$100 vs $1200 Headphones - 7hz x Crinacle Salnotes Dioko & Audeze Euclid Review

[@LinusTechTips]

Correction: at 4:11 We used the wrong take where we mistakenly referred to the 4.4mm Balanced connector as a 6.35 mm connector. We will post the fix ASAP. Sorry about the mistake! Have you tried Planar Magnetic earphones or headphones before? Let us know below! Buy Audeze Euclid IEMs: geni.us/8JcXF 7Hz x Crinacle Salnotes Diokos IEMs: geni.us/8DFk8G Buy Sennheiser IE 600 IEMs: geni.us/LaT4wY2 Buy Sennheiser HD 600 Open-Back Headphones: geni.us/MnQhff Buy a Pelican 101 Micro Case: geni.us/jG1k Purchases made through some store links may provide some compensation to Linus Media Group.

[@tanishqhooda]

Guys Do A Review on Wings Powerpods They are just the Best TWS Buds ever in that Price Range, Spoiler Not Sponsored 😂

[@augustoalvarez6766]

Why choose the badly priced Audeze Euclids when the godlike ThieAudio Monarch MKII are available for 300$ less? If you are gonna compare the best IEM for 100$, at least compare it with the best 1000$ IEM.

[@buddhadey167]

Fool

[@moriskehl5991]

you can also change the title from headphones to earphones as you ironically also corrected at 3 mins

[@MrJrucker]

Linus, you should look into building your own planars in the lab. All you need is magnets and a flexible pcb. Maybe get with Dan Clark audio and do a breakdown of his journey from DIY to launching his own company.

[@crowonthepowerlines]

If you dig into Crinacle's spreadsheets, you'll see there are really competent IEMs as low as $20. Huge props to this guy for the research and documentation he does on audio gear.

[@MLWJ1993]

If you don't mind dynamic drivers (not the latest & greatest tech) & don't need wireless, $20 - $40 is all you need for decent earbuds. Only thing I'd recommend is looking for the braided cable, I currently have Sony MDR-EX650AP's & the cable is fairly noisy when it rubs against something...

[@Anankin12]

@@MLWJ1993 well good luck plugging them into a modern phone tho. I will never use my type c port for that tho, I won't risk bricking my hundreds€ phone with all my data to save a bit on headphones. I want my 3.5mm back :(

[@TheJtorres182]

@Anankin12 theres plenty bluetooth amp/dacs for that like the FIIO btr5. In fact, most audiophiles would tell you that its almost mandatory to have one at a certain point.

[@BLAZINGwaffle56]

@@Anankin12 why would it ever brick your phone?

[@uchennaogbonna1305]

@@TheJtorres182 Any audiophile who tells you that is lying to you

[@rustyshakelford1466]

Linus was talking about 2-pin being a downside but honestly it's widely considered the preferred connector in the hobby and is the most used one in new releases these days. The rotation of mmcx usually doesn't contribute in a positive way to fit and in my experience are more used in sets that have a bad fit anyways and need the extra rotation to properly get in your ear canal. mmcx is also really prone to disconnection issues and compatibility problems, whereas 2-pin will just work as long as the pins fit and they almost always do because the spacing is standardized.

[@Kentololable]

2pin is a downside? Im so done with mmcx conenctors breaking on me. The damned thing is only rated for 500 insertions.

[@Vanddalumful]

Not linus saying 2 pin connectors are less common 💀

[@BurgundyBrundley]

To be fair for all the research he has to do on a subject he may not know as much as others on I think he did pretty good.

[@bland9876]

mmcx for those unaware is 2110. Yes i had to google that.

[@JavierCastro-yn5dc]

​@@Vanddalumful Ok no no no no Si No Mmmmm no mmm mmm

[@sketchyforlife]

I love Crinacle. He was the first person I found when researching high end audio and his stuff is so accessible.

[@nunyabz9494]

his rankings are pretty spot on, rn i'm upgrading from ath im70 to etymotic er2xr, was considering the er4xr but the price didn't pass, so went for the older er2xr

[@maltujuliananthonellg.]

@@nunyabz9494 how are the er2xrs?

[@projectx5154]

It's not his stuff. He just helped with tuning. Companies like moindrop, kz, kbear, 7hz, truthear were already making bangers without him or any other reviewer. It's more marketing and one extra opinion.

[@agame-jv6zv]

@@projectx5154 i think he was talking about the stuff like his graphs and informational videos.

[@Some-guy-on-the-internet]

Thank you for mentioning that good headphones never go out of date. In an industry where it's become the norm to expect something to become obsolete and need replacing after just a few years, far too often do I see people making the mistake of dropping hundreds on new audio gear because they can't grasp the idea that audio is one of the few things where there is no correlation between age and functionality.

[@chaous2000]

Uh oh, you just awoke the burn in crowd.

[@Blacklands]

@@chaous2000 Maybe that crowd will listen to Crinacle, who afaik has repeatedly said that "burn-in" doesn't exist (he has a whole article on his website about it)?

[@chaous2000]

@@Blacklands the crowd that staunchly believes in burn in won't listen to crinicle. There are other heavyweights in the area that have said it doesn't exist and they still won't budge. They are like the snake oil people, swear by it but can't provide any actual proof.

[@Some-guy-on-the-internet]

@@chaous2000 Don't worry, the burn in crowd is a laughing stock even among audiophiles.

[@wuhanclan]

@@chaous2000 Burn-in is unrelated to the point of this original post. Burn-in is a completely different topic to many people believing hi-fi audio equipment becomes obsolete every few years like other tech.

[@ghostsword6554]

I love how sustainability and reparability has become a big element of this channel

[@charlesbrown4483]

What’s even more sustainable than replacing batteries in your wireless earbuds is just not using wireless earbuds.

[@ninjashuriken]

@@charlesbrown4483 I mean sure but TWS definitely has its comforts. No cable to get stuck on stuff being a really really big one

[@techtt6213]

Yeah but he dramatizes a bit. Many Apple competitors like Sony and Samsung offer headphones and earbuds with replaceable batteries

[@roganfrazer256]

I like it but the writer didn't do their research, the apple airpods battery can be replaced it's very neich but very possible.

[@stephen9894]

@@roganfrazer256 and Apple still don't want you to do it...

[@emmanuelferguson]

I'm so glad that LTT is covering bits and pieces of the audio world, the lab is certainly going to good use already. There truly is such an array of good and cheap audio out there that people can absolutely improve your life and make music more fun.

[@zadsazhad]

That was their goal after purchasing thousands dollars worth of equipment for audio analysis

[@WitchMedusa]

Finding a microphone is the hard part

[@smallbutdeadly931]

Audio is one of those things that are really hard to gauge the quality of without firsthand experience or valid tests. Its a good thing that LTT Labs is going to try to tackle this issue.

[@GlorifiedGremlin]

Yeah I will never be an audiophile, just way too much to learn that frankly doesn't interest me at all lol I just know what I like when I hear it. So I love videos like this, I'd never know what's what otherwise. Actually just bought these to replace my generic $40 Bluetooth earphones lol

[@Asian_Import]

@@WitchMedusa Buy a Shure MV7 and you're done, microphone needs covered for life.

[@christophtoifl6848]

Tip for a better BT Adapter: The fiio utws5 are really good and have zero audible noise floor, a charging chase and no cable. Each ear hook gets a very good dedicated DAC chip, the BT audio quality is almost as good cable, for me the convenience wins out over the small difference. And there is a optional battery protection feature which limits the charging to 85%, hopefully that adds a few years to it's lifespan. They pair great with my 7Hz Timeless!

[@master74200]

Both KZ Audio and Fiio make great bluetooth accessories as well as IEMs. Both are WELL worth considering as well, for sure. Although i can't speak to their factory standards.

[@danniarrezafirdausy2538]

I can recommend this as well. I've been using the prev version utws3 for 1.5 years, and it now rocks two of my earphones/iems

[@lejoshmont2093]

That's a really cool looking product. Thanks for the recommendation.

[@Xerathful]

Is there any latency is gaming The fiio utws5?

