The discovery thread!

[theintention]

Cayin RU9 - $499

https://shop.musicteck.com/collections/portable-amplifier/products/cayin-ru9-1-bit-resistor-network-dongle-dac-amp

Key Features​

l Nutube 6P1 Application

Supports both single-ended 3.5mm and balanced 4.4mm PO/LO outputs.

Each output can toggle between tube and solid-state modes.

l Classic丨Modern丨SS

Classic：

·No global negative feedback; each stage uses local feedback.

·Tube amplification introduces higher total harmonic distortion (THD).

·Rich harmonic texture delivers a warm, nostalgic sonic flavor — classic “tube sound.”

Modern：

·Introduces global negative feedback to define total gain.

·THD is significantly reduced.

·Harmonically cleaner, quieter background while preserving the warmth of tubes.

·Yields a sweet, clear, and delicate modern tube audio signature.

Solid-state：

·Based on precision-tuned op-amp ICs and peripheral circuits.

·Offers neutral tonality, fast transients, and highly accurate audio reproduction.

·Ideal for listening to music with its original, uncolored character.

l Dual AKM AK4493SEQ DAC

Equipped with dual AK4493SEQ DACs, each operating in mono mode.



Left and right channels are decoded separately for lower crosstalk and better channel separation.

l 16-Core XMOS XU316 Processor

Employs the latest generation XMOS XU316 USB Audio solution for high-performance digital processing.

l Triple Power Supply Modes

Built-in 2000mAh lithium battery provides up to 4.7 hours of battery-powered use. Also supports USB power from the external device (without charging the battery), as well as external DC power supply for increased output power.

Compatible with QC/PD fast charging.

l Hyper Mode

A specialized feature designed for headphone usage under DC power supply. Increases static operating current and voltage for enhanced audio performance.

Balanced: 1000mW + 1000mW @ 32Ω; 1170mW + 1170mW @ 16Ω

Single-ended: 420mW + 420mW @ 32Ω; 610mW + 610mW @ 16Ω

l Magnetic Back Design

Magnetic rear panel allows seamless attachment to smartphones.

Includes a custom Cayin leather case — hand-stitched, supple leather, precise cutouts, and magnetic back for secure attachment.

Comes with a L-shaped USB cable, ergonomically angled to avoid hand obstruction.

l Vibration Isolation

Custom-designed anti-vibration system for the Nutube vacuum tube.

Features a custom-built silicon housing on an FPC flexible PCB and a pin-supported vertical suspension system to eliminate microphonics.

l Elegant and Compact

CNC-machined unibody metal chassis.

Weighs only 150g, and measures 15mm thick.

l Thoughtful Details

0.96" color display with adjustable brightness.

Knurled volume knob with refined tactile resistance.

Side-mounted multi-color indicator light for charging and sample rate/format display.

l Versatile Use Scenarios

USB Audio DAC

Supports UAC1.0 (driverless) and UAC2.0 modes.

Compatible with smartphones, computers, digital audio players, tablets, and gaming consoles.

S/PDIF Input/Output

Uses Qualcomm QCC5125 for high-definition Bluetooth transmission.
Supports LDAC and other HD Bluetooth codecs.

Dimension (mm)：100*70*15Weight：150g

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

The Tangzu Baije that was close in price to this one is good but for the money you may be right that there are better options like Penon or Isn value Champions are hard to compete against.

But these Tangzu items have something going for them, but then again i have not heard what other 500+ iems can do and that these Tangzu items dont give you that perf for the dollars like other Tangzu items do.

So you may just be right but still the Tangzu Baije is something i really like, mainly because of the tuning. And again there are surely better items for the money out there. But the Tangzu Baije is special for me.

And i tried to compare the Fiio M21 and the Shanling M3 Pluss yesterday, just a quick first impression test.

And i have to say that i like both, i just love the Shanling tuning and how it plays sound.

And the Fiio when i listen to it my head starts to bop and the rhythm gets me.
In a way both hits the feeling in a different way.

And that is all i want because i was gonna sell one of these after testing both, and now for sure i dont want to sell either of them

But now i have to look into Shanling products because i just love this type of house sound that i read Shanling has in their products?

Is this so? That you get kind of similar tuning in their products? Warm and so on?

