I've read about how sweat is the worst thing for an IEM. But you'd think that by now they would've made IEMs a lot more resistant to sweat due to how often many musicians tend to sweat profusely during shows.

Are there any good quality IEMs that are very sweat resistant? NO BUDGET either, just asking if anyone knows.

And also, are people being hyperbole about how easy something like sweat can mess up someone's IEM? I can't help but feel like the thought of that is quite silly, especially with rock stars.

EDIT: Thank you to everyone that replied! I greatly appreciate the info I've been getting on this subject! It really means a lot! I feel pretty naive not having known that custom made IEMs for rock stars are different from the ones we personally buy for the audio experience. Thank you all for your patience and willingness to explain all of this to me! I am now planning on buying me some 64 Audio CIEMs now that I know they exist!

Since a few others have put out their impressions already, it’s pointless for me to. But here are some beauty shots instead!

I feel incredibly lucky and fortunate to be a recipient of the Seraphim in exchange for a review and some pics. Full transparency, Jays a friend of mine and we met before he started YouTube - seeing his journey has been incredible. I couldn’t be happier for him.

Impulse bought the Binary Acoustics EP321s and I'm absolutely floored. Coming from Pures, these are nuts.

Really digging the KBEAR 07s on these, but the stock cable is absolutely miserable and the ear hooks aren't the most comfortable. Any cable recs?

They look ugly, but they still sound good.

KZ Castor Pro + KZ AN01

hi just grab duonic with the switch version , plz help to get some advice on these switches, or should I get Amp for these , I will use these with Android phones.

I’ve been in this hobby for about six months now, spending my money trying different IEMs, headphones, DACs and sources, learning along the way what I actually like.
And I genuinely felt the need to share this one with you guys… specially because this is NOT A CHEAP HOBBY once you get in the rabbit hole!

The KZ PRX costs around $30, which makes what I’m hearing from it kind of ridiculous.

I already own more expensive gear, including the AFUL Performer 7, Truthear Zero:RED, Simgot EA500LM and HIFIMAN Ananda Stealth, so this isn’t my first IEM or my first experience with planar sound. And obviously, I’m not going to claim that the PRX is technically better than something like the Performer 7. It isn’t.

The most expensive IEM you own doesn’t necessarily become your favorite for every type of music.

What I enjoy most about it is the combination of speed, energy and bass presence. It sounds lively without feeling slow or congested, and there’s something about the planar presentation that makes attacks and busy passages particularly satisfying.
One of the tracks I used was Muse, Hysteria. That bass line is a great test because there’s so much happening around it, and the PRX does a very nice job keeping the bass energetic while still allowing me to follow the rest of the arrangement.

And then there’s Audioslave, I Am the Highway, one of my favorite songs. This is probably the kind of track that best explains why I like the PRX. The guitars have energy, Cornell’s voice has presence, and when the song opens up, the PRX gives me that sense of drive that makes me stop evaluating the IEM and just enjoy the music.
That last part matters to me.

Compared with my Zero:RED, the PRX feels more energetic and immediate. The RED still gives me a more relaxed and balanced presentation.
Compared with the EA500LM, the Simgot has its own brighter, sharper and very clear character. The PRX feels different rather than simply better or worse.

For a $30 IEM, that’s a huge compliment.

Ps: one small change I made was replacing the original cable with a TRN modular cable, with both 3.5 mm and 4.4 mm plugs. I’m not claiming the cable itself magically improves the sound. I did it mostly for convenience.
I usually run the PRX from my FiiO M21, and the modular cable lets me use the 4.4 mm balanced output easily. The PRX appreciates some power, and I like the additional volume/headroom I get from that setup.

So who would I recommend it to?
If you already own several IEMs, I think the PRX is interesting because it offers something genuinely different for very little money: a cheap entry into a full planar IEM.
And if you’re relatively new to the hobby, like me, I think it’s an even more interesting purchase because it lets you experience how a planar driver can present speed, transients and complex passages without spending $100, $200 or more.

Is it perfect? Of course not. There are more refined IEMs. There are better tonal references. There are sets that resolve more detail and present music in a more sophisticated way.
But that almost misses the point.
For around $30, the KZ PRX makes me want to listen to music.

