One thing people don't understand is that something can be relatively overpriced but still good value to you. I was at a group headphone meet where I bought a Susvara after trying headphones costing 5 to 6 times less than it. Why? Because I'm an orchestra violinist. I know from experience that many factors go into the production of the violin note. The Pattern, the Arching, the choice of Wood, the Woodworking, the Varnish, and any final adjustments. The trick to understand is *that all of those factors play the same note* , but the presentation of the note is only accurate if *all of those factors are articulated simultaneously* . All well-tuned headphones will play the note, but the Susvara was the only headphone that replicated the reproduction of that note with all of the factors that change the surface effect and geometric spreading of sound waves. There are a lot more for a violin and all instruments have their factors, all of which get compounded on top of each other. So 1000's of acoustic factors need to be accounted for a song to sound real to a trained ear. *Something can only be overpriced if what it can accomplish can be one for less money. The fact is all headphones in the $1k to $2k range couldn't be for *my requirements* , ergo my enjoyment of the Susvara was infinitely more than those headphones, so the price only being a factor of what I could afford. I would be wasting my money paying anything that wasn't the Susvara or equivalent. Was the difference between them huge? Absolutely not. Is the Susvara overpriced relatively speaking? No question. But think about it this way. If 20 factors went into how well something was reproduced, the ayra would be a 9.5, and the susvara would be a 10. But that's 20 9.5's compared to 20 10's. All those 0.5's added together is what makes the difference for me between an instrument sounding real or not, and there are far me than 20 factors that are present in a song. The Ayra, LCD X, focal clear, hd 800s couldn't replicate *all* those factors, the Susvara did. If you wanted something to be worth its price in an absolute sense, anything that isn't free air fight buds would be *objectively overpriced* . Thats That argument is irrefutable no matter what.
Whoa surface factor, geometric spreading of waves😲 The susvara should come with some certificate that states it's the only headphone that can accurately reproduce violin sounds so people don't miss it Ps what track did you hear these wonderful things on?
@@timpecker2527 np, just tell me some records you've been listening on those. Production is equally if not more important than the replay so I'm curious to know what sounds good on those according to a pro musician.
Personally, I jumped from cheap to mid tier iem's like the Hexa, OH10's, and Kato's and went straight to a pair of Thieaudio Monarch Mk3's. I figured the amount of time and money I spent searching and chasing my perfect sound, I might as well go all out and pick up a pair of iem's which are pretty much end game and hard to beat...
Pretty much what I've done. With how expensive the hobby could be, I feel that having a small number of IEMs (including one "end-game") and many different tips and cables will give me more than I could ever realistically need.
I think you should do a video on the hype 4 vs Monarch mk3 where average person blind test both to see which one they like (and to see if they hear a sound improvement). My theory is that most people can't discern higher audio quality from the mk3 over the hype 4. Or when going from the best under 500 to 1000 and over This is will be powerful video in convincing many that they don't need to spend a lot money to have 100% satisfaction
I have Hype 4 and the difference that's noticeable when compared to Monarch mk3 is the extended treble and more articulation especially on busier tracks where there are many instruments playing like orchestral tracks with the mk3 there's clearly separation you can distinguish between many instruments while on the Hype 4 it is clear but some instruments just get mixed together but for the average person the Hype 4 would be more than enough but for an audio nerdist who wants the best detail retrieval of course the mk3 is worth the money I'm getting empire ears raven soon
Another great video. What many don't understand with diminishing returns is what 10% actually means to some people. I own the hype 4 (thanks for the only good review on the iem so far jayy, i really needed it when deciding) and the gap between this and my already very lifelike phoenixcall was extremely noticeable. Now if you were to ask me if i would spend another $600-1100 to get the monarch mk3 or crimson, absolutely. This hobby is something i really enjoy and music is my only practical source of entertainment when im on the bus rides and walking around my campus in between classes. I had my mom A/B test the phoenixcall and hype 4, she's a complete novice when it comes to audio but she likened the hype 4 to a live orchestra and said the phoenixcall sounded cheap in comparison. My point being that 10% is the difference between an iem that sounds great, and an iem that sounds lifelike, and possibly more than lifelike as you go up into the $1000 territory. If you could see 90% of the mona lisa but those smaller details, that 10% is missing it would be no different from any other painting. The difference between my cheaper sets and my hype 4 is that my hype 4 truly takes me to a different space entirely and it's like im experiencing the sound in person in an entirely different room from the one im in. I was the biggest skeptic before but now i truly believe this is better value than going through chifi hell in the $100-200 range.
@@prince5922 enjoy brother hahahaha I don't strictly endorse the hype 4 but it is an amazing set, consider other options in the price range, the technicalities are just great enough to set the experience apart from just experiencing good sound.
I have Hype 4 um mest mk2 and when i listened to the sony ier z1r which surprisingly fits snug in my ear so there's good seal it sounds peaky in the upper treble though the bass decay is slow which i love but overall the Hype 4 sounded more natural with the proper dap like the sony Walkman the decay can reach the level of the Z1R and sounds even better than the Z1R to me yes even sony own dap and sony iem
Oh my god im so glad i found this comment!!! I also have the phoenixcall myself and its so hard to find comparisons online for them. Like you, i was also looking to upgrade and have the hype 4 as my endgame iem but was SO confused from so many mixed reviews. I'm also gonna use them for bus/train rides and for listening during studying on campus aswell😂 so many similarities its actually got me shocked. I think ill definitely go through with it now.
@@saqivmalik-pf6kr you should definitely go for it. I still think it's the best all rounder with the nicest tech. I have tried some of the similarly priced iems like the pilgrim, symphonium meteor and mega5est. Even some cheaper ones like the hisenior Okavango, audio sense dt600, seeaudio yume. My friend is currently saving for an upgrade from his olina and is eyeing the thieaudio oracle mk3. After having much more experience now, I'm happy to say I have not moved away from my hype 4, similarly priced iems just don't reproduce the bass as cleanly or organically. Even my friend who attended an entire audio meetup, is an avid vocal lover, and treblehead says that the hype 4 may have changed his mind on what tuning he actually desires for his endgame. The hype 4 is so fun yet so technically competent and clear at the same time. You should definitely consider other iems like the mega5est(if similarly priced, slightly better treble and clearer but wayyyyyyy less bass tactility) and xenns top(honestly so close it's crazy but it costs more so only go for it if similarly priced.) Don't worry too much or freeze up because of all the new iems at the 400$ range like the estrella or arete, pilgrim or even the Dita project M because quite frankly the difference is still very much apparent. I don't think tech has really progressed much from when the hype 4 was released to be worried about missing out.
The iceberg of acoustic principles is exactly that. If you see only the top, then you're never going to understand why someone would pay more for a product that "reproduces" the same note. There are 100's of factors that go into how a song sounds. It's the relative completeness that some people require from their music. This doesn't mean lesser headphones can't reproduce the song. A hd600 will do it wonderfully, but not completely. No headphone can, but for some that threshold is high because they are trained to hear it. Its simply a waste of money if you pay for a product that doesn't do what you want regardless of its objective value proposition. The best objective value proposition is to have no headphones at all, or ones you get for free on flights sometimes. That the only objective argument that can be made, everything else is based on enjoyment.