[@matekalmannagy6945]

I read great review about this product, but please mind the connector type. The mmcx version is very good, but the 2 pin is faulty. And I mean their design. They just swapped the end of the connector and that's it, the base of the mmcx is a circle, and for the 2 pin it's rectangle. But on the fioo? It's a circle as well for the 2 pin connector. Because of this design fault when I plugged it into my Truthear Hexa (2 pin connector) they have fallen off in less than 1 track while walking, because of the loose connection. So an easy RMA.

[@farewellblues]

I currently use a pair of 7hz Sailnotes Zero (which are also tuned by Crinacle) and for $20 they're one of the best set of headphones I've used. He's an amazing reviewer and I personally quite enjoy his Harman-ish sound signature. There's a lot of great IEMs with different sound signatures for $100 USD or less and you can get a great experience for little money.

[@adrenalize25]

Unfortunalty i have had really bad experiences with the low cost Crinicle IEM'S the KZ CRN and the Zeros both had the right IEM die on me

[@farewellblues]

@@adrenalize25 That's really unfortunate, but not surprising with Chinese IEMs, their QC is pretty hit or miss with some brands. I haven't got any issues with my Salnotes Zero yet, but my previous pair of Moondrop Chus lasted like a week before the volume decreased on the left channel. Meanwhile, I had my BLON BL-03 which I used almost every day for over two years and they're still like the first day.

[@MaxC_1]

@@adrenalize25 odd, never had any KZ die on me and I had dozens, but I know that they had those issues. Quite bad luck to have two pairs die on you tbh Can't you get them replaced or warranty tho

[@farewellblues]

@@Xio_XD I haven't tried the Blessings or Variations but I've heard good things about them, and they got me interested, but I've been affected by Moondrop's QC issues in the past and I'm worried it's gonna be the same. It's a shame because I enjoy Moondrop's warm, pleasant sound a lot, but man I wish they were built better. I enjoyed the Chus but right now the Truthear Hola and the ones I have are improved and you can change the cables which is really cool and I enjoy them a lot. Can't say the same about KZs, though, they're just so sibilant to me and I can't listen to them for extended periods of time. If you want similar headphones in the future, that are bassy/V-shaped like the KZs but better, you should try CCA CRAs or the QKZ x HBB which are genuinely better in almost every aspect IMHO.

[@adrenalize25]

@@MaxC_1 it's specifically the Crinicle ones I have had issues with, I have a pile of low cost IEM'S and those are the only ones i have had quality issues with.

[@KeyT3ch]

Crinacle is a national treasure at this point, protect his ears at all cost!

[@Tirth-Patel]

He is an international treasure

[@KeyT3ch]

@@MMenyan I know, I am too

[@armaanmodi]

@@MMenyan they?

[@sirram_e]

one thing i learnt from uncle crinacle is... what u have is good enough

[@mateogaviria8344]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@krayozmines]

I'm so proud of Crinacle. It's not always that someone from my country does something spectacular that is noticed by people overseas. I'm very happy. Edit: Yes. Singaporeans have achieved things before this. I said it's not always noticed overseas. I never said that it has never happened. I never said that nothing has come out of Singapore. So seeing another Singaporean achieving something huge makes me happy.

[@coffeecrispcommander]

A Singaporean literally helped create Razer.

[@not.__.-tm1]

@@pottyputter05 bro it made perfect sense tf

[@alinaeem4110]

@@pottyputter05 razer yes that razer which make laptops like the blade 15 is of Singaporean origin

[@addium3151]

@@pottyputter05 most Singaporeans have perfectly good English. But we have a weird accent to most

[@nanthiny8634]

@@coffeecrispcommander A Singaporean literally helped create Creative

[@Symba_Lysm]

Small correction: the included extra cable is a 4.4mm Penticon *NOT* a 6.35mm plug. It's used for a balanced connection on an amplifier as opposed to a single ended connector. Benefits being that more power is able to be transferred to the IEM/headphone/speaker as opposed to a normal single ended connection.

[@thorwaldjohanson2526]

That's what they said?!

[@Symba_Lysm]

@@thorwaldjohanson2526 no,they didnt. Linus posted a comment correcting the statment and pinned it

[@thorwaldjohanson2526]

@@Symba_Lysm maybe they changed the video, because it is correct in the video now.

[@Klav1eR]

Once u go 4.4 BAL, there is no going back to 3.5 SE It is like refresh rate in monitor. Once u go 100hz up, there is no going back to 60 hz

[@Symba_Lysm]

@@Klav1eR hmm, not really. Balanced isnt life changing for me *personally*. Its just more power. I know there is more but technically speaking, but still.

[@lucas_vlanc]

7hz also makes the Salnotes Zero which is also a Crincle Collab (they didn't specify that it's a Collab but Crinicle later on confirmed the fact) but at a much lower price (around $15) albeit only using dynamic drivers

[@astupidlylongnamethatstoolong]

Its funny when people bought it out of spite to crinacle only to find out it was tuned by crinacle

[@RegBinary]

@@astupidlylongnamethatstoolong Why would people even want to spite him?

[@ssnjr1299]

@@RegBinary People got pissed that he was collabing with brands left and right. They were saying he's overrated, and he sold out.

[@pain2theworld612]

They are very weak on bass tho, not for edm as there lack of depth and lack of punch to the bass

[@Nexodon]

​@@pain2theworld612Have you tried changing the tips? I switched to my JBL T100 tips, and it made a difference.

[@Nitor_]

Another option for making IEMs wierless is something like the Fiio UTWS3 or KZ AZ09 wireless hooks. UTWS3 + Diokos is currently my sleeping setup and is extremely comfortable for my ears (but as Linus said in the video, your mileage may vary).

[@TheRealIncryptus]

I have both the KZ AZ09 and the KZ AZ09 pro, definitely go with the pro. the upside not mentioned here in the video is that you can keep your IEMs and upgrade the battery/wireless portion as required. Or do what I do and have different IEMs for different purposes and have one wireless adaptor and one cable to use. KZ ZS10 Pro is my go to

[@Dashrendar2507]

+1 for the Fiio UTWS3

[@ea-tt]

I've been with the kz zs10 for 3 years now and I'm still in love like the first day

[@mamit3760]

I love the KZ AZ09 pro I love them

[@luisinhocol]

Im looking for TRN BT30. Its bluetooth module is the QCC3040, higher than botj IYWS3 and KZ (QCC3020) but lower than Fiio UTWS5 (QCC5141). As far as I know the 3040 is bluetooth 5.2, has ANC. It only lost to 5141 bc this one has hybrid ANC, allowing some type noite break in, like the tech that some hogh ends earbuds has.

[@AAllinsonNN]

My production mentor is sponsored by Audeze, so he got these pre-launched and they’re pretty insane. He did have to alter the eq curve a bit for both low & high end response on far ends of the EQ spectrum, but the midrange quality is unmatched for earphones.

[@FatOnAxis]

The euclid is horribly tuned and worse than some 20 dollar iems.

[@z_wulf]

This was such a breath of fresh air, as far as audio reviews go. I absolutely love LTT, but one of the few things I tended to avoid was anything to do with audio reviews. But this more data-driven approach is much much better and something I'd actually want to watch and listen to the advice. Also shoutout to Crinacle, the man is a champ of audio reviews. He has done so much work it's insane. I'd love to see you guys do a review of some of the under $100 IEMs that came out in the space, that legit sound better than some of my old $600+ IEMs.

[@GlorifiedGremlin]

Tbf, they've kept most audio stuff off on the more casual channels like techquickie, where they intentionally don't get into detail or focus rigidly on data. More just an unboxing and first impressions video that you'd get from any KZbinr lol

[@moondust2365]

@@GlorifiedGremlin True, tho in part, it's likely because they've only relatively recently set up their audio testing stuff, so they could only really go for a more subjective review back then. At least now it's can be mixed with objective tested data.

[@falcomomo]

What are some of your fave sub $100?

