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IN-EAR EARPHONE REVIEW LIST

Welcome to the headphone list, where we have listened to and evaluated hundreds of in-ear headphones to help you find the best fit for your needs and preferences. This is ljokerl’s table in interactive format that provides an easy way to narrow your selection down to fit your needs. To view all reviews (sorted by most recent), see here: All IEM Reviews. We are constantly adding new reviews, so be sure to check back or follow us on facebook, twitter, or google+.

Don’t see your model listed? Try checking the “Show Discontinued Products” box.

For a more concise listing of our favorite sets for various tastes and budgets, check out our continuously updated Earphone Buyer’s Guide by Sound Signature.

Color coding:
Blue = denotes custom-fit earphones (CIEMs)
Red = denotes discontinued models (select “Show discontinued products” checkbox on left to display)

i column denotes Headset functionality:
blank = no headset functionality
1 = mic + 1-button remote (universal)
3 = mic + 3-button remote for Apple iOS devices
a = mic + 3-button remote for Android devices
v = mic + 1-button remote + analog volume control (universal)

Rating Breakdown
All ratings are scaled to how the particular IEM peforms compared to the best set I’ve heard to date in a particular category.

Accessories: Depends on both quantity and quality of the accessories, as well as on how well-suited they are for the earphone.
Build Quality: Based on choice of materials, assembly quality, physical design, and overall feel. Also includes any observations on the durability of the earphones while in my care.
Isolation: Amount of reduction in ambient noise provided by the IEM. All IEMs isolate external noise by virtue of sealed ear coupling, some more than others. The most isolating IEMs are capable of providing is upwards of 30db of attenuation, an 8-fold reduction in ambient noise volume (enough to reduce the volume of a vacuum cleaner to a whisper).
Microphonics: Susceptibility to cable noise, a common malady affecting in-ear earphones. See here for more info. Mitigating factors such as the inclusion of a shirt clip or cable cinch and the ease of wearing the IEMs over-the-ear are taken into account.
Comfort: How comfortable the earphone is over long stretches of time. Typically tip- and ear-dependent, but general trends still apply.

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1,181 Responses

  1. The GR07 BE has better accuracy, being a more balanced earphone with less coloration to its sound.

  2. In the $120 price range would you recommend the gr07 bass edition or the eph 100 for accurate vocal for house and dubstep

  3. The DN-1000 is better for this, but the EPH-100 has slightly better noise isolation. Both should be fine in a car – it’s airplanes and maybe the subway where the extra isolation of the EPH-100 will be valuable.

  4. Hello again I asked you this question like 4-5 months ago but are the dunu dn 1000 better then the eph 100 ? In house dubstep female vocal pop? I am looking for a accurate clear vocal iem. I liked how the m6 pro is accurate. Would you recommend the eph 100 or the dunu 1000 or any other recommendation. And I need something with good isolation because I be using these in the car traveling etc. if you need some songs to determine let me know.

  5. The DN-1000 is actually the least warm of the four due to having pretty strong treble. It just doesn’t have a mic. My recommendations were in order, I just kept adding more because you ruled some of them out. I recommended the DN-1000 first because it has the best performance. It is eliminated due to lack of mic.

    I recommended the EPH-100 and MA750i next, which are about on-par in performance. I slightly prefer the sound of the Yamaha but the MA750i fit your needs for durability and low cable noise better. The EPH-100 again lacks a mic and the MA750i was eliminated due to beefy plug.

    My next choice was the EP2, which fits all of your requirements but sonically is not quite as good as the EPH-100 and MA750, and definitely not as good as the DN-1000. It’s still a good earphone for the price and definitely recommendable, but it won’t go toe to toe with the $300-400 sets like the DN-1000 can.

  6. I’ve seemingly narrowed down my choices to the RBH-EP2, DN-100, MA750i, and EPH-100. Not sure if I am going to like the warmer sound of the DN-100 considering that my previous Klipsch S4 are V-shaped. In your opinion, however, the DN-100 are the best performers sound-wise, right?

    Would you recommend the RBH-EP2 over either the MA750i or the EPH-100?

  7. The additional requirement of a remote and slim plug eliminates a lot of the best-sounding options but leaves some of the more consumer-oriented ones – namely the Klipsch X10i/X11i and RBH EP2.

    I have reviewed the predecessor to the XBA40 (the XBA4) and it didn’t really impress for the asking price, and was touchy in regards to source as well. Not sure how the XBA-40 compares.

  8. Thanks a lot for the advice!

    I never realized the S4 is lacking in mids…but then again I’ve never really had anything to grade them against besides the standard apple headphones.

