Submitted by nodemms t3_10rema7 in headphones
TLDR; Buy a pair of FAAEAL Rosemarys and you (probably) won't be disappointed. They're cheap as chips and might just surprise you.
I tend to keep a handful of super budget-friendly IEM options on hand to keep in rotation. My intro into hi-fi was admittedly rooted in the budget tier (my m50s and friend's 599s). The first true IEM that grabbed my attention was the KZ AS10 some years ago and they will likely go with me to the grave (gimme that V signature).
More recently I've been holding onto my CRA+s, Zeros, and Chus not knowing really which I prefer. In all honesty it probably comes down to fit and comfort. In order I'd probably go Chu > Zero > CRA+. I can never seem to get the CRA+ to fit comfortably, the Zero earhooks are just too big, and the Chu cable can be annoying to float in place behind my ears without twisting around (and yes, I'm aware the Zero cable can be easily replaced but for a $20 iem why bother).
My daily drivers are a trusty old pair of detachable cable modded 880s that can absolutely outperform their price bracket (with some EQ). All three IEMs listed above sound great but, to no-one's surprise, miss the fullness delivered by the 880s (or B2D/Timeless but you know).
I'm a full-time remote worker and the appeal to have something more easily pop in my ears for impromptu calls and meetings has been growing. I came across the FAAEAL product line of earbuds and had absolutely no problem throwing $15 to the low-fi gods in hopes of something that might scratch the itch.
I am most likely late to the game in discovering the FAAEAL product line. I'm just surprised to not see the Rosemary or Snow featured in any write ups or reviews. I've been listening to the Rosemary for only a couple days but they have FAR exceeded any expectations. When you add to the fact they cost less than a visit to the drive-thru it's an absolute no brainer.
Here's my quick impressions:
Mid - fairly butter smooth, nothing to write home about but I can clearly enjoy Mr. McCartney's bass all the day long
Low - I'm pretty sure the Rosemary has a bit of a V-shaped tuning so the bass is quite enjoyable. They won't shake your face by any means but the bass presence is there (just a bit muddy at the very low end). The Mop is my typical bass track - the last ~20s or so is super revealing in the lower range.
Hi - This is really where I think the Rosemarys shine. The definition and separation in the hi-range honestly shocked me. Listening to strings and high hats are nearly just as resolving as my 880s and for that I am super happy with the 1,500 pennies spent.
I'd love to hear from anyone else in the community here with a pair already or any other slightly off-the-wall recommendations. Also, if you have a FR curve for the Rosemary I will forever be indebted. I don't know if they were made before measuring FR went mainstream or what but damn it if I can't find much more than a few niche review videos. Thanks for looking and letting me get some creative writing out of my system.
DPKingston t1_j6vv470 wrote
Honestly, I prefer the Iris 2.0 over the rosemary with its even cheaper price and I prefer its sound signature more. FR curve are generally harder to find especially with less interest over iems and headphones, and the fact that its hard to get a consistent fit on a measurement rig which makes getting proper results harder.