Finally, Endgame — My IEM Journey and Recommendations
(Pictured: Yanyin Moonlight 2023 with the iBasso DC Elite and Effect Audio Griffin)
Hi all, you may remember me from a post from a while ago where I smugly declared I had found my endgame, ending with a reflection on “knowing when to stop and appreciate what you have”. Ha… well, several, months and several thousands of euro’s later, I’m back with an update. I’m not afraid to admit this has become a bit of an unhealthy addiction; aside from the money spent, I have spent too much precious time and effort on this exceedingly consumeristic hobby, so much so that I feel it has prohibited me from focussing on other, more creative hobbies and more important things in my life. Yet at the same time, I really value good quality audio, and “good quality audio” is so personal that it really does take time and effort to learn what you like. So I’m also glad I have finally found something that, I really do feel (and hope), is my endgame. Anyway, small opening rant aside, here’s an abridged overview of what my IEM journey has looked like:
Hidisz MP145 —> Aful Performer 5 —> Dunu SA6MKII —> Moondrop Variations —> Ziigaat Cincotres —> Thieaudio Prestige LTD —> Tangzu Xuan Nv —> Tanchjim Tanya —> Elysian Pilgrim —> Hisenior Mega5EST —> 64Audio U12T —> Fir Audio M5 —> UM MEST MKIII —> Etymotic ER4XR —> Night Oblivion Butastur —> Aful Explorer —> Yincrow X6 —> YanYin Mahina —> Yanyin Moonlight 2023
These are the main IEMs I’ve owned for a prolonged period of time; I’m not including those I had for only a week or two, and I’m surely forgetting some. I’ve also had the pleasure of trying many, many other IEMs in London and in Shanghai, but a 10min listening session at a shop or at Canjam only gives me a rough idea of an IEM.
The IEM that really cemented my taste is the Aful Explorer. It really was eye-opening to me, as it taught me that I prefer a warm sound with recessed mids and a rolled-off treble. It also taught me that I had been fitting my IEMs wrong before that, as most of the IEMs I had owned had nozzles too big for my ear canals — see another of my posts for more in depth discussion on IEMs for small-eared people. I have sold everything except for the Aful Explorer paired with Kinera Celest T1 (wireless adapter), which I still use when I’m out and about and don’t want to stress about breaking expensive equipment, and my Yanyin Moonlight 2023.
The Moonlight 2023 is really something special — and I don’t want to give the impression that this is the best IEM of all time and everyone should go buy it. No, rather, I want to stress that it is rather peculiar and is an amazing fit to my rather peculiar sound and fit requirements. Here’s a small breakdown: * First, the fit: for a tribrid, this is a nice and small shell. The shell isn’t quite so agreeably shaped as the YanYin Mahina, but it’s perfectly fine for me, hours of comfort, which is not all that common for my very comfort-demanding ears. More importantly, the nozzle diameter is very small, which is very uncommon in endgame chi-fi IEMs, as for some reason all chose to opt for a >6mm diameter. * The sound is unusual for endgame IEMs as well: while most go for an exciting, wowing, or otherwise impressive sound signature, the Moonlight 2023 goes for a very smooth, warm, relaxing, engaging, tamed signature. * Compared to the Harman target: * The Sub-bass is qualitative and present but less overpowering than Harman; I find Harman to have too much sub and too little mid-bass, it makes for an unbalanced bass in my opinion. * Mid-bass glides smoothly into the lower mids, a few db’s above the Harman target; enough to make EDM and cellos engaging, yet not so much as to affect clarity too much. * The mids are slightly forward to give an agreeable sense of clarity, but the upper mids are slightly recessed, making this an ‘easy listen’ signature. * The treble is amazingly smooth and slightly recessed, just as I like it; I very much dislike the tiring grain present is the vast majority of endgame IEMs. * The Moonlight 2023 does not impress by throwing detail into your face, rather, it impresses by remaining very balanced in all frequencies. Due to the tuning, it won’t win any awards for technicalities, but at the same time, the technicalities are quite good despite the tuning, and that is impressive. I’d place it below the Elysian Pilgrim in technicalities, but above the Mega5EST. One standout technical aspect is the soundstage, nice and naturally wide. * I occasionally wish for a more splashy and sparkly treble, but then when I EQ it or try an IEM with this sort of treble, I’m glad of the Moonlight 2023’s pure relaxing signature. * A last advantage of this IEM is that it’s not that expensive. I’ve owned some 1k+ sets, and while using and handling those I’d always be slightly anxious of breaking these fragile things. With the Moonlight 2023, I can just use them without too much stress. Yes, it’s still a lot of money, but not a crippling amount if they were to break. * Again, I wish to reiterate the fact that this is not an IEM for everyone; many will likely find it lacking exciting sub-bass and treble, or wish for a cleaner mid-bass and lower mids. But for those looking for an all-round upgrade over the Explorer while retaining a similar (but larger) fit, I can recommend this wholeheartedly. The main differences in frequency response is that Moonlight 2023 has less sub-bass, more mids, less upper mids, and much better extended treble than the Explorer.
