Quest for the Best Competitive Gaming IEMs Pt. 1 - Moondrop Aria & Moondrop Kato

[@khensationalReviews]

Finally I can hear my teammates even clearer fighting on VC after they both died while I'm trying to clutch the round. Thank you Sir Fresh.

[@FreshReviewsYT]

😂

[@ndenji9778]

You should review the new Moondrop Aria Snow Edition, the bass is reduced for a more neutral sound like the Kato's. The Snow Ed comes with other improvements like a better driver and a better cable. I would think this version would do better in competitive environments compared to the original arias since they have a more netrual-focused eq.

[@luxieldawnbringer]

Is the elven maiden have improvement too or just the same like snow edition sir?

[@nftbandit9645]

Yup! I use these for FPS gaming

[@haydenbritt1915]

This is the best review I have found for IEMs vs headphones in the context of competitive gaming. Thank you!

[@FreshReviewsYT]

Tyvm

[@haydenbritt1915]

@@FreshReviewsYT I'm new to IEMs. I've been wanting to get some because of headphone hair and earring pain. For competitive gaming, do I need to get an audio interface (or something like that) to use with the IEM or do I just plug it into my USB microphone (Blue Yeti) or tower?

[@iRodriguez_18]

Wow, you're covering exactly what im looking for, IEM information specifically for gaming at a high level. I do not care about movies or music or any other media lol, but 99% of the information out there is for those things specifically. Got a like, comment, and sub from me man. Thanks for the in-depth information.

[@CaptnKrksNippls]

More audio content from you, love to see it. As with the headphones I'm very interested in how you think many of these perform in game since most audio reviewers aren't in that scene.

[@sedraniM]

If you have a problem with the out of the box bass from headphones or IEM's and wanna fall deeper into the audiophile rabbithole, i can suggest you the Peace Equalizer Interface on the Equalizer APO and just remove some mid and sub bass and try them again. You will sometimes find sound gems behind a bass cannon with a little tweak that takes a minute. The Equalizer is a free software and known pretty well in the audiophile community

[@FreshReviewsYT]

Thanks for that

[@zahitemremetin606]

@@FreshReviewsYT kzbin.info/www/bejne/ooGkgICee7KKprM

[@anthrazeno1126]

I own the IE300 from Sennheiser and they absolutely blew me away for gaming. Shortly afterwards Optimum tech did a video on them actually using them as daily drivers. You might wanna check them out. Ofc I forgot to mention. Great video as always. You got me to buying the 900x as my open back headphones. Thx :)

[@elypeachy3296]

He's got the new video out about IE300 and others in case u missed it.

[@Wallacea98]

I just ordered my Kato's the day before this video was uploaded. I was looking everywhere to find any videos of people using them for gaming specifically valorant and apex. I talked to a bunch of people and these what were recommended by most. My options i was looking at were the Kato's, Yume Midnights, and 7Hz Timeless. From the people I've talked too everyone said the Kato's were by far the best for gaming purposes with superior imaging. Can not wait to try them out when they arrive. Awesome to see someone making the exact content I was looking for even if it cam out a day after I ordered the Kato's lol. Great video though, very informative. Earned a sub from me!!

[@97andreaas]

After 4 month of use do you raccomend the kato?

[@Wallacea98]

@@97andreaas yes they’ve been amazing for me

[@rowbott]

@@Wallacea98 hows the overall performance of the katos so far both music and game wise?

[@Wallacea98]

@@rowbott I love them, they’ve been great for both fps gaming and music

[@-Rambi-]

Been in Esports for many, many years. Nowadays I use HD800S overears and Finalaudio B3 IEMs, I do use B3 when tryharding. None of these are cheap and therefore maybe not used much by gamers but I do still highly recommend the B3.

[@USEERZID]

Hi there, iam still on quest for searching iem for gaming, are you still using the b3 at the moment? How good it's compared with a4000?