I've heard subtonic storm . Definitely better than 100% to me. Far more technical than U12T, resolving capability is really up there with speaker-like experience with top tier detail, resolution, staging, imaging and timbre quality.
Nice review really well explained - so if I understood correctly the best price to % ratio would be the simgot 500LM. After that the law of diminishing returns starts kicking in gradually and increasing exponentially as price goes higher. Im just speaking from a casual listener viewpoint of course - people who are musicians will have different priorities to mine and that is understandable.
Sorry to tell you jay, but it keeps going beyond the u12t in terms of technical reach. Stuff like the subtomic storm and KSE1200 are quite noticeably more detailed than it. I would say the u12t and cadenza are about 92 to 94%. There are still improvements to be had.
Hey Jay, thanks for the words of wisdom! Another important factor though is personnal to each of us and it is the iem cost as percentage of our disposable income.
Diminishing returns ultimately don't work because the outcome is subjective no matter what. If you paid $X to see 80% of a painting but paid 5x times that to see 95%, though Diminishing returns did occur, if you only enjoy the painting BECAUSE its 95% viewable, then its simply irrelevant that it cost that much more. Its the fact you can pay NO LESS to get that experiences is what matters. It doesn't matter how good value something is as a percentile if it doesn't reach YOUR threshold to be able to enjoy it, then its no value to you.
Diminishing returns aren’t an absolute measurement, it is a relative one. Jay isn’t claiming his guide is what you should follow, only that it represents his individual experience. The law of diminishing returns will still apply to you; it’s inescapable. If you subjectively “deny” it has an impact, you’re only asserting that you lack discernment and/or the ability to properly measure performance, even as it relates to your own tastes. So yes, it does work; where it begins to affect you on an individual level, however, is for you to decide. In other words, subjectivity has absolutely zero impact on whether or not there is an outcome; the variable in the equation is you and your personal tastes, but diminishing returns will impact you no matter how defiantly you fight against it.
@jayyaudio I think it is. Detail really just is the ability for the driver to pick up smaller and smaller amplitude changes of under and overtones. If the driver can't stop before the amplitude charges, then it smears the two, and you no longer get any change. That is, in effect, losing information, much like the painting.
@@Silverjerk the only thing that matters is if that experience can be required for less, which is its absolute value. But what the experience is determines how much you pay, not its relative value. Never its relative value, which is what diminishing returns provide.
Asked for a hot take and seems like I got one! I f I had to answer to someone who I don't have any info about, I think I would provide an answer you gave. Then again, it is not an easy matter as once one can describe the specific need that can provide satisfaction, the boundaries starts to wobble a bit. Usually I tend to advice the curious newcomers to get one that the person can live with within a reasonable budget and keep on trying to find expressions for explaining personal need as well as trying various stuff and keep on logging if possible. If one can live with 60/100, there is no need to feel nervous about anything. If not, it is not a bad thing to spend some more, with concrete reasons not impulse.
I've had the Monarch 2, u12t and the Mest 2 and the Monarch 2 were as resolving as the u12t where the Mest 2 were slightly below. So the Monarch 2 are probably one of the best iems in terms of the price to performance ratio.
Most people rate them the opposite. They think the u12t is the most resolving, then the mest, then the mk2. But the mk2 is is by far the best tuned so maybe that's more noticeable to you than the ability to hear the micro gradation in volume.
@@daviddier9865 there is no way the Mest is as resolving as the Monarch Mk2. I've had them both and compared them intensively and the Monarch 2 was more detailed and textured in the midrange and similarly detailed in the upper trebles.
I got my S12 last year and it is still blowing me away, hopefully something cool comes out this year in the sub $500 bracket that can be a worthwhile upgrade for it :)
Similar situation here. I got my S12Pro in April and they should PHENOMENAL to me!!! But I want to know if the Hype 4 at $400 would a substantial upgrade. I THINK so but haven't got confirmation yet.
I'm really hoping to test the hype 4 out at a store near my job once they have a demo unit available. It sounds like it's exactly what I've been looking for lately and if I can find a demo of the ea500lm I might try those out too.
That's very helpful, i have no haste, i like to see new IEMs coming out. I will eventually settle for the 350-400 endgame in future, especially during sales.
@@tednicholson9225 True, there's always something more "endgame", but that's the maximum budget i can allocate, so I'm trying to find a good compromise lol
@@jayyaudio If i may ask, I got the kiwi melody and i love this iem. I would like to buy a differently tuned iem in the same price bracket to see what's out there...what would you recommend?
Jay I really like this kind of format you are doing... I have limited funds but like everyone else in the hobby I would love to have the best sound I can so knowing diminishing returns is very helpful. It means a lot to me know that I can spend $80 and get what is closer to a $200 iem for example. I hope that you might end up reviewing the pula pa02, seems interesting but I was planning to probably get the ea1000 then those and the LMs dropped and I don't know which is more bang for buck
I have a UM MEST Mk2 and Sony IER Z1R and my EQ'd Audeze LCDi3 but I have tried some midrange sub $500 IEM the Thieaudio Hype 4 and I was surprised the sound quality is very very close to the UM mest mk2 but minus the extra air of the EST drivers and a bit smaller soundstage I would say these midrange IEMs just keep getting better like they are using better drivers compared to a couple of years ago. The resolution is very near to the TOTL IEMs in fact I think it's equal and what the TOTL IEMs does better is detail retrieval and better layering especially on busier songs with lots of instruments playing at once
Awesome video ⭐⭐⭐ Almost no one talks about this. What about DACs and Amplifiers? Don't you need a $1000 streamer + $1000 DAC + $1000 Pre Amp + $1000 Amp to make these IEMs sound their full potential? There's a video on the headphone show where the guy tries the Zero Red on a $3500 DAP and the sound just comes alive.
@@jayyaudio yes but don't you need a DAC and AMP? Cause I have seen genuine reviewers saying that a DAC makes a difference. Just plugging into your laptop isn't enough. Even the cheap Ifi Go link is better than the inbuilt DAC of a Macbook pro.
@@chinmayrasam you do need one.. However never go beyond 100$ for a dac-amp... Or 8-9k if you're an Indian. There are plenty of options. Just pick one at random. Job done. Atleast when it comes to iems.
I still think there are so many good affordable IEMs right now, it is hard to justify the more expensive gear. I still think the $80 bracket has some bangers Kailua, EA500, Olina SE. I am curious to hear the EA500LM. The only IEMs I own over $100 are the S12, OG Timeless, OG Tea, and Tea 2. I haven't seen much that makes me want to jump up in price.
Good video! I wish it was easier to demo sets that would have saved me some cash. I have the performer 8 and it is endgame for me. I don't see myself ever needing better but I'm always tempted by the hype. This channel does a great job at cutting through the hype and giving honest takes.