While I’m here I might as well give a small overview of the main DACs I’ve used. Not including older stuff or stuff I didn’t use for more than a month. I haven’t owned that many, but I’ll rank them while I’m at it.
iBasso DC Elite > Macbook internal DAC > FiiO KA17 >> Onix Alpha Xl1 >>> FiiO KA13 > Apple dongle
DC Elite, Macbook, KA17, and even Onix, are all good enough to pair with any endgame IEM, in my opinion. The difference really isn’t that big. The main difference between the DC Elite and my second favourite DAC, the Macbook internal one, is that to my ears the Elite sounds slightly smoother, more natural, and especially has better dynamics. But this is a 3% sound difference I’m talking about. I’m considering selling the Elite and just enjoying my Macbook and the KA17.
To finish, I might do a quick list of IEM recommendations. These were the standouts that impressed me in some way or another. Not in any order, as all have their place. * Yanyin Moonlight 2023: Endgame relaxing and engaging sound. There’s better tech for the price. Good fit. * Aful Explorer: One of the best value IEMs for a relaxing and engaging sound. Great fit. Below average tech. If I had to only own these I wouldn’t be unhappy despite their price. * 64Audio U12T: Still amazing tech for such an old IEM, great shell size but long nozzle. Relaxing sound signature but 16k peak that doesn’t vibe with me. Intoxicating tech and speed, I sometimes regret selling these. * UM Mest MKIII: Relaxing with great tech. Get a small tip (Whizzer SS20) to get the best contact with that BCD, and enjoy a near-magical soundstage. Badly vented and big nozzle, so I sadly couldn’t keep these. * Night Oblivion Butastur: Absolutely underrated set. Very good tech and fit for the price. I prefer this one to the u12t despite it being much cheaper, as it has a cleaner midrange and a rolled-off treble (which I prefer to the 64audio 16k peak). Too big nozzle for me unfortunately. * Elysian Pilgrim: Best price to performance tech in my opinion (on par with Butastur). Great slightly bright but balanced tonality. Prefer the Butastur tonality. Horrible fit; big weird metal shell, big too short nozzle. * Tansio Mirai Halo: I don’t like V-shape IEMs, but this is one of the best V-shapes I’ve tried. Intoxicating bass and treble, but too much for me unfortunately. Amazing tech at the cost of slightly grainy treble. Good fit. * Symphonium Europa: The Crimson but with less sub-bass. Amazing tech and V-shape but with a good balance. Still too much treble for me but it’s so fun. Very satisfying speed. I wish I could have gotten these, but the fit, nozzle, and lack of any vent make these unwearable for me.
Two last tips that I have repeated often on this sub: * Buy secondhand: expensive (1k+) IEMs are much cheaper secondhand, and older models are also much cheaper. I was able to find a Variations for $230, at that price nothing at new price comes close. U12T secondhand is usually $900, and, again, at that price it’s a better option than Monarch MKIII and the usual 1k suspects. * Use Auto-EQ: while I don’t use EQ, I always use auto-EQ to ‘test’ other IEMs. It takes half an hour to learn to use and will save you so much effort and money. It gives you a decent idea of the tonality of another IEM. I’d say it gives you around 60% of the sound of another IEM (as fit, driver type, driver quality, insertion depth, etc. can’t be mimicked), so while it isn’t a perfect alternative for actually trying IEMs in real life, it’s a good alternative for us without easy access to shops and Canjam.