    Of the three IEMs, I noticed that the MA750i came with a controller and mic (which is handy since I mostly plan on using these with my iPhone). Then I realized, however, that the headphone jack is rather large and wouldn’t fit with my current phone case (and probably with most of the cases out there).

    Therefore, I would probably have to go between the DN-100s or the EPH-100s. Sound wise, you would recommend the DUNU’s right?

    I was also advised to look into the SONY XBA 40s – have you had any first hand experiences with them? Additionally, if I were to higher the price bracket to around $250 – are there any other headphones (preferably with mic and remote) than you would recommend? Thank you.

  9. The noise from the cable that you mention is called microphonics (it’s one of the columns in the table above; higher score means less noise). Cable noise really varies a lot from earphone to earphone, but IEMs worn over-the-ear generally do better in that regard. You can also wear many conventional earphones over-the-ear to help with cable noise.

    Sound-wise, the best upgrade from the S4 (while keeping that general v-shaped sound signature with the enhanced bass and treble, and recessed mids) would be the DUNU DN-1000. To minimize cable noise these are best worn over-the-ear. This would be the “performance” pick – it might not have the absolute bass impact of the two sets below and tends to be a little brighter and more neutral, but for that you gain clarity and resolution.

    If you want to trade off some of that clarity and treble energy for less cable noise and great build quality with a better warranty, the RHA MA750 (or MA750i) is the ticket. Its bass isn’t as tight as that of the DUNU, either, but for the price and amount of bass it performs quite well and is generally a good all-rounder.

    Third option would be the Yamaha EPH-100. I actually like the tuning of these slightly better than that of the RHA for EDM and hip-hop, but the cable noise and durability bouts go to the RHA, so that’s probably a better choice if you’re prioritizing all three things in this sort of price range.

  10. Hey Joker,

    My name is Daniel and I am far from an audiophile. That said, I do appreciate good sound and have usually stuck to well reviewed technology – I own the Audio Technica ATH-M50 headphones and the M-Audio Studiophile AV 40 speakers, both of which I adore in terms of sound.

    When it comes to in-ear headphones, I’ve been a big fan of the Klipsch Image S4 line (love the tight bass) – I’ve had 2 S4i’s break on me (both times one of the speakers stopped working) and currently own the S4ii. My problem with the S4ii is the flat cable which makes lots of noise when bumping against anything (such as my jacket when I walk) and its weight which causes them to fall out constantly.

    I would like to buy a new pair of in-ear monitors that will resemble or even surpass the S4 for under $200 (willing to pay a bit more if really justified). The flat cable left a bad impression so I would like something with the regular cable and good build quality also (the S4 wears away far too easily).

    I listen to a wide variety of music, however, would like the monitors to cater to mostly electronic music (House, Progressive, Nu-Disco, Trance) and hip hop. I like a good amount of bass but not so much as to overpower everything else (like the Beats). Could you recommend something nice? (I posted my query on a few forums and was redirected by one of the members to your site – I’m very impressed and would like to know your opinion). Thank you!

  11. 1) It’s been a while since I’ve tried the FiBaSS. From what I remember they aren’t too different – the FAD wasn’t quite as flat and balanced end-to-end as the V6-Stage but they have a similar sort of sound, just on the v-shaped site of dead-flat.
    2) Yes, I would agree that the V6-Stage and Alclair Reference share a strong resemblance, with the V6 being the better earphone. Unfortunately I never got to try the final version of the upgraded RSM so I can’t say how that compares.
    3) Aside from the GR10, which I haven’t tried, I would say they are all oranges. The CK10 a little lighter on bass quantity than the others, but otherwise all of the same stock.

  12. Hi Joker,

    1) How does final audio FIBASS sound compared to the v6s ?

    2) From the reviews I have read, v6s has a sonic signature that is similar to the alclairs reference. While alclair RSM is the upgrade of the alclair reference with the same sound, do you think it is better than the v6s?

    3) Are the GR10, ck10, FIBASS, v6s, alclairs reference oranges? Or are they apples and oranges?

    THANKS!

  13. An important thing to note about the Monoprice MEP-933 is that the white 9963 and the pink 9960 come with a rubberized cord which greatly reduces the microphonics and is nowhere near as tangle-prone (but still is somewhat).

  14. My re400 was brought in January and the left bud already starts making less sound (seems like a cable issue). I can’t find my warranty now so I may need to find a replacement now. RE-400 sounds fantastic, but definitely requires more cares.