[@chihabetthamry9434]

these videos about stuff you can actually buy have been really fun to watch and also useful for purchase decisions, hope to see more of them

[@ROFLWAFFLELAWL4]

Easy solution for BT. Fiio UTWS5. Grab an MMCX with an MMCX to 2pin adapter and you're set for any IEM including Moondrops (which have recessed access points, reason you want the adapter. Makes it so you can have a TWS pair of IEMs at any price range you decide. It can power even some decent headphones and make those BT. Really surprised to see Diokos here. My first entry into Plana and definitely like it, shell is the only issue with it not fitting my ear well (don't mind the design). edit: Also PLEASE don't pull MMCX cables out by the cord (don't pull anything out by the cord really). MMCX aren't that durable and aren't meant for constant removing. I've broken some nice IEMs this way not knowing. If you don't want to get the tool you can use your nails to pinch between the connector and let it pop out. If you tug on it or move it too much you can break the connector inside as most can be fairly fragile.

[@luisinhocol]

Could also buy TRN BT30 and.you could choose the connector: 2pin .78mm .75mm or mmcx

[@versaleyang]

The FiiO UTWS3 or 5 both also come in the 2pin flavour, but with an adapter you can just buy 1 set instead of owning both of course. Majority of cable swappable IEMs come in the MMCX flavour, which I do not agree with because as you said they are very fragile, I haven't broken any of my Chi-Fi IEMs yet with MMCX plugs but a couple do have shoddy connections now when I rotate them a bit. 2pin for the win!

[@infinitywulf]

I went for some IEM's recently and am super happy with them. The ones I ended up on were QKZ x HBB Khans, which have two drivers in each earbud (one dedicated bass driver) and give some great sound overall with super punchy bass. Only around 40 bucks and well worth it according to my ears.

[@kamrankambang7953]

Im from the future and the kz hbb pr2 is here.

[@ziting5756]

@@kamrankambang7953 Weren't the filters on the pr2s supposedly removed by kz making them way too sibilant?

[@Fennetic]

@@ziting5756 Heyyo, Just got my pr2 4 days ago and I've been enjoying it's company. it's not at all sibilant, peaky, or shouty. I think sharur just got a defective item. it's definitely bright but it's not fatiguing for me. seperation is immaculate and the bass is plenty enough for me to enjoy dubstep and phonk. female vocals are def a bit recessed but male vocals shine so much on this.

[@Fennetic]

@@ziting5756 and I already checked but mine is the revision. It doesn't have a black mesh filter

[@OverHaze]

It's also worth mentioning the TRUTHEAR x Crinacle Zero. They aren't planar but they are around 50 bucks and tuned to the Harmon target so they are statistically likely to sound good to you. I am in love with mine.

[@sushimshah2896]

What's Harmon target?

[@CephDigital]

Can also agree, they're great IEMs.

[@drageras]

Truthear hexa also very good choice

[@tacohead8543]

@@sushimshah2896 a frequency response graph made by harmon that is used widely (with some variation) which is also generally liked by people

[@fred-youtube]

@@sushimshah2896 It's a target frequency response (how loud certain parts of the music, like bass, treble, midrange etc are) that's made based on preference tests

[@justuslm]

For turning wired IEMs wireless, you can also get something like the Fiio UTWS3 or UTWS5, which is much closer to a TWS on account of having a separate thing for each ear and no cable. It also comes with a case that will fit not only the bluetooth adapter itself, but also most audiophile IEMs, so you can actually carry and use them just like a TWS (albeit a bit more bulky).

[@CZTachyonsVN]

I prefer the Fiio BTR series or Qudelix 5k which i own myself.

[@Deinorius]

​@@CZTachyonsVN That's a completely different setup...

[@CZTachyonsVN]

@@Deinorius well duh, that's why I prefer it.

[@Deinorius]

@@CZTachyonsVN That's fair enough but it's not comparable to any typical wireless setup.

[@PedroBorgesNH]

KZ also have some TWS adapters for IEMs

[@JollyRanchersGrandma]

I started using wireless headphones in 2017, it's incredible how far behind Bluetooth was for so long until 5 or so years ago. We've gone from my headphones cutting out when I squat down and the signal not being able to get through my body to my current headphones being able to go 60ft away when unobstructed before cutting out

[@koneal2000]

Bot?

[@vincentellsworth7905]

audio quality still isn't (and probably will never) be there though

[@peaceandwealthseeker4504]

ai comments yay

[@JollyRanchersGrandma]

@Vincent Ellsworth no but that's because you can never perfectly imitate a cable, my headphones have the option for a wired connection and when I have them plugged in they're almost twice as good

[@JollyRanchersGrandma]

@@peaceandwealthseeker4504 what?

[@Urboyfromfuture]

I was never a Bluetooth earphones guy. I'm using apple earphones for years and they are better than most of the others. Recently I discovered about IEM and it changed everything for me. Currently Im using EDX PRO IEM. They cost around 10$. Then just imagine how good 50-100$ iem would sound...

[@beenjammin1750]

The fact that you guys can give a data driven answer rather than just an opinion is absolutely amazing. Linus' idea of transitioning to this data driven front is amazing and I could completely foresee LTT becoming a company that certifies products with good quality.

[@mrmoosetachio]

@@TheTastefulThickness but the flip side is that anecdotal personal experiences are not quantifiable and, as such, easy targets for deceit. Having personal opinions mixed with supporting data is probably the best middle ground for something as subjective as audio quality

[@beenjammin1750]

@@mrmoosetachio this guy gets it

[@alieffauzanrizky7202]

@@beenjammin1750 agreed

[@accelement3499]

they already are imo ive used his teams recommends or at least consider them heavily from my perspective for years but you are right the mainstream might one day ask "is it LTT stamped?"

[@mahuk.]

@@TheTastefulThickness That just sounds like skill issues. Unless there's a rare outliner reason, if the graph has accurate and well measured data and it isn't matching your experience then you're not interpreting the data correctly.

[@gregcapps886]

It comes with a 4.4mm pentaconn not a 1/4 trs, there is a difference, 4.4 is balanced to reduce feedback noise. This only makes a difference if you have a balanced amp to plug it into 4:12

[@cobradap]

Glad someone else caught that. I had to rewind just to make sure what I was seeing.

[@Legato-2057]

Came here to say that

[@CreativityNull]

Looks like someone either noticed comments like these or just noticed the mistake themselves but yeah, about 15 minutes after you made this comment LTT issued a correction in their own comments. Good catch

[@gregcapps886]

Happy someone on the LTT team caught it so quick, I’ll delete this thread when they publish the correction

[@OotoriKyouya]

My heart warms when I see LTT finally get serious about headphones and iems. I can't wait until they go full out with Labs support

[@amolshukla8147]

Eagerly waiting for more reviews on popular headphones and iems to even studio monitors and.... Sound Systems (cinema, monitors,car infotainment..etc)🤩💖

[@badabingbobsuruncle]

Lol anime pfp.

[@charliebaker1427]

​@AMOL SHUKLA hopefully he doesn't, audio review channels are struggling enough in current algorithm as is without a bigger channel gouging their audience woth mediocre experience

[@GG-cn6es]

Except this video is about earbuds and not headphones. I would have expected LTT to know the difference...

[@mikemarkong]

True. once their Labs data comes out it would help a ton! hopefully they review IEMs too! :)

[@eduardconstantin507]

After 4 years of using Bluetooth earphones, I'm back on using wired ones. I find them more comfortable as they are lighter and they take less space(in ear), battery life isn't a problem any more and finally I'm sick of lossing the Bluetooth ones and paying again and again 200€ for new ones. (For a weird reason I never lost a wired earphone).

[@ALifeOfWine]

Can't lose something that manages to tie itself in knots around anything it touches.

[@shipiatnature]

just care about your things more if you don't wanna expend more xd

[@eduardconstantin507]

@@shipiatnature life can be hectic sometimes and it doesn't take a lot for that small thing to slip away from a pocket. I don't say it isn't my fault but the wired ones don't have that issue.