(Pictured: Yanyin Moonlight 2023 with the iBasso DC Elite and Effect Audio Griffin)
Hi all, you may remember me from a post from a while ago where I smugly declared I had found my endgame, ending with a reflection on “knowing when to stop and appreciate what you have”. Ha… well, several, months and several thousands of euro’s later, I’m back with an update. I’m not afraid to admit this has become a bit of an unhealthy addiction; aside from the money spent, I have spent too much precious time and effort on this exceedingly consumeristic hobby, so much so that I feel it has prohibited me from focussing on other, more creative hobbies and more important things in my life. Yet at the same time, I really value good quality audio, and “good quality audio” is so personal that it really does take time and effort to learn what you like. So I’m also glad I have finally found something that, I really do feel (and hope), is my endgame. Anyway, small opening rant aside, here’s an abridged overview of what my IEM journey has looked like:
Hidisz MP145 —> Aful Performer 5 —> Dunu SA6MKII —> Moondrop Variations —> Ziigaat Cincotres —> Thieaudio Prestige LTD —> Tangzu Xuan Nv —> Tanchjim Tanya —> Elysian Pilgrim —> Hisenior Mega5EST —> 64Audio U12T —> Fir Audio M5 —> UM MEST MKIII —> Etymotic ER4XR —> Night Oblivion Butastur —> Aful Explorer —> Yincrow X6 —> YanYin Mahina —> Yanyin Moonlight 2023
These are the main IEMs I’ve owned for a prolonged period of time; I’m not including those I had for only a week or two, and I’m surely forgetting some. I’ve also had the pleasure of trying many, many other IEMs in London and in Shanghai, but a 10min listening session at a shop or at Canjam only gives me a rough idea of an IEM.
The IEM that really cemented my taste is the Aful Explorer. It really was eye-opening to me, as it taught me that I prefer a warm sound with recessed mids and a rolled-off treble. It also taught me that I had been fitting my IEMs wrong before that, as most of the IEMs I had owned had nozzles too big for my ear canals — see another of my posts for more in depth discussion on IEMs for small-eared people. I have sold everything except for the Aful Explorer paired with Kinera Celest T1 (wireless adapter), which I still use when I’m out and about and don’t want to stress about breaking expensive equipment, and my Yanyin Moonlight 2023.
The Moonlight 2023 is really something special — and I don’t want to give the impression that this is the best IEM of all time and everyone should go buy it. No, rather, I want to stress that it is rather peculiar and is an amazing fit to my rather peculiar sound and fit requirements. Here’s a small breakdown: * First, the fit: for a tribrid, this is a nice and small shell. The shell isn’t quite so agreeably shaped as the YanYin Mahina, but it’s perfectly fine for me, hours of comfort, which is not all that common for my very comfort-demanding ears. More importantly, the nozzle diameter is very small, which is very uncommon in endgame chi-fi IEMs, as for some reason all chose to opt for a >6mm diameter. * The sound is unusual for endgame IEMs as well: while most go for an exciting, wowing, or otherwise impressive sound signature, the Moonlight 2023 goes for a very smooth, warm, relaxing, engaging, tamed signature. * Compared to the Harman target: * The Sub-bass is qualitative and present but less overpowering than Harman; I find Harman to have too much sub and too little mid-bass, it makes for an unbalanced bass in my opinion. * Mid-bass glides smoothly into the lower mids, a few db’s above the Harman target; enough to make EDM and cellos engaging, yet not so much as to affect clarity too much. * The mids are slightly forward to give an agreeable sense of clarity, but the upper mids are slightly recessed, making this an ‘easy listen’ signature. * The treble is amazingly smooth and slightly recessed, just as I like it; I very much dislike the tiring grain present is the vast majority of endgame IEMs. * The Moonlight 2023 does not impress by throwing detail into your face, rather, it impresses by remaining very balanced in all frequencies. Due to the tuning, it won’t win any awards for technicalities, but at the same time, the technicalities are quite good despite the tuning, and that is impressive. I’d place it below the Elysian Pilgrim in technicalities, but above the Mega5EST. One standout technical aspect is the soundstage, nice and naturally wide. * I occasionally wish for a more splashy and sparkly treble, but then when I EQ it or try an IEM with this sort of treble, I’m glad of the Moonlight 2023’s pure relaxing signature. * A last advantage of this IEM is that it’s not that expensive. I’ve owned some 1k+ sets, and while using and handling those I’d always be slightly anxious of breaking these fragile things. With the Moonlight 2023, I can just use them without too much stress. Yes, it’s still a lot of money, but not a crippling amount if they were to break. * Again, I wish to reiterate the fact that this is not an IEM for everyone; many will likely find it lacking exciting sub-bass and treble, or wish for a cleaner mid-bass and lower mids. But for those looking for an all-round upgrade over the Explorer while retaining a similar (but larger) fit, I can recommend this wholeheartedly. The main differences in frequency response is that Moonlight 2023 has less sub-bass, more mids, less upper mids, and much better extended treble than the Explorer.