  15. Not from this page (yet) but each individual linked review has the driver count/setup near the top.

  16. The UM PRO 30 is a great sibilance killer and the bass is punchy and warm. Maybe more like the VSD3S in quantity than the bassier VSD1S, but still in that general vicinity. If you’re willing to spend $275, it should be a good way to go.

    Your slightly bassier option would be the Klipsch X10/X11. These have punchier bass and are extremely comfortable but durability is not a strong suit and overall performance, including clarity, is a little below the Westones.

  17. I’m new to this world, I had bose IE2 before but after 2 years the cable broke, I bought vsonic vsd1 but I didn’t like the sibilance and the sound is too harsh for me I couldn’t use it for long times.
    the story is I’m thinking of buying westone um pro 30 (I can get it used for around 275$) given that I mostly listen to rock,blues and jazz music and I want something with low to no sibilance, smooth and amount of bass which is around vsd1 do you recommend those? (I use my phone nexus6 to listen to music) if not what do you recommend between 100-200$ which will meet the above and be comfortable and durable for long time use.
    sorry for the long question and maybe the wrong use of terms cause I’m new to this

  18. I thought it was a step down but maybe my unit was defective as it had some other issues. And it certainly doesn’t have the bass power of the DN-1000 or Altone200.

    I’m reserving further comments on the Titan for the time being – maybe I can get a replacement unit and revisit it.

  19. Hmm.. while I think the EPH-100 is a fantastic earphone for that sort of money, I wouldn’t say it has less bass than the MH1C. The bass is better quality, sure, but there’s plenty of it. However, with isolation as a requirement it’s probably still a better bet than the S1, which has limited isolation even with foam or triple-flange tips.

  20. Not familiar with how the QC20 is tuned so I can’t say how the Custom Art compares to that earphone, but generally speaking it’s great for the combination of balanced sound (no particular emphasis anywhere in the spectrum) with comfort and noise isolation. Unless you have some particular sound signature preference, it’s about as good a recommendation as I can give.

  21. Hey joker, I was wondering which iem you would recommend to me, I want a pretty wide soundstage and depth, as well as pretty good sound isolation, right now I am using Bose QuietComfort 20 I like them quite a bit but the left ear just gave out, so I’m back in the market for a new good pair of iems, I’m also on a bit of a budget so somewhere around 450 dollars or so is my limit. I was thinking about possibly the custom art music ones, but I’d like to hear your opinion. And if it helps you recommend an iem I listen to country, classic rock, and some pop and alternative pop.

  22. Ok, I’m pretty sure I’ll go for the Yamaha, I’ve read that they are warm, but basically balanced, offer good isolation, and for 80€ they are a bargain. 😉

  23. Thanks. How would you place the Dunu titan 1. I have been reading lot of good reviews, is it comparable to DN1000/Altone 200 or a step down?

  24. Impressive list!
    Anyway, what would you suggest for a strong isolating, balanced but slight fuller earphone in the price range of 50-100$?
    Hifiman Re-400 looks good even if a read some serious concerns about durability. Here in Europe they are available for 86€.
    Yamaha EPH-100 here costs 80€ that looks a pretty great deal, but I guess they are quite too bassy in regard for what I search (I have the mh1-c and I onestly can’t stand for all those basses, how do they compare to them?).
    Fidelio S1 available for 75€ is another good deal, replacing tips with triple flange ones would improve isolation?

    Thank you!

  25. Hey joker, I was wondering which iem you would recommend to me, I want a pretty wide soundstage and depth, as well as pretty good sound isolation, right now I am using Bose QuietComfort 20 I like them quite a bit but the left ear just gave out, so I’m back in the market for a new good pair of iems, I’m also on a bit of a budget so somewhere around 450 dollars or so is my limit. I was thinking about possibly the custom art music ones, but I’d like to hear your opinion. And if it helps you recommend an iem I listen to country, classic rock, and some pop and alternative pop.

  26. All good options, but leaning towards a less bright/clear sound than the DBA-02. I guess without the expectation of quite matching the DBA-02 in clarity I would go for the KC06, as long as you don’t mind an overall more “fun”/colored sound, and the Etymotic MC5 or VSonic VC02 (beware the craptastic cable connectors) for a more neutral/accurate sound. Worried that the RE-400 would be a little warm/dull coming from the DBA-02 and the GR07 a little mid-recessed and sibilant.

  27. The Altone200 has somewhat over-emphasized bass and bright treble, which is not common with higher-end earphones, so if you want to upgrade while staying within that sound signature (or with even more bass) your options are very limited. Probably to the Sennheiser IE800.

    Most higher-end sets will have a more accurate (less bassy and bright) sound compared to the Altone200. There, you have more upgrade options even while keeping some of the v-shaped tuning of the Altone200. For example the DUNU DN-2000, FLC Technology FLC8, Westone W30, and so on can be considered more neutral, but still v-shaped, upgrades to the T-Peos.