[@millenwagon]

Every time I watch your vids I’m always super impressed with how good you are at fps shooters, absolutely cracked

[@FreshReviewsYT]

Haha ty

[@xGnashty]

DUDE I am addicted to your videos… but the crazy thing is I got really into IEMs 2 weeks ago and been doing tons of research and then you drop this…. Wow lol.

[@FreshReviewsYT]

Hahaha love it!

[@1ua.]

its dope seeing a reviewer that is actually insane at games lmao

[@FreshReviewsYT]

Haha ty

[@ThNamesAL]

I think for budget competitive the HZsound Heart Mirror might be a better choice than the Arias, they are a bright and neutral set with really good detail retrieval for it's price, so no problem with bass overpowering some aspects like on the Arias.

[@Lock3n]

Imo it’s the 64 Audio u12t. Because of the 12 drivers in each piece, and the “neutral” sound signature, it does both competitive and immersive with no compromise. The god damn sound stage and imaging is as accurate as my HD800 S’ without the exaggerated part. I’ll never touch headphones again until they break, and even then I’ll try my best to get another pair.

[@FreshReviewsYT]

Going to check them out

[@Lock3n]

@@FreshReviewsYT It’s worth getting the custom ones, which are the A12ts. Same msrp but you’d have to go to an audiologist and get your ears impressed from anywhere to $60-120. Another option is sticking with the u12ts and getting custom fit ear tips from ADV Sound. If you’re one of those people who can get away by using common silicon tips like Spinfits and the like then it’s unnecessary. Foam tips sealed great but would cause discomfort for me personally. Note the a12ts have been known to sound more dark, but I believe this depends on each individuals ear shape.

[@shvd3x]

Speaking of IEM, try 7hz Timeless. They are best in its price category and have planar driver with its advantages.

[@Xerpocalypse_]

IME, the soundstage and imaging on the Timeless is pretty sub-par. It's a great sounding earphone, don't get me wrong, but I don't think it's the best option for gaming.

[@shijou2867]

is planar good

[@shijou2867]

im quite new to this

[@garfieldblessesyouwithadri3944]

@@shijou2867 its good but it has a huge shell and might be uncomfortable for some.

[@jomesguerra]

been seeing your vids from mouse pads to now IEMs , got me subbed for sure! need to find the best iems for val!

[@mimotojiyt]

Really hope you would come back to re-review the KATO

[@sedraniM]

Moondrop Variations (500$) is by far my favorite! Playing competetive Apex with those (Master) I have several IEM's. For competetive gaming in a better price bracket, i can suggest the Shuoer S12 (150$)

[@Xerpocalypse_]

+1, The Moondrop Variations are fantastic.

[@ryanbeflyin8388]

hmm instead if getting an heirloom i might have to get one of these haha :D

[@DiceySZN]

S12 good for Apex?

[@liorsb1585]

Great review always fun to watch :). I would suggest trying Moondrop Blessing 2 Dusk, 7Hz Timeless and Sennheiser IE 300.

[@FreshReviewsYT]

Good list. Might be the next lineup 😄

[@neveraskedforthis270]

I own the Arias and I have to agree, they're really nice for general use, but the separation and imaging is pretty mediocre. Would be cool for you to try the 7Hz Timeless and the Shuoer s12, two apparently really good planar iems.

[@FreshReviewsYT]

Going to check the 7hz for sure

[@waterbottler2761]

I main the 7hz timeless and they definitely sound amazing with their neutral with bass boost signature, but I wasn't too fond of the imaging, but it might just be my ears

[@dotaatod5510]

have the arias for 3 months now and I have to disagree; been my daily driver for competitive games such as apex (diamond) and valorant (immortal). never had a problem with imaging imo

[@Kworks86]

Sennheiser ie300 are pretty good for Soundstage as well, definitely my go to if i'm om the go.

[@jootai]

Another bump for the 7hz timeless. Cant wait to see what you think of those. Will hold of buying till you review them.

[@paavomakila]

I've been checking these out and couse of this review decided to buy Katos

[@josh1774]

The 64 Audio Duo are said to be the best IEMs for gaming. They are open back and tunable to you liking. They have a neutral sound signature to not wash out any sound ques. Twitch streamer LVNDMARK wears these and says they perform better than his Sennheiser HD660S.

