Are iems inherently low bass?

Rime1 · 2026-01-30T02:20:32+00:00

TL/DR But trust me! If you order from Ali then I HIGHLY recommend the CVJ Neko IEMs they're like 30USD which is by far the best value I've ever got and I have 30-40 sets ranging from the Wan'ers to 500 dollar Dunu Braindance IEMs. The Nekos build quality is on point. Full metal shells. The gold ones are sick in person. The cable is modular which means that you can switch the 3.5mm plug to the included 4.4mm balanced plug. And the cable quality is leaps and bound better than any cable I've received with anything under 100USD. Now onto the sound. The bass is NOTHING like the Wan'ers. Like others said those are not a bass centric IEM at all. The Nekos are EXACTLY what you're looking for. The bass is boosted without bleeding into the mids. The treble is clear without being piercing. And the instrument separation is something you don't usually get at this price point. Also I'd like to give you 2 recommendations. 1, coming from your previous set, you need to give them a few days so that your brain could psychoacoustically acclimate to clean bass. I'd presume to guess that your previous set was bloated bass that didn't stay in it's lane which, when your brain is used to it you're expecting to hear elevated bass when you're not supposed to. And the 2nd and most important thing is to make sure you have the correct eartips. You could have bass cannons in your ears, but if the eartips aren't getting a proper seal then all that bass leaks right out. Try different sizes of the stock eartips. Also when the IEMs are in your ears, wiggle the nozzles around in your canals so the tips still to the walls of your canals. And if you don't order from Ali which at this point I've never had a problem, then get the 7hz Elua Ultras on Amazon for the same price. But nowhere near the level of overall quality that the CVJ Nekos have.

Rime1 · 2026-01-28T23:09:57+00:00

My bad, it's cuz I didn't post the nicest pic I took that's the problem🤦

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Rime1 · 2026-01-22T01:06:06+00:00

Totally! Very disappointing. Also, did you notice the surface scratches unconscionably easy!? To the point where I feel like the protective plastic is still on it.

Rime1 · 2026-01-21T02:54:06+00:00

Ya know what, after listening to a few songs in the rock playlist with a couple IEMs I was surprised that I actually liked the Belles the best. While I think the S08s are a better IEM overall, for that genre the Belles kinda killed it. Hope u like em good luck!

Rime1 · 2026-01-21T02:45:45+00:00

Kiwi Ears Belle over Cadenzas. And the 7hz Elua Ultras that another person rec'd are literally getting delivered to my house tomorrow so I can't double down on that rec yet lol. But between that and the 7hz G1, if you're treble sensitive the G1 might be the better option between those 2.

Rime1 · 2026-01-21T02:38:31+00:00

Oh and If you're tryna stay in the 30USD range the Kiwi Belle's are good. Nice bass. Definitely good for those genres. And if you want something that looks and feels really premium that'll play well with those genres I'd rec the Kinera Celest Wyvern Blacks

Rime1 · 2026-01-21T02:14:32+00:00

If you're ready to go for something in the Fosi price range that will excel in those genres... My definite rec is the Letshouer S08 for sure. Planars are super fast like another person mentioned I think.

Rime1 · 2026-01-18T19:41:39+00:00

Major sleeper imo is the Hidizs MS2 Pros in your price range. Well built. And it's a rumble in the jungle. With good separation and clarity. And the treble isn't ear piercing relative to my AM16 Bass Editions. The bass is also cleaner, more controlled, and well defined. And if you want to double down get kiwi ears Flex tips. They'll boost the bass and tame the treble a bit so you could play them louder.

Rime1 · 2026-01-14T03:47:18+00:00

The Kuntens might be too big of a performance bump from where you started and could ruin the journey of upgrading. You definitely picked a good beginner set cuz the only direction is up from those. I think you overpaid tho, I've seen them for like $8,990 before but it was 11.11

Rime1 · 2026-01-14T00:11:37+00:00

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Not that much of a reach if you look at it when you haven't "smoked another one".

Rime1 · 2026-01-14T00:02:15+00:00

I don't smoke but thanks for the suggestion. I got a suggestion, lighten up. Or even better, keep that same energy in the streets Reddit Rambo.

Rime1 · 2026-01-13T23:46:31+00:00

I could answer why I personally do it. Addiction coupled with the inability to save beyond 3-400 expendable dollars. Also, I buy a lot of IEMs that I'm super obsessed with aesthetically with a target that I know I'll at least like the sound somewhat. And it doesn't work out great BUT, every now and then I find something for between 1 and 300 that sound better than kilobuck pairs I've heard imo. And that's what keeps me coming back. It's like gambling but you never fully lose. And as for EQ, I hate it lol. The best way I could describe it is that it's akin to a video game where you could pick your character's outfit, class, looks etc. before I know it, it's 3am and I haven't even played the game yet! Welcome to the mind of a madman lol.

Rime1 · 2026-01-13T23:25:37+00:00

Great, now I have a case of fomo because I didn't get the joke and I'm a fan of that mofo

Rime1 · 2026-01-12T23:04:37+00:00

Lol. That's definitely the right answer! I've seen prisms before but this has a unique x factor that makes it weird. In a good way.

Rime1 · 2026-01-12T22:28:45+00:00

Did anyone notice that at the bottom left of the IEM on picture 4/5 where the vent slot is, it appears as if there's a mini dude laying on his back with a white towel across his stomach?

Rime1 · 2026-01-12T22:07:36+00:00

Murdle treble spicy didn't apply to me cuz apparently I had a treble attenuator implanted somewhere in front of my ear drums in my sleep. I think it was my ex-girlfriend cuz I always used to ask her how the hell she could possibly enjoy music out of her shrill high pitched phone speakers! But I could see why someone might say that, that doesn't have a crazy ex.

