[TheRH]

Happy Friday, everyone. This may be a long poll, but an interesting one. What is your favorite Kilobuck IEM?

 

[o0genesis0o]

U12t and Trio for me. Both represent lofty summit of what the IEM format can deliver. Of course, this is quantified by the IEM collection of my local hifi store. I haven’t heard MEST nor Odin, for instance.

 

[rodel808]

KSE1200. If we're talking just iem in a traditional sense....QDC V14.

 

[baskingshark]

Sony IER M9

 

[TheRH]

These can be ones you own or have tried.

 

[Rockwell75]

Here is my top 10. Others I have heard are behind he spoiler tag in my sig.

1) Campfire Supermoon
2) Vision Ears EXT
3) Dunu Zen Pro
4) Oriolus Traillii
5) JVC HA-FW10000
6) Fir Xe6
7) Oriolus Szalayi
8) Campfire Dorado 2020
9) Sony IER Z1R
10) Vision Ears Phonix

 

[DaveStarWalker]

FiiO FH9.

 

[Tiax]

Sony IER M9

Same

 

[gazzington]

Kse1200

 

[mt877]

Sony IER M9

Same

Yep, same here.

 

[thescientist]

My ranking of kilobuck and kilobuck-adjacent IEMs, best to worst, ranked on sound alone:
1. Thieaudio Monarch MkII
2. Sony IER-M9
3. Moondrop S8
4. Campfire Audio Andromeda (2020)
5. Fiio FH9

Surprised there isn't more love for the Mk II here. I love the thing. It did take me about 3 months to figure out how to get a comfortable fit though, and I know a lot of people struggle with the fit.

 

[DaveStarWalker]

For me it would be a reverse ranking.

1/ fh9
2/ (...)

 

[pushyo2khun]

Top of my to buy list:
1. 64 Audio Tia Trio
2. Unique Melody MEXT

Spoiler: Others

I've demoed a majority of these albeit most for a short time. Generally if it doesn't sound good to me in the first 10 mins my opinions wouldn't change much for the next 30mins/1hr/3hrs.

Second priority, if I'm still in the hobby and willing to spend more:
1. Sony IER Z1R
2. QDC Anole VX/64 Audio U12T
3. Sony IER M9

Third priority, bunch of maybes:
1. Elysian Acoustics Diva (depends on my last demo session, could rise to 2.1)
2. Oriolus Szalayi
3. Elysian Acoustics Annihilator
4. Moondrop S8/Variations

What I probably wouldn't buy:
1. Thieaudio Monarch MK2
2. UM Mest MK2

Realistically Tia Trio is too expensive so an alternative is very much appreciated

 

[o0genesis0o]

I've demoed a majority of these albeit most for a short time.

Top of my to buy list:
1. 64 Audio Tia Trio
2. Unique Melody MEXT

Second priority, if I'm still in the hobby and willing to spend more:
1. Sony IER Z1R
2. QDC Anole VX/64 Audio U12T
3. Sony IER M9

Third priority, bunch of maybes:
1. Elysian Acoustics Diva (depends on my last demo session, could rise to 2.1)
2. Oriolus Szalayi
3. Elysian Acoustics Annihilator
4. Moondrop S8/Variations

What I probably wouldn't buy:
1. Thieaudio Monarch MK2
2. UM Mest MK2

Since my currency is down bad against USD a cheaper alternative to Tia Trio is very much appreciated

Trio is a smartly tuned IEM. If I can justify, I would certain try to get one.

I have switched my focus from Trio/U12t to Symphonium Helios. Surprised that that IEM does not have more fans. It seems surprisingly close to U12t on most aspects. I’m going to blind buy it after reviewing and then selling most of gear. Nothing wrong with Trio/U12t of course, but when I can get a Hifiman Arya, an K5s amp, and still get the Helios for the same amount of money, it’s kind of hard to justify.

 

[phaeton70]

1. MEST MKII / Indigo
2. QDC V14