[@richboii6597]

I’ve never heard anyone say that 660s are good for gaming. That’s a pretty low bar

[@BishieBishie]

Hell yeah, been waiting for this!

[@Tony-ui2sl]

Ahhh I wish I could sell my bose 300 for some IEMs my hair doesn't want to get mushed anymore. Can't wait for more content for the best IEMs 😌

[@parloca13]

IEM for games 1 - Aful performance 5 (199USD) 2 - Truthear nova (150USD) 3 - moondrop KATO (200USD) 4 - simgot EM6L (109 USD) 5 - thuthear crinacle zero RED (54 USD) 6 - Dunu Titan S (56USD) 7 - 7hz crinacle zero 2 (25 USD) Existem outros melhores ainda com mais definição e técnicos. Mas todos acima de 300 USD ( o que acho desnecessário para jogos) Essas opções já são sensacionais.

[@FreshReviewsYT]

Yes sir. Many are on my list 👍🏽

[@nir300]

Cool video series! Excited to see whats next! My main issue with IEM's is the need for a desk mic probably with a boom arm. Having my philips x2hr with vmic moda is much more convenient while gaming.

[@itsprod.472]

Same here but once you get a actual microphone (USB or XLR) there’s no issues. Tho I tend to struggle with the actual fit on most IEMs to the point which makes me think my ears aren’t meant for IEMS 😂 so I’m thinking about buying third party buds like those Spin fit ones

[@PrimusInvictus]

having an external arm hold the mic, instead of your head sounds more convenient to me, but to each their own

[@R.J.Mathews]

I find TIN T2 and T2 plus to be the perfect IEM's in a reasonable price range for directional audio.

[@sisar7]

Sir which is better foe the two?

[@R.J.Mathews]

@@sisar7 I have several pairs of both T2 and T2 plus. I'm using the plus for gaming right now. It's louder than T2.

[@Aizuki1]

The box designs are so nice looking like honestly I would buy them just for the box art 😂😂

[@FreshReviewsYT]

Hahaha

[@theilluminatty2472]

spot on the review with the Arias.. I returned mine. The quest goes on.

[@lanzbernardo9562]

3:27 finish him huh? Hahahha😂 thank you for the gameplay review tho i got kato

[@grayz1n]

MAAN I WAS LOOKING AT THOSE TODAY!! nice vid btwww

[@FreshReviewsYT]

Ty! Hope it helped

[@brianbuy0iy0i]

Im literally deciding between starfields and blessing. Still doing research because I don't want to fall down the rabbit hole lol. Great video!

[@FreshReviewsYT]

I’m going to try the blessing 2

[@TParkcasual]

IEM's are great for gaming, I honestly think I hear better when using my Moondrop Starfield's compared to my HD6xx's which are still great, its just with IEM's I cant wear them as long as headphones where it starts to hurt my ear canals after long duration. But if anyone wanted to get into IEM's for gaming the Aria's are a great entry level set for $80 & the sounds is amazing for what your paying for. But you should definitely check out the Sennheiser IE-300's next man, I hear those are amazing for gaming.

[@FreshReviewsYT]

Definitely going to!

[@dumah02]

The best part is the Waifu pics from the box. Screw the ear thing

[@FreshReviewsYT]

Roflmao

[@Ryn0_333]

I own the Starseas and Arias. I can tell you, that the Tancjim Hanas (old or new version) have some of the best imaging and a perfect Soundstage for gaming. I love these things and they even beat my Arctis Pro+DAC. Check em out. I also had a set of HyperX stingers that were great for the money. I have also used Razer Hanmerheads and Apple Pods and they don't compare. In short, the Tanchjim Hanas are easily my favorite balance of comfortability and performance. I used to play Apex but I mainly play Valorant and I can hear things that others clearly can't and I help my team out all the time with callouts. Edit: I forgot to say that tips on IEMs make a world of difference as well. I tried spinfits silicone tips and dekoni foam tips on all of these. With the Hanas I found the stock tips to be great for ease of use and performance.