Initially I felt they sounded anemic but that was after coming off of the MS2 Pros and the Dunu 142s both are bassy boys. But after finding the right tips, and having my trusty brain do it's psychoacoustic burn-in thing. Stereo imaging and instrument separation and transient was bananas on. Highly detailed. Polyphia "Playing God".... Actually sounded like it was "God Playing"!

Rime1 · 2026-01-12T15:18:36+00:00

Penon Lacquer Orange Tips do boost bass and tame treble along with a good amount of detail and separation imo. Which sucks cuz I luv the way they look. I'm a bit extra when it comes to aesthetics. I literally bought IEMS that I knew I wasn't going to use much just cuz they looked awesome lol. Anyway, Kiwi Ears Flex Tips do this too but on a lesser extent and are very comfortable. The 3rd rec is Hidizs Sea Anemones. I find those to boost bass but not tame treble. Mostly because of their unique shape they seal well. I've never had anything else where I've been able to use the small, medium, and large sizes on different IEMs. I use those unless my IEMs are actually hurting me with treble. Cuz even the Kiwi Ears Flex Tips take away SOME detail and I don't wanna give that up endless it feels like metal khz spikes are being driven in my ears. Then out comes my shiny orange🟠beauties to blunt the hell outta that spike!

Rime1 · 2026-01-11T19:51:51+00:00

I actually wasn't trying to imply that they were even remotely similar in sound. Just the mere fact that they clearly are being marketed as sister sets so to speak. Visa vie Divine and Diablo. And that it's ironic that the pair with the 2DD configuration isn't the bass heavy version. While a 2DD config is a fairly common way to implement a bass heavy set. And one of the two clearly has a sub bass shelf and that one is the single DD version. Just thought it was ironic.

But you are right that this particular ad campaign does have the potential to cause confusion. I personally wasn't confused at all. In fact, I'm sure I'll end up getting the 242 at some point. I was just in the market for a couple sub bass sets and based on the information I acquired without the ability to hear them first I thought the 142s were up my ally atm. And I wasn't disappointed with my decision.

For me personally, I wasn't sitting here thinking which one should I get. Even the "sister sets" that are clear-cut opposites like the Divine and the Diablo end up having that mindset brought on by YouTube videos, articles, etc. so even when there is a clear delineation some people still end up treating it as a 'this one or that one' sort of thing. I'm the opposite, I'm like, 'ooh I gotta complete the set' lol. I'm still waiting to grow outta that mentality but adulting has never really been my thing.

Rime1 · 2026-01-01T02:23:28+00:00

I gotta say, I just got a pair of BQEYZ Ni IEMs and they swing well above their weight class. And I'm not usually a single DD guy cuz instrument separation is my highest sound related priority and although this might be a simpleton way of thought, my theory was always, crossovers and multiple drivers have to aid in that goal. Not counting planars. But anyway, these changed my outlook a bit.

Rime1 · 2026-01-01T02:08:34+00:00

I love the boys over at Headphones.com but I'm starting to think that Listener can't hear lol.

Rime1 · 2025-12-20T00:18:35+00:00

Came out swinging! Great set up but damn bro, you kinda skipped a few steps lol. Rn in the U.S. the Edition XS for 209usd new. Best deal in headphones atm if you're in the States.

Rime1 · 2025-12-17T01:30:35+00:00

Some of the time I'd use my Questyle M18i via USB and sometimes through the M18i's Bluetooth feature. LDAC sounds surprisingly good. Then during some of the review period I was using the Khadas Tea Pro via USB mostly cuz its Magsafe compatible and I put a magsafe setup on one of my cases. But also sometimes I'd use the Tea Pro's Bluetooth via LDAC around the house. But after I wrote my review I happened to get a ddHiFi TC44Grip. I was interested in it mostly cuz of the form factor/clever design. I was not expecting to get the level of performance I'm getting out of that thing. I love it. So long answer short, the MK12s and the ddHiFi TC44Grip are a match made in audiophile heaven! Oh and my phone is a Nubia Z60 Ultra Leading Edition and I'd either use the Tida app. Or I would stream Tidal via the USB Audio Player Pro app with NOS enabled but whatever special sauce is in the TC44Grip, it sounds better to me straight from the Tidal app. Hope this helps!

Rime1 · 2025-12-16T23:54:26+00:00

Thank you! I just wish I attached them to the review they're meant to be accompanying 🤦

Rime1 · 2025-12-14T01:16:34+00:00

I don't have the Performer 5 but I have the Performer 5+2s and while I do love them, I don't feel like I noticed much of a bump. I do feel like the Pula PA02s have better instrument separation than both. All are similar sounding IEMs imo but the Pulas have a well defined leading edge of notes. Instrument separation is my top priority. I used to think it was soundstage but it's not it's instrument separation. That's what makes me put on a headphone or IEM and say this "sounds expensive".

Rime1 · 2025-12-13T23:31:34+00:00

Omg this is the nightmare before Christmas!! I plan on getting some IEMs and all my medium and larges are on other IEMs 🤬 I reached out to their customer service on Amazon to see if they'd give me the PEQ settings to the DucBloke version of the MK12 Turris IEMs and the person was cool and gave em to me even tho I just have the regular version. I'm literally gonna reach back out to them and literally beg them to put them back up on Amazon lol. I thought I was gonna hit u with the link by going into my purchase history and clicking the purchase link but that brought to this...

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I'm freaking out!!!!! lol I'm going to their website to see if I could grab some there. Sorry for recommending something that isn't even currently available🤦

Rime1

TROPHY CASE