Very nice list man! I really wasn’t impressed with the Elysium when I got them from the VisionEars tour, but maybe it was just a power missmatch (I was using the S1 at the time). Maybe one day you’ll come across a great price for them and take the leap 
!
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I 100% guarantee that the S1 does not make the Elysium sing to its potential. The S1 couldn’t properly drive the MEST and the Elysium takes way more power than the MEST. I flipped n6ii into high gain and I still had to click the volume up 10 points from what I had the MEST on in mid gain. If you ever have the means I encourage you to give the Elysium another shot through a more powerful source. It’s been a revelation for me. The Elysium is the first IEM I have heard that constitutes a clear and decisive upgrade from the Andromeda 2020 at doing what I most love about the Andromeda, namely its ability to connect and engage me emotionally with what I am listening to.
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Oh wow. I wish I had a more powerful source at the time !! The MEST always felt “lifeless”, but it seems like this is also an issue with power …
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I think it has something to do with the Sonion electrostats in the Ely and whatever fancy drivers the MEST has for its highs. Exotic drivers like power it seems.
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Holy crap!!
Merry Christmas man!! You got the Odin’s and Hero!!!
You’re set for a long time. Nice work and congrats.
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I wasn’t too big on the Elysium either. It sounded somewhat blunted in the transient attack to me, particularly in the midrange, which led to coherency issues. About the electret tweeters, there’s a certain way they have to be implemented. Like @jrockwell noted, they do benefit from a more powerful source to drive them if they’ve not been implemented properly.
As always, great list and a fun read! Love reading the shootouts too 
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It sounded weird to me at first, especially having spent so much time with the MEST and MW10 recently…but once I put the gain on high and let my brain adjust it started to really work for me. Thanks for your kind words…I know our tastes don’t always align but it’s nice that we can enjoy each others’ perspectives regardless. Cheers, and Merry Christmas!
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Thank you. I will take some pics of them shortly. My photography skill is poor though.
2020 final roundup/update… (This is what happens when I’m locked up at home alone over the holidays.)
Caveats/opening points:
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This list is just a reflection of my personal experience and preferences—it is by no means meant to be an objective appraisal of any IEMs’ value or worth.
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What I am after, with the listening experience, is emotional involvement. All other factors-- technical proficiency, perceived tonal accuracy, neutrality etc.-- are secondary for me. That’s not to say that those factors don’t play a role—but for me they are simply the means to the desired end of emotional engagement.
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Different brands each seem to have a distinct “house sound” or general tuning philosophy that resonates with different people in different ways. To use an analogy, I enjoy both Star Trek and Star Wars, but Star Wars strikes a deeper chord with me…not because it’s any better than Star Trek, but because it resonates more with me internally. I similarly connect with Campfire Audio IEMs in a way that I just don’t, or haven’t yet with, say, any 64 Audio IEMs I have heard. This does not mean I think Campfire is objectively “better”-- I just that happen to vibe more with their products and general aesthetic. I know there are many for whom the reverse is true however, as they say, YMMV.
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The more time I spend in this hobby and the more IEMs I hear the less I feel inclined to break an IEM down into its constitutent parts—bass, mids, treble, technicalities etc. More important to me than individual factors are how they all play together and coalesce into the overall gestalt of an IEM’s presentation. For example, on paper the Elysium’s bass seems like a deal breaker…but in the context of the signature on the whole it’s absolutely perfect and, in retrospect, somewhat revolutionary.
Heavenly Tier-- The best I have tried.
1) Vision Ears Elysium => The Vision Ears Elysium has, in a very short time, totally and completely won me over. The mid-centric presentation with its subdued bass was a bit weird at first, especially after days of rapid fire jumps from the MEST to the Andro to the Solaris…but once I upped the gain on my n6ii and just sat back and let the Ely do its thing it wasn’t long before I was swept up in its beautiful textures and gentle nuances. The bass (or comparative lack thereof) was a bit jarring at first but once I forgot about trying to break things into pieces and isolate and compare and instead focused on the signature as a unity I found myself immersed in a blissful and beautiful world of sound-- I’ve thrown pretty much every kind of music I can think of at it – including lots of EDM, d&b other bass heavy stuff and, while often different than what I am used to, the Ely brings enough of its charm to the fore that, instead of lamenting change I find myself instead finding new things to love about old favorites. The Elysium is the first IEM I’ve heard that sounds a tier above everything else I’ve heard and it’s the first IEM I have heard that constitutes a clear and decisive upgrade from the Andromeda 2020 at doing what I value most in an IEM, namely its ability to connect and engage me emotionally with what I am listening to within a precisely laid out 3-d headspace. At first Elysium’s driver configuration struck me as crazy. Now I regard it as a brilliant act of vision and daring that was perfectly executed. More detailed impressions here.
