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VSonic VSD1S

2013 Holiday Earphone Buyer’s Guide – the Best Earphones Under $50

Earphones as gifts

An earphone can make for a great holiday gift for yourself or another. Ditching stock earbuds or upgrading from a lesser model can make a huge difference in musical enjoyment while additional features such as noise isolation or built-in headset functionality can make a commute much more comfortable and convenient. For many users it makes sense to own multiple sets of headphones for different purposes.

These days you really don’t have to spend a fortune to give the gift of great sound with an in-ear earphone – in the past year or two there have been quite a few fantastic releases costing less than $50.

Great – which ones do I get?

There are thousands of earphones out there and choosing between them can be tough. That’s where The Headphone List comes in. As usual, we have simplified things with just a few top picks out of the 100s of earphones we have tested for each of five different criteria – sound quality, noise isolation, durability, fit appropriate for small ears, and sports use. If you need a recommendation with another purpose in mind, just let us know in the comments below.

Willing to spend more or looking for a particular sound? Check out our more expansive earphone buyer’s guide, which groups sets by sound signature and offers options across different budgets.

Lastly, keep in mind the importance of a good fit with your earphones. Most in-ears were designed to maintain a tight seal with the ear canal and their sound quality will suffer tremendously with a poor fit. Check out our earphone fit guide for tips on wearing your in-ear headphones properly.

Note: this page contains affiliate links. Using them does not cost you anything and supports this site by letting retailers know that we help their customers make buying decisions. All affiliate revenue will be used to make improvements to The Headphone List. See our Legal Disclaimer for more info.

Sound Quality

The most important selection criteria, and with good reason. Our picks here are earphones that blew us away with their sound and, at <$50, their value for money as well.

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VSonic VSD1S
VSonic VSD1S

Top Pick: VSonic VSD1S

VSonic’s brand recognition stateside leaves a lot to be desired but the name is very familiar to audiophiles in Asia, and deservingly so.

Their newest earphone, the VSD1S, offers an accurate, yet energetic sound with good bass impact, fantastic clarity, and a spacious soundstage. It even incorporates an articulating nozzle feature never before seen on an earphone in this price range. I prefer the VSD1S to its sister earphone, the VSD1, for its smoother treble.

Overall, the VSD1S offers 90% of the performance of VSonic’s highly-regarded GR07 Bass Edition model at 1/4 the price. Enough said.

Read ljokerl’s full review on InnerFidelity here.

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SteelSeries Flux In-Ear
SteelSeries Flux In-Ear

Best Earphones With Mic/Remote: SteelSeries Flux In-Ear

This in-ear earphone from gaming peripheral manufacturer SteelSeries took me by surprise with its audio quality, which easily puts it among the very best earphones in its class. It’s a great all-rounder with a warm tonal character, punchy and extended bass, good treble energy, and excellent clarity.

The small, comfortable form factor, good noise isolation, and an inline microphone and single-button remote for smartphones and other devices make these one of the best values in portable audio.

Read full review here.

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Philips SHE3590
Philips SHE3590

Budget Option: Philips SHE3590 / SHE3580

Small and comfortable, these Philips earphones fit almost any ear size and cost less than a good lunch. They may look like dollar-store buds but the sound tells a completely different story, easily holding its own against earphones costing many times more with excellent presence across the frequency spectrum, enhanced bass, and crisp, clean treble. Sometimes called “Music Colors”, they come in several color combinations and are the perfect stocking stuffer for music fans of all ages.

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JVC HA-FX101
JVC HA-FX101

Basshead Option: JVC HA-FX101

JVC’s “Xtreme Xplosives” earphones are a bargain find for the bass-obsessed, combining deep and powerful bass with prominent treble. The sound is competent on the whole, if slightly harsh compared to pricier sets, but one thing is certain – the bass is fantastic for the price.

The newer FX101 model uses a smaller driver than the original FX1X and fits more ears comfortably. It comes in several colors and a version with a built-in microphone and remote, the FR201, is also available.

Read full review here.

 

Noise Isolation

When using earphones outside, External noise is killer not only for listening enjoyment, but hearing safety as well. Hearing damage occurs due to a combination of volume and exposure, and noisy environments can encourage listening at dangerously high volumes. A well-isolating in-ear earphone can do a better job of blocking out noise than an Active Noise-Canceling headphone at a much lower price.