Love my supermix 4 and have no desire to upgrade at this point. Only way im buying another set is if there comes along something that sound identical to the orchestra lites but vented. I love the orchestra lites a lot but the non venting is a deal breaker for me.
Hey bro! Great job you doing condensing all this info 💪🏼😉 I’m new in all this hifi world, recently got the Zero 2 and was wondering your idea on which could be a good next step in terms of both quality and better sound?
Enjoying the vids! I have a question. I got the 500LM and have been eyeing the hype 4. What would be the biggest differences that makes the hype 4 sound better, if the techs are almost as good (6:54)? Soundstage, for example?
GREAT review Jay 👍.Im goint to buy LM and wait a few months if there ll be some price- performance contender to Hype 4 although i m very curious to listen to it when you said : smoth and good technicalities..My instinct says they will upgrade EM6L 😉 and the new Dusk is on the way..I think is risky spend too much money in the iem market when it's evolving so fast (new Sonion drivers and new 64 audio tunning modules { by Hisenior} and etc..So keep calm and stay tuned guys!
My take is my 100$ sets sound like my 500$ sets eqd to the same target. I don't really compare side by side, but I don't think there's much point if you're just listening to music. Just get a smooth FR with nice treble extension, eq what you don't like and you can quit. Remembe: technicalities don't exist😌
I think in some ways it’s also about a different experience. I love my u12t, but I also got the og ej07 and RSV and those two sets feel more immersive and musical than the u12t. I even enjoy my EA1000 just as much as the u12t (that bass texture is just too good). As boring as it sounds, it’s probably not about maximizing, than to you just find a set that you enjoy. I’m still buying shit though, it’s addicting.
great video, now what about dac ? how much extra prercents do we get from going from laptop/phone internal dac to the $10 apple dongle and then to $50 dawn pro and then to $700 mojo2 ? where is the sweet spot in diminishing return curve for dac (or more interesting for the total combo price iem+dac) ? my bet is $10 ;)
If just for music, would you take the EA500LM over the EM6L? Slightly lower pricer too which is enticing...care about vocals and soundstage the most, i think.
Very interesting Any # you'd put on CCA Rhapsody / TRN Conch / kZ PR2 black mesh? (My) Team Low Budget is going to stop @LM but I'll have to wait... also curious if you will / would cover dacs and dongles in this type of value matrix.
This was dope. Is the EA500LM better than the EM6L (or would you recommend the LM over the 6L?) cuz I still wanna get the EM6L one day. I just got the Rhapsody for only $35 the other day and theyre solid. 2DD+4BA
BTW jay do you have any tips for comfortabiliy for the melody i feel pain and discomfort in my earcanal after few hours of wearing even with aftermarket tips
They sound different/sidegrade to each other, if you don’t already have a Harman/DF set then getting both would be good since you can use the Nova as reference
Hey there Jay! I wanted to ask to what decibel levels you relate when talking about high volume or normal volume listening levels? Thank you very much in advance!
@@jayyaudio based, iem was overhyped as hell and bad value even for its time imo. I love Timmy and the videos he makes but I'm gonna hate on him just this once.
sorry if you've addressed this / I'm sure you've been asked many times before... basically I have limited funds to spend on IEMs. I have a pair of Apple APP2 which I love. There is much debate on how much you need to start to spend on wired IEMs to beat them (the Headphone show panel famously saying $150 range but that's a bit dated now). If you were to chime in with your 2 cents, what specific IEM / general price bracket would you say would be the next (noticeable) step from APP2 I were to buy a wired IEM? Thank you!! Enjoying your videos :)
How do you compare 500LM to the Performer5 (i have a 2nd hand deal for it at 130euros) ? They are both going for a warm presentation and I loved the P5 for its fun bass tuning despite its congested treble.
What would you choose between artti t10 and ea500lm? Already have olina se and t10 and wondering if it's worth upgrading to ea500lm. I mainly listen to jpop
I'm broke af rn and I found this crazy deal online where I can either get the Zero:2 for $12 or the EW200 for $25. I'm still debating whether the difference is enough to get the EW200 and if it's even worth it. Though, I'm not really into bright sounding sets and I'm worried the EW200 might end up being too bright for me. I have the OG 7hz Zero and I think its a bit sibilant for me.
@@jayyaudio is there any sibilance in the ew200? I'm not that good at reading graphs but I can see large peaks starting at 11k hz. Which Is a problem I had with the og 7hz zero
Does the Xenns Up still touch the under $1k 5 to 7%? I got an Up recently for 325 and I'm thinking of maybe selling em for a top to be opposite of my Variations or just a Hype 4
Is there any major difference in sound profile and technicalities between ThieAudio Hype 4 and Hype 10? Can Hype 4 be a good Endgame IEM for someone who likes QKZ X HBB sound profile?
That's a hard topic. When I seen sonium drivers and other brands that has prices that goes from 8 dollars to 250 dollars per unit. So if I place 1 good dd that costs 100 dollars plus 6 ba that costs 150 dollars each. 1000 dollars price. Then the shell. Staff and roi of 70%. I would charge 3000 dollars. Even if the tuning is not what I want. The driver still good. Good drivers can run 5mw power without issues. A 4 dollars driver at high volumes spits distortion like a xr2 iem. Terrible. Even in cheap driver when you eq them. They sound terrible .
@Daniel-lq5qq you mean iem? The ones that costs above 1000 dollars. Depends how many drivers . 64 audio has expensive drivers . Diva too. So many brands. The ones that cost 1000 dollars don't sat what model driver has.
@Daniel-lq5qq the hype 2 uses 2 double ba Sonion 2356 that costs 20 dollars. The E25ST001/D dd dont know the price but I guess 15dollars each. And the super tweeter. I need to ask the price. But I guess same price .
The highest quality earbuds ive ever been able to listen to (because i own them) are airpod pros, so clearly im pretty new to this whole space, and right now the only iems i own are the tangzu wan er. If i was to jump up to the below 150 range would I notice much of a difference? Ive been thinking about getting the fiio fh3's
I never said it was meh, I said the tech was one of the best and the vocals were wonky and hollow. I didn’t like the tuning, and this video is about technical performance and not tonality
Any recommendation for an IEM i can just plug in a xbox controller and phone and expect little or no buzzing noise or are there any workarounds? Also like i guess i wouldnt want to spend too much since i dont use any fancy dac or amps?
I am confused. So Tech score and technical score in the chart are different? If they are the same, wouldn't be it better if one would describe resolution only, while second would describe timbre, layering etc.
@@jayyaudio With big respect, I think it would be nice to see simply value bar on the chart as well. Like value for money out of 10 or 5. But that would require update over time for all IEMs.
Hey brother... How big is the difference between the 'quality' of the Falcon Ultra and the Hype 4?? I'm tempted to go for the Hype.. But the price difference is too big.. Opinions?
I am very interested in the Hype 4 which you have rated at 75%. I already have the Timeless OG which you have also rated at 75% (in your spreadsheet). Based on this analysis, I would assume you are saying that Hype 4 would not be worth it for me to upgrade based on the "diminishing returns" since Hype 4 is iterally twice the cost of the Timeless OG right now. Do you agree?