Elite Tier-- the “I could live with one of these as my only IEM” tier
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Campfire Audio Solaris SE/OG => Balanced and highly engaging all-rounder with solid technicalities across the board and a wonderful natural timbre. For much of the last two years this has been my standard bearer—until the Elysium came into my life. Through the right source (the PAW S1, for example) they are positively magical and hold their own with the Elysium surprisingly well. There are other IEMs that excel them at certain things but I haven’t found anything that does “everything” as well to my ears. I’ve never crossed the $3K threshold either yet, so there’s that. The SE and OG are way more similar than different to my ears. The SE feels like a slightly refined and polished OG with some more presence in the mids and as well as mildly improved technicalities and dynamics across the spectrum. Here is my OG Solaris review and here is a 4-way shootout I did with the SE Solaris, VE8, u12t and Legend X.
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Campfire Audio Andromeda MW10 => After an impressive leap out of the gate and a couple hours of a/b’ing I came to the conclusion that the MW10 is basically a Solaris SE minus the DD. Ultimately I can’t say for sure if the MW10’s completely capturing my heart in the few hours after I got them is due to how much I’ve missed the “Andro sound” since selling my 2020 vs. whatever “secret sauce” the MW10 may have over other versions of the Andromeda…but wow they are utterly captivating to listen to. I rank them just slightly below the Solaris for reasons of personal preference, and that on the whole I find the Solaris to be essentially a refined and evolved Andromeda. Sadly I never got to compare the MW10 and 2020 directly but my gut is that that same tweaks and polishes that were brought to the Solaris SE also found themselves in the 2020. Interestingly the MW10 holds the same ceramic tuning chamber that, alone of the Solaris variants, the SE has inside it.
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Campfire Andromeda 2020/Vision Ears VE8 => These comprise much of the essential DNA of my #2, but a little more coherent and minus the dynamic bass. The Andromeda is probably the most instantly accessible, easily likeable IEM I’ve heard and I can see why it remains the de-facto reference IEM for many even after all these years. Prior to owning the MW10 I would have said that I still prefer the Solaris overall as the dynamic low end and more “in your face” staging is more to my liking. However for someone looking for a “do everything” IEM that is immersive, inoffensive, and engaging it’s hard to think of a better recommendation than the Andromeda…it puts many, much more expensive IEMs to shame. The VE8 evokes a similar emotional response to the Andromeda and differs a wee bit in that they sacrifice a bit of space between notes/instruments for a lusher, slightly thicker sound. I could be happy with either of these ultimately, but the air and spaciousness of the Andro sound may win the day for me in a pinch.
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Unique Melody MEST => Addicting sub-bass, peerless staging and technicalities relative to what I have heard, and an airy top end sparkle. Ultimately they are a little more “v-shaped” than I like and on the whole I prefer the more forward and organic mids and balanced sound of IEMs like the Andromeda and Solaris. The MEST can be absolutely spell-binding to listen to with its insane technical response, but behind the pyrotechnics and flash, it doesn’t quite draw me in emotionally like the first 4 on this list do. Here is a 3-way comparison I did with the MEST, Andromeda and Solaris SE.
Excellence Tier-- the “each of these do something better than anything else in its class but ultimately don’t work as well for me as an all rounder” tier.
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Empire Ears Legend X => Bass cannon of the gods…peerless with genres like hip-hop and live funk, but not really an all-rounder-- the bass suffocates me as often as it rocks my world. In a sense the most notable thing about the Legend X is its midrange, specifically how it manages to be so present, bodied and detailed despite the insane bass. If you could get LX mids in something like the MEST the very earth might crack open due to the abundance of power and greatness that would generate. Please don’t tell me that’s what the Odin is as I have no plans (or means) to go there.