[@arifsaifuddinzakaria860]

I tried to change to bluetooth but always back with wired

[@Omar-kl3xp]

Tbf I hated using wire earphones especially for working out ,every time I used to run I used to accidentally remove the earphones because of the cable ,getting the AirPods changed quite a lot for me especially for working out ,the only thing That I enjoy about wire earphones was that you didn’t need to charge them .

[@lout9231]

As with the deadmau5 tour it’s so cool to me to hear such in depth breakdown of the frequency spectrum and understanding of how peaks/dips affect sound. Only recently changed career to something more IT orientated but have always been a musician/producer so these cross overs are so welcome!

[@BrokenKeybored0112]

LTT x Crin would be an interaction that I'd pay for to watch.

[@RobertGallop]

The lab is definitely already starting to pay dividends! Very nice to see the actual data, not just the description. The 2 together? Magic.

[@walkinmn]

It's nice to see LMG addressing the Chi-FI movement (they kind of have mention it in the past but barely) as a tech enthusiast, it's actually really fun, you get great sound for less money in every price tier and with the ones with detachable cables you get a lot of options to drive your earbuds (you just have to check what type of connector it uses), I've changed the cable before just for aesthetics but what Linus didn't mention is that you can buy third party cables to add mic and media controls if you want and also they didn't mention that instead of buying a Bluteooth adapter cable, there are also earhooks which actually transform your earbuds in TWS-earbuds with its charging case and even some features of the regular TWS ones (not sure if there's any with ANC though). Also, some of them have modular systems to change the sound a little for more or less bass, etc.

[@matthewcummins7563]

On the recommendation of an audiophile friend, I started using the Beyerdynamic Beat Byrd. They're one of the best earphones I've ever used and you can swap out the silicone tips to change the bass response. I frequently find them on sale for $19 AUD, so I buy in bulk in case I lose or break them (I usually wash them). Highly recommend if you look for good quality on a budget.

[@ZNL_Tech]

I would actually argue the cons you mentioned. - Although they don’t have active noise cancelling they have significantly better passive noise isolation which could end up being better especially for higher pitched sounds. - Also, you can easily find aftermarket cables with an inline microphone for fairly cheap.

[@ZNL_Tech]

@@rustler08 thanks for the correction, although the point is still true

[@bipbop3121]

He's criticizing it in the same video that he them goes on to mention buying the wireless cable, while ignoring the wired replacements with or without online mic. You can pick up $20-45 IEMs & $12 wireless cables. Now there are $25 Walmart Onn wireless these days, but it isn't like those have all the features and they can't compare to wired IEM sound. Is weird how for this video they picked a really expensive and very visible wireless wire compared to more discreet options.

[@Nekoooooooooify]

I thought it was implied that the cons about not having mic was addressed by showing replaceable cables... "I wish there was a microphone and volume controls... Luckily, you can just unplug them from their cables and swap in any cable you like... Even one with a bluetooth adapter"

[@NoVeMgoRe]

Any IEM's touched and tuned by Crinacle are basically guaranteed to at least sound absolutely great and on rock the podium in the pricing bracket they happen to fall into. Personally i found BT 5.1 to be the beginning of "good enough for me" general sound quality and latency that is anything but gaming and with BT 5.3 we might even be getting there as well. I'd never ever consider spending more than 100-150€ on a BT IEM though, knowing just how easily they could be lost or how big of a fatal flaw their battery degradation and dying is.. they're basically unfixable and disposables in my eyes and why i will continue to stick with cable when i want great sound or anything that would cost me a fancy penny.

[@timlolxP]

Project Auto EQ is so great, idk why LTT didn't mention it. I tuned my HD58x and Nothing ear 1 with these EQ settings; both sound about 10-15% better than stock for free.

[@gimmickmusic8827]

AutoEQ is great, but I think that LTT is trying to stay surface level friendly for their audience (at least for now). I know when I first got into the hobby EQ and AutoEQ were very intimidating.

[@timlolxP]

@@gimmickmusic8827 Just a quick mentioning would have been nice. Compared to other niche stuff they had on LTT, this is something where almost the whole audience can benefit. I wouldnt describe it as hard. I watched 1 video downloaded the program on my PC/phone, and got the correct EQ profile. Finished. Yeah sure if you want to set something up yourself its hard but just getting the profile is really easy and 95% of the LTT audience should be perfectly capable.

[@pugotuknene]

I like how their suggested bluetooth cable is the KZ apt x one. I have the same model with my custom in-ears and its good enough for on the go listening while remaining fairly cheap. Hope to see more audio focused videos like these in the future.

[@matthewoyan]

I'm surprised it's actually compatible. I thought each IEM manufacturer had their own types of connectors

[@pugotuknene]

​@@matthewoyan the 2 main iem connector types right now are 2 pin and mmcx and there are tons of cables/adapters available for both of them.

[@GlorifiedGremlin]

I mean the things really cheap, how much sound quality loss do you get? And how bad is the latency, can you notice audio lag when watching a video?

[@1969ashley1969]

That could be because they both made by parent company Linsoul, they produce the KZ brand stuff and the 7Hz Dioko.

[@slay3rgamingyt]

@@1969ashley1969 also, CCA is a subrand of kz

[@matzetech]

I found a Sennheiser HD 420 in my dad's storage, this headphone is from 1979 and I now daily drive them and they still sound extremely good

[@febrockzzT]

Well that’s the best part of really good wired headphones (they just don’t give up at all) and for the comfort just take out the old ear cushion and slap on a new comfortable cushions. They will definitely last forever(maybe even your grandkids can use them in the future 😂)

[@matzetech]

@@febrockzzT The ear cushion completely disappeared and you risk breaking the headphones if you try replacing it, so I'm designing a 3d printable mount for new cushions. If I ever have grandchildren I will definitely pass them on, but I don't think the headphone jack will still exist 🤣

[@Balekkar]

The editor of this video absolutely killed it! The audio cues over descriptive words were brilliant.

[@Th0rodin]

Thank you for talking about the production and labour cost as part of your comparison between the two products as well as the problems around wireless earphones! Maybe once the lab is fully set up you can expand the team with some supply chain analysts to really dive deep into stuff like this? ;)

[@FlynnTheRedhead]

I like the fact they said they’d never do headphone videos again, but now with the lab, we get multiple in a row

[@adhyaksh134]

At 10:50, as an owner of a Dioko set, I can tell you that it definitely does have a cable sincher. It's right above the divider, I'm not sure if your set came without one but it should definitely be there :)

[@senmage]

my boy crinacle finally getting the recognition in the audio space like he deserves

[@charliebaker1427]

Crinacle gets mentioned all the time hes not an underdog especially not in the scene

[@senmage]

@@charliebaker1427 a channel with over 10 mil subscribers is the most main stream in the tech space he’s gotten. Sorry if I don’t watch whatever content creators you are talking about but most people who are big in the audio space know crinacle from his blog and written work more than his videos. So what was your point? Crinacle is getting new potential people to check him out on his KZbin thanks to Linus giving him such high praise.

[@charliebaker1427]

@senmage im saying hes well known in the audio scene, its only outside of it hes not as well known. My point was crinacle still gets a few hundred thousand views every other video compared to most audio review channels that are struggle struggling right now, hes far from being one of the reviews who needed the exposure outta the community by comparison.

[@sam6000]

A video about the Salnotes Dioko?? This is awesome.

[@autotropicplaybench1819]

LTT can easily get so much content in the audio space given how crowded the IEM market is from the $20-200 range honestly. Would be interesting to see how future vids play out. I will say, it's a nice part to mention comfort being a factor as well that I don't think gets emphasized enough on some IEM reviews. Like I am fond of my Tanchjim Hana 2021 being the fave IEM I prefer for sound, but I do find the need to adjust them on my ears compared to other IEMs that I have, and for some the shell doesn't fit their ears well at all. Also, as a sidenote: I find with IEMs that stock tips are more often than not actually meh, and searching for third party eartips can improve an experience with an IEM beyond just doing EQ.

[@ligametis]

I often wonder if those IEMs from china are not mostly the same just with different plastic case.

[@Maloxkov]

@@ligametis nah they're not the same.

