Nio

The 8 balanced armatures plus that 9mm dynamic driver really do their thing — cymbals and vocals sit in their own space instead of mushing together. Fit took a little fiddling with the tips, but once they sealed, I wore them for a three-hour flight without any discomfort.

The low end on these is genuinely deep without smothering the mids, which I didn't expect from a hybrid setup. Eight balanced armatures handle the detail up top beautifully. Easily the best IEMs I've owned under this price range.

That 9mm dynamic driver paired with 8 balanced armatures gives these a richness I wasn't ready for. The low end digs deep but never muddies the mids, which is rare at this driver count. Wore them for a four-hour session and forgot they were in.