  28. Hi joker,

    My set of dba-02s which i bought on your recommendation a couple years back just gave out. They were amazing though, both in terms of technical quality and the sound signature I prefer, and I was hoping you could recommend me something similar. My budget is a touch lower this time and I was looking at the KC06, GR07 classic and the RE-400. Which would you say is the closest? Or is there another IEM that you would recommend?

    Thank you very much!

  29. Hi Joker, I am currently using Altone 200 and really enjoy the sound. My previous earphone was RE0 and I always felt the bass was non existant although the clarity was there. After upgrade to Altone 200 it feels like RE0 was a cheap 10$ iem, altone is that good in clarity and bass. My only gripe is I am not too confident if the build quality will last.

    Currently I am looking for an upgrade from Altone 200 in the value range, Can you recommend me any model which can be said as a substantial upgrade from Altone 200? I don’t prefer over the ear design, so anything which can be worn straight down.

    Thank You!

  30. Hmm… low isolation kind of limits your options with higher-end sets. Even VSonics isolate outside noise pretty well compared to the E30, not to mention the RE-400. They also tend to be less smooth that what you’re used to.

    With low isolation and good performance in mind, I’d consider the following:

    Ostry KC06 – a little mid-centric but fairly smooth and quite “fun” to listen to. Low isolation. Review at https://theheadphonelist.com/brief-impressions-vsonic-vsd3s-ostry-kc06-havi-b3-pro/

    Philips Fidelio S2 – very GR07-like but with poorer isolation and a cable-down fit. Nice bass, slightly recessed mids (especially vs the KC06) and bright treble (brighter than you’re used to with the E30, but not sibilant like the GR)7. My full review of these can be found over at InnerFidelity.

  31. (I should add that based on your site I’m currently looking at the GR07, VSD3S, RE-400i. Thanks!)

  32. Joker,

    First things first, thanks so much for all your great work — this site is impressive and helpful. I recently lost a pair of Soundmagic E30s that I used as my all around commuters and loved (which I found from your review — thanks!) and am considering upgrading rather than just replacing them. The things I liked about the E30 were the signature, soundstage, comfort, and fact that it didn’t totally isolate (awareness of cars in traffic). Any recommendations for a good upgrade with a budget of ~$130?

  33. Both the GR07 BE and VSD3S will do what you want. The sound signatures are not very different – just a little bit more bass and overall clarity/detail/refinement on the GR07 BE. Both are easily driven by decently capable sources (iPods yes; Android phones – depends, as some are better than others). Sibilance can be a problem even at those volumes if you’re sensitive to it, but for most people they are fine – otherwise VSonic wouldn’t be as popular as they are.

  34. Need help in deciding whether to go for VSD3S or the GR07 BE. Is the GR07 worth the extra money? I’m looking for clean sound across the spectrum with a good amount of bass(a bit fun sounding and not analytical). I listen at around 40-50% volume. Will sibilance be an issue with either of them? Also, will they be easily driven by portable sources(Android phones and iPod)?

  35. Thank you for the input. I think I might get a pair of RHAs. Do you happen to know if they go on sale often?

  36. It depends more on personal listening preference than music genres – you can ask two different people what type of headphone they prefer for country music and get two different answers. The reason that I didn’t recommend the SE215 is that I like the other two better personally, and I didn’t see the SE215 as being a markedly better fit for your needs. The RHA MA750 would be fine as long as you don’t mind powerful bass. I think it’s a safer choice than the Flux Pro, which may be too balanced and neutral.

  37. Also, I mostly listen to indie/classic rock, sometimes EDM. Think in terms of Muse. They have some bass heavy songs, but it’s mostly high notes. Which in ears would suit me best for under 150? Thank you.

  38. The Flux is not natively worn over-the-ear, The Flux Pro is more comfortable when worn that way, and closer in price to the SE215 and MA750. In terms of sound, the Flux Pro is the most balanced of these three, followed by the SE215 (more bass-heavy) and then the MA750 (even more bass-heavy, with some upper midrange boost as well for a more energetic sound). I would probably pick between two extremes if I were you – the MA750 for a more fun, less accurate sound or the Flux Pro for smoother, leaner, more neutral performance.

  39. In in a bit of a predicament deciding on a new pair of iems. Which of the three is overall better for an average mid range? RHA MA750 / MA750i, Shure SE215s, or SteelSeries Flux. I picked these 3 in particular because I want over ear iems. (They also all look pretty nice)

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