Using IEMs for Gaming - My Experience

[@altrdgenetics]

The "I Don't" single frame popup was a nice touch

[@Bruh-cj8pt]

I laughed so hard at that xD

[@jazmineash8450]

Where is it?

[@Vary180]

@@jazmineash8450 3:56

[@Vary180]

it's actually there for 6 frames

[@SuQmEdIc69]

@@Vary180 does it matter?

[@JamesEPhilp]

I used to wear IEMs a lot back in the day. Mostly Shures and UEs with foam tips. Eventually, after a number of years, I found my ear canals got aggravated by having them in. That said, recent IEMs do seem a bit smaller when it comes to what actually goes into the ear, and I’m sure these problems don’t exist if you get some custom moulds. I also never really used them in a desk environment - always on the go, where cable drag and body movement make them move around in your ear a lot more. Eventually I developed eczema in my ear canals, which I think in part was due to this aggravation. Certainly not everyone will have this experience, but I wanted to chip-in a view from someone who wore IEMs for probably something like 10 years. Good video as always though.

[@optimumtech]

Thanks for your input!

[@zajlord2930]

same reason im not using those even throught they would be much better with glasses

[@shubhampatil4679]

dude i quick tip clean your eartips every week with soap not suggested for foam tips tho but silicon you can clean with little bit skin friendly soap just a quick wash so that bacteria on those tips gets destroyed and trust me i was dripping water like thingy from my ears but after washing my tips every week it stopped and no more scratching inside ears! tell me if it worked after a week or so !

[@JJW410]

@@shubhampatil4679 M,y girlfriend got me to start using toner at night and wiping the inside of your ears with a cotton pad of toner works really well as well. Not aggressive either, just feels nice and clean and would probably help with ear problems like OP talks about.

[@shinoMusic]

@@shubhampatil4679 Isn't really going to help long term. Let's say you use these 8 hours a day for work + gaming sessions, this means your ear canal will be sealed off for 8 hours a day, not to mention sound is only gonna come into your ears through your ear canal and not through your skull, which you will compensate for with volume. Every ear specialist will advise you to not use IEMs for this extended amount of time. That's why they are for live music/broadcast events etc., because at other times people will use normal headphones.

[@NolzXD]

honestly my biggest gripe with using IEMs is just that my ears get super waxy whenever I wear them for a prolonged period of time. I don't know if this is a problem for anyone else, but it definitely keeps me on team headphones

[@presence5834]

Me too

[@maxloval775]

Me too man, me too...

[@GangityBirdity]

Same man. I love IEMs but man them long sit hours will just create an ocean of wax in my ears

[@zeffmalchazeen3429]

this and when trying to talk/eat or drink, it feels weird.

[@recode8453]

i'm the opposite my ear produce more wax when i use my hd600 🤣

[@akiraishu4453]

Nice video! I used to use a lot of different IEMs, but ever since I switched to open-back headphones I never really use them that much in comparison. The main reason being that IEMs and closed headphones tend to generate more hearing fatigue, specially over long sessions. Open-back are still the best option when you have a comfortable pair and a quiet environment around you, but if you need isolation make sure to take rests every hour or so to avoid damaging your hearing, particularly over high volumes (that drown out any other sounds). Take care of your hearing, folks!

[@pyrobunny_mdpl]

I used IEMs for gaming exclusively for around 3-4 years, including in competitive and semi-pro tournament play. I also collect some higher end headphones and audio gear, both IEMs and over ears. Here are the opinions I formed over that time period: You really need to sit down and utilize a pair of IEMs for 2+ weeks for the mental burn in to kick in. If you are moving to a new pair of anything after using a different headphone for a long period of time without change, it will sound weird and off to you. I find that 2 weeks is around the minimum point to actually adjust to something new, and over the first 1-2 months you will still be adjusting. Bass can be good, if you like that feedback, but I find that a tighter, controlled, and quick bass is better than having more. AKA, quality > quantity. Of course, this is a preference, and YMMV, so just like all of these opinions, take it with a grain of salt. Comfort is key, so finding an IEM that fits you well, and swapping tips to find one that suits your ears is a huge part of using them for gaming. Sessions can be long, especially during scrims or in tournament play, so finding the right fit is the biggest thing. Do keep in mind however, that changing tips does make a noticeable difference in sound presentation in IEMs, and this change can make or break something. Sometimes trying different tips on an IEM will make you like it a lot more, sometimes it will be a terrible tradeoff. Soundstage is important, but imaging is even more so. IEMs naturally tend to have smaller, more "intimate" soundstages, which actually is not a bad thing. For competitive play, you actually don't want too large a soundstage, as it can get congested with the amount of audio cues you are looking for. What is more important for competitive play is imaging and separation, as you want to be able to pick out the individual sounds and where they are coming from, even if yhou don't have as large a space to place them in. Of course, if you are looking for immersion in something like a singleplayer RPG, you will probably want soundstage instead. Price is not a good representative factor of quality. Some things that cost quite a lot of money may not be the best fit for you, and some things that are cheap may be just right. I have experimented with IEMs from $10 up to around $1000, and my personal favorite pair for gaming costs a nice solid $40. At the end of the day, the best way to find something that works for you is to find the things that don't. When you try something, really give it a go for a week or two, and write down the things you like or don't like. Use these lists to slowly lock down the features and qualities you like, then try the next pair. Is this the cheapest way? Not at all, but start with very cheap budget options to get yourself into this, then if you are wanting to invest in a more expensive pair, do a LOT of research to see what scales up those qualities you find the most important to you. Hope this helps someone!

