Don't Pay More Than THIS For IEMs | Beginner’s Guide For Gaming and Music
Looking at a range of IEMs today from $50-$1000 for music listening, casual gaming, and competitive gaming use cases. If you're on a budget or a beginner to the IEM space, this is a great place to start.
Special Thanks to (but NOT sponsored by):
Crinacle - / @crin
Shenzhen Audio - shenzhenaudio.com/
Linsoul Audio - www.linsoul.com/
☑Links to me everywhere, all the time - linktr.ee/badseedtech
☑Shown in Today's Video (Amazon links are affiliate links)
*IEMS*
Moondrop Aria - geni.us/pgr0
Truthear x Crinacle Zero - geni.us/egS2
Fiio FHE: Eclipse - shenzhenaudio.com/products/fi...
Timeless 7Hz - geni.us/9BLOOg
Moondrop x Crinacle Blessing 2 Dusk - shenzhenaudio.com/products/mo...
Thieaudio Monarch Mk II - www.linsoul.com/products/thie...
*DAC/AMP/INTERFACE*
iFi Zen DAC V2 - geni.us/gwvtl
Audient Evo 4 - geni.us/QhfY1
*STILL My Favorite Headphones*
Beyerdynamic DT 1990 - geni.us/IeT0C1m
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Film Gear Used to Produce This Channel:
Main Cam - Sony a7S III - geni.us/7zixIi
B Cam - Sony a7 IV - geni.us/gAWzI
Main Broll Lens - Tamron 28-75 F2.8 - geni.us/WYR0s
Macro Lens - Sigma 105mm F2.8 - geni.us/ZhcxH
Talking Head Lens - Sigma 24mm F1.4 - geni.us/ctDfoUt
Main Mic - Audio-Technica AT4053B - geni.us/nEknk
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Song - "when i hop" - baegel
www.epidemicsound.com/referra...
#iem #gaming #budget
Warms my heart to see finally IEMs get popular for gaming and gain traction in big channels ❤
and you're still making content for reviews about is the iem gaming worthy so thank you too
100% I recently sold all my wireless audio stuff (except for linkbuds for on the go convenience) and went full wired. Running HD6XX at home, Moondrop SSR and CHUs for IEMs.
I'm using IEMs since years for gaming, even though I own some HD800S. IEMs are just more immersive and makes me concentrate on the game way better than open backs
occlusion sucks
@@sto-humanfriendly no it doesn't man up
This is one of the most consumer-friendly breakdowns of IEMs as a whole that I've ever seen. It was a super overwhelming, jargony space when I first got into it and you answered so many of the questions that I had at that time in such an easy to understand way. You've always been able to distill complicated topics down in a consumer-forward way, but this really hit the nail on the head. Those Blessing 2 Dusks might end up being a pickup for me after all Awesome vid, more of this please
I think part of the reason is that IEMs themselves are starting to become friendlier to the average consumer as well, with products like the CCA CRA+, the Truthear Zero (the one in the video), the Salnotes Zero (not the one in the video), and the Moondrop Chus (despite the QC issues) all coming in at $50 USD or less and sounding WAY better than IEMs in this price bracket even just a few years ago
Just get moondrop variations. I have most of the iems he showed and agree with almost all of it. Get the variations, not the dusk.
My man - I don't say it enough, but your support means a shit load to me.
@@badseedtech always got your back homie. Love seeing you thrive.
@@mfo7611 I think this is a personal decision. Dusk is the most competitive sub 1000$ option, MOST COMPETITIVE not the best. Variations is a tribrid and definitely interesting but also more expensive
The camera work in this video is on point. The way that you cut away to b-roll shots in between talking to the camera really helps break up the video and kept me engaged the whole vid. Excellent job man. Even though it's a little longer than your normal vid it didn't feel that way at all. Also I've been looking to get a pair of IEM's and this helped so much! Thanks for putting in the work!
Crinacle is THE man for IEMs. Really cool to see his influence in gaming lately, as far as iem peripherals
Yup, in this video theres 2 of his collabs
@@estebanod 3. Truth ear zero, Fiio and blessing dusk
THE man for IEMs *if you like flat, bright or sometimes ear piercing sound signatures. Otherwise. There's Bad Guy Good Audio Reviews for those who want to enjoy the music or Z Reviews if you want the "it makes me feel good" sound signature. Find the reviewer who has similar taste to you and you'll be golden.
DCMEKA AO9s are nice compared to his Salnotes Zero
Bryan, a massive, MASSIVE thanks for one of the best vids I’ve seen on youtube! You absolutely hit the nail on the head with this line up and translated it from audiophile to a more consumer level. Just wanted to say thank you and keep up the awesome work! Cheers from a big fan from the Netherlands
Thank you so much man! Really appreciate you taking the time.
