[lee730]

1. Tralucent 1Plus2
2. Spiral Ear SE5
3. Vision Ear Stage 4 (still need to test out Stage 3 and Stage 2).
4. Old Version 1Plus2
5. Fit Ear 334
6. AKG3003
7. Etymotic ER4S
8. Heir 8A

 

[HONEYBOY]

I'll play along... I suppose for me it's the ER-4S >= UE TF10
 
I wasn't really a fan of those offered from Shure or Westone as I seemed more sensitive to the distortion they produced relative to the two above.

 

[IEMagnet01]

The TF 10's are hard as hell to distort. You have to really push them to the limits. I miss that about them. I hope my soon arriving Sony XBA-30's are as capable?

 

[Zalithian]

What kinds of volumes do you guys listen at that your iems distort? Geez...

 

[IEMagnet01]

ba's have always had issues with certain music. Especially if it involves anything with deep bass or sub bass. amped even more capable of distortion. I listen to my music at moderate levels, but my UE 700's will distort even at half volume if the bass tracks are too deep or thick. Same way with most of my old BA's minus my UE TF 10 and UE 7. 

 

[lee730]

Some BAs are quite capable of producing good bass but you are right. Generally dynamics have that nailed down.

 

[HONEYBOY]

What kinds of volumes do you guys listen at that your iems distort? Geez...

Sometimes it's not necessarily a volume issue. In fact, distortion can be desirable. Some folks hear it as 'more' detail....
 
To me, most of the balanced armature drivers with cross-overs (or not), that I've tried, just extract details in a seemingly unnatural way. I haven't looked at the whole thread, but am sure it's inevitably taken a digression on balanced armature vs dynamic drivers. FTR, I still consider the more subtly detailed, and laid back sound of something like an IE8 as more 'natural' than my two favourite BAs above.

 

[lee730]

My ears would begin to distort well before I'd be worried about the IEM distorting lol.

 

[IEMagnet01]

I love my UE 700's. So far more than any dynamics I own, due to the natural timbre, the detail, smoothness of the mids, and how damn comfy they are. Especially with my Comply olives.

 

[pacman46]

I've had my westone w4r's pretty loud with my alo continental v3 headphone amp and they've never distorted..maybe the guitar in some Rock music buy they are distorted anyways lol

 

[Andreas2402]

SE-5 - hail to the emperor...
JH 13 non-FP / JH 10x3 / UERM / Stage 4 / Stage 3
UE 900
 
A little offtopic, but .. I was able to compare SE-5 vs HD 800 without background noise during a longer session. No offense to HD 800 lovers, but let's just say I have no desire to buy a HD 800 any more

  Couldn't compare SR-007 & 009 directly, but only the 009 with SRM-727 impressed me.. but, considering the price of the stax set and the source that was used ...

 

[casanova]

Heir Audio 4.ai > PFE 012..
Love both though.

 

[MDH12AX7]

I've always had dynamics but craved more detail. I always wanted to try BA's but was afraid that I would want for more bass. The new DUNU DN1000 hybrids are the answer for me. Love the awesome mid and treble detail and the deep powerful bass.

 

[Francisk]

Phonak Audeo PFE232 & Etymotic ER4PT which of course can be switched to a ER4S whenever the need arise simply by using the supplied adapter. However ER4PT is my goto IEM when it comes to audio production work. Phonak Audeo PFE232 is more fun to listen to on day to day basis because of it's slightly extended bass and very detailed smooth treble response but yet not strain my ears but can sound slightly peaky on badly mastered tracks. Aside from that Phonak Audeo PFE232 is the most comfortable IEM I've ever come across. Isolation on the PFE232 is good but can't beat the ER4PT. Mids on the ER4PT is slightly more prominent than the PFE232. Isolation on the ER4PT is so good that I'm afraid to use it when I drive because external warning traffic sounds can be almost completely blocked out and that can be very dangerous. Hope this helps.

 

[IEMagnet01]

OM Audio InEarPeace and UE 700