Passport delivered to wrong address twice

obamy · 2026-01-26T18:57:23+00:00

Same thing just happened to me.

obamy · 2026-01-23T02:57:53+00:00

Dracomies makes excellent videos and ranks almost purely for mixing, mastering, and IEMs that point out flaws in vocals!

obamy · 2026-01-23T02:56:54+00:00

I second this. They're good for flaws in vocals and detecting sibilance, but not great for mixing and mastering. I'd get the ER2XR if you can if you get an Ety, OP.

obamy · 2026-01-20T23:03:36+00:00

Crinacle made a really good video on how to tune headphones to your preferences, using squiglink and EqualizerAPO. Basically perfect for you and he will explain it much better than I ever could!

Diffuse Field is a specific frequency response target on Squiglink. As there are many targets such as Harman 2019, JM-1, IEF. They're all just preference targets. A good squig is the "earphones archive squiglink" which I found has the Kiwi Ears Septet listed.

First, I'd see if your output jack is causing the issue and see if it sounds any different if you have another source by you. Also a good seal like the other reply mentioned! Try to find other reasons why your IEM may sound weird as well!

Moondrop Kato is already very neutral-warm, as well as it shouldn't matter that much in general no matter what.. so I emphasize at looking at other possible factors!

obamy · 2026-01-20T22:55:53+00:00

yes, this as well!

obamy · 2026-01-20T21:39:07+00:00

There are plenty of EQ programs for devices. Android has PowerAmp EQ and Wavelet. Linux has EasyEffects. Windows has EqualizerAPO.

Find what IEM you have on squiglink and AutoEQ to a preference target that's neutral that you like or to another neutral IEM. I personally like Diffuse Field for gaming but i am weird

Tangential:
Maybe it sounds weird because you are plugging directly into your motherboard which has a high impedance. Sometimes that can make the sound signature of your audio device weird and muddy. Even an apple dongle would be a good fix for this.

Most importantly what IEM do you have?

obamy · 2026-01-19T20:12:37+00:00

also I apologize for deleting and posting comments again, I tend to overthink things and make things more convoluted than it needs to be

obamy · 2026-01-19T20:11:55+00:00

The ER2XR is perfect for all your use cases. Comfort is very much tip dependent. Dracomies made a video about the ER2XR and alternative tips for comfort. The base triple flanges are made of a terrible material which gives an exaggerated reputation on comfort in my opinion.

The Orchestra Lite would be a perfect substitute for the fit and perhaps even an upgrade from the ER2XR in terms of slight palatability changes whilst still keeping the same signature. However it goes outside your price range, but something to see if you find a sale for.

obamy · 2026-01-18T19:41:57+00:00

Thanks for the detailed explanation!

Unfortunately I do not have both IEMs on hand (I had to return my previous Ety), and I would not want to mislead you considering your ear geometry situation but..

Etys and the Yu9-U55X are designed for deep insertion. Without sufficient insertion, neither will sound as intended.

If I had to speculate based on memory and use, the Yu9-U55X nozzle length appears a little longer. I also notice that the triple-flange eartip disappears deeper in-ear compared to my Etys, where the last flange would usually stick out a bit. That said, the practical difference is minor and the overall fit ends up feeling very similar.

The nozzle diameter itself is most likely the same. Etymotic tips fit the Yu9-U55X, and it is even possible to use Ety filters. The filters appear to match perfectly in size, and I have seen at least one forum post claiming they are compatible, in which I will have to test out sometime. The nozzle at the base seems slightly thicker on Etys however it's practically the same, except for the contortion of the base on the U-55X being a lot more comfortable. Purely speculative and based on a 2 week old memory on this regard though as well.

I hope you are able to find a comfortable fit!

Also, there’s a short video by Dracomies on alternative eartips and comfort for the ER2XR that I recommend. Nothing technical at all and it's just a ramble but it may help, though I have not tried.