I wanted to listen to the Bajie really bad. When it was released, it really had my attention, but the problem for me was that they priced it at $600, and all the tech used inside was used in ultra budget IEMs, and all of a sudden, it's being collected in one place, but at 6x the cost of previous implementations, so are they using branded tech for the entire array, or are they just charging a premium because they want to position it as a flagship? It came and went, didn't sell well, and I kinda forgot about it myself, but your really good impressions have been welcomed.

20$-like noname chifi shell design is why I can't buy it

I'm probably 1000% certain neither of these IEM sound anything alike to one another, despite the graph similarities? Graph sniffing at it's most delusional.

How good or bad is the fit and economics on the Letshuoer DX1?

I read that most of the reviews say that it can be tricky but can be solved with the right tips.

So anyone who have tried them should we be worried or is this apply for few people that it may be tricky to fit.

Not tricky at all for me. Dunu S&S and they go right in and stay. The shells are smallish too. but remember, ear anatomy is like fingerprints, so nothing is ever 100% or reassured, but as a general in this case, it fits better than most in my rotation.

This is only available true that fund me website? Or was? Cant be ordered thru alix or a webshop yet?

Review unit. The Kickstarter hasn't even launched yet.

True, I agree, but if you value musical tonality and emotional vocals, the Wan'er 2 is the way to go.

Here's the thing... My initial SHOCK over the H60 [my first real mid-fi purchase] is fading, and I'm comparing it more rationally with other IEMs... In addition to the fact that right before I gave the H60 an 88/100 rating, I was BLOWN AWAY by the Nautilus... It's quite possible my H60 rating is too low now.
I'm RIGHT HERE admitting that my ratings are NOT scientific and may be influenced by shock and comparisons with other IEMs.

I will soon begin working on a review of the HS80... but I can say now, the HS80 is like a more treble-head version of the H60 with a bit less mid-bass emphasis. Now you might again say that that sound isn't usually my preference, and you'd be RIGHT... but the HS80 just... there's something addictive about the sound. The H60 is more an all-rounder for sure, but so far, I have NOT regretted buying the HS80, and don't plan on selling it any time soon. The vocals are so well-staged and clear...bass is clean and expressive...the treble emphasis sounds good to me, in most cases...Stage is massive and holographic [a term I usually reserve for the H60!]...what I'm trying to say is this is NO overpriced KZ-style set. Yes, it has some daring tuning choices, but YES, it sounds amazing for most things.

But that doesn't mean I'm telling everyone to go rush out and buy an HS80. I admit it was/is a gamble. The H60 is way safer of a home-run set, although more expensive. [For me, almost twice as much as my bargain $160 sale I got for the HS80.]

https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/xinhs-hs80-jupiter-ring.28199/
In preparation for my review I will likely work on this weekend, I had to make a Showcase item... Sad it isn't getting more attention because it IS a special set.

also... I made my signature easier to read hopefully! Yellow is my favorite color, but it just doesn't work well for text, I reluctantly admit HAHA.

I'm sure for a treble set, they sound really good. So far, as I mentioned, you've hit on a few excellent bright neutral sets, and the ZVX Pro, which is a bright neutral with a sweet bass lift. I can see where you are coming from with the fading wow, but the H60 acquit themselves quite nicely against some much more expensive IEMs (Kilobuck). They don't win out, and they haven't won out in greater favor except only the ISN EBC80, and that one is just barely, but I don't subtract points from the H60 because I heard something that's better, because that's not fair to the H60. So if I rated the H60 as a 8/10 as a standard, then because I listen to the Elysian Apostle and felt it was better, doesn't mean I'm going to devalue the H60 and rate it a 6/10 all of a sudden. I'm going to rate the Apostle as a 9/10. Also, realistically, not going to rate a budget IEM or low mid-fi higher than the H60, even if they tick all my boxes, because in truth, I don't think they are better than the H60, even if they sing in all the right places (DX1 for instance, or Defiant). I don't want to mislead anyone with my impressions and ratings, thinking they are getting something comparable at $130 than $350, when they wouldn't. But yeah, I certainly see the value in your ratings.

Volare vs. BrainDance, anyone? Compare and contrast? I'm interested in both.

