Two weeks ago I replaced my old Sundaras with the Ananda Stealth. They felt more comfortable and the imaging, soundstage and bass are improved noticeably, so I decided to keep them. Yesterday I listened for the first time to a IEM (EW200), which I bought for 25$ in the 11.11.

To be honest, there is not much difference in terms of detail, imaging and bass quality. Of course, the Ananda a feel fuller, airier and with more natural timber that is very noticeable when watching movies or listening to vocals, but the rest feel kinda comparable. Now I feel like I wasted 400$ with the Ananda. Did this happen to any of you when discovering IEM?

Also, now I wonder if I buy something like the Simgot EA1000 in the 200$ range if I will be blown out or if the improvement would be comparable to jumping from the Sundara to the Ananda.

I would also like to hear from you how you feel comparing IEM with open back headphones. Cheers!

  • thatcarolguy@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    Of course, the Ananda a feel fuller, airier and with more natural timber

    There is no of course. It may sound fuller and airier, more natural to you or it may not.

    There is nothing that says it has to and there is nothing that says a headphone of any price has to have anything more than an IEM of any price.

    Personally I think the best $20 IEM I have ever heard sounds much better than the best headphones I’ve ever heard including several over $1000. It’s not even close and it’s not about the money.