The sub 200$ IEM market is just flooded with so many options that it’s nearly impossible to decide on an IEM. Even when you narrow it down your sound preferences you have minimum 10 options with slight variations between each other. For example, some fit your sound preferences but have large nozzles which causes discomfort (Zero: Red). The IE200s are extremely comfortable but it took so much of effort from tape mod, tip rolling and cable change to be worth it. On the sound aspect, we have planars, single DD, hybrids (DD + BAs) with each of them tuned very similarly with some differences in technical performances and overall characteristics. Some of them does bass + mid well but lack in treble others do the opposite. The 7Hz Timeless does everything good enough but timbre does sound unnatural in certain tracks.
Do we have too many options with IEMs now that it causing choice overload? How do you typically decide on IEMs if you don’t have the option to demo them before buying?
The situation becomes even more complicated when you add the subjective layer of EQing a new sound signature of recently purchased IEMs which you originally disliked. Case in point, the Tin T4 Plus with EQing its emphasized upper mids and lower treble, for a more balanced FR effect. Love them as much as my IKKO OH10 and Timeless now.