The BEST IEMs under $100
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- čas přidán 29. 06. 2024
- I make you spend money once again
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The IEM ranking list: crinacle.com/rankings/iems
The graphs: crinacle.com/graphs/iems
Graph Comparison Tool: crinacle.com/graphs/iems/grap...
PATREON: / crinacle
TWITTER: / crinacle
DISCORD: crinacle.com/discord
SUBREDDIT: / inearfidelity
MERCH: merch.crinacle.com
00:00 Intro
01:02 Disclaimers
02:16 The Best $100 IEMs
02:25 Etymotic ER2
www.etymotic.com/product/er2x...
04:23 Moondrop Aria
shenzhenaudio.com/products/mo...
05:41 DUNU Titan S
www.dunu-topsound.com/titan-s
06:42 Tin HiFi T3 Plus
www.linsoul.com/products/tinh...
07:20 The ultrabudget stuff
09:46 Dishonourable mentions
09:53 1More Triple Driver
11:15 Shure SE215
12:33 KZ
13:37 Honourable mentions
13:48 Audiosense DT100
hifigo.com/products/audiosens...
13:59 ThieAudio Legacy 2
www.linsoul.com/products/thie...
14:13 Tripowin x HBB Mele
www.linsoul.com/products/trip...
14:30 Tin HiFi T4
www.linsoul.com/products/tin-...
CAMERA: Sony a7 III + FE 35mm f/1.8
MICROPHONE: Motu M2 interface + Neumann TLM 102
SPEAKERS: Neumann KH120 + KH750
MONITOR: LG C1 48" OLED - Věda a technologie
oi look at my ranking list: crinacle.com/rankings/iems/
yo! why don't post on crinacle main channel?
I want to wait and see your world's best BA IEM review, just like 7 hertz timeless. hopefully it's S+ tier the full 3 stars, how much does it cost?? 300$!! 😂
@@STAYCBias wasn’t it hacked?
@@STAYCBias he apparently lost access to main channel
Hey man!! First of all thanks for the effort to make our life easier. I'm confused, I need a pair of earphones with neutralish tone with little bit of warmth and clear bass under 100$, for long hours listening. I have no place to go and try different IEMs myself and I hate to trust other reviewers. Its heart wrecking.
It would be great if your site allowed applying filters to the results like price, minimum grade etc.
You can sort low to high per category but it would be nice to select a few parameters
Filters would be a godsend!
and to be able to filter wired and wireless IEMs
And to filter the ones I would personally love and the ones I don't.
But seriously, I wanted to buy Arias until I heard the youtube demos of it actually sounding in comparison to the t3+ and realized I dislike Arias signature
It does have filters
To be fair, as a designer, I HAVE heard of the Red Dot Design Award (10:58), however if you're looking for audio quality, they're NOT the award you should be leaning on. Red Dot is typically awarded to products for industrial design, packaging design, or even marketing materials (i.e. none of which are going to affect sound fidelity.) They're also a pay to play award organization rather than a best of the industry award (think something like a J.D. Power).
So 1More might have won an award for innovative design (which they paid to enter) or even worse packaging or marketing, but it's still about as useful as the other ones listed.
EDIT: Red Dot also presents awards for conceptual products. Meaning you don't even have to ship a functioning product to consumers to win one.
Cheap IEM for Beginner
czcams.com/video/-XFWOBJOZ2o/video.html
This award shouldn't exist imo
Hello I was wondering if these are basshead IEM’s? Or you think the truthear Zero are better?
@@AG-en5y if you want a lot of bass, go for the CCA CRA or most KZ/CCA/KBear IEMs or the MELE. If you want deep bass, where you can here more details in the bass like the super low frequency that you might not even hear, go for the truthear zero.
@@kaeroseon thx bro for the suggestion I just bought the zero’s for $100. Going to see if I can narrow down the CRA CCA or Cz for comparison. What u suggest
?
Need to stop myself from stacking up on more "affordable" iems
Sell them all and get one killer one ;)
@@hartyewh1 got a monarch mk2 already :pepega:
@@BarryPlaysGames And still need a Chu to feel complete? Get a grip young man!
@@hartyewh1 just like spending smh
ashley is that you?
The biggest reason for the success of the Shure se215 is the isolation/passive noise cancelling and it's comfort. It's great for beginners performing on stage but as you said the tuning is not very good.
Yep, it's main use is for live performance, where having a nice sound is of lesser importance
And also the fact that most musicians are more familiar with Shure, since they make a lot of musician gear, its understandable as to why someone like a musician would pick an SE215 over a MOONDROP Aria, or a fiio FA1
Also, it's really easy to get a replacement cheaply when you're on the road.
the same was with m50x, is was popular in media
I would say that is the second-best reason. The primary reason is that Shure has a lockdown on your typical Sam Ash / Guitar Center type of music store. If you ask for an IEM in most music stores, you will be directed to the Shure display.
I'm happy to see a Dunu product in this list. My first "audiophile" product was a pair of Trident and I was blown away by the quality I'd thought was out of reach for my entire life that can actually be had for less than $50. The brand has since then been close and dear to my heart.
Instead of the sheer amount of cheap IEM's brought, I should have just brought Dusk.
Yeah... just save cash and buy dusk
my ear canals are too small for dusk :(
I bought dusk and then they got stolen 😭 have to buy again.
@@camh4656 Note to self: $300 IEM counts as treasure for a thief.
