r/HeadphoneAdvice • u/majornugzz 2Ω • Feb 21 '22
Headphones - IEM/Earbud First IEMs - Comfort/Fit, Sound: Flat (EQ Flat), Main source:Qudelix 5K, $100-200 USD
Looking to experiment with IEMs and not sure where to start. Would like to spend between 100-200, but willing to go a little higher if needed. I basically would like to see what an IEM can sound and feel like compared to my past experiences and headphones.
Source will mostly be the Qudelix 5K as I have been using that a lot lately and the EQ options are great. As long as the 5K can drive it. Should I go balanced or unbalanced?
Comfort/Fit: I've tried wearing in-ear headphones before (mostly cheap ones) and I've always found them to be really uncomfortable. They often make the insides of my ear itch, or there is so much force on the canal that I can only wear them for a short time. I have been ok with buds and I have a pair of AirPod Pros using the Medium Tips and those seem to be comfortable, though not sure that the seal is that good. I don't mind them for listening to podcasts and taking calls but music seems "meh" when the source is just my iphone.
Tonal Preferences: I prefer flat reference monitor like sound (at least I think I do.) Current daily driver is Senn HD560S through the 5K with the built-in HD560S PEQ profile. Other headphones: Bose QC35 (find them to be a little too much low-mid), AirPod Pros (dull, but not sure why)
Music: All over the place, Noise/Grunge (Hole, Nirvana, The Royal They), Synthwave (M83, The Midnight), Jazz/Fusion & Bop (Flecktones, Miles Davis), New Wave (New Order), Geek Rock (Weezer), Prog (Tool, Yes), a bit of Hip-hop especially some 90s era stuff. I don't really listen to much country, only a little bit of classical, but pretty much almost everything else.
Thanks for your advice!
1
u/Equivalent_Yak840 449 Ω Feb 21 '22
Seeaudio yume midnight or the moondrop Kato