IEM Recommendations

[Aleph256]

Hey people.

 

The recent(-ish) ShortCircuit video about the Crinear Daybreak made me curious about this form factor, as it would fit my need for something I could wear under my (passive, work-provided) noise-blocking earmuffs, and the pricing was reasonable. I tried using a cheap pair of regular earbuds (some Skullcandy I had laying around), but they poke out a bit too much and press against the muff, making it uncomforable real quick.

I've considered an ANC headset as well, but having borrowed a Bose from a coworker, I wasn't impressed.

 

I did more research about the Daybreak and reviews appear to be... Pretty heterogenous, let's say. And also showed me how much of rabbit hole this market appears to be.

However, the Truthear ZeroRed did appear a few times as a "doesn't sound that different yet significantly cheaper" option.

Anyone with feedback to share, or other options to recommend?
Budget around the 170€ range, though obviously, if I can save...

[johnt]

You're right, this is a huge rabbit hole of an industry. 

 

I use the Truthear Zero:Red and I can recommend them. I use the included resistor plus I turn down the treble in EQ for a warmer sound. I find that it can separate instruments pretty nicely and overall comfort is acceptable for long periods. They run around $50 USD in the states on discount and it is totally worth it. Also the bass resistor would make it a deal breaker for mobile use, but. maybe some extra EQ in the bass bands can replace it. I normally use mine at a desk during hot summer months because traditional over ears are just hot.

 

I tried the Moondrop Chu 2 before and I couldn't stand them. They were way too bright for my ears.

[Psittac]

My experience with IEM's is similar, I got ~10 rather affordable wired IEM's from linsoul to see what I like about them and in the end discovered that I don't enjoy the form factor, aside from sleeping with them or using them at work I greatly prefer headphones.  I also found that all of them provided rather decent sound quality if not different signatures.  In the end the only ones I kept around were the Moondrop Quark (Quark2 listed here).  I think that something affordable like the Quark would be a good starting point and perhaps serve as a good backup pair for your use.

 

I would have followed up with something better like you are looking at, however it's just not my cup of tea so no need to follow that particular branch of the rabbit hole.

 

I guess that I don't have any valid advice on your endgame solution, only that you could get an affordable trial pair and downgrade them to a backup solution down the road.

[Aleph256]

On 8/3/2025 at 5:11 PM, johnt said:

Also the bass resistor would make it a deal breaker for mobile use

Please enlighten me on why that would be a dealbreaker?
For the record my current phone lacks a jack so I'm using a bluetooth-to-jack thingmagig.

 

Did a bit more research in the meantime and that brought the Kiwi Ears Cadenza to my attention.

A rewiew mentions overall similar quality, and the lower price compared to the Zero Red to not be as much of a deal as they'd be spent towards better tips than the stock ones. Have any opinion on that?

 

On 8/3/2025 at 5:56 PM, Psittac said:

In the end the only ones I kept around were the Moondrop Quark (Quark2 listed here).  I think that something affordable like the Quark would be a good starting point and perhaps serve as a good backup pair for your use.

Thanks for the recommendation, but sadly these wouldn't fly - just bu looking these would have the same issue as my current pair, i.e poking against the muff and pressing uncomfortably in my ear.