What are your top 3 IEM ?

[digitalfrost]

Has anyone tried Kiwi Ears Quintet?

They seem weird enough to be an interesting purchase.

I like them a lot, they fit me really well with the Moondrop Springtips. They are a bit on the bright side for me though. I like this EQ with them.

Preamp: -0.7 dB
Filter 1: ON PK Fc 33 Hz Gain -1.5 dB Q 0.600
Filter 2: ON PK Fc 150 Hz Gain -1.1 dB Q 1.000
Filter 3: ON PK Fc 470 Hz Gain 1.1 dB Q 1.400
Filter 4: ON PK Fc 1300 Hz Gain -1.5 dB Q 1.200
Filter 5: ON PK Fc 2300 Hz Gain 1.4 dB Q 2.800
Filter 6: ON PK Fc 5500 Hz Gain -2.2 dB Q 3.700
Filter 7: ON PK Fc 5700 Hz Gain -3.4 dB Q 0.300
Filter 8: ON PK Fc 6300 Hz Gain 2.3 dB Q 3.900
Filter 9: ON PK Fc 7200 Hz Gain -4.2 dB Q 5.000

 

[InfiniteJester]

I like them a lot, they fit me really well with the Moondrop Springtips. They are a bit on the bright side for me though. I like this EQ with them.

Preamp: -0.7 dB
Filter 1: ON PK Fc 33 Hz Gain -1.5 dB Q 0.600
Filter 2: ON PK Fc 150 Hz Gain -1.1 dB Q 1.000
Filter 3: ON PK Fc 470 Hz Gain 1.1 dB Q 1.400
Filter 4: ON PK Fc 1300 Hz Gain -1.5 dB Q 1.200
Filter 5: ON PK Fc 2300 Hz Gain 1.4 dB Q 2.800
Filter 6: ON PK Fc 5500 Hz Gain -2.2 dB Q 3.700
Filter 7: ON PK Fc 5700 Hz Gain -3.4 dB Q 0.300
Filter 8: ON PK Fc 6300 Hz Gain 2.3 dB Q 3.900
Filter 9: ON PK Fc 7200 Hz Gain -4.2 dB Q 5.000

Thanks for the profile.

I made the mistake of buying the L size of those tips not knowing that L for Moondrop is barely above the S from other manufacturers. It is impossible for me to get any kind of seal with them.

Given how incredibly small the L are, I'm not sure that even the XL are going to be enough for my, admittedly large, ears.

 

[markanini]

Has anyone tried Kiwi Ears Quintet?

They seem weird enough to be an interesting purchase.

I'm afraid of the energy around 10k, I expect them to have a sharp treble unless you listen at a low volume or win some kind of HRTF lottery.

 

[zeropoint]

KZ ZS10 Pro 4BA+1DD
KZ ZST X Hybrid 1BA+1DD
7Hz Salnotes Zero

Also, Moondrop Quarks

 

[InfiniteJester]

I'm afraid of the energy around 10k, I expect them to have a sharp treble unless you listen at a low volume or win some kind of HRTF lottery.

Are you sure, they doesn't seem that energetic to me.

 

[markanini]

Are you sure, they doesn't seem that energetic to me.View attachment 366341View attachment 366342View attachment 366343

Going by graphs there's some extra HF energy, with and without the pinna attachment. A dip is expected around 10kHz according to 711 HRTF data. Are you able to listen to them loud? Maybe you are lucky with your personal HRTF and fit, or the coupler overstates the range, or there's unit variation. https://listener.squig.link/iems/?share=Harman_2019v2_Target,Quintet,Quintet_8k

 

[InfiniteJester]

Going by graphs there's some extra HF energy, with and without the pinna attachment. A dip is expected around 10kHz according to 711 HRTF data. Are you able to listen to them loud? Maybe you are lucky with your personal HRTF and fit, or the coupler overstates the range, or there's unit variation. https://listener.squig.link/iems/?share=Harman_2019v2_Target,Quintet,Quintet_8k

I was only commenting on the graphs, I haven't bought them yet, thus why I was asking. It is true that the common dip doesn't seem so present here as in other IEMs.

