For most budget audiophiles searching for better audio quality from IEMs and headphones, Chi-Fi offers better value than most local offerings. The price-to-performance ratio of Chi-fi IEMs and headphones has led to their popularity. While Chi-fi does not always equate to cheap IEMs, there are some excellent options. We’ve scoured different Chi-fi IEMs to compile this list of our best Chi-Fi IEMs.
Chi-Fi IEM Comparison Table
| CHI-FI IEM | IMPEDANCE | SENSTIVITY | DRIVER TYPE | FREQ** | CONNECTOR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| THIEAUDIO Monarch MKII | 36 Ohm | 108 dB | Hybrid | 20-40,000 Hz | 2-Pin (0.78mm) |
| Linsoul 7HZ Timeless | 14.8 Ohm | 104 dB | Planar Magnetic | 5-40,000 Hz | MMCX |
| CCA CRA | 34 Ohm | 105 dB | Dynamic | 20-40,000 Hz | 2-Pin (0.75mm) |
| Salnotes Zero | 32 Ohm | 108 dB | Dynamic | 10-20,000 Hz | 2-Pin (0.78mm) |
| TANGZU Wu Zetian | 16 Ohm | 100 dB | Planar Magnetic | 20-20,000 Hz | 2-Pin (0.78mm) |
| Moondrop Aria | 32 Ohm | 122 dB | Dynamic | 5-36,000 Hz | 2-Pin (0.78mm) |
| TANCHJIM Oxygen | 32 Ohm | 110 dB | Dynamic | 10–40,000 Hz | 2-Pin (0.78mm) |
| BLON BL-03 | 32 Ohm | 102 dB | Dynamic | 20-20,000 Hz | 2-Pin (0.78mm) |
| Truthear Hexa | 20.5 Ohm | 120 dB | Hybrid | 8-40,000 Hz | 2-Pin (0.78mm) |
| TinHiFi T2 | 16 Ohm | 102 dB | Dynamic | 12-40,000 Hz | MMCX |
*FREQ – Frequency Response
Best Overall Chi-Fi IEM
1. THIEAUDIO Monarch MKII
- Impedance: 36 Ohm
- Sensitivity: 108 dB
- Connector: 2-Pin (0.78mm)
- What We Like: Amazing midrange, Good Bass quality, Build quality, Modular cable
- What We Don't: Fit might be an issue to some
The Monarch MKII is part of Thie Audio’s tribid concept, which combines three headphone drivers in a single earpiece. Each earpiece has one dynamic driver, two electrostatic drivers, and six balanced armature drivers. Overall, this design makes the Monarch MKII one of the best-sounding IEMs around.
Starting with the design and build quality, the MKII looks and feels like very smooth gemstones that are beautifully crafted. Although the faceplates look good in photos, up close, they have a lot of depth and change as you move and light shines on them. The cable is also cool with interchangeable connectors, so your IEMs will work with 2.5mm, 3.5mm, and 4.4mm.
For fit and comfort, the ThieAudio Monarch Mk2 is the larger size of IEMs. For those of us with smaller ears, adjusting and getting a proper fit will take some time. They also start to get a little uncomfortable when used for extended periods of time. The IEM comes with three pairs of tips, which fit comfortably. However, it would have been better if they included more tips for the price you pay. Anyway, you can grab a pair of aftermarket tips if they don’t suit your taste.
The sound is the best aspect of these IEMs and the reason we’ve ranked them top. Overall, the headphone has a forward midrange with a slightly boosted bass response and a detailed treble. What does that mean? The bass is present and in good amounts, but it’s not based on quality. Vocals and instruments sound clear, while the high-end is good with no hint of sibilance or sharpness. The soundstage is decent, while the imaging is very good.
Overall, ThieAudio did a good job in tuning the Monarch MKII, which is well-balanced with clear and excellent mids. Apart from the fit issues, the IEM performs exceptionally in every other category. If you’re looking to jump to upgrade your Chi-fi game, this is what you should aim for.
See the THIEAUDIO Monarch MKII
Best Planar Magnetic Chi-Fi IEM
2. Linsoul 7HZ Timeless
- Impedance: 14.8 Ohm
- Sensitivity: 104 dB
- Connector: MMCX
- What We Like: Great fit, Soundstage is good, Decent build quality, Fun and engaging sound, Bass extension, Easy to drive
- What We Don't: Imaging could be better
If you’ve come across planar magnetic IEMs, you know these can be very expensive. The RHA CL2, Audeze Euclid, and the Audeze iSine Series are some of the planar IEMs available, but they are priced way higher for most consumers. However, Chi-Fi has a number of planar IEMs, which are very affordable, like the Linsoul 7HZ Timeless.
