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 $50 USD or less and sounding WAY better than IEMs in this price bracket even just a few years ago
@@mfo7611 I think this is a personal decision. Dusk is the most competitive sub 1000$ option, MOST COMPETITIVE not the best. Variations is a tribrid and definitely interesting but also more expensive
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
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
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.
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
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
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
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 $500 tier but they’re perpetually oos. I’ve heard nothing but good things. I have made contact w Dunu though so 🤞🏼🤞🏼
@@badseedtech knowing the tuning that you love. I think you would LOVE the moon drop Variations. We like a lot of the same stuff. Think a more detailed blessing 2 none dusk with a built in xbass from ifi built in but twice the control. They thump hard but Never ever bleed great treble. But never shouty. Blessing 2 extremes. Definitely worth the extra 200
@@badseedtech You should also take a look at the Thie Audio Oracle MK2. It just came out and @Fresh Reviews review said they were great for gaming. A good comparison in that range would be Variations, Oracle Mk2 and Dunu SA6. Last thing, please reach out to @Fresh Reviews and do a colab. If you combine his ability to BUY EVERYTHING and his great info with your editing humor and style. You would go together be like a DT1990 and EQ.
Yo, thank you for making this vid. Most of us were waiting for a vid like this, where someone would go through a bunch of IEM's that we have preferences for.
Sheesh the timing of this video is great. I didn't realize this was made 3 days ago and today I just got into researching about IEMs. Thanks for the video! :D
I chose the Linsoul Tin Hifi T3 Plus over the Aria, details and sound stage are really great for competitive shooters, build quality is great and it's also less than 100$, I highly recommend.
I'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!
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!
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
Hard disagree on the "no bass" earphone for gaming. No bass means you can barely hear muted sounds like footsteps through walls. The low spectrum is still important for spatial audio.
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.
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.
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!
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.
I got the iBasso IT03 about 6 years ago for €120 and they are very nice to me. The cable itself is already great, and they are quite comfortable for longer sessions.
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.)
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
@@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
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
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.
Using iem for gaming for the first time, first week my ear canals are sore as hell, second week its not as sore as before, third week my ears finally getting used to. Sound stage aer meh, but at least its not messing your hair like headphone does.
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)
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.
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
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
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!
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
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
@@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 ; )
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.
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 UA-camrs) 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.
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
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 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.
So I haven't seen anyone mention this in the comments and incase you haven't reached out to Crin about this I wanted to clarify why (probably) the Monarchs sounded like they were less controlled on the Audient. Every headphone output has a parameter called output impedance. The general rule is that output impedance should be at least 8 times lower than impedance of the headphones to ensure that the frequency response is not changed. It's especially important for headphones (or rather IEMs in this case) with multiple drivers, as such configuration often leads to impedance varying significantly over the frequency range. Audient Evo 4 has a measured output impedance of around 22 Ohms, while both the Apple Dongle and iFi Zen DAC V2 are under 1 Ohm.
My Setup is currently SoundBlaster X4 + Shure MV7 + DT 900 Pro X and/or Hifiman Sundara. I used to have an interface also, for side-tone mix of my XLR mic, but when you use Open-Back Headphones there is no need for that, as you can hear your own voice with headphones on. And so you are free to use the more "gaming oriented" SoundBlaster DAC which supports up to 600ohm and can even go to 192khz, which happens to be the maximum quality on Apple Music also, meaning i also dont feel like i need to buy a DAC that goes to 384khz or some other nonsense. Most tracks are 96khz anyway and I also tried Qobuz at 192 but you really can't hear a difference going back and forth between them. Also different dongle DACs made no groundbreaking difference. IEMs, which are shutting you in, start to become uncomfortable after a while, and which you can't really put down quickly when the door or phone rings, or you just want a coffee break, loose against Over-Ears that i can simple take off and hang over my boom-mic, ready to grab when i return. Also sound quality, staging, etc. are going head to head, while open-backs are wining in staging and imaging, which is important for 3D games, imho. Also there is a risk of getting an infection in the ear canal if you are too careless and have a messy desk (most gamers have messy desks..) which the eartips can come in contact with whatever. The benefits of IEM start to diminish in day to day use, once you are done with "critical listening" and comparing specs. For Gaming and Music i would always recommend a good pair of headphones and a hi-res audio interface over anything.
I have some experience with iems, I'm not an audio snob as I haven't broke the 400$ range but to me the best iems I have owned so far are the moondrop kato. Good clarity and the sound stage is pretty damn good.