BadSeed is the perfect channel for getting a taste of slightly more niche hardware sectors like keyboards and audio. And as someone who is familiar with some sections he's covered, I can be confident in the research and level of detail he provides in areas I'm not as familiar with. Great stuff!
Thanks, that really means a lot!
@@badseedtech Salnotes Zero for 20$, Mele for 50$ and T3+ for 70$ outstanding IEM's that punch way above their prices
Straight up, your presentation sells authenticity. I will always watch. Thank you, sir.
Tysm! 🙏🏼
“Vanguard, in addition to being trash”…. Lmao that caught me off guard. Still need to point out how clean and well produced your videos still are with every upload. Lifetime sub man keep it up.
Thanks a million, man - really appreciate it
Always appreciate videos like this where you go into something you're not entirely familiar with. Cause I'm extremely curious about using IEM's for gaming and when you look up reviews, or suggestions and they start going into the audiophile jargon and IEM enthusiast speak it just gets confusing and I lose interest cause it feels like there's a crash course I gotta take before I can even understand what someone is saying to me. Your ability to do your research and make comparisons of what you're talking about it a clear and concise way that most people can understand is what puts you up at the top
I've been using the Moondrop KATOs for some time now and was ready to upgrade to the Blessing 2 / Dusk, but despite a lot of research, you're the first person to point out the problem with the tips staying in your ear due to no lip. That sounds like a huge deal breaker for me, so thank you for pointing it out.
That's a lip problem with the Blessing?
Sheesh the timing of this video is great. I didn't realize this was made 3 days ago and today I just got into researching about IEMs. Thanks for the video! :D
Incredible detail man. Keep up the great work. I appreciate all of your input!
After watching a few reviews now I’ve got the £50 Crinacle Zero. As someone who owns quite a few headsets and headphones, I have to honestly say that the Crinacle Zero easily beats all of them for directional audio and footsteps. Even just plugged into the PS5 controller it was very good, but I’ve plugged them into my old Turtle Beach Superamp and it makes the Crinacle Zero even better and with Turtle Beach Superhuman mode turned on, omg it makes the Crinacle Zero literally a wallhack IEM. I literally can’t say how amazing it makes this IEM for competitive gaming with the Superhuman hearing mode on this superamp. It makes the IEM also much louder. One downside is, they become very harsh, but I’m ok with that as it extracts so much detail from the frequency. You can’t go wrong for £50 and I highly recommend it
The under $100 category has been quite a blood bath this year, I would definitely watch a budget IEM roundup for gaming video from you. People looooooove the Dunu Titan, so that might be worth checking out, then there's stuff like the Moondrop Chu for a measly *TWENTY DOLLARS,* and plenty of other stuff. There's also a re-tuned Aria called the Aria Snow that has the bass dropped just a tad. Plenty of other stuff to look at as well, those are just a few off the top of my head.
I actually own a pair of Aria Snows and I actually really like the tuning of them. Sound is pretty good but I don’t have much for comparison.
dunu titan s or moondrop aria, dude? I am undecided for gaming or one with a lower price that is also recommended?
Dont get the chu's i had 2 pairs that both failed withun a month. I have been rocking the truthear hola for the past few months they go for 20 bucks and i can recommend them
Now with Truthear's Hexa there's even more competition at under $100, I'd love to see Bryan revisit the topic of IEM's
Your videos are really good, pretty quick, concise, i love the editing
Yo, thank you for making this vid. Most of us were waiting for a vid like this, where someone would go through a bunch of IEM's that we have preferences for.
I chose the Linsoul Tin Hifi T3 Plus over the Aria, details and sound stage are really great for competitive shooters, build quality is great and it's also less than 100$, I highly recommend.
I'm not an audiophile but got intrigued with IEM's a couple years back. The ones I use are the Tanchjim Hana 2021. They go for $180 and sound great with good imaging and staging with a tuning close to the harman curve. The biggest reason I have them though is that they're super comfortable which is one of the most important aspects for gaming imo .
the Sennheiser IE 300 are also super good for the exact same price
expensive
@@JoseFerreira-zb7wh*bruh*
@@JoseFerreira-zb7wh LOL that is no where near expensive. That is the price of a really good headset.
@@zancrus9629 the video suggests and iem Costing around 50 dollars. Comparing with that, it's expensive. Not saying it isn't good.
Thanks for all the tips here BadSeed, much appreciated and as always great vid!
I've seen a bunch of iem and headphone reviews and this is "the" video to watch when it comes to comparison between price points and use cases, thank you!