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Etymotic Ety-Kids
Etymotic Ety-Kids 3

Etymotic Research ETY-Kids

This is a simple one – there’s nothing that isolates like an Etymotic, and in this price range that means the ETY-Kids. This particular model promotes hearing safety with a combination of immense noise isolation and volume-limiting impedance.

The earphones are also well-built and stay true to the Etymotic brand with sound that is clear, accurate, and neutral, though for some listeners perhaps lacking in desired bass presence.

The ETY-Kids name itself may be off-putting to some but there is nothing childish about the design – or sound – of these earphones. Volume-limiting aside, the ETY-Kids are simply a great option for keeping music in and noise out.

The ETY-Kids 5 is a stereo earphone while the ETY-Kids 3 is a headset model with microphone and 3-button remote.

Read full review here.

 

Durability

Admittedly, we are not always as careful with our electronics as we would like to be, and while it’s always a good idea to treat earphones with care, a little extra durability can be worth a premium to many listeners. Here are a few sets that we think will survive abuse better than the competition.

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RHA MA-350
RHA MA-350

RHA MA350

Hailing from Scotland, the MA350 by RHA is built to take a beating. From the from aircraft grade aluminium housings to the fabric-sheathed cable, the MA350 is rock solid.

The earphone is no slouch in the sound department, either, delivering deep, impactful bass akin to that of the $100 Monster Turbines at a fraction of the price. Add to that RHA’s 3-year warranty and the MA350 is a winner all around.

The MA450i, a similar-sounding earphone with microphone and 3-button remote, is also available.

Read full review here.

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Philips SHO2200
Philips SHO2200

Philips O’Neill SHO2200 Tread

The Philips O’Neill product line is designed for active use, and the SHO2200 Tread model was built from the ground up for the sole purpose of withstanding abuse.

The Tread delivers exactly what it promises – a bulletproof construction that puts most other earphones to shame. It may not sound as rich and full as the less expensive Philips SHE3590 or the RHA MA-350 mentioned above, but the Tread is sure to be a hit with those who are fed up with replacing broken earphones.

Read full review here.

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Dunu DN-22M Detonator
Dunu DN-22M Detonator

Dunu DN-22M Detonator

In the few years Dunu has been in business, their earphones have become synonymous with great attention to detail – the packaging, accessories, and design consistently surpass expectations at every price point.

The Detonator model boasts the fantastic build quality Dunu has become known for while producing sound that is warm and smooth. Underpinned by appropriately explosive bass response, it is an easy sound to enjoy and a difficult one to dislike.

The Detonator also boasts an inline microphone and remote, and the packaging makes it an excellent $50 gift. As a bulletproof entry-level smartphone headset, it’s a tough one to beat.

For those who don’t need a microphone, the less expensive DN-12 Trident model is also worthy of recommendation.

Read full review here.

 

Small Ears

Perhaps a less well-defined category, but still a question that gets asked over and over – which in-ears best fit small ears? There are many that may work, but our picks in this category are especially tiny and should fit nearly all ear shapes and sizes.

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Soundmagic PL50
Soundmagic PL50

Soundmagic PL50

Soundmagic has been in the earphone business for many years, consistently delivering products that offer solid performance for the price. The PL50 model in particular is notable for two things. First, it uses balanced armature drivers, which are pricier and rarely found at this price point. This gives the PL50 a balanced, smooth sound with a focus on the midrange in place of the more conventional bass focus of most other entry-level sets.

Second, the PL50 is tiny – the balanced armature drivers, originally developed for use in hearing aids, weigh very little and take up no room at all, permitting the ergonomic shape and low profile of the earphones. The PL50 is worn “over-the-ear” style, with the cable looped up over the ear, and is one of the most unobtrusive earphones we’ve tried.

Read full review here.

 

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Spider TinyEar
Spider TinyEar

Spider TinyEar

Designed from the ground up for those with small ears, the TinyEar comes with a selection of smaller eartips and utilizes a smooth, tapered design. Tiny and lightweight, it will fit pretty much anyone comfortably.

