Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
ooopusX OP.24
Global* - bit.ly/OP24ooopus
TRN Starfish
TRN global* - https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_c4rGxe2x
Global* - bit.ly/TRNStarfish
Fosi Audio IM4
Fosi global* - https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_c3381jVN
Global* - bit.ly/48Ls16J
TRN Whale Shark
TRN global* - https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_c3fFIsor
Global* - bit.ly/TRNWhale
*affiliate links help support the channel - thank you!
All my IEM measurements: pfs.squig.link
Need help? Message me on Minnect: bit.ly/HiFiHelp
Join my Patreon community: patreon.com/passionforsound
Become a Passion for Sound YouTube member: bit.ly/PFSMember
Get MERCH! bit.ly/PFSMerch
I stopped reviewing budget IEMs for two main reasons, but a trip to the Shenzhen International Audio Show led me to question if I made a huge mistake. In this audiophile review, I put that decision to the test by reviewing four In-Ear Monitors—the ooopusX OP.24, TRN Starfish, Fosi Audio IM4, and the incredible TRN Whale Shark. The $130 Whale Shark (a triple dynamic and planar magnetic hybrid) is an absolute gem that delivers sound quality, soundstage, and value that punches far above its price tag, potentially outclassing even $159 models like the Dita Audio Preludes. I discuss how the market has been flooded with good, but overly similar, Harman-adjacent tunings, and why the sheer quality and innovation of a model like the Whale Shark makes me want to jump back into affordable audiophile gear. If you're looking for the best cheap IEMs or a fantastic In-Ear Monitor with a versatile tuning system, watch to find out which of these four is the true standout budget hifi winner for 2025.
BEST AUDIO BARGAINS BELOW!
World's Best Cable Pro interconnects
Review - bit.ly/44b8KtW
Global* - amzn.to/3UOFtAN
Tipsy M1 IEM
Review - bit.ly/48del5v
tipsyaudio.com
Apos Gremlin headphone amp
Review - bit.ly/43FZjna
Global* - bit.ly/GremlinAmp
SMSL M20 DAC & headamp
Review - bit.ly/4oManqu
Global* - amzn.to/3YRxG79
Schiit Mimir DAC
Review - bit.ly/4r3cuaI
Global - bit.ly/484APo8
FiiO FT1 headphones
Review - bit.ly/4lfVCLd
Global* - amzn.to/4iC4VTG
FiiO M21 digital audio player
Review - bit.ly/3K3PzeU
US & CA* - bit.ly/FiiOM21DAP
Global*: amzn.to/3HS7wfe
xDuoo TA-66 tube amp
Review - bit.ly/448jRoo
US & CA* - bit.ly/xDuooTA-66
Global* - amzn.to/3VWWSYS
SMSL AS400 speaker amp & DAC
Review - bit.ly/480NiZQ
Global* - amzn.to/3JkFxWi
Topping DX5 II DAC & headamp
Review - bit.ly/47PmfR2
US & CA* - bit.ly/4mjCLy8
Global* - amzn.to/4ncA8zm
AU* - amzn.to/4psgLni
ADAM D3V active speakers
Review - bit.ly/4rhHeoO
Global* - amzn.to/4hw2Doo
AU* - amzn.to/3Ctaap6
SMSL RAW-DAC1 DAC
Review - bit.ly/43EXDKC
US & CA* - bit.ly/RAWDAC1
Global* - amzn.to/4hgqgkJ
AUS* - amzn.to/3PxxW6q
Aune S17 Pro EVO headamp
Review - bit.ly/4o2nrXF
Global* - amzn.to/4jU7AZx
SMSL PL200T CD transport
Review - bit.ly/4o9LDaE
US & CA* - bit.ly/SMSLPL200T
Global* - amzn.to/3IKlkIQ
AU* - amzn.to/46XOGNU
Nitsch Pietus Maximus headamp
Review - bit.ly/49nY3Yy
