The only meta tuned iem ive tried is the hisenior mega5est but i really enjoyed it, if I didn't have the fatfreq deuce coming in i would seriously consider this one as my next upgrade iem
You can find modern iem with very "good" sinads nowadays for dirty cheap. Sadly I dont like them, its so unnatural to plug and hold anything deep in your ears canals. Ear buds or in ear its another story, but buds holds very poorly. But with some pads are almost okay. Leakage huge, but comfort on streets more important for me.
Part of the reason I like these is that I don't have to stick the IEMs deep into my ear canals, the tips just sit around the outside, closing the hole around my ear canal. The same goes for most over-ear type IEMs. If you're trying to put IEMs like these deep into your ears, you might be wearing them wrong and should probably try larger tips. The only ones that usually have to be worn deeper are many cable-down type, bullet-shaped IEMs.
There is a part of me that really wants to pull the trigger on the KE4, and another part of me thats is screaming "naaaahhhh!" So for, thr "nah" is winning. I think this is one of those IEMs that just plays it too safe, and provides nothing remarkable. It has that same "master of none" feel like the Cadenza4, these strict JM1 super neutral tunes are being precieved as mundane and boring, and too middle of the road matter. And i think, ultimately, that hurts their appeal, in a sea of options where gimmicks and wow factor rule the roost.
In some ways I definitely agree with that assessment. But that's also why I like to keep my HD650 around. (another middle-of-the-road headphone) There are times I just get 'everything fatigue' and need a headphone that acts like a reset-button or a pallette cleanser, or something that just provides 0% chance of fatigue. But I also don't think that's for everyone, it's just something especially useful to me as a reviewer as it also helps keeps my opinions 'tempered' or unspoiled.
Thanks for this always interesting to see what you zero in on in this huuuge iem market. Great coverage.
The only meta tuned iem ive tried is the hisenior mega5est but i really enjoyed it, if I didn't have the fatfreq deuce coming in i would seriously consider this one as my next upgrade iem
You can find modern iem with very "good" sinads nowadays for dirty cheap. Sadly I dont like them, its so unnatural to plug and hold anything deep in your ears canals. Ear buds or in ear its another story, but buds holds very poorly. But with some pads are almost okay. Leakage huge, but comfort on streets more important for me.
Part of the reason I like these is that I don't have to stick the IEMs deep into my ear canals, the tips just sit around the outside, closing the hole around my ear canal.
The same goes for most over-ear type IEMs.
If you're trying to put IEMs like these deep into your ears, you might be wearing them wrong and should probably try larger tips.
The only ones that usually have to be worn deeper are many cable-down type, bullet-shaped IEMs.
There is a part of me that really wants to pull the trigger on the KE4, and another part of me thats is screaming "naaaahhhh!"
So for, thr "nah" is winning. I think this is one of those IEMs that just plays it too safe, and provides nothing remarkable. It has that same "master of none" feel like the Cadenza4, these strict JM1 super neutral tunes are being precieved as mundane and boring, and too middle of the road matter. And i think, ultimately, that hurts their appeal, in a sea of options where gimmicks and wow factor rule the roost.
In some ways I definitely agree with that assessment.
But that's also why I like to keep my HD650 around. (another middle-of-the-road headphone)
There are times I just get 'everything fatigue' and need a headphone that acts like a reset-button or a pallette cleanser, or something that just provides 0% chance of fatigue.
But I also don't think that's for everyone, it's just something especially useful to me as a reviewer as it also helps keeps my opinions 'tempered' or unspoiled.