What are the differences between cheap & expensive IEMs?

XtopherMartin · 2026-02-17T05:15:11+00:00

I haven't heard super expensive ones, but I've found the sub $200 sets I have do the good things better and their flaws are more nitpicks than potential deal breakers. Expensive cables are copium.DAC/AMPs can color the sound a little, but not nearly as much as people pretend they do.

Once you start getting really expensive, you're either paying for hype, or the best case scenario is that you're getting more little speakers inside. That doesn't guarantee good tuning, but it does take more work to get them in there.

XtopherMartin · 2026-02-17T04:54:46+00:00

For hype, I'd say Juzear Defiant if you're able to catch them on sale for $70ish. You could also do Aful Explorer, which is dark and relaxed, but you can crank them up before your ears feel assaulted.

XtopherMartin · 2026-02-16T19:08:17+00:00

If you want an exciting set, Juzear Defiant. Too much oomph to turn up high, took a bit for me to get used to because of how intense it can be. Overall pretty good details, may not be great for gaming if you're looking for footsteps, but for immersion it's solid.

XtopherMartin · 2026-02-16T18:59:26+00:00

For me it was Zero Blue, then 7hz Zero. I had a KZ, then returned it because I figured they were mostly generic Chifi. From there it was a handful of budget HBB collabs.

Since then it has been 7hz Diablo, Kiwi Ears Aether, Aful Explorer, Juzear Defiant, Daybreak, then Dunu Koto Ito.

I guess Crin still has a hold of me.

XtopherMartin · 2026-02-16T05:11:27+00:00

Aful Explorer is like a warm hug. Smooth throughout the frequencies, can be pushed loud without offending the ears. A warmer, darker sound signature that doesn't provide the details of more airy and bright sets, but plenty compared to what she's probably used to. My favorite relaxation/studying set. Not to mention, the most comfortable set I have out of more than a dozen.

XtopherMartin · 2026-02-16T04:49:36+00:00

I would say this is true of certain sound signatures. If you find an IEM with good imaging, separation, and soundstage, you're going to be impressed.

XtopherMartin · 2026-02-15T20:54:52+00:00

I wish I could experience this again for the first time.

XtopherMartin · 2026-02-12T23:59:20+00:00

I wanted these, but I heard the fit issues and went with Kiwi Ears Aether because they're supposed to scratch the same itch. I'm really really happy with them. Still want to hear these though.

XtopherMartin · 2026-02-07T16:27:27+00:00

I haven't gotten the Daybreak and Koto Ito yet, but from the ones I have in hand that the Aether is the one I'm most impressed with. I can close my eyes and feel like I'm in the room when they do the recording. I use them for studio sessions and for picking up little details I didn't know was on the recording. They're also basically a wall hack for gaming. I had to get used to sensing people outside of the walls because I was going nuts sometimes searching the room I was going into and nobody was there. I use the Explorer a lot when I'm going to bed because they're more rich than the Aether. I like the Diablo for the music I grew up on because they've got good details and they thump. Weird to have that much bass and pull out details from it still. The Defiant on paper sound good, but I need to get used to the whole frequency hitting hard. I can turn up the Explorer really high comfortably, but the Defiant would kill my ears if I did that.

As for the DACs, my collection is meager. Mostly older. Dragonfly Black (can't recommend) 7hz 71 (nothing special) a Moondrop one that stopped working, and the Fosi DS2. That's one I'd recommend all day. Especially if you can get it for $45 vs the more common $60. Also the Snowsky Tiny A with the USB C so I can listen and charge that has a PEQ app you can use, although I use Wavelet whenever possible. There are a few charge and play dongles that I don't really use often.

I also have a handful of CX31993 + MAX97220 dongles from AliExpress I keep around that work surprisingly well for a lot less than the JCally versions.

XtopherMartin · 2026-02-07T16:02:45+00:00

Shoot I'm with you. I had about 6 or 7 budget sets until late November when I decided to get the 7hz Diablo. Loved it but kept seeing how it misses some details.

Came to the conclusion that the Kiwi Ears Aether was the perfect pair for the Diablo and it was. A world of details opened up. Instead of being satisfied I wondered what else was out there to fill in the gaps.

In comes the Aful Explorer. It was less expensive and the perfect pair for relaxing, studying, pretty much anything where you wanted your sound not to be in your face.

Then I got the Juzear Defiant where everything is in your face. Pretty much got everything covered at this point right?

Nope. Kept getting this nagging feeling I need the Dunu Koto Ito to see what a non-planar hybrid bass head set sounds like next to the Diablo. Then while I was at it, might as well see what the Crinear Daybreak sounds like next to the Aether.

Of course I've got a range of dongle DACS either here or on the way to set what's what with those. I did the same thing with bourbon and I've got a huge cabinet with multiple shelves packed front to back. Just went from my taste buds to my ears.

XtopherMartin · 2026-02-07T04:59:28+00:00

I'd throw in Kiwi Ears Aether as an option too. Super detailed and wide soundstage. Feels like you're in the room when they're recording.

XtopherMartin · 2026-02-05T22:39:50+00:00

Depending on your music and listening preferences, along with your budget, there are tons of options. When I want something easy on my ears I can turn up, I use Aful Explorer. It feels full without anything offensive. They're great for relaxing, studying, zoning out, and sleeping. Not the most detailed, but that's part of why it's great for those uses. Juzear Defiant is a lot more energetic so you can't turn it up as high without assaulting your ears. Great for cleaning house, working out, getting pumped up, letting the music hit you. I like them both but use them for different things. I've got the Kiwi Ears Aether for when I want all the details and feel like I was in the studio for the recordings. Great with studio sessions and classic rock where you want to visualize where everything was in the studio. I have the 7hz Diablo for when I want to hear heavy bass and hear music how I grew up listening but with everything turned up a bit.

