Anyone who wants AMAZING sounding in-ears/headphones for $16... read this!

[unix-guy]

Does anyone know what size and where to get, foam tips for kiwi ears cadenzas

I bought a 3-pack set of Comply foam tips on Amazon.

It's a S/M/L set since I wasn't sure which would be best for my ears.

Comply T-500 Memory Foam Replacement Earbud Tips For KZ ZS10, ZSN, AS10, ZSX, STARFIELD, FH7, FIIO, MOONDROP And More Earphones (Assorted), Black, Small/Medium/Large, 3 Pairs https://a.co/d/i4xxp4V

 

[MindCrime]

I bought a 3-pack set of Comply foam tips on Amazon.

It's a S/M/L set since I wasn't sure which would be best for my ears.

Comply T-500 Memory Foam Replacement Earbud Tips For KZ ZS10, ZSN, AS10, ZSX, STARFIELD, FH7, FIIO, MOONDROP And More Earphones (Assorted), Black, Small/Medium/Large, 3 Pairs https://a.co/d/i4xxp4V

Yep. I dropped in to suggest Amazon. I also purchased some foam tips and they arrived yesterday...

 

[spawnofthesith]

So... any cheapo ambient IEMs out there?

 

[Hush]

So... any cheapo ambient IEMs out there?

What's an ambient IEM?

 

[gearJunkie]

What's an ambient IEM?

usually a "vented" IEM

• Reduction of the occlusion effect you get with a custom fit IEM.
• The ability to hear your environment around you whether on stage, in the studio or even on the street.
• Stay in communication with your fellow musicians and hear off-mic cues on stage
• Not feel isolated or removed from your performance environment.
• Ear canal ventilation for reducing fatigue and providing greater comfort for longer.

 

[pipelineaudio]

Some of these systems have a mic on the receiver that you can mix in with direct sound

 

[spawnofthesith]

What's an ambient IEM?

Yeah what those guys said, theres passive and active

 

[quadgear]

Yeah what those guys said, theres passive and active

Active would be way, way outside the scope of this $16 price range and topic. ;-)

 

[Piing]

My new Samsung Galaxy S22+ comes without jack I've purchased a USB-C DAC, but... is there some wireless headphone with similar quality to the Moondrop Chu?

Edit: I've just ordered the Moondrop Space Travel TWS for $20.57. I hope that they are at least as good as the Chu

MOONDROP SPACE TRAVEL True Wireless Stereo | MOONDROP Official Website

moondroplab.com

 

[Hush]

I've been using this https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=43243 with my Tin Hifi C3's

 

[quadgear]

is there some wireless headphone with similar quality

If you use wireless, you're going to have a lot of latency. Ok for listening/mixing, but not going to work well for tracking anything you play in realtime.

Perhaps this will change in the future, but there is little reason for a consumer device to have the low latency a musician needs.

 

[Piing]

If you use wireless, you're going to have a lot of latency. Ok for listening/mixing, but not going to work well for tracking anything you play in realtime.

Perhaps this will change in the future, but there is little reason for a consumer device to have the low latency a musician needs.

It is OK. I do not play guitar though the phone, only listening.

 

[Piing]

For the phone without 3.5 mm jack I've purchased 3 solutions:

1. USB-C mini DAC with a Realtek ALC5686 chip. To be used with the Moondrop Chu

2. 7Hz Salnotes Zero with a USB-C instead of the 3.5mm jack.

3. Moondrop Space Travel TWS Wireless

The winners are the Moondrop Chu with the USB-C DAC and the 7Hz Salnotes Zero with USB-C. Not much difference between the two. Listening "Warm Regards" by Steve Vai I think I perceive a slightly deeper bass on the Moondrop Chu, but that could be the ear tips insertion.

The Moondrop Space Travel definitively have less quality, and they are lacking a lot of stereo separation. It is like the Bluetooth is compromising everything. I will use them only for phone calls.

 

[vino_buono]

I have the Moondrop Chu first version and got me the Kiwi Cadenza because… eh… don’t know Anyway, the Cadenzas are very very good. They have a very balanced sound with no overpowering frequencies; my reference is the AKG K371 headphones. When I first tried them the high end sounded not strong enough, but that feeling has gone; maybe after break-in, maybe I got used to it. Thing is, they sound great and are not fatiguing at all. In comparison, the Chu had weaker low end and extended high end, which makes them sound a bit thinner and more fatiguing.

 

[pipelineaudio]

I don't know what the hell is going on but when I try ANY of these headphones, theres this weird CLANG sound when I pick hard. I dont get this over recording speakers or "FRFR"'s or studio headphones, just these in ears. I'm going to try some other guitars and some other stuff, but not sure if its settings in my Helix or what it could be, very disturbing

EDIT: I wonder if this is coming from me not running caps in my guitars usually. I have the volume knob on a push pull pot. Down goes straight out, no volume knob, no cap, up goes thru a normal 25k pot (active pickups).

If I want to emulate a circuit with the tone knob in full clockwise position, can I just do it this way?

 

[EOengineer]

I don't know what the hell is going on but when I try ANY of these headphones, theres this weird CLANG sound when I pick hard. I dont get this over recording speakers or ""FRFR""'s or studio headphones, just these in ears. I'm going to try some other guitars and some other stuff, but not sure if its settings in my Helix or what it could be, very disturbing

I’m embarrassed to admit I’ve had this happen to me before with headphones and it was because the headphone cable was resting on the guitar body and picking up something sympathetically. Just something to watch for.

 

[Lysander]

I don't know what the hell is going on but when I try ANY of these headphones, theres this weird CLANG sound when I pick hard. I dont get this over recording speakers or ""FRFR""'s or studio headphones, just these in ears. I'm going to try some other guitars and some other stuff, but not sure if its settings in my Helix or what it could be, very disturbing

Maybe it's mechanical? The Moondrop CHUs in particular seem to amplify cable noise a lot.

 

[Frankencat]

I have been stuck on the CCA C10's for a while now but the price is creeping up a little. Definitely the most balanced sound of the budget IEMs I have tried.

 

[Frankencat]

Perhaps a good idea. But pretty much not doable live.

Unless your monitoring software has built-in EQ. I use the A&H Qu-You and Qu-Mix which has EQ and compression that can be controlled remotely and saved for future retrieval. A little boost in the lows, a slight dip in the high shelf and Bob's your uncle! :)

 

[pipelineaudio]

I tried a few of the earphones in the thread, the salnotes and the kiwi ears, and they are just really harsh compared to my el cheapo wireless bluetooth earbuds or regular headphones. I always see people with the Shure 215's. Are they mellower?