The IEMs come with a large circle faceplate in a two-piece design. While it’s not thicker than the Monarch MKII, it still has a big design in comparison to other IEMs. It’s black in color and well-rounded to accommodate the plane drivers inside. The nozzle has a good size and goes to a good length inside the ear canal. The cable provides is decent, doesn’t tangle, and terminates with MMCX on the earpieces.
The 7HZ Timeless are quite comfortable even when using them for long hours. They have a snug fit and do not have any discomfort or pressure buildup. However, the isolation is a little lower, so you’ll hear some ambient noise, which is probably because of the vents. The ear tips that come with the IEM are pretty good.
For the sound quality, the first thing we noticed was the sheer amount of quantity and quality of bass. The bass goes deep, juicy, and has enough texture. The mids are slightly recessed, but they are still transparent and crisp. The treble is bright, airy, and has plenty of energy, although it might sometimes prove too bright. For the technicalities, the soundstage has a nice width, depth, and height, while the imaging is nicely done with no congestion, but it’s not the best.
7HZ Timeless has hit a home run with this planar magnetic IEM. The overall sound is enjoyable and engaging while still keeping the price down. Overall, we recommend this Chi-Fi IEM for someone looking to experience good planar sound at a lower price.
Best Chi-Fi IEM Under $20
3. CCA CRA
- Impedance: 34 Ohm
- Sensitivity: 105 dB
- Connector: 2-Pin (0.75mm)
- What We Like: Controlled and powerful bass, Cheap, Clean mids, Treble extension, Decent soundstage, Good build quality
- What We Don't: None at this price
The market of affordable IEMs has exploded in recent years because of Chi-Fi. There are so many models available that offer impressive sound quality that it is very hard to choose just several. While we’re looking at creating a separate list of budget Chi-FI IEMs, let’s look at CCA CRA.
The CCA CRA IEMs are made of plastic; it’s clear in color with a black hue that also compliments the faceplate. It is a simple design and nothing out of the ordinary if you’re familiar with Chi-Fi IEMs. However, they are well built and have a lightweight design for the price you get them. The IEMs have a 2-pin connection, and the provided cable is of good quality.
They are light and comfortable, and their size is smaller, which fits perfectly with minimal adjustment. The nozzle is also angled for a good fit, while the ear tips provided also fit snuggly. Apart from the comfort and fit, the headphones offer decent passive noise isolation even with the vented design of earpieces.
The CCA CRA has an energetic and brighter sound. The bass is present and slams hard, but it’s well-controlled. The midrange sounds good, with male and female vocals for a clean midrange presentation. Even with a punchy bass, the midrange sounds clean, which is what sets CRA apart from other cheaper IEMs we’ve tried. The treble performance is also good but can get a little peaky at times. Dynamically, the soundstage and imaging are average but good from such a cheap IEM.
Overall, you’ll love the CCA CRA if you want a fun and engaging IEM that delivers good details. It is easily of the best-tuned IEMs in this price range. While we’re working on testing out other cheaper Chi-Fi IEMs, we recommend you check out the CRA.
Chi-Fi IEM Buying Guide
What is a Chi-Fi IEM?
In the last three years, we’ve seen the growth of cheap IEMs and headphones from Eastern companies. For most audiophiles who need a new pair of IEMs or headphones, Chinese and other Eastern brands offer better price-to-performance ratios compared to local store-bought products. This has led to the term, Chi-Fi, a combination of “Chinese” and Hi-Fi (High Fidelity). This term is used to blanket most Eastern IEMs and headphones, not only Chinese audio companies.
However, although Chi-Fi stands for Chinese HiFi, the products usually termed as Chi-Fi are budget-friendly IEMs and headphones. It is rare to see a bigger Chinese audio company, like HiFiMAN, being associated with Chi-Fi products. For most audiophile users, the Chi-Fi moniker is for Eastern brands that are budget friendly and offer a better price-to-performance ratio compared to local brands.
The growth of cheap and budget-friendly IEMs is what has grown the name Chi-Fi. Although most Chi-Fi products come at unbeatable prices, their quality is sometimes wanting, and they lack sales support in case you face any problems. However, a budding community of audiophiles in Head-Fi, Reddit, and Facebook is always ready to help, which is welcome to any Chi-Fi user.
In-Ear Monitors (IEMs) vs. Earbuds
Chi-Fi aside, In-ear headphones can sit deep inside the ear canal or just inside on the pinna. In-ear headphones can be broken down into IEMs and earbuds.
