Recently i saw a timmy made a stop this hobby right now and keep some iem, and thought of this. Not everyone has the luxury to keep many stuff. So if you guys get to choose just one item to keep forever what would it be?
My choice is the Monarch mk2. 😀
HD800S
Assuming it’s indestructible, the Hifiman Sundara. I love them. They do everything well enough with a tonality that I love.
Of all my kit my HE4XX. I don’t have a ton of cans but they are the best to my taste. Id choose them over my:
HD6XX( ducks incoming flack) sure there is great mid detail but I need my sub bass and the He4XX always sounded more natural to my ear. That said, piano or intimate vocals on these literally made my wife cry and want to get back into playing piano)
Truthear Hexas (outstanding detail and default tuning. Id almost choose these but for long sessions the HE4XX is more comfortable.)
iSine20s ( detail is amazing but sound need to much equity to conveniently use)
1more triple driver IEMs Etymotic HF3 Grado SR80is Soundcore Liberty 2 Pros (honestly one of my go-to’s for a long time for the combination of convenience and sound quality)
7hz Salnotes Zero Chu 2s ( both these and the Zeros are outstanding for the price and beat the 1mores and HF3s all around and beat the iSine20s for listenablity due to good tuning but iSine wins in detail and bass quality obviously)
IE600
Headphone: Edition XS IEM: XENNS UP
My choice was, and still is KSE1200. Still one of the best in terms of transparency and details.
My Utopias, for sure.
I’m assuming I can also keep something else for mobile use that’s not really “part of the hobby”. I’d still need something like powerbeats pro for working out, taking video calls on my iPad or watching movies on a plane, when fidelity isn’t the goal. I had those long before going down the rabbit hole.
If I can only have one “thing that puts sound directly in my ears” it becomes much more complicated, and IEMs are basically the only option.
Clairvoyance.
Almost at that point. I’m mostly rocking Sony XBA-4 and the OG MDR-CD900 (no ST, no CBS, the OG with coiled cords).
Say what you will about Sony, but when they nailed it right, they nailed it right.
Audio-Technica ATH-AP2000Ti
Noble Kaiser 10 UniversalMy Sennies IE900 & my Focal Radiance
Meze Elite and ISN EST50 from what I own.
FiR Xenon 6 or EE Odin if I can pick any IEM.
DCA Expanse and Moondrop Variations.
IEM = A&K + Empire Ears Odyssey (simply incredible!)
Headphone= Not sure. Probably a HiFiman Pair.
Like u/Wazy7781 said, I’m pretty much out of the hobby, insomuch as I’m not “chasing” better anymore. Speakers is whole different can of worms as I’m looking for new ones for my work set up and my Home Entertainment set up.
Really happy with my Hype 2’s! (Ignoring the rattle that sometimes fixes itself)