2025 Year-End Summary

Let’s go!

Summit-Fi/TOTL IEMs (Budget > $4000)

In 2025, twelve Summit-Fi IEMs were released within MT’s own collection. Beyond these, other standout releases such as Mysticraft HEX, Subtonic Storm RE, and Hercules Mouses also firmly joined this tier. What we’ve observed is a clear shift: today’s TOTL IEMs carry far more individuality and intent than in the era when “the Bird” defined the segment. Instead of chasing a single ideal tuning, modern flagships embrace distinct personalities and philosophies.

From this landscape, we’ve selected three IEMs we are intimately familiar with—each chosen for a sound signature that truly stands apart.

The KING of Basshead – Alpha Omega & Astral Acoustics Fulgrim.

I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve said this, but Fulgrim is my personal favorite IEM of all time. Its bass is deep, authoritative, and unapologetically physical—delivering not just sound, but a visceral impact that you feel as much as you hear.

Yet Fulgrim is far more than a bass monster. Beneath that power lies superb technical performance and remarkably accurate timbre. It's bass done with control, structure, and intent—bass, yet beyond bass.

The Technical Beast – Canpur CP752B.

If you had to choose one single IEM for critical listening, the CP752B might be the answer. Soundstage, resolution, dynamics, texture, speed, definition—you name it. It reaches an exceptionally high level across every technical metric. Paired with a balanced, neutral tuning, it becomes effortless to appreciate and easy to fall in love with.

Perhaps most impressively for a TOTL design, CP752B is remarkably easy to drive. Even a simple dongle can unlock its strengths, making it one of the most approachable technical flagships available today.

The BEST All-Rounder –MT x UM Pentara.

Pentara is our fourth collaboration, and in many ways, it feels like a highlighted summary of 2025. Beyond the artistic design and the story behind its creation, what defines Pentara most is its versatility.

At the heart of that versatility is Pentara’s tuning switch. Unlike conventional switches that add a touch of bass or treble, Pentara’s switch goes further—boosting bass while also reshaping soundstage and imaging. That subtle but powerful adjustment allows Pentara to adapt effortlessly across genres, making it equally convincing with complex orchestration, aggressive modern music, or intimate vocal recordings. It’s an IEM that changes character without losing its identity.

That said, if what you’re after is the most authentic and satisfying dynamic bass timbre, Pentara ultimately takes the edge—offering a more organic low-end character while remaining endlessly adaptable.

Flagship Level IEMs (Budget between $2k to $4k)

This has become the most competitive price range in today’s IEM market. Many “value-driven” brands now place their popular TOTL models here, while established luxury brands price their non-limited flagships in the same bracket—making this segment a true battleground.

If you’re searching for a bang-for-the-buck endgame, this is where you’ll likely find it. There are countless strong contenders, but we’ve highlighted only a few that our customers asked about most throughout the year.

Note: Alpha Omega Omega and Forte Ears Macbeth were released in 2024—otherwise, they would have easily made the list.

Volk Audio Étoile.

Uniqueness is Étoile's defining trait. Its vocal and midrange presentation stands apart from mainstream tunings, with an early midrange lift that adds body and density to vocals—intimate, expressive, and unmistakably its own.

Quill Acoustics Satin.

The ultimate toy for audiophiles. Few IEMs respond to cables and sources as dramatically as Satin, making it our go-to reference for cable evaluation. On its own, it delivers exceptional vocals and a beautifully linear, deep-reaching bass. Still highly recommended—but it demands serious power to make it shine.

Eletech × Canpur Mona Lisa.

When two respected names collaborate, expectations run high—and Mona Lisa delivers. It combines Macbeth’s impactful bass, CP622B-style tactile mids, and Anni 23’s airy treble into a cohesive whole. Eletech’s faceplate design is the finishing touch that elevates both sound and aesthetics.

Forte Ears Mefisto.

Musical, dynamic, and engaging, with strong bass presence and impressive detail. Unlike Satin, Mefisto is a real plug-and-go IEM—easy to drive, forgiving with cables, and effortlessly enjoyable. Forte Ears’ artistic design further enhances its overall appeal.

Thieaudio Valhalla.

A reminder that a full-BA design can still sound natural and musical. Long regarded as the benchmark, the 64 Audio U12t now faces serious competition. Valhalla delivers strong technical performance with a more musical presentation. While its $1,999 MSRP technically places it in a lower tier, its sound quality earns it a spot here without question.

Sub-Flagship/Flagship IEMs (Budget between $1k to $2k)

This price range is the sweet spot for those seeking a well-balanced, all-rounder tuning. In 2025, it saw a surge of exciting releases—many arriving in the second half of the year—that significantly raised the bar.

While these aren’t “budget” IEMs by any means, they consistently deliver some of the best price-to-performance value in the market, making this segment one of the smartest places to look for a long-term companion.

Jomo Audio Serenity.

I almost placed Serenity in a higher tier—until I double-checked its price. At $1,600, this open-back hybrid (2DD, 2 planar, 4BA) delivers a holographic soundstage, natural, satisfying bass, and detailed, revealing treble. Simply put, its recent hype is real!

AME Audio Igris.

AME absolutely nailed the tuning with Igris. It’s a rich, musical presentation with punchy, full-bodied bass, lush mids, and a smooth, non-fatiguing treble. Think of it as their $4,500 flagship Mouse with slightly darker highs, a more organic tone, and just a touch less technical intensity.

Unique Melody Jet Black.

The most underrated hidden gem of 2025. It’s hard to believe how detailed and revealing an under-$2K IEM can be until you hear Jet Black. In terms of resolution alone, it easily ranks among the top five on this year-end list. At its current sale price, it’s simply a steal.