[@FreshReviewsYT]

I think I’m going to check them out. I’ve heard great things

[@Ryn0_333]

@@FreshReviewsYT cool, I'd be interested in hearing how you think they stack up. They are similar to the Oxygens though but a lot more accessible to a lot more people. I think the 150$-170$ range is the max most people will pay for gaming. For the record, I have the 2021 version (gold and white) that has heightened bass from the originals. They are very balanced with the mids being almost perfect imo. The originals are all white and are mid focused still but with more attention to treble instead of bass like the 2021's.

[@aceryn2341]

If you want to go big it would be interesting to see how the ThieAudio Monarch MKII IEMs do in gaming. Those are Crinacle's pick for #1 IEM.

[@FreshReviewsYT]

Going to check them out

[@scotty_teee4226]

I'd be interested to see if anything come close to a good set of cans, like the dt900 pro x. I just don't see it happening. From the limited iem's that I've tired, they just don't compare in the areas that I like in cans. Intrigued to see how this journey plays out

[@samarohadutta9227]

Keep making these videos.I am interested

[@ari-athbadminton0301]

IEM Contenders for your Quest : KZ PR1 PRO (affordable new planar) ; 7Hz Salnotes Zero (cheap ass but fine tuned for gaming)

[@onnorj1569]

would be interesting to see tanchjim darling or moondrop blessing 2

[@jonathantran5821]

I've seen some reviews that Moondrop Blessing 2 Dusk is arguably the best IEMs on the market within a reasonable price point. Would love to see your take on these!

[@FreshReviewsYT]

Will check these out for sure

[@ryantran6839]

@@FreshReviewsYT Yesss! Please do a review on the Moondrop Blessing 2 Dusk! That would be so helpful!

[@KingCloudDaGreat]

Love the video I would recommend the KZ ZS10 Pro if some people need a great budget set

[@Guinibee1]

I love the gameplay recap for the sounds, Fresh! I have been debating trying some IEMs so I'm excited to hear your thoughts! Great video as always 👍

[@FreshReviewsYT]

❤️

[@edwardji926]

Loving the review! Sounds like it’ll be tough to beat the DT 900 pro x’s. Just wondering… do you prefer the 900 pro x or the 1990 pro with fenestrated sheepskin pads?

[@FreshReviewsYT]

Really tough call. Both are really good. For when I want a little more sound quality I Go for the 1990. For straight competitiveness I go for the 900

[@r0ver11]

The dt900 pro x sound fantastic for general listing too.

[@mustymoistmaker506]

I just bought the KZ x Crinacle CRN ZEXPros, idk anything about them but I found a thread with multiple people vouching for them but now i'm starting to think for their price there's no way they're going to be good lol. I guess we'll see!

[@shanksisnoteventhatstrongbruh]

Hope you get the chance to try the ZEX CRN PRO ($38 with Mic), Moondrop SSR/SSP ($40) and Moondrop Quarks ($15 with MIC) so us peasants can get some info into affordable IEMs for gaming.

[@FreshReviewsYT]

Hahahaha. Will check out more budget options

[@SottiFPS]

Would you say for pure competitive gaming purposes, the katos out perform the apple earbuds? Also are the earbuds the lighting version with a dongle or the classic 3.5 mm version. Great video lots of detail and the gameplay makes it fun too!

[@grant5864]

I use my Arias for gaming more than my HD6XX or DT880's just because wearing headphones for extended periods of time make my ears sweat. After a while you kind of learn where the footsteps come from even though the soundstage is like nonexistent.