EST drivers make an ENORMOUS difference. The jump between a good IEM without EST's an good IEM with very well implemented EST's is fucking MASSIVE. There are no IEMs below 1000 that use ESTs to significant amount of potential. The best IEMS below 1000 with EST's are the Xenns Up - but they don't use them that well. Listen to the Mest MKII. The Thieaudio Prestige Ltd. This is fantastic EST implementation & the difference is PS3 > PS5 (yes, I'm going up two generations). Spend a a couple of days with an IEM with well implemented EST's and there is NO WAY you are going back. The detail & imaging absolutely destroys anything without. Wait until the first sub 300 EST IEM comes out and there will be an absolute uproar - when they become more affordable, you'll struggle to find an IEM of any significance that doesn't have them. Sorry man, but if you're not bringing this into the equation, you're talking absolute rubbish. Sorry man - I don't mean to be rude, but I can't take you seriously on more expensive IEMs if you're not talking about how big this is.
You can get the same quality treble with a well implemented all BA setup like the Supernova and OH700VB. Most ESTs are poorly implemented and makes no difference, even the Monarch MK2 & MK3. The only standouts are the LTD and MEST in $1K range, and if we’re talking about resolution the EST don’t make a huge difference, they act to smooth out the treble more, so my point still stands with the diminishing returns.
@@jayyaudio sorry man, but that's simply not true. There are many sets with well implemented EST's. I'll agree that they aren't well implemented on the Monarchs, but I feel these pale in comparison overall to the Prestige Ltd. I've tuned soundsystems at some of the best nightclubs in the world & know my way around a studio - I've worked with sound for 30 years & I can tell you that it is the opinion of many of the world's leading producers, engineers & sound techs that EST's are the biggest leap forward with in ear tech in a very long time - both for professional use & enjoyment. You cannot achieve what they can with BA's or anything else. You're entitled to your opinion of course - but this is like saying OLED screens aren't significantly better at handling blacks than LES screens. I appreciate your enthusiasm, but I don't think you have more than a few years experience on a hobbyist level. You mostly talk sense & have a decent grasp of fundamentalsx but you are dead wrong with this.
Your ranking list, and every other audio critics, convinced me that the annihilator is as good as it gets and would be a worthy upgrade from the xenns top. It was immediately obvious that is a complete lie. The annihilator sounds hollow and empty, where as the top has dramatic presence and life. It just seems like a bold faced lie that someone could prefer the annihilator over the top. The central claim is that the annihilator is way more resolving than other iems, which again is simply not true. The "details" are sparse and whispy, entirely fleeting, and if you could pick out something easier, it's entirely because the sound has no body whatsoever. The top is similarly detailed, but much more enjoyable because its presented in an exciting fashion. If you prefer the annihilator in any aspect over the top, you need to have your pulse checked.
@@benstain2674 I don't. But I do believe BA iems sound mid rather then amazing and they have distortion as well as I don't believe crossovers are a good idea
One thing people don't understand is that something can be relatively overpriced but still good value to you.
I was at a group headphone meet where I bought a Susvara after trying headphones costing 5 to 6 times less than it. Why? Because I'm an orchestra violinist. I know from experience that many factors go into the production of the violin note. The Pattern, the Arching, the choice of Wood, the Woodworking, the Varnish, and any final adjustments. The trick to understand is *that all of those factors play the same note* , but the presentation of the note is only accurate if *all of those factors are articulated simultaneously* . All well-tuned headphones will play the note, but the Susvara was the only headphone that replicated the reproduction of that note with all of the factors that change the surface effect and geometric spreading of sound waves. There are a lot more for a violin and all instruments have their factors, all of which get compounded on top of each other. So 1000's of acoustic factors need to be accounted for a song to sound real to a trained ear. *Something can only be overpriced if what it can accomplish can be one for less money. The fact is all headphones in the $1k to $2k range couldn't be for *my requirements* , ergo my enjoyment of the Susvara was infinitely more than those headphones, so the price only being a factor of what I could afford. I would be wasting my money paying anything that wasn't the Susvara or equivalent.
Was the difference between them huge? Absolutely not. Is the Susvara overpriced relatively speaking? No question. But think about it this way. If 20 factors went into how well something was reproduced, the ayra would be a 9.5, and the susvara would be a 10. But that's 20 9.5's compared to 20 10's. All those 0.5's added together is what makes the difference for me between an instrument sounding real or not, and there are far me than 20 factors that are present in a song. The Ayra, LCD X, focal clear, hd 800s couldn't replicate *all* those factors, the Susvara did. If you wanted something to be worth its price in an absolute sense, anything that isn't free air fight buds would be *objectively overpriced* . Thats That argument is irrefutable no matter what.
Great comment, thanks for the insight!
Whoa surface factor, geometric spreading of waves😲
The susvara should come with some certificate that states it's the only headphone that can accurately reproduce violin sounds so people don't miss it
Ps what track did you hear these wonderful things on?
Damn, you can't edit your comment when it's pinned. TH-cam has baked out of their minds.
@@timpecker2527 np, just tell me some records you've been listening on those. Production is equally if not more important than the replay so I'm curious to know what sounds good on those according to a pro musician.
I keep getting notifications for comments I can't view either. There are 3 of them, and I can't see any of them.
Personally, I jumped from cheap to mid tier iem's like the Hexa, OH10's, and Kato's and went straight to a pair of Thieaudio Monarch Mk3's. I figured the amount of time and money I spent searching and chasing my perfect sound, I might as well go all out and pick up a pair of iem's which are pretty much end game and hard to beat...
Pretty much what I've done. With how expensive the hobby could be, I feel that having a small number of IEMs (including one "end-game") and many different tips and cables will give me more than I could ever realistically need.
I think you should do a video on the hype 4 vs Monarch mk3 where average person blind test both to see which one they like (and to see if they hear a sound improvement).
My theory is that most people can't discern higher audio quality from the mk3 over the hype 4. Or when going from the best under 500 to 1000 and over
This is will be powerful video in convincing many that they don't need to spend a lot money to have 100% satisfaction
I have Hype 4 and the difference that's noticeable when compared to Monarch mk3 is the extended treble and more articulation especially on busier tracks where there are many instruments playing like orchestral tracks with the mk3 there's clearly separation you can distinguish between many instruments while on the Hype 4 it is clear but some instruments just get mixed together but for the average person the Hype 4 would be more than enough but for an audio nerdist who wants the best detail retrieval of course the mk3 is worth the money
I'm getting empire ears raven soon
More often than not, it's than 5-10% that is the most noticeable, and makes a world of difference.
Another great video. What many don't understand with diminishing returns is what 10% actually means to some people. I own the hype 4 (thanks for the only good review on the iem so far jayy, i really needed it when deciding) and the gap between this and my already very lifelike phoenixcall was extremely noticeable. Now if you were to ask me if i would spend another $600-1100 to get the monarch mk3 or crimson, absolutely.