Ordered mine just a few days ago, hopefully a huge step up from the KZ ZS10 Pro's and Tin T2's. Those two IEMs have teased me enough to want more. I also hope that a Fiio Q1 MkII is doing them justice when I get them.
P.S.: Does anyone know estimate delivery times to central Europe?
I know I bought my kz after watching dank pods. Moved beyond that nowadays
Same
Yeah that’s how I started and I’m not at tin hifi t2. Maybe I’ll move up one day
Yeah me too lol dankpods is responsible for so many new audio guys
fk dank pods bro! crinacle show face and not edit voice. crinacle is better than that dumb ass green and boring shit dank pods with rude voice! 😅 I don't even know what the hell dank pods is doing. he can be funny at times but really he is not an audiophile like crinacle.
KZ is still a good starting point
honestly we just love seeing you make videos
He's not kidding about the ER2's, I thought I had them in as far as they'd go and was told by a friend no they need to go further. That's when I just switched to the memory foam tips.
They are great though
I really do enjoy your style and knowledge and humor in your reviews, you seem to me to be the best one doing this.
I once got to try on a pair of Etymotics in my local audio store.
It was enlightening, but also very, very painful. Seems that I'm not one of the chosen ones
That's what he said
I wasn’t the chosen one either but I just kept trying. You might get there eventually. Lol I was not about to let my $100 to go to waste. Took me a while
@@Wingedmagician man I'm sorry you had to lose your ears' virginity. I hope it was worth it
I have to use strong painkillers in conjunction with mine
Just lube up bro...😂😂😂
I hope you do a $200 price bracket with comparisons to the best $100 IEMs so we can see what advantage we get for double the money.
I have actually heard of the red dot design award, because it's an award that you can just go out and buy
Really looking forward to more of these best iem under a certain price bracket videos
your dedication to this hobby is through the roof. I mean, creating an entire website with frequency charts for a while bunch of headphones is amazing.
The majority of fiio's iems are mid
They have a newer double flange ear tip for the etymotics which are alot more comfortable for anyone interested in the er2
thank you for giving me awareness of the kz's im currently running, i cant wait to try the moondrops. I am a bit intimidated by the thin wire..but im sure if it sounds good, it'll be built strong enough for me to walk around with
my honest review based on my experience on kz zsn prox,aria and b2dusk
my first go is kz right of the bat,tried it and i just feel the sound quality is just meh,typical vshaped bassy sound
after that i discovered or research more bout audiophile hobby and leaned more toward crin iem tier list because i brought aria based on 100$ price range list(two choice for me is aria and 7hz timeless)the first time i using it(without amp just stock sounds)i though i wear a headphones,why?because it sounds so gud that as same as my headphones
aria is definitely outclass kz and i sell my kz right after i got aria
and i buy the b2dusk too well no joke,b2dusk is way outclass aria(well because it cost 300$)
Something like 14 years now I have been working in high end audio.
It is nice to hear such a refreshing point of view!
Watching dankpods has lead me to you. You both are great and I really enjoy both of your guy's content. I shall be ordering the Arias tomorrow ty so much for the video recommendation :)
hey how are the arias sounding to you
im thinking of getting a pair but im on a budget and cant take a risk. I mostly listen to slowed and reverb and other than that i go to the gym and listen to fast paced music. Would you recommend them based on my taste?
@Mahad Javed it's well worth the risk, in my opinion. I use them every day at work with no problems. I recommend them to a coworker, and he listens to metal with them. We both don't use the stock cable, though. My experience is coming from more expensive iems and trying less expensive ones. And I wish I had just gone with these the first time around. Great gift as well.
Lost my se215s years ago but remember them sounding good. I think part of what made them big though was coming with the foam tips in the box, nothing else could match that isolation which definitely adds to the experience. Curious how I'd like them now that I've gotten much more experience (daily use ATH-R70X, WH-1000XM4, and buds2)
I love the Mele. But the treble was slightly reigned in and the bass is incredible. But I found using a balanced 4.4 mm cable and cheap Amazon foam ear tips (New Bee $7) really balanced and open up the sound more. Treble gained more air and reach while the bass became better controlled with plenty of punch when called for. So, from thick to balanced and airy. Definitely worth the buy. Now I have the KZ CRN (thanks Crinacle for your tuning on it). The CRN and Mele are my (so far) favorites. I'm dying to try the Fiio FHE and the Seeaudio Yume Midnight next.
Haha your jokes around 10:00 and 14:00 are funny af, love how eloquently you speak, I strive to talk that well one day myself. Great video
God damn you blew up!!!!!!!! Let’s gooooo you totally deserve it!!!!