[@FreshReviewsYT]

I feel the same way. You begin to adapt for sure

[@garfieldblessesyouwithadri3944]

I disagree about the soundstage, it's actually amazing when you compare them to regular closed-back headphones at over 100$ and they are literally in your ear

[@FreshReviewsYT]

@@garfieldblessesyouwithadri3944 not horrible by any means, but not fantastic compared to good closed back headphones. There are IEMs though that do a fantastic job

[@FreshReviewsYT]

@@garfieldblessesyouwithadri3944 btw, I totally take the drink

[@garfieldblessesyouwithadri3944]

@@FreshReviewsYT yeah I am looking forward to getting new IEMs to see whats really out there besides the arias but its difficult to explain why you'd need more than one iem to my parents

[@mimotojiyt]

Hot take ? But I think like overall just use what ever we like, hell i climbed to Nova 1 in csgo with just stock earpods that come with my iphone 5s

[@FreshReviewsYT]

Hah. The stock EarPods are actually fairly good tbh

[@bonanzabrandon6877]

This video represents a tiny sample size when it comes to the iems that are out there, presumably there are higher end iems that would outperform the 900 pro x. In the $500 price range the Moondrop Variations are very popular.

[@FreshReviewsYT]

Quest continues !

[@DEM0NJEDI]

Sennhieser ie300, 7hz timeless, Tin T2, Moondrop Dusk, KZ X Crn are a few that come to mind. I use both the kz and the 7hz, but like you said, the dt900 pro x are hard to beat.

[@Raveehh]

just ordered kz x crn since i have no working earbuds hope theyr good =) really cheap tho

[@zahitemremetin606]

@@Raveehh did you like crn?

[@Raveehh]

@@zahitemremetin606 yes they definitely destroy all the earbuds i had in clarity. Definitely worth the price.

[@zhangoahcnuy4030]

Kind of hard to find these days, but been using the Sony xba-n3ap for gaming/ computer use for the pass 4 years. Great IEM in general if you want something that is not over the ear since only using it sitting down anyway.

[@p_for_poo]

In 2018, I bought the xba n3 3 times and I returned them all 3 times. I have regrets, but I found the final e5000 not too long ago.

[@zugzwang8761]

my biggest problem with aria is actually how kinky the cable was, i got part of the cable exposed lol, using tanchjim o2 atm and im quite content with it

[@grant5864]

Yeah, my cable lasted like 1 month before the kinks caused it to break inside the sleeve.

[@gmil47]

I have found the apple earbuds to be better for apex than 98% of legit gaming headsets over the past few months lol. They’re crazy good for how cheap they are.

[@FreshReviewsYT]

100%

[@rl2817]

no cap

[@sauravsubramanian1413]

A little recommendation: you should try the Fiio fh3 for gaming.

[@Veikka444]

I tried them in cyberpunk and while walking around a radio it felt like I was holding the source of audio with my hand. Like the direction was so strong it was very easy to tell the direction by 30 degrees. The problem was too much audio data coming at me at the same time I had to switch back to over ears. Like distant sounds coming in loud like they were close.

[@MattL4J]

glad for the review, heard a lot about the moondrop kana and was interested in the brand! maybe first btw?

[@FreshReviewsYT]

first! =D

[@luizengrazia5169]

The Brass filters make a huge difference, right? I finally ended up going with the brass and spring tips because of the piercing highs and...I felt like everything mixes up sometimes and you loose definition. I read that there are some tips that make the Kato much better compared to spring tips though. Although VERY comfy, they are not the best for isolation. All and all, the soundstage and imaging in the Kato is really nice...it's like a 3D "bubble", although not a very big one😹

[@dillacorn_linux]

What about Moondrop Nameless? Picked up a pair because I can't afford wireless IEMs currently and I already have a BTR5, ES100 and BTR3 to use. Needed some IEMs that I didn't have to bother taking out to talk to people while I work. Just something to look into as they're kind of similar to wired apple pods

[@23rami]

definitely you need to try THIEAUDIO LEGACY 3

[@FreshReviewsYT]

Have it in my radar for sure!

[@nemesis91101]

I use closed back audiotechnica MSR7B... through EITHER a schiit hel 2 or IFI idsd signature... xbass ON 3D OFF. I also have Katos.... prefer the audiotechnicas since they seem to lean treble to pick up the faintest steps but because they're lacking in bass... IFI idsd xbass takes care of that. Downside? Idsd has no mic input unlike the hel 2.

