The sub 200$ IEM market is just flooded with so many options that it’s nearly impossible to decide on an IEM. Even when you narrow it down your sound preferences you have minimum 10 options with slight variations between each other. For example, some fit your sound preferences but have large nozzles which causes discomfort (Zero: Red). The IE200s are extremely comfortable but it took so much of effort from tape mod, tip rolling and cable change to be worth it. On the sound aspect, we have planars, single DD, hybrids (DD + BAs) with each of them tuned very similarly with some differences in technical performances and overall characteristics. Some of them does bass + mid well but lack in treble others do the opposite. The 7Hz Timeless does everything good enough but timbre does sound unnatural in certain tracks.
Do we have too many options with IEMs now that it causing choice overload? How do you typically decide on IEMs if you don’t have the option to demo them before buying?
Timeless, Quintet, Aful P5, Dunu Talos, Zeitan Wu and also Binary x Chopin is not narrowing it down, but a step up nonetheless
Pick a sound signature, pick 2 or 3 with a good return policy, test em out. A LOT of these IEMs sound similar, you really cannot go wrong with just picking a few you hear are good and deciding for yourself.
Seems like the only option so far. Just have to convince myself to spend over 500$ to select one under 200$.
I’m sold on the newer planars. My MP145 does everything I want it to. I would recommend that with an apple dongle as a first purchase.
Genuinely asking, why don’t people just go for a TWS if at the $200 mark? I get TWS will die in a few years, but I also don’t expect cheap iems to last long either.
I like my blessing 2 dusks
So just buy pretty ones. If there’s waifu on the box that’s even better
Just use the IE200 and enjoy the music