With a bright tonal character, the TinyEar is not the best-sounding earphone in the price range, but clarity is good and the design simply works for smaller ears. After all, what good is a great-sounding earphone that doesn’t fit?

An EMic version with a mic + remote is also available.

Read full review here.

 

 

Sports

In a sports earphone we look mostly for comfort and a secure fit. Sound that is not dull or boring is important as well – a bit of extra audio quality can go a long way towards making that last mile easier to push through.

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MEElectronics M6
MEElectronics M6

MEElectronics M6

The MEElectronics M6 has undergone quite a few changes of the past several years but underneath it’s still the same earphone I fell in love with back in 2009.

The combination of an over-the-ear form factor and flexible memory wire keeps the earphones in place. It may take a day or two to get the hang of wearing the M6 but once fitted correctly it provides a comfortable, secure fit and robust sound with good bass punch and crisp treble. It’s not the most refined-sounding set, but it’s definitely the best sports earphone we’ve heard in this price range.

Available in seven colors, the M6 is sure to be a hit with joggers, gym-goers, and anyone else who values an earphone that stays in place. A headset version with microphone and remote, the M6P, is also available.

Read full review here.

 

 

That rounds out 11 of the best <$50 earphones for every need. For in-depth reviews and additional recommendations in other price ranges, check out our sortable review list and out our more expansive earphone buyer’s guide.

Questions or comments? Leave them below.

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ABOUT AUTHOR

ljokerl

ljokerl

Living in the fast-paced city of Los Angeles, ljokerl has been using portable audio gear to deal with lengthy commutes for the better part of a decade. He spends much of his time listening to music and occasionally writes portable audio reviews across several enthusiast sites, focusing mostly on in-ear earphones.

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193 Responses

  1. Ah, got it. Of the sets you’ve mentioned above I’ve only tried the NE-600X, which is good but quite bass-heavy. A more balanced-sounding option would be the Philips SHE3580 or SHE3590. Should be in your budget. There’s a mic version as well (SE3595 I believe) but it’s less common. The SHE3580 is an enhanced-bass earphone, but not so bass-heavy that it sounds muddy or dark. It definitely punches above its weight in sound quality.

  2. Have come across few headphones but not sure about them
    1, cowon em1 (hardly any reviews but have come across few forums where ppl recommend them because of there 10mm drivers and good built quality)
    2, sound magis ES18 ( heard that its a gud headset but with poor/terible quality )
    3.NuForce NE-600X ( have read some decent reviews about this headphones but NOT AVAILABLE IN INDIA.
    4.Sennheiser CX 180 ( has been recommended by my friends with personally feel they are ok not that gr8.
    5. SM 10 ( have heard that they are a decent pair but not sure as due to there design they fall of ear)

    please help me and recommend me a good pair of headphones, want to buy an headphone asap a good mic will be a boon

    thanks

  3. Hi joker,

    Thanks for your reply, i am from india i was referring to Rs 1000 (1k) a small amount, 200-300 rs here and there will still be affordable. i am stuck to my budget as have brought a new phone ( samsung note 2 ) i want the earphones to work atleast for gud 1 or 2 years, very balanced and neutral sound with balanced bass will be gr8. thanks

  4. What’s your budget in USD? Unless you mean $1000, which is pretty much unlimited.

    If you want longevity you should consider something with detachable cables, which can be replaced if they break. The Shure SE215 is a good one – a little on the bassy side, but not totally unbalanced. Also, just keeping your earphones in a carrying case when in your pocket can extend their life significantly.

  5. Hi guys,

    please help me buy a good pair of headphones, it would be for everyday use, will use it for atleast 2-3 hrs a day and i want a good build quality as well as i will keep the headphones in my pocket all the time. balanced bass not overpowering the mid/low and balanced treble budget is within 1000k , and if it has a mic nothing like it, without mic will also be fine.
    thanks in advance.

  6. I picked up an EPH-100, the only piece,a refurb for 100 bucks from accessories4less.com- a factory authorised internet distributor. Thanks a million for being a good friend.

  7. What does SL signify in EPH-100SL, what are the other variants and how do they differ? couldn’t find any clues on their website.

  8. Warm means an overall bottom-leaning tilt (i.e. lower frequencies are more emphasized on the whole relative to higher frequencies). Cool is pretty much the opposite – lower frequencies are less emphasized on the whole.

