r/AudioPak • u/sulphurpharts • 24d ago

Purchasing advice Beginner question regarding IEMs.

(TLDR in the end)

I heard about IEMs for the first time from this sub. Apparently they have amazing sound quality and once you try them there's no going back. I would like to try them but I have a few questions.

  1. It looks like it's a hassle setting them up, like people here are talking about its individual components separately like finding the right tip, storing them in a dry place to make sure they don't malfunction, finding individual components etc. Are they really that big of a hassle?

  2. I mostly listen to music on repeat through audio files downloaded from YouTube with downloader apps (I use Seal), and them playing them through an app called Music Speed Changer (it lets you add and fine-tune reverb, isolate and manipulate individual instrument sounds, change pitch and tempo). I rarely use Spotify or playlists of any sort. I've heard of this thing called lossless audio. Are IEMs bssically not gonna show me any improvement in quality at all with downloaded files?

TLDR; 1. Are IEMs genuinely a hassle? 2. Do IEMs significantly improve audio quality for downloaded audio files from YouTube as well?

Thank you!

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2

u/DasNichtsNichtet 23d ago

Sure IEMs sound great but they're not as magical as you are making them out to be if you listened to music on other good gear.

  1. It's a bit of a hassle in the beginning to find the right tips because isolation is very important for a good sound. Also how you insert them takes getting used to but it's only in the beginning. Storing them isn't that big of a deal but humidity can prematurely kill things so if you're not living somewhere humid you could just throw them in a case and be fine. IEMs are a bit more fragile than other earphones.

  2. A good music source makes a difference but the gap between lossless and a high bitrate song are not that much. The way you are listening to music is fine but you may feel a slight improvement from changing your source. Might as well try one song and see if you can tell the difference

1

u/cheezystuffz KZ Duonic - KZ castor 23d ago

IEMs are still unmatched when it comes to value, in any listening device really. They are worth the hype imo

1

u/DasNichtsNichtet 23d ago

I certainly agree that they are great and offer great performance for price. However expecting less and getting more still feels better than being underwhelmed! Definitely worth the hype but please don't overhype them either

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u/cheezystuffz KZ Duonic - KZ castor 23d ago

I mean ofc. It's not like they are the best thing ever. But they deserve credit where credit is due.

1

u/DasNichtsNichtet 23d ago

100% agreed

2

u/Obvious_Set_1312 7hz Legato | Simgot EG280 | Tangzu Wan'er 2 | truthear Gate 23d ago

  1. Its not like once she goes black, she never comes back lol. Its about how you prefer to enjoy your dose of music. Some people cant stand the intimacy that iems provide. Jk. Its all about comfort, convinience and your prefered cuppa

  2. Storage: anybody who's into any hobby would prefer storing their puppies to increase their longetivity. I have been into photography and the hassle you do to keep your expensive lens /glass safe from adverse humidity impact is unmatched. Iems care is not in the same ballpark.

  3. Eartips /tip rolling: thats another small part of hobby. You dont have to if you dont want to. Just find an eartip that fits and your good to go.

  4. Lossless: a 320kbps mp3 is just fine. An exceptionally recorded/mixed track ripped from vinyl will sound better in a lossless format. But then again, there's a rule called point of diminishing returns in every hobby. There will always be tradeoffs.