Full disclosure: My interest in the IEM hobby is waning due to the American tariff situation. I'm not THAT devoted to this to want to spend more on something I know was a LOT cheaper just two months ago. Plus, I'm tighter than tree bark and don't want to splash cash just to feed an addiction that makes no sense given the political and economic climate.

The used market will be my only path forward in this hobby as long as the tariffs remain and the de minimis exception is erased. I've graduated from budget-fi into mid-fi, but I'll be f*cked if I'm going to spend $400+ on a new IEM that was only $300 in March. Nope. No way. That's just flat-out stupid.

I may return to over-ears, as at least there are plenty of non-Chinese companies making quality headphones in the mid-fi price range, unlike IEMs.

Update: Eye-balling a pair of Audeze LCD-2C for $399 at the Audeze summer B-stock sale. The LCD-2C remains the only headphone I've sold that I missed. Sold it for the LCD-X 2021, which is a better can (with EQ), but it wasn't as fun and a hell of a lot more expensive. Decisions, decisions ...

Can't blame you, plus there is some shenanigans going on in the Alix sector, as the pause was agreed upon for 90 days, and you figure Alix shops would take advantage of this short pause to try and lower pricing as much as possible, but that has not been the case, and for the most part, what got blocked remains blocked, or prices remain ridiculously high, so for me, I've been diggin' my current stash, and I'm satisfied (review units also help).

Cayin RU9 - $499

https://shop.musicteck.com/collections/portable-amplifier/products/cayin-ru9-1-bit-resistor-network-dongle-dac-amp

Key Features​

l Nutube 6P1 Application

Supports both single-ended 3.5mm and balanced 4.4mm PO/LO outputs.

Each output can toggle between tube and solid-state modes.

l Classic丨Modern丨SS

Classic：

·No global negative feedback; each stage uses local feedback.

·Tube amplification introduces higher total harmonic distortion (THD).

·Rich harmonic texture delivers a warm, nostalgic sonic flavor — classic “tube sound.”

Modern：

·Introduces global negative feedback to define total gain.

·THD is significantly reduced.

·Harmonically cleaner, quieter background while preserving the warmth of tubes.

·Yields a sweet, clear, and delicate modern tube audio signature.

Solid-state：

·Based on precision-tuned op-amp ICs and peripheral circuits.

·Offers neutral tonality, fast transients, and highly accurate audio reproduction.

·Ideal for listening to music with its original, uncolored character.

l Dual AKM AK4493SEQ DAC

Equipped with dual AK4493SEQ DACs, each operating in mono mode.



Left and right channels are decoded separately for lower crosstalk and better channel separation.

l 16-Core XMOS XU316 Processor

Employs the latest generation XMOS XU316 USB Audio solution for high-performance digital processing.

l Triple Power Supply Modes

Built-in 2000mAh lithium battery provides up to 4.7 hours of battery-powered use. Also supports USB power from the external device (without charging the battery), as well as external DC power supply for increased output power.

Compatible with QC/PD fast charging.

l Hyper Mode

A specialized feature designed for headphone usage under DC power supply. Increases static operating current and voltage for enhanced audio performance.

Balanced: 1000mW + 1000mW @ 32Ω; 1170mW + 1170mW @ 16Ω

Single-ended: 420mW + 420mW @ 32Ω; 610mW + 610mW @ 16Ω

l Magnetic Back Design

Magnetic rear panel allows seamless attachment to smartphones.

Includes a custom Cayin leather case — hand-stitched, supple leather, precise cutouts, and magnetic back for secure attachment.

Comes with a L-shaped USB cable, ergonomically angled to avoid hand obstruction.

l Vibration Isolation

Custom-designed anti-vibration system for the Nutube vacuum tube.

Features a custom-built silicon housing on an FPC flexible PCB and a pin-supported vertical suspension system to eliminate microphonics.

l Elegant and Compact

CNC-machined unibody metal chassis.

Weighs only 150g, and measures 15mm thick.

l Thoughtful Details

0.96" color display with adjustable brightness.

Knurled volume knob with refined tactile resistance.

Side-mounted multi-color indicator light for charging and sample rate/format display.

l Versatile Use Scenarios

USB Audio DAC

Supports UAC1.0 (driverless) and UAC2.0 modes.

Compatible with smartphones, computers, digital audio players, tablets, and gaming consoles.