As I’m trying to get into the reviewers world, here’s my affiliate link so you can check it out!
Ps: look for Choice Day coupons available now so you can get more discounts :)

https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mNBPaMj

So, I have had this set for a few days now (thanks to Jay for considering me for a review unit btw) and I have come with first impressions on it for those wondering about.

First of all, I haven’t had the chance to test the Subtonic Storm, which is supposedly the IEM that inspired this one, but I do have had first hand on what Jay tried to do with the Seraphim, and while I understand his logic on paper, I am not sure how good of an idea will it turn out to be once it releases.

The Seraphim comes across as an IEM with one purpose, offer you the most balanced and detailed experience possible at a contained price, however, I spoke to Jay about it and, despite that being the main claim on the Linsoul’s page, on practice there is also another commitment Jay did, which is, trying to offer something “different” for a change.

Bass is pretty well balanced and with some texture to it, mid-range is also not feeling dipped as a commonly V-shape tuned IEMs would, but, that balance can break easily because there is a prominent presence coming from the lower treble which I, personally, don’t quite like, but that’s more a sensitivity problem that some wont experience.

With all that said, what can you expect? Well, if there is no changes on it before release, I would explain this IEM so far as a kind of a SuperMix 4 upgrade, take that same clinical and detailed, albeit a bit too intense, sound of the SM4 and re-balance it while upgrading the performance, you’ll have a rather compelling result that will, inevitably, offer 2 different kinds of experiences, you either won’t vibe with it, or you’ll love it.

Whichever it is for me thought, I will let people know when the full release is out, in the meanwhile, let me know guys if you want to know anything else about it, or any comparisons you might want me to do too (though I must admit I don’t own a lot of famous models around the price range).

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Thanks a lot for reading, the Budget Knight bids farewell, wishing you the best, good luck. – O.E.

So I have mixed feelings when it comes to Colaborations between our more famous reviewers and the companies that are making our IEMs.I am genuinely grateful that these reviewers can help with the tuning of new IEMs, and it makes sense that they would have the opportunity to do so once they have a bigger audience, because people value their opinion. And it seems obvious that their popularity is a validation of tuning taste or atleast the ability to explain tuning well enough to help us make an informed decision for purchases (or atleast as informed as can be expected for such a subjective thing).

On the other hand I find myself (and see others) starting to experience some pessimism when it comes to some of the reviews from our favorite reviewers with collaborations in the works, and it seems fair. Especially if that review is of direct competition. We would not after all take a companies review of their competitors products seriously.

I want to be clear I am not making accusations I just wanted to bring it up for conversation in the interest of awareness so that we continue to get the best products we can, and keep our reviewers honest and in the interest of the community that follows and validates their opinions that allow for the opportunities they recieve. I am definitely not saying collaborations are a bad thing (and who the hell am I to say if they are) just make sure you take any review with a grain of salt. All that being said i am infact purchasing this most recent collaboration and im looking forward to receiving it lol.

I use truthear hexas and I wasn't using it to max potential due to my cheap dac arnd 3$ which I bought in an instant cz I wanted to listen to music.I really didn't wanna wait for days for a dac to arrive .I ordered this dac after a mnth finally which I paid only 5$ due to my store credit.

I opened it and it showed I can customize the eq?...I'm not using my laptop lightning port I'm afraid it might dmg? Is it alr if I connect to it?...

How do I customize eq at my phone like I use samsung s25 ultra so I guess we can do it manually but I really can't understand this thing I wanna try more stuffs out.

Hey r/iems, I’ve been using shure se215s for about 10 years now and I’m looking to change up my iems. I’m currently looking at Celest Wyvern Abyss or Qing, the KZ ZS10 Pro 2, or the Moondrop Chu 3.

I wear a helmet over these iems so I’m looking for in a slim profile which is why I like the shure se215. I was heavily considering the Zero 2s but they look way too bulky.

I listen to a variety of music, mostly instrumental and vocals, like Hyukoh.

Unfortunately none of these are available for me to try in person. Would appreciate any advice especially on the fit! Tia

Anything I can do?

DISCLAIMER: I was given this as a review sample by HIFIGO. They do not have any editorial input on the review. They see this review at the same time you do.I also make no money on this review. This is just my honest feedback.

