I get that IEMs are a great option under a 150 bucks and also convenient for traveling, I own two pairs myself and they are decent. But I’ve tried two open back headphones now and they both eclipse the IEMs in a way that can definitely not be replicated by IEMs. The sound is really “outside your head” and airy, whereas IEMs sound exactly like you’d expect them to sound. Often they can’t even get omnidirectional imaging right and have blobs, and soundstage is very constrained.
So, why are there people spending tons of money on ©hifi IEMs when they only listen to them at home anyways?
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Headphones, earbuds, and IEMs have very different presentations. IMO, none match that of a great two channel or multi channel audio system. IEMs give you excellent detail and coherency and have the ability to control more factors in reproduction than do headphones which have reflection inside the earcup to deal with. Headphones do present better in a spatial sense in some ways. Earbuds are sort of a mix of the two.
I would definitely not say that headphones are superior, they’re moreso different. Also, they mess up your hair and put weight on your head the whole time.
Because we want to.
Maybe because I can’t fucking stand the open sound?
That’s fair, but on headfi all IEM reviews rate the soundstage. So there is that.
I don’t disagree with you. But as an owner of both the Focal Clear og and Sony IER M9, I still find myself reaching for the M9 even when at home.
Would IEMs be good for gaming where direction is super important? Shooters?
I need somewhat compact stuff for work and open headphones are a total nogo at work.
And full open headphones are not just blanket better. In some metrics this is apples and oranges comparison, even before we start getting to personal preferences, as these 2 are just different.
My Tangzu Zetian Wu Heydey has so much more detail in the transients than my DT 900 Pro X.
I guess it’s about preference. I don’t think iems are inferior at all. I actually prefer my Noble K10U over my HD800.
My i4 sounds better and more open than most headphone I tried.
But then I use speaker at home anyway when I want the actual “outside my head” experience, so really no place for headphone for me.Did purchased grado though for office, mostly just for call meetings.
Only place I can use an open back headphone is at home, and I dont even like them there because my neighbors are noisy. IEMs I can use anywhere.
Plus, this post reads to me like you havent tried a TOTL IEM. I’ve tried a bunch of TOTL IEMS back to back with open and closed back TOTL headphones, and the IEMs were just as good. Better even in some aspects like detail.
it comfortable, portable and sound good
Many reasons. 1st of all who told you they are using them at “home anyways”? Maybe they use them while commuting, in the office, while traveling, cycling, gym, whatever.
Also even at home, I cannot imagine not laying down in bed with earphones immersed in the music. Absolutely atrocious to wear a huge open back headphones making me very uncomfortable on the pillow. IEMS OBLITERATE full size headphones with that alone, no competition whatsoever. Also they are much lighter and can be worn for longer periods ergonomy wise, and I actually even enjoy the additional isolation even while at home vs open back headphones, it gives me even more “intimate” and that private feeling while listening to music. Not exactly living in a countryside, so there is always some sort of noise even with windows closed.
Anyways, those are just a few reasons why there is not even competition, IEMS b very far superior for me