S/PDIF Input/Output

Uses Qualcomm QCC5125 for high-definition Bluetooth transmission.
Supports LDAC and other HD Bluetooth codecs.

Dimension (mm)：100*70*15Weight：150g

This is awesome, but is it the "dongle dac" version of the N3U sonically? Or is it an elevated sonic experience? It's a very intriguing TOOB source, but I want to wait and see how similar or dissimilar it is to my N3U?4

 

[gadgetgod]

I/O Volare vs Ruviest Prelude

• 1DD+4BA+4EST vs 1DD+6BA
• ~600€ vs ~350-400€
• Black vs Colourful

So this is an interesting comparison of two IEMs I enjoy quite a bit. First one has been loaned to me by @bithalver (thank you!) while the second one I have bought myself. So, I desperately need the second one to win! LOL, no, I'll keep this fair and square. Here are my thoughts, iBasso DX180 is my source of choice.

Bass
For the low lows I still reach for The House of The Rising Sun by alt-J and TuKa and Summer by Emeli Sande. Prelude is noticeably (30% less volume needed) easier to drive (probably the lack of ESTs). After volume matching it rumbles very convincingly. Both of these songs have multiple low notes in a sequence which gives me a fair amount of info about just how precise and rich that subbass is. It's much more present and upfront on the Prelude. I do however prefer the thickness and solidity of Volare's lows. Ascending into that midbass, where I like to use Take The Power Back by RATM, I must say I hear a similar sort of qualities in that both are quick and not overly bloated which allows this beautiful finesse and makes both sound very agile. I slightly prefer how sub-to-midbass correlation functions on the Volare with just a tad less roundness and thus a more crafted sound. So, Volare is the talented quiet kid, vs Prelude - the egocentric yet skilled bully.

Midrange
Volare shows more delicacy and spoils the listener with ample stage size and openness. Prelude isn't too far behind, but still noticeably so. Resolution and detail retrieval too, are more impressive on the Volare. Prelude instead goes for a bolder richer midrange with better note weight, most noticeably in piano pieces. The extra bass quantity can be a bit much occasionally, but it's not as noticeable unless you do this sort of immediate A/B. Both present vocals very realistically, but Volare goes a step further with higher placement and fantastic microdetails. Brass and strings are all thicker on Prelude, tough to choose a winner. The midrange is more vivid and natural on the Volare.

Treble
ESTs vs BAs. And quite noticeably so. ESTs deliver another layer of crystal clarity and make the notes more tangible and airy. The BAs in Prelude, however, are a real work of art as well. They can boogie and never get upset or metallic. It's a joyous listen where bass carries the song while treble offers a pleasant counterweight despite the lesser quantity. Sibilance is handled spectacularly on both. Overall, they cannot match Volare's ESTs and fall short in technical prowess.

What is a clear takeaway is that Volare is a true masterpiece. Prelude offers something different and tasteful, but these two are not as interchangeable as I thought. Prelude is the better basshead IEM and can be a more enjoyable listen in certain scenarios where bass has to be right in the forefront, but Volare strikes the balance of musicality and technicality that is hard to match. However, right after this A/B I sat there glued with Prelude in my ears and struggled putting them down - this just does something right.

Good writeup Nik. Since you find the Prelude to be bassier than the Volare, I think it won't be up to my taste exactly. For basshead IEMs, my heart still craves for Thieaudio Origin.

 

[Hypops]

Guys, in your opinion is there any advantage using this type of nozzle filter:

Top Pro


over this more open type?

Mest mk2


I mean, the type of filter used on Top Pro, stops in good part the sound coming out from tubes? Or not?

Also Canpur 622B... what happens if you remove the filter? The sound comes out without obstacles, so it will be better or not?

I had some back and forth conversations with the folks at Symphonium about their nozzle grilles. The long and short of those conversations is that there is a difference between nozzle grilles (what you're showing in those photos) and nozzle filters (which might or might not be behind those grilles). Generally speaking, nozzle grilles are just to keep ear junk out of the internal structure. By contrast, nozzle filters come in the form of things like foam, etc. that are behind the grille (or elsewhere).