[@hachikuji]

what's your favorite gaming pair?

[@rahmankind2196]

@@hachikuji blon bl -03

[@elizarr3069]

"semi pro" more like you played on a team with your friends and never went anywhere with it and now have an inflated ego about it.

[@Shraavaan]

@@hachikuji Moondrop Aria

[@nahdifferentguy4888]

After all that not going to list your favorite pair at 40 bucks? Lol

[@oscara.2636]

Grade on your footage is top tier on this one mate. Really, really good job, skin tones look amazing, contrast is good. Nice one.

[@thomast6907]

Hate wearing headphones, hate sticking things in my ears even more. Such is life.

[@ventilate4267]

same

[@Tard129]

Koss KSC75 👌

[@Rapto832]

Speakers 😳

[@ToxicTheEagle]

@@Tard129 how is the audio quality on those?

[@iNViSiBiLiTi]

@@ToxicTheEagle one of the best headphones under $150, biggest downside is the rolled off bass.

[@theWynn3]

Just recently switched from a headset to earbuds for playing apex. The comfort after long sessions really is a game changer. Honestly just been using the cheap Apple earphones that used to come with the iPhone and they work great for apex and discord. Saw some pro players using them so I gave it a try

[@ElvB]

aceu

[@rionlkzz]

Same here...

[@syedarman4720]

one of my friend said the same thing.He was inspired by aceu

[@kannamustafa6043]

I think all of you struggling with headphone have used bad headphones so far when it comes to comfort ,try a pair of Sony MDR-1A ,they are the most comfortable headphones

[@ErnPrivado]

I been using earpods and for me its the most comfortable sets of earphones ever.

[@ryanbaker81]

I’m a guitar player who plays out live a lot, I use custom molded IEMs when I gig. I started using them for gaming and mixing audio at home and I don’t think I could ever go back to over the ear headphones. Not only do they sound better in games, they are significantly more comfortable and less sweaty lol.

[@---us7qf]

@Ryan Baker: "less sweaty." Hahahahaha! I want the Sennheiser IE900

[@gaarajeffri1512]

Oh wow that's super awesome! What kind of IEM do you use and how you custom molded it :o

[@ryanbaker81]

@@gaarajeffri1512 I got mine through a company called Alclair and had the molds done at an audiologist.

[@t1995roger10]

Yes! I'm contemplating on what type of audio upgrade I need to make for my gaming setup and this is the perfect video!

[@ivegyattocomment]

from where i'm at, the climate and weather always makes me perspire. i'm using the logitech G733, Philips SHP9500 and the moondrop aria from time to time, using the IEM gives me alot more isolation and clarity but it really needs to fit in snug sometimes when it came off without you realizing and suddenly everything sounded awful....

[@vergodagoat]

I too often P e r s p i r e

[@joshuagoh1087]

Don’t u just hate it when you P E S P E R A T E

[@devotedtospeed]

you're literally the most versatile youtuber EVER. you know what you were talking about when you talked about custom keyboards and switches, you're basically a professor when it comes to gaming mice, you understand gaming monitors in and out, and now you're explaining about audiophile grade IEMs??? DAMN

[@devotedtospeed]

question, however: you mentioned that audiophile grade IEMs that tend to be flat are fatiguing when it comes to playing games, doesn't that apply to the 58x's too? i'm a music producer and am looking to buy ATH R70x which are open back headphones that are famous for their wide soundstage and incredibly flat sound, which is what i'm looking for when it comes to music production, but i play valorant a lot too, so would it be a problem?

[@absp2006]

We're entering "Joshua Valour" levels of aesthetic in these vids now that we're taking about audio.

[@yujonpradhananga9999]

Thats what i noticed

[@extremelydave]

Although I have no intention of buying IEM's, I watched this and comment to thwart the evil KZbin algorithm. Take THAT KZbin algorithm!!!! Don't mess wit Mr Optimum! He' the next best thing to a marvel superhero!

[@TheDeadBacon]

If you guys like what was said about the comfort of the IE300 but don't wanna break the bank, I'd recommend the SSP, another Moondrop IEM (same brand as the Arias). Those things are honestly insanely good for their $40 price tag (Focusing on a bit of mid-bass thump) and easily the most comfortable headphones I have ever used.

[@itsyaboymaaaa]

Love your channel, the quality is phenomenal, and always seem to get my click, especially compared to other tech channels, where some videos may not appeal to me, but your more esports/competitive and production viewpoint really hits the nail on the head for me. Thanks!

[@YngHstlr]

Huge fan of your channel bro, production quality is phenomenal in every aspect! Keep it up 😁

[@taanneth]

I've actually been gaming with moondrop aria's for a while now! I took it one step forward and paired them with the null audio ethos mkIII pro (cable), which gives you a boom mic and combo jack for a real headset/mic for gaming

[@drewmorg.]

That is really cool, good to know

[@glickstar1023]

is the mic quality like modmic quality or hyperx cloud quality?

[@taanneth]

@@glickstar1023 honestly I don't really know. I only ever use it for voice chat so I never record with it. My friends say it sounds really good but my last mic was a toaster so anything is a step up

[@This.Is.Ambient]

Something related to audio finally something that I always wanted

[@PowerL1N3]

These are really F#%*IN’ GOOD! My setup for these are: IEM: BLON BL-03. Custom Cable: Acid Purple Hart Audio PC-3: Dual Angled 2-pin (QDC) Balanced IEM Cable w/ a female 4-pin mini XLR and a male 4-pin mini XLR to a 90 degree 3.5mm TRS interconnect line. Custom Ear Tip: Midnight Purple Eartune Fidelity Custom IEM Ear Tip Altogether for me is the ultimate band for your buck in an IEM!

