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Another Tier List!

Updated: Sep 27, 2022

One of the most common requests that I receive is, "Where is your Tier List?" So after 3 years of reviews on YouTube, here is my Tier List.


https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1nRHnsP_4vLg9DlD9kwJ6gQuEQFqhTR0lnrkxXo3AMG8/edit?usp=sharing


You all know me and shouldn't be surprised at how simple but out of the ordinary this Tier List is.


There are 3 tabs at the bottom; Headphones, IEM and Ranking Grade. In the Headphone and IEM tabs there are 3 sortable columns; Manufacture, Model and Grade. In the 3rd tab, Ranking Grade, there is an explanation of the Grade.


Explanation of the Ranking Grade: A "minus" is the lowest and a "plus" is the highest within that letter; if no "plus" or "minus" then it is smack in the middle of said letter. "A" equals "awful" which is the worst I have experienced. "B" equals "bad" which is barely tolerable. "C" equals "contender" which is gear that has a few flaws but is recommendable. "D" equals "delicious" which means this gear is highly recommended. "E" equals "excellent" which is the cream of the crop.


The overall grade is based on my review and is a mixture of the entire experience; build, comfort, sonics and everything else in between. To best understand differences in grades it is recommended you watch or read my review. More then likely you will be directed back to the original review/s when asking for comparison/s so why not watch it first.


Just because various products have the same grade may or may not mean they perform at the same level BUT is the overall grade for how it performs on it's own merit in my personal opinion.


Please keep in mind that this Tier List is my personal opinion and it more then likely will differ with other reviewers and your experiences.


Also, this is a living document and will be updated with each new review. Some grades may fluctuate without reason based on me revisiting the gear and changing my mind.


Please enjoy the Tier List and have fun comparing.


Discord: https://discord.gg/kuHQQRS5qB

YouTube reviews: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgMj7xJ1SDxGqqxZ5l3g_jg

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/B4LG7Kqp_7f/?igshid=1pj7fm78gz0h2

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TalkDbs @TalkDbs

Website: https://www.thehonestaudiophile.com

Tierlist:https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1nRHnsP_4vLg9DlD9kwJ6gQuEQFqhTR0lnrkxXo3AMG8/edit?usp=sharing


The Honest Audiophile research/review process: https://youtu.be/UkSnoZZNyYc


Audio Terms/Definitions: https://www.stereophile.com/reference/50/index.html


Recommended Gear:

Rosson Audio Design RAD-0: http://www.rossonaudiodesign.com/

Meze Empyrean: https://mezeaudio.com/products/meze-empyrean

Hifiman Ananda: https://hifiman.com/products/detail/290

Sennheiser HD600: https://en-us.sennheiser.com/best-audio-headphones-high-end-stereo-hifi-hd-600

Sennheiser HD660s: https://en-us.sennheiser.com/hd-660-s

Meze 99 Classic: https://mezeaudio.com/collections/all/products/meze-99-classics-walnut-gold-wood-headphones

MrSpeakers Ether C (non flow version) https://danclarkaudio.com/

(similar to:) https://drop.com/buy/drop-mrspeakers-ether-cx-closed-headphones?utm_source=linkshare&referer=FTSS2S

Meze Rai Penta: https://mezeaudio.com/collections/all/products/rai-penta

Meze Rai Solo: https://mezeaudio.com/products/rai-solo

ADV. M5-12D: https://www.adv-sound.com/collections/pro-audio/products/m5-12d-universal

Empire Ears ESR: https://empireears.com/products/esr-b-stock

Tin Hifi T3: https://www.linsoul.com/collections/tin-hifi/products/tinhifi-t3

Tin Hifi T2: https://www.linsoul.com/products/tinhifi-t2?_pos=1&_sid=7cddd72dc&_ss=r&variant=34447375302811

Tin Hfi T5: https://www.linsoul.com/products/tin-hifi-t5?_pos=1&_sid=a6d49043d&_ss=r

Moondrop SSR: https://www.moondroplab.com/ssr

Monoprice Monolith THX AAA 788: https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=24459

Sony NW-A105: https://electronics.sony.com/audio/walkman-digital-recorders/walkman-mp3-players/p/nwa105-b

Sony NW-WM-1a: https://electronics.sony.com/audio/walkman-digital-recorders/walkman-mp3-players/p/nwwm1a

Mytek Liberty: https://mytekdigital.com/hifi/products/liberty-dac/

HeadAmp GSX-Mini: https://www.headamp.com/products/gs-x-mini

Soekris DAC1421: https://soekris.modhouseaudio.com/soekris-audiophile-line/dac-1421

Tor Audio Roger: https://toraudio.com/main.html#

Schiit Auido BiFrost 2: https://schiit.com/products/bi-frost-1

Massdrop THX AAA 789:

https://drop.com/buy/drop-thx-aaa-789-linear-amplifier?utm_source=linkshare&referer=FTSS2S

Grace Design SDAC-B: https://drop.com/buy/drop-grace-design-standard-dac-balanced?utm_source=linkshare&referer=FTSS2S

Geshelli Labs Enog 2 Pro: https://geshelli.com/shop/ols/products/enog2-pro-dac-metal-case

Geshelli Labs J2: https://geshelli.com/jnog

Geshelli Labs Archel 2: https://geshelli.com/shop/ols/products/archel-pro-amp-metal-case-b5ca9a41-69ed-4786-98b2-18f72ae911bf

Geshelli Labs Erish: https://geshelli.com/shop/ols/products/erish-balanced


Music recommendations:

https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/5bbf80ce-33f3-4222-a1fc-6539a95415d6 (in order of playlist)

Tingvall Trio “Beat” - piano tonality

Sinne Eeg “We’ve Just Begun” - multiple layer soundstage

Molly Johnson “What a Little Moonlight Can Do” - female vocal tone

Leslie Odom Jr. “Under Pressure” - male vocal tone

Eric Clapton “Change the World” - soundstage, layering and placement

Yo Yo Ma “Ecstasy of Gold” - acoustic instrument timbre

Adam Baldych “Spem in Alium” - acoustic instrument timbre

Pain of Salvation “Stress” - percussion balance

Michael Buble “When I Fall in Love” - orchestral dynamics

Patricia Barber “Code Cool” - sibilance check

Christian Scott “New New Orleans” - shouty upper mids

Tool “Chocolate Chip Trip” - imaging

Hans Zimmer “Why So Serious” - sub bass extension

Marcus Miller “No Limit” - bass control

Dave Holland Quartet “Conference Of The Birds”- bass check

Ilhan Eshkeri “47 Ronin”- orchestra and bass dynamics

Hans Zimmer: “2049” - sub bass extension

Cher: “Believe” - sibilance

Stanley Clarke - “Passenger 57 main title” - percussion, bass, separation and placement

Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra - “The Pine of the Appian Way” - soundstage, imaging and separation

Houston Person - “You are my Sunshine” - tone and timbre


If you like the content of this channel and want to see more like this in the future, please

consider donating. All funds donated to the channel will be used to purchase headphones and audio gear for the channel.

https://www.paypal.me/dbsylvia


If you would like to contact the channel please send an email to: dbstechtalk@gmail.com


Affiliate links:

Drop: https://massdrop.7eer.net/VXvyJ

Apos Audio: https://apos.audio?sca_ref=45218.8XN5h6dArS

ADV-Sound: https://www.adv-sound.com/?ref=thehonestaudiophile

Gestalt Audio: https://gestalt.audio promo code: DBS

HifGo: https://hifigo.com/?rfsn=5772588.cbfbb66


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