Have to agree, the Arias were amped up for bass, and are not bassy. The one thing I love Aria for is that any IEM you ever think about buying, someone will compare them to the Aria. For $200ish Ikko OH10 is by far my favorite. Bassy, clear, and insane soundstage (and directional awareness). Though, I prefer different tuning to Crinicle. Dan's Audio Reviews is more the kind of person I like the tuning of. Z Reviews is pretty good in my book too, and also loves the OH10.
I will not claim to be an expert about iems but I am an avid gamer. Switching to iems a while back was one of the best decisions I made. Love my kz zs10 pros, have been looking into the truth ear zeros to give a try after seeing glowing reviews
Really enjoyed this video as I've always been in terested in IEMs but always felt like there was a barrier to learning more about it. Would love more videos like this, such as more IEM reviews, open back headphones comparisons, and DAC reviews. I would really be interested if you did a long video or series breaking down building out a whole listening setup for computers and what you get for different budgets or needs.
I feel like my issue is that I hear IEM IEM but when I check every earbud listed they are all listed as In Ear Headphones.
Great video, nice to see another youtube approaching this from a more layman point of view as opposed to an extremely technical point of view, will definitely give people insight to what is good, what is not, what will work and what may not work. Thanks for anohter fantastic video.
Ive been using the Truthear Zeros for the last few months and I love them. I haven't finished the video but I feel like they are amazing for the price.
The Raptgo Hook X is definitely something worth taking a look at especially for gaming. Seems to be one of the only Planar IEMs that work well for competitive. Sound staging, imaging, and depth perception are top notch. For under $50 the 7hz zero and QKZ x HBB are very popular budget choices.
I already have 7hz Zero and it's a good budget choice for competitive gaming. I need to try qkz x hbb and truthear.
S12 is good prolly better and cheaper
@@jagason7494 s12? What's the whole name?
@@ondesk9943 Letshoer s12
@@jagason7494 Fresh Reviews did a full comparison of all planars for competitive, and his pick is the raptgo for it. I still would love to pickup an S12 pro myself in the future though, since I do prefer brighter sets for my library.
Great breakdown, love that this wasn’t geared specifically towards audiophiles and you looked at the gaming aspect of things. Punchlines went crazy too lmao
The Truthear Zero are so fun to listen to. I absolutely love them! They are now my 100% go-to suggestion for friends/family looking for good sound that isn't wireless/ANC. I really want to try the B2Dusk, though quite a jump in price while I'm still in love with my Aeon Closed X!
Unrelated, but how much do you think the difference is in sound quality of a 50usd iem compared to a 50usd TWS
@@volarex5311huge
Do they still work for you? I want to get them but people have been complaining about them not working after a while.
im a simple man, i see anime girls on things, i buy
😂😂😂😂😂
My man
THE WINNER approves 👍 Anime Girls are life THE WINNER says! 🙂😏✋️
Eww
Sounds like my highschool buddy, hes 24 and still like that lmao.
My man...Your channel is really REALLY good! I did find myself wishing there was no music as it was a little distracting from your voice at times. I prefer just to hear you talk (not true with most KZheadrs) as your presence and delivery is stellar. Keep up the great work and thanks for this video. I'm gonna check out a few of these.
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Absolutely the right level of info for newbies to iems. Awesome video
I splurged on a pair of the IE300s a month or so ago when they went on sale for 200 and love them to death. I was thinking of snagging some Aria's to pair with one of those bluetooth adapters for a wireless option (also cheaper for a second pair) but you made those Truthear's sound really enticing.
I own and love the Aria's but if you already have IE300's and just want some extras for bluetooth I'd get the cheaper Zero's to be honest.
The moondrop chu is honestly incredible for less than $20 with shipping. Nothing crazy ofc but a solid introduction and they come with the spring tips which are $10 on their own.
i think the 7hz zero is better because you can change cable
Got these last week and now I am in love with IEMs lol
The QKZ x KBB is my favorite $20 range IEM. Way more fun than the Chu and the 7Hz Zero (which I also love.) It's not great as a reference, but I listen to music to enjoy it. There is plenty of stage and imaging, especially at this price. No need to EQ these.
I have the Chu and honestly it's fine for 20€. But to be honest, I prefer every kind of galaxy buds I've ever used over it. The tinhifi t3+ was a lot better for me too. But for its price it's good.
@@Milchschndde I hope they're better at 4-6x the price lol but yeah lol.
We’ve waited and waited and waited and you didn’t let us down at all such banger of a video.
Fantastic review as always! You set the bar high
Tin T3 plus, I love it over the Aria personally. I used Aria before, but I prefer T3 plus because of it fits perfectly in my ear and the soundstage to me is just right. Aria's soundstage, I find it unnaturally wide for gaming.