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QDC Anole VX => My favorite bass from a BA set…a little fatiguing in the upper mids/lower treble…but that’s its only real drawback. Superbly detailed, resolving vibrant and (imho) highly engaging for the most part, though it can at times sound a little too analytic and sterile.
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64 Audio u12t => I understand the love for these but I can’t relate to it. They’re technically very proficient, tonally very safe…but ultimately not very exciting (to me). I once likened the u12t and Andromeda to the “mars and venus” of IEMs…and I stand by this to some extent. Listening to the u12t is intellectually stimulating-- it lays bare and presents accurately all the elements of whatever you’re listening to, is gloriously detailed, and tonally capavble…but it all kind of falls flat for me and fails to evoke an emotional response. Conversely the Andromeda never fails to sweep me off my feet every time I listen to it. The u12t gets respect because it’s great at what it does, but it’s not for me.
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Sony IER Z1R => Delicious bass but imho not quite tight enough or worth the sacrifice to the lower mids. Signature wowed me at first but on the whole I found it a little fatiguing and disjointed between the highs and lows.
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Campfire Audio Atlas => Loads of fun but treble can be intense at times and didn’t really succeed as an all-rounder for me. As this list indicates pretty much everything I’ve owned since has bettered it.
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Worst review EVER!!!
Worst in the sence, that you made me desire ALL the IEMs listed
No this truely a great round-up of some excellent IEMs and it is a treat to read it and to understand the way you hear these IEMs and the differences you find. 
Thanks, I enjoyed the reading even though you made me want to order them all. 
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Absolutely awesome overview. I’m really thankful for this cause I still lack a lot of experience in IEMS. I have one pair and it is the Atlas. I quite quickly sold the Campfire IO Because the tuning just didn’t agree with me, however I did like some of the treble energy.
Anyhow. Thank you for including the Atlas in your list. I find their mid bass totally addictive. Tons of slam.
I think if I were to get another pair it would be the Odin.
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Thanks! I’ll always have a soft spot for the Atlas. In fact there are some recordings that that I haven’t heard portrayed better on any IEM I’ve come across since the Atlas. It’s worth pointing out that I love all the IEMs on that list, so even though the Atlas is #10 I still consider it a great IEM…it’s just not as versatile., refined or technically capable as some of the others on the list. The Odin is quite a jump :). I’ve never heard one but I’ve heard mostly great things. The price is a huge barrier for me…I stretched my sensibilities to the limit to swing the Ely and that was only after overcoming some mental barriers.
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Yeah you did a great job. Loved reading your write ups and I’m absolutely with you the price of the Odin. It is such a barrier and the value is quite suspect I. Relation to price and audio performance. You let me know if you end up trying it cause I trust your impressions based on the caliber of IEMs you’ve tried and experienced.
What I do know is that the Odin’s are completely different sound sig wise compared to the thunderous V-Shaped Atlas’s.
Be a good 1&2 to own.
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The Odin is a jump in price…like 1K more than Elysium if I’m not mistaken. It’s crazy, but if Odin manages to raise the game for me over the Elysium the way Elysium did over everything else I’ve heard then I could see it being worth it. It will likely be some time before I’m able to demo one…unless we manage to swing a Canadian tour.
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This is a fantastic roundup of you iem journey. I really love reading your thoughts and impressions. Long may they continue.
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Thanks man it means a lot
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I already posted my ranking list on a diff thread, but here’s my Top IEMs of 2020
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- Blessing2 - Fantastic neutral set with great imaging/soundstage. Technical performance is the best of all the sets I have.
- Sony XBA N3 - For the bass and excellent tonality. Better detail retrieval and technical performance would make these my all time favorite (maybe Z1R is what I need, heh).
- Fearless S8F - The v-shaped version of the Blessing2. Slightly less technicalities with a bit more bass punch.
- FiiO FH5 - Excellent bass and great mids. Decent technical performance and closed in staging. FH3s are also really nice but I prefer the balance of the FH5 more.