Thank you for including the Legacy 2 to the list of honourable mentions. I really thought it was not worth the money at first because when using it stock it sounded really boring and I thought it was nothing special compared to my Shozy Form 1.1 which is also a 1 BA 1 DD hybrid. Good thing I was already aware of Wavelet at the time, and using AutoEQ on Legacy 2 convinced me to keep the IEM. When I apply AutoEQ to the Shozy Form 1.1 it is usually a hit and miss as I prefer listening to some tracks without it. For the Legacy 2, everything sounds better with the EQ, and after discovering your channel I learned about Parametric EQ which made me switch from Wavelet to PowerAmp EQ. I am currently using the IEF with Bass AutoEQ by iwalton3 which sounds amazing. Compared to the Shozy Form 1.1, the Legacy 2 is more sub bass focused rather than mid bass which I really liked. The mids are natural and vocals are not pushed forward which helps in hearing the instruments in the background more. I am hesitant to buy new IEMS as I am afraid they might not fit as well as the Legacy 2s and comfort is a big factor for me especially if I listen to music for a long time. Sure, there are better sounding IEMS out there but for the fit alone and the accessories it comes with, it is definitely worth the price. I use the stock cable with KBEAR A07 eartips, and xduoo Link 2 for my dongle dac.
i got my sundaras 2 weeks ago after going deep down the audiophile hole. i got the qudelix 5k dac/amp which includes peq and applying autoeq on the go. speaking of to go which is redundant speaking of sundaras... but after falling in love with hifi i started looking at iems... and well, the options were clear from the biginning: etymotic (comfort-no-go) aria and t3+ BUT... i saw plenty good reviews on the L2. some say theyre awesome some rate them as mediocre. they look beautifully though, come with nice accesoires and can compete with most stuff under 100€. and having the peq eliminate the tonality disadvantage. the only thing im worried about is the technicality. if they compete with aria in imaging, soundstage and resolution its an easy pick. if not im stuck
@@AwsmTune eq can change imaging and soundstage too,
I bought the KZ ZSN PRO X last year these are my very first iem's and these truly impressed me this is coming from a guy who used some $5 earphones his whole life. And I'm excited to try crinacle's top picks 😁.
Since we got the same first IEM, I HIGHLY recommend buying tripowin olina. Zsn pro x is bulky but not heavy and pretty comfortable, but Olina just a godsend in terms of comfort, the high is also much betfer.
Just got these as love them, had no idea this guy thinks they suck
@@Shinobi3354 Exactly my thoughts... I was about to buy KZ Zs10 pro it was like $65 here in India then went with zsn pro x because of budget constraints. And to think it was still a C even at that price point . Now I'm gonna save up for the Moondrop Aria and see how that sounds😄
@@vishwanathveerni5007 think I just might go up a full tier and get starfields..
i just discovered the world of IEM, never knew any brand beside KZ..... was it really-really different though? cuz i got the budget but im really overthinking of things that i would buy, what if my cheap ear didn't catch the feel that another IEM brand such as moondrop
Thanks for the video. You are always informative and entertaining. My wife loves your hair. I will take you IEM info to heart. But I just want to say that my first pair of IEMs were a KZ Pro 10. They were my first introduction to IEMs. They showed me how better music can sound compared to Airpods Pro 1. I will always be appreciative of them for introducing me to the world of IEMs. I also purchased Sennheisers 660s. They sound great! I know that I can do better with IEMs and with Headphones but I am not trying to go down the HIFI rabbit hole. In time and with more money I will slowly purchase better IEMs and Headphone. But for right now I am enjoying listening to music with better sound quality than I ever have before. It is like I am hearing all my favorite music for the first time. Thanks for you review and I will use it and you web site to determine what IEMs and headphones to purchase next.
Finally a only sound review!!!! Thank you, Thank you!
i have been using KZ ZSN Pro X's for nearly a year now, and you really sum it up perfectly. I have actually gone through two pairs of them too, with both having the same issue of the right earpiece eventually needing to be held a certain way in order for them to actually produce sound. Also I must add that my second pair actually sounded worse than the first AND had a different cable than the first
Was it a cable problem?
I have the ZS10 pro x's. Had them for a few months now and loved them but like you the right earpiece has become really quiet and muffled ruining the experience. A shame since they were really great while they lasted. Maybe it's a recurring problem?
@@finlaysmith9104 I’m also thinking of getting the Kz zs10 pro x, would you recommend it for a brand new person who just found out about the IEM world like me?
@@binnguyen986 yea I totally would they're great. I had the zsn pros before that and the zs10 pro x are a noticeable upgrade. they sound very premium to me for the price point, I have Sony wh1000 xm4 and the KZs aren't a huge downgrade when I'm using them. only issue was the right one has broken after a few months of use, but I could've just got an unlucky one
@@finlaysmith9104 nope you're not unlucky. I bought 2 different pairs over the course of 1 1/2 years and both have had something break. The pair I'm currently using: I had to take the left one apart and superglue the pins to the casing because the rubber bit had warn out after a few months of use. Now the right one is having a similar issue where I have to apply pressure to get the pins to stay in place. Not very durable I must say. Might buy the arias instead next time...
I personally LOVE the Tin Hifi T2 Plus it's a bit cheaper than most of these (~$60 at the time of writing) but it delivers an intense sound unlike anything else I've listened to.
moondrop CHU or Tin Hifi T2 Plus
@@edi4ever1 depends on musical tastes. Rock/metal and Punk heads should stay away from moondrop products. starfields are the worst 100$ i ever spent but i know alot of people love them and none of them listen to my kind of music
@@94jmbottaro I've listened to some moondrops before for rock music and it was not a pleasant experience the T2 Plus is very good for rock music however.
@@edi4ever1 probably the chu
@@Luke357 older moondrops are tuned a bit different than newer ones imo the new ones sound good with rock
Thank you Crin, very cool!