Don't forget to add SA6 to your list in the 300-1000 range. I spent a lot of time with a B2D on a loaner tour and while it was ok on comfort that nozzle is just seriously thicc and isn't going to work for everyone. Now the Dunu is my office music daily
Yeah, I love the SA6. It's my goto travel IEM. Use them at the airport and on the plane. Then at the hotel I set the DAP to DAC mode on my laptop and use it for movies or playing games.
That was on my original wishlist as something at the $500 tier but they’re perpetually oos. I’ve heard nothing but good things. I have made contact w Dunu though so 🤞🏼🤞🏼
@@badseedtech knowing the tuning that you love. I think you would LOVE the moon drop Variations. We like a lot of the same stuff. Think a more detailed blessing 2 none dusk with a built in xbass from ifi built in but twice the control. They thump hard but Never ever bleed great treble. But never shouty. Blessing 2 extremes. Definitely worth the extra 200
@@badseedtech You should also take a look at the Thie Audio Oracle MK2. It just came out and @Fresh Reviews review said they were great for gaming. A good comparison in that range would be Variations, Oracle Mk2 and Dunu SA6. Last thing, please reach out to @Fresh Reviews and do a colab. If you combine his ability to BUY EVERYTHING and his great info with your editing humor and style. You would go together be like a DT1990 and EQ.
We love you metal
As always... you are killing the game here. Keep up it man. Love all of these vids.
As a bassist I have been running custom molded Alien Ears IEM G8's since 2015, they have been great. They were a little over $500 back then, but again they are custom molded IEM's.
I’ve been running my Moondrop Starfields for about a year now and absolutely love them. Warmer sound signature, but the imaging is so, so good for competitive games, even compared to something like my He-4xx or dt770s. Also the design is gorgeous and they aren’t too much more expensive than the arias
What amp dac do you use with moondrop starfield?
@@ondesk9943 I use a wave xlr interface as my source most of the time, but as long as you have a clean source, anything will drive them fine. Phone dongle, schiit stack, and laptop jack have all worked just fine with no real difference
@@Devyn_Eleven ty!
they're actually almost the same as the aria, regarding tuning
Glad you had the 7Hz Timeless in there and gave your honest impressions. I don't play many shooters so for me the Timeless have been absolutely phenomenal for 250 bucks I feel like I never have to buy a pair of headphones or IEMs ever again (although I definitely will). I've been daily driving them for almost a year now with a Fiio K5 pro Dac/Amp and a small headphone attenuator from Fiio. From music to gaming I don't feel like I'm missing any detail when i'm using them. I don't think I'll ever use over ears again.
Got the 7hz and other IEMs, didn't live up to the hype. The s12 pro sounds better. But at the end, I returned all of them and ordered the dunu sa6 ultra. Hopefully it's good.
@@eyang7 is it? Been curious on which if the SA6 would suit me best as I have the Titan S and was amazed how life-like they sound, but I don't like the fit; to get a flush and comfortable seal I had to borrow the flexible black tips from the Kinera Idun packaging, but it doesn't provide the same separation..so that upper midrange boosting kinda starts screaming at you with the vocals and guitars blaring. Been recommended some Flexi eartips by Honest Audiophile Reviews, and they might favor well- but I'm now I'm mainly concerned if I can do any better than the original Kinera Idun (not the overhyped 2.0 versions). To get the right seal for those it did mean using the tips that pushed the most amount of bass, and at first I didn't like that as someone who prefers a natural/neutral sound, but having worn the regular tips that cut back on those lows- I need the complete seal back. In regards to the SA6, they have a very similar body style to the Idun and I've been told at least the original ones (simply the Sa6 with the number written on one of the faceplates) is good for laid back classic rock (like Deep Purple they said). However, I am a funk metal head with an occasional taste for Thrash and Glam, so the mids and highs are top priority. Still, bass dynamics matters to me for those bands or songs that give bass players like myself a sense of appreciation (consider any song from the "Time's Up" album by Living Colour or anything by PRIMUS). Just the different styles and possibilities within the bass frequencies ALONE with my playlist mostly representing the mainstream music of 3 decades (70s, 80s, 90s mostly) are enough for to me need bass that performs similarly to the Titan S as I felt those iems are pitch perfect across the board (but could probably benefit from having a BA...maybe-- i dont know i just agree with The Honest Audiophile guy that they lack "soul"). Of course, the SA6 just had to be $500 - and it's not like I can rely on a Deep Purple fan alone to feel certain about such an investment. So uh TLDR: How good are the SA6-- do they even need any EQing to sound neutral? I might end up slapping the ief target on top of them regardless, but it wouldn't hurt to finally have a sound product that is perfectly balanced on its own. More info because I feel like it: Snare drum hits are among the first things I pay attention to (since TWS are usually horseshit at reproducing even electronic percussions adequately, and I make beats every now and then), then it's guitar timbre and fullness, then bass dynamics, then how they all perform simultaneously. Usually EQing the mids and bass to being flat stops all of that subbass bleeding over that bass boosted tuning usually does- almost like a blanket being yanked off the guitar and drum sounds. I mean, with a good enough seal-- and assuming you've got DDs that perform like the Titan S-- that bass can be completely flat and I love it that way. I'm okay with the bass from the Idun being "meh" since that ideal seal allows the bass to still be fulfilling anyway. There's also just less of that tonal mushing together stuff that the Titan S are still somewhat guilty of at times. Anyways, that's my info dumping done with. And for me IEMs > Headphones because I can take them anywhere assuming they're as snug and well-sealed as the Iduns. And if you couldn't already tell, imperfections distract me- I will never not notice a lack of crunch to the opening riff of Scorpions' "The Zoo".