Thanks, bro! I'm sad about it but at the same time life goes on, other iems will come, even better ones than what we have now at $200-$300. In the meantime I also have lots manga to read and anime to watch. It's a good thing iems are not my only hobby

I'm with you. I still have a few IEMs and listen to them regularly, but I've stepped out of the path of the fire hose, so to speak. I've also been focusing on other interests more (guitar, comics, games, etc). It's been nice, but it also means spending a lot more time less frequently catching up with this thread!

Volare vs. BrainDance, anyone? Compare and contrast? I'm interested in both.

Full disclosure: My interest in the IEM hobby is waning due to the American tariff situation. I'm not THAT devoted to this to want to spend more on something I know was a LOT cheaper just two months ago. Plus, I'm tighter than tree bark and don't want to splash cash just to feed an addiction that makes no sense given the political and economic climate.

The used market will be my only path forward in this hobby as long as the tariffs remain and the de minimis exception is erased. I've graduated from budget-fi into mid-fi, but I'll be f*cked if I'm going to spend $400+ on a new IEM that was only $300 in March. Nope. No way. That's just flat-out stupid.

I may return to over-ears, as at least there are plenty of non-Chinese companies making quality headphones in the mid-fi price range, unlike IEMs.

Update: Eye-balling a pair of Audeze LCD-2C for $399 at the Audeze summer B-stock sale. The LCD-2C remains the only headphone I've sold that I missed. Sold it for the LCD-X 2021, which is a better can (with EQ), but it wasn't as fun and a hell of a lot more expensive. Decisions, decisions ...

Singaporean IEM manufacturers are another alternative. Most are boutique manufacturers, so they're more expensive than the cheap Chi-fi brands, but they've now become a massive value proposition--especially in my mid-tier range ($400-$800). Singaporean brands aren't subject to the ridiculous trade war, at least not directly. I've now got an eye out for the (hideous looking) FlipEars twins, Legion and Aegis.

Can't blame you, plus there is some shenanigans going on in the Alix sector, as the pause was agreed upon for 90 days, and you figure Alix shops would take advantage of this short pause to try and lower pricing as much as possible, but that has not been the case, and for the most part, what got blocked remains blocked, or prices remain ridiculously high, so for me, I've been diggin' my current stash, and I'm satisfied (review units also help).

I suspect AliX has some closer ties to the Chinese government since price increases and geo-blocking all happened well before the tariffs actually went into effect. Makes it look as though AliX is an active part of the negotiation rather than an "innocent bystander" in the ongoing trade war. Pure speculation on my part, but it is noteworthy that AliX has been acting preemptively at every turn. Compare AliX's actions to those of other Chinese audio retailers (Linsoul, HIfigo, etc).

 

[Waqar]

I wanted to listen to the Bajie really bad. When it was released, it really had my attention, but the problem for me was that they priced it at $600, and all the tech used inside was used in ultra budget IEMs, and all of a sudden, it's being collected in one place, but at 6x the cost of previous implementations, so are they using branded tech for the entire array, or are they just charging a premium because they want to position it as a flagship? It came and went, didn't sell well, and I kinda forgot about it myself, but your really good impressions have been welcomed.

It really just came and went away and i believe what i like is the tuning and it is refined sounding.

But you can get same or better sq for less, but it is excellent if you like this kind of sound.

It may have regular tech in it, or not and that is the problem.
Like they say it have custom ba drivers and what is that? Is it rop of the line custom drivers or just some regular custom drivers.
And yes the DD driver in it is special at least one paper, but it sounds good that spdx driver or whatever it is called it hits good but it is tamed well.

But then again i would rather go for a Penon or Isn iem for a over 500$ iem.
Because i believe that those are insane bang for the buck compared to the Tangzu that is not a value champ but a solid set, and i am not sure it even justify the 500$+ price in this crowded segment.

But i really wanted it and i saw that it was discontinued everywhere and found a new pair on alix.

And now i understand why it was cut from the lineup, because it must have not sold well at all because its not that many reviews out these but the few who are out there are good ones.

So no wonder you skipped it, because it does not exactly scream that i am special at a great price.
There are better items out there at least for the money, but i like this one.

But for now i ordered The Letschouer DX1, even if i am on a break from purchasing new iems this one i have been waiting for. And bought it mostly because of your description of the decay of the high freq line the hifiman zero, and yes i have been here long enough to have one of those.
The cable broke and i never fixed it, but if i ever have seen a hyped iem then it was the hifiman zero back in the days. And well deserved one it was, and it was one of the first iems i ever got from China.