So I found your Channel because I wanted to look for good value IEM's since my headset is starting to dent my head and one side of my Galaxy buds broke. So I looked at the Moonlight Arias and found they had quite some Quality Control issues and also skimmed across some fixes. Then I read a comment about cleaning your headphones and so I ended up with working Galaxy Buds so my entry into the Audiophile Scene will be a bit delayed, but in the meantime I'll subscribe because you clearly really know what you're doing and also Isopropyl alcohol fumes may have clouded my judgement a tiny bit.
I've been using the Etymotics for 4 months, and I found that they can get stuffed with earwax and stop working, so be aware of that. If you use a toothpick you can save them, but after the second time having them stop working in a month I went and got different IEMs (the 7hz timeless, so an upgrade) because it was annoying having my IEMs go out in the middle of the day.
Have you contacted Etymotic about the problem?
don't use a toothpick...change the filters...the problem is not just ear wax...it's humidity... just put them in a glass together with rice...rice will suck all the humidity and moisture out of it....or you can suck the nozzle yourself, but it's not the most pleasurable experience.
I’ve had the er2xr’s for a year and never ran across this problem.
@@h_enrix_92 Rice is actually one of the worst things at wicking out moisture. From tests I've seen it's roughly comparable to just leaving it out in the air.
@@CockatooDude silica must be the best option, then
You've earned my respect, after I've tried out the IEMs you've collabed with KZ to make...they sound killer. Altough they make my ears hurt for days if worn extensively
thx for putting the sound thing in frame again and more in frame than before
your website ranking is exactly what i've been looking for
SE215 are 10+ years old. Also, they have amazing sound isolation and comfort because of their ear tips that will fit any ear well. You can also laydown on the pillow without any discomfort with them.
Exactly. Comfort and fit on a lot of popular, high-rated IEMs is terrible. My ears are picky too and earphones fall out easily if they don't have good fit. SE215 and Westone IEMs of old have yet to be matched by any of today's headphones in terms of that.
I have retuned my CRA (less bass and treble) and made a stabilised wood faceplate for it. I use it with flipped and shortened starlines and it is truly a remarkable iem. My favourite.
How you retune ?
@@dogmanxxx4218 I'm guessing with EQ tuning software.
Uncle Crinacle was cool today. Thanks for the upload.
Thank you for your reviews~
The t3 plus is the lightest, has the best fit, best isolation and is the most versatile when comparing to the Aria and the Titan S. Those two have their own benefits of course, but I think the t3 plus doesn't get the praise it deserves.
For anyone whose library demands bass for maximum enjoyment, yes, but for everyone else? The Aria is the most versatile choice for the eclectic listener and newcomers, it has just enough midbass for everyone but the bassheads coming off of their KZs and is comfy everywhere else, while the Titan S goes for anyone not shy to drop bass in favor of everything else.
@@Derfderk arias treble and mids are a bit wonky to me compared to the t3 but im gonna try dunu and put the three to the test
To me the t3 plus is the most balanced, the aria is heavy on the sub bass I find it weird that people say the tin t3 plus has more bass. It has punchier bass for sure but it doesn’t creep into the music like the aria does with all the low end rumble
@@Derfderk Aria emphasizes mids in weird way. Maybe it's "eclectic" but for me that kind of boost resembles the sound signature of old cheap shouty speakers, from the time before smartphones when cheap speakers were huge and plastic. So it annoys me a lot and evokes a definitive negative reaction
I'd much rather boost mids of T3 plus a bit to mellow them out when I'm tired than to try to make T3 plus out of Aria for day to day outdoors listening
I agree. They are very comfortable and I even sleep with them. They are also better built than the aria. They don't have that faceplate coming off issue nor the paint chipping problem. Not saying they don't sound good but I feel like the T3 plus have less issues and sound very good as well.
never had a pair of iems, I bought your kz collab ones. I genuinely like them and how they're tuned, though I have never used "iems" before. I guess I can't say much though. headphones are a different story. senhiezer hd560s for life.
I have quite an arsenal of under $100 IEM's in my small collection, in order of purchase: KZ ZS10 Pro, BLON BL03, CCA NRA, KZ ZST, KZ Zex Pro, KZ CRN, CCA CRA, Tripowin Lea, TKZK Waves, HZ Heart Mirrors, Tin HiFi T3+, Tripowin x HBB Olina, Shuoer S12. Along the way, I purchased more than a few after-market cables and a FiiO BTR5. In the end, I seem to use most often my S12's paired to a set of KZ AZ09 Pro's (modded to B-Pin/price $26 on sale) or the TKZK Waves paired to another set of the AZ09 Pro's (in factory QDC/C-Pin). The T3+ and Olina's switch out with the S12, from time to time. I occasionally use the BTR5 with cables, to listen to LDAC/FLAC files...but the BT5.2 earhooks are so damn convenient and performant.
Although there seem to be a lot of new IEM's coming into the market, including sub-100 planars, I see absolutely no need to invest more in sub-100 IEM's. Enough is enough.
I will most likely buy one more IEM in the near future, and its the Moondrop Blessing 2 (or Dusk). At my age (over 50), I am not sure if the Blessing 2/Dusk is going to give me a lot more performance over the S12, but I will eventually give it a try.
Along the way, I purchased the FiiO BTA30 Pro to get the most out of my PC sourced music. Probably the best little desktop device I could've purchased (US$125) as it delivers TX, RX, and DAC modes; along with a deep bench of supported codecs (LDAC, AptX HD, AptX LL, AptX, AAC, SBC). I bought a second unit for the great room, which I keep in RX mode to stream music via phone to a vintage Pioneer receiver and bookshelf speakers (Dali's). An after market 12dB antennae ($12) extends the range on the BTA30 Pro.