[@SLiX-thatguy11m-]

I shifted to IEMs but have them plugged in my HyperX 7.1 Sound Card from my Cloud 2s. Of course I don't use 7.1, but the sound card just really works so well for games.

[@driftwize]

Did you get any noise floor or hiss using this set up?

[@JJGAMERCOOL]

@@driftwize I am using the same setup with crinacle x truthear zeros and have had no issues as long as the 7.1 feature is off

[@egsi]

I really appreciate how you make it easy to understand, using words like directional audio, instead of imaging. In competitive shooters, for reasons other than immersion, a good soundstage is not needed. Imaging is paramount to give you the most competitive edge.

[@Dasbeerboots]

You must not understand what soundstage is then.

[@egsi]

@@Dasbeerboots Why is that? There's a reason most pros use IEMs

[@Vonliktenstien]

Had the Moondrop Starfields for years. The Arias are supposedly the same (very slightyl warmer) for cheaper so def can recc

[@talalalghamdi342]

Do you use an Amp or a Dac with the Moondrop?

[@feasttree]

@@talalalghamdi342 No amp needed, a dac is always nice but not needed either. I can run my arias straight from my phone with more than enough volume.

[@feasttree]

I consider arias a more "fun" starfield.

[@animealpha4795]

for years ? it's like a year old.....

[@copsfoundme]

Do you use it for gaming aswell? Fps games particularly?

[@hypist]

The timing of this upload is crazy. I was considering purchasing some IEMs yesterday, ended up buying some HD6XX’s and a schiit stack. Maybe in the future I’ll give IEM’s a try. Great upload as always 🙏

[@MatMediaTV]

Yes!!! Finally an IEM video from you. Wooo hoooo!!!!

[@jasonfriesen5145]

I have a pair of desktop monitors hooked up to my evo 4 for everyday use and work, and then for more sound critical work (I work from home) and gaming I have a headset. You don't get the spatial sound for gaming with desktop speakers, but for music and general productivity I've really appreciated them.

[@DavidFrycSaber]

I just bought Shure SE846, their flagship model. Fantastic audio across the entire soundstage My open backs, Hifiman DEVAs, were fantastic at high and mid clarity, sometimes spooking me with how lifelike the sound was, and excellent at pinpointing location, but the weaker bass (a tradeoff you make for planar magnetic technology compared to traditional cans for the superior mid and highs but lacking that sub effect) affected gameplay at times, notably in the detection of soft foot steps.

[@jamesmachinn6356]

la crème de la crème

[@yurifachini]

I'm a musician and a have a lot of IEM's. I have the Aria and i´d recommend the CCA CRA (Not the CCA CRA+). It's 15$. It's really cheap. imo it's even better than the Aria(for gaming). Specially if you guys never had an IEM or just wanna try one out. It's 15$ for god's sake.

[@JSONNN]

Really glad you came out with this. I've been trying to find some good buds/iems for gaming but didn't want to waste money 3-4 times to find a good product!

[@wahidtrynaheghugh260]

spread apart your 580’s… the clamping force is infamous with sennheisers. Make sure to do it individually to the exposed metal, not the plastic headband. Apply the pressure with your thumbs and hold for a minute or so.

[@Morden97]

Aria are an excellent all-rounder, I'm SO HAPPY with them, I seriously just love them

[@furiouslx5303]

Im planning on buying those, how is the directional sounds?

[@Elrics_Allenn]

never expect to see aria and ie300 from this channel at all but wow nice touch

[@saajith]

my two biggest fetishes being a gamer and an audiophile, thanks for such a great perspective on the topic mate.

[@timekeep3r]

@bruh He said what he said

[@IStratz]

Quick tip I found out about people that want to use IEMs for gaming and talking. If you get bothered by that sound of having your ears plugged when talking, you don't need to buy an external mixer like the GoXLR. If you have like a USB microphone that has a headphone passthrough for monitoring on it, you can enable it as a playback device in windows and level the microphone volume and normal computer audio with it. I have the Audio Technica ATR2500 and it works great for me. It's like 100 bucks or so and a great microphone. Only downside is you have to have a microphone boom arm and all that in front of your face.

[@chrisroberts826]

What about if you are using IEMs on console? I love my Crinacle Zero’s but hearing my own voice when talking to friends basically makes the game audio non-existent.

[@silentofthewind]

I have triple driver Shure IEMs that I've used for a while now for music listening. I tried them out for Valorant at one point and was blown away by how much more I could hear. Definitely recommend swapping.

[@wavetoearf]

how much?

[@OhKrezy]

whiche model of the shures? Im between buying the AZ's or Shures

[@Alan-up6gr]

i've been using the MoonDrop Aria for last 6 months or so! i can tell you overall gaming or music, it's the best bang for ur buck

[@brynrls]

I personally love my IEMs for gaming. I use it for music as well though and its very amazing. I used headsets in the pasts and well its very uncomfortable for a guy who wears glasses (in my experience). So earphones and IEMs work best for me.

[@valoranttrashcam802]

3:50 loved the touch of "depending on how you go outside". sounds fair

[@genmaicha_]

holy crap, a tech channel that actually respects audiophiles instead of blowing them off like most other tech channel. kudos!

[@uncleryo3989]

I know its super late to comment. But my experience with IEM's. Yes they're comfortable, yes they feel light. But i "Destroyed" my left ear and ear canal over few years. Suffered some hearing loss in the left ear as well. Switched to speakers when listening regular things and open back headphones for that "competitive" gaming need.