    The Flux might not have enough bass for you – it’s warm, but not nearly as bassy as an EPH-100. It’s also more balanced/less bassy than the S4. For what you seem to be after, I’d recommend the Sony MH1C or Xiaomi Piston 2 over the Flux.

    I’m not too familiar with Sennheiser’s CX line. Haven’t tried anything new since the now-discontinued CX980.

    Beats Audio is just a bunch of EQ presets. You can do better with a simple 6- or 10-band EQ.

  9. Big Hi from India, joker!
    really grateful for your insight un-cluttering the IEM Scene. hope you are well rewarded for it without being pressured to make compromises.

    What do you really mean with the phrase ‘warm/cool tonal character’? please explain.
    Going by your descriptions, I think my preferred signature is either Warm-and-Smooth or Balanced; but both with strong and not overpowering bass emphasis. Being a casual music lover, lows with power and definition along with detail and clarity excite me. I want to be involved with the music and enjoy the attack and aggression in case of rock genre.
    I am disappointed with the pricey Klipsch S4i since it was only a marginal improvement on the bang-for-buck Creative EP-630/660.

    I guess the EPH-100 is what will be enjoyable but USD 100 is my budget. Flux seems to be the next choice.

    What has Sennheiser replaced the CX95/CX550 with? they had good balance.
    Also, what sounds good with Beats Audio activated on the HTC? These are not deciding factors though.
    please reply.

    Thanks again. Have a nice day!

  10. Sound quality and loudness are two different things (sound quality is complex… loudness is just efficiency/sensitivity). If you want something that plays loud don’t get the Flux.

    I’ve heard good things about the CX300-II but never tried it. However, it uses the same construction as the old CX300, which has mediocre isolation.

    Not sure what type of sound you are after but you might want to see if any of these are available to you: VSonic GR02 Bass Edition, T-Peos D200R. T-Peos Rich200 (more bass, less mids, more treble compared to the more balanced D200R).

  11. I have a budget of 50 USD and unfortunately can’t find the vsonic or steelseries flux in my area as I have to use a middleman for international shipping. My main concern is sound quality(loudness?) and Isolation(the more the better). There are a lot of sennheisers like CX 300-II, CX 281,OMX 185 available. Thoughts?

  12. That’s not really a lot to go on but if you don’t have specific requirements just start with something relatively cheap with good sound – the Philips 3590, for example, or Soundmagic E10.

  13. Hi |joker| I Don’t Know Anything About Earphones. Just Wanted To Get Best Earphone Under 3000/- INR India. Please Help.

  14. Thanks for the recommendations! Ended up checking out their reviews and looking into them a bit, went with the NarMoo R1Ms they just arrived today love having the extra ports and agree the bassier ones sound great with my selection of music.

  15. VSD1S would be a good one if you don’t need a ton of bass. Another alternative for a similar bass quantity but with smoother treble and a narrower soundstage would be the T-Peos D200R (impressions here: https://theheadphonelist.com/brief-impressions-noble-6-dunu-dn-2000-nuforce-t-peos-ear-earphones/) . If you want more bass, you might want to go for the NuForce NE-600X (lots of bass and great value at the current $15) or the NarMoo R1M that I reviewed recently (https://theheadphonelist.com/headphone_review/narmoo-r1m/). The R1M has several sound ports that you can choose from but I think the two bassier ones sound good with EDM.

  16. Hey joker, being big on all kinds of electronic music (house, trance, hardstyle, electro, etc etc) in the $50 below range what would be maybe the top 3 choices for IEMs that could compliment all electronic music? I’ve seen in the comments you’ve recommended the VSD1(S) a few times but if possible what else would be some good choices for me to also look in to?

  17. This post is still being updated as well – just added the Fidue A63 today.

    I have tried the FX1X and actually liked the FX101 better – not only is it smaller and more comfortable, but the bass is a little less bloated.

  18. It’s nice that you are still replying to these posts much later after making the article. I’m just wondering whether or not the
    JVC HAFX1X are any better than the newer model HA-FX101. There prices are pretty similar and im hearing the same negatives on both sides 😛 if you have used both, which would you recommend?
    Thanks in advance 😀

  19. In a sentence, it’s a v-shaped earphone with very good bass depth and surprisingly tight punch, some lower treble emphasis, and mediocre extension up top (but good for the price, of course).