Crinacle is out of this world, man. I any one here's not subscribe to his channel, do it, because the deep analysis he does on earphones are simply excellent.
Recently started using my Tin Hifi T2 Pros for gaming. Was using the Philips Fidelio X2HRs but wanted to try the IEM route. And I agree with the perv comment. Not sure why so many people are into that. Great information and quality content!
the big reason I swapped back to using iems was mainly cause I don't absolutely sweat buckets compared to wearing headphones on a hot day, and that's typically everyday where I live
Made the jump to custom IEMs last year and probably will never go back to headphones other than enjoying some Master quality tracks with my Audeze LCD-X. No ear fatigue, no messy hair, sound amazing, and you'll barely know they are on after your ears adjust to them
I spent nearly all of my cash savings on the Monarch MK IIs and the fiiO M11 ESS plus and I have to say, I only had about 2 hours of buyers remorse in total after about 120 hours of listening. And that's just because of how much of my savings it ate, not because the hardware wasn't up to expectations. Seriously, you haven't heard music right unless you've listened on at least the MK II's level. I have small ear canals but it only becomes uncomfortable after about 3 hours. Plenty of time for a solid listening session. Also I've never had an issue with cable weight like many talk about. Just loop the cables behind ears right and you'll be fine.
I think it would be cool if you did another one of these for 2024! There's been a bunch of really great IEMs released in the time since you made this, like the Aful MagicOne, Sivga Nightingale, and Moondrop Aria 2
Use earbuds maybe if you feel like using IEM feels like your claustrophobic kicking in. open back, good soundstage (because of them being open back), good details. K's LBBS (budget) Yincrow RW-1000 Yincrow RW-2000 Yincrow RW-3000 Yincrow X-6 (super budget, V-shaped sound profile like a lot of IEM) Toneking TP16 (super budget set) Toneking Dendroaspis VIridis As for IEM, I've been hearing/reading that some mid level cihifi is really good at soundstage for gaming and being neutral: - Tripowin Olina SE - Dunu Titan S These are around the price of Arias
Another thing that really sets them apart besides detail and tonality is decay. Decay is hugely important for a lot of fast music. Try playing something like extreme metal with some boomy bass (slow decay) and it will be... an experience. A messy wall of sound.
*Recurring thing about too much bass being a bad thing for competitive* -> Anyone who wins tournaments uses some bassy logitech, razer or hyperx's. As someone who plays Apex Legends competitively and has regularly played in the same lobbies as pro players, If I'm using any earbuds with Balanced armatures or too much "detail" (treble boost), I have trouble distancing where enemies are due to the lack of tactility (?) of the sound. This means on corner peeks, I cant tell as easily if the enemies close (so I need to slide around on them) or slightly further (so quick peek then retreat) Also the question needs to be begged at some point of which is more accurate, sounds having their natural impact and therefore masking over other unimportant parts of the mix, or having completely flat tuning with that "crazy precision" (Different sounds being masked) Also, to be very clear, While you hear "more detail" in the highs, I have actually went from my sennheisers to my gaming headsets and noticed *entire low/mids sounds* that I cant hear due to the excess treble. It's not as simple as "Oh my audiophile headphones give me more sound". It's "My audiophile headphones give me a different *balance* of sound"
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.
The Zero's were my first IEMs a few weeks ago now, and coming from 10$ headphones it's an AMAZING step up for me. I wanna try the an amp, but I feel really stupid trying to describe it so I'm gonna learn more before I buy lol
Not gonna really need a Dac/Amp for IEMs, they're so easy to drive. You buy them for audiophile headphones like the HD600, which needs the extra power to drive.
@@meowspark9 look at Crinacle’s list, he has some pretty good recommendations. I actually really like my HD599 over the HD600 for gaming, personally. They’re easy to drive, comfy, and when on sale prices, super cheap. Wait for the deals, they’re like 100 bucks .
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.
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!
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
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.
I'd check out the Koss KPH30i for gaming. For only $30, it's incredible value. I use it for gaming and music listening when I can't be sealed out with IEM's.
I’ve been rocking the se215 pros special edition for a while now people say they are outdated but I find it to be perfect even now for most games and music.
Crininacls bank accounts are doing really well on this video. No shade against the IEMs, they're all really good, it's just you featured primarily Crins collabs (Truthear Zero, FHE and Blessing 2 Dusk are all Crin Collabs). It would have been good if you had had other iems that compeate in this range, (7hz Salnotes Zero, Dunu Titan S, Moondrop Kato, Letshouer S12, Raptgo Hook X, etc.)
