2021 Neutral IEM Shootout by dentReviews

[@kairohde]

You described nearly exactly what i experienced in therms of sound. Really like your description of your sound impressions. Thank you for your efforts.

[@jaroslavfricek7772]

One of the best reviews I have ever seen❗️… Thank you☀️… I was deciding between a few IEM, Kato was there and EST 112 as well… but then I decided for Blessing2 and 7hzTimeless(still waiting for them to come)… 😆😃❤️….Happy New Year🌅🙏

[@realaudioreviews]

I remember watching one of your videos years ago. Good to see you back

[@Wingedmagician]

Underrated channel. I’ve wanted a video like this from other creators. Just splayed on a table a ton of their favorite iems. Also love that you’re validating some of my recent purchases around $100-300 lol 😆Still wondering if I should have gone for a big boy iem instead of the handful of cheaper ones I got

[@bombomchan3648]

KATO replaced my old trusted Oxygen Great comprehensive review!

[@Wingedmagician]

Sidegrade?

[@Tealc2323]

I'm interested in KATO. Can you explain why you like it more over the Oxygen?

[@Tealc2323]

I have the Starfield and the Dusk, but I'm interested in the KATO. I'm with you about BA drivers and their distinct signatures. Dusk vs KATO would have been amazing to know your take on them. Amazing content anyway! Thanks

[@dentReviews]

I prefer kato to both, but neither of those are "that" far off that i'd say you need to upgrade if you are happy with either of those. Kato sounds more clean and correct to my ears than both of those. Dusk is practically a hybrid kato, the bass shape is a bit different, and the treble has the BA thing to it, but is still very high resolution. Starfield sounds ever so slightly warmer and fuzzier to me and the treble isn't as super clear and smooth.... I'd say if you prefer starfield over dusk, but find it slightly grainy or warm, you might like kato. If you prefer dusk over starfield, that's a littl ebit harder to compare. I almost consider starfield and dusk equal overall, but probably prefer starfield because of the DD texture. Not sure if that helps, but i feel they are all cut from the same basic iem mold so to speak, but kato is the best.

[@shahkhan110]

great video man... comprehensive with tons of comparisons.. instead of blabbing about just one iem...looking forward to seeing this in the future...

[@Dracomies]

Quick question! I saw your glowing review of the Blessing 2 a few months back. People say the Blessing 2 is a much more neutral headphone compared to the Kato. But was slightly surprised to see that the Blessing 2 didn't make it in your list here. That said - I'm with you! I'm not the type of person to give in to hype. But where would you rank the Blessing 2 compared to the ER2XR, Timeless and Kato?

[@dentReviews]

that's really tough. the only reason b2 isn't in there is that i don't have it any more. in terms of frequency response alone, i'd argue b2 is probably better than or at least equal to kato. what puts it below for me is that a) it's a BA driver treble and b) whether due to the BA or not, there was always something small but annoying in the treble for me. like a small harshness or peak somewhere. tiny but i couldn't ignore it at times. otherwise b2 bass is glorious in its neutrality. kato wins in every other regard for me. cleaner, much smoother, all DD driver, treble sounds more correct to me, but it is a bit more low bass, so technically maybe less neutral than b2, but in reality, bass is the most argued area of "neutral" in an iem or headphone. some people believe +6db like harman is more correct. I'm half way between. As for er2xr and timeless, er2xr is excellen in response and unbeatable in value, but kato sounds more technically precise and firm. timeless, for me, has a super response and the 7khz peak on graph doesn't really sound audible to me as verified with eq, 80% of the time. not sure if it's depth, fit, etc. but some people find it more irritating. I would say kato >> timeless >> er2xr/b2. Er2xr sounds better with brown filters as it makes it a little less warm and matches er4sr treble closer...

[@Dracomies]

@@dentReviews Thank you for the detailed response! Yeah I actually have a Blessing 2 coming in the mail and it's taking a really long time to get here. And now you really have me thinking about the Katos. I think I was hesitant to buy them because many people mentioned they have 'fantastic and great bass', which is what I would love for everyday listening. But I was looking for a pair of IEMs for mixing-on-the-go and the Blessing 2 seemed to be able to do that. But you bring up some really great points. I think I might pull the trigger on the Kato too and see which one I like between the two.

[@Luinitari]

Have you tried the Ikko OH10?

[@chichaphile4943]

❤️ KATO Great review!

