/iemg/ - In-Ear Monitor General Shopping Guide


Keep in Mind

Aesthetics, wearing comfort, and perceived sound quality are all matters of subjective experience. Ear anatomy, hearing ability, and sonic preferences vary greatly. Take impressions and reviews with a grain of salt.

Multi-Driver IEMs

Significant DAC & AMP output impedance >2.0 ohms may alter the frequency response of multi-driver IEMs. Most single dynamic driver (1DD) IEMs are unaffected.

Navigating This Guide

Within each sub-category, models are primarily sorted by price (low to high). If price is not listed, names are sorted alphabetically.
Sound descriptors given for IEMs in parenthesis "( )" are weak approximations. Refer to frequency response graphs for better insight.
A tilde "~" denotes if adjustable sound tuning is advertised (e.g., exchangeable nozzles, DIP switch, impedance adapter, or DSP cable).
There are resources for newcomers, sister sites for EQ and community impressions, and more in the Helpful External Links section.

Table of Contents

IEMs ($20 - $100)


Hall of Fame
• Tangzu Wan'er S.G 2 (mild V) - $20
• EPZ Q1 Pro (Harman) - $35

Honorable Mentions
• KBEAR Rosefinch (very bassy) - $20
• QKZ x HBB (bassy) - $20
• Tanchjim Bunny DSP (neutral~) - $20
• 7Hz x Crinacle Zero: 2 (bassy neutral) - $25
• Faaeal Unbounded (V-shape) - $25
• Truthear Gate (Harman) - $25
• Kinera Celest Wyvern (mild V) - $30
• Kiwi Ears Cadenza / KBEAR KB02 (mild V) - $35
• TRN Conch (bright V~) - $35
• Simgot EW200 (Harman) - $40
• Tinhifi C2 2025 (V-shape) - $40
• Moondrop Lan (neutral) - $45
• Aoshida E20 (U-shape) - $50
• Juzear Clear (bassy V) - $50
• Kefine Klean (bassy neutral~) - $50
• TKZK Ouranos (mild V) - $55
• Tanchjim 4U (bassy neutral~) - $70
• Artti R1 (mild V) - $80
• Dunu Titan S2 (mild V) - $80
• Simgot EA500LM (bright V~) - $90
• Truthear Hexa (neutral) - $90
• CVJ x R2E3 Mermaid II (mild V) - $100
• EPZ K5 (bright) - $100
• Letshuoer S08 (warm) - $100

IEMs ($110 - $200)


Hall of Fame
• Simgot SuperMix 4 (Harman) - $150
• EPZ P50 (bassy neutral) - $190

Honorable Mentions
• Artti T10 Pro (mild V) - $110
• Simgot EM6L (V-shape) - $110
• Dunu Kima 2 (warm) - $120
• Topping Arpegear Hane (mild V~) - $130
• Kinera Celest Phoenixcall (V-shape) - $130
• Shozy P20 (V-shape) - $140
• Kinera Celest Relentless (V-shape) - $170
• Kiwi Ears Aether (V-shape) - $170
• Letshuoer S12 Pro (V-shape) - $170
• Tanchjim Kara (bassy neutral) - $180
• Binary Acoustics x Gizaudio Chopin (Harman) - $200
• Hisenior T4 (neutral~) - $200

IEMs ($220 - $400)


Hall of Fame
• Tanchjim Origin (mild V~) - $260
• Xenns Mangird Tea Pro (U-shape) - $360

Honorable Mentions
• Dunu Falcon Ultra (warm~) - $220
• Juzear Butterfly 61T (bassy neutral) - $220
• Kiwi Ears Quintet (Harman) - $220
• TRI I3 MK3 (neutral) - $220
• Juzear Dragonfly 81T (Harman) - $250
• Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite (neutral) - $250
• Letshuoer Cadenza4 (neutral) - $250
• Binary Acoustics Dynaquattro (mild V) - $260
• ZiiGaat Doscinco (bassy neutral) - $270
• ISN Neo5 (bassy neutral) - $290
• Dunu x Gizaudio DaVinci (bassy neutral) - $300
• Softears Volume S (warm neutral~) - $320
• Dita Project M (bright) - $325
• ISN H60 (warm V) - $350
• SeeAudio Bravery '24 Edition (bright V) - $350
• Yanyin Canon II (V-shape~) - $380
• Thieaudio Hype 4 (U-shape) - $400

IEMs ($440 - $1000)


Hall of Fame
• Hisenior Mega5EST (bassy neutral) - $550
• Thieaudio Monarch MKIII (U-shape) - $1000