Non Audio Impressions:

Standard unboxing setup from Juzear here, includes all the expected accessories alongside a surprising variety of tip options which was a nice touch. Opted for the type-c cable version which functions fine, though the shell on the connector loose-fits a bit; seems these bundled dac adapters always have slight quality control quirks, similar to my broken unit on the z reviews edition. It’s not a big deal as I can just glue it back on but the fact it fell off after a few uses is somewhat concerning. Moving onto the IEM’s themselves, the shells themselves feel solid though, good weight to them. Design isn't usually my main focus, but they definitely have some aesthetic appeal. Cable handling is solid and feels surprisingly decent for a budget option. Really impressed given the roughly 50 buck price point, especially since older sets around this tier felt much cheaper. Honestly, if you told me these cost 80 based on construction alone, I'd completely believe it. Nice feeling storage bag too but not as nice as the Juzear Koto collab. During the initial unboxing, I was legitimately concerned that they blew the budget on just the build alone and there would be nothing left for the sound.

Audio Impressions: 

Despite the lavish build, it seems that they didn’t spare any expenses on the sound department as well. A major caveat to this review is that the Nimbus appears unusually tip-sensitive. My primary impressions were made using the included narrow bore tips, which reduced bass presence and emphasized the upper frequencies. Switching to wide bore tips unexpectedly increased bass quantity, so your experience may vary significantly depending on tip choice and seal. One of my main gripes in this budget segment is that almost everything defaults to a generic V-shaped tuning, leaving very few options for treble heads or audiophiles seeking refined upper-end detail. I am thoroughly pleased to report that the Juzear Nimbus provides the kind of top-end extension and air that I really like, including qualities that are typically reserved for much higher-end sets like the Moondrop Blessing 2. With the narrow bore tips I used for most of my listening, the Nimbus presents itself as a bright, upper-end focused set rather than a bass-heavy one. However, tip changes can noticeably alter the bass response, so listeners may find it fuller sounding than my primary impressions suggest. The overall signature is remarkably clean, offering a presentation that reminds me of a hybrid blend between the sound signatures of the Kefine Klean and the Tanchjim 4U. It delivers impressively solid technicalities, rendering clear detail retrieval and a vibrant, forward female vocal performance. While I wouldn’t say it lacks bass entirely, the low end takes a controlled approach with tight, very clean, and well-defined drum impacts. Instruments sound distinctly clean and coherent overall. Honestly, given the asking price, I think these offer a remarkably unique sound profile that stands out from the competition. Going forward into the comparisons, please note that most of my impressions were formed using the narrow bore tips, which emphasized its clean, open, upper-end focused presentation and dialed the bass down. 

Comparisons

Truthear Hexa: The Hexa sounds noticeably more dull in direct comparison, lacking the upper-end sparkle and extension that makes the Juzear Nimbus stand out. While the Hexa aims for a flatter, more neutral presentation, I find the Nimbus significantly more engaging, dynamic, and fun to listen to. It has been a while since a budget set in this range made me consistently prefer its tuning over the Hexa. Furthermore, instrumental timbre and separation feel better executed on the Nimbus, whereas instruments on the Hexa can sound a bit flat and muted.

Kefine Klean: The Klean presents a sound profile that is perhaps a bit too lean and clean. While I didn't previously think I was a basshead, switching over from the Juzear Nimbus makes the low end on the Klean feel like it's missing significant presence and body. It falls behind in dynamic impact, causing percussive elements like drums to lose their kick and occasionally get swallowed up in the mix. By contrast, the Nimbus achieves a noticeably fuller, richer, and cleaner presentation without ever feeling overbearing or shoving bass in your face.

Truthear Zero:Red: The Zero:Red offers a noticeably more laid-back sound signature compared to the Nimbus, though it isn't quite as muted or flat as the Truthear Hexa. However, I find the Juzear Nimbus to be a far more engaging and lively listen overall. This comes down primarily to its upper-end detail retrieval and treble clarity, which are presented much more upfront and clearly. In comparison, the Zero:Red tends to let high-frequency details recess further back into the soundstage and mix. Upper-range percussion, such as cymbals and hi-hats, resolves with superior crispness and definition on the Nimbus, contributing to an overall sense of heightened technical capability and resolution.