[@giuniral]

I suffered sudden hearing loss in my left ear about four ears ago, so sound stage is irrelevant in my case. IEMs allow me to use very low audio levels to protect my right ear, because of its natural sound isolation. I have a pair of Samsung/AKG that are surprisingly good. I wish I could get 50% off for the purchase of new ones though 😅.

[@mammy24]

Try KZ ZSN Pro X in Ear Buds, They are 25 bucks and amazing.

[@silentnative0134]

Great video, and info as usual dude. Thank you for your content.

[@TheLEGITstuff]

a few months ago i got sick of having "headset hair" so i got a pair of shure 215's and although headset quality is better, i do really enjoy using them. the sound is pretty solid but the only downside is that with the shure 215's the "sss" sounds can be quite harsh (in game example - sound effect when picking up armor in doom). also note if you switch from headset to IEM's you will need a mic of some kind. cool video! unlike a lot of other pc and tech channels you always make vids on some great/interesting topics and of course always excellent quality!

[@zahitemremetin606]

Shure SE215 is pretty much outdated, its sound quality is not that good for its price and yes, its treble response can be quite harsh as you said.

[@Soundaholic92]

Sounds like you're very sensitive to sibilance which is something I also suffer from

[@KelvinKamsg]

google equalizer APO + peace gui for a windows system wide equalizer. It's free, then reduce the sibilance frequencies (somewhere around 5-8khz from what I can recall) and you should be good.

[@spark9_]

Each of your videos are golden man

[@enoch7794]

I've been using $25 KZ ZST X for 4 months now, couldn't be happier. Heat buildup in headphones made me switch to IEMS.

[@kamranbay9303]

Hah, just wrote KZ if I can find someone using one. I use that too. I have AT m50x, Sennheiser 598, sony 1000xm4.. But KZ + Foam tips is my fav!

[@Xerathful]

@@kamranbay9303 How are the basses,lows,tribes and gaming performance?

[@ziggyziggler]

Great video, I have always wondered about iems. Thanks and keep up the good stuff.

[@hal9xxx321]

YAY more Moondrop stuff

[@dabordz]

love your channel man and that sky nade at 6:28 was chefs kiss

[@can1bbl3]

Bought a pair of KZ ZSTx for like $20. It sounds insane. Perfect for gaming too! Footsteps are clear and soundstage for gunshots are pretty good too!

[@fabricionaweb]

This is good stuff! There are a tons of chi-fi over there that worth attention

[@enoch7794]

@@fabricionaweb Same here, I've beat mine up for 4 months and still holding up well.

[@Juice8767]

BROOOOOO!!!! I know this is an older video (and weirdly like the anniversary now that I see the upload date) but I watch it here and there when I'm browsing for buds and the IE300's were on sale for 200$ so I finally caved and they are AMAZING!!! I feel like they aren't quite airy enough for what I like with music (although track separation is killer) but you are spot on about them for gaming. I've been running a few of my favorite games all night and not only do I find myself wanting to look over my shoulder from some of the queues but I've been hearing sounds from wildlife/smaller monsters in Monster Hunter that I wasn't even aware made sounds in the first place. Anyway, even though took me a bajillion watches before I grabbed them, thanks for the recommendation 👌

[@baddster]

Now get yourself the Fosi Audio Q4 gaming DAC amp. You will thank me later.

[@vsynccx4263]

Thoughts a year later? Im on the same boat and really considering the IE300's for gaming and music

[@ゼファーの趣味部屋]

I also recently swiched to IEMs after using the Sennheiser HD598 over 6 years. I am using the Sennheiser IE400pro with balanced cable connected into iFi ZENDAC and sound is amazing! Not only the sound quality and confiness but the foot steps on APEX are easier to hear. I dont see myself going back to headphones

[@sergei9912]

So excited to see IEM scene get some love

[@deviouslaw]

I've got HD58X that I use more for music but also HD598's that are always attached to my PC. They're a lot looser and more comfortable in the long term compared to the 58X, at least mine are. Literally never an issue with comfort - more comfortable than IEMs in my experience.

[@softxpandguest708]

Second voice chiming in for the old HD598 cans. They are ridiculously comfortable - you can wear them all day long and never notice. They have a HUGE soundstage for gaming, and ridiculously good audio quality for the price range. (But I find IEMs to be *incredibly* uncomfortable and give me ear infections.)

[@CODE-BROWN]

I've never had luck with Sennheisers, my head is too big and the clamping force sucks on them. If you want a fresh experience without breaking the bank, check out the Philips SHP9500's or whatever the current equivalent is. They are VERY GOOD for the price, $80 the last time I bought a set.

[@deviouslaw]

@@CODE-BROWN Point of my post is that every Sennheiser does not fit the same - my head is on the larger side and no comfort issues with 598s - the old "Noctua-esque" color scheme. My 58X on the other hand, yeah they fit a bit tight for very long term wear. I would like to check out a pair of the philips though.

[@RG-eh3ds]

One of us! One of us! Scale of the soundstage is much less important than the ability to draw a precise sound stage and localize sounds within it. Just wait until you’re tempted into a CIEM, the comfort is significantly better than a universal fit IEM.

[@xxxMaddysoNxxx]

I've been contemplating recently about custom IEM's for gaming and I thinka great endgame option would be some hybrid (balanced armature for highs and dynamic driver for lows). I really contemplate going for that although the price for it is gonna reach like $600-650. Nothing will beat the comfort of the custom molded earpieces of the IEM's but you will probably need to EQ them to your taste and break them in and it might take a while.