[@ligametis]

@@Maloxkov Alright. But cables are pretty much scam. You can find the same looking ones for 15 and 150 dollars, just with a nicer image.

[@DuxGalt]

I had issues with ear buds for a long time, dealing with comfort. Last year I finally decided to spend some real money on some and got custom earmolds made and sent them to Inearz audio to get some IEM's made. They sound great, even though I went with their midrange $750 option(50% off idk if they will do that kind of sale again). I absolutely love them and are way more than i need and I for sure under utilize them with my simple FiiO JadeAudio KA3 amp/dac. What made the biggest difference was having some thing that truly fit my ear. With that comes the best noise isolation I could get. At anything above $200ish I would strongly recommend getting some custom molds made, it cost me like $50 but it gives you something that will fit right.

[@Keepskatin]

Noise cancellation is better than noise isolation

[@gimmickmusic8827]

Very good video guys. However, I find myself missing a proper reference target. I understand including the Bose QC Buds as a reference since they are a popular consumer grade product, but having never heard them it doesn’t tell me as much as something like a Harman or diffuse field target curve would. That said, I’m really excited to see you guys delve further into the audio space.

[@wingedmechanism]

What kind of headphones/IEMs do you have? You can check out squiglink database to compare the frequency responses.

[@alfonzom6]

Try dankpods, pretty much like the guy who gets people into audiophile

[@bland9876]

@@alfonzom6 he needs to get paid for advertising the HD 600.

[@DolphinsAreBetterThanHumans]

@@bland9876 don't you mean HuH Duh - Six Hungoes

[@sakaraist]

@@bland9876 To be fair, they'd have to pay EVERYONE. There's a reason they're used universally as an S+++ Tier neutral reference lmao.

[@alejandroelcid]

Did Linus say that the 2-pin connector was uncommon? Arguably more IEMs use 2-pin connector than MMCX; which are annoying because MMCX allows the IEM to spin. The only planar IEM I have used is the Moondrop Stellaris which costs the same as the Dioko, and I really like the tips they come with. I would recommend getting them separately for most IEMs, they're the Softears UC tips. By the way, Linsoul and 7Hz are not small and unknown. These are well known companies within the audio community. I am surprised by some of the things Linus said in this video, still it's nice he's covering more headphones/IEMs in this channel.

[@soraw434]

Yeah, that comment caught me off guard as well. One of the writers made an oopsie.

[@KopfdesRiesen]

Imo MMCX is the worst connector of the bunch tbh. It gets weak so easily compared to 2Pin

[@rafaelsalazar7888]

@@KopfdesRiesen That’s why most high end IEMs now are using recessed 2 pin connectors. MMCX gave me a lot of problems before. It’s either became way too loose or seized up like it’s welded.

[@Anisse_N_Spices]

Honestly, c-pin /2-pin is better because it doesn't unplug as often (at least in my experience), and for those, the BT20 by TRN are very good bang-for-the-buck tws adapters. They also have MMCX plug if that's more your thing. I use the KZ ZSN Pro X, and added to the angled plug on both earbuds and the jack, the chances of anything unplugging by accident is nigh impossible. Same with the BT20, because its plug is also angled.

[@benjiderrick4590]

The az09 pro is also a good alternative at 40 euros. Aptx and AAC compatibility and excellent battery life. Coupled with the zs 10 pro x, these are by far the best earbuds I've ever came across.

[@H0NSE]

Even more imporatantly 2-pin is much more durable than mmcx

[@jonah3985]

If you like the planar magnetic sound these new IEM's are hard to beat. I personally ended up with the Letshuoer S12 (which uses essentially the same driver as found in the Dyoko) and after comparing it to a couple dynamic driver sets at the time I fell in love with their sound signature. Crisp and clear with punch!

[@saricubra2867]

My Sony XB55AP uses 12mm drivers with neodymium magnets and has more dynamic range than the chinese and Audeze planar magnetic earbuds that Linus reviewed on the video, of course it doesn't have the same amount of sparkle (frequencies above 16KHz, anything that can reach 40 000 Hz for the frequency range gets the best sparkle). I always listened between 30 and 70% volume because they can get insanely loud and THD is insanely low at the same time. I used this for mixing and my teachers know this model and the XB50AP (i replaced it because it started to lose high frequencies due to wear and that became a problem). My dream HOLY GRAIL earbud is the Sony MDR EX800ST. 16mm drivers with neodymium magnets, but they are way over $200 and only available in Japan. They are VERY OLD, launched like 30 years ago. My XB50AP also was discontinued, my XB55AP are slowly being discontinued as well. Planar magnetic is a cool tech, but they need better dynamic range. With neodymium magnets would get the best of the best transient response and increase their efficency even more. The details on cymbals, drums and similar intruments are on the transients.

[@Elazarko]

Are the letshuoer S13 worth the extra $50 over the crin dikos?

[@H0NSE]

​@@saricubra2867 Dynamic range, unless backed with a frequency response graph or at the very least a +/- db value, only tells you how confident the marketing department was. Competition in the IEM market moved a ton in the past 2 years; let alone 30. Every IEM available uses neodymium magnets (unless the driver utilized does not have magnets at all). Better focus on the membrane material if anything.

[@saricubra2867]

@@H0NSE If every IEM uses neodymium magnets, they should have massive dynamic range, low impedance, high sensibility which isn't the case, the copper coils are pretty important as well. Also, transients should be pretty sharp.

[@H0NSE]

​@@saricubra2867 like I've said. Dynamic Range with no other data is just marketing. Dioko for example is marketed as having a dynamic range of 5hz - 40khz. The coil is important, but barely anyone markets it, so it's hard to get any meaningful specs for it. Metrics you've mentioned are affected by more than just the type of magnet used.

[@chronicnugget5595]

Linus's point about long lasting headphones really hit home. I bought a set of ATH-M50x's around a decade ago and they still sound the same as the day I bought them. All I did was replace the ear cups and buy a new headband cover (mine were as bad if not worse that those in the video lmao) about 3 or so years ago. Best head/earphones I've ever owned.

[@MoonOvIce]

I have M40Xs from 3 years ago, they are beasts as well.

[@Kentololable]

Except they suck, so whats the point if they sound just as bad when you bought them lol

[@juliojoestar9952]

Except the M50x sounds like $8 iems from china lol

[@Darkhalo314]

I bought of pair of ATH-M50's 3 years ago and I barely use them. I don't think they sound great

[@juliojoestar9952]

@@Darkhalo314 because they don't. Idk why some people use it for mixing. It's too bassy and muddy

[@Melvinator311]

Could not agree with Linus more about the Sennheiser HD 600's! Such an amazing pair of headphones that pull no punches as far a clarity. Great video as usual. Good job team!

[@dalazyworf]

They are also really well made, my pain have seen some shit and they are damn troopers. Also if the cable gets damage, replacement cables pretty affordable.

[@snorri788]

The ol’ Huh Duh six-hungeo’s by old mate Seeeeen…

[@jeffriart]

It's cool to see LTT getting serious for audio review, hopefully you guys are going to get even more data out from the lab. While frequency response review is helpful, there's usually something better a higher-priced tier headphones can do, like better THD and stuff. This is quite an important metric, since that can tell you how much you can EQ before distortion kicks in.

[@n0xt]

I don't think THD would be of any relevance to LTT viewers. It's much easier to steer people towards good headphones that don't need EQ at all or only require small adjustments to sound great. If they plan to release measurement reports for more advanced users - sure, why not. Add to that impedance curves and measured sensitivity.

[@En_Joshi-Godrez]

@@n0xt you'll be surprised how few headphones have a decent FR. There isn't a headphone on the planet that doesn't benefit from it.

[@n0xt]

@@Jacob-hl6sn Yep, I should have included this info in my comment as well.

[@Nadu16]

No, Crinacle said only FR matters and I believe him more than I believe you.