@@jakefoxx7978thats a long comment. But I advise you to get the aful performer 5( since you considered Titan S and this kinda fit in the same price tag)
@@NamTran-xc2ip I get passionate like that sometimes 😅 but thanks for the recommendation.
Thank you so much for this! As a person who has no idea about IEM and which ones are best for gaming this video has helped me decide which is best for me. So thank you!
Been looking forward to this video for months!
I believe the ER2SE and ER2XR deserve a look. And not just for the fit, but for how well it performs overall. I haven't seen an in depth look at them in the context of gaming yet, so that'll be much appreciated for sure.
Same. I researched IEM's for competitive gaming quite extensively for the past 2-3 months. There aren't many resources on how the Etymotic ES2SE/XR perform at that from someone that actually plays a lot of multiplayer games. My latest purchase is the 7HZ Salnotes Zero, which Brian should totally check out for the sub $25 category.
ER3XR crush them both in terms of performance for gaming. Esp fps like CSGO. Playing competitive in faceit and fastcup I must credit the ER3XR for my advantage in being able to hear footsteps and small details that other IEMs lack. Still haven't found a better replacement.
The ER2XR are the best value in IEM's period. They are $99 dollars and are comparable to the $220 dollar 7Hz Timeless Planar Magnetics. They blow anything in the $50 dollar range away. As far as the ER3 and ER4, I talked to someone with all three, and he says the ER2's are still the better value of the three and that the ER2XR has better bass than the other two higher prices models. Some people still really like the ER4SR (that's the one without the added bass response.) Are they good gaming headphones? Not really. They don't have a mic. And they are very uncomfortable to wear at first. You need to get used to them. They are MMX, but they are proprietary. I do game with them often, but only if I don't need a mic. I will say this, don't buy 2 or 3 $50 IEM's. Just get these. They are pretty much all you need from an IEM. They can actually be an end game.
Would love to hear your thoughts on the Moondrop Starfields! Used those for about a year until the right driver quit on me. Ended up trying the Aria's but their directional audio just wasn't as good to me for gaming. Love the videos, keep em coming!
same thing happened to me with the moondrop arias
the zero has actually been my main for gaming for months now and i love it. i mainly play tac fps and i dont feel like im missing any audio queues
Thanks for putting your critical eye to iems. I’m thinking of jumping into a decent pair and you’ve kickstarted my research.
I really appreciate these iem videos but I think that it was more focused on music than gaming. I know it is earbuds for music but I would lovet if you make another video for gaming ONLY and the best iems for ex: Pinpoint accuracy, vertical, 360 view and soundstage. Both for casuals and sweats
If you haven't already done so (and you get a chance to), Sennheiser's IE300 is one of my favorites for gaming audio. A lot of audiophiles poo-poo them because they're kinda V-shaped, but they have better imaging than some open-back headphones I've used. They're also super light and comfortable.
They are very solid but they really lack a midrange, fantastic imaging though.
@@liam0985 honestly strictly for gaming they're unfortunately the best Ive tried of below 500. the sound stage is awesome and the balance between highs and lows in most shooter is very pleasant.
@@Definitely_Melnyx The lack of mid range makes them a poor choice for fps games since gunshots and explosions cloud over the midrange footsteps and details. My dunu sa6 crushes my ie300 and is still better than my ie600 for comp games. Blessing 2 non dusk is probably the best choice for price to performance. The ie300 does have a good stage and imaging though and sounds great but it’s not optimal for fps games imo
@@liam0985 since you have a so much expensive iem, i guess you tried wireless earbud? For competitive gaming its a no go i guess?
