Pro is still travelling (ordered earlier than the DC04 pro ...)
For cables, honestly, I do not believe I will hear the difference so I go for looks and strands; I have 2x 2.5mm and 2x 3.5mm OPENHEART 8 Core Silver Plated Copper ones (about 19USD a piece). I have some 2.5mm female -> 4.4mm male changer (for iBasso DC04 Pro). Sure I ordered a TRN T2 Pro16 Core (which I will surely gift it) and a Kinera Ace Modular one (still travelling; probably will be gifted away). I like the look of Kinera Leyding but still hesitant to pay 60 USD for a cable. Most probably I will buy one full copper (mean: no siler plating) cable in the future.
Some protective boxes (a 50gramm all-metal tea box which I padded with a 2mm decor rubber foam); a spare Tangzu Zetian Wu case and some more.
I spend about 2400 USD on audiophile-related stuff in ~16 month; yep, I could possibly have much more expensive stuff, but
- I really feel I have to climb the ladder to know what I like and what is kind of endgame for me as I will not hear / enjoy the difference of twice (or more) difference in price)
- a real lot of stuff was / will be gifted away ( "grinch bag" is the proper term, thx for that one fellow member I stole from).
I do not have any plans (except not buying any new DAC at all
and restricting myself heavily on buying any IEM).
Guys, sorry not to provide pictures but I do not have any photo skills and own only a mobile phone; sure I can make some on request.
I am open to any questions, but:
- I am 55 years old (no hearing loss; surely hear up to 13k Hz)
- no study in musis; not playing any instrument
- no equipment to measure
I am based in Budapest, Hungary; if you happen to be in this city feel free to ping me. If you bring your own tips, you can try any of my stuff.
'nuff said.