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

[slex]

Yes, it matters a lot. If I am reading a book called "The Joy of Sex." It's relevant to know if the author is a virgin.

Haha , Did you read my endings?

 

[slex]

Haha , Did you read my endings?

Are you blind?

 

[slex]

Yes, it matters a lot. If I am reading a book called "The Joy of Sex." It's relevant to know if the author is a virgin.

Ok, perhaps you miss the ending, care to input your choice of rankings?

 

[slex]

And if you read a book without ends, what's the point?

 

[normie610]

Best single-DD IEM
>$1000 Audeze LCDi4 (single planar actually)

Best all-BA IEM
$350-$1000 Sony IER-M9
>$1000 VE Erlkonig

Best Hybrid IEM (2 driver types only, including DD+BA, DD+magnetostat, BA+EST, etc.)
>$1000 Sony IER-Z1R

Best Tribrid or more IEM (any combination of 3 or more driver types)
>$1000 Fir Audio M5

 

[Nimweth]

Best Single DD
< $50: Open Heart Resin
$50 - $110: Smabat NCO

Best Hybrid (2 driver types)
< $50: KBEAR Lark
$50 - $110: KZ ZAX
$110 - $350: TRI Starsea

Best All BA:
< $50: KZ BA10

Best Tribrid
$110 - $350: TRI i3

 

[Layman1]

Best single-DD IEM
<$50 - Fiio FD1
$50-$110 - iBasso IT00
$110-$350 - DUNU DK-2001
$350-$1000 - Unique Melody 3DT (actually a multi-DD IEM, but there's no category for that, but there IS a category for all-BA, so it seems fair to put it here!)
>$1000 Final Audio A8000

Best all-BA IEM
<$50 -
$50-$110
$110-$350 - iBasso AM05
$350-$1000 - Stealth Sonics U4
>$1000 - Empire Ears Phantom

Best Hybrid IEM (2 driver types only, including DD+BA, DD+magnetostat, BA+EST, etc.)
<$50 -
$50-$110 -
$110-$350 - Stealth Sonics U2
$350-$1000 - Unique Melody mini-MEST
>$1000 - Empire Ears Legend X

Best Tribrid or more IEM (any combination of 3 or more driver types)
$50-$110
$110-$350 -
$350-$1000 Itsfit Fusion
>$1000 - Unique Melody MEST

 

[blorg]

Best single-DD IEM
<$50: BLON BL-03
$50-$110: Moondrop Starfield

Best Hybrid IEM (2 driver types only)
<$50: KZ ZS10 Pro
$110-$350: Moondrop x Crinacle Blessing2: Dusk

 

[Layman1]

@baskingshark heh, thanks for the like

This is a genuine list of the IEMs I just really love and come back to on a daily/weekly basis (except the Legend X, but I think it's technically a level above my Nemesis).
I imagine some of them (the Stealth Sonics ones, for example) are not going to have many votes as they simply haven't had that much exposure or popularity.
Plus the U4 is probably a divisive IEM, but for me it's fantastic

Out of all of these, the MEST and mini-MEST are the ones that have blown me away in terms of sound signature and technical performance.
U4 and Phantom are my go-to IEMs for fatigue-free warm and rich tone.
And I'd have put the Final Audio B1 ($699) in there too if I could; for my tastes, hands-down the most beautiful IEM I've ever seen, and a unique and enchanting sound signature too

Finally, I would have wished for a couple of extra categories; $699 - $1000, because I think that's where there's a sudden leap in quality, and $2000+ because I think there's quite a few outstanding IEMs in the $1000 - $1600 or so range that deserve to be singled out for awards, but might be objectively considered less 'great' than $3k+ IEMs like the Odin, Fourte, Erlkonig etc and hence miss out on that recognition.
I think these days there's now a kind of TOTL and Elite TOTL - and for many people, that Elite level is out of reach financially, whereas the 'regular' TOTL may be achievable still.
Well, it's all relative of course, and this is certainly not a criticism of the people who put this competition together!
I can appreciate how much work goes into administrating this, and why it's necessary to keep things as simple as possible
Thanks to you guys for doing this; it was fun to think about my entries (and reflect on my favourite gear!) and I look forward to seeing the results

 

[dharmasteve]

Best single-DD IEM
<$50 Blon-03
$50-$110 iBasso it00
$110-$350 KBear Believe
$350-$1000
>$1000

Best all-BA IEM
<$50 NiceHCK DT100
$50-$110
$110-$350
$350-$1000
>$1000

Best Hybrid IEM (2 driver types only, including DD+BA, DD+magnetostat, BA+EST, etc.)
<$50 RevoNext RXS8S
$50-$110 BQEYZ KB100
$110-$350 TRi Starsea
$350-$1000
>$1000

Best Tribrid or more IEM (any combination of 3 or more driver types)
$50-$110
$110-$350 TRi i3
$350-$1000 TRi Starlight (LZ A7 close second)
>$1000

 

[slex]

Best single-DD IEM
<$50 Blon-01
$50-$110 iBasso it00
$110-$350 KBear Believe
$350-$1000
>$1000

Best all-BA IEM
<$50 NiceHCK DT100
$50-$110
$110-$350
$350-$1000
>$1000

Best Hybrid IEM (2 driver types only, including DD+BA, DD+magnetostat, BA+EST, etc.)
<$50 RevoNext RXS8S
$50-$110 BQEYZ KB100
$110-$350 TRi Starsea
$350-$1000
>$1000

Best Tribrid or more IEM (any combination of 3 or more driver types)
$50-$110
$110-$350 TRi i3
$350-$1000 TRi Starlight
>$1000

Oops, I need to adjust TRI Starsea Price!

 

[dharmasteve]

Oops, I need to adjust TRI Starsea Price!

Happy new year Monsieur Slex.....be safe and well in the coming months. May all head-fier's be well in the coming months..

 

[slex]

Happy new year Monsieur Slex.....be safe and well in the coming months. May all head-fier's be well in the coming months..

Yes Sir, likewise!

 

[Mehran]

Best single-DD IEM

<$50 Blon Bl03

Best Hybrid IEM (2 driver types only, including DD+BA, DD+magnetostat, BA+EST, etc.)

$110-$350 Moondrop B2 Dusk


Best Tribrid or more IEM (any combination of 3 or more driver types)

$350-$1000 IMR Opus Mia
>$1000 IMR Semper

 

[H T T]

Constructive criticism/feedback : There should be an under $25 category, then a $25-50 category then a $50-$100 category then a $100-$200, then ...

The categories, as they stand, aren't spaced fairly for the under $50 range and the $50-$100 range.

edit: spelling

edit: vote


Best single-DD IEM
<$50 final E3000 (would be theFiiO FD1 if sale prices counted)
$50-$110 Moondrop Starfield

Best Hybrid IEM (2 driver types only, including DD+BA, DD+magnetostat, BA+EST, etc.)
$110-$350 DUNU DK-2001