This hobby is something i really enjoy and music is my only practical source of entertainment when im on the bus rides and walking around my campus in between classes. I had my mom A/B test the phoenixcall and hype 4, she's a complete novice when it comes to audio but she likened the hype 4 to a live orchestra and said the phoenixcall sounded cheap in comparison.
My point being that 10% is the difference between an iem that sounds great, and an iem that sounds lifelike, and possibly more than lifelike as you go up into the $1000 territory. If you could see 90% of the mona lisa but those smaller details, that 10% is missing it would be no different from any other painting.
The difference between my cheaper sets and my hype 4 is that my hype 4 truly takes me to a different space entirely and it's like im experiencing the sound in person in an entirely different room from the one im in. I was the biggest skeptic before but now i truly believe this is better value than going through chifi hell in the $100-200 range.
I am buying the hype 4 after reading this comment, I hope you don't work for theaudio but you got me sold xD
@@prince5922 enjoy brother hahahaha I don't strictly endorse the hype 4 but it is an amazing set, consider other options in the price range, the technicalities are just great enough to set the experience apart from just experiencing good sound.
I have Hype 4 um mest mk2 and when i listened to the sony ier z1r which surprisingly fits snug in my ear so there's good seal it sounds peaky in the upper treble though the bass decay is slow which i love but overall the Hype 4 sounded more natural with the proper dap like the sony Walkman the decay can reach the level of the Z1R and sounds even better than the Z1R to me yes even sony own dap and sony iem
Oh my god im so glad i found this comment!!! I also have the phoenixcall myself and its so hard to find comparisons online for them. Like you, i was also looking to upgrade and have the hype 4 as my endgame iem but was SO confused from so many mixed reviews. I'm also gonna use them for bus/train rides and for listening during studying on campus aswell😂 so many similarities its actually got me shocked. I think ill definitely go through with it now.
@@saqivmalik-pf6kr you should definitely go for it. I still think it's the best all rounder with the nicest tech. I have tried some of the similarly priced iems like the pilgrim, symphonium meteor and mega5est. Even some cheaper ones like the hisenior Okavango, audio sense dt600, seeaudio yume.
My friend is currently saving for an upgrade from his olina and is eyeing the thieaudio oracle mk3. After having much more experience now, I'm happy to say I have not moved away from my hype 4, similarly priced iems just don't reproduce the bass as cleanly or organically. Even my friend who attended an entire audio meetup, is an avid vocal lover, and treblehead says that the hype 4 may have changed his mind on what tuning he actually desires for his endgame. The hype 4 is so fun yet so technically competent and clear at the same time.
You should definitely consider other iems like the mega5est(if similarly priced, slightly better treble and clearer but wayyyyyyy less bass tactility) and xenns top(honestly so close it's crazy but it costs more so only go for it if similarly priced.)
Don't worry too much or freeze up because of all the new iems at the 400$ range like the estrella or arete, pilgrim or even the Dita project M because quite frankly the difference is still very much apparent. I don't think tech has really progressed much from when the hype 4 was released to be worried about missing out.
The iceberg of acoustic principles is exactly that. If you see only the top, then you're never going to understand why someone would pay more for a product that "reproduces" the same note. There are 100's of factors that go into how a song sounds. It's the relative completeness that some people require from their music. This doesn't mean lesser headphones can't reproduce the song. A hd600 will do it wonderfully, but not completely. No headphone can, but for some that threshold is high because they are trained to hear it. Its simply a waste of money if you pay for a product that doesn't do what you want regardless of its objective value proposition. The best objective value proposition is to have no headphones at all, or ones you get for free on flights sometimes. That the only objective argument that can be made, everything else is based on enjoyment.
I've heard subtonic storm . Definitely better than 100% to me. Far more technical than U12T, resolving capability is really up there with speaker-like experience with top tier detail, resolution, staging, imaging and timbre quality.
Love this format. Do try not to rush through it though :D I feel breathless even just listening to you haha.
Nice review really well explained - so if I understood correctly the best price to % ratio would be the simgot 500LM. After that the law of diminishing returns starts kicking in gradually and increasing exponentially as price goes higher. Im just speaking from a casual listener viewpoint of course - people who are musicians will have different priorities to mine and that is understandable.
Sorry to tell you jay, but it keeps going beyond the u12t in terms of technical reach. Stuff like the subtomic storm and KSE1200 are quite noticeably more detailed than it. I would say the u12t and cadenza are about 92 to 94%. There are still improvements to be had.
Of course, these are just compared to the IEMs I’ve heard, but I’ll be able to hear the Storm soon
Hey Jay, thanks for the words of wisdom! Another important factor though is personnal to each of us and it is the iem cost as percentage of our disposable income.
Diminishing returns ultimately don't work because the outcome is subjective no matter what. If you paid $X to see 80% of a painting but paid 5x times that to see 95%, though Diminishing returns did occur, if you only enjoy the painting BECAUSE its 95% viewable, then its simply irrelevant that it cost that much more. Its the fact you can pay NO LESS to get that experiences is what matters. It doesn't matter how good value something is as a percentile if it doesn't reach YOUR threshold to be able to enjoy it, then its no value to you.
Too much words. ME NO BUY IEM WHEN ME ALREADY HAVE IEM I ENJOY
Not really the same analogy, but I understand where you’re going
Diminishing returns aren’t an absolute measurement, it is a relative one. Jay isn’t claiming his guide is what you should follow, only that it represents his individual experience.
The law of diminishing returns will still apply to you; it’s inescapable. If you subjectively “deny” it has an impact, you’re only asserting that you lack discernment and/or the ability to properly measure performance, even as it relates to your own tastes.
So yes, it does work; where it begins to affect you on an individual level, however, is for you to decide. In other words, subjectivity has absolutely zero impact on whether or not there is an outcome; the variable in the equation is you and your personal tastes, but diminishing returns will impact you no matter how defiantly you fight against it.
@jayyaudio I think it is. Detail really just is the ability for the driver to pick up smaller and smaller amplitude changes of under and overtones. If the driver can't stop before the amplitude charges, then it smears the two, and you no longer get any change. That is, in effect, losing information, much like the painting.
@@Silverjerk the only thing that matters is if that experience can be required for less, which is its absolute value. But what the experience is determines how much you pay, not its relative value. Never its relative value, which is what diminishing returns provide.
I was waiting for this! I also want to add that tips do make the difference sometimes. I only use dunu s&s lately. This is the tip to beat!
Asked for a hot take and seems like I got one! I f I had to answer to someone who I don't have any info about, I think I would provide an answer you gave. Then again, it is not an easy matter as once one can describe the specific need that can provide satisfaction, the boundaries starts to wobble a bit. Usually I tend to advice the curious newcomers to get one that the person can live with within a reasonable budget and keep on trying to find expressions for explaining personal need as well as trying various stuff and keep on logging if possible. If one can live with 60/100, there is no need to feel nervous about anything. If not, it is not a bad thing to spend some more, with concrete reasons not impulse.
This is some great content , love the idea and the execution .