[@03e-210a]

I also liked how you talked about moondrop kato perhaps being the best sounding iem you have ever heard in the most casual way. I suppose there is no Zeos here.

[@dentReviews]

keep in mind when i say "best ever" i don't necessarily mean it wows you the most, but simply has no flaws, represents things close to a neutral studio monitor in a way, etc. butnthere are other iems that may make you think "wow" that sounds good... i tend to find something like kato sounds better long term. those other iems that wow usually are enhancing something which long term may actually be not as enhanced as you think...

[@anatol1204]

You have to review The Skuld and the Dark magician and Oracle they are very linear too.Very nice review by the way ..maybe if you showed the graphs would be even more interesting for some graph lovers..

[@chrisstroud60]

I'm really excited for HBB olina. I've heard it's going to be a tanchjim oxygen copy witch is a earphone I've not gotten because it's pretty pricey and doesn't fit very well. The er2se has been my favorite for nutral with alot of detail, sad it didn't make your favorite but atlest the xr version you still like.

[@seanivrymusic]

in all fairness, ety is always in my top of the list spots even if it isn't as high up as er4 all ety are superb...

[@Wingedmagician]

It’s too bad the shipping is ridiculous from Linsoul. It’s opening for preorder tmrw but it’ll ship after the first week of February and their express shipping took me about 12 days when I ordered the timeless. That’s Feb 20th+ to get it if you order right now with express shipping 😨 I’m waiting for it to show up on Amazon lmao

[@eddymedeiros43]

oikko obsidiana oh10 ou Kato?

[@natpeterson3874]

You should take a look at the tripowin Lea they measure like the moondrop Kato and their only 26$

[@matusjurcik6974]

I like the fiio fh3 and etymotic er2se (but only with the upgraded cable - soundwise, the stock ety cable sounds like crap). Although they sound exellent u loose a lot to the kilobuck iems, for instance that background clarity (orchestral instruments in the backround), 3D and imaging.

[@03e-210a]

Nice stuff man

[@jaroslavfricek7772]

Hi Sean, I have B2,Oxygen, Timeless...from the lower price point I am still thinking about Hana og and og Yume, the Crinacle one I'm not yet sure about... especially the Yume I am thinking about for myslím collection...do you think of worth it in 2022...I think they did something very special with the tonal balance...

[@dentReviews]

yume has superb response, but doesn't sound as good as a dynamic driver to me. if you have b2, o2, timeless, i don't think I'd buy yume or hana myself. the next step up for me would moondrop kato or dunu zen pro

[@jaroslavfricek7772]

You are the biggest fan of Kato...I know on the internet 😆👌👍

[@dentReviews]

@@jaroslavfricek7772 they aren't perfect, but they are superb. especially at the price point. I'll be making a video about them and why i like similar iems soon. it will be a little different too... stay tuned!

[@jaroslavfricek7772]

There is another reviewer on KZbin Real audioreviews ...he might be little crazy😆 but he's got many great IEM up to U12t...and he loooooves Yume...and really dislikes Kato and he looks like he knows what he is talking about so do you. Just so interesting in this subjective hobby👌😁Thank you

[@dentReviews]

@@jaroslavfricek7772 definitely. just to be clear. yume is amazing. i prefer kato, but yume is one of the best. I'd even argue it has a better response. but I'll talk about that in a video soon with another popular iem reviewer guest who i greatly respect but also has some different viewpoints at times...

[@MatthewCollada]

Fiio FH3 is neutral? I've always thought of it as more V-shaped specially compared to Tri Starsea and Moondrop Starfield.

[@dentReviews]

I don't consider it neutral in a perfectly critical sense, but it fits with most iems that are more in the neutral overal tonality. it has slightly lower low treble that can technically make it sort of v shaped perhaps, but not nearly as much as a typical v shaped iem. I'd say it's mildly v shaped perhaps, but with an overall neutral leaning sound... something pike etymotic i would consider more neutral, but in the scope of iems out there most are much further from etymotic than the fh3. :-)

[@MatthewCollada]

@@dentReviews thank you for this! Very insightful!

[@perrywagner6418]

What tips are you using on the Katos?

[@dentReviews]

I'm using meelec dual flange tips that aren't available as far as i know. they are wide bore. the difference is very small, but i prefer them.

[@anatol1204]

Kumitate KL-Sirius 😉

[@Tealc2323]

One hour video with no tags? Sorry, pass.

[@dentReviews]

Good point. Chapters added.

[@Tealc2323]

@@dentReviews Great. Thanks!