 

[gabo4au]

As a musician, I have had many... But mostly for IEMs used on stage, so generally value isolation, robustness, and a few other features over perfect sound quality. Having said that, I have also used various ones I have for "on the plane" or other more casual uses. So my list might be a bit different.

1. Westone UM Pro 50 (love the sound of these and have also used them on stage a lot and for casual listening)
2. Shure SE535
3. 7hz Crinacle Zero2 (I generally don't use these for playing, not enough isolation as they are vented)

I've also use a pair of Klipsch a lot that I like. They are pretty old so I'm not sure what model they are. Seems like they were more towards the top end of the Klipsch IEMs. I've Used many cheap ones plus a bunch of sennheiser and Shure and other bits. For playing live I have a few of the Shure SE215s, not bad, sound pretty good, they have a good form, good isolation, and are robust.

For over ear full headphones, it's hard to beat my venerable Senn HD650s with Oratory 1990 IR filter for them.

 

[Yanec]

Out of 50ish iems (ranging from $15 to $1400):

1. Thieaudio Monarch III
2. Kiwi ears Quintet
3. Thieaudio Oracle II / 7Hz Timeless AE - a tie

Happy to go into details, comparisons or answer questions if needed. Will skip them here not to make this unnecessarily long.

 

[Yanec]

I'm afraid of the energy around 10k, I expect them to have a sharp treble unless you listen at a low volume or win some kind of HRTF lottery.

You should try them (always a good idea before commenting). Actual experience with them is smoother than the graph due to the use of piezoelectric/bone conduction plus micro-planar drivers for the HF, and good work on the x-overs.

I dislike any flavour of heavily boosted HF but my actual experience with them is fine even after hours of listening. They have accented areas that give perception of micro-detail and air but aren't sibilant or too sharp. But they aren't for anyone who wants unnaturally soft and retracted highs either.

 

[preload]

2. JBL Endurance Race Bluetooth Wireless

View attachment 365314View attachment 365318View attachment 365319
Don't let the FR deceive you, the auto-EQ the JBL app provides makes these sound spectacular. They are the most comfortable Bluetooth IEMs that I've used and are made for sports/outdoor use because of that little protrusion that secures them well (to my ears at least).

Woah, how do I get that autoEQ in an app?

 

[Bow_Wazoo]

1. Audeze LCDi4
2. Audeze LCDi3
3. Fiio FH5S

With EQ, of course. Without it, all three, but especially the Audeze, are completely useless.

 

[CPTX]

I have only owned three. Keep going back to the Chu2 as the tips fit best in my narrow, angulated ear canals. Be sure to be careful with IEMs as they get right up next to your ear drum. I drive them with a Qudelix 5K DAC/amp/EQ

My subjective impressions (a post I made last year)

 

[USER]

Woah, how do I get that autoEQ in an app?

JBL has an official app. It recognizes the headphone or IEM and offers the autoEQ as an option.

 

[preload]

JBL has an official app. It recognizes the headphone or IEM and offers the autoEQ as an option.

Strange, my JBL app only shows manual EQ setting options

 

[USER]

Strange, my JBL app only shows manual EQ setting options

Which headphone or IEM? The android app has worked for all 3 bluetooth/wireless headphones/IEMs we have tried. Have you updated the respective firmware?

 

[InfiniteJester]

Well, I ended up buying the Kiwi Ears Quintet, and I don't like them at all.

No bass, piercing highs... They sound like a headphone tuned to DF.

MP145 remains the best IEM I have ever tried, nothing comes close.

 

[Bow_Wazoo]

1. Audeze LCDi4
2. Audeze LCDi3
3. Fiio FH5S

With EQ, of course. Without it, all three, but especially the Audeze, are completely useless.

I completely forgot how good the Audeze planar iem are. Even the Isine 10 sounds incredible good.