The Head-Fi Members' Poll for In Ear Monitors 2020 [Please Read The Rules]

[Podster]

Well this old man is confused once again, if the criteria for phase two is that you can only select from the winners of phase 1 I did not get very far in this phase

LIST A - ALL DD

under $50 - Blon BL03

$50 to $110 - Moondrop Starfield

$110 to $350 - Toneking 9 Tail

$350 to $1000 - Advanced M5-1D (Since I won't pay more than $500 for an iem I have to keep these on your list as they are still the best sounding single DD I've ever heard) Still can't believe Lurk let them go

Over $1000 - Really, that's like paying $250+ for a cable when copper/copper SP is wire!


LIST B - ALL BA

under $50 - Brain Wavz Koel

$50 to $110 -

$110 to $350 - HQ-12

$350 to $1000

Over $1000


LIST C - HYBRID

under $50 - KZ ZS6

$50 to $110 - ThieAudio Legacy 3

$110 to $350 - BGVP DMS

$350 to $1000 - IMR R1 Zenith (my issue with most reviewers of the Zenith is their complaint of sound on lower grade sources, this iem was not designed to be played on your phone with sub-par files period and that should be recognized by those slamming it, with a high end source and high bit rate files I believe the Zenith can keep up with just about anything out there or at least get you 85% of whatever else is offered at any price) This hobby is so subjective but as Gov. William J. Le Letomane said "We've got to protect our phony bologna jobs gentlemen" and you know you are

Over $1000 - This would require a Lobotomy for anyone with a lick of sense of course this is just one enthusiast's opinion and you know what they say about those


LIST D - TRIBRID

under $50 -

$50 to $110 -

$110 to $350 - LZ-A7

$350 to $1000 - IMR Opus Mia (Yes, I realize my stance on price limit but they were a gift)

Not to derail your intent I always wondered why a single micro driver iem was not included in this whole thing? I sure would have put my Rockets in the running

 

[HaBo]

Best single-DD IEM

$110-$350

EX800ST

 

[Ace Bee]

Well this old man is confused once again, if the criteria for phase two is that you can only select from the winners of phase 1 I did not get very far in this phase

LIST A - ALL DD

under $50 - Blon BL03

$50 to $110 - Moondrop Starfield

$110 to $350

$350 to $1000

Over $1000


LIST B - ALL BA

under $50 - ####

$50 to $110 - ####

$110 to $350

$350 to $1000

Over $1000


LIST C - HYBRID

under $50 - ####

$50 to $110 - ####

$110 to $350 - ####

$350 to $1000 - ####

Over $1000 - ####


LIST D - TRIBRID

under $50 -

$50 to $110 - ####

$110 to $350

$350 to $1000 - ####

Over $1000

What are those hashes?

 

[Podster]

Why would an iem get banned, out of curioisity?

The Seller and anything he sells under his banner. See @Slater 's signature for detail

 

[Podster]

What are those hashes?

Those are from the OP's phase two listing example. I probably should have just posted the two categories I had entries in

 

[ChrisOc]

Well this old man is confused once again, if the criteria for phase two is that you can only select from the winners of phase 1 I did not get very far in this phase

LIST A - ALL DD

under $50 - Blon BL03

$50 to $110 - Moondrop Starfield

$110 to $350

$350 to $1000

Over $1000


LIST B - ALL BA

under $50 - ####

$50 to $110 - ####

$110 to $350

$350 to $1000

Over $1000


LIST C - HYBRID

under $50 - ####

$50 to $110 - ####

$110 to $350 - ####

$350 to $1000 - ####

Over $1000 - ####


LIST D - TRIBRID

under $50 -

$50 to $110 - ####

$110 to $350

$350 to $1000 - ####

Over $1000

It is unfortunate, but do not feel limited to IEMs you have heard yourself. You can rely on your favourite reviewer's or member's opinion to choose from the list, if you are not familiar with the IEMs listed.

Our reasoning for the two stages is this, as this poll is our first, to exclude any IEMs on the basis of when they were launched would be unfair. We chose to include all IEMs regardless of launch date.

Given the number of IEMs ever launched is huge, it was logical to reduce them in a fair competition open to all, hence the two stages.

Clearly, the first stage was a tight affair with many IEMs tied. As you can see it is the collective choice. Feel free to choose other IEMs now or anytime in the next 9 days.

 

[Ace Bee]

It is unfortunate, but do not feel limited to IEMs you have heard yourself. You can rely on your favourite reviewer's or member's opinion to choose from the list, if you are not familiar with the IEMs listed.

