Best IEMs (In-Ear Monitors), Earphones of 2022 | Moon Audio

[@abcdefg54321x]

Non-audiophile here. I had NO IDEA there were earbuds that were this expensive😳. I was looking at skullcandy earbuds and stumbled upon this video. Do you guys have a video for noobs (like, i didn’t know what IEM stood for, have no idea what drivers are, and thought all of these were wireless until the end of the video, and thought of a sommelier describing a wine when she said warm and resolute sound type newbie). What’s the best video to watch for someone who knows ZERO about any of this?

[@jaroslavfricek7772]

No chi fi in 2022... hmmm so many great IEMs, Moondrop Variations, Monarch mk2, Thie audio Divinity, also other Asian wonders like Elysian Diva or Singaporean Symphonium Helios, they might just really leave behind the Bravado and Hero, Penta is overpriced and a few years old I think, Euclid in its tonality even if not technically run over by $200 plannars from 7hz Timeless, Let shuoer S12 and others, also Thie audio Oracle...amazing tonality, Iam just sayin The Asian market is on fire ❗️😎✌️🙂

[@moon-audio]

Can't cover everything! 🙂

[@jaroslavfricek7772]

Sure but not even one like the Monarch mk2…😉🤘

[@jimmyd7289]

I agree 100%

[@chutgowdingo-loon3212]

@@moon-audio Sure, we don't expect you to cover everything. But the ones you chose NOT to cover (the under $500 range) is where the bulk of the market is and where most of the innovation occurs.....IMHO. Reality check ... not everyone can get in on the range you chose to cover.

[@samyg123]

Can’t cover what’s not on their website

[@thepicturesband]

What do you recommend overall for a professional drummer to use onstage?

[@moon-audio]

Empire Ears Bravado, Legend X, and my top favorite is the Empire Ears Odin. For customs, the JH Audio Sharona also works very well for the stage!

[@thepicturesband]

@@moon-audio Thank You -Have you reviewed or have knowledge about Future Sonics or Moondrop Variations?

[@rbnjr]

Love her presentation, just love them!

[@harnoorsingh2866]

Ie 600 is better than ie900

[@marzcapone9939]

I got the 600 a couple weeks ago. Been very happy with them, but still curious to hear the IE900, just not if I have to pay full price.

[@hej01]

Astell&Kern x Campfire Audio Pathfinder is also a good IEM. Neutral sound signature with natural bass boost. Big vertical and horizontal sound stage. Great imaging. Very detailed thanks to the low impedance.

[@moon-audio]

Also a great pick even though it's not on this list! More info here for anyone interested: www.moon-audio.com/astell-kern-pathfinder-iem-headphones.html

[@Strravigor]

Thanks for this review . I have a very good IEM Unique Melody miracle, I enjoy their sound very much and the stage is the best I heard , but I have issue on the right bud, and don t know if I can repair it in france . So perhaps I have to replace them ; so I have a question : for the more “ natural “ sound ( classic symphony, jazz , 20 th century music , baroque , funk, ethnic music ) what is your advice for a pick under 1000 € ? Thanks

[@moon-audio]

The top natural sounding IEMs under $1000: Sony IER-M9 or the Sennheiser IE600 would be my top two. If you were willing to go a bit over $1000, the Empire Ears Phantom is a previous flagship that we now have for just over $1300!

[@suntanglory]

Welldone Sarah! But shure ksc1500 is not 2022,few years old now.Did trump fallout with fiio as well when he was president?😂Where is fiio fd7 ? Better than meze rai penta and sennheiser ie 900 for a start...Cheers.

[@moon-audio]

The KSE1500 electrostatic IEM is still one of the best all-time IEMs in our opinion. www.moon-audio.com/shure-kse1500-electrostatic-earphones.html Age has nothing to do with it! 🙂 We don't sell FiiO so have no idea where it falls in line. Make sure to read more about our IEMs here: www.moon-audio.com/blog/tag/IEMs

[@RayZin]

great! i can afford all of these!

[@josevictor1702]

Don't worry about that. In my opinion, leaving aside those bellow $1K , there are some cheaper options that have better tuning than most of these expensive "endgame" IEMs because, unfortunately, most of the target audience of this price range cares much more about technicalities than tonality.

[@harnoorsingh2866]

Elysian Anihilator, Fir M5, Oriolus Trailli?

[@nellatl]

They don't sell those

[@markwisniewski8141]

I’m thinking about the Audeze LCDi4 and the Meze Rai Penta. I understand the open back of the LCDi4 will present differently but I’m looking to upgrade from an old pair of Shures. Open to other suggestions. I listen more to rock. But listen many different genres. Thanks for your help!

[@markwisniewski8141]

Actually for the comparison the Valkyrie MKII might be in reach. How do they sound listening to rock, classic rock? Not too much bass?

[@moon-audio]

@Mark Wisniewski The Empire Ears Valkyrie MKII is a excellent IEM and it would be one of our top recommendations for Rock. The Audeze LCD-i4 is also a good option to consider, but it has less isolation by being an open back. The Meze Rai Penta is a Jack of all trades IEM. It works well with most genres, but doesn't have the same level of slam that the Valkyrie MKII does.

[@markwisniewski8141]

How would you compare the Valkyrie MKII to the Campfire Solaris? I understand it’s a different signature and could be comparing apples to oranges but I’m stuck in between. I’m new to IEM but not hifi. Just really torn! Thanks for any hel lo and input!

