Sen-Fi's 2023 IEM Tier List

Before the year ends I created this tier list for fun and wanted to categorize the IEMs I reviewed, auditioned, and owned.

DISCLAIMER:

• Anything on this tier list is subjective. You can refer below to how I logically categorize some of the IEMs on this list
• This list is not the "one true tier list" or the "gospel". Geez, I'm not that much of an expert and what's good for you may not be good for others, vice versa.
• I'm basically doing this for fun, I currently have an issue on my right ear so I won't be doing some reviews for a while.
• Everything on the list is tried and tested, I won't include anything I haven't tested.
• I won't put description on every IEMs on the list unless I have to justify it.
• Just have fun reading my tier list, no need to be too serious.

Sen-Fi 2023 Tier List

GOD Tier (not in my official Tier List. These are basically revered being in God Tier because of their paramount price, only a selected few can own it, and it has excellent sound quality to justify it)

• Simphonio P-Zero/P0- The audio quality is undeniably superior and transparent, boasting an expansive and holographic soundstage. The build and packaging is absolutely premium. This IEM was displayed on our Chi-Fi booth during the November Hifi Show 2022, earning its place in the God tier.

• Noble Audio Ragnar - the Ragnar might not be for everybody especially for those who are treble-sensitive but the insane amount of resolving details, expansive soundstage, and that open, airy treble makes the Ragnar be in the God-Tier. This was in the JABEN booth during the November Hifi Show 2022.

S Tier

• Unique Melody MEST MKIII  
• Elysian Acoustic Labs Diva 2023
• Simphonio VR1
• See Audio MIU
• DUNU SA6 MKII

A+ Tier

• Softears Studio 4
• HIBY Zeta
• Simgot EA1000
• TANGZU Nezha
• 64Audio DUO
• Yanyin Canon II - who would thought that a dark sounding IEM would make it to the A+ Tier? Believe me, it's good.
• See Audio Bravery
• Moondrop Varations - this might not be everybody's cup of tea but the Moondrop Variations may be the only Moondrop IEM that I liked.

A Tier

• BQEYZ Winter Ultra - The OG Winter has a more pronounced treble but they are almost the same.
• SIMGOT EM6L - this is probably the warmest SIMGOT that I ever heard but it's done nicely.
• Truthear Hexa
• SIMGOT EA500
• HIDIZS MP145
• TANGZU Heyday
• Kinera URD
• DUNU Falcon Ultra
• LETSHUOER EM07
• LETSHUOER Cadenza - being LETSHUOER's flagship it earned its place on the A-tier but not good to be in the same tier as the other TOTL set. The performance is just not justifiable for the price.
• Celest Phoenixcall
• SIMGOT EA2000 - one of the earliest creation of SIMGOT and if it wasn't because of its harsh higher frequencies it could've been in the A+ tier. However, detail retrieval is still resolving.
• AFUL Performer 8
• Astrotec AM850 MK2
• Etymotic ER2SE
• Campfire Audio Emerald- It retrieves details well, warmer than the usual CA tuning, and it boasts decent resolution and dynamics on its own. However, it's lacking in technical performance that other TOTL IEMs can accomplish.

B Tier

• Kinera Celest Wyvern Pro
• Truthear Zero Red
• HIDIZS MS5 - While it has a decently executed V-shaped sound profile, it's overall excitement is left much to be desired and it's very average. I'm not inclined to pay a premium for an IEM with an average sound.
• LETSHUOER S12 Pro
• LETSHUOER D13
• TANGZU x Divinus FUDU
• TANGZU Wan'er - how did Wan'er be on the same league as the FUDU? Don't get me wrong the FUDU is better than the Wan'er but in the budget segment, the Wan'er excels a Tier higher compared to those in the C-Tier
• LETSHUOER Galileo
• Whizzer Kylin HE10
• Truthear HOLA - just like Wan'er, the HOLA excels a Tier higher than its peers on the C-Tier.
• 7Hz Legato - bass galore with upper-mids peak.
• Final Audio STUDY 1 - I miss you :(((
• Ikko OH2 Opal - if you want a mellow sounding entry-level IEM, you might consider this 2022 dark-horse.
• Moondrop Blessing 3 - This decision is basically what would put me in this situation:

And I would understand if there's some high-level Moondrop copium there. While I acknowledge that the Blessing 3 is designed as a neutral in-ear monitor with decent techs and comfortable fit. It is indeed a great IEM on its own. However, I've experienced more enjoyable and better neutral IEMs, such as the Etymotic IEMs, and Softears Studio 4.

• 7Hz Salnotes Zero - and that completes the Holy Trinity of good sub-$20 IEMs. Namely, Wan'er, Truthear HOLA, and of course, Salnotes Zero.
• AFUL Magicone - This is just the cheaper Blessing 3 with some midbass.

C Tier - don't worry, IEMs on this tier are still tolerable but average at best

• TANCHJIM Tanya DSP
• TANCHJIM One
• KBEAR Ormosia
• SIMGOT EW100
• Tin Hifi C3 - if you want a cheaper but less dynamic Tin Hifi T3 Plus, you might consider this.
• KZ X HBB PR2
• HIDIZS MS3
• CVJ Nami
• KZ D-Fi
• KZ Castor
• TANGZU Chang'Le
• BLON Z300
• AFUL Performer 5 - there's a reason why it's coined as AWFUL Performer 5 by some. They did a redemption on the Performer 8 tough so it's all good.
• Kiwi Ears Cadenza - these received a lot of hype but I found these very underwhelming that I sold these after a week.
• Tin Hifi C2
• TANGZU x See Audio Shimin Li
• CCZ Warrior
• Binary Audio Chopin - another entry that would set me on fire. Believe me, I heard both the Chopin and Simgot EA1000 during the November Hi-Fi Show 2023. The Chopin retails at 179 USD, the EA1000 retails at 197 USD. Just add a few dollars and you'll get an IEM with a better sound, and build quality. Chopin's faceplate falls apart just by staring at it and the sound is not bad but very average for a 179 USD IEM.
• Moondrop Stellaris - bad ergonomics, bland dynamics.

D Tier - this is where it gets bad.

• KZ EDXS - budget friendly but the sound is inconsistent and quality is poor despite looking robust with that metal shell but it's very poor inside those shells. I got one with a distorted left earpiece, the second EDXS I got is very shouty.
• CVJ TXS
• CVJ KE-S
• Tin Audio T2 DLC - when you wanted to milk the T2 series so hard but it flops.
• KBEAR KW1 - nice wood aesthetics but you're charging me almost 40 USD for a non-removable cable the loosens overtime and the sound quality is just bad.

F-Tier - "F" for failure

• TRN Xuanwu - if you're aiming to experience tinnitus as early as your 20s, look no further; this is the one.
• MUSE Hifi Power - if you're aiming to experience tinnitus as early as your 20s, but you've got more budget.
• BLON Z200 - I don't even know why this exists.
• KBEAR INK - if you're a fan of KBEAR and you're aiming to experience tinnitus as early as your 20s. Yep, most of the F-tiers I listed is the gateway to partial hearing loss.
• KBEAR Xuanwu - just don't use Xuanwu on your model names, please.
• ND DD3