@@xRealUzz yeah I’ve got a pair of the new airpod pros and they sound good but I only use them at the gym. Honestly an iem like the Aria outperforms airpod pros, I have a kz zs10 pro and that is nearly as good as the airpod pros for $40 but would be much better for gaming
On the Blessing 2 Dusk eartip problem, I used the eartips of the Samsung ehs64 (the free earphones of older samsung phones). The tips are short and allow the end of the Dusk's nozzle to sit a mere 1mm from the edge of the eartip. This lets the iem sit deeper in the ear canal. For retention, i just tied some thread 3-4 times around the stem of the eartip to help it grip the nozzle. They have never slipped off since then
The og blessing 2s are my daily driver for gaming and music. I use them at my desktop for competitive gaming, and on the go with a fiio btr7 for music. I've been in love since I got them
The 7hz zero is surprising value but does lack the layering you'd want when there's a lot going on in-game.
Came to mention this. At $20 these are tough to beat at least in terms of IEMs. (For headphones the KSC75 is also a major value prop and probably games better given the wider soundstage.)
If he spoke to crinacle about it, this list is legit
I switched over to IEMs after my neck surgery and it's been quite a journey learning new things coming from a robust audiophile world. I have tried quite a few while a lot sound great, as a gamer they don't really all fit the bill. I tried quite a few, I have kept a bunch that I enjoy and what I found and settled with surprisingly was a $79 pair of IEMs from final audio called the vr3000. The build is very cheap, all plastic all black, even the ear protectors have to be put on, the cable is non-detachable but all that being said it's honestly the best sounding and performing in-ear monitor with really the best sound stage and layering I've heard for gaming and they're basically throw away. Worth trying out if someone is looking and don't want to spend a lot of money.
You have to try the 7hz salnotes zero @ 20 bucks. They are stupid good and what I personally use for music/gaming over my blessing 2 because of the comfort.
Can you do a sound comparison between the two?
@@ralphsantos6251 tonality/tamber, they sound nearly identical. The only thing I’d give to the blessing over the Salnotes is separation of sounds. However, it’s super negligible. I mean you’d need to be really listening critically for it. Then when you factor in the price and comfort it’s just not even fair.
Wow that's a great sell for the zeros. $20 vs $200 for similar tuning but slightly less technical? Sounds like I need to get myself a pair
@@ralphsantos6251 Best value IEM on the market currently. The blessing are the highest priced IEM I personally own. However I own a handful between the Zero and Blessing and it's crazy how well the Zero compete with them all.
@@melantusou’re making me reconsider my potential iem upgrades from the 7hz zeros. Using them I already knew there wont be any iem that blows it away, but someone might say a $300 iem sounds much better. However I am willing to pay a small premium to a tiny improvement and see how it goes. Return policies mean trying them and returning cause no harm (maybe a bit if time and work but worth if youre spending in the hundreds dollars range
I am an avid audiophile. Bought bunch of iems but the one that has stuck with me is the shure aonic 4. Smooth sound with no fatigue, great comfort can wear it for hours. Basically an all rounder iem that made me stop my search….for now
I bought the Tin T3 Plus iems when I was first getting into audio and still use them from time to time. You can regularly find them on sale on Amazon for 50-60.
your photography is PERFECT. i would really like to know your camera and lens setup. loved this review with the music/gaming contrast, really helped me parse the audiophile concepts i'm just starting to learn.
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I ran into the same problem with my Blessing 2 tips after a few months of wear. Replace the stock tips with the Moondrop Spring Tips! It will seem like they don’t fit on the larger nozzle at first, but with a little finagling, they were great. No more issues with the tips sliding off and I find them much more comfortable.
Also worth noting that the spring tips are $13 but they’re the stock tips that come with the $20 Moondrop Chu. So if you’re getting the tips, might as well spend as extra $7 for a “beater” pair of IEM’s
Wow, very solid, thanks! Picking up some now.
The S12 Pro for $119 is incredibly good and for an IEM is probably all you need.
Gave the iem away because it doesn’t beat my timeless to my preferences. But I kept the cable, best one I’ve ever used.
@@Wingedmagician learn how to use EQ.
@@Wingedmagician yeah i'm tempted to buy the s12 pro just for the cables.
My dude repping The Beths over here? I knew you were my favorite. I really appreciate the cursory overview and breakdowns, thanks brother.