[@moon-audio]

@Mark Wisniewski The Solaris 2020, the latest standard version of the CA Solaris, has a neutral sound with a bit of warmth. It has very good staging and imaging, but when compared the Valkyrie MKII, it lacks slam in the bass and some of the warmth in the mids. Of the two, I would recommend the Valkyrie MKII. For what it's worth, we do not carry the Solaris, but we've heard it before. We do carry A&K, who have done some collaborations with Campfire Audio, and their latest release called the Pathfinder ( www.moon-audio.com/astell-kern-pathfinder-iem-headphones.html ), which we find to be a much better IEM than the original Solaris, and on par with the Valkyrie MKII.

[@MannyScoot]

I have owned most of these and my favorite is still The shuoer EJO7 ...........

[@liujun050612]

Have tried so many IEMs and I don't agree they can compare full size headphone counterparts. (almost never) I really wish IEMs sound as good as headphones for portable use, but I still don't find a good one, at least in the similar price range. For example, for IEMs in the 1k to 2k range, I have tried campfire andromeda, solaris, empire ears valkyrie. They sound good, but almost no comparison to the level of 1k to 2k headphones like focal clear, hifiman arya. I can easily get hifiman sundara, sennheiser hd 650 for way less, and sound as good as 1k to 2k IEMs. Only IEMs at 2k above (like 64 audio U12t, 18t, empire ears odin) may compete 1k headphones, but still quite not close. When compare to 2k above headphones (like focal stellia) vs IEMs, almost no comparison again.

[@mden2490]

I own the Sony WF 1000XM4 in ear, and let me tell they sound fantastic. Great sound stage, clear, detailed, great separation, natural sounding. I would certainly argue that these will out perform many over the ear headphones, and probably out perform many of these IEM’s listed here.

[@liujun050612]

@@mden2490 These are tech in ears. I wouldn't even call it IEMs. They are focusing on more in convenience rather than sound. Like Bluetooth, noise cancelling, etc. They sound ok but of course not as good as IEMs. IEMs don't have these fancy features, instead they focus on only sound quality. Try hifiman sundara headphone or moondrop blessing 2 IEMs. At this price point, these sound way better than Sony.

[@mden2490]

@@liujun050612 I will have to respectfully disagree with you that they are not focused on sound. They do sound better then a lot of IEM’s. I own the Meze Rai solo and as much as I like them the Sony wf-1000xm4 blows it away when it comes to sound stage, clarity, separation etc. I have the Meze 99 classics and they even compete pretty well with those, though they don’t have the soundstage as over the ear. As a matter of fact I had purchased the Sony WH 1000-XM4 headphones and I sent them back they sounded way to digital and not very natural at all. The WF -XM4’s sounded much better ! I was going to purchase the Meze rai Penta’s , but was told that there was not an $800.00 increased difference in sound in comparison to the meze solo’s? I suspect that may be the case for many IEM’s. The point of diminishing returns happens very quickly with IEM’s

[@liujun050612]

@@mden2490 It is true that diminishing returns happens quickly with iems. Try these end game iems with your own ears and play your favorite song with these at Camjam or headphone store. Once you hear the best sound, it is very hard to go back. Regardless of paying so much more at iems. Yes, that's expensive. But They are worth every penny to me, I am happy to hear the best sound and i will use it everyday. At least this happened to me.

[@nellatl]

Seems like your problem is because you haven't heard chifi or Japan or Asian iems.

[@nagodio]

I stuck with the ONE iem end game thing that many have failed on doingn . And am absolutely happy with it till i can afford the 1.5k 2k range . Which I’ll most likely get a used indigo/odin/ . . . Unique melody mest OG (used for $650)

[@saucyg6371]

Sure, these are all great. However this is a strong emphasis on weetern companies and at this point, they just do not offer that bang for buck/price to performance that chifi iems do

[@suplol4893]

Empire ears Odin or qdc anole vx

[@AleDJacobo]

For me Anole.

[@yukin1990]

@@AleDJacobo No Chi-fi so Odin...... plus Chi-fi build quality sucks....

[@dennislam8102]

How about Xe6,Kr5, VE phoenix etc?

[@Miguel_Morales]

Sony IER-Z1R doesn't make it?

[@DaReKaFX]

In this review you skip a QDC Anole VX and I love VX so much. Please check your content

[@moon-audio]

We have more information on the Anole VX in our written counterpart to this video: www.moon-audio.com/in-ear-monitors-buyers-guide

[@PaulB__]

It would be nice to see the profit margin on these.

[@Johnnybananass-_]

No Shrona ?

[@poetofthekill2571]

This video is brought to you by empire ears lol all jokes aside i wish i could buy a bravado mk2 or hero they look nice

[@TheJuanpis15]

What about the Noble Sultan’s

[@brandonlim5709]

Where's 64 audio lol

[@ifebifire9402]

Tin hifi p1max+symbio hybrid ear tips+ibasso dco6 usb dac+usb audio player pro+tidal masters subscription+yinyoo 2pin 4.4 balanced cable=🔥just saved you a thousand dollars 😂 thank me later

[@maru5793]

So...what if a dont wanna spend $100 or even $50? I dont think i need a video to see why a Ferrari should be a good car, i dont need a video to see why $1000 dlls headphone is good 🤣

[@619RobdoG]

The Bravado is a bloated mess, only item I ever returned