The sub 200$ IEM market is just flooded with so many options that it's nearly impossible to decide on an IEM. Even when you narrow it down your sound preferences you have minimum 10 options with slight variations between each other. For example, some fit your sound preferences but have large nozzles which causes discomfort (Zero: Red). The IE200s are extremely comfortable but it took so much of effort from tape mod, tip rolling and cable change to be worth it. On the sound aspect, we have planars, single DD, hybrids (DD + BAs) with each of them tuned very similarly with some differences in technical performances and overall characteristics. Some of them does bass + mid well but lack in treble others do the opposite. The 7Hz Timeless does everything good enough but timbre does sound unnatural in certain tracks.
Do we have too many options with IEMs now that it causing choice overload? How do you typically decide on IEMs if you don't have the option to demo them before buying?
Genuinely asking, why don't people just go for a TWS if at the $200 mark? I get TWS will die in a few years, but I also don't expect cheap iems to last long either.
Is 200 considered cheap? Cause if so I need your job, lol. In all seriousness besides the tws items dying in a year or two depending on usage the cheaper tws options probably have a lower quality battery that will have a potentially catastrophic failure (fire/explode) depending on use.
They serve different purposes. TWS are great for portability and lack of cable which make them good for commuting and listening outside but they lack in sound quality.