[@En_Joshi-Godrez]

@@Nadu16 he literally has a metric called technical performance on his chart. Lmao

[@Splomf]

that isn't a 6.25mm (1/4 inch) jack for the Euclids. It's a 4.4mm pentacon connector, which means it's a balanced connector. It sends power through 2 wires in opposing phase to each side of the earphones, (4 power wires and 1 ground wire in total) this means that electrical interference and noise will be cancelled out when the 2 opposing phases are put together to get the final audio signal at the earphones. It also allows much more power to be given to the earphones/speakers/headphones, which can be very helpful or even required if your headphones are especially hard to drive like DT880 600 Ohms or beyer T1's

[@yasu_red]

I have a pair of $20 7hz Salnotes Zeros and they're stellar. They're tuned by Crinicle too like the pair in this video but they don't outright say it in marketing.

[@RGEMB]

I am so pleased that LTT discusses e-waste when it puts out product videos.

[@charlessale409]

There needs to be more discussion about packaging waste in tech

[@KopfdesRiesen]

@@michael.petraeus How is being aware of the waste you are making while consuming not relevant?

[@albertsimohartono]

@@michael.petraeus you know.... only a very small amount of plastic were safely incinerated, while we produce a ton of them every day. The rest are dumped to landfill or to the ocean. So reducing waste is always good for the environment. It is also productive in essence to keep our planet safe for human to live in the long term.

[@tannerhartl5175]

@@michael.petraeus Awful, mis-informed take. Read a book

[@tannerhartl5175]

@@michael.petraeus All that typing just to be wrong. Embarrassing

[@sidesaladaudio]

Should also look at the 7hz Salnotes Zero. Another IEM tuned by crinacle, bit it's Dynamic driver and only $20. It's really great for the price

[@aldo-tn]

hi salad

[@edi4ever708]

Yes there are so many good choices for only $20

[@sidesaladaudio]

@@aldo-tn hii

[@sidesaladaudio]

@@edi4ever708 Hola, Wan'er, so many. It is a little funny to see so many saying KZ

[@aldo-tn]

@@sidesaladaudio kz ling long new meta 😅

[@AZREDFERN]

Planars are generally lower impedance, but require more power than comparable dynamics. They’ll work with basically anything, but certain frequencies get anemic without available power.

[@velocelens]

Maybe not worth $1200, but the Euclids have gone on sale quite a few times, I picked mine up new with the BT cipher cable for $400 from BH a few months back. Makes a lot more sense when its a third of the MSRP

[@CricketEngland]

Headphones over £30 are a complete waste of money if you only listening to audio books, podcasts or non music videos on KZbin like these.

[@ALifeOfWine]

@@CricketEngland Maybe they're listing to **shock horror** music!! :O

[@CricketEngland]

@@ALifeOfWine you obviously didn’t read what I said did you! Maybe get a parent or guardian to explain to what I was on about

[@ALifeOfWine]

@@CricketEngland I'm quite confident my reading comprehension is good enough to understand your sub par English, considering I had to compensate for the incorrect use of you're/your in your first comment and the lack of punctuation in your second.

[@CricketEngland]

@@ALifeOfWine who teachers pet all of a sudden…

[@Zeruyu]

The best in-ear headphones I've ever used are the ProPhile 8 by German company InEar GmbH. Their speed, resolution and soundstage are beyond compare and their sound signature can be switched via jumpers between neutral (and I mean really absolutely neutral) and slightly bassy. It also is the only universal in-ear that feels like a custom.

[@al201103]

I have the Prophile 8s - the slightly smaller version. Fell in love with them as soon as I heard them. I thought that would be my final pair of IEMs - then later heard the UM Mest which was different enough in a very good way to convince me to buy them. I love them both, but spend 90% of listening time with the Mest. BUT they are nowhere near as comfortable as the InEars. You're absolutely right that they're a universal which feels like a custom. Fantastic pair of IEMs. Despite their high price, I still consider them a bargain for what they deliver.

[@SirVer51]

Seeing crinacle mentioned in a main channel LTT video is one thing, but seeing oratory1990 was truly unexpected.

[@jinyoon7244]

For value, highly recommend you guys cover some of the items in the under 50 and even 20 dollar range (e.g., 7hz zero). Also, for bt adapters, the kz az09s offer great sound and have a simple loop around the ear (only for specific type of connecter though - but fairly inexpensive). Also, there are other models for different connectors types by fiios that are a bit pricier but highly rated. There's a third company I forget, but that have a very interesting option that has interchangeable middle connectors so that you can connect to all the major types of iems.

[@Kevin_Street]

Thank you for this video! I'm really into the headphone and audiophile content you make. And you're 100% RIGHT about the battery situation. There should always be a way to replace the darn battery without buying a whole new set of earbuds.

[@EnricoBrandt]

There are tws buds with replaceable batteries, I replaced my Sony wf 1000xm3s battery for like 15 bucks.

[@HabibXV]

6:33 2Pin connectors are not less common at all, in fact i'd go as far as to say that 2Pin is better than MMCX in terms of durability. Many high range IEMs use 2Pin connectors

[@sidesaladaudio]

Nice to see Crinacle and even Oratory1990 get some recognition from this video!

[@n0xt]

Crincal, Crin's evil brother that made his first channel banned 😈

[@sidesaladaudio]

@@n0xt omg that typo

[@Asian_Import]

I have a pair of HD 650s and love them, but I was actually just looking for my first set of IEMs since I wanted something more lightweight. I settled on the new Moondrop x Crinacle Dusks! Can't wait to try them out and see how they compare to traditional headphones.

[@Rorensuwl8]

Let us know your thoughts about the Dusk

[@connorclark1673]

Honestly, moondrop Aria's are among my favorite low-end IEM's. They do amazing for their price. I'd also say that KZ does good work for beginners in the audiophile area with good quality IEM's at a lower price range as well, with the AS10 being probably my favorite under $50 pair of earphones yet (i did get them on sale so the prices probably vary. Also, making IEM's wireless is a bit easier with stuff like the Qudelix 5k (i rly suggest! Its very good as a small DAC and AMP, with a neat app for EQ and volume control. Also decent at blowing out old crappy earbuds lmao.)

[@slay3rgamingyt]

My budget only allowed for CCA cra but I'm very happy with them 😁

[@Xerathful]

Is there any problem of heat when using Qudelix 5k long sessions? I would like to use it as desktop dac and on my phone.

[@Dodgelovesyou]

​@@slay3rgamingytkinda same my budget was also low so I went for a kz edx pro

[@KShauryaDwivedi]

My main concern with bluetooth headphones are with its price and longevity. I still like the ones which have an option for wired but wired needs more options imo

[@acra89]

Same. Don’t get me wrong, I love my AirPod pros - the sound is great for the form factor (to my ears, ymmv), they’re comfy and nearly always in my jeans pocket when I’m out and about. But the high entry price for a product that simply won’t last that long, sucks. My old 1st gens just aren’t selling either, because everyone wants the latest and greatest, not some old tech that has weaker battery life.

[@shadowarez1337]

I was sucked into the Raycon Hype lol they are worse then just about every other one iv tried the constant sudden straight cutting out makes them useless I'd rather a pair of my Galaxy Buds even if the right is stuck at 10% volume.

[@Pensnmusic]

Eh, I wouldn't worry If you can afford to replace them every 2 years. Unless you know you'll lose a bud.

[@KShauryaDwivedi]

@@Pensnmusic wireless earphones are not for me, tho the nothing buds are very very tempting. And most of the stuff that is available elsewhere is not in my country and if it is, its too expensive

[@KShauryaDwivedi]

@@shadowarez1337 wait raycon sucks? I've heard that they are good in long sessions and have good battery. but not seen any

[@Allendude51]

13:33 the hurr durr six hundos by sen

[@nikitazoshchuk]

I bought kz zsn pro 2 years ago and it's the best headphones I've ever had. I got them on aliexpress for under 25$. Before that I was using marshall major 3. You can get good sounding headphones even for under 100$.

[@SusanIvanova2257]

KZ is usually great if you want bass, Moondrop Chu and Salnotes Zero would be in the same price category if you like less bass and a more even tuning. If one is willing to order from China there's good iems to be had at affordable prices.