[@leondre1508]

Anything from the 64 Audio lineup I'd be interested to see from your perspective.

[@TinmanFPS]

I did this exact same mini journey in January for myself. I used the Sennheiser 58x for about 3 years. The clamping force on the top of my head was getting to me. I started using regular apple earbuds and noticed a huge difference in directional sound. I tried the Moondrop starlight but the sound was overall too harsh for my ears. I found a deal on a pair of the bose QC20 the wired version and I love those. Mainly the way they fit in my ear but the directional sound in apex is top notch. Though its hard to recommend anything over the $20 apple earbuds. I wonder if there are wireless IEM's such as airpod pro's or the new BOSE QC line that work well.

[@Thin_Limbz]

Nice review as always man, I suggest reviewing the cx100 from sennheiser buds 👌

[@FrozenMilennium]

Why don't try ath r70x they are not Iems but they got a lot of praise for gaming. Would be happy to see you review them

[@kickaboob]

I went through the same journey as a FPS lover. For such games you don't want a wide soundstage. You want a small soundstage with good separation and imaging. This is so that you can hear audio from far away very easily, very important in apex. Try the fh3 and massdrop plus.

[@justaregulargamer7314]

Just got the dt 900, first game in infinite went 22-2 it was like having real life spidey senses

[@FreshReviewsYT]

Hahahaha

[@_paczki]

IEM Gang. Been daily driving KZ ZS10 Pros.

[@chris8910]

You could try the tin t2 as they are more of a budget iem.

[@eboyoy9711]

Oh boy, theres a lot of IEM in the market, can have a look on Moondrop SSR or Hzsound Heartmirror, both neutral bright budget iems. Also for earbuds, i would suggest to have a look at VE MONK SM by Venture electronics, also same line as famous earbuds Monk Plus.

[@cloudfrenzy9951]

Personally I have the Kato and 7hz Timeless. From a music listening perspective the 7hn Timeless has much more full body bass and sub bass compared to Kato and slightly higher resolution. I think it might perform better than Kato in gaming with these two advantage.

[@kyromxiq545]

Alright, I'm gonna get 7hz timeless then. Thank you 🙏

[@andyjackson2910]

Great video, I prefer iems they keep me cooler, I have a very hot processor (brain)

[@FreshReviewsYT]

Haha. I am really enjoying the change a

[@nhoxdangiu210]

apple airbuds ftw 🙌 Even though i own hifiman and trn iems, i still comeback for apple ones. They sound okay, but comfort wise…I can sit all day without taking them out like others.

[@FreshReviewsYT]

Fact

[@watch3r9]

Excellent review..so FRESH!. Liked! Please review Sennheiser IE300 and IE900

[@FreshReviewsYT]

Will check them out for sure

[@daigal1]

Try the moondrop blessing 2 for me is the ultimate iem for gaming

[@FreshReviewsYT]

Have a pair coming

[@clestisfarrell966]

Please review the Aria SNOW vs OG Aria wich is better for gaming :) just the affordable ones hahaha

[@koszor1337]

Would love to hear your opinion on the blessing 2 dusk.

[@FreshReviewsYT]

Haven’t tried it yet but I might

[@tikaemad5756]

I don't if you will answer this but i want to buy kato or the kiwi ear quartet for gaming and music which one is better ?

[@derilasong]

Hey man loved the video :D I was wondering if you have used the moondrop starfield and which u would chose between the starfield and the kato for tac shooters like valorant?

[@FreshReviewsYT]

I need to try them again. Going to grab a pair

[@roninstormYT]

what i like about these they have a mic build in too . it not the greatest but decent than having astro a 40 tr headset or steel series .i normaly use air pods .

[@Pirxel]

Wow, first time i hear apple buds beats the Arias on anything really. I'd love to test that myself, but don't have these around. If fast highs are your thing some planars should be good and the 7hz Timeless are the talk of the town right now. Cool thing you're also trying iems btw. Would be cool to hear your perspective on the over the ears vs iems for gaming.