Thank you man
I've been waiting eons for someone to do a video like this. Much props.👊👍
Please don't ever stop making content Jay, you are rare gem.
thank you!
Lots of numbers and tricky calculations in this video. Impressive 😬
Lol just estimations haha
Yep I agree. Like everything in life , if you say double does not mean you get twice the value. Agreed
I've had the Monarch 2, u12t and the Mest 2 and the Monarch 2 were as resolving as the u12t where the Mest 2 were slightly below. So the Monarch 2 are probably one of the best iems in terms of the price to performance ratio.
Most people rate them the opposite. They think the u12t is the most resolving, then the mest, then the mk2. But the mk2 is is by far the best tuned so maybe that's more noticeable to you than the ability to hear the micro gradation in volume.
@@daviddier9865 there is no way the Mest is as resolving as the Monarch Mk2. I've had them both and compared them intensively and the Monarch 2 was more detailed and textured in the midrange and similarly detailed in the upper trebles.
@@karolkedzierski5824 the mkII has the best tuned midrange of any iems currently available. I think that's a contributing factor.
I got my S12 last year and it is still blowing me away, hopefully something cool comes out this year in the sub $500 bracket that can be a worthwhile upgrade for it :)
Similar situation here. I got my S12Pro in April and they should PHENOMENAL to me!!! But I want to know if the Hype 4 at $400 would a substantial upgrade. I THINK so but haven't got confirmation yet.
A true Enthusiasts will not stop until they finally find that one true endgame iem.
addict*
@@jayyaudio😭
Nice, I'm already saving for the ea500lm.
I'm really hoping to test the hype 4 out at a store near my job once they have a demo unit available. It sounds like it's exactly what I've been looking for lately and if I can find a demo of the ea500lm I might try those out too.
That's very helpful, i have no haste, i like to see new IEMs coming out. I will eventually settle for the 350-400 endgame in future, especially during sales.
Then you'll go to $1000 and so on. You're not immune to the myth of end game.
@@tednicholson9225 True, there's always something more "endgame", but that's the maximum budget i can allocate, so I'm trying to find a good compromise lol
This is the video i was waiting for as a newbie! Thank you!
Np, Glad it was helpful
@@jayyaudio If i may ask, I got the kiwi melody and i love this iem.
I would like to buy a differently tuned iem in the same price bracket to see what's out there...what would you recommend?
Now, Artti T10 piqued my interest.
Hope it's review is coming soon.
Jay I really like this kind of format you are doing... I have limited funds but like everyone else in the hobby I would love to have the best sound I can so knowing diminishing returns is very helpful. It means a lot to me know that I can spend $80 and get what is closer to a $200 iem for example. I hope that you might end up reviewing the pula pa02, seems interesting but I was planning to probably get the ea1000 then those and the LMs dropped and I don't know which is more bang for buck
Np, get the LM man, and Pula review soon
I have a UM MEST Mk2 and Sony IER Z1R and my EQ'd Audeze LCDi3 but I have tried some midrange sub $500 IEM the Thieaudio Hype 4 and I was surprised the sound quality is very very close to the UM mest mk2 but minus the extra air of the EST drivers and a bit smaller soundstage I would say these midrange IEMs just keep getting better like they are using better drivers compared to a couple of years ago. The resolution is very near to the TOTL IEMs in fact I think it's equal and what the TOTL IEMs does better is detail retrieval and better layering especially on busier songs with lots of instruments playing at once
yup
Thanks Jay! now i'm preordering ea500lm instead of hype2 😉
Awesome video ⭐⭐⭐
Almost no one talks about this.
What about DACs and Amplifiers?
Don't you need a $1000 streamer + $1000 DAC + $1000 Pre Amp + $1000 Amp to make these IEMs sound their full potential?
There's a video on the headphone show where the guy tries the Zero Red on a $3500 DAP and the sound just comes alive.
No LOL they’re just trying to sell you stuff haha
@@jayyaudio yes but don't you need a DAC and AMP? Cause I have seen genuine reviewers saying that a DAC makes a difference. Just plugging into your laptop isn't enough. Even the cheap Ifi Go link is better than the inbuilt DAC of a Macbook pro.
@@chinmayrasam you do need one..
However never go beyond 100$ for a dac-amp...
Or 8-9k if you're an Indian.
There are plenty of options. Just pick one at random.
Job done. Atleast when it comes to iems.
Get a qudelix. Everything else is poor value in comparison including stuff cheaper than it.
You for sure need a discord man! Love the realistic content not a soulless shill
Thanks man
I still think there are so many good affordable IEMs right now, it is hard to justify the more expensive gear. I still think the $80 bracket has some bangers Kailua, EA500, Olina SE. I am curious to hear the EA500LM. The only IEMs I own over $100 are the S12, OG Timeless, OG Tea, and Tea 2. I haven't seen much that makes me want to jump up in price.
After long time I really found what I needed in Hype 4 and don't think I need to get anything for long time.
I have the Hype 4 i too will be keeping it for long time then depending on what new IEMs come out I'll probably upgrade to the Empire Ears Raven
This is a great overview. Thank you !
Good video! I wish it was easier to demo sets that would have saved me some cash. I have the performer 8 and it is endgame for me. I don't see myself ever needing better but I'm always tempted by the hype. This channel does a great job at cutting through the hype and giving honest takes.
Appreciate the kind words !
Love my supermix 4 and have no desire to upgrade at this point. Only way im buying another set is if there comes along something that sound identical to the orchestra lites but vented. I love the orchestra lites a lot but the non venting is a deal breaker for me.
Great comparison indeed.👍
Hey bro! Great job you doing condensing all this info 💪🏼😉 I’m new in all this hifi world, recently got the Zero 2 and was wondering your idea on which could be a good next step in terms of both quality and better sound?
Thanks bro, and Simgot EA500LM
Great Content! I love this.
Thank you for making such videos, it really helps!
Anytime
Enjoying the vids! I have a question. I got the 500LM and have been eyeing the hype 4. What would be the biggest differences that makes the hype 4 sound better, if the techs are almost as good (6:54)? Soundstage, for example?
Bass texture and smoothness, soundstage a big wider
GREAT review Jay 👍.Im goint to buy LM and wait a few months if there ll be some price- performance contender to Hype 4 although i m very curious to listen to it when you said : smoth and good technicalities..My instinct says they will upgrade EM6L 😉 and the new Dusk is on the way..I think is risky spend too much money in the iem market when it's evolving so fast (new Sonion drivers and new 64 audio tunning modules { by Hisenior} and etc..So keep calm and stay tuned guys!
Yup, it’s only just the start of the year
My take is my 100$ sets sound like my 500$ sets eqd to the same target. I don't really compare side by side, but I don't think there's much point if you're just listening to music. Just get a smooth FR with nice treble extension, eq what you don't like and you can quit. Remembe: technicalities don't exist😌
Oh your just a troll, thats a relief. I can 🅱️lock you now.
suppa efforts ur putting in! 🙏😇
I think in some ways it’s also about a different experience. I love my u12t, but I also got the og ej07 and RSV and those two sets feel more immersive and musical than the u12t. I even enjoy my EA1000 just as much as the u12t (that bass texture is just too good). As boring as it sounds, it’s probably not about maximizing, than to you just find a set that you enjoy. I’m still buying shit though, it’s addicting.