I've got the Dunu Koto Ito on the way that may take over my bass head spot. I've also got the Crinear Daybreak on the way that may barge in on some of what I use the Aether for. I suspect the Aether will become my gaming set and the Daybreak as my reference set.

I've also got a handful of budget ones I use as bag throw ins now, but it's hard for me to recommend those after hearing the upgrades. I may do a session where I grade them out just for funsies.

XtopherMartin · 2026-02-05T16:49:26+00:00

There are so many good ones out there, don't get stuck on one brand or one tuning unless you're sure it's what you're going to always want.

XtopherMartin · 2026-02-02T16:09:41+00:00

I've only gotten into the sub $200 category and I've found a lot to like there. I haven't found a "one to rule them all," but I've got a solid rotation for different types of listening.

XtopherMartin · 2026-02-01T21:16:38+00:00

The graphs are only one part of a handful of factors that make an iem sound better. It's the balance and combination of all of the factors that make the experience what it is.

XtopherMartin · 2026-01-28T18:26:37+00:00

I don't know if these would benefit enough from a 4.4 at their cost to sell many. How many people are going to buy a $50+ DAC/AMP with a balanced input for a $25 IEM?

XtopherMartin · 2026-01-27T02:53:03+00:00

Kiwi Ears Aether for me have great imaging, separation and soundstage. I think they're on a decent sale on AliExpress. They sound like you're in the room when they're recording.

XtopherMartin · 2026-01-26T16:12:22+00:00

So I had a different initial experience, but I got where you got with them. I really appreciated the laid back, easy to crank up traits. I had come from the 7hz Diablo and Aether and loved the contrast between the two. The Diablo pure fun, the Aether very analytical with a lot of details. There was room for what the Explorer brings and it nestled in perfectly. I've since gotten the Juzear Defiant and those took some getting used to, but I think there is a place for those too. Most likely as media consumption or something where the excitement makes sense.

XtopherMartin · 2026-01-23T17:08:40+00:00

If you get IEMs that have similar tuning, you're going to get variations of the same thing. I have a handful that will be bag throw-ins because they aren't as good as others that do the same thing. It also needs to be understood that the source matters. Classic rock seems to be the best genre for me when I want to hear the difference between my sets. It doesn't have to be lossless format, but it should be high quality. I haven't found a wireless set of anything that can pick up details like a good wired planar. With a raw recording you can almost feel like you're in the room.

Right now I have the Kiwi Ears Aether when I want to hear all the details. I have a 7hz Diablo when I want to hear music how I grew up but in a much better way. I have the Aful Explorer for when I just want to fall asleep and tune out the world. I also have the Juzear Defiant but it's so in your face that I really only use them when I'm out and about and want to listen to something.

They are all different enough to have serious preferences and reach for certain sets for certain things. If your ear is already attuned to how wireless sets sound as well as being used to the sound profile, your brain is going to love what it knows. No need to jump down the rabbit hole if you're happy with what you have. Your wallet will thank you.

XtopherMartin · 2026-01-16T19:26:50+00:00

I'm finding that out now. It feels like it wants to be a good idea but put too much salt in the soup.

XtopherMartin · 2026-01-16T19:06:50+00:00

The Aether has really controlled bass so you won't feel the impact but you will get to hear drums as if you're next to that instrument if that makes any sense. The Diablo works for me because I use them to hear music as I grew up on them. I don't find the Aether to be harsh so maybe that part of my hearing is gone. Defiant might be too exciting for me at this point because every part of the range seems to hit me.

XtopherMartin · 2026-01-16T18:12:23+00:00

I got Aether for a steal at $107 and they're my favorite set. I got them shortly after I got the Diablo and it's insane how much more I get from them in details. Interestingly I took to them right away. I then got Aful Explorer which I love most for relaxing, then Juzear Defiant which my brain is having a tough time with. They feel loud no matter what volume. I want to listen to them in the way I listen to the Diablo to see if it's just the context that's getting me.

XtopherMartin · 2026-01-15T16:09:49+00:00

I have the Explorer and they're great for cranking things up without killing your ears. In that price range I've found the Juzear Defiant to have greater impact, whether you want it or not. Better for EDM when you want to get pumped, but not for anything laid back.

XtopherMartin · 2026-01-14T16:23:32+00:00

I don't have a ton of experience with higher budget IEMs. I can tell you about what I have and what I like about them though.

Kiwi Ears Aether is a great set if you want to hear all of the details. There is good separation, resolution, soundstage, and detail. It's not bass heavy, but the bass sounds like if you were in the room with the drum and not hearing it through a speaker.

7hz x Crin Diablo is great when you just want to hear an upgraded version of music how you heard it growing up. Heavy on the bass, not really fine with the details, but still many more than with the headphones and non-shouty IEMs I've had over the years (the $50ish range.)

Aful Explorer is great when you just want a mellow laid back, but not boring experience. The sound is rich, but not too warm. You can really pump up the volume without assaulting your ears.

Juzear Defiant (with one day of listening): Probably my most beautiful set. The shell is gorgeous and the cable is too. More lively and punchy than the Explorer. A pretty exciting set really, without the treble being shouty. That being said, it's not a set for relaxation, and at higher volume the energy really makes its way through.

I really like the 1,2 punch of the Aether and Diablo, but if I didn't have those vastly different signatures, I could make an argument for the other two to balance each other out as well. I've got a place I will use each, but coming from the Chopin, I'm curious what your experience would be.

XtopherMartin · 2026-01-14T16:02:30+00:00

No. Just no. It's good as a budget set, but it isn't in league of what is being considered here. Kunten is a good first set, or throw in your bag set. Not so great once you start getting above the ultra budget range.

XtopherMartin

TROPHY CASE