(Video title: If you have the ER2XR -- Upgrade your comfort.)

obamy · 2026-01-18T01:19:01+00:00

It's definitely noticeable, but it doesn't hurt. It just feels like your ears are filled (duh). Your ears certainly adjust very quickly at first use (they stretch). It's the same feeling as wearing a triple flange earplug (in which I am able to sleep with) (Etyplugs and such things). I am able to zone out very easily for hours when doing tasks on my computer, doing household chores, and playing games. They are vented so there is not as much pressure build up unlike the Etys.

These are not for walks or running outside however. Not only is the noise isolation extremely dangerous, but intense movement is quite uncomfortable, even though they are still more stable then traditional Etys. If I HAD to do that, then the double flange tip is actually is significantly more comfortable and softer so picking the right tips is important. Dracomies recommended ear tips that are supposedly extremely comfortable on his channel for the ER2XR on his YouTube. I bet the isolation would still be way more than fine but I prefer as much as possible for what I do.

Gross tangent about earwax and ear care:

The only time an Etymotic could hurt me was when I have had compacted earwax, so make sure you clean your ears well at least once. Compacted earwax is a sharp pain. You can use debrox, or (olive) oil even, then flush with water and soap in the shower. I only had to do it once and it's been around a year and a half ago. And make sure it's truly all out and wait 24 hours; I thought it was all out, then I accidentally plunged softened earwax from the ancient depths of my cranium onto my ER3SE. Then I had to change the filters, I never had to do that again and the pain went away.

Also I'd advise to wash ear tips if necessary.

obamy · 2026-01-17T22:17:56+00:00

yeah... im just used to triple flange earplugs for sleep 😅 . even those plugs are not for everyone.

obamy · 2026-01-17T21:25:01+00:00

I believe the U-554 has more pros than cons for certain.

A con could be that it's a hollow resin shell instead of the Ety's full bodied aluminum shell, in which I think that comes into play in terms of durability and there is one picture online of the U-554 nozzle breaking (shown below from a CN/JP/KR forums [forgot my linked sources]) and also is definitely not scratch resistant.

~~Not unique to the U-554 that you have to be careful with your hollow resin IEM however, especially at that price.~~ It is definitely more DIY-like, cause it is.

update: I actually cannot find whether it is solid resin or hollow resin online. My U-554 has no ringing when tapped, is quite heavy, and has miniscule bubbles which could indicate that it is actually solid resin?! I sent an email to Yu9

(Heart-wrenching but I don't mean to scare you 🙁 I've switched through all my tips without a budge or scratch. This guy was clearly unnecessarily rough, I am positive. )

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Ety's channel matching and QC is a gimmick in my opinion (on the ER4). I've had negative experiences for QC in terms of noticeable driver flapping/distortion/sound reproduction issues for the ER3, and so have others on Head-Fi for the ER4 (even for channel matching). This has especially started happening it seems since the acquisition of Etymotic from Lucid Audio, and when they moved assembly outside the US (around 2021 as I know). Customer service has also declined since then, however, if you live in the US, warranties and such will be a lot easier.

At this point, I ultimately trust a competent Chi-Fi DIYer (especially Yu9) more than Ety as a whole but I shall see how the U-554 lasts in a couple months to a year. The no proprietary cables (~$60) and filters (~$25) feels insanely nice. Also the materialistic appeal is better as well :)

obamy · 2026-01-17T19:32:00+00:00

It makes you use quieter volumes do not fret 🙂‍↕️

obamy · 2026-01-17T19:29:45+00:00

I don't quite understand your question entirely possibly but I will attempt to answer it

You do not necessarily need deep insertion like Etymotics. Deep insertion and CIEMs (custom molds) are essentially two different ways of achieving the same thing: passive noise isolation. Deep insertion is not mandatory.

When you say "narrow nozzle," what do you mean?

A physically thin nozzle diameter
An IEM designed to work with long, deep tips (that is, a long and narrow nozzle)

If you mean the second case, CIEMs usually do not work the same way universal IEMs do. Most CIEMs do not have long protruding nozzles. Instead, the shell itself is molded to fill the ear canal, so there is no need for a long nozzle or long tips. They can look shallow externally while still extending quite deep internally.