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
Straight up, your presentation sells authenticity. I will always watch. Thank you, sir.
Tysm! 🙏🏼
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
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.
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?
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
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
Whats better the Crinacle Zero or The truthier Critical
Is it fine if I use it with my 3.5 mm to Type-C convertor . Or should I get a DAC
@@SOHAM_141 It’s really low impedance, so you don’t need a DAC and it works fine with a 3.5 to USB C
@@famezy9103 Sorry bro to ask you and thanks for the help . But my parents decrease the budget to $30 .
@@famezy9103 Do you know any better at 30$ range . I am thinking of 7Hz Salnotes Zero . Not 2 just first one .
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
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 $500 tier but they’re perpetually oos. I’ve heard nothing but good things. I have made contact w Dunu though so 🤞🏼🤞🏼
@@badseedtech knowing the tuning that you love. I think you would LOVE the moon drop Variations. We like a lot of the same stuff. Think a more detailed blessing 2 none dusk with a built in xbass from ifi built in but twice the control. They thump hard but Never ever bleed great treble. But never shouty. Blessing 2 extremes. Definitely worth the extra 200
@@badseedtech You should also take a look at the Thie Audio Oracle MK2. It just came out and @Fresh Reviews review said they were great for gaming. A good comparison in that range would be Variations, Oracle Mk2 and Dunu SA6. Last thing, please reach out to @Fresh Reviews and do a colab. If you combine his ability to BUY EVERYTHING and his great info with your editing humor and style. You would go together be like a DT1990 and EQ.
We love you metal
Yo, thank you for making this vid. Most of us were waiting for a vid like this, where someone would go through a bunch of IEM's that we have preferences for.
“I’ve been running a train on my ear canals” I’m dead
Sheesh the timing of this video is great. I didn't realize this was made 3 days ago and today I just got into researching about IEMs. Thanks for the video! :D
I chose the Linsoul Tin Hifi T3 Plus over the Aria, details and sound stage are really great for competitive shooters, build quality is great and it's also less than 100$, I highly recommend.
I'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!
My dude repping The Beths over here? I knew you were my favorite. I really appreciate the cursory overview and breakdowns, thanks brother.
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!
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
Hard disagree on the "no bass" earphone for gaming. No bass means you can barely hear muted sounds like footsteps through walls. The low spectrum is still important for spatial audio.
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.
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.
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.
Great, another rabbit hole to jump into. Thanks BST, getting me into mechanical keyboards wasn't enough.
My advice: run. It's a deep, deeeeeeeeeep rabbit hole.
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.
are they still good? do you recommend, i have blqckshark razor 2 pros but thinking on buying these
I got the iBasso IT03 about 6 years ago for €120 and they are very nice to me. The cable itself is already great, and they are quite comfortable for longer sessions.
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.)
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
is it required to have an amp dac in order to use the inears on pc?
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
The moondrop chu is a solid low budget option, for those that want to go lower on the price tag. Perhaps worth a future video.
If he spoke to crinacle about it, this list is legit
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.
Using iem for gaming for the first time, first week my ear canals are sore as hell, second week its not as sore as before, third week my ears finally getting used to. Sound stage aer meh, but at least its not messing your hair like headphone does.
I will say for the Aria for competitive FPS i personally prefer the Snow edition due to the bass not being as harsh
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.
Brooooo!!! Keep these vids like this going do more videos with price range and explaining in dummy to us bc it helps understand
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.
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
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
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
Thanks for all the tips here BadSeed, much appreciated and as always great vid!
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 ; )
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.
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 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 UA-camrs) 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.
🔝Thanks for watching and commenting on my page hit me up to claim your prize 🎉you have been selected 🔝😊
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.
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.
The $20.00 Linsoul Zero is the best gaming IEM hands down nothing I’ve used is better in Destiny 2 than that IEM.
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.
7hz zero (the 20 buck one) is the real value buy
Is the senheiser ie 300 worth it for $130?
So I haven't seen anyone mention this in the comments and incase you haven't reached out to Crin about this I wanted to clarify why (probably) the Monarchs sounded like they were less controlled on the Audient.
Every headphone output has a parameter called output impedance. The general rule is that output impedance should be at least 8 times lower than impedance of the headphones to ensure that the frequency response is not changed. It's especially important for headphones (or rather IEMs in this case) with multiple drivers, as such configuration often leads to impedance varying significantly over the frequency range.
Audient Evo 4 has a measured output impedance of around 22 Ohms, while both the Apple Dongle and iFi Zen DAC V2 are under 1 Ohm.