Man those where the days, but compared to then this chifi market we have now is just on another level. Cant even compare.

 

[galaxygrrl]

Hey all,

I just spent a lot of time comparing TWS and finding what I like, which are the Rex5 and the Beoplay Elevens. I'm now on to wired buds. Does anyone have anything to say about the ones on this list? Thanks so much!

 

[BlueA]

Cayin RU9 - $499

No user replaceable battery. Alea.

 

[Hypops]

Hey all,

I just spent a lot of time comparing TWS and finding what I like, which are the Rex5 and the Beoplay Elevens. I'm now on to wired buds. Does anyone have anything to say about the ones on this list? Thanks so much!

At a glance, your estimated prices for the Andromeda 2020 and the Volume both seem off, at least in the US market. Both can only be gotten used since they’re both discontinued, but a used Andro 2020 typically still goes for ~$1-1.5k and a used Volume goes for ~$200 (a new Volume S only goes for ~$250).

 

[galaxygrrl]

At a glance, your estimated prices for the Andromeda 2020 and the Volume both seem off, at least in the US market. Both can only be gotten used since they’re both discontinued, but a used Andro 2020 typically still goes for ~$1-1.5k and a used Volume goes for ~$200 (a new Volume S only goes for ~$250).

Thanks!!!!! Chat GPT is not perfect for sure.

 

[Cinder]

Well, I am well aware of the CFA premium. Technically, this set shouldn't be priced as high as it is based on the tech, but all of us in the hobby know you will pay more for CFA just because it's CFA, and their IEMs are made in the USA, which is most likely the impetus for such premiums? But yes, I am willing to buy, because it's just THAT GOOD.

Indeed. US-made combined with genuinely-impressive performance makes the CFA lineup, more often then not, compelling in spite of its high prices.

I just published my video review of the EarAcoustics Audio SPA Limited Edition! As a sucker for dynamic driver IEMs, I had an absolute field day with what is an undeniably sophisticated IEM.

Please take a watch!

 

[PhonoPhi]

Good comparisons! It sounds like the AM16 Balanced is the way to go! I might someday buy another KZ all-BA set, and it will be either the Sonata or AM16 Bal. I don't actually own an all-BA set right now... While I liked the AS24 I had, I thought the sound was a bit too mids-forward and maybe just a tad dry.

Although... I DO like my bass, and you said the AM16 Pro was the least bassy, then AS16 Pro X, then AM16 Bass... I HAVE heard reports though of the AS16 Pro X being sibilant or harsh in the treble. Can you confirm? All three of these sets, along with the ZSX Pro have been recently posted on KZTWS website. [and the new AS16 and AM16 are the same price!] Looking at the KZ graphs, the Bass version actually looks better to me haha.

There's also a sale on the Sonata...

Also, they're trying to sell the EDX Ultra for $22! HAHA... that thing is several generations outdated??? And the ZVX Pro is like $18 on their site??? no WAY the EDX Ultra is better haha.

Since I have all the all-BA KZs at the moment, I tested several of them to compare and to answer your sibilance question:

Left to right are AS16 Pro X, AM16 balanced, AM16 bass, AS24, AS24 pro, Sonata, ASX, and PRX (all KZ).
Most of my preferred music is not that treble rich. So I used J-pop that I perceive to have quite penetrating electronic treble and vocals:

I am very tolerant to 2-3 kHz, but quite sensitive to 5-6 kHz ranges.
The sourse used is Questyle M15C that is quite bright and revealing.
Tips are wide-bore Clarions for all, except PRX, where black Penon Liquor became the choice.
My great old ASX definitely delivers most of the treble richness by far (as expected from.an older KZ), followed by PRX (while somewhat "tamed", still treble rich) and AS16 pro X.
AS24, Sonata, and AS24 pro follow with quite reasonably gentle treble. AM16 treble feel even gentler or not any prominent/abrasive.
I do agree that AS24 original sound quite dry/timid. Yet, to me it can offer a lot when I acclimatize to its signature after 15-30 minutes - then, I experience a lot of great subtleties resolved, especially in the chamber music.

much appreciated! how about pressure buildup and how many vents does it have. Thanks

No problems that I can perceive with the pressure build up starting from AS16 pro to the recent all-BA KZ, includung AM16 (older KZ AS10 and AS16 original did have some).
Then I tested and confirm thar the top plates are open (blowing through tests).

