I’ll start!
- Fiio FA9: my most critical listening sessions and overall best sounding. Also one of my remaining wired headsets that make work calls sound fantastic. These rarely leave the house with the exception for work travel, no intention for mobile listening with these.
- Sony WH-XM5: these are my go to for work travel/ out in public when I have a backpack to lug em around. The ANC and mic quality are 10/10. Sound out of the box was meh but after using the commonly used Reddit EQ, their sound is fantastic without any of the distortion. Never seen a set react to EQ so well without any distortion. Having great sound wirelessly has been a big QOL upgrade for me. Love having LDAC with high quality streaming.
- Fidelio X1’s: were my daily driver’s for about 7 years until the FA9’s. I now use them when the family is asleep, I click em into my BTR3 and connect to the TV, and get a cinematic experience. Their sound signature and soundstage make shows/movies/games MUCH more enjoyable when I cannot use the home theater setup. Otherwise, for music, they’re a little too easy going, I prefer something on the warmer end of neutral. Lacks the texture and resolution of the FA9’s.
- Google Pixel Buds 2: These are my grab and go’s, my daily beaters that integrate well with my pixel. Meh sound quality, decent call quality, sweat resistant. Most likely will upgrade to the WF-XM5’s as their sound is becoming evident as a dramatic downgrade to my other sets
Will rank mine in most usage down to least usage:
Truthear Hexa - not had them long but majority of time listening right now is these. I struggle with sibilance due to ear issues and versus the other earphones I have now or have had, I find these the most comfortable and least fatiguing.
Hifiman HE400SE - An easy recommendation in the price bracket for everyone I know that wants a great sounding and comfortable experience at home. Without EQ they are fantastic but with a good EQ to your preference they come alive.
Nothing Ear Stick - A weird pick in this sub but when I don’t want my ears blocked or to have over ears on, these are really solid. Sound better than I’d expected but not comparable to others on the list.
Sony WH1000-XM4 - Purchased to replace some Sennheiser 4.50s that broke days before a 13 hour flight. Sound was disappointing but that Reddit EQ recommendation is a game changer. I don’t travel much for work since COVID but when I do, these are in my bag, probably joined now by the Hexa as the default out of the house choices.
Shure Aonic 4 - the most I’ve spent on IEMs on about 10 years. The Yellow foam tips make them super comfortable and I used them for a lot of hours but now I’m finding the highs to be too piercing and uncomfortable for me.
KEF M100 - Had them years, don’t know why I have not thrown them away. They don’t sound great, they have a rubbish cable and they kill my ears. Long may they remain discontinued and forgotten to history.