BGVP Solomon.

When discussing high-value releases of 2025, Solomon is impossible to overlook. It offers excellent detail retrieval, a holographic soundstage, and a neutral, well-balanced tuning. If you’re searching for an authentic reference sound without breaking the bank, Solomon delivers.

Moritz Audio Enzo.

In this bracket, we’ve covered natural (Serenity), dark and musical (Igris), highly technical (Jet Black), and neutral reference (Solomon). To round it out, Enzo represents one of the most popular signatures of all—engaging and dynamic. As a new brand, Moritz impressed me with their 2025 debut. Punchy, bouncing bass, forward vocals, and lively treble make Enzo instantly fun and memorable.

Budget and Mid-Fi IEMs (Budget <$1k)

Budget and Mid-Fi IEMs have long been popular online, but for MT, 2025 marked our new entry into this space. It’s been a pivotal year as we expanded our lineup to include more accessible options—and what we discovered genuinely surprised us.

In this range, many products now deliver performance that would have been unthinkable just a few years ago. With rapid advances in tuning techniques and a new wave of driver innovation, the industry is clearly moving toward the destination we’ve always hoped for: good products becoming more affordable, and excellent products becoming even better.

BGVP Astrum.

At $699, Astrum might win Best Packaging of the Year—and IEMs at any price point are welcome to challenge it. The moment you open the box, you’ll likely say: “No way.” Beyond the presentation, Astrum impresses with its immaculate finish and a rare balance between technical performance and musicality.

SoftEars RSV MKII.

A full-BA IEM can deliver satisfying bass—without costing Canpur or Macbeth money. RSV MKII preserves SoftEars’ reference / semi-pro house tuning, with a tasteful bass lift that makes it more musical and less monitor-like. At the same time, it remains a powerful stage tool to extract revealing details.

Hisenior Mega 7.

One of the most exciting year-end developments of 2025 was finally bringing Hisenior into our lineup. I’ve spent plenty of time with Mega5EST and always enjoyed its sound, and Mega 7 does not disappoint. In fact, it pushes the tuning philosophy further—with extra bass presence and a more forward midrange—while remaining cohesive and refined. Endgame under $500 is right here!

Thieaudio Hype 4.

Although we don’t currently carry Hype 4, our good friend James from Linsoul lent me a demo for several weeks—and it completely reshaped my perception of value. I actually prefer Hype 4 over the more expensive Hype 10. It has the more cohesive tuning, with technical performance not far behind. The good news: Hype 4 MKII is coming, and if it follows the original, it may be even better.

FlipEars Legion / Aegis.

If memory serves, Legion and Aegis were the first hype train of 2025. Legion is pure basshead indulgence—honestly, that level of bass quality and quantity shouldn’t be legal under $1K. A fun note: our first Legion group buy came from Watercooler members who usually shop only at the summit-fi level.

Aegis takes a more balanced approach. The bass no longer dominates, the V-shape is toned down, and the overall tuning feels more versatile. Still, just like Legion, the value is off the charts!

DAP & AMP

Compared to the IEM world, 2025 was a relatively calmer year for DAPs and amps. With rumors around LP7 and Evo One already stirring excitement as 2026 approaches, it’s easy to overlook that 2025 still delivered several genuinely important releases worth reflecting on.

The year opened strongly with Shanling M8T and Lotoo LPGT 2, each bringing a distinct identity. M8T, powered by JAN 6418 vacuum tubes, offers a lush, warm, and unmistakably tube-like presentation—earning it the title of best-selling DAP of the year. LPGT 2, on the other hand, inherits advanced technology from Lotoo’s Mjolnir project, delivering up to 1W @ 32Ω and an exceptionally dynamic, authoritative sound.

Shortly after, NiPO entered the U.S. market with its flagship N2. It quickly became my second-most-used DAP of 2025, thanks to its impressive 2.5W output and almost-unbelievable battery life. Unfortunately, N2 is now officially sold out and discontinued—but we’re eagerly awaiting NiPO’s next flagship.

So what was my most-used DAP of the year? The answer is Luxury Precision E7, paired with the ADI 1955 board. I can’t overstate how much I love this combination. It delivers a classic, analog-inspired tonality while layering in modern dynamics and control—a rare and beautifully balanced fusion of two tuning philosophies.

As we moved into the second half of 2025, two major Android-based flagships took center stage: Astell&Kern SP4000 and HiBy RS8 II. SP4000 is, without question, a masterpiece. Its improvements over the SP3000 exceeded my expectations, offering a more open soundstage, greater dynamic range, and significantly improved note weight. Its line-out performance may well be the best among Android players to date.

Just as I was ready to crown SP4000 the Android DAP of the year, HiBy released RS8 II—and forced me to rethink everything. With the original 1.10 firmware, RS8 II was solid but not a true challenger. Something was missing. Then came firmware 1.30. The transformation was dramatic: greater dynamics, fuller body, and the addition of the forward-looking Sankofa AI module, allowing users to fine-tune the sound toward legendary MD, LP, or CD players. Add to that a high-speed system—scanning a 1TB SD card with over 9,000 tracks in seconds—and RS8 II suddenly became a serious contender.

On the amplifier side, as expected, Brise Audio Watatsumi claimed the title of Best Portable Amp of 2025 with little debate. Toward the very end of the year, Audma surprised everyone with Brioso. While still not widely available, it drew significant attention at CanJam Dallas. Both amps clearly have their own strengths and future paths—but the real showdown will unfold in 2026.

Thank you for taking the time to read this rather lengthy article. We did our best to capture the key highlights of 2025, drawing from both our subjective listening impressions and real-world sales experience.

We’re also excited to share that this piece marks the launch of a new section