 

[jbfps116]

I got my Simgot EW300s this weekend. After spending time burning and tip rolling in addition to nozzle swaps and foam inserts, they are just not for me. Biggest complaint is a lack of meat on the bones and lack of lower mid dynamics. I did appreciate the presence region and some of the treble sparkle, yet it did not sound natural on female vocals like Alison Kraus, too thin and pinched. The gold nozzle was a mess, for me.

Bass was pretty good but still had some of the DD softness that steered me to planars.

What the heck do I do now, under $70 or so for a backup IEM may just not be feasible or do I go for a "fun" sig like the Sivga Que or ????

For now the Heydays are happily back in my ears.

While they’re not the last word in punchiness, on a gold-plated copper cable they suddenly become quite smooth and rich (still using silver nozzle!)

For a “fun” sound under $70:
CCA TRIO
QKZ ZXN (or ZXD for more bass)
Sound Rhyme SP01
TRN Shell (although I haven’t listened to this one much yet)
KB ear KB02
Tiandirenhe TD08 Pro

@Redcarmoose I heard the Kiwi Ears Aether thanks to @suman134 and found the sub bass to be incredulously missing

It’s not the most prominent but it’s there… usually enough for me.

I'm sure for a treble set, they sound really good. So far, as I mentioned, you've hit on a few excellent bright neutral sets, and the ZVX Pro, which is a bright neutral with a sweet bass lift. I can see where you are coming from with the fading wow, but the H60 acquit themselves quite nicely against some much more expensive IEMs (Kilobuck). They don't win out, and they haven't won out in greater favor except only the ISN EBC80, and that one is just barely, but I don't subtract points from the H60 because I heard something that's better, because that's not fair to the H60. So if I rated the H60 as a 8/10 as a standard, then because I listen to the Elysian Apostle and felt it was better, doesn't mean I'm going to devalue the H60 and rate it a 6/10 all of a sudden. I'm going to rate the Apostle as a 9/10. Also, realistically, not going to rate a budget IEM or low mid-fi higher than the H60, even if they tick all my boxes, because in truth, I don't think they are better than the H60, even if they sing in all the right places (DX1 for instance, or Defiant). I don't want to mislead anyone with my impressions and ratings, thinking they are getting something comparable at $130 than $350, when they wouldn't. But yeah, I certainly see the value in your ratings.

The HS80 and H60 are about equally impressive to me… but the H60 is a better all-rounder and the HS80 has a bewitching tuning, at least to me.

 

[Ineras]

Damn, hbb comparing Top Pro with Storm and saying he prefers the Mangird.

 

[Barndoor]

Yes, well as long as you get the Aether enough power then you are qualified to make judgments like so. But the Aether is very boring from just a phone, or Apple Dongle! Still something as popular as the Aether gets a lot of arrows shot its way, being high profile and all.

Had a play with the Aether on a dap today for the first time.
Up until now I've been using desktop level amplification (mostly Hifiman EF600 and iFi Zen Can signature).
Running it balanced with ivipQ-516 (7NOCC) cable.
The RS2 is a dap I consider to be under powered at only 320mW balanced.
For the Aether this turned out to be the case, leaving it lifeless and boring. The magic had been sucked out.
Swapping to the CA1000T and all is good again!

I'm not sure it is right to say that only people using desktop power "are qualified to make judgements". Everybody needs to be aware that if they want to get the magic out of the Aether then they need to be able to give it some juice and shouldn't buy if that is not their pathway in this hobby.

 

[WAON303]

Early Mangird Top Pro shilling live.



Graphs pretty well, I think this will sell super well like it's predecessor, haven't heard the OG Top but it was very well received. FC-Construct was the only reviewer who didn't enjoy the Top but he claims the Top sounded "Bassy and muddy" something no one else has said about the Top's sound.

Top Pro has the same driver config as the forgotten Hype 10 but is much cheaper.

Shell reminds me a lot of the high end Thieaudio stuff, it's not for everyone but I quite like it.