That “cmon” at the start was the most relatable thing ever having gone through that iem rabbit hole lol
Fun fact the box art for the Moondrop Blessing 2 Dusk is the waifuification of crinacle himself - you can't unsee it once you notice it
My Setup is currently SoundBlaster X4 + Shure MV7 + DT 900 Pro X and/or Hifiman Sundara. I used to have an interface also, for side-tone mix of my XLR mic, but when you use Open-Back Headphones there is no need for that, as you can hear your own voice with headphones on.
And so you are free to use the more "gaming oriented" SoundBlaster DAC which supports up to 600ohm and can even go to 192khz, which happens to be the maximum quality on Apple Music also, meaning i also dont feel like i need to buy a DAC that goes to 384khz or some other nonsense. Most tracks are 96khz anyway and I also tried Qobuz at 192 but you really can't hear a difference going back and forth between them. Also different dongle DACs made no groundbreaking difference.
IEMs, which are shutting you in, start to become uncomfortable after a while, and which you can't really put down quickly when the door or phone rings, or you just want a coffee break, loose against Over-Ears that i can simple take off and hang over my boom-mic, ready to grab when i return. Also sound quality, staging, etc. are going head to head, while open-backs are wining in staging and imaging, which is important for 3D games, imho. Also there is a risk of getting an infection in the ear canal if you are too careless and have a messy desk (most gamers have messy desks..) which the eartips can come in contact with whatever.
The benefits of IEM start to diminish in day to day use, once you are done with "critical listening" and comparing specs. For Gaming and Music i would always recommend a good pair of headphones and a hi-res audio interface over anything.
I have some experience with iems, I'm not an audio snob as I haven't broke the 400$ range but to me the best iems I have owned so far are the moondrop kato. Good clarity and the sound stage is pretty damn good.
Kato is good but not worth it
You got my like when you you said you have no sponsorship or affiliate
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
Crinacle is out of this world, man. I any one here's not subscribe to his channel, do it, because the deep analysis he does on earphones are simply excellent.
The beginning of the video 😂😂 I had to rewind a couple times to make sure I heard correctly
What about Red?
Recently started using my Tin Hifi T2 Pros for gaming. Was using the Philips Fidelio X2HRs but wanted to try the IEM route. And I agree with the perv comment. Not sure why so many people are into that. Great information and quality content!
🔝🔝🔝🔝Thanks for the feedback,
Expect more videos soon
Send a direct message
I have something for you..……..
If you change the cables of Timeless to copper plated ones, you'll be surprised.
4:04 Vanguard out here catching strays 😂
been using the Zero since about a week after they came out and I love them
the big reason I swapped back to using iems was mainly cause I don't absolutely sweat buckets compared to wearing headphones on a hot day, and that's typically everyday where I live
Probably another reason why I like open backs. I forget how hot closed can be until I’m wearing a wireless headset for awhile
"..not super big on the pervy waifu shit" THANK YOU. Took the words right outta my mouth when I saw that shit.
fast straight to the point no bs no money involved you sir have earned a sub and a like.
Made the jump to custom IEMs last year and probably will never go back to headphones other than enjoying some Master quality tracks with my Audeze LCD-X. No ear fatigue, no messy hair, sound amazing, and you'll barely know they are on after your ears adjust to them
I spent nearly all of my cash savings on the Monarch MK IIs and the fiiO M11 ESS plus and I have to say, I only had about 2 hours of buyers remorse in total after about 120 hours of listening.
And that's just because of how much of my savings it ate, not because the hardware wasn't up to expectations.
Seriously, you haven't heard music right unless you've listened on at least the MK II's level.
I have small ear canals but it only becomes uncomfortable after about 3 hours. Plenty of time for a solid listening session. Also I've never had an issue with cable weight like many talk about. Just loop the cables behind ears right and you'll be fine.
Thanks for putting your critical eye to iems. I’m thinking of jumping into a decent pair and you’ve kickstarted my research.
I think it would be cool if you did another one of these for 2024! There's been a bunch of really great IEMs released in the time since you made this, like the Aful MagicOne, Sivga Nightingale, and Moondrop Aria 2
I like over ear headphones myself but I really appreciate the breakdown because I need these for travel
Fantastic review as always! You set the bar high
Use earbuds maybe if you feel like using IEM feels like your claustrophobic kicking in.
open back, good soundstage (because of them being open back), good details.