Global - bit.ly/3JQqkwC
Shanling EC Zero T portable CD player
Global* - amzn.to/47U9RR1
AU* - amzn.to/47DiMFc
Chord Mojo 2 DAC & headphone amp
Review - bit.ly/43F0Rhg
Global* - amzn.to/3E5GNKj
AUS* - amzn.to/4i4vAI3
FiiO K17 DAC, headamp, streamer & preamp
Review - bit.ly/42hKvIX
US & CA* - bit.ly/FiiOK17
Global* - amzn.to/3QWziIH
AUS* - amzn.to/42bZRyJ
SJY Horizon Closed Carbon headphones
Review - bit.ly/3DTKMd5
Global* - bit.ly/SJYHCCA
ZMF Bokeh headphones
Review - bit.ly/4hXLhAN
Global - bit.ly/42vMLwo
EverSolo T8 streamer
Review - bit.ly/4pdmo7V
Global* - amzn.to/4gjdSkx
AU* - amzn.to/4gmIIsL
Topping D900 DAC
Review - bit.ly/4oJNoMP
US & CA* - bit.ly/TopD900 (Apos)
Global* - amzn.to/44D157g
AU* - amzn.to/4kAt1i9
ADAM A7V active speakers
Review - bit.ly/4i2hO8L
Global* - amzn.to/43mIbma
AUS* - amzn.to/4i7oMJP
LTA Velo headamp/preamp
Review - bit.ly/42Eeknp
Global - bit.ly/LTAVelo
Gustard X30 DAC
Review - bit.ly/4p93yij
Global* - bit.ly/GUSTARDX30
Amzn* - amzn.to/3LenKRj
AU* - amzn.to/47zlhs2
00:00 Why I stopped making budget IEM reviews
00:49 ooopusX OP.24
03:09 TRN Starfish
05:49 Fosi Audio IM4
09:13 TRN Whale Shark
#iems #audiophile #hifi #budgetiems #inear #inearmonitors #headfi #personal audio #trn #trnm #ooopusx #fosi audio #trnmwhaleshark #whaleshark #bestiems #audioreview #hifiaudio #portableaudio #affordableaudio
ooopusX OP.24
Global* - bit.ly/OP24ooopus
TRN Starfish
TRN global* - https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_c4rGxe2x
Global* - bit.ly/TRNStarfish
Fosi Audio IM4
Fosi global* - https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_c3381jVN
Global* - bit.ly/48Ls16J
TRN Whale Shark
TRN global* - https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_c3fFIsor
Global* - bit.ly/TRNWhale
*affiliate links help support the channel - thank you!
All my IEM measurements: pfs.squig.link
Need help? Message me on Minnect: bit.ly/HiFiHelp
Join my Patreon community: patreon.com/passionforsound
Become a Passion for Sound YouTube member: bit.ly/PFSMember
Get MERCH! bit.ly/PFSMerch
I stopped reviewing budget IEMs for two main reasons, but a trip to the Shenzhen International Audio Show led me to question if I made a huge mistake. In this audiophile review, I put that decision to the test by reviewing four In-Ear Monitors—the ooopusX OP.24, TRN Starfish, Fosi Audio IM4, and the incredible TRN Whale Shark. The $130 Whale Shark (a triple dynamic and planar magnetic hybrid) is an absolute gem that delivers sound quality, soundstage, and value that punches far above its price tag, potentially outclassing even $159 models like the Dita Audio Preludes. I discuss how the market has been flooded with good, but overly similar, Harman-adjacent tunings, and why the sheer quality and innovation of a model like the Whale Shark makes me want to jump back into affordable audiophile gear. If you're looking for the best cheap IEMs or a fantastic In-Ear Monitor with a versatile tuning system, watch to find out which of these four is the true standout budget hifi winner for 2025.
BEST AUDIO BARGAINS BELOW!
