Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
TRN Mermaid review
Amzn* - amzn.to/4cSVMG9
Thieaudio Hype 4 Mk2 review
Global* - bit.ly/Hype4-2
Amzn* - amzn.to/48Ie9LB
Aful Performer 8S review
Amzn* - amzn.to/4dfyKIG
*affiliate links help support the channel - thank you!
All my IEM measurements: pfs.squig.link
Need help? Message me on Minnect: bit.ly/HiFiHelp
Become a Passion for Sound YouTube member: bit.ly/PFSMember
Get MERCH! bit.ly/PFSMerch
In this video, I’m diving into a triple header of audiophile IEM reviews, comparing the TRN Mermaid, Thieaudio Hype 4 Mk2, and the Aful Performer 8S. If you’re looking for the best in-ear monitors for high-fidelity music, these three offer distinct sound signatures.
The Thieaudio Hype 4 Mk2 impresses with exceptional bass depth and resolution, though its forward upper-midrange might lean toward fatiguing for some listeners. Meanwhile, the TRN Mermaid offers well-managed timbre, despite a slight midrange recession and a less premium cable design. However, the standout is the Aful Performer 8S. It delivers superior soundstage, imaging sharpness, and transparency that edges out the competition, even if I recommend ignoring its port design.
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
Thieaudio Cypher headphones
Review - youtu.be/B7WT17V6WeI
Global* - bit.ly/TACypher
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
FiiO K13 R2R DAC & headamp
Review - youtu.be/qlPbNWTQQTI
Global* - amzn.to/48r94WU
US & CA* - bit.ly/K13R2RPFS
Ampapa D1 amp
Review - youtu.be/dr7vB-HYPhk
Global* - amzn.to/49Lm3Dn
ADAM D3V active speakers
Review - bit.ly/4rhHeoO
Global* - amzn.to/4hw2Doo
SMSL RAW-DAC1 DAC
Review - bit.ly/43EXDKC
Global* - amzn.to/4hgqgkJ
US & CA* - bit.ly/RAWDAC1
Singxer SA-2 headamp
Review - youtu.be/xC_qVj0pL08
Global* - amzn.to/3ZiTTeq
US & CA* - bit.ly/SingxerSA2A
SMSL PL200T CD transport
Review - bit.ly/4o9LDaE
Global* - amzn.to/3IKlkIQ
US & CA* - bit.ly/SMSLPL200T
Nitsch Pietus Maximus headamp
Review - bit.ly/49nY3Yy
Global - bit.ly/3JQqkwC
Shanling EC Zero T portable CD player
Global* - amzn.to/47U9RR1
Chord Mojo 2 DAC & headphone amp
Review - bit.ly/43F0Rhg
Global* - amzn.to/3E5GNKj
FiiO K17 DAC, headamp, streamer & preamp
Review - bit.ly/42hKvIX
Global* - amzn.to/3QWziIH
US & CA* - bit.ly/FiiOK17
Geshelli Lbs Torc DAC
Review - youtu.be/VMvv24qgws4
Global* - bit.ly/GLTorc
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
Topping D900 DAC
Review - bit.ly/4oJNoMP
Global* - amzn.to/44D157g
US & CA* - bit.ly/TopD900
Vinshine Taihang power conditioner
Review - youtu.be/fJb7rNnUed4
Global - bit.ly/VinTaihang (not affiliate)
ADAM A7V active speakers
Review - bit.ly/4i2hO8L
Global* - amzn.to/43mIbma
Burson Soloist Stellar head/preamp
Review - youtu.be/mjgFlmzTiDQ
Burson - bursonaudio.com/shop/soloist-stellar
US & CA* - bit.ly/SoloistStellar
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
Luxear Valor IEMs
Review - youtu.be/89lSyU9Mzc4
Global - bit.ly/LuxearValor (not affiliate)
00:00 Best IEMs under $400
00:56 TRN Mermaid review
02:54 Thieaudio Hype 4 Mk2 review
05:37 Aful Performer 8S review
09:25 Additional comparisons
12:06 Final thoughts
#Audiophile #IEMreview #HiFiAudio #PassionForSound #InEarMonitors #ThieaudioHype4 #AfulPerformer8S #TRNMermaid #HeadphoneAudiophile #ChiFi #MusicLovers #IEMs #AudioReview
TRN Mermaid review
Amzn* - amzn.to/4cSVMG9
Thieaudio Hype 4 Mk2 review
Global* - bit.ly/Hype4-2
Amzn* - amzn.to/48Ie9LB
Aful Performer 8S review
Amzn* - amzn.to/4dfyKIG
*affiliate links help support the channel - thank you!