[@lloopeyy_TTV]

how do the Katos do against the moondrop starfield for Apex?

[@crisnmaryfam7344]

Seriously if you want an IEM that can outperform everything on your desk, including the Sennheiser, 64 audio.

[@oaarri]

nice video! since you reviewed both ( moondrop kato , sennheiser ie 300 ) i would like to ask you, which one is best for gaming/comfort? ( i mostly play valorant) also watch some yt and movies.. what's your opinion?

[@FreshReviewsYT]

The ie300 is garbage in games

[@BeesOnAimlab]

Could u review the pulsar pads they are basically zero and hien clones

[@yungMoo22]

Have you generally been checking out the sound signatures of all these sets of headphones you've been reviewing? The Aria's in particular are heralded as great IEM's due to the tuning of it being more along the line of the Harman-neutral curve, which iirc is typically the basis around the oratory1990 eq's, so I'm semi-wondering if the tuning moreso isn't your vibe for competitive gaming vs. what I think is the V-shape of the DT 990's? I more than likely just missed out on this talk in one of your vids

[@FreshReviewsYT]

Yes, and in particular the graphs are even on the back of the boxes. In use case scenarios though for comp shooters, the bass is extremely bloated. For music, it’s actually quite a bit different. They’re warm and a bit of fun.

[@crisnmaryfam7344]

Best of the Best - 64 Audio. Simple answer.

[@FreshReviewsYT]

Will check them out

[@BrotherO4]

KSC75S from koss. dont judge the sound by the looks. its faces off with many 150$ cans.

[@junocchi7]

Hey Fresh, try checking out earbuds like the VE Monk. They don't isolate your ears so you can hear your own voice well and they usually have better suited soundstage and imaging for gaming than IEMs. This is coming from someone who has tried tons of IEMs for music and for gaming and settled on earbuds instead. (Bonus points they don't stick into your ear canals and make them hurt after 12 hours of gaming)

[@user-wl6rg4zw9j]

i also use earbuds as a daily driver. currently using Tomahawk by ToneKing. not really the best when it comes to soundwhoring so i'm currently looking for alternatives. the availability of VE monk seems to be limited these days. especially on Taobao. i have a pair of FinalAudio E500 while they seem to be more accurate at imaging/locating enemies, my ears get really sweaty after like 30 minutes of use. Also, i can hear myself when wearing iem's and speak, making me self-concious

[@gangsta97943]

Hey Fresh! Do you have any EQ recommendation for the Aria? I just got em today and for Apex Legends the gunshots sound extremely loud to the point where my ears are hurting and had to lower my overall in-game volume to 20%. I am currently using AutoEQ preset for the Aria which is tuned by crinacle I think.

[@gangsta97943]

I figured I would try out IEMs and these were my first ones. My main is my Beyerdynamic DT990 Pros 250 Ohms so my ears are used to that V-shape signature the Beyers have but using them for long gaming sessions can get really tiring from wearing it too long.

[@FreshReviewsYT]

I didn’t like the aria for gaming and didn’t keep them. I actually don’t eq my IEMs either. The power draw could be in large part to what you’re driving then. The 990s require a lot more power so the volume will feel lower at higher percentages

[@anark3y704]

I went from the HD560s to the Fiio FD3 Pro IEM's and loving them, really awesome pair at a great price, should be worth one of your reviews, would love to know what you think.

[@Thin_Limbz]

How does it compared to the hd560’s? Still getting that nice separation of game audio Direction? I had the hd560 and would love to hear your thoughts. Ps also have iem’s and im a fan of iem’s for competitive gaming. People just haven’t heard the right buds yet I don’t think..

[@anark3y704]

I still get all the ingame audio q's and great sound separation, I feel like I hear footsteps better over larger distances and more precise than on an open back set of cans, as the sound is more direct, these are semi open back buds which give me great sound stage and comfort for the long hours I play, can wear them for 8+ hours with only minor discomfort towards the end of a extended gaming session, I am super happy with these IEM, I don't even touch my HD 560's anymore, even considering selling them at this point, I agree that IEM's for competitive gaming are way better, and everyone should give a good quality set a try, which IEM's are you currently running?

