Personal Favourites
I've been asked quite a number of times as to what I liked best. Thought I'd throw down some IEMs that I enjoy a fair bit. Keep in mind that this is my personal opinion and this list can and will change over time. Some of the factors that help evaluate are "timbre", "tonal balance", "transient response/clarity" and "technicalities". The order is not a ranking.
Sony IER-M9: Warm Neutral
For me, the IER-M9 proves itself to be the king of imaging. The M9's strongest asset is how it handles spatial cues - it's able to correctly portray a sense of a "3D" soundstage where I can accurately tell and gauge the distance between instruments. In addition, the M9 has a great deal of balance in its frequency response. I don't feel that any set of frequencies overwhelm each other. The music sounds very balanced and I hear everything. It also has great extension on both ends - providing deep subbass rumble and very well extended highs. Notes are always well separated from each other and the M9 simply refuses to congest no matter what tracks are thrown at it.
The biggest weakness of the M9 would be its slight lack of dynamics. I wouldn't go as far as to say it sounds dead or like a wall of sound. I think it's just that the lower treble is very much tamed which leads it to sound more relaxed. Personally its never sharp, harsh or sibilant. I would even go as far as to say that the M9's transients are a tad blunted, especially with its woofers.
A problem I find with the M9's woofer is that it sounds "slow" next to a typical BA bass setup. The woofer does not sound traditionally BA and instead has a more bodied decay. However the attack is a bit flabby/bloomy which makes the woofer sound a bit lazy and slow sounding. Outside of that, the M9 naturally lands in my list as the strongest contender with spatial cues and soundstage.
PEARS SH3: Uppermid-Forward Neutral
Check my review. In short, pretty technical IEM that places lead instruments and vocals forward with good treble extension and coherence. Plenty midrange detail but lacks in bass resolve, particularly subbass extension. Excellent vocals with a beautiful midrange tonality.
Etymotic ER2 Series
When the brand "Etymotic" is mentioned, some would associate the brand with terms such as "clinical" and "sterile". I personally think this holds true for the ER3 and ER4 series. The tuning on the 3 and 4 lacks warmth and exhibit what I refer to as "BA timbre". I find that BA lacks that natural body and decay of DDs and instead can sound grainier and leaner. However when it comes to the ER2, I think that Etymotic has done a great job to change this preconception. The DDs used in the ER2 have a very smooth and pleasing response, as if it was rid of any peaks. The ER2 has a much more natural timbre (and tone) to my ears with its elevated bass response and depth in the sound.
I've had chats and discussions with some audio friends of mine regarding what defines resolution. Some claim that ER4 still offers better "resolution" over the smoother ER2. Some say that the grain in the ER3/4 is texture and is what defines resolution. Yada yada. For me, the ER2 is able to reproduce transients as clean, if not cleaner than the ER4. It does so in a smooth, very natural way. Take for example, the resonance in the low keys of the piano. The ER2 presents those lines/resonances in a bodied expression whereas ER4 has greater emphasis on the initial attack. Which type of presentation is better is up to the individual to decide. I think resolution is quite an all-encompassing term. It's a mixture of factors such as transient response and timbre imo.
If not, the ER2 is not as bright in the 8-10k region which makes it a more relaxing and laid back listen. Makes the ER4 sound a bit peaky, heh. I do also feel that ER2 extends much better in the mid to upper treble region where it does cymbal decay very nicely. I do think that if the ER2 had more brightness in the 8-10k region like the ER4, it would be a very very good curve.
Last point about the ER2 is that the driver packs some serious speed. It doesn't sound congested despite the typical "etymotic soundstage". Everything layers properly as it should. I think it's the fastest DD I've heard to date in an IEM. Overall, just a very good IEM. XR or SE...I think I would suggest most to spring for SE as XR can be a bit too dark sounding with its bass boost. SE has better overall balance but XR's clean subbass lift helps the bass to roar.
I do think it can be a bit ridiculous to put the ER2 next to all the top dogs - but hey this is just a list of personal favourites. The ER2 excels in the areas it is supposed to. Which is why I like it.