All my IEM measurements: pfs.squig.link
Need help? Message me on Minnect: bit.ly/HiFiHelp
Become a Passion for Sound YouTube member: bit.ly/PFSMember
Get MERCH! bit.ly/PFSMerch
In this video, I’m diving into a triple header of audiophile IEM reviews, comparing the TRN Mermaid, Thieaudio Hype 4 Mk2, and the Aful Performer 8S. If you’re looking for the best in-ear monitors for high-fidelity music, these three offer distinct sound signatures.
The Thieaudio Hype 4 Mk2 impresses with exceptional bass depth and resolution, though its forward upper-midrange might lean toward fatiguing for some listeners. Meanwhile, the TRN Mermaid offers well-managed timbre, despite a slight midrange recession and a less premium cable design. However, the standout is the Aful Performer 8S. It delivers superior soundstage, imaging sharpness, and transparency that edges out the competition, even if I recommend ignoring its port design.
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
Thieaudio Cypher headphones
Review - youtu.be/B7WT17V6WeI
Global* - bit.ly/TACypher
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
FiiO K13 R2R DAC & headamp
Review - youtu.be/qlPbNWTQQTI
Global* - amzn.to/48r94WU
US & CA* - bit.ly/K13R2RPFS
Ampapa D1 amp
Review - youtu.be/dr7vB-HYPhk
Global* - amzn.to/49Lm3Dn
ADAM D3V active speakers
Review - bit.ly/4rhHeoO
Global* - amzn.to/4hw2Doo
SMSL RAW-DAC1 DAC
Review - bit.ly/43EXDKC
Global* - amzn.to/4hgqgkJ
US & CA* - bit.ly/RAWDAC1
Singxer SA-2 headamp
Review - youtu.be/xC_qVj0pL08
Global* - amzn.to/3ZiTTeq
US & CA* - bit.ly/SingxerSA2A
SMSL PL200T CD transport
Review - bit.ly/4o9LDaE
Global* - amzn.to/3IKlkIQ
US & CA* - bit.ly/SMSLPL200T
Nitsch Pietus Maximus headamp
Review - bit.ly/49nY3Yy
Global - bit.ly/3JQqkwC
Shanling EC Zero T portable CD player
Global* - amzn.to/47U9RR1
Chord Mojo 2 DAC & headphone amp
Review - bit.ly/43F0Rhg
Global* - amzn.to/3E5GNKj
FiiO K17 DAC, headamp, streamer & preamp
Review - bit.ly/42hKvIX
Global* - amzn.to/3QWziIH
US & CA* - bit.ly/FiiOK17
Geshelli Lbs Torc DAC
Review - youtu.be/VMvv24qgws4
Global* - bit.ly/GLTorc
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
Topping D900 DAC
Review - bit.ly/4oJNoMP
Global* - amzn.to/44D157g
US & CA* - bit.ly/TopD900
Vinshine Taihang power conditioner
Review - youtu.be/fJb7rNnUed4
Global - bit.ly/VinTaihang (not affiliate)
ADAM A7V active speakers
Review - bit.ly/4i2hO8L
Global* - amzn.to/43mIbma
Burson Soloist Stellar head/preamp
Review - youtu.be/mjgFlmzTiDQ
Burson - bursonaudio.com/shop/soloist-stellar
US & CA* - bit.ly/SoloistStellar
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
Luxear Valor IEMs
Review - youtu.be/89lSyU9Mzc4
Global - bit.ly/LuxearValor (not affiliate)
00:00 Best IEMs under $400
00:56 TRN Mermaid review
02:54 Thieaudio Hype 4 Mk2 review
05:37 Aful Performer 8S review
09:25 Additional comparisons
12:06 Final thoughts
#Audiophile #IEMreview #HiFiAudio #PassionForSound #InEarMonitors #ThieaudioHype4 #AfulPerformer8S #TRNMermaid #HeadphoneAudiophile #ChiFi #MusicLovers #IEMs #AudioReview