Honorable Mentions
• Simgot EM10 (Harman) - $440
• EPZ 530 (warm V) - $450
• Softears Studio4 (neutral) - $450
• Dunu DK3001 BD (U-shape) - $500
• Xenns Mangird Top (U-shape) - $530
• Kinera Skuld (neutral) - $550
• Dunu SA6 MKII (neutral~) - $580
• Thieaudio Oracle MKIII (U-shape) - $590
• I/O Volare (Harman) - $600
• Symphonium Audio Meteor (bassy neutral) - $600
• FATfreq Scarlet Mini (very bassy) - $650
• Kinera Imperial Urd (bassy neutral) - $650
• Tangzu Xuanwu Gate (neutral) - $650
• Sound Rhyme DTE900 (bright V~) - $750
• 7th Acoustics Supernova (neutral) - $800
• Jomo Audio Nautilus (bassy W) - $800
• Thieaudio Origin (U-shape) - $850
• 64 Audio Aspire 4 (bassy neutral) - $900
• Softears Twilight (warm neutral) - $930

IEMs ($1100+)


• 64 Audio U4s (W-shape~) - $1100
• Kinera Verdandi (V-shape) - $1200
• Nightjar Acoustics Singularity (bassy) - $1300
• Thieaudio Prestige LTD (U-shape) - $1300
• Dunu Glacier (V-shape) - $1350
• Symphonium x Elise Audio Europa (U-shape) - $1540
• Thieaudio V16 Divinity (U-shape) - $1500
• 64 Audio U12t (W-shape~) - $2000
• Canpur CP54E (mild V) - $2000
• FATfreq Maestro SE (bassy V) - $2000
• Oriolus Monachaa (W-shape) - $2000
• Unique Melody Mest Jet Black (bassy neutral) - $2000
• Empire Ears Legend X (very bassy) - $2300
• 64 Audio Volür (bassy W~) - $2500
• Melodic Artification Alter Ego (U-shape~) - $2500
• Noble Audio Kublai Khan (neutral) - $2600
• Alpha&Omega Omega (very bassy) - $2700
• Canpur CP74E (neutral) - $2800
• Elysian Acoustic Labs Annihilator 2023 (bassy V) - $3000
• FATfreq Grand Maestro (bassy V~) - $3000
• Vision Ears VE10 (bassy V) - $3050
• Kinera Imperial Loki (V-shape) - $3100
• Empire Ears Odin (neutral) - $3400
• Canpur CP622B (neutral) - $3500
• Empire Ears Raven (bassy W) - $3600
• Softears Enigma (mild V) - $3700
• Noble Audio Ronin (neutral) - $3900
• Unique Melody Multiverse Mentor (warm neutral) - $4500
• Oriolus Traillii JP (mild V) - $6600

Custom IEMs (CIEM)


64 Audio, Campfire Audio, Empire Ears, FATfreq, FiR Audio, Hisenior, JH Audio, Noble Audio, qdc, Softears, Ultimate Ears, Unique Melody, Vision Ears

Considerations Before Getting Custom IEMs
youtube.com/watch?v=BhTQfPRCFBk

Bullet Style Wire-Down IEMs ($15 - $100)


Hall of Fame
• Tanchjim One DSP (neutral~) - $30
• Etymotic ER2XR (neutral) - $100

Honorable Mentions
• Tangzu Princess Chang Le (mild V) - $15
• Tanchjim Zero Ultima DSP (neutral~) - $20
• Final E500 (dark) - $25
• Tanchjim Tanya (warm) - $25

Flathead Earbuds ($5 - $20)


Hall of Fame
• Blue Vido (warm) - $5
• NiceHCK YDX (bright) - $15

Honorable Mentions
• Faaeal Iris 2.0 (warm) - $10
• RY4S mmcx (warm) - $10
• VE Monk Plus (bright) - $10
• NiceHCK EB2S (bright) - $15
• Qian 39 (warm) - $15
• FiiO FF1 (warm) - $20
• Apple EarPods (warm) - $20
• Faaeal Rosemary (warm) - $20
• Yincrow X6 (warm) - $20

Cables


Standard IEM cable length is 1.2 meters. Customized cables can be ordered by messaging ivipQ or XINHS stores on Aliexpress.
Cable ear hooks can be reshaped with warm air for a better fit around your ears.