  20. Thanks, that is helpful.

    I understand you are swamped. It is just that you do such great reviews I was curious about that one.

  21. Microphonics are okay – I would say slightly better than average. I still prefer to wear them cable-up, which completely eliminates the cable noise.

    There’s still a lot of earphones I really need to review in full, including these 🙂

  22. Sure – if it was me I’d get the VSonic VSD1S – it’s still my favorite among sub-$50 in-ears. It doesn’t have huge bass and isn’t the smoothest-sounding earphone out there but on balance it’s very good. Just as an alternative from a bigger brand, the new Philips TX2 is also very good and comparable to the VSD1S. The Sony MH1C is also superb for something with a warmer sound, though it might be harder to find under $50 these days.

  23. Hello, I was wondering if you could help me with earphones, I hear you are good at that. I am not very experienced with earbuds and was looking for advice on some I could get under $50. I listen to mostly classic rock and alternative (ex:AC/DC, The Beatles, The White Stripes, The Eagles, and Pink Floyd). I was wondering if there is any way you could recommend me some earphones based on the type of music I listen to. If you could, it would be most appreciated, thank you.

  24. Never tried the IM50 but it’s been recommended to me.

    The VSD1S is not dark-sounding at all but the SE215 does fit your requirements fairly well. Sony MH1C would also be a good one (not dark per se, but very smooth and not bright at all). You can also consider a BA earphone with the Knowles SR driver, such as a MEElec A151 – they tend to roll off a little at the top and be pretty smooth. Not as good overall as MH1C though, in my opinion.

  25. hai ljoker,
    have you ever tried IM50 from Audio Technica (people say quite similar signature to Shure SE215, but better PRaT)? how was it compared, lets say, to the Vsonic VSD1S in term of clarity and soundstage? i’m looking for a dark sounding IEM with a decent clarity n quiet good soundstage n also smooth treble..
    any suggestion in $100 price bracket?

    thanx 🙂

  26. The SE215 is always a safe choice – it does have plenty of bass but isn’t overwhelming, and the treble is smooth and inoffensive. The VSD1S is less warm and more accurate overall. It has a small advantage in clarity as well as more treble energy than the SE215. I personally prefer the sound of the VSD1S but the SE215 has other advantages including durability and noise isolation.

    There’s obviously lots of other options for IEMs under $100 but without more specific requirements these two are as good as any.

  27. Hi Joker,

    I’m not sure what type of sound I really like to be honest, do like a bit of bass, but definitely not a basshead.

    This will be the first time I’m spending much money on a set of proper earbuds (compared to standard phone issues).

    Which would be the best choice for me to enter the IEM market? I have a budget of around $100.

    Additionally, if I have 30-40% off the SE215, would it be a good buy for my first pair of IEMS?
    I’m also interested with the VSD1S..

    Thanks for your help!

  28. VSD1S should be good, certainly one of the best options in the price range. It’s not bass-light so your pop and electronic music will still sound good but at the same time it’s pretty well-balanced for everything else.

  29. i have a budget of 50$,i mainly listen to chillstep and some pop/bollywood style classical,
    i can extent the budget to 80$ not more than that
    which headphone will u recommend,i have vsd1s available in my country,but other options might not be,i am from india

  30. I’ve never tried the HA-EBR80 but from what I can see it’s an earbud and not an IEM.

    With a $35 budget and requirements for heavy bass and high sensitivity (volume) and a mic/remote I don’t think you’ll find anything better than the HA-FR201.

  31. One last thing, I promise.
    In your other article “earphones buyer’s guide” you categorize different earphones by sound signature which sounds good to me.
    However, it seems very uncomfortable to me -and costly- to have 3-4 pairs or earphones for listening different kinds of music.
    For instance, I like to listen to electronic music (progressive, house and trance but no psy) and from time to time acoustic and classical. Very rarely I might listen to some pop. Definitely not listening to metal and all its subgenres and rock.
    Having under consideration my hearing impairment and what I’m looking for, in addition to my music preferences, could you suggest the best budget in-ear headphones for me? Is it still the JVC FX101 (or FR201) ones?
    Sorry for the costant questions but I need some help because I’m about to replace my M9’s asap.
    That was my last question.
    Thank you for your time.