K's LBBS (budget)
Yincrow RW-1000
Yincrow RW-2000
Yincrow RW-3000
Yincrow X-6 (super budget, V-shaped sound profile like a lot of IEM)
Toneking TP16 (super budget set)
Toneking Dendroaspis VIridis
As for IEM, I've been hearing/reading that some mid level cihifi is really good at soundstage for gaming and being neutral:
- Tripowin Olina SE
- Dunu Titan S
These are around the price of Arias
Brian, make sure Alexotos doesn't see this video; he'll just see it as a challenge ;P
Dunno what is but you way of explaining things just rocks dude, thanks for such a great info video
Another thing that really sets them apart besides detail and tonality is decay. Decay is hugely important for a lot of fast music. Try playing something like extreme metal with some boomy bass (slow decay) and it will be... an experience. A messy wall of sound.
Take a look at the Blon BL-03, they are a fun, bass heavy $27 IEM that are a great buy!
*Recurring thing about too much bass being a bad thing for competitive*
-> Anyone who wins tournaments uses some bassy logitech, razer or hyperx's.
As someone who plays Apex Legends competitively and has regularly played in the same lobbies as pro players, If I'm using any earbuds with Balanced armatures or too much "detail" (treble boost), I have trouble distancing where enemies are due to the lack of tactility (?) of the sound.
This means on corner peeks, I cant tell as easily if the enemies close (so I need to slide around on them) or slightly further (so quick peek then retreat)
Also the question needs to be begged at some point of which is more accurate, sounds having their natural impact and therefore masking over other unimportant parts of the mix, or having completely flat tuning with that "crazy precision" (Different sounds being masked)
Also, to be very clear, While you hear "more detail" in the highs, I have actually went from my sennheisers to my gaming headsets and noticed *entire low/mids sounds* that I cant hear due to the excess treble. It's not as simple as "Oh my audiophile headphones give me more sound". It's "My audiophile headphones give me a different *balance* of sound"
Great video, nice to see another youtube approaching this from a more layman point of view as opposed to an extremely technical point of view, will definitely give people insight to what is good, what is not, what will work and what may not work. Thanks for anohter fantastic video.
The Zero's were my first IEMs a few weeks ago now, and coming from 10$ headphones it's an AMAZING step up for me. I wanna try the an amp, but I feel really stupid trying to describe it so I'm gonna learn more before I buy lol
Not gonna really need a Dac/Amp for IEMs, they're so easy to drive. You buy them for audiophile headphones like the HD600, which needs the extra power to drive.
@@matasa7463 well i have some headphones to look at then too
@@meowspark9 look at Crinacle’s list, he has some pretty good recommendations. I actually really like my HD599 over the HD600 for gaming, personally. They’re easy to drive, comfy, and when on sale prices, super cheap. Wait for the deals, they’re like 100 bucks .
u can get portable dac it improves the sound quality
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 need those Blessing 2: Dusk
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!
First of all, respect on the beard, I mean... I could only dream of growing that masterpiece.
Glad to come across this video as crinacle doesnt talk about gaming much from what ive seen!
The Vanguard comment made the whole video for me. Because i say that more then i dont when talking about cod games. TYVM sir
I love the Truthear Zeros, but if you have small ears like me-- you'll need to spend the extra for the CP155 eartips in small
The Crinacle x Zero is actually stupid good for the price!
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
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.
Condolences my beautiful bald friend.
a gaming centric review for iems, this should the meta, IEMs are just soo much more convenient for gaming.
I'd check out the Koss KPH30i for gaming. For only $30, it's incredible value. I use it for gaming and music listening when I can't be sealed out with IEM's.
The KSC75's on a parts express headband and Yaxi pads.... WOW.
Your very first sentence made me say "What???" out loud. You get a like for that immediately lmao
52y old guy here and still kicking kids ass in Warzone and Apex Legends like you do 😊👍
To say something about the earphones ? I just cant stand sticking something in my ear 😒
great video. ive tried some chi fi iems. good for music but i always go back to my DT 1990 pros.
I’ve been rocking the se215 pros special edition for a while now people say they are outdated but I find it to be perfect even now for most games and music.
Crininacls bank accounts are doing really well on this video. No shade against the IEMs, they're all really good, it's just you featured primarily Crins collabs (Truthear Zero, FHE and Blessing 2 Dusk are all Crin Collabs). It would have been good if you had had other iems that compeate in this range, (7hz Salnotes Zero, Dunu Titan S, Moondrop Kato, Letshouer S12, Raptgo Hook X, etc.)
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 😂
Got the zeros 2 weeks ago and absolutely love them