IEM and Cable Connection Types
head-fi.org/threads/the-different-types-of-iem-connectors.938264

Hall of Fame
• Tripowin Zonie - $15
• TRN RedChain - $15
• Artti
• ivipQ
• KBEAR
• NiceHCK
• XINHS

Honorable Mentions
• Juzear Limpid - $20
• Faaeal
• Hakugei
• Kinera
• OpenHeart
• Yinyoo
• Yongse

Ear Tips


Hall of Fame
• 7Hz H-07
• Audiosense S400
• Azla SednaEarFit Vivid
• Divinus Velvet
• KBEAR 07
• Moondrop Spring Tips
• Spinfit W1

Honorable Mentions
• Azla SednaEarFit MAX
• Azla SednaEarFit Xelastic II
• Dunu S&S
• Feaulle H570
• Final Type E
• ivipQ V15 / XINHS A02
• JVC EP-FX10 Spiral Dot
• NiceHCK C04
• Pentaconn Coreir
• Softears Ultra Clear
• Spinfit CP100+
• Spinfit Omni
• Tanchjim T-APB
• Tangzu Tang Sancai Balanced
• TRI Clarion
• TRN T-Ear

Foam
• Comply T-500
• Dekoni Audio Bulletz
• Moondrop MIS-Tip
• Sonicfoam
• Symbio Hybrid
• Tanchjim TAPB-C43
• Tennmak
• Tripowin Spiral Groove
• Whizzer MM100
• Zeos Render Hybrid

Filters


A common symptom of clogged filters is reduced volume of an earphone.
Most 1DD IEMs have a mesh filter on the sound nozzle that protects inner components and tunes sound. Filters can clog in humid conditions and from moisture, ear wax, skin oils, etc. with use over time.
Filters are available in different sizes (diameter in mm), and mesh density rated from 100 - 500. Higher numbers indicate greater acoustic damping, mostly affecting sound 2kHz - 6kHz. 500 mesh is common for stock sound replacement. Some IEMs use foam or Knowles tube dampers.
To replace a mesh filter: Using tweezers or a needle, remove the stock filter (and metal grille if applicable). Apply the replacement filter so that the pre-applied adhesive edges stick on the lip / groove in the nozzle. Lightly press down on the edges.

Generic filters
aliexpress.us/item/3256803859976976.html
aliexpress.us/item/3256805950888709.html

Moondrop filters
shenzhenaudio.com/products/moondrop-earphone-filter-accessories-for-spaceship-kxxs-starfield-earphone

All-in-One Simgot tuning kit (4.8mm)
aliexpress.us/item/3256806070697350.html

Dongles (USB-C DAC & AMP)


Hall of Fame
• Non-EU Apple dongle (#) - $10
• Fosi Audio DS2 2024 / Moondrop Dawn Pro / EPZ TP20 Pro - $60
• Qudelix 5K (#+%) - $110

Honorable Mentions
• CVJ CT-3 / Jcally JM7 / QKZ TC-Max (#) - $10
• VE Odo (#) - $10
• Softears S01 (#) - $25
• Jcally JM20 - $25
• Tanchjim Stargate 2 (#+) - $40
• HiBy W3 II (#+%) - $50
• Colorfly CDA-M1P - $80
• Shanling Onix Alpha XI1 - $110
• Tanchjim Luna - $130

A number sign "#" denotes in-line mic support.
A plus sign "+" denotes if EQ is an advertised feature. Functionality and implementation differs.
A percent sign "%" denotes Bluetooth connectivity.

Flawless compatibility is not assured when using dongles and smartphones. For some device pairings, unstable connection, noise artifacts / glitches, wireless signal interference, or other malfunctions can occur. Apple Lightning connection imposes power limitations compared to USB-C.
For bit-perfect lossless audio via Android phone and dongle, use HiBy Music (free) or USB Audio Player Pro aka UAPP (paid) and enable "Exclusive USB Audio Access," setting to avoid resampling. Enabling this setting may also mitigate malfunctions.

With manufacturer specifications for sensitivity and impedance, you can calculate the power required for IEMs.
headphonesty.com/headphone-power-calculator/
Most IEMs are very sensitive and require little power to reach loud volumes. High levels of amplification may even be detrimental to your listening experience (e.g., higher audible noise floor, limited usable volume steps, generate excessive heat, drain more phone battery, pose risk for hearing damage, etc.).