    Best regards,
    Mamoulinos

  32. Hey Mr. ljokerl

    Yes, I mean the volume is insufficient. I usually max out the volume but it’s sounds significantly low.
    I didnt have to face that issue in the past 2 years when I was using Samsung’s headphones that came along with the Galaxy S3, my previous phone. My hearing loss remains at the same levels as described previously.
    You know, I am not expert on this but having to face with hearing loss issues the whole my life I can definitely comprehend minor fluctuations of sound when I’m hearing something or insufficient volume and stuff like high treble or lower bass because of my right impaired ear. I think it functions as an echo sometimes. I dont know how to describe this to you but it forces my brain to understand that the sound should go equally to both ears, even though it is impaired inside.
    This why I’m positive that I’m not satisfied with the M9 at all and I will definitely try the JVC’s you suggested.
    Thank you very much.

    Best regards,
    Mamoulinos

  33. I guess it depends on what you mean by “the sound is much lower than expected”. If you mean that the volume is insufficient for your right ear (or both ears), then it’s just a matter of efficiency. Most of the time I don’t concern myself with efficiency too much because it is easy to compensate for, but there are definitely more efficient earphones out there than the M9 if that’s what you’re after. I think the JVC FX101 (FR201 if you want microphone) would work well for you – lots of bass, high sensitivity, and the mids are not so recessed that it’s hard to make out vocals.

    P.S. you may want to try compensating for your hearing using the Left/Right balance adjuster on your device if you have one. Modern Apple devices, for example, have one built in and you can vary channel balance by quite a lot (see here: http://www.the4cast.com/2011/06/how-to-adjust-sound-balance-on-iphoneipadipod-ios5/). On my Cowon J3 you can also adjust balance, by maybe 10-15dB. When you adjust balance you end up reducing the volume in one ear but if it ends up being too quiet for you, you can use a small amp like the Nuforce MMP (http://amzn.to/1aOM1FZ) to bring the total volume up.

  34. Greetings Mr. ljokerl.

    I have read your reviews several times, mostly at head-fi.org and I like them a lot.
    Only registered here to ask you something important to me.
    Here’s the thing. I have a hearing impairment in my right ear for over 20 years. My doctor said I can hear about 15% from it. So, I’m almost deaf from my right ear. Left ear is fine.
    I need to buy an under $35 in-ear headphones pair for regular use (smartphone for making calls and music, laptop for music and movies etc). I own MeeElectronics M9 but I am not fully satisfied with it. I feel the sound is much lower than expected. I mean from what I hear from my left good ear. Many reviews on the internet, including yours, highly recommend M9, but it seems my ears dont like it that much.:)
    Could you please suggest the best in-ear headphones for my situation? I would like something with sound as crispier as it gets and also with great bass.
    Please respond whenever you are free to do.

    Best regards,
    Mamoulinos

  35. Thanks joker. Btw, which of this IEMs do you think has the cleanest (non recessed) mids?

    soundmagic e30, brainwavz m2, brainwavz beta

  36. I haven’t tried the ES18 but the SHE3580 has a nice warm, somewhat v-shaped sound. Of the sets I’ve reviewed recently the RBH EP1 sounds similar, but it’s over $100. Under $100 there’s the ThinkSound earphones that tend to have a warm/v-shaped sound, the JVC FXT90 (which is more mid-bassy), and the HiSound Wooduo 2 if you want even more bass.

  37. What other IEM under $50 and $100 share the same sound sigs as the philips she3580/90 or soundmagic es18? Those are the sound sigs that I currently enjoy. Hope I can get ljokerl’s opinion as well 🙂

  38. Received my VSD1s yesterday. Was highly disappointed after seeing the cable thickness. I’m not sure whether I could keep it safe for even a couple of months, it’s that THIN !!
    Quick Review. Very powerful and considerably detailed. But sounds are not separated 🙁

    If possible, will tell in detail about my opinion abt this IEM in comparison to R1, TS02, M2, MH1C and UE600 later.

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