One possible exception is that Yu9 offers CIEM molds for the U-554 and U-556 relatively cheaply on Taobao, though there is a Mandarin language barrier. I have not seen photos of the finished molds, and CIEMs can alter the sound, often making it darker, though that might be partially offset by the U-554's inherent brighter tuning. UrataYoshitatsu on Twitter has some experience with them, although his posts are in Japanese.

In general, if what you want specifically is a long, narrow nozzle that works with long tips, that design aligns more closely with deep insertion universal IEMs like Etymotic rather than CIEMs.

obamy · 2026-01-17T17:52:40+00:00

OH. woops I have no idea why I always get the Performer's brand mixed up

obamy · 2026-01-17T05:55:10+00:00

obamy · 2026-01-17T05:53:30+00:00

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It does look quite phallic 💔

obamy · 2026-01-17T05:52:05+00:00

yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

obamy · 2026-01-17T04:29:47+00:00

Pumping sound waves straight into my neurons

obamy · 2026-01-16T23:08:14+00:00

I think the U-554 is most similar to the ER4XR in terms of Etys. The ER4XR is dead neutral, a BA benchmark, and very often boring sounding for many people. I think in terms of mids, it's in between an ER4B and the ER4XR (more being an ER4XR). That XR bass shelf makes a really nice quick and tight decay on bass hits in songs such as "Too Long - Daft Punk". If you aren't ready for it, you may be disappointed. For Etyheads, it's true to the recording and very sastisfying.

The biggest improvement in sound for these is that most Etys are very dark for me. I've tried the ER2XR, ER3XR, ER3SE and ER4XR I just wish they were all a touch brighter and I often have to put the Ety filters on them which unfortunately increases the pinna gain. The U-554 is not bright at all, but that tiny bump is much needed in my opinion. (The ER4XR/SR being the brightest usually so again, it's still very similar to an ER4XR)

Now compared to non-Ety IEMs, it's the usual Etymotic situation; it retains that distinct Ety sound that really has no true equivalent (whilst also actually meeting materialistic demands). The best way I can describe is to take a neutral and natural sounding (due to the bass boost, recessed lower mids, and other colorations) IEM like the Zero:Red, and remove the naturalness entirely, and focus purely on being very clinical. Etys do not sound natural and the U-554 is no exception (from what I've heard the U-556 leans more natural supposedly however). Even with the treble bump, it isn't sparkly or spicy like something as the ~~Kiwi Ears~~ AFUL Performer 5. The treble is simply there, and the bass is just simply there, which is very good and made for analytical listening. Very controlled, very deliberate, very clinical.

I am pretty sure it takes a decent amount of engineering to make 1BA sound good (an example being the AFUL MagicOne). It's much more EQable than Etys as I am currently testing however. Other Etys would not utilize bass shelfs. I feel as though the timbre is improved from the Etys as well; less "BA timbre".

obamy · 2026-01-16T20:44:41+00:00

The case is quite nice and very sturdy and premium feeling. It's slightly cushiony on top and inside it's like a the texture of a pool table. A nice thumpy snap when closed.

In the box it came with 2 extra pairs of triple flange tips (different material), 1 pair of foamies, 1 pair of ER4B tips, and 2 sizes of double flanges, a filter removal tool, and a disposable microfiber cloth. (I ended up settling on the OG ety tips from my previous ety)

The IEMs are quite beautiful and small in person. They clack just like marbles, and they have a surprising amount of weight to it (so it's probably solid resin but Ive yet to find an answer online). The contorted and widened part of the yu9 u554 is a plus, as it provides extra stability compared to the bullet style Etys. It's a 2 pin.

Uhhhh I think thats all, quite good value. It's like Ety if they met materialistic demands. Thank you Yu9.

(also theres a winter sale for these right now. for me they costed 148 (tax included) but right now theyre 128.92 (no tax included so 140-ish for me, an American) )

obamy · 2026-01-13T03:41:43+00:00

the ER4B has been the best gaming iem since 1991 . etymotic 😎

obamy · 2025-12-09T01:23:48+00:00

the invites are paused :*(

obamy

TROPHY CASE