Hahaha
great video, now what about dac ? how much extra prercents do we get from going from laptop/phone internal dac to the $10 apple dongle and then to $50 dawn pro and then to $700 mojo2 ? where is the sweet spot in diminishing return curve for dac (or more interesting for the total combo price iem+dac) ? my bet is $10 ;)
I use Topping G5 and that’s all you need imo
If just for music, would you take the EA500LM over the EM6L? Slightly lower pricer too which is enticing...care about vocals and soundstage the most, i think.
Ya go LM
Great video! Maybe this will help me to stop spending money in this black hole of a hobby...Ha Ha Ha! Always enjoy your content.
Glad it was helpful !
Very interesting Any # you'd put on CCA Rhapsody / TRN Conch / kZ PR2 black mesh? (My) Team Low Budget is going to stop @LM but I'll have to wait... also curious if you will / would cover dacs and dongles in this type of value matrix.
DAC/DONGLES are all the same to me lol
I got the Rhapdosdy and Conch coming up soon
This was dope.
Is the EA500LM better than the EM6L (or would you recommend the LM over the 6L?) cuz I still wanna get the EM6L one day.
I just got the Rhapsody for only $35 the other day and theyre solid. 2DD+4BA
Thanks man
I'd grab the EA500LM, it has better bass texture, and with the red nozzle it's less bright than the 6L
BTW jay do you have any tips for comfortabiliy for the melody i feel pain and discomfort in my earcanal after few hours of wearing even with aftermarket tips
seems like an anatomy thing idk sorry man
The sub $90 is clearly the sweet spot
Well at least for me
Great topic, bro!🤙 I was debating to get both the Nova and EA500LM. Is it better to just get the LM, or is it justifiable to get both?
They sound different/sidegrade to each other, if you don’t already have a Harman/DF set then getting both would be good since you can use the Nova as reference
Hey there Jay! I wanted to ask to what decibel levels you relate when talking about high volume or normal volume listening levels?
Thank you very much in advance!
Normal is around 60-75dbs, high would be 75-90dbs
@@jayyaudio Great, thanks man! I measured my listening volume today with 70-80 normal and 80-92 high, I'm a bit concerned rn hahaha
under 90$ cant hear the model t10? can you write it in video because its hard sometimes to understand, I am not native english
Artti T10
Some great insights.
Yea, okay cool, but we need a link to that 🔥🔥🔥 sweater tho
I can’t link stuff in the comments, but it’s from Get some sleep. If you want it you should get it quick since they sell out super fast
@@jayyaudio sold out already! Thanks bro
Where do the gizaudio galelio sit at? How many star?
Tech wise, no stars
@@jayyaudio based, iem was overhyped as hell and bad value even for its time imo. I love Timmy and the videos he makes but I'm gonna hate on him just this once.
sorry if you've addressed this / I'm sure you've been asked many times before...
basically I have limited funds to spend on IEMs. I have a pair of Apple APP2 which I love. There is much debate on how much you need to start to spend on wired IEMs to beat them (the Headphone show panel famously saying $150 range but that's a bit dated now).
If you were to chime in with your 2 cents, what specific IEM / general price bracket would you say would be the next (noticeable) step from APP2 I were to buy a wired IEM?
Thank you!! Enjoying your videos :)
Truthear Nova, or SIMGOT EA500LM for warmer sound
Hi Jay, Dunu Glacier was released, any chance that you can review it and compare it with Prestige LTD?
Maybe, we’ll see, it’s not cheap lol
I can endgame at 20 dollars (not really)
Have you reviewed the goldplanar amt 16? It’s round 1.5k and wonder if that gets to like 98% of the benchmark?
no sorry
How do you compare 500LM to the Performer5 (i have a 2nd hand deal for it at 130euros) ?
They are both going for a warm presentation and I loved the P5 for its fun bass tuning despite its congested treble.
LM better on all fronts
What would you choose between artti t10 and ea500lm? Already have olina se and t10 and wondering if it's worth upgrading to ea500lm. I mainly listen to jpop
LM is more of a sidegrade if you want something warmer
I have tanchjim kara and im looking for another set of iem, but torn between ea500lm and hidizs mp145($142 in my country) which would you recommend?
LM, hidizs silently retuned the MP145 and killed it (different sound than the first batch)
I'm broke af rn and I found this crazy deal online where I can either get the Zero:2 for $12 or the EW200 for $25. I'm still debating whether the difference is enough to get the EW200 and if it's even worth it. Though, I'm not really into bright sounding sets and I'm worried the EW200 might end up being too bright for me. I have the OG 7hz Zero and I think its a bit sibilant for me.
EW200 is better
@@jayyaudio is there any sibilance in the ew200? I'm not that good at reading graphs but I can see large peaks starting at 11k hz. Which Is a problem I had with the og 7hz zero
Which one of these have the best resoluton? - EA500LM, NOVA, S12/T10 ? Does T10 have same resolution as S12? They are all so close
all similar level, pick based off tuning
Is ea500lm better than celest pluto?!?
Haven't heard yet
Does the Xenns Up still touch the under $1k 5 to 7%? I got an Up recently for 325 and I'm thinking of maybe selling em for a top to be opposite of my Variations or just a Hype 4
Ya TOP is good, sounds more different than Hype 4 going from UP, its brighter tho so just a heads up
Is there any major difference in sound profile and technicalities between ThieAudio Hype 4 and Hype 10?
Can Hype 4 be a good Endgame IEM for someone who likes QKZ X HBB sound profile?
Yup Hype 4 is good 👍
That's a hard topic. When I seen sonium drivers and other brands that has prices that goes from 8 dollars to 250 dollars per unit. So if I place 1 good dd that costs 100 dollars plus 6 ba that costs 150 dollars each. 1000 dollars price. Then the shell. Staff and roi of 70%. I would charge 3000 dollars. Even if the tuning is not what I want. The driver still good. Good drivers can run 5mw power without issues. A 4 dollars driver at high volumes spits distortion like a xr2 iem. Terrible. Even in cheap driver when you eq them. They sound terrible .
Which Headphones does have those expensive drivers Hype 2?
@Daniel-lq5qq you mean iem? The ones that costs above 1000 dollars. Depends how many drivers . 64 audio has expensive drivers . Diva too. So many brands. The ones that cost 1000 dollars don't sat what model driver has.
@Daniel-lq5qq the hype 2 uses 2 double ba Sonion 2356 that costs 20 dollars. The E25ST001/D dd dont know the price but I guess 15dollars each. And the super tweeter. I need to ask the price. But I guess same price .
Which BAs cost $150 each? From my knowledge the up charge is mostly in the craftsmanship and other things like EST and BC drivers
@jayyaudio buddy I got the last year list of drivers cost from both main brands. Hooooo yes. There is ba drivers that cost 200 bucks in their list.