Hidition NT6: Neutral-Bright
The closest to a speaker tone that I've heard so far. Timbre has a ways to go with a slightly boxy sounding bass and perhaps sterile vocals (lacking in warmth) but in terms of how it places instruments on the stage is exactly how I want it. No instrument sounds emphasized or behind with its tonal balance. Perhaps I could use more forward voicing and warmth but that may be addressed in a CIEM. Decent detail with its treble response, capturing the shimmer with cymbals well. Not a technical monster but I appreciate its tuning.
qdc 8SL/Gemini: V-Shaped
The reason why I didn't include the Anole VX is because the VX has a further lift in the lower-mid treble region which makes it a bit harsh and aggressive to listen to in an extended period of time. 8SL/Gemini strikes a better balance in the FR for me. Both of them offer a great soundstage, fantastic level of separation/layering, cleanly reproduced transients free of smearing and great extension on both ends. The 8SH has a further lift in the 1-2k region but I find that this lift made vocals a bit too shrill and unnatural sounding since 8SH's vocals are not as warm too. If not, the 8SL/Gemini sports decent bass - has the speed and attack to make it an engaging listen.
However in certain tracks, the bass of the 8SL/Gemini can sound a tad hollow and "BA-like". If not I feel that the both are very well tuned with solid technicalities and decent enough tonal balance.
Shure KSE1200/1500: Bright
A friend once shared an analogy with me - "hearing the KSE is like putting on your glasses in the morning". I think this holds true. The KSE is a detail monster - it sounds like 4K resolution where you're coming from 1080p. It's just so damn clear (PLEASE USE FOAM TIPS btw). It captures every resonance, every naunce in the track. It's cliche to say, but I do hear things I've never heard before with the KSE. The resolution and detail it provides is simply outstanding and sits at the very top in that category. Add that with it's crazy speed and it also never congests. Just so damn fast. It does have a small-ish soundstage but it won't matter because the music is flashing past by in HD.
The KSE's weakness would be it's tonal balance. Has this peak at 2k which makes vocals sound a bit unnatural. It does put electric guitars forward in the mix though. Other than that, I find the bass well extended (if it isn't well extended then the fit is definitely a bit off) and has a lift to provide some warmth. Treble has that great sizzling decay with immense speed and clarity.
Fearless x Crinacle "Dawn": Subbass Boosted Neutral
Very slightly warm tonality for that sense of naturalness. Overall really solid tuning that I identify with. Subbass reaches down low albeit can use even more definition. Maybe I'm just being unrealistic at this point. Midbass carries a good punch without bloat. Upperbass bloat isn't present. For low volume listeners like me, this makes total sense in terms of tuning. I get bass without turning it up. Midrange is just as well tuned as the bass - it does have have a small hump at 1-3khz that benefits it by allowing for clear, more forward vocal voicing. I don't find it thin. YMMV.
Treble region does carry some peaks from 3-10khz. Occasionally in some songs the treble does jump out suddenly. But I don't think it's a problem. Could use more upper end air but due to the sufficient overall lower and middle treble, it isn't a big concern; but certainly something that can be improved upon. The EST actually does nothing here. It has very close to no output next to its very much more sensitive woofers and tweeters. On a technical level the Dawn does perform good. Spaced out instrument separation though the presentation is more "diffuse" where the sound is closer and larger than I would like, especially with bass transients at times. Its a little unfocused sounding. Transient response wise, I do just wish this impacts a bit harder. If not it's dynamics are quite well in line with majority of IEMs out there. I don't think I've heard the IEM that has the dynamics of a speaker yet.
By FR the 300-1000hz range is kept "flat" and free of bloat. I do think it's a key point with the sound design of the IEM. As noted by my own preference curve, I enjoy IEMs flat in that region. This is one of those IEMs that are a solid all rounder. I've thrown all my genres at it and it works with everything. Great effort from both Fearless and Crinacle here. I had doubts with the bass boost (as seen on graph) but in reality it was not boomy nor overwhelming for me. It's at a satisfying level.
Timbre is on the smooth side of things. Got accustomed to the treble peaks quickly. In an ideal world I would ask for even more resolution with even lesser transient smearing (which it already performs well in) but I guess I'm being too unrealistic. Can be even detailed if this had further treble extension. Lacks a bit of the "zing" from cymbals sometimes.
changelog:
22 Dec 19: Replaced PP8 with NT6.
29 Mar 20: Added Dawn.