I just got my first iems which are thruthear x crinnacle zero iems and I'm in love with them I love the sound especially in gaming and love the design sick
If you are interested in competitive gaming, here is my list : 1. Dunu Vulkan 379.99 2. Raptgo Hook-X (Planar) 239.99 3. Ikko OH10 199.99 4. QKZ HBB 19.99 5. Tin T2 Plus 55.99 6. Crin Zero 49.99
Oh10 or the blessing2 for competitive gaming is better ?
Haven’t tried the blessings, but from what I’ve heard they aren’t the best for gaming. They are killer for music though. OH10 is a killer deal for the price. Good detail, imaging, soundstage is good for the price, a bit on the bass side although
And how about Dunu Titan? For gaming I mean...
@@ondesk9943 id avoid those, just get the Truth Ear Zeros, it’s all you would ever need for gaming
@@kimjongpoontv69 Just bought Truthear Zero on sale 11.11, but still waiting for shop shipping's. Should I get worry with the bass for competitive gaming? Ty ; )
Your the #1 tech reviewer
Noice
*You’re
fast straight to the point no bs no money involved you sir have earned a sub and a like.
Dunno what is but you way of explaining things just rocks dude, thanks for such a great info video
Running. a. train. on. my. ear. canals.
Why do so many IEMs have weird creepy anime things on, i want to listen to music, not beat off to the boxxx
Curious to hear how you would like the Ikko OH10. I got them for $150 on Drop awhile back and absolutely love them. They are fairly heavy because they are an all metal build, but the sound profile is so much fun for both music and gaming.
Good stuff man. Always been an open back headphone guy myself but these look sick... Might need to give IEMs a try now. Also 4:04 speaking the truth 😂
100% agree on the "Pervy waifu shit", sadly few iem companies seem to care about having a premium or elegant "non anime" branded presentation in their packaging (only Final, Sennheiser & Raptgo come to my mind right now)
Thank you for calling out the Waifu trash. Everyone can like what they want but quit putting those creepy picture on my headphones.
dont bash my waifus bro
Cope
Hey badseed, great review! For the higher price bracket I’d be interested to see your thoughts on the campfire andromeda and audeze euclid, especially the latter with EQ and gaming.
I own the Truthear Zeros and absolutely love them however do find that I don't have the tips to keep them comfortable for long listening. Super fun set, cleanest bass I've heard and that nice separation helps hear those mids better than most. But lately I've only been using the Olina SE. They fixed the main issues it had, namely the treble peaks, and overall are a bit bassier than the original Olina but you wouldn't call these bassy by any means. But it's got the most neutral signature without feeling too flat like my Aria Snow Edition (love the looks and fit though). I also own the Zhz Salnotes Diokos which have amazing detailing for the price. Olina SE separation is really good but it's hard beating planars (really close though).
Brooooo!!! Keep these vids like this going do more videos with price range and explaining in dummy to us bc it helps understand
great video as usual Brian, cheers
Second, thanks for not making me feel like a complete audio idiot. Your explanations of what factors to consider when selecting an IEM were clear and easy to understand.
Amazing video and information bro!... regards and big huge from Argentina!
I have the blessing 2 dusks and I love them. Thanks for spreading some knowledge on iem's.
I used to sit with a headset on for up to 12 hours a day for work (often followed by 3 to 4 more hours on my home pc) 5 days a week. This led me, after many years of using Sennheiser cans, to switch to IEMs full time. I wear glasses, and between the eventual discomfort of having them pushed into the side of my head by cans, to breaking out with zits on my ears, I eventually had enough and made the switch. For work I use the MEE audio M6 PROs. Nothing to write home about, with pretty poor bass, but I'm primarily using them for Teams/Zoom/VOIP applications for which they are more than adequate, especially at a $40 price point. Completely comfortable for all day use with a good stiff over the ear wire the keeps them securely in place (which is replaceable). For play I have a set of the Arias, and I like them for all the reasons you described. Having permanent tinnitus, high fidelity is lost on me, but I find these to be excellent to use for gaming, listening to music and watching videos on my PC. My main gripe with them comes not from the sound, but in the wire that goes over the ear. I find it to be too pliable, and it doesn't hold it's shape well, which leaves me having one of them come off of the top of my ear if I move around much. I've gone through some other cheaper, not worth any money IEMs as well, that aren't worth mentioning, but what I have found with all of them is that replacing the tips with something like the SpinFit CP360 Medical Grade Silicone replacement ear tips greatly increases the comfort, fit, and the seal necessary for the best sound, than most of the stock tips packaged with the IEMs, particularly the Aria, which I found to be too soft and slid out of my ears frequently unless my head is pretty still.