Would love a "best super slim IEMs" roundup! Getting hard to find something that fits under a tight motorcycle helmet that isn't expensive or is the SE215 :p
I've got the Arias and am super happy with them, they sound great. If you pick some up I would however suggest swapping out the eartips. I got some foam tips myself and they seal great without feeling uncomfortable
What foam tips are you using? Aren't they getting a bit dirty?
@@frostyha2225 if I remember correctly they were from a brand called "Comply", I don't think they're super reputable, but I'm not sure.
Anyhow, they do get dirty after a day or 3 of regular use, so pretty quick for sure. But they are easily cleaned if you let them soak in warm water, kinda squeeze the water out and let them dry. This is done fairly quickly and I got a set of 3 pairs so I can continue listening.
@@moon_bandage lol if Comply foam tips aren't reputable then who are
@@LohJiaHung Ah good to hear I happened to pick up some proper ones! They've had many washes and they're not tearing and still have their gloss, am very happy with them
@@moon_bandage Jeez, I didn't know you could wash them. I'm on my second set because I tossed my first out once they started getting gross.
looking forward for the sub50 list
Hi, I was looking for new IEM's for commuting and playing live with my rock band, and came across your name. Great channel! I'd have to say that I chose the ER2's because they have top-level isolation. The other two sub 100$ recommendations look great but I can't tell if they are good in this regard.
The reason for this IEM change is that my KZ ZSX's don't isolate much. I also considered the SE215 just for this reason, even though I tried them and felt that they sounded really bad in the treble department.
Watched you forever but Iceman talked about you. So I bought the iems and subbed finally.
i'm looking for eartips replacement for my tin t2. Then i saw your chu review, and interested with the moondrop spring tips. After comparing the full set of spring tips and chu's price, i decided to preorder chu through local seller, since it's worth better. It should be here in 2-3 weeks. Kinda need replacement from tin t2 i bought back in 2019 too, so it's a good timing i guess. I've taken interest with kbear lark, but i'll save it for next time.
Try the KZ starline tips but reversed mod (there is a topic on headfi about it).😉
it's the moondrop better than the tin T2?
@@burnout_beatz I own both, and I don't like how the Chu sounds? The T2 sounds more "full"; there's a good shelf below the 1000Hz region. And cymbals lingers more in the T2 than the Chu. Also, as Crin said in his interview of the Chu, there is a slight honkiness.
All down to preference though. I like more balanced sound signatures and the Chu doesn't fit my bill.
The new dual-flange eartips for Etymotic are game changer for how they fit and feel - and the ER2 models are otherwise the best IEMs at around $100 - I've never heard anything close at the price.
Yes Crincale+. Of course we want a gosh darn video 😈
10 seconds in, I'm already intrigued. Great content.
Shure 215 were my first IEM before I knew better. It's the perfect "can't be bothered to do my research" kind of budget IEM.
Agreed. Bought my pair 10 years ago. Figured they had to be better than the cheaper Skullcandy/Sony/JBL in the IEM aisle at Fryes. Maybe I was right; maybe I was wrong. One thing I do know today: the SE215 sucks.
I have the Moondrop Variations now which are simply a notch or two above the Aria but when that was all I had I loved them. They were the only incredibly comfortable iem I had (foam tips) and I liked them way more than the tin t2 or er2se. Highly recommend.
It's incredible how I still prefer the er2se/xr over the variations and some more expensive stuff...remarkable IEM
Awesome as always 😊👍
Solid picks, as always.
I loved the 1more triple driver lol, I never knew how bad they were until I got the moondrops aria SE, although I did get it for 60 bucks and it was the only earbuds that lasted me more than 5 years.
the Arias SE tho, is my favorite so far
I got the SE215 when I was performing on stage. I’m now mixing backstage and heard multiple people say the SE215 is crap. I’ve never tried any other IEMs, so probably gonna bite the bullet and get something else to try out. I was surprised (and a little heartbroken) when I scrolled through your website and saw the chu ranking way higher than SE215. I actually feel scammed at this point.
But I have to say, at least without anything to compare with, the SE215 worked great for stage use. I almost never use it to listen to music, but after doing some research I think I might’ve found the reason why I just couldn’t get my live mixes to sound less muddy.
Yeah, church mixer here. 215 came with some of the IEM tx/rx we use, like the PSM 300. So many better one driver IEMs out there. One thing about the 215, they take volunteer abuse well. I buy various other IEMs for the church to try, and some are in the 10-20 range and sound better. Getting the new Chu II and Hola for my next tests. The Crinnacle collab Truthear Zero:Red are very nice and smooth, good for bass players and keyboardists.
Also, my daily IEMs are quite nice, Thieaudio Legacy 3. Good for mixing.
@@johnmcvicker6728 We decided to get Truthear Hola and Salnotes Zero. I think Hola's cable and the included case make it great value and very comfortable to use. Zero looks more like a typical IEM and sounds a tiny bit better IMO. Also good that they both come with a cinch and ear hooks built in, unlike the original Chu. I did really like the way the acoustic guitar sounds on Chu and Aria, but I really don't like the way they behave on stage. Aria feels too clunky and Chu is obviously not designed as an IEM. Chu II seems better though.