[@DaveMcIroy]

I had the pro X for 24 bucks and was so impressed I went straight to the gk kz zax with 8 drivers per side. Got a great deal for 56 bucks.

[@nathansstuff1547]

KZ is a terrible buy these days. Probably the worst ones to buy for that price range

[@nathansstuff1547]

​@@DaveMcIroy Bet most of those drivers don't even do anything

[@ACIoannina]

I would also recommend the CCA CRA which you can buy for a very low price and I enjoy more than my KZ ones

[@johnbogle6475]

Since I haven't heard those products, I can't judge. Here's a perspective from an audio guy (NOT and AUDIOPHILE - Pro audio). Firstly by definition, both devices would be considered dynamic. They are both using a complex waveform to create flux in a conductor (doesn't matter whether it's a coil or a flat piece of printed plating) to act against a permanent magnet. This technology actually goes very far back to some of the early "dynamic" transducers. You are describing roughly an inverse version of a ribbon microphone (also usually considered "dynamic"). Just wanted to set the record straight on the history of a "planar" air piston coupled to an electromechanical engine. I believe Ribbon tweeters have been around for many many years. FWIW I'm a fan of planar audio transducers as there is less time alignment issues between different frequencies. Thanks for a great video.

[@n0xt]

Yeah, this type of a driver used to be commonly referred to as orthodynamic or isodynamic in the past, not so much now.

[@JoeMama-sl5uy]

These Salnotes aren't the only iems that Crinacle collaborated and tuned. Remember you can't expect much more than what you get at this price point. Mad respect for my bro Crinacle

[@momon8738]

well but to be honest, compared to some mainstream iem brand, especially few years older products, many Chinese iems are just extremely cheaper for the pretty same sound quality

[@xavengarcia851]

There are TWS adapters as well! Fiio is my personal favorite for bluetooth accessories, they also sell bluetooth amp/dacs that are really compact and cool!!!

[@ffwast]

"we're not talking about headphones" -Linus in video titled "headphones"

[@theomne]

I'd like to see Linus take a look at the KZ lineup. The AZ09 Bluetooth module does away with the cable between the headphones and works very well for a casual user that just wants better audio. I use them with a pair of KZ ZSN Pro X and my wife uses them with a pair of KZ DQ6. Wife wore out the batteries in her BT modules and we were able to get replacements for $30 and go right on using the headphones.

[@itsmoses7973]

I have a pair of KZ ZSN PRO X and a pair of KZ ZXA. I pair them with the Fiio BTR5. They sound so good.

[@sephrosemary]

I use the CCA CRA+ with them, they're great :D

[@eliteextremophile8895]

I've found the KZ ZS10 Pro to have the flattest sound for referencing and IEM uses. I love them.

[@sephrosemary]

@@eliteextremophile8895 they were a little out of my price range, but I seriously considerd getting them

[@Shardsounds]

here's a quick IEM recc list based on measurements and opinions from the IEF community (i'm Kersed): 20-50 tier: - 7hz salnotes zero (neutral with bass boost) - tangzu wan'er (neutral with bass boost) slightly more bass and less upper mids than salnotes zero - truthear hola (neutral with bass boost) again, more bass and less upper mids than wan'er and overall darker sound sig - qkz x hbb khan (warm-ish harman) big bass boi honourable mentions - moondrop chu (neutral with bass boost, bright tilt) a bit too bright for some, metallic timbre, and qc/moisture issues with filters (ppl reported them dying within a week) also no replacable cable - cca cra (v shape/silent revision neutral with bass boost) was silently revised -cca cra+ (neutral with bigger bass boost) perhaps a bit too much for just a little more bass, still a good recc 70-130 tier: - Tripowin x HBB olina se (neutral with bass boost) good timbre and bass texture - truthear hexa (neutral with more linear bass boost) great detail and treble extension, however bass seems lacking to some) - dunu titan s (slight v shape) smaller bass boost and upper mids boost. can seem shouty to some - letshuoer s12/s12 pro (v shaped) planar with great resolution and detail for the price. loses out with worse timbre and bass with little weight - dioko, as mentioned honourable mentions - moondrop aria (neutral with bass boost) similar qc and filter issues as the chu. timbre also a bit plasticky dac/headphone amps, or IF YOU HEAR HISSING/INTERFERANCE with your mobo/laptop/phone's aux: - literally just get an apple usb-c to 3.5mm dong for your pc, or abigail cx31993/pro if you also plan on using it on your android phone, as apple dong has volume issues on most androids guaranteed clean source, and there's not much reason why you'd wanna spend more unless you have actually hard to drive headphones or iems if this gets enough likes then i'll expand it a bit as there are some more I can fit in higher price ranges

[@sidesaladaudio]

We need to spread the word

[@williamsteven5613]

I think a qudelix 5k is a good purchase regardless of its audio improvements because of how versatile it is.

[@davideverett7553]

Waiting for the ltt dankpods collab on headphones. He's the biggest advocate for ditching the Bluetooth and has made me really tempted to pick up a fiio receiver and iems.

[@kpax420]

Great take on the problem with wireless earbuds. The Shure True Wireless adapter was my solution to that problem. Works really well with both sets of IEMs I use.

[@Lizlodude]

Are you using the old wire-style one or the newer nubbin-behind-the-ear ones? I'd been looking for the old ones but they're discontinued ugh.

[@jdpiii3]

same I love my 846's and didn't want to get rid of them when all the phones started removing the headphone jack the Shure True Wireless Secure Fit Adapter solved that.

[@kpax420]

@@Lizlodude The new behind the ear one. They're great but in two years or so I'm onto my second pair.

[@andrewnitin]

Glad you made this video! IEMs are the best thing you can buy to elevate your music listening experience at a budget. I do think however you can go cheaper and still have a good listening experience with wireless adapter for less than 100$. CCA PLA13 (for the 13mm planar magnetic driver IEM) or KZ ZS10 Pro (1 Dynamic Driver + 4 Balanced armature drivers combo for each ear! where each driver produces sound of a specific sound frequency range) and the KZ AZ09 Pro (wireless adapter that supports APTX codec) is a great combo and worth considering (unless you don't prefer to go chi-fi)

[@janmartensson9634]

The best ones I've had are "Roxcore Heli+". For me the best bass reproduction, not fluttery or scratchy. Unfortunately they took a round in the washing machine, so bought another pair. But history repeated itself and the other couple went into the washing machine as well. And when I was going to buy the third pair, they had stopped being sold. :( The price was good at only $29.

[@davidcrowder1202]

i really appreciate watching you linus. your the only one that gets me out of a funk for atleast a good few minutes every day. thank you.

[@bipbop3121]

Getting an in line microphone wire for them is not very expensive and really easy. I'm surprised they don't have a variant sku that just sells you that. Many IEMs, you can usually buy with or without.

[@cheesecurdactual]

Should check out the KZ line of earbuds! They are amazing value around $30 USD

[@Pulverpojken]

KZ are amazing. The ZS10 Pro are the best earphones I've ever owned.

[@ttr_coco]

Salnote Zero and Truthear Hola destroy the entire range of KZ, dankpods recommendations are pretty bad in general

[@garchompy_1561]

@@ttr_coco he reccommended them years ago. did the hola even exist at that point? and its also not that theyre bad either, they still beat the "mainstream" offerings from the people making the phones at the price point, which was kind of the point in his (and others) reccommending them

[@raviguptha2502]

Was planning on buying KZ ZEX or CCA Lyra, any recommendation between these two ? Any help would be much appreciated

[@marvinlangohr7104]

​@@ttr_cocoI'd actually agree, KZ's all sound... the same i guess. they fill them up with different types of drivers that in the end don't really do anything, have passable to lowkey... bad sounstage and detailling and are by no means resolving, and there aren't that many audio companies where you can say that about their entire catalouge. but i'm not without my faults, i for once LOVE the entire moondrop lineup, be it the blessing 2 dusk (which sound like... unbelievably good for the price wtf it sound so... huge and you can locate every single instrument to a precision that is lowkey... unreal), i also have the chu's (which destroy the whole KZ lineup), the quarks (which do the same), the aria (which just sound plain good), the kato (which are a CATCH for that price!!) and the variations (which are good but too expensive, STILL LOVE THEM THO)

[@Gambit166]

I have been using Euclids for about 5-6 months now. Got them when they were on sale for $400. One of the best audio purchases I've ever made. They need to be burned in, have a good seal with proper eartip fit, and they need to be paired with a good DAP/DAC/amp to sound amazing. But once everything is dialed in, the Euclid is one of the best-sounding IEMs out there at any price. They even have good sub-bass rumble that Linus said isn't there. The build quality is also top notch. Only thing Linus is right about, is that the Euclid's size is massive and quite heavy for an IEM. They hurt my ears after about 2 hours of use. It's a great experience each 2-3 hour listening session I have with them though.