Ive had the IE600s for a bit now and really like them. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on them!
firstly, thanks for this video, it's a decent and useful service to everyone. i listen majority extreme metal but not only that, from darkwave, indie rock to 60's country rock too and more. focusing on metal music, the best ones i have are toneking bl1 and viridis, tripowin lea, moodrop aria and snow edition, and 7hz as my number one. recently I bought tripowin olina se and until now is my favorite, honestly to me is a great surprise yet.
Dude your delivery style with your content..audio/graphics/transitions/disclaimers.. all of it. You're incredibly underrated.. can't wait to see this channel continue to boost. GGs.
I love how 10 years ago I had to pay 1300 bucks for iems and a transmitter when I joined the band I still play in because they had a Shure rack unit that was the same size as my Marshall half stack. 10 years later we all you sub 30dollar in ears from Amazon and then every one has their own system that for the entire 5 members cost 30 times less than the 14k they paid for the shure system. A tip from a guitar player for gamers….. get a headphone preamp for your computer so u can dial whatever amount of bass mods and highs. Especially if you’re sensitive to certain frequencies (aka perfect pitch)
This video was so helpful and comprehensive!
This is a fantastic video. Being an audiophile going into this, I expected a lot less and more of a mkbhd type of review where its mostly everything but the sound. What I was not expecting, was not only that you were explaining everything perfectly, but you made it seem to make sense for everyone else but not feel too simplified for enthusiasts. You didn't spend the first five minutes explaining terms, and actually showed your dac selection. I have never seen such an impressive style of review. Also, I really appreciate that you showed the overall best first, instead of going from cheapest to most expensive. Also also, I doubly appreciate the distaste for waifus on boxes. It is garbage marketing.
yessir. I bought the truthear x crin zeros a month or so ago and they have been fantastic.(I use the included memory foam tip because I find it the most comfortable) Even if they aren't the outright best available iem ever, the price is great and they offer something unique to the iem space.
Great information. Thanks so much I subscribed
That’s quite a nice spread there, B. Great stuff! As I’m no longer a competitive gamer (I disregard Overwatch due to the absolute clusterf**k that is the sound in that game), I’d like to see your exp with something like a Tin P1 (the originals) and something like the ThieAudio Legacy3 (or even the 2), especially after you hanging with the 7hz and the Monarchs. Anyways, great stuff as always dude. Cheers!
I definitely need an updated video on this
Using the Arias in RS6 Siege Plat 2 currently, you can literally pinpoint everyone and everything all the time - the bass is so subtle and "nice" that it never overwhelms you
Great video. Very helpful!
great video as always! Consider looking at the vrz model one, would love to hear your take on it
Great stuff, B. Went from working with Senn HD600s and gaming with EPOS/Senn GSP600s to FiiO FH3 IEMs. These are the pre-Crinacle collab version and they are about $50 cheaper. They are not perfect from an audiophile standpoint (rare to see them on recommendation vids), but I really like them; bassy and well-tuned, but YMMV. Might have to give Moondrop a chance (waifu shit aside lol).
Great short but informative 👌
I ditched my AT M30 that were just plugged into my motherboard for a Fiio K3 with 7hz Zero dynamic IEM and AKG K612 headphones and it has made a big difference in my music listening, movie watching, and gaming. I picked up a 3.5mm to 2.5mm adapter to use the 2.5mm balanced output on the K3 and so far to my ears it is multiple steps ahead of myM30 into the mobo. Great vid and reviews Beard, stay up
Nice one! The balanced on the Monarchs vs the SE out was a totally different experience. I haven’t owned any headphones where it make that much difference.
@@badseedtech 👍👂
I loved the sound of the Truthear Zero, but I had to return them. Those nozzles are HUGE and even with Spinfit CP155's they still caused some discomfort. I've also heard similar complaints about the Hexa (Truthear's other IEM release).
i have started using the Raptgo hook-x HBB for escape from Tarkov and it scary how precise they are, if you hear a guy moving you can also pinpoint his location, and you easily trust the placement so well, you can do pre-fire when you or they goes around a corner
Nice guide man!
i have a bunch of iems and headphones, including Focal Clears, Fiio Eclipse, Timeless 7hz, etc. My recommendation for anyone getting into iems, is to get the Quedelix 5K as step one. This wireless dac/amp has ridiculously good parametric EQ possibilities via an app, and you don't need to rely on anyone else "tuning" iems for you. If you have the Quedelix, my favourite iem (out of a dozen pairs) is the BQEYZ Spring 2, played with a huge 10db bump in the sub bass region (this iem can take it) and the top end rolled off very slightly. I've never heard anything like it. It almost replicates the feeling I get listening loud on my JBL4429 studio monitors, paired with a Krell 400xi and a Kreisel dxd808 sub. Highly recommended.