- ThieAudio Legacy 4 - A noticeable upgrade from the Legacy 3. Bass actually has tactility and slam though the technical performance is a bit underwhelming. Mostly neutral though the switches can slightly change the tuning
- Galaxy Buds Plus - Extremely satisfying bass, strident vocals and strange but decent treble. Staging/imaging is meh to okay. Mainly use for working out or sleeping (very comfy).
- Moondrop Starfield/KXXS - The “$109 recommendation” for good reason. Smooth listen with okay technical performance.
- Dunu DK2001 - Kings of comfort. Bass and mids are very satisfying Treble is missing detail and air. Technical performance and detail retrieval were quite underwhelming
- Blon BL03 - Strong but sluggish bass, decent mids and elevated but not that great treble. Tonally great, but missing the technical performance to make these really fantastic
- ThieAudio Legacy 3 - Decent set if you can get it for <$80. Bass is too soft for my likings and staging feels too closed in. Mids and treble are quite nice though.
*I take price into consideration for this list
My music preference is as follows: Metal, 80s Japanese pop, rap (Korean/Japanese/American), Weeb openings lmao.
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2021 #3—Spring Update— Nio & IER M9 added and IER Z1R Revisited
Caveats/opening points:
-
This list is just a reflection of my personal experience and preferences—it is by no means meant to be an objective appraisal of any IEMs’ value or worth.
-
What I am after, with the listening experience, is emotional involvement. All other factors-- technical proficiency, perceived tonal accuracy, neutrality etc.-- are secondary for me. That’s not to say that those factors don’t play a role—but for me they are simply the means to the desired end of emotional engagement.
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Different brands each seem to have a distinct “house sound” or general tuning philosophy that resonates with different people in different ways. To use an analogy, I enjoy both Star Trek and Star Wars, but Star Wars strikes a deeper chord with me…not because it’s any better than Star Trek, but because it resonates more with me internally. I similarly connect with Campfire Audio IEMs in a way that I just don’t, or haven’t yet with, say, any 64 Audio IEMs I have heard. This does not mean I think Campfire is objectively “better”-- I just that happen to vibe more with their products and general aesthetic. I know there are many for whom the reverse is true however, as they say, YMMV.
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The more time I spend in this hobby and the more IEMs I hear the less I feel inclined to break an IEM down into its constituent parts—bass, mids, treble, technicalities etc. More important to me than individual factors are how they all play together and coalesce into the overall gestalt of an IEM’s presentation. For example, on paper the Elysium’s bass seems like a deal breaker…but in the context of the signature on the whole it’s absolutely perfect and, in retrospect, somewhat revolutionary.
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I’m not sure if this is a controversial topic or what (though knowing this hobby’s propensity for drama, it probably is in some quarters) but I am a very big believer in sources and synergies. As I’ve said before imho good synergy can add a kilobuck or two to the perceived quality of your setup—and it could just as easily reduce even the best IEM to a steaming pile of crap. As such I like to assess an IEM when I perceive it at its best—so all my comments will assume the best possible circumstances under which I have heard it. I know, for example, Andromeda can be source sensitive, but for the sake of this list, I’m not taking that under consideration.
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This list is a living breathing thing—some days all my IEMs sound great, sometimes nothing sounds right. Tastes and perceptions can evolve and change in time, not to mention sources and circumstances.
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Tolerance and requirements for bass is a lot like spicy food—everyone has their limits and needs. The top 3 spots on my list are all taken by IEMs routinely criticized as “bass light”—this is just a personal inclination and I respect the fact that many others may not connect as well with those IEMs for that reason. YMMV, and all that.
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I’ve had the good fortune to own/demo many wonderful IEMs-- and this is pretty much just a list of my most memorable/favorites. Everything on this list I consider very good to great.
On with the list:
1) Vision Ears Elysium => This IEM jumped to the top of my list in December and shows no signs of going anywhere any time soon. It’s not perfect-- no IEM is-- but it excels at natural and lifelike instrumental timbre and is peerless (in terms of IEMs, in my experience) at facilitating an intimacy between the listener and the music. It accomplishes by drawing them in with its seductive, open and organic mid-range coupled with a natural, clear and detailed treble . Pairs brilliantly with my Shanling M8. Elysium review here.