I just leave my Hola at church and mix on that. I believe it's a bit on the dark side, but still better than SE215 or Kz.
I think Etymotic ER2 is great for mixing as well, but there's no way I'm leaving that at church. It's also not for stage use.
But currently I would say the two best options for bulk is Zero and Hola. Hola has a better feeling cable and a pouch. It's also super light. Zero sounds better but the cable is too springy and doesn't come with a case. So based on the way people abuse public property, I can see those getting tangled in a bucket somewhere. Honestly, I would just encourage people to buy their own Zero since it's so cheap anyway. They can even leave it at church if they want, and even if it breaks a replacement is cheap.
At the end of the day, I'm just mixing for a stream, not a record. At home, I would mix on something like the AKG K612, but an open back at church isn't really practical. Something like the M50x doesn't sound much better than the SE215 either. So Hola can get me close enough to a pretty decent result. We're using an x32, which is pretty limiting, but definitely good enough for live and basic stream audio. But now I feel more limited by the mixer than the IEM. Whereas with the SE215 the mix sounded muddy to me no matter what I did. I've also tried mixing recordings on the Aria just to see what kind of results I could get. Turned out pretty well after I learned the characteristics of the Aria. So Aria would probably be a decent choice for live mixing as well.
I've learned that as good as some (like a third ) "IEMs" are, they obviously aren't designed to be IEMs, but simply earphones for listening to music. They just feel terrible for use on stage. As I may need to fill in on stage, I need an IEM that can be used on stage just in case. Or else I'd probably just use the ER2. I don't really want to think about switching IEMs, so picking one and using it for both seems like a good choice.
So yeah, I think Hola's a great choice. The ultra light weight does make it feel "cheap", but I consider it a plus. It has a transparent footprint on stage (also due to the cable), and I think that's perfect. The only real downside is the cinch is a little loose. So if you shake your head or turn your head a lot it might slide down. Not a huge deal for me though, just a little annoying having to re-tighten it every once in a while.
i like this. I needed this. thank you
Thanks, bought the Dunu Titan S and it sounds fantastic! I like my bass as much as the next guy, but I think this is a stronger overall package, not to mention a better build quality.
I love my Moondrop Arias but I tell others that please don't think of it as an 80$ iem. The cable is outright horrendous I tell you. It had metal wiring stuck out and the audio jack disconnected one channel based on the angle like 1 month after usage and I don't even abuse it. It's a great iem that I definitely recommend with a great sound signature but think of it as a 100$ iem when you buy that cable, tripowin zonie is a good option imo. Plus the tips aren't great either, I use mine with SpinFit CP100 medium silicon tips.
I've been using my Arias a bit less since I got the Thieaudio legacy 5 (They're Amazing) but one thing that the Arias got that is better than the legacy 5 that is more expensive than three times the MSRP of Aria, is comfort. With the correct tips and cable, the Arias are light and small and fit most ear canals and you can wear them for hours and don't mind them.
I'm surprised the Tripowin Olina didn't make the cut. I think it's far better than the Tin T3+
Maybe it’s too spicy for him
I love that Crin using quotation when he said "driver" in KZ section
I'm certainly not going to defend the sound quality of Shure, but there are a few things to think about. As a few folks have said, the big advantage with them is the universal fit and sound isolation. For musicians, isolation is huge. Without proper isolation, you end up having a lot of low/mid buildup of ambient sound, which causes you to have to turn your overall mix up louder and louder to hear your specific instrument/part. After a couple hours of that, your ears are ringing like you went to a rock show without ear plugs, which tells me that you're cranking 90+db into your ear for hours at a time. (Spoiler, not a good idea) For a non-musician, you can get an idea of this by trying to listen to music while pushing a lawn mower...without isolation, you're cranking things up way louder than you probably should.
The other thought on Shure, or any musician/production focused brand, is that a flat sound profile is usually a feature, not a bug. For production/mixing/etc, there is a school of thought that says that if you can make it sound decent through a crappy set of speakers/ears, then it will sound good on better platforms. These comments are more for the sake of other musicians, not as a critique on Crinacle, who is pretty clear that his scale is all about the sound. But, it would be cool to include something on isolation/noise reduction in reviews, whenever possible....or maybe do a "recommendations for musicians by price rage" article/video. For me, I'm an amateur musician so I can't justify investing in customs and I'm looking for something that can deliver onstage, but also give me a better daily Spotify experience than Shure. I appreciate the work Crinacle is doing with these reviews.
I bought a pair of KZ ZSN PRO X, and I liked them after some EQ. I'm no audiofile but I have a tendency of trying the most trashy IEMs and found some weird gems, like the Superlux HD 381. Not great, microphonic AF, and less sound isolation than a cage, but found a nice sound in them. When I saw the ZSN PRO X at 26 USD, I had to try them (I live in Argentina, affordable IEMs don't get easly as you get, and when they get here, price are like x2 or x3 your retail, and don't ask for warranty).
Is worth the try, if you don't have alternatives near. Still is really V-shaped, recomend using an EQ to recover mids, let 16k up and control the 8k band to avoid some harshness.
Had a pair of Arias until they broke cause I slept with them in too much: the backplate popped off and the copper wires snapped. Now I have Tin T3 Plus and the build is a lot better and I like the sound signature more since it's less aggressive in the treble area. Great all rounder iem imo
The backplates come off easy? Do you think it's easy to replace the cable? Because it's one of the only downsides to it.