Our reasoning for the two stages is this, as this poll is our first, to exclude any IEMs on the basis of when they were launched would be unfair. We chose to include all IEMs regardless of launch date.

Given the number of IEMs ever launched is huge, it was logical to reduce them in a fair competition open to all, hence the two stages.

Clearly, the first stage was a tight affair with many IEMs tied. As you can see it is the collective choice. Feel free to choose other IEMs now or anytime in the next 9 days.

I believe it would be better to stay within the IEMs one has personally heard. Then it would be the truest ranking. Ranking other iems just based on reviews and impressions does not sound right. One should always prioritise personal experience more over second hand experience.

 

[dharmasteve]

It is unfortunate, but do not feel limited to IEMs you have heard yourself. You can rely on your favourite reviewer's or member's opinion to choose from the list, if you are not familiar with the IEMs listed.

Our reasoning for the two stages is this, as this poll is our first, to exclude any IEMs on the basis of when they were launched would be unfair. We chose to include all IEMs regardless of launch date.

Given the number of IEMs ever launched is huge, it was logical to reduce them in a fair competition open to all, hence the two stages.

Clearly, the first stage was a tight affair with many IEMs tied. As you can see it is the collective choice. Feel free to choose other IEMs now or anytime in the next 9 days.

But it's based on IEMs we have heard...yes.

 

[ChrisOc]

But it's based on IEMs we have heard...yes.

Preferably yes!

Unfortunately, we have to be realistic as no one can enforce such a rule, given we cannot prove that someone has heard a particular set of IEMs.

 

[Ace Bee]

Preferably yes!

Unfortunately, we have to be realistic as no one can enforce such a rule, given we cannot prove that someone has heard a particular set of IEMs.

Well, in that case we should just make it clear that it is generally expected from the mass, and leave the rest to their discretion. I believe responsible head-fiers will adhere by it.

 

[ChrisOc]

Well, in that case we should just make it clear that it is generally expected from the mass, and leave the rest to their discretion. I believe responsible head-fiers will adhere by it.

In every thing we do, we have to allow a degree of blind trust, not least when we try to cross the road or climb onto an aircraft. We trust that everyone will play by the rules of common decency, but for someone (a self proclaimed "oldman") who felt left out of a collective endeavour, it seems appropriate to let his imagination assist him. As a Poll Team member, I cannot vote and I can assure you I wish I could, but the rules are there for a reason.

 

[Ace Bee]

In every thing we do, we have to allow a degree of blind trust, not least when we try to cross the road or climb onto an aircraft. We trust that everyone will play by the rules of common decency, but for someone (a self proclaimed "oldman") who felt left out of a collective endeavour, it seems appropriate to let his imagination assist him. As a Poll Team member, I cannot vote and I can assure you I wish I could, but the rules are there for a reason.

1. I did not understand the old man's grief.

2. That's ridiculous! It's just a ranking system! You are as much of a headfier as us! It's not like your ranking is gonna topple the balance! Everyone's gonna put their own ranking, and that means everyone. A responsible and rational headfier will take it in a subjective way, not an objective way!

 

[ChrisOc]

1. I did not understand the old man's grief.

2. That's ridiculous! It's just a ranking system! You are as much of a headfier as us! It's not like your ranking is gonna topple the balance! Everyone's gonna put their own ranking, and that means everyone. A responsible and rational headfier will take it in a subjective way, not an objective way!

1. Reference to @Podster's post #166 above.

2. My colleagues and I agreed the rules, as it takes away any doubts. In my view, it is one less thing to think about.

I would be happy if everyone had fun. Trying to think of their IEMs which they preferred over another and why, is not easy. Also going through everyone's choice makes interesting reading.

 

[Ace Bee]

1. Reference to @Podster's post #166 above.

2. My colleagues and I agreed the rules, as it takes away any doubts. In my view, it is one less thing to think about.

I would be happy if everyone had fun. Trying to think of their IEMs which they preferred over another and why is not easy. Also going through everyone's choice makes interesting reading.

Okay, I respect your choice. But in that case, I would like to know your choices too. Can you pm me? Also, did you find my choices interesting?

 

[kadinh]

A

ALL DD

ALL DD - Up to $50

Blon BL01

ALL DD - $50 to $110

Moondrop Starfield


B

ALL BA

ALL BA - $350 to $1000

Dunu SA6

C

HYBRID

HYBRID -$110 to $350

ThieAudio L3

D

TRIBRID

TRIBRID -$110 to $350

LZ A7

TRIBRID - $1000 to $2000

MEST