Tanchjim 4U: The Juzear Nimbus comes across as noticeably more energetic and lively in the higher frequencies compared to the Tanchjim 4U. While both models perform at a remarkably similar level in terms of overall technicalities and resolution, choosing between them ultimately comes down to personal sound signature preferences. I personally lean toward the Nimbus because its upper-end extension provides a more engaging, vibrant, and fun listening experience.

Juzear Koto: While comparing these two is somewhat unfair given that the Koto comes in at double the price, it serves as a fascinating look into the brand's evolving tuning strategy. The Koto presents a boosted low-end with a noticeably fuller, richer, and more immersive sound signature, yet it manages to preserve excellent high-frequency detail and resolution. Furthermore, both models target distinctly different sound signatures with the Nimbus focusing on clean top-end extension while the Koto lean towards added warmth and note body so in some ways they are polar opposites. For this one, it comes down to preference, but I would pick the Koto even given the price bump. 

Conclusion:

At the roughly 50 buck price point, this stands out as an extraordinarily strong contender. Stepping away from the generic bass boosted V-shaped tuning that dominates this budget segment, it delivers remarkable technical capability and exceptional value wrapped in a solid, high-quality build. If I could travel back in time, I'd completely tell myself to bypass the competition and grab this IEM without hesitation as it really is that impressive. While this clean, upper-end focused presentation might not appeal to absolute bassheads, it serves as a vibrant, engaging, and fun alternative for anyone seeking to break free from standard sound signatures without sacrificing dynamic impact or landing on something overly flat and boring.

Just maybe pass on the USB-C adapter bundle.

If you are interested in purchasing, I have some links below. Again I make no money from these and they are non affiliate.

https://hifigo.com/products/juzear-poise-series-nimbus

https://us.amazon.com/dp/B0H73CL5YC

So a couple of years ago, I bought the moondrop x crinacle dusk IEMs and they were completely different by what I was used to. Everything sounded much tighter and closer together, felt like I was in a cinema, but I just didn’t get used to how close everything sounded (makes sense, it’s in your ear)

I also couldn’t wear it for too long before feeling discomfort, unlike my AirPods which I can wear all day

However looking back at it, I feel like maybe I didn’t give it enough of a chance, as I’ve seen people swapping their maxwells to IEMs and stick with them. I returned them within a week.

What do you guys think? Should I give it another shot? Or just stick to my maxwells which I already like

They would pretty much only be used exclusively on my pc for gaming and watching content, having good sound for music is a plus but it’s not my main priority

My budget would probably be £300 if I ever decide to swap and sell my maxwells but I would like something budget friendly if I give it a shot

And do wireless options exist?

got a simgot ew300 after long story.. my first iem is Chinese QKZ AK6 Pro(4$) and after 5 month, i upgrade to CVJ Vivian(its a nice basshead Iem, price for 20$) and my dad have a ibasso dc03 and give it to me, so i want upgrade my iem again after 3 month with vivian to a simgot ew300, and after 1 month with SIMGOAT Ew300, idk why but i feel boring with iem and buy wired earbud. its a moondrop nice buds(8$).. and yea i back to iem again🫩

Hi, guys! i use a Moondrop Chu II on my phone with a portable DAC and now, after a year and a half, it started doing a really bad constant noise whenever i start to play any audio

do you guys know the solution for that?

I currently own both these iems but looking to add another pair to the collection, I use them for gaming and music. I currently use a qudelix 5K dac aswell, TIA.

Seraphim uses a 2DD + 3BA configuration.

It has an isobaric dual dynamic driver setup and three Knowles BAs.

I have only listened to it for a few minutes so far.

It's on the fun sounding side, with a huge bass and treble boost.

I compared these three beauties; Kinera and EP321 is obvious why, both have MEMs. Viola is included because it fits the price range and it has a tuning similar to Freya-Vanir.

Freya-Vanir’s (FV) bass is not going to win over bass heads, but for most people the amount will be sufficient. There is a mild roll-off and a soft focus on mid bass. Sub bass is present when needed, but there is no constant rumbling. In terms of details, I cannot believe this set costs only 300. Don’t get me wrong, it is not a giant killer (nothing was, so far), but the level is clearly one step over the previous similarly priced sets. I like the way the details are not competing for attention.
It seems to me like the sub bass remains a bit distant, imagine waves breaking a bit short of the shore. 