World's Best Cable Pro interconnects
Review - bit.ly/44b8KtW
Global* - amzn.to/3UOFtAN
Tipsy M1 IEM
Review - bit.ly/48del5v
tipsyaudio.com
Apos Gremlin headphone amp
Review - bit.ly/43FZjna
Global* - bit.ly/GremlinAmp
SMSL M20 DAC & headamp
Review - bit.ly/4oManqu
Global* - amzn.to/3YRxG79
Schiit Mimir DAC
Review - bit.ly/4r3cuaI
Global - bit.ly/484APo8
FiiO FT1 headphones
Review - bit.ly/4lfVCLd
Global* - amzn.to/4iC4VTG
FiiO M21 digital audio player
Review - bit.ly/3K3PzeU
US & CA* - bit.ly/FiiOM21DAP
Global*: amzn.to/3HS7wfe
xDuoo TA-66 tube amp
Review - bit.ly/448jRoo
US & CA* - bit.ly/xDuooTA-66
Global* - amzn.to/3VWWSYS
SMSL AS400 speaker amp & DAC
Review - bit.ly/480NiZQ
Global* - amzn.to/3JkFxWi
Topping DX5 II DAC & headamp
Review - bit.ly/47PmfR2
US & CA* - bit.ly/4mjCLy8
Global* - amzn.to/4ncA8zm
AU* - amzn.to/4psgLni
ADAM D3V active speakers
Review - bit.ly/4rhHeoO
Global* - amzn.to/4hw2Doo
AU* - amzn.to/3Ctaap6
SMSL RAW-DAC1 DAC
Review - bit.ly/43EXDKC
US & CA* - bit.ly/RAWDAC1
Global* - amzn.to/4hgqgkJ
AUS* - amzn.to/3PxxW6q
Aune S17 Pro EVO headamp
Review - bit.ly/4o2nrXF
Global* - amzn.to/4jU7AZx
SMSL PL200T CD transport
Review - bit.ly/4o9LDaE
US & CA* - bit.ly/SMSLPL200T
Global* - amzn.to/3IKlkIQ
AU* - amzn.to/46XOGNU
Nitsch Pietus Maximus headamp
Review - bit.ly/49nY3Yy
Global - bit.ly/3JQqkwC
Shanling EC Zero T portable CD player
Global* - amzn.to/47U9RR1
AU* - amzn.to/47DiMFc
Chord Mojo 2 DAC & headphone amp
Review - bit.ly/43F0Rhg
Global* - amzn.to/3E5GNKj
AUS* - amzn.to/4i4vAI3
FiiO K17 DAC, headamp, streamer & preamp
Review - bit.ly/42hKvIX
US & CA* - bit.ly/FiiOK17
Global* - amzn.to/3QWziIH
AUS* - amzn.to/42bZRyJ
SJY Horizon Closed Carbon headphones
Review - bit.ly/3DTKMd5
Global* - bit.ly/SJYHCCA
ZMF Bokeh headphones
Review - bit.ly/4hXLhAN
Global - bit.ly/42vMLwo
EverSolo T8 streamer
Review - bit.ly/4pdmo7V
Global* - amzn.to/4gjdSkx
AU* - amzn.to/4gmIIsL
Topping D900 DAC
Review - bit.ly/4oJNoMP
US & CA* - bit.ly/TopD900 (Apos)
Global* - amzn.to/44D157g
AU* - amzn.to/4kAt1i9
ADAM A7V active speakers
Review - bit.ly/4i2hO8L
Global* - amzn.to/43mIbma
AUS* - amzn.to/4i7oMJP
LTA Velo headamp/preamp
Review - bit.ly/42Eeknp
Global - bit.ly/LTAVelo
Gustard X30 DAC
Review - bit.ly/4p93yij
Global* - bit.ly/GUSTARDX30
Amzn* - amzn.to/3LenKRj
AU* - amzn.to/47zlhs2
00:00 Why I stopped making budget IEM reviews
00:49 ooopusX OP.24
03:09 TRN Starfish
05:49 Fosi Audio IM4
09:13 TRN Whale Shark
#iems #audiophile #hifi #budgetiems #inear #inearmonitors #headfi #personal audio #trn #trnm #ooopusx #fosi audio #trnmwhaleshark #whaleshark #bestiems #audioreview #hifiaudio #portableaudio #affordableaudio