At 7:10 which Nova is he referencing? The 1 plus 4?
Truthear Nova
The highest quality earbuds ive ever been able to listen to (because i own them) are airpod pros, so clearly im pretty new to this whole space, and right now the only iems i own are the tangzu wan er. If i was to jump up to the below 150 range would I notice much of a difference? Ive been thinking about getting the fiio fh3's
Welcome to the rabbit hole lol. Grab the EA500LM or jump to something higher in the $300+ range (although I’d wait since more stuff are on the way)
I jumped from the wan'er to the blessing 3. It's definitely noticeable. Just not sure if it's $300 worth of difference. I love both sets none the less
how about the campfire audio vega 2020? is it worth getting it? ive got a really good deal on them so im considering buying them
haven't heard sorry
I sold my U12T because you said it was meh. Now it's 100/100!?
I never said it was meh, I said the tech was one of the best and the vocals were wonky and hollow. I didn’t like the tuning, and this video is about technical performance and not tonality
question, is there anything that you can recommend under 1000 that would be worth upgrading from the hype4? maybe 1200
Thieaudio Prestige LTD
Jay, I already have the EM6L, is the EA500 LM a worthwhile upgrade?
Nah you’re good
Any recommendation for an IEM i can just plug in a xbox controller and phone and expect little or no buzzing noise or are there any workarounds? Also like i guess i wouldnt want to spend too much since i dont use any fancy dac or amps?
Tanchjim One 3.5MM, or Truthear Nova depending your budget
I am confused. So Tech score and technical score in the chart are different? If they are the same, wouldn't be it better if one would describe resolution only, while second would describe timbre, layering etc.
Tech is tech, diminishing returns is differently scored
@@jayyaudio With big respect, I think it would be nice to see simply value bar on the chart as well. Like value for money out of 10 or 5. But that would require update over time for all IEMs.
Under 250 you forgot quintet it punches way above its class.
Wouldn’t say “way above”, but I’d put it around the B3 level (75/100)
Hey brother...
How big is the difference between the 'quality' of the Falcon Ultra and the Hype 4??
I'm tempted to go for the Hype..
But the price difference is too big..
Opinions?
Never heard the ultra sorry!
Where does the MP145 stands?
Check ranking list
How does the hype 4 compare to the prestige ltd?
LTD is better overall, but Hype 4 has better bass
do you think upgrading from melody to ea500lm a worthwhile upgrade? and what you think is worthwhile upgarde next for meldoy?
Something $200
More of a sidegrade, jump to something like the Hype 4 or higher
Bro whatever happened to the epz 620 FR graph 😭
Server out of space I'm clearing some stuff up rn will upload it soon, check the community tab I posted it there
I am very interested in the Hype 4 which you have rated at 75%. I already have the Timeless OG which you have also rated at 75% (in your spreadsheet). Based on this analysis, I would assume you are saying that Hype 4 would not be worth it for me to upgrade based on the "diminishing returns" since Hype 4 is iterally twice the cost of the Timeless OG right now. Do you agree?
In terms of resolution and detail, yes. Hype 4 is more of a sidegrade for tuning, better low-end slam and bass texture
Very good video, clear breakdown of the categories, super informative, bravo!
Glad you enjoyed it
jay why you scored the artti t10 75 but its ranked lower than the melody , it makes me confused which iem you think is better?
I need to readjust the rankings, tech wise T10 is slightly better, but I like Melody more tonality wise
EST drivers make an ENORMOUS difference. The jump between a good IEM without EST's an good IEM with very well implemented EST's is fucking MASSIVE.
There are no IEMs below 1000 that use ESTs to significant amount of potential.
The best IEMS below 1000 with EST's are the Xenns Up - but they don't use them that well.
Listen to the Mest MKII. The Thieaudio Prestige Ltd. This is fantastic EST implementation & the difference is PS3 > PS5 (yes, I'm going up two generations). Spend a a couple of days with an IEM with well implemented EST's and there is NO WAY you are going back. The detail & imaging absolutely destroys anything without.
Wait until the first sub 300 EST IEM comes out and there will be an absolute uproar - when they become more affordable, you'll struggle to find an IEM of any significance that doesn't have them.
Sorry man, but if you're not bringing this into the equation, you're talking absolute rubbish.
Sorry man - I don't mean to be rude, but I can't take you seriously on more expensive IEMs if you're not talking about how big this is.
You can get the same quality treble with a well implemented all BA setup like the Supernova and OH700VB. Most ESTs are poorly implemented and makes no difference, even the Monarch MK2 & MK3. The only standouts are the LTD and MEST in $1K range, and if we’re talking about resolution the EST don’t make a huge difference, they act to smooth out the treble more, so my point still stands with the diminishing returns.
@@jayyaudio sorry man, but that's simply not true. There are many sets with well implemented EST's. I'll agree that they aren't well implemented on the Monarchs, but I feel these pale in comparison overall to the Prestige Ltd. I've tuned soundsystems at some of the best nightclubs in the world & know my way around a studio - I've worked with sound for 30 years & I can tell you that it is the opinion of many of the world's leading producers, engineers & sound techs that EST's are the biggest leap forward with in ear tech in a very long time - both for professional use & enjoyment. You cannot achieve what they can with BA's or anything else. You're entitled to your opinion of course - but this is like saying OLED screens aren't significantly better at handling blacks than LES screens. I appreciate your enthusiasm, but I don't think you have more than a few years experience on a hobbyist level. You mostly talk sense & have a decent grasp of fundamentalsx but you are dead wrong with this.
Hey, I am waiting for the EA500LM to be available in India. Love your content. I am better educated by these types of videos. Thanks Jay.
Glad it was helpful man
Your ranking list, and every other audio critics, convinced me that the annihilator is as good as it gets and would be a worthy upgrade from the xenns top. It was immediately obvious that is a complete lie. The annihilator sounds hollow and empty, where as the top has dramatic presence and life. It just seems like a bold faced lie that someone could prefer the annihilator over the top.
The central claim is that the annihilator is way more resolving than other iems, which again is simply not true. The "details" are sparse and whispy, entirely fleeting, and if you could pick out something easier, it's entirely because the sound has no body whatsoever.
The top is similarly detailed, but much more enjoyable because its presented in an exciting fashion.
If you prefer the annihilator in any aspect over the top, you need to have your pulse checked.
I have never reviewed or ranked the Annihilator❓
@jayyaudio sorry I thought this was jaytiss channel.
Simple Solution: to the degree that humans can measure, the ie200 have no distortion.
You have no citations for that.
We have still yet to fully understand how harmonic distortion is neurologically displaced. You have no evidence for what you are saying.
@@En_Joshi-Godrez Jokes on you, Never said I did. Was gonna state its sub 0.03% but was too lazy to look that up'
@@benstain2674 I don't. But I do believe BA iems sound mid rather then amazing and they have distortion as well as I don't believe crossovers are a good idea
please put some chapstick next time jay
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No
„Gay’s Audio” channel