Yeah I've seen a lot of people complain on reddit about the arias backplate falling off in their sleep.
@@stud6097 You've been listening to ASMR too, don't you? Hehehe
I really like my T3 plus. Well built and I do sleep with them. Nice sound. Can't go wrong with them.
@@cferrarini sometimes you are just tired and wanna listen to some music. The aria being so comfy once you put them on sometimes make you sleep with them still on accidentally, esp with how it doesnt have any specific frequency boost that can surprised you into waking up xd
I owned the 1More Triple drivers. I liked the sound. I'm not an audiophile, but I wanted to try it out. The main issue I had with it was the build quality/ materials used. The cable sheath started breaking down after a year, and I hadn't even used it that much (Also, I looked after it like it was delicate). Over 2-3 months, the cables started losing their integrity and I had to stop using them. Also, because of the triple driver and steel housing, they were heavy ( which strain the cables over time, as they hang around your neck). But in its defense, it still worked. 🤷🏽♂️ Just wanted to share my experience.
The SSR is you eq the shoutiness out is amazing.. the berry driver does wonders
I bought the Aria's without knowing what an IEM was. They looked cool and I needed a new pair of earphones so I got them and I love them. I've had them for almost 6 months now
How did you come across to them?
@@zahitemremetin606 I was looking for budget earphones under 100 and they looked the best to me
Isn't it suspicious that Crin posted this on the same day that DankPods posted his Starter Headphone guide?
fr tho
for the ER2s - YOU NEED TO INSERT CORRECTLY OR YOU WILL HAVE A BAD TIME
i didnt use them for like 3 months bc they were so uncomfortable you need to like pull your ear back to straighten out your ear canal
for the aria- the cable is garbage like the inner core started to come out of the fabric weave almost immediately and one of the drivers started to die after like 6 months. (now i am running left heart mirror 2 and right aria with an aftermarket cable and its fine)
Crinacle you should definitely look into another collab. Maybe make the best of the best as you know how to, but im varying price brackets. Maybe 100, 300, 500 etc
I just need another world's best IEM video just like 7 hertz timeless but not planar and it's way cheaper than others....
For IEMs, I’m curious how the ear piece tips that go into your ear affect the frequency response graphs (if that is relevant to the measurement). Instead of “Foam tips are clear if the length is right, silicones are bassy or sparkly in treble depending on the seal” which is all subjective, I’d like to see actual changes in the frequency response curves, hard data that proves the subjective opinions.
I’m a mechanical engineer, and it irks me to not see the data 😤😤😤
Yeah when I do measurments I sometimes try different tips. The bore size and length definitely affects the frequency response.
Something like Moondrop spring tips add a little more around 5k.
Spinfits push 3k slightly and dip around 6k slightly
A lot of common tips with smaller bores affect the bass. Also insertion depth changes the FR a lot
@@JamieVatarga Can I get your opinion on the spring tips?
@@saamo1423 I prefer spinfit tapered tips since I have a little smaller ear canal and those fit the best, but spring tips are one of the better tips I've used. They have a good amount of flex and swivel, also are soft but maintain their overall shape well.
Concerning the Shure SE215: I actually use them even though I have Blessing 2 Dusk and good headphones. But why? SImply because they are very comfortable. I can even rest my head sideways on a pillow with them without any discomfort. The Blessing 2 Dusk are just too big and sturdy for that. This, and when I feel like the IEMs could get lost or damaged, are pretty much the only scenarios I use them. Every other occasion? Blessing 2 Dusk (or headphones) all the way.
I know he said "it's probably on my website" but i'm just surprised Fiio wasn't on this list. Gonna have to look into his reviews of them
Thanks, Just ordered a pair of Moondrop Starlinks.
I feel like the SE215 has a special place in the IEM world because it is the industry standard for the On-Stage universal fit IEM.
My opinion on SE215 is that its build and design meet its fame back in the time when it was born
and.....SE215 has somehow "healthy" tone for a shure's IEM (OK, I wanna just be plain about it, I think SE425 sounds better than 535.....😅)
its good bcs its the only flat monitor cans in its range, theres m40x but its a headphone
IMO the Tripowin X HBB Olina can definitely put up a good fight against both the Aria and the Titan S. Uncle Crin should definitely give those a try.
I have both the MELE and the Olina; 80% of the time I'd go for the Olina because the majority of my music library actually plays to the Olina's more vocal focused strength, but I would still use the MELE for when I game or when I listen to rock music or J-Core EDM
BL03 is better
@@alexanderac1097 LMAO
@@alexanderac1097 the Mele, not even the Olina, IMO run circles around the BL03, but that's just my take 🤷♂️
@@raimukoyoasu6636 vs Mele LMAO
@@alexanderac1097 blon bl03 or tin t3+ which better?
What I have as of current are the KBear KS1's and they're what got me hooked onto IEM's, at first I kinda hated them because it was hurting my ear specifically where the cable would rest of them, but by now IEM's in general just don't even feel like they're in my ear anymore and it lets me focus on the music itself instead of having to reseal headphones while they slowly fall out as well as having to consistently readjust them in my ear. The constant breakage in the seal as well really messed with the noise cancelling of traditional earbuds, but with IEM's I get not only better audio, I also get better noise cancellation and with that comes better ear protection keeping me actually being able to hear music over an extended period of listening to music in person and trying to listen to every part of a song without turning the music up more due to other discrepancies coming from an outside source. So, I'm definitely looking here for an upgrade from the KS1's and am ecstatic to say the least to delve into the world of IEM's.