[@maymays6085]

doing a breakdown on adaptive noise cancelling vs passive noise cancelling is a good idea for a video

[@yoominbi]

Crinacle is our Singapore 🇸🇬 pride. Same goes with Razer and Creative.

[@leonsutliffe9572]

Id've loved to see these compared to some much lower cost IEMs such as those by KZ which sound great at 1/4 the cost. Some of which even have crinacle tuning.

[@DMonkeyR]

Not sure how long the lab testing takes but would love to see more group tests for IEMs and other audio gear. Just linsoul/KZ alone have loads of products and the balanced armature options are killer value (even compared to $100 planar IEMs). The KZ AS10 and CCA A10 are my current favourites (both multi balanced armature IEMs). Head to head is interesting but need a few more products included to get a good feel for the new planar options in this vid

[@nonstop4673]

Your measurement rig for your IEM graph looks like it might need some further calibration. Really cool video though! It's so cool to see you mention crinacle! Also, Linsoul is an audio store, similar to Shenzhen Audio. 7Hz is the manufacturer for the Salnotes Dioko, and it's really neat that a lot of audio brands from China are including frequency response graphs; crinacle always publishes graphs with IEMs he works on, which is great because you can also get an idea of what you're buying!

[@youknowwho7932]

there comes a point where sound quality improvements become so minimal that paying extra doesn't make sense

[@raynman6466]

Literally the same with anything

[@jasperkueh6199]

I agree with you, but thing is, at what price point does the diminishing returns kick in 🤔

[@Pensnmusic]

@Jasper Kueh 500 usd max Edit Diminishing returns kick in at any price point. The harsh drop off happens at anything above the "premium" market prices for normies If wireless earbuds go for 200 to 400, then the next tier is where you see a harsh drop-off in improvements. 500 to 1000 is flooded with wildly different offerings and I would stay closer to 500 than 1000, tbh. Only if the stuff you have doesn't do its job and make you happy. Stuff doesn't make you happy, consumerism is like an addiction. Nothing will be enough.

[@jasperkueh6199]

@@Pensnmusic ah I see, thanks for the reply. I've always been cautious about spending extra money for insignificant improvements. I guess my hard limit for IEMs would be around that price point, probably a Blessing 2 Dusk or similar. Heck, who knows, maybe I'll like a pair that costs cheaper than that

[@CricketEngland]

Headphones over £30 are a complete waste of money if your only listening to audio books, podcasts or non music videos on KZbin like these.

[@TaylorEaland]

I love all my planars and they are fairly cheap! Glad planars got your attention.

[@benjiderrick4590]

Not to mention many other brands sell much cheaper alternatives that sound as good. KZ and TRW are one of the few that provide such things. Also, you have the choice between wireless thingy with the in-between cable, and the true wireless ones that look like audio prothesis, but they come with really good battery life! Plus they can be swapped out if battery goes bad, and can still work in wired. There are also 3.5mm with microphone and USB type c cords as well!!!

[@JoeMama-sl5uy]

too glad Crinacle got some exposure on your channel we have big respect for that dude

[@SeamusFlynn]

The Crinacle ones look really cool and unique imo

[@Rorensuwl8]

They sound good too and eq friendly

[@FatOnAxis]

@@Rorensuwl8 absolutely a lie

[@jojo6783f]

​@@FatOnAxisim so curious what you think sounds good

[@FatOnAxis]

@@jojo6783f what's the budget?

[@vzxvzvcxasd7109]

Crinacle is always a good show. Why don't you invite him to Collab?

[@Catuyn17]

Probably because hes in Singapore.

[@PaulPlay]

He really compared one of the best 100$ IEMs to one of the worst expensive IEMs. This is not fair and a good high end IEM could have destroyed both of them

[@augustoalvarez6766]

Yep, who in his sane mind chooses the obscure Audeze Euclids when the godlike ThieAudio Monarch Mk2 are available for 300$ less?

[@oxaile4021]

I imagine he chose them due to his experience with their overears, not really know that Audeze has fuckall clue how to make iems.

[@austinduong-van6071]

@@augustoalvarez6766 yeah but they're not pLANar mAGNeTIC, discounting the fact that nine drivers are way cooler

[@augustoalvarez6766]

@@austinduong-van6071 planar is great thriving tech, especially in chi-fi between 100 to 250$. But yeah, they still ain't got nothing against the real top tiers

[@charliebaker1427]

Linus isnt an audio guy this is a mess

[@mathurm100]

audiophile here. YESSS! THIS! i have a pair of moondrop kato which i actually love more than a $700 pair of dan clark aeon noir headphones. 7Hz are amazing and i'm just diving into the headphone planar magnetic.

[@mokisan]

Great shot on the dioko but if you had paid couple of bucks more and gotten the s12 pro they are lot better. And for bluetooth you can have the tws connectors from fiio namely the utws3 or utws5.

[@ClassicGOD]

Shure also now has BT "true wireless" adapters with MMCX connectors. And lets not forget about Fostex TM2, while they come with earphones you can buy arms for them to adapt basically any earphone connector like 2pin MMCX etc and use BT modules with anything.

[@En_Joshi-Godrez]

No you get a qudelix k5. It completely obsolete the fiios. Get it right.

[@ClassicGOD]

@@En_Joshi-Godrez No, you get Fiio M17 and use it in BT Receiver mode. lol. don't compare "true wireless" systems with a dac/amp even if it's a small one, those are different classes of devices.

[@En_Joshi-Godrez]

@@ClassicGOD does the m17 have full PEQ? Because their isn't a iem of headphones in existence that does not benefit from PEQ.

[@En_Joshi-Godrez]

@@ClassicGOD oh hes talking about the ear hook things. I thought he was talking about the btr5. My mistake.

[@Isaac-ve1dm]

I think the biggest problem with true wireless earbuds is really just Bluetooth always messing with you and sometimes straight up not working. There's been so many times I've blasted my music by accident from my laptop thinking that my earbuds were connected and ended up getting embarrassed in front of a whole lot of people.

[@harmonic5107]

Blasted "music" huh? 😄 Jokes aside, I agree. Plus the battery life falloff is significant for true wireless headphones.

[@gtx1650max-q]

If you are on windows laptop I think its the issue in OS itself. I have oppo enco buds and even after connecting manually there is no sound from them until I reconnect. This never happened in my phone or mac, windows laptop always had shit network card for god knows what reason

[@luisortega8085]

this has never happened to me lol. if it appears it's connected it's connected. i use linux + sennheiser hd350bt

[@xavengarcia851]

As a professional audiophile, this video is super cool and I love the direction you guys are taking!❤ Thanks so much!!!😁

[@miffachan123]

"professional audiphile" lol

[@enzog1078]

Been a Crin fan since day one. Love when LTT promotes hard working creators with these types of vids.

[@PlaySA]

Little tip for you and anyone else: I get my wireless headphones at Best Buy and always purchase the offered insurance. I use them so much, and they are so prone to breaking, that I am basically guaranteed to get another pair before two years (the term for the insurance) is up. So when I buy new headphones, the only price is the cost of a new insurance contract (about 25 bucks) instead of paying 100 to 400 dollars all over again. Mega good deal that I've been taking advantage of for years and years and MANY sets of headphones.