[@kannamustafa6043]

Have you tried Chifi ?KZ earphones like ZSN are a good place to try ,very comfortable out the box

[@abdullahwasif4623]

@@kannamustafa6043 seconded

[@kannamustafa6043]

@彡SEＮPＡí彡 not sure which models you have tried but for me that I always struggled with earphones the KZ with their shape plus over ear cable have been unmatched ,EDXs are super comfy because they are lightweight

[@madl99]

@@kannamustafa6043 kz trash brand

[@shadowfury880]

Try the Moondrop Blessing 2’s! They have a nice semi-custom shape, although they’re quite large so if you have small ears they might not be for you

[@kylerclarke2689]

Oh. Crazy to see moondrop on this channel. IEM fans rise up. There are dozens of us

[@jeus_saaa]

hey your video's getting a lot of attention in the audiophile community. awesome! been using Arias and BLO3s myself for sound direction reliant games like R6 and Valorant. You're probably the first western techtuber who dove in Chifi IEMs (not sure if Joshua Valour and DMS are considered techtubers since they're heavily focused on audio and audio only)

[@ishan21212]

Are you able to drive the arias sufficiently from your pc without the need of a dac/amp? I've heard the moondrop ones, particularly the arias and the spaceship reference series need proper driving to achieve their full potential.

[@minapenguin7107]

I have a question, which has better sound quality, the Arias or Blon 03? I have the Blon 03 and I want an upgrade. Are the Arias good upgrade from Blon 03?

[@mjl8083]

@@minapenguin7107 if you want an upgrade from Blon BL03, you may consider Tanchjim Oxygen, single DD (~$280) or 7hz Timeless, planar (~$200)

[@jeus_saaa]

@@minapenguin7107 since you already have the BL03 i don't think you would need an Aria anymore. The Aria is more of a sidegrade with a better balance between bass and treble.

[@jeus_saaa]

​@@ishan21212 I mean I can use them with my phone just fine so I think it should be fine on a stock pc as well. The notion of "achieving full potential" really depends on what you're doing on it. If for critical listening with flac etc then yes. If gaming, I don't think so.

[@RanmaSaotome1_2]

If your playing competitive shooters IEMs are the way to go. You don't have a headband pressing against the top of your head for hours and If you get one with good imaging and decent soundstage then it's actually better for picking out footsteps than most headsets. I recently bought 2021 Tanchjim Hana and prefer playing competitive fps with it over my Sennheiser PC38x. Only negative is I don't have a mic so if I really want to communicate then I'll play with the Sennheisers.

[@Raumpilot]

I'm still using a 30€ Headset bought on Amazon five years back. This video comes just in time as I am looking for some upgrade

[@TheDeadBacon]

If you want great quality at a budget, consider the Moondrop SSPs (same brand as the Aria). Most comfy things ever (at least for me), plenty resolving, and a pretty laid back sound signature. Definitely my go-to for budget buds.

[@ishan21212]

@@TheDeadBacon did you use a dac/amp with the moondrops?

[@shaggy0917]

If you're still looking for an upgrade, buy the Etymotic ER2XR IEMs and a simple USB microphone. You can get both for like $125CAD so probably under 100 Euro. It'll be leaps and bounds better audio quality for both yourself and everyone who you're talking to.

[@deathVIAavatar]

I recently did the same experiment after seeing HardwareCanucks post a video about it. It came at a good time because I was using a wired pair of Steel Series Arctis 7 with the included mixer, but they were trapping heat on my ears, and I couldn't stand the sound of the cord rubbing on stuff and coming through the earcups. So, I switched to a pair of kz linsoul IEMs. Budget friendly at like $45. They were half the price of the Arctis 7s and all around better for my use case - no more heat, no more cord sound. I'm keeping my eye though on the wireless IEM scene as it appears to be kicking off, so fingers crossed we get a solid offering that doesn't break the bank.

[@BugsAreFeatures]

I wonder what IEMs they use on pro cs/val stages, as far as I've been told those big bulky headphones are just for noise cancelation and they actually have IEMs for sounds..

[@TurkeyOW]

Correct, I have no clue either as to the specifics but what goes over the ear are ear muffs like the ones you get for a gun range.

[@NyteStalker89]

Most of those are probably custom molded IEMS, not mass produced ones. Custom molds are just better over all

[@alfredjones8576]

@@NyteStalker89 You'd be surprised by how many just use the sponsored inears. In siege, the whole Faze roster was using Razer hammerheads. I think the Shure SE215 or 535 was incredible popular for a couple years. Now custom molded are getting more popular. Just people put so much emphasis on having the best inears, when a lot of the time the best players just use what they're given.

[@xMychal]

not sure if they use iems for val lans since there arent any crowds but I think cs plays mainly used ones that were given to them by sponsors

[@tempurarocky9171]

Pros dont use good audio.