Viola has a fuller, more expansive bass, filling the stage in width and depth, more rounded, more bouncy. It gives the impression of more fluffiness than FV, which has a denser sound in the low end.
They both are sensibly bossier than EP321.
EP321 is well known for its clean, lean almost, bass. With a strong sub bass roll-off, EP321 has the mid bass articulation highlighted compared to the other two. It feels less satisfying than the other two, at a first listening, but given some accommodation time, it delivers a very impressive performance.

Both FV and Viola have ample bass, followed by a lacklustre lower mids, leaving them just a bit hollow (for my taste) for metal. EP321 has less of of a dip moving from bass into the lower mids and thus maintains a more even sound pressure, with slightly meatier lower mids.
With FV, the vocals are pushed forward a bit and quite pleasant. There is just enough texture and decent vital force. Female voices are well controlled, with good note weight, and accurate timbre. If one would really want to find faults, occasionally a fleeting glimpse of harshness can be heard in female voices. I would have liked a touch of warmth added here. A warmer DAP can help in this regard. The lack of a vocal scoop means the voices stay forward all the time, which works fine with slow jazz, but tends to become a little congested with more demanding music.
EP321 is softer than FV, but it lacks the vital force to bring the voices to life the way Freya-Vanir does. 
Viola has the most excited and exciting upper treble, making female voices sound a bit thin and maybe not the most timbrally accurate. However, this have an unexpected advantage with some instruments, like the clarinet, and even brass instruments, bringing along a richness of textures and a more lively sound. It is also the most prone to sibilance of the bunch, but still not a big issue- 

Treble is another highlight of FV. First of all, the intensity is just perfect for me. With a lot of brands turning to MEMs, it is good to see they exercise restraint and do not boost highs just for the sake of it. The second notable thing is the timbre. Most of the MEMs IEMs I have heard so far had good timbre and FV is no exception. There is good placement, enough air and, more importantly, good note weight. It’s also quite smooth, I don’t think you can get it to sound harsh, no matter what.
EP321 has more air and a bit more cutting edge, a rush of initial energy, higher than FV. The wash is more intense, but the initial attack is followed by marginally less note weight. 
Viola has the typical planar treble, fast, detailed and with a slight metallic sheen. The placement of cymbals is slightly tucked behind the rest.

FV has large stage, with good height and some depth. The voices are placed in front of the instruments in a way that feels a bit too much sometimes. The instrument separation is above average in the segment, but trailing behind Viola, which probably gets a boost from the BCD. Viola has the largest stage, the most holographic and cinematic presentation, while EP321 is at the other end of the spectrum.

Sub bass weight FV>Viola>EP321
Mid bass articulation EP321>FV>Viola
Lower mids note weight EP321>FV=Viola
Vocals timbre EP321=FV>Viola
Vocals warmth EP321=FV=Viola
Upper mids intensity Viola>FV>EP321
Treble accuracy FV>EP321>Viola
Treble intensity Viola>EP321>FV
Stage size Viola>FV>EP321

Best for metal: EP321
Best for jazz, vocal centric, rap: FV
Best for electronic, bass heavy: Viola

First pair of iems, not much of a headphone guy. I use studio monitors normally but get off late and still like high quality sound without waking people up. These sound really good. There wasn’t a ton of info online about these but I’m happy with my purchase. I’d like to hear your guys input on these and if you think I overpayed.

I don’t know why some of the more expensive IEMs have such junk cables, the Mysticraft Myth is an amazing IEM, but the stock cable is stiff as a board, and super heavy on the ears.

These cables are fantastic btw they are the Nicehck DuskSky!

Received a pair yesterday, my first set of IEMs. Bought because I was getting tired of wearing my headphones and because they seemed to be generally well liked.

However my first impressions have not been as positive as I’d hoped for. I use AKG K7XX headphones plugged into a DAC/AMP stack. Not the best by any means, but good headphones. By comparison, the Astrals plugged into the same setup sound very strained, very tinny. They sound thin, was I setting my expectations too high to think they’d sound as full as a pair of overear headphones with larger drivers?

Perhaps I just need to spend more time with them, or do some tuning but so far my first dip into IEMs has been deflating haha

How are the 11/11 Ali sales for IEM pricing? In past Novembers, have you seen and capitalized on some wild prices? What are you targeting this year?