IEMs ~$200 USD

[Kloudkicker]

Looking for bass heavy earbuds that are very durable and don't lose any mids or highs for around 200USD

[MrMcMuffinJr]

Just don't get beats, they are bass heavy and useless in everything else.

[csanders]

I use a set of Ultimate Ears Triple.fi 10 earbuds. They've been discontinued... but there are still some in the wild.  I think I picked mine up for $120.  Clearest I've found in the price range.  I use them on stage when I play bass (kinda... I ripped the drivers out and had them housed in a custom shell), specifically because the low end can cut through so well.  They were replaced by the UE900 which is a 4-driver setup, which should give better bass clarity, but at a slight bump in price.

[mawv]

If you can spend another 50 dollars I'd go with the sennheiser ie80. I bought them after watching linus review them. I personally love them, great bass response while still have great mids and highs. also very durable. I've kept them in my pocket for about a year now and they are fine. I've even stepped on them a few times as well and they survived.

[Kloudkicker]

18 hours ago, mawv said:

If you can spend another 50 dollars I'd go with the sennheiser ie80. I bought them after watching linus review them. I personally love them, great bass response while still have great mids and highs. also very durable. I've kept them in my pocket for about a year now and they are fine. I've even stepped on them a few times as well and they survived.

Are they comfortable in your ears if you wear them for extended amounts of time? Do they fit well into your ear?

[GamerDude]

I recommend you go cheap with a pair of bass canons in the KZ SZ1, cheap and good....just go read reviews of it.

https://www.amazon.com/KZ-Driver-Monitors-Headphones-Microphone/dp/B016ZG4THW

[Moist_Sock]

1 hour ago, GamerDude said:

I recommend you go cheap with a pair of bass canons in the KZ SZ1, cheap and good....just go read reviews of it.

https://www.amazon.com/KZ-Driver-Monitors-Headphones-Microphone/dp/B016ZG4THW

His budget is $200, not $20

[GamerDude]

1 hour ago, Moist_Sock said:

His budget is $200, not $20

So? I'm well aware of that, doesn't hurt to try something cheap, especially from KZ,  they've been churning out cheap but we'll received IEM's. I have a Fitear Petarre, a Sennheiser IE800 and a Campfire Audio Jupiter (and a number of entry level to high end cans), yet I can honestly say I'm quite pleased with the performance I get from my KZ SZ3 and KZ ED12. I'm learning to disassociate performance from price, it doesn't have to be expensive to perform well.

[xtroria]

Add another $100 and just look for used Westone 4R or W40. I don't think there are really any warm / bass elevated IEM that's worth getting at $200 when used 4R exists at that price point

 

or I could perhaps sell my 4R to you, gotta wait for my CIEM to arrive though

[Moist_Sock]

4 hours ago, GamerDude said:

So? I'm well aware of that, doesn't hurt to try something cheap, especially from KZ,  they've been churning out cheap but we'll received IEM's. I have a Fitear Petarre, a Sennheiser IE800 and a Campfire Audio Jupiter (and a number of entry level to high end cans), yet I can honestly say I'm quite pleased with the performance I get from my KZ SZ3 and KZ ED12. I'm learning to disassociate performance from price, it doesn't have to be expensive to perform well.

Yeah, sure. KZ/QKZ have some great value shit. I own/owned several of their IEMs. But OP can easily get much better sounding stuff for $200. If he has the budget he may as well go to the full extent and get a better experience.

 

I find it unlikely that OP hasn't tried cheaper IEMs that are comparable to KZ/QKZ gear and is making a leap from something like Earpods or ErgoFits or whatever. OP's likely to have assessed their needs/wants, and given themself an appropriate budget. Sure, spending ~$20 may give him 70% of what he's after, but that extra 30% or so is what OP deems appropriate to be spending $200. It's certainly why I no longer use any of my KZ/QKZ IEMs.

[KaminKevCrew]

On 12/7/2016 at 9:14 AM, MrMcMuffinJr said:

Just don't get beats, they are bass heavy and useless in everything else.

That's a very uneducated view. More recent revisions of beats are generally decent, and possibly even approaching being worthy of the price they command, if you account for the fact that they are also fashion headphones.

[GamerDude]

6 hours ago, Moist_Sock said:

Yeah, sure. KZ/QKZ have some great value shit. I own/owned several of their IEMs. But OP can easily get much better sounding stuff for $200. If he has the budget he may as well go to the full extent and get a better experience.

 

I find it unlikely that OP hasn't tried cheaper IEMs that are comparable to KZ/QKZ gear and is making a leap from something like Earpods or ErgoFits or whatever. OP's likely to have assessed their needs/wants, and given themself an appropriate budget. Sure, spending ~$20 may give him 70% of what he's after, but that extra 30% or so is what OP deems appropriate to be spending $200. It's certainly why I no longer use any of my KZ/QKZ IEMs.

I was just suggesting a cheap alternative, I don't wish to get into a debate over it. In any case, I do understand OP's urge to spend more, I've spent a good deal of money on my audio gear, always looking up, never down. BTW, I'm the opposite of you, I'd gotten my higher end IEM's first like the Fitear, Sennheiser and CampFire Audio (sold off an Inear SD3 and Noble Audio Savant), it was only a few months ago that I'd gotten the KZ SZ3 and ED12, I find myself using them more often than not vis-a-vis my higher end IEM's. Heck, been putting my LG V20 thru its paces, and one of the IEM's I use (and enjoy) with it is the ZS3.....it fares pretty well even against my other IEM's.

[mawv]

On 12/9/2016 at 4:23 AM, Kloudkicker said:

Are they comfortable in your ears if you wear them for extended amounts of time? Do they fit well into your ear?

They fit great. I've got large ear canals and I found a pair of tips out of the included like 5-6 pairs that for really well. As for long term they also are great. I can listen for hours on and and even sleep with them quite often.