[@captainpicard3016]

I agree I also found IEMs to be the best for me. 1. Compared to over and on ear headphones, my ear doesn't get warm and sweaty. 2. The clamping force of headphones always hurt my head after extended period of time 3. I tried ANC but ANC is expensive, the isolation of IEMs also works to reduce background noise even when I am not playing anything. The pressure feeling of ANC also becomes fatiguing. 4. I'm a heavy user, I break roughly a pair of earphones every year, Apple Earpods, Samsung AKG, JBL, I broke them all. IEMs have replaceable wires, way cheaper to replace the wire and allows me to invest in higher quality drivers. 5. The fact that I can use IEMs everywhere means I get the same great sound quality anytime. My first pair of IEM is the KZ EDX, very good sound quality (better than AKG, JBL) for less than $10. Buy something cheap like this to see if the earhook style IEMs is comfortable for you or not. Currently I'm using KZ DQ6, the triple dynamic drivers produce very nice bass and the high is not fatiguing. I don't feel the need to upgrade any further for now because high quality audio equipment is only as good as the content you listen to it with. Half the time I couldn't distinguish the difference my EDX and DQ6

[@Hyydrotoo]

For me it's the opposite, I prefer headsets over iem because in ear feels way less comfortable to me. I wear in ear all day for music on the go, and switching to headset at home just feels better.

[@-kahmi-]

I used to think like you but turned out I never had the right size of tips for my ears is all it was

[@nezunish-2-824]

IEM for me is really good for when your going outside , it easy to carry and portable , but the downside is that my right inner ear is slightly bigger than my left so the bass sound doesn't become balance which is really annoying

[@DuBstep115]

@@-kahmi- My Creative Outlier Gold IEM came with 8 different tip sized and no of them are perfect fit. Got my Rig 800hd for 49€ from sale (149€ normally ) and it just perfect. zero weight even after 8-12h and +24h battery life.

[@Arado159]

That's one reason, another is that I just find it easier to put on and take of an over ear headphone than having to pull out IEMs everytime and worry about getting a good seal again each time that I get up to from my chair.

[@anurag2877]

I was looking for this kind of video for sometime now

[@z_Cobb]

1:10 - The Incredible True Story! This channel gets better and better every day

[@l0pkast]

Got the Moondrop Arias cause of this vid and I am extremely happy. Much appreciated and keep up the good work mate.

[@newvideocomingsoon2889]

What about mic is it good ?

[@Delbs1]

I would totally use IEMs, but I have a liiiittle issue with those: Wait for it... *EAR WAX* I legit used my IEMs for just 2 hours/day and the amount of wax accumulated was enough to partially seal my ear, even with a great higiene routine. I've heard from a lot of otolaryngologists that using IEMs for way too long might give you long term issues Sad to say, I rather hear clearly and getting a more rigid "neck workout" than slowly loosing my hearing hability :/

[@hiriotapa1983]

True, IEMs are a problem with regards to excessive earwax accumulation

[@nocomplyyy]

You should try Koss KSC75s + Mods, hear the imaging is amazing for the super cheap price. Just a fun experiment

[@mimotojiyt]

FINALLY SOMEONE DOES A VIDEO ABOUT THIS THANK YOU!!

[@radspeed113]

It's always cool to see someone with the same gear you have

[@This.Is.Ambient]

Very satisfying videos

[@Boemtie]

Love this, we need more iem options! great review

[@playingcalm5116]

The FiiO FH5s is great for this purpose, especially VR. They sound great for music but also have a large soundstage due to being semi-open back.

[@solitary200]

Welcome to the world of IEM's. I suggest you try out Comply foam tips, and eventually work your way towards Custom IEM's. I also recommend you check out APEX plugs to allow for sound pressure equalization in your ear canal. Not all IEM's support this feature, but 64 Audio does.

[@vlthara]

I am currently using Blon Bl03, it also has a fun sound signature and i use it to Play PUBG PC. Using Equalizer APO and with some tweak in EQ, It is really comfortable and the sound stage is quite good. Footsteps are clear and the direction of gun shots are easy to identify.

[@EisMann61]

I have a Blon 03 too and i've been using it since 2019

[@techwolfcave]

Started using IEMs for 2+ years now, it's great. Amazing sound when listening to music and especially playing games. I agree with you.

[@mr.lonely_xi1829]

Yo I've been wanting this review for so long

[@Kokinkun]

Unrelated to IEMs, but loved your old video about your Audient EVO4 + Shure SM7B mic setup. I was sick of my Blue Yeti, so I recently upgraded to a Presonus PD-70 xlr dynamic mic and considered the Audient EVO4, but moved up to the Audient iD4. Man the Audient iD4 really changed up how my Senneheiser HD 6XX sounded! That was coming from an already good $110 DAC/AMP, a Micca OriGen G2. My 6XX sounds so much livelier with more definition while getting a wider soundstage, like it swapped to having more focus on instrumentals compared to a hyper-focus on vocals. Audient really makes great audio interfaces, wouldn't have even known about them if it wasn't for you, so thank you Ali.

[@RealTheNatoorat]

I've been using KZ ZSN Pro X (thanks Dankpods!), and they are excellent, however I still do prefer full closed back headphones (I have AKG K275). On th other hand, I do have Crative SoundBlaster Audigy FX and a separate amplifier, so they do sound "more" if that makes sense. Also, I would like to point out that wearing IEMs does make more damage to the skin inside of your ears and (I did hear about it ages ago) they tend to greatily increase risk of ear infection, if worn over long persiods of time.

[@TheKb117]

thus the need for a more periodic cleaning both for the iem and tips, and your ear canals. Also you have to explore what type of material suits you best for tips, the one you won't have any allergic reaction to. If no health issues, foams are best for isolation but not economical (though would still depend on how cheap a good foam is), silicon best for economy with some isolation (imho, better to splurge on good silicon for durability). From exp, been using inverted silicon star tips included in my KZ ZSN PRO on my Blon-03. Had soreness/infection issues earlier on (music is so sweet I almost have them on 24/7. hahaha... Resolved with almost daily maintenance of nozzle, tips with alcohol, and after bath ear canal cleaning with a metal earwax pick, just don't overdo it to irritation... hth, fyi

[@pashagoon]

as an owner of kz zsn pro x's, i agree that its actually great for fps games imo like valorant and csgo.