IEMs, short for in-ear monitors, go deeper into the ear canal and offer the best isolation, even better than over-ear headphones. Apart from their position inside the ear, IEMs come with better headphone drivers to create a better sound. In-ear monitors can further be broken down into CIEMs, short for Custom In-Ear monitors. These are the ones where you’ll visit an audiologist and have your ear impression taken to create a mold that will make an in-ear monitor that will fit ears perfectly. CIEMs are much more expensive compared to IEMs but are much more comfortable.
TANGZU ZE TIAN WU
Earbuds are designed to rest on the outer ear or pinna. The VE Monks or Apple EarPods are good examples of earbuds. Earbuds offer little isolation compared to IEMs, and they prioritize features over the overall sound quality. Although IEMs can be categorized as earbuds, IEMs usually prioritize sound quality over other features in the audio world. However, there are still earbuds with great sound quality and IEMs that include good features the average consumer loves.
Fit and Comfort Explained
When choosing an IEM, second to sound quality is comfort and fit. If a pair of IEMs is uncomfortable, using them for long sessions can cause ear pain and other issues. Like a running shoe, you want a comfortable shoe that can run miles down the track without discomfort.
Most IEMs have a universal fit that is one fit. They are designed to fit inside many ears as possible without getting uncomfortable. For the most part, many IEM brands do a good job of providing a comfortable and secure fit. However, some, like the Monarch MKII, were just a tag bigger and could get uncomfortable when used during long sessions.
Linsoul 7HZ Timeless and It’s Packages
Getting a good fit also directly correlates to the overall sound quality. A secure and good fit isolates more, blocking unwanted ambient noise from interfering with your audio. Like buying a pair of shoes, trying out the IEM before buying them is the best way to go.
Driver Types Explained
When you’re choosing a pair of IEMs or headphones, for that matter, it’s worth knowing about the drivers inside. This is because the different types of drivers affect how sound is reproduced.
Dynamic drivers are the most common type of driver around. They are just a simple diaphragm attached to a voice coil that moves in response to an electrical audio signal. The speakers you see in your homes are dynamic drivers. The advantage of dynamic drivers is they are cheap to produce and tend to offer good overall sound quality. The CCA CRA is an excellent IEM that uses a single dynamic driver.
Salnotes Zero
Balanced armature drivers are made of a coil attached to a diaphragm and suspended between two magnets. When the coil moves, it moves the diaphragm, creating sound. A manufacturer can use several BA drivers in a single earpiece, each tuned to produce a specific frequency. Compared to dynamic drivers, BA drivers are more isolating and best used in IEMs.
Planar magnetic drivers in IEMs have grown exponentially in the last few years. The Audeze LCD series were the first in-ear planar magnetic IEMs. The release of the RHA CL improved the planar design, and now, Chi-Fi has brought a boom of cheap and budget-friendly planar IEMs. Planar drivers use two magnets and a thin diaphragm with conductors suspended between them. This is primarily the reason why it’s harder to make planar drivers smaller. However, the sound from planar drivers is more impactful, airy, and precise because of the large diaphragm.
Hybrid IEMs Explained
With the growth of CHi-Fi IEMs, hybrid drivers have also grown in popularity. A hybrid IEM combines dynamic, balanced armature, planar, and other driver types in a single earpiece. Each of these drivers has pros and cons, which is why manufacturers are now pairing them for better sound quality.
For example, dynamic drivers reproduce bass frequencies with power and energy. Thus, they can only be used for bass. Balanced armatures can then be tuned to reproduce the midrange and treble. Our best Chi-Fi IEM, the Monarch MKII, uses one dynamic driver and six BA drivers.
Hybrid designs are more expensive to produce because they require more design and tuning to sound just right. However, Chi-Fi has made hybrid drivers available to even budget audiophiles to enjoy.
Tanchjim Oxygen In-Ear Headphones Accessories
Impedance & Sensitivity
Impedance is the electrical resistance a driver offers against an audio current. When buying headphones and IEMs, impedance is one of the most important specs to look for before making a decision. Impedance is measured in Ohms (Ω) and tells how much power you’ll need to power your headphones or if you’ll require a headphone amplifier.
Most IEMs come with lower impedance values; thus, they can be driven sufficiently off a smartphone or digital audio player. However, if you were to buy something like the Heir Audio Tzar at 350 Ohm, you’ll definitely require some amp juice to power these beasts.
Apart from the impedance, sensitivity is another measure you can use to decide if you’ll require an amp. The sensitivity of an IEM shows how loud it will be when supplied with 1mW of power. Sensitive IEMs don’t require much power to sound louder. The #### on the list has a higher sensitivity, which means you’ll not need much power to reach sufficient listening levels.