[@Thin_Limbz]

@@anark3y704 yeah well said mate, I feel the same kinda way when i play with my tin t2 and my sennheiser cx100 both of witch are budget options that bat above their average.. I could make the full time switch to iem's no problem at all. better in nearly most ways, comfort, heat, sound directions.. just a better fun way to play without any compromise, you just need to find the right pair that suits your preference and once you know.. you know :)

[@Thin_Limbz]

@@anark3y704 also highly considering the Fiio FH3's these things intrigue me alot.

[@anark3y704]

@@Thin_Limbz They do seem like a good option to try, I chose the FD series for the semi open back, as I wanted the larger sound stage, maybe in the future I'll upgrade to the FD5 or FD7, the freedom buds give you from the weight and heat of headphones is worth the change alone, the fact that they can give you the same experience of a good quality set of cans, makes the change a no brainer for me.

[@shifenghao5657]

You can try Sennheiser IE 300. Still the best gaming audio KZbinr

[@ziasdeath2375]

im not really into IEMs but im thinking about getting a kato. my question is just how is the noise cancelling on these things? are there any ways to noise cancel?

[@FreshReviewsYT]

Actually fairly good tbh!

[@SpookyGamerVideos]

This might be a dumb thing to say, but windows turned on "Audio Enhancements" for me which made my arias have all the same issues you're saying you had. After turning it off the bass is a lot less over bearing and I get clear audio.

[@FreshReviewsYT]

Yea audio enhancements are big big do doo

[@OhItsNoctu]

Testing anything audio related in Apex Legends PepeLaugh Oh nonono

[@FreshReviewsYT]

That’s a HUGE misconception ;). My audio in apex legends is fantastic. Yes, there are moments where you are like… wth? Where was the audio on this guy!? But I can assure you 99% of the people complaining just have horrible setups 😂

[@StayPeace69]

great review! if you have noble IEM lineup lying around like the savant, sage drop noble x, or the kaiser 10, would love to hear your opinion on them!

[@39thSLaP]

Can I suggest the 1MORE Triple Drivers? A really good price point and solid quality.

[@jessyairdrops69]

hey, thanks for the information on these IEMs but i am thinking to buy FiiO FH3 for valorant because Moondrop KATO is out of my budget. So, can you tell me if FH3 is better than KATO?

[@twistedfantasyy]

I have the Moondrop Aria where I play both CS:GO and Valorant at a pretty high level and found zero issues. They do sound better for CS:GO though coming from a HyperX Cloud 2 Wireless and Philips SHP 9600 (sold both because of the Aria lol). I really do love them and I'm tempted to upgrade to a Kato. Is it a worthy upgrade or should I just go for the Blessing 2/Blessing 2: Dusk?

[@FreshReviewsYT]

If you’re loving the aria I’d wait and say go for the dusk

[@andrewnguyen5878]

Hey mate, do you prefer the Moondrop Kato or the Dt 900 Pro X for musical enjoyment? Are they both comfortable for extended listening sessions? If you were to keep only one, which one would you choose and why?

[@FreshReviewsYT]

Honestly, for music I’d probably stick to the 900 pro x. However, I don’t mean to lead you down a path to pick one or the other for music because I don’t personally use either purely for music. I have a review coming very very soon to discuss more IEMs for gaming/music and I’ll explain what I generally go for

[@pilsberry]

I'll be trying out a new IEM called Tripowin Olina and will let you know how that goes. Also, I wonder how Moondrop Starfield would compare to the Arias, as I know they are quite similar (but SF should be better).

[@ThNamesAL]

Starfield's are slightly darker than the Arias so they're more laid-back, and soundstage is surprisingly not as wide, but they do have much better Imaging. One is not necessarily better than the other, they each have their own strengths. (Yes I've owned em, but not anymore)