Digital Audio Players (DAP) / Portable Music Players (PMP)


Budget
• FiiO Snowsky Echo Mini - $50
• HiBy R1 - $85
• Shanling M0s - $100
• Hifi Walker H2 / Surfans F20 (Rockbox) - $120
• Shanling M0 Pro - $130
• HiBy R3 II 2025 - $180
• FiiO JM21 - $200
• HiBy M300 - $200
• Hidizs AP80 Pro-X - $200
• Tempotec V3 Blaze - $200
• Shanling M1 Plus - $210
• Shanling M1s - $230
• HiBy R4 - $250

Mid-Range
• HiBy R6 III 2025 - $440
• FiiO M11S - $500
• Cayin N3 Ultra - $530
• iBasso DX180 - $530
• Shanling M5 Ultra - $590

DAP / PMP Infographic Chart
x.com/align_centre/status/1677649129353404416

Where and When to Buy


Amazon.com
Aliexpress.com
Linsoul.com
Hifigo.com
Shenzhenaudio.com
Headphones.com
Hangout.audio
BloomAudio.com
MusicTeck.com
Drop.com
Apos.audio
Moon-Audio.com
audio46.com
TheSourceAV.com
EliseAudio.com
hifi-passion.de

Listed sites are retailers or distributors of various brand IEMs. Direct-from-brand sites are not listed. If you are shopping sub-$500, the top 7 sites should have it. Some stores offer free international shipping, include sales taxes / VAT in the product price, or offer consumer-friendly return policies. Read terms and conditions.

Tier 1 Sales
3/28: Aliexpress Anniversary
6/18: Mid-Year
7/16 - 7/17: Amazon Prime Day
11/11: Singles' Day
Late November: Black Friday & Cyber Monday
December: Christmas

Tier 2 Sales
Most major holidays
Late January-Early February: Lunar New Year
8/18: Back to School


Introductory Overviews for Audio Noobs
youtube.com/watch?v=kQOHx1nSc50
youtube.com/watch?v=E1ck5ItKVv4
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeQ8Ry2-4OCTEJZmom2FiuyDABrRH525H

IEM EQ Guide - Equalizer, Measurements, Targets, etc.
4ciemg.github.io/IEM-EQ-Guide/

IEMGazette - /iemg/ Monthly Thread Compilation Blog
4ciemg.github.io/IEMGazette/

Frequency Response Graphs 101
headphonesty.com/how-to-measure-headphones-and-iems
crinacle.com/2020/04/08/graphs-101-how-to-read-headphone-measurements
hifigo.com/blogs/guide/frequency-response

Frequency Response Graph Tools
5128
earphonesarchive.squig.link
graph.hangout.audio/iem/5128
listener.squig.link/5128
rtings.com/headphones/graph
711
squig.link
jaysaudio.github.io
banbeu.com/graph/tool
iems.audiodiscourse.com
graphtool.harutohiroki.com
hypethesonics.com/iemdbc

Measurements and Reviews
audiosciencereview.com
headphones.com/blogs/reviews
headphonesty.com/category/reviews
soundguys.com/features
blog.ear-phone-review.com/archive/category/Review
0db.co.kr/REVIEW_0DB
woodenears.com
l7audiolab.com

Equalizer APO and Peace UI - Free EQ Software for Windows OS
sourceforge.net/projects/equalizerapo
sourceforge.net/projects/peace-equalizer-apo-extension

Optimizing Audio on Windows OS
audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/ending-the-windows-audio-quality-debate.19438

How to Listen Software - Learn to Identify Attributes You Hear
harmanhowtolisten.blogspot.com

IEM Cleaning, Maintenance, and Storage
playbutton.co/how-to-clean-an-iem-nozzle-complete-guide
headphonemax.com/iems/clean

Earwax Removal and Cleaning Your Ears
health.clevelandclinic.org/ear-wax-removal-101-the-best-and-safest-ways-to-clear-clogged-ears
healthline.com/health/how-to-clean-your-ears
aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/info-2020/safe-earwax-removal

Safe Listening Levels
noisemeters.com/help/faq/frequency-weighting
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A-weighting
audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/safe-listening-levels-and-headphone-voltage-power-requirements.37860
reference-audio-analyzer.pro/en/dbv-dbmw.php

Reading on Various Audio Topics - Books, Papers, etc.
mega.nz/folder/jlR3WYqb#5b4rDPV2dRmCCrQc5_VG4Q

Reading on Various Audio Topics
diyaudioheaven.wordpress.com/tutorials

Glossary of Audio Measurements and Terms
headphones.com/blogs/features/the-glossary-of-audio-measurements-and-terms

Old Guide
hackmd.io/@AyPeeEye/S1sNUVosu

Edit Report
Pub: 28 Jan 2023 03:41 UTC
Edit: 24 Apr 2025 17:37 UTC
Views: 95195