While I’m here I might as well give a small overview of the main DACs I’ve used. Not including older stuff or stuff I didn’t use for more than a month. I haven’t owned that many, but I’ll rank them while I’m at it.
iBasso DC Elite > Macbook internal DAC > FiiO KA17 >> Onix Alpha Xl1 >>> FiiO KA13 > Apple dongle
DC Elite, Macbook, KA17, and even Onix, are all good enough to pair with any endgame IEM, in my opinion. The difference really isn’t that big. The main difference between the DC Elite and my second favourite DAC, the Macbook internal one, is that to my ears the Elite sounds slightly smoother, more natural, and especially has better dynamics. But this is a 3% sound difference I’m talking about. I’m considering selling the Elite and just enjoying my Macbook and the KA17.
To finish, I might do a quick list of IEM recommendations. These were the standouts that impressed me in some way or another. Not in any order, as all have their place. * Yanyin Moonlight 2023: Endgame relaxing and engaging sound. There’s better tech for the price. Good fit. * Aful Explorer: One of the best value IEMs for a relaxing and engaging sound. Great fit. Below average tech. If I had to only own these I wouldn’t be unhappy despite their price. * 64Audio U12T: Still amazing tech for such an old IEM, great shell size but long nozzle. Relaxing sound signature but 16k peak that doesn’t vibe with me. Intoxicating tech and speed, I sometimes regret selling these. * UM Mest MKIII: Relaxing with great tech. Get a small tip (Whizzer SS20) to get the best contact with that BCD, and enjoy a near-magical soundstage. Badly vented and big nozzle, so I sadly couldn’t keep these. * Night Oblivion Butastur: Absolutely underrated set. Very good tech and fit for the price. I prefer this one to the u12t despite it being much cheaper, as it has a cleaner midrange and a rolled-off treble (which I prefer to the 64audio 16k peak). Too big nozzle for me unfortunately. * Elysian Pilgrim: Best price to performance tech in my opinion (on par with Butastur). Great slightly bright but balanced tonality. Prefer the Butastur tonality. Horrible fit; big weird metal shell, big too short nozzle. * Tansio Mirai Halo: I don’t like V-shape IEMs, but this is one of the best V-shapes I’ve tried. Intoxicating bass and treble, but too much for me unfortunately. Amazing tech at the cost of slightly grainy treble. Good fit. * Symphonium Europa: The Crimson but with less sub-bass. Amazing tech and V-shape but with a good balance. Still too much treble for me but it’s so fun. Very satisfying speed. I wish I could have gotten these, but the fit, nozzle, and lack of any vent make these unwearable for me.
Two last tips that I have repeated often on this sub: * Buy secondhand: expensive (1k+) IEMs are much cheaper secondhand, and older models are also much cheaper. I was able to find a Variations for $230, at that price nothing at new price comes close. U12T secondhand is usually $900, and, again, at that price it’s a better option than Monarch MKIII and the usual 1k suspects. * Use Auto-EQ: while I don’t use EQ, I always use auto-EQ to ‘test’ other IEMs. It takes half an hour to learn to use and will save you so much effort and money. It gives you a decent idea of the tonality of another IEM. I’d say it gives you around 60% of the sound of another IEM (as fit, driver type, driver quality, insertion depth, etc. can’t be mimicked), so while it isn’t a perfect alternative for actually trying IEMs in real life, it’s a good alternative for us without easy access to shops and Canjam.