Haha you described the exact reason we all carry 215s as live sound engineers. We don’t think they should good 🤣 they’re a decent enough backup that if our custom molds shit the bed or an artist doesn’t bring ears we can use them in a pinch. And particularly for artists it’s a brand recognition thing so they feel comfortable
Oh yea these 'awards' are super easy to get.
Gamers Nexus did a video about an MSI case I think, where you essentially just pay the company and they give you the award. Unless your product looks bad.
Yea these red dot or iF awards don't mean anything
14:48 yeah I was wondering about that actually.
Do you have some system to keep your star ratings updated or are there old ones rated far above where they really should be in the current market?
he does go and adjust them occasionally, the site lists recent changes I think.
can't wait for cra review!
I have a pair of ers2se I use for practicing music and jam sessions. Love the neutral signature
For me the Tin T3 Plus is the best. Boy its got bass! It punches hard and deep while retaining clarity in the mids and treble. Mids a a bit on the foward side but not shouty and treble is smooth with little tendency to sibilances
It fits really well and I love that its made entirely from polished resin with decorative inlays. They made it look like jewelery.
For 69$ or even less with coupons and sales that IEM is a 10/10: It comes with decent tips (the rubber ones with the red part are the best imo), a cable that isn't complete trash and simply sounds great. I do notice the narrow soundstage and slightly tinny timbre compared to my over ears but to correct that they would have to use physically superior drivers and yeah its not a 69$ IEM anymore then. I think they harvested all of the drivers potential by means of tuning and a shell that fits well in your ear.
they are fine for music, but i find they sound really dull and need an EQ if you play games or watch movies with them.
@@simpson6700 if you think they are dull you have to look for a very v shaped sound
@@alouisschafer7212 i could barely hear leaf/grass rustling or magic sparkles. I adjusted them to the harman curve according to crin's measurements and they sound fine now. They have 2 dips in the high end that make a huge difference.
@@simpson6700 any iem recommendations for gaming looking to buy one?
@@Totem25 nope, i gave up after the T3+. I EQ'd them to be as close to the harman target as possible and they are fine now. Don't know if they are good for competitive stuff, i just play single player games lately.
I had a pair of SE215s that I used for playing Beat Saber. They died from huge volume of sweat that I put into them. I would love to see a video of IEMs that you would recommend for using in VR.
Uhhh no?
So I got the CCA CRA and I love its sound signature as it isn't as v-shaped as other iems but it also has great control of the bass. I've also planned to buy the Chu or Lea but I'm leaning more on a balanced or neutral signature so I'm more interested on the Chu and Aria then maybe the Tripowin Lea. Basically, thanks crinacle for the recommendations as I only have just about under 100 dollars in my budget and I want to buy as much as possible that is worth it.
A like for being entertaining. My T4s might be on your honorable mention list but I've had them forever and love those suckers.
MAKE THE VIDEO lol
You know there'll be a wider audience for a video versus a written article so I'm very happy you're making more videos like this.
P.S. I'm very happy with my N400s so thank you again for that.
Same. The N400s have been a great experience. I have some complaints about their app and controls but sound wise they're doing really well
8:30 as a Canadian I disliked this video now...
sorry, I can't bring myself to do it
I respect the hell out of people who are so passionate in a single domain
Thanks for the recommendations! I think I got an ear infection from the shared iems at church so I just ordered the cras for myself so hopefully that won't happen anymore!
On the real, I like my KZ ZSN pros, but I have no idea why anyone would buy more than one IEM from them. Brand loyalty be hitting different I guess
i have bought like a total of 5 kz iems and only liked the CCA CRA
@@ddmareo i bought the DQ6S it arrive broken and no refund lol
@@LuisC7 unlucky really
@@LuisC7 you needed to buy it between 4PM and 5:30 on a specific day in February, then you'd be eligible for a refund
@@blorg8206 yeah but mine are broken and they don't refund them
Just won a moondrop chu.
Moondrop as a company is the goat
Maravilloso, muchas gracias!
Tin T3 Plus might be my favorite IEM. Love those and my Ikko Obsidians.
I still remember ordering the one more triple my first year of college and wondering why anyone thought they were such a great deal. I even thought the akg freebees sounded better.
Bro freal, I bought them cus reviews were raving on them and when I tried them I just thought my samsung AKG's were miles better
It's not that bad. I use Wavelet autoEQ and it sounds much better. BUT the CCA CRA is still a better iem overall. (I own both)
@@kkasavu3149 I am on Crinacle's camp on that, you shouldn't need an eq to make it sound good.
Sure to make it sound better, I rock Peace for my CCA C10s to slightly bring down the v curve, but it still sounds great vanilla. It sucks when it becomes a requirement, like my KZ CRNs... that 8kHz shimmer... wtf KZ
I felt the exact same way with the quad driver
@@TedFlips how were those? I never tried them.
When is the sub $30 or $50 video coming?
Now my mind is set on getting T3 Plus and Mele.
Thanks alot, Crin, for assuring me that my ears were right when listening to the tests done by others about how the 2 mentioned IEMs.
Once again, thanks. Don't die.
Fug o-
I really love the sound signature of 1 more triple driver.