I am not an audiophile, so I usually rely on reviews and Reddit to figure out what devices have good value and make my purchasing decisions based on them.
Recently I learn a bit about the frequency response graphs and I can use them to somewhat compare the sound signature of different IEMs. It’s still a trial and error though.
DAC
As most modern phones no longer has a headphone jack, I got FiiO-BTR3, a Bluetooth DAC, so I could use my wired headphone. It’s a great portable device, it is small, and I can clip it on shirt.
My BRT3 died after 3 years, so I got Qudelix-5K to replace it.
Headphone
For 5-6 years, I used a pair of Sennheiser HD25. I replaced the cables multiple times over the years, which is cheaper than getting a new pair.
I absolutely loved it, the sound was just so clear to my ears. However, before I bought these, I only used cheap earbuds, so I don’t have a great point of reference.
In 2022, after using Aria for almost a year, I’ve finally decided to retire HD25.
I got an used DT 900 Pro X from Amazon for half a price. Coming from IEM, the soundstage is wide and after EQ, the sound isn’t harsh.
IEM
My ears got extremely hot wearing HD25, I sweated a lot after 30 minutes wearing them. That’s why I decided to get IEM.
I got Moondrop Quarks as it’s cheap, and I want to test out how IEM fits. The sound was ok, but the default earbuds didn’t fit my ears.
After trying the Quark and reading a bunch of favorable reviews of Moondrop Aria, I purchased it. Even though it’s bigger than Quark, it fits a lot better on my ears. I also got Linsoul cable and SpinFit CP100+ to replace the stock cable and earbuds, respectively. Overall, for the price, I really like Aria.
In 2023, my Aria died, the left side was a lot quieter than the right side. I bought LETSHUOER S12 as an upgrade/replacement alongside with SpinFit W1. Together, they fitted my ears perfectly.
The S12 wasn’t a big improvement compared to Aria, I think I can hear a bit more details here and there, but they could be placebos.