[@kamranbay9303]

I got Foam eartips for my ZST x, and trust me, it will change your mind about IEMs ))

[@NNfullsend]

I guess i need more headphones/headsets/earbuds content from you..much love

[@nO_3Xcuses]

I have splurged on many high and low end iem’s over the years including the IE 300. That said, when it comes to gaming nothing beats open back headphones. That said, a IEM in the 300 to 500 dollar price range or less is all that one needs when it comes to gaming at the high end. The trick is finding the right IEM in that price range. Here is my experience on both the low and the high end iem’s that I have owned over the years as far as sound and directional 3D imaging is concerned Bose QuietComfort 20 (excellent) 5 Sennheiser IE 300 (good) 4 Sennheiser IE 400 pro (okay+) 3.5 Campfire Andromeda (good) 4 Optoma NuForce HEM6 (excellent) 5 beyerdynamic Xelento (good+) 4.5 Final VR3000 gaming (very poor) 1 Audio Technica ATH-IM02 (poor) 2 Rose Mini3Pro (okay) 3 etc..

[@АртемСапунов-н5д]

i have fiio fh3, they good in sound, but direction is not, have you heard them already? May be you can compare them with yours?

[@E3NoMODz]

Thank you for sharing your experience !

[@SilverDetroit]

Interesting take especially given the HD58X aren't really that wide sounding for Open back headphones.

[@papaowen]

You've sold me on the Moondrop Arias! Thank you

[@id104335409]

How did you grow these bear arms sitting 12 hours on the desk???

[@boomerang-digital8514]

by lifting heavy things

[@FromDkWithLove]

Dumbbells tied to both arms, neck and balls. Also that gamer chair is only for video purposes. Off camera he squats for 12 hours straight every day.

[@cjeffcoatjr]

I LOVE my IE300s. I've been through lots of (much, much more expensive) audiophile gear, and the IE300s are the perfect compliment to my HD650s. I've reached endgame with my HD650s, IE300s, Qudelix 5k, and AirPods Pro.

[@henrygg295]

I'm gonna buy the ie 300 soon too, I've got the ie 900 right now but I'm gonna return them. For that money, they don't blow me away in any way. Joshua said "bass king" but I barely hear any bass and I'm not even a basshead. I just think that they're so neutral, they sound too boring for my taste. Previously I had the Beyerdynamic Xelento for 650€ and they beat the ie 900 by far for half the price, the bass is WAY better in quantity and quality, it is definitely v-shaped but also the detail is far superior to the ie 900. The ie 900 has this "smooth" and clean sound but not that crystal clear sound which the Xelento offers. Sadly my ears are just too goddamn small that I can't wear the Xelento, so I had to return them. The comfort of the ie 900 is nice tho and I heard that the ie 300 has more bass and it is basically the same shape, so I hope I'll be happy with the ie 300.

[@henrygg295]

Ok, got the ie 300 and idk.. they have good bass and decent resolution but everything sounds so dark and vocals pretty recessed. I can't even appreciate the bass because there is no contrast to the mids/upper mids because just everything feels so dark imo.

[@drewmorg.]

@@henrygg295 Damn that sucks. Reviews like yours are what keeps me from pulling the trigger on a set. I had one experience with some Shure E2 something's like 15 years ago and they did not impress me AT ALL for $200. I returned them. Audio equipment is just so difficult to get right.

[@henrygg295]

@@drewmorg. well, you can always return products. But a little update: Since I wrote the first comment I have advanced more in my audio experience. I heard the Xelento once more and they sound pretty similar to the ie 300, better resolution yes but not much. I was wrong about the ie 900 being worse. After listening to a lot of dark iems, I think I didn't appreciate the ie 900 enough. It is actually amazing for a V-shape. It's not overdone and the mids are the best I've heard yet and that says a lot for a v-shape. I tried to eq the ie 300 just like the ie 900 but it doesn't even come close. The ie 900 really has something special in the mids and it sounds as natural as it gets. Also, I realized I liked A LOT of bass, so that they didn't have bass probably was a deception. For the ie 300, I just kept it and the more I listen to it, the more I get used to the vocals and the earphone does a good job of seperating them. For 300€ I think they're worth, if you like the tuning ofc but now they cost 200 which is a nobrainer tbh. I actually prefer it over the Xelento because the Xelentos treble is nowhere near as exciting as the ie 300, in fact the Xelento, even though hardly v-shaped, sounds in hindsight pretty uninspiring. Some say the ie 300's treble is peaky but I'm really sensitive to treble and don't have any problems, I even use other tips (which you should because the stock tips are quite frankly the worst I've come across in any iem) and the thing is that the stock tips use foam to filter the treble. Also, the ie 300 has exceptional imaging, the best I've heard in any iem or even headphone and I have the Sundara. In comparison, the Xelento is really weak and the resolution is maybe 5% better.

[@drewmorg.]

@@henrygg295 Cool thanks. And yes I did see the IE 300 at $199 and the price does sound amazing. Comfort is the main reason Id buy the Sennheiser lineup over other IEM's. They look small and fit right there cozily into your conch. I don't like the big bulbous ones that stick out, I had some TWS Jaybird Vista that I also returned because they were just so bulky just felt like a brick in my ear hole and conch. The AirPods Pro in contrast are petite.

[@DaneHarrigan]

Is the stock cable long enough for desk use? I'd love to see some Optimum Cable Management

[@Dropo__]

Thank you for this review! I been on the fence about buying the Sennheiser IE 300s, but after watching this… I’m gonna pull the trigger!

[@enricobononi8655]

Considering 99.9% of players use Realtek onboard sound chip i would not spend 300$

[@mob_status]

Wait are we not supposed to 😭

[@dxrrk]

@@mob_status no you buy a separate dac lmaooo

[@askeladden450]

​@@dxrrkyou dont need a dac with most iems and low to mid end headphones. Modern mobile and PC motherboard onboard chips are good enough for that.

[@Asd777.]

Just got my IE 300 THEY ARE AMAZING!!

[@Tarkov.]

For some reason IEMs always hurt my ears after about a day of usage and it takes like a week to recover. I've been thinking about getting some on-ear headphones like the old Koss everybody loves

[@ventilate4267]

superlux best

[@Dionyzos]

I had the same problem with my AirPods Pro but it seems like my ears got used to it after a while. Maybe it's worth a shot to push through the pain for a while haha

[@mocknugget]

I use IEMs they're great! Especially if you have a noisy background, Noise isolations on these things are awesome.

[@The_only_Higgsinspace]

I use the ThieAudio Monarch. Can feel the rumble in my chest (weird what the brain can do)

[@buzzlightyearoh]

I expect $700 headphones to wipe my ass when I poop honestly

[@trench6118]

The monarch mk2 is on sale where I live. Think I should go for it? I have the hd800 headphones now but I’m looking for IEMs to supplement ( annoying wearing headphones all of the time)

[@RebornzHItman]

Awesome video I was thinking about getting some Moondrop IEM as well

[@-kahmi-]

for low budget, some chi-fi IEMs are pretty good, I tested the KZ EDX which are incredibly good for how cheap they are but mostly use Blon 03 which are a little bit pricier but still far less than moondrops

[@ulfricstormcloak7142]

There are Moondrop Spaceship & newer Moondrop Quarks (last month) which cheaper than Blon 03

[@DschungelKatze]

@@ulfricstormcloak7142 And now there's Moondrop Chu for just $20. Also the cable on quarks is just unbearable.

[@ulfricstormcloak7142]

@@DschungelKatze I'm tempted to buy Chu when they announced it last month but managed to hold myself XD

[@DschungelKatze]

@@ulfricstormcloak7142 I just went ahead and bought it

[@onikrux]

Love my Sennheiser IEMs maan, I'm so impressed w the directional audio, and I too love listening to music with a punch while I game 😅🍻 I use the ie45 which is alot cheaper but still hits.

[@imribiy]

I just started chifi IEMs for gaming last week too, actually im surprised how greatly it performs (KZ ZSN PRO)

[@TheKb117]

and as with every hobby, you have just been introduced to a gateway "drug"... tread lightly, it's a rabbit hole... with perk of being affordable (dependent on your region, though)... Happy journeys... ChiFi, where innovations is affordable. Your buying the tech and design, not the name, IMHO... hahahah Safe Travels and Be Well

[@imribiy]

@@TheKb117 thanks, im actually surprised how well made these things are. im thinking about to get another one, so i guess im just at the beginning of the rabbit hole lol

[@abhilashaanil7440]

Kz zs10pro blon bl03 , kbear ks2 , tin iems r all cheap and very good iems they really puch way above their price tag

[@animealpha4795]

You have my respect for acknowledging the audiophile pov. Most techtubers have no idea what they are talking about when it comes to audio. The amount of times I've heard Nothing ears being called "good" and raycons "slightly" bassy gives me an aneurysm. I play with my Hifiman he400i's and they're fanstastic and unlike senns, their earcups have swivels do i can wear them for hours even though they are heavy AF !

[@Xerathful]

What games do you play mostly?

[@animealpha4795]

@@Xerathful warzone, valorant

[@Xerathful]

@@animealpha4795 With Hifiman he400i right? Do we need DAC,DAP or would mainboard be enough to feed it?

[@diamondxdragons]

I started using my FiiO FH3 IEMs right when I got them, curious to see how they did in gaming. I like soundstage more than anything and they got the job done, almost on par it sounded like with my Philips Fidelios X2HRs.

[@carlestrada]

Monarch Mk3's if you got the budget (and the ear canals for that "fun sound") and if you wanna splurge for top tier, Prestige LTD's for that more controlled bass and better separation. the journey begins once you step into the Aria territory of IEMS. I had those too until the condensation build up got insanely bad and I was replacing filters left and right. Moondrop journey began. Got the Blessing 2 after, then the Variations (which have been shelved for the longest time), then the Blessing 3(really good if you're looking for neutral sound), and then the B3 DUSK (amazing one that hits just right with the vocals in music). then I decided to splurge for a TOTL ThieAudio set, the Monarch MkIII's. and man has it been a journey ever since I got into the headphone game back in 2021. They've scratched every itch that I've been looking for in a set of IEMS. Fit and comfort is what I look for when I go wear IEMS for music/gaming, so for comfort, the B3 Dusk is the way to go, light, and easy on the ears (with their included spring tips) for low volume sessions. The Monarchs are chonky(same with the Blessing 2, 3, 3DUSK, and variations), so if you have small ears, it's not gonna be a comfy fit. I tried the Monarchs for both gaming and discord calls, and you do not want to be using top tier IEMS to talk with people with less than studio grade mics. these IEMS will show every, and I mean every flaw in both bad music mixes, and bad microphones (exaggerated pops and crackles, breathing, which most lower end cans will hide with their tuning and driver setup) edit: added chonk comparison