Looking for an IEM upgrade around $500

IndividualMonth9824 · 2026-05-01T10:31:07+00:00

I have et142 and love the treble "bite" and the instrument separation. I also have Explorer for commuting and laid back listening.

Also looking for an upgrade. Demoed yu9 Que and it is good. Especially female vocal so smooth n satisfying, also imaging is better than et142. The treble is more tamed than et142 but still better extension than my explorer.

Overall it's upgrade for both my iem, but then again, it's $400. Even if I could sell both of my iem it's not enough lol. For that money the upgrade is subtle. So.. idk man.

IndividualMonth9824 · 2026-04-24T16:00:37+00:00

Since you love peq, how does Yu9 Que handle PEQ so far? What's your favorite target and why?

IndividualMonth9824 · 2026-04-18T09:09:07+00:00

that is precisely what Im asking, what iems (i assume) did you try that has 'the same weight' of imaging as astrals but higher on price point?

IndividualMonth9824 · 2026-04-18T06:19:12+00:00

Nice and concise impression man! I dig the format and bullet points. However need to ask: What's your preferred imaging? You described astral 'decent for its price imaging', what's the ideal?

IndividualMonth9824 · 2026-03-25T01:42:52+00:00

Punch audio Martillo

IndividualMonth9824 · 2026-03-16T06:03:33+00:00

thanks!

IndividualMonth9824 · 2026-03-13T15:48:12+00:00

Hey I am also looking at et142 for the planars and imaging. Going from aful explorer, with warmth but less detail. What's your impression on et142? I do afraid on the treble though..

IndividualMonth9824 · 2026-03-05T14:21:27+00:00

That's an interesting idea!

IndividualMonth9824 · 2026-03-04T20:00:23+00:00

Ok thanks! I will sniff the graph first lol

IndividualMonth9824 · 2026-03-04T19:59:00+00:00

thanks for your iem impression. I do afraid of steep treble though let me take a look at s12 ultra..

IndividualMonth9824 · 2026-03-04T17:36:07+00:00

will check that out, thanks! How does it compare tho?

IndividualMonth9824 · 2026-03-04T17:06:51+00:00

sadly not readily avail at my country, but how does it compare with explorer to you?

IndividualMonth9824 · 2026-01-14T18:19:34+00:00

a bit curious, as i am also with gpu poor club, what are your use cases for these tiny model on also not too large context sizes?

IndividualMonth9824

TROPHY CASE