2) Campfire Audio Solaris SE/OG => Dynamic, engaging, spacious, impeccably balanced, layered and staged. This IEM has from the moment I first heard one, struck a chord with me. Of the last two years for all but about 4 months of these two Solari were my main IEM—not losing their status no matter how many other great IEMs I tried. The Solaris’ winning feature is, to my ears, its superb balance of so many factors—it’s just technical enough, just impactful enough, just sparkly enough, and so on, that is a tremendously versatile IEM that works well, and manages to excite no matter what I throw at it. Ultimately what I love about it is its ability to draw you in to the whole of the musical tapestry, leaving you content to perceive as a unity and less inclined to break everything down into bass, treble, technicalities ect. The SE in particular is notable for its more “sure footedness” and character of the mid-range…though you do seem to lose a bit of character and sparkle in the highs in the OG…tit for tat. Male vocals in particular are incredible on this IEM-- moreso than even the Ely (which still wins the day for female vocals). (Here is a 4-way shootout I did with the SE Solaris, VE8, u12t and Legend X.)
3) Campfire Audio Andromeda 2020/MW10 => Imho Andro does two things very very well. The first is present music within a holographic, highly coherent 3-d like stage. The second thing it does is draw the listener into the midrange, or emotional centre of the music-- this is why I feel it moves and touches people like few other IEMs seem to. 2020 and MW10 both have their own unique character—with the MW10 sacrificing a bit of the staging magic for a more robust low end presence—but fundamentally share the same DNA. For someone looking for a “do everything” IEM that is immersive, inoffensive, and engaging it’s hard to think of a better recommendation than the Andromeda…it puts many, much more expensive IEMs to shame
4) Sony IER Z1R => My relationship with this IEM has been tumultuous to say the least. When I owned one two summers ago I ran it through a Cayin n6ii + A01 with Spiral Dot tips. I noted the superb bass and treble but struggled with fit, fatigue, bass clouded mids and the highs and lows not playing well with my ears. Listening to it now, through the Shanling M8, which cleans up, polishes, and solidifies the bass considerably, and with Sedna Tips that hold I comfortably in my ears for long sessions…and the listening experience has been very much transformed for me. The only reason it’s at number 5 is that given the mild-v it presents I do find the bass can be a touch distracting sometimes and such it lacks the sort of balance I prefer overall and that I find in the above IEMs. It must also be noted that the bass the Z1R puts out through the Shanling M8 is the best bass presentation I’ve ever heard in a personal setup. It’s absolutely breathtaking-- I’m listening to it right now and it’s making me want to curl up in a warm blanket of Z1R bass and forget about the world for a while.
The only other things I would say that as great as Z1R’s treble is it can be a touch metallic/sharp at times (something common to DD treble to my ears) and that it’s not quite as remarkable next to the e-stat treble of the Elysium…but this is minutia, both are great. Lastly, it has a definite sub-bass emphasis but it lacks some of the mid-bass oomph and punch that I love about IEMs like the Elysium and Solaris. Still, top marks overall. Sony has always been one of my favorite companies and I’m happy I finally really connected with this IEM. In terms of my perception of the Z1R’s place in the overall pantheon of things I would say that it’s presently the IEM in which the ideas of “fun sound” and “audiophile sensibilities” have been most optimized with respect to one another.
5) 64 Audio Nio => I’m really enjoying the Nio and flip back and forth between it and the Z1R with respect to their positioning on this list. This is the first 64 IEM I’ve really connected with. It has a definite bass emphasis, but not to the extent of the Sony—but its not quite as balanced as Andro/Solaris either and there is a certain sharpness at times (5K?) in a region of the mids/treble that can be a touch fatiguing—but this should be fixable via EQ. If I had to pick one of the two as my only IEM I’d probably go with the Nio as it’s a touch more versatile to my tastes…but right now I’m in the market for a more bass driven sound to compliment Elysium and the Z1R is appearing to be just what the Dr. ordered in my life right now. Stock cable is complete shite and my biggest “wtf” moment with respect to a cable at that price tier.
6) Vision Ears VE8 => The VE8 evokes a similar emotional response to the Andromeda and differs a wee bit in that they sacrifice a bit of space between notes/instruments for a lusher, slightly thicker sound. I could be happy with either of these ultimately, but the air and spaciousness of the Andro sound may win the day for me in a pinch.
7) Unique Melody MEST => Addicting sub-bass, peerless staging and technicalities relative to what I have heard, and an airy top end sparkle. Ultimately they are a little more “v-shaped” than I like and on the whole I prefer the more forward and organic mids and balanced sound of IEMs like the Andromeda and Solaris. The MEST can be absolutely spell-binding to listen to with its insane technical response, but behind the pyrotechnics and flash, it doesn’t quite draw me in emotionally like the first 4 on this list do. Here is a 3-way comparison I did with the MEST, Andromeda and Solaris SE.
8) Empire Ears Legend X => Bass cannon of the gods…peerless with genres like hip-hop and live funk, but not really an all-rounder-- the bass suffocates me as often as it rocks my world. In a sense the most notable thing about the Legend X is its midrange, specifically how it manages to be so present, bodied and detailed despite the insane bass. If you could get LX mids in something like the MEST the very earth might crack open due to the abundance of power and greatness that would generate. Please don’t tell me that’s what the Odin is as I have no plans (or means) to go there.
9) QDC Anole VX => My favorite bass from a BA set…a little fatiguing in the upper mids/lower treble…but that’s its only real drawback. Superbly detailed, resolving vibrant and (imho) highly engaging for the most part, though it can at times sound a little too analytic and sterile.
10) 64 Audio **u12t => I understand the love for these but I can’t relate to it. They’re technically very proficient, tonally very safe…but ultimately not very exciting (to me). I once likened the u12t and Andromeda to the “mars and venus” of IEMs…and I stand by this to some extent. Listening to the u12t is intellectually stimulating-- it lays bare and presents accurately all the elements of whatever you’re listening to, is gloriously detailed, and tonally capavble…but it all kind of falls flat for me and fails to evoke an emotional response. Conversely the Andromeda never fails to sweep me off my feet every time I listen to it. The u12t gets respect because it’s great at what it does, but it’s not for me.
11) Campfire Audio Atlas => Loads of fun but treble can be intense at times and didn’t really succeed as an all-rounder for me. As this list indicates pretty much everything I’ve owned since has bettered it. I should say though, that the Atlas presented a fun and bombastic sound that hasn’t quite been equaled by anything else I’ve come across, which is one of the reasons I’m really curious to hear Campfire’s new 2020 Dorado and Vega models.
12) Sony IER M9 => I wasn’t satisfied with my initial assessment of the M9 so I spent a couple more hours with it today and fiddled with it until I got a better fit and I got it to sound a lot better with my Sedna tips instead of the spiral dots I was using. It’s a rather pleasant an inoffensive sound-- would say something of a poor man’s u12t. It lacks the grand stage and dynamics of a Solaris or Z1R, the emotive sweep and seductive of a VE8, Andro or Elysium or the insane resolution and technicality of a VX-- it’s hard to fault per se, but it’s not the type of signature that draws me in and holds my attention.
13) CFA Andromeda Gold => Could have just been timing-- I first heard the Gold shortly after it was released and it didn’t really grab my attention. I heard it again a few days ago and it was the same thing. Maybe it’s just a timing thing and that if I heard this IEM under better circumstances I would feel differently about it…but it’s a classic case of an IEM that (for me) doesn’t really rate as there are many others on this list that (imho) do what it does, only better. Don’t let the ranking dissuade you though-- each IEM on this list is top tier and may be a dream come true for someone.
On the Radar: EE Odin (fantasy), Erlkonig (fantasy), Trailli (not even fantasy), CFA Dorado & Vega 2020, Volt, Luna, Jolene
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A truly excellent piece of writing. You have some great experience with TOTL Iem’s. It’s a fantastic list of gear. I think that everyone’s audio journey is unique and of course what people like and dislike is always going to stir emotions. Perhaps a little too much on certain forums.
A list of somebody’s favourite Iem’s is a truly personal thing and as you say there’s no right or wrong in a person’s choices. After all in my opinion it’s all subjective 9n the end.
Again thank you for letting me in on your personal journey through Iem’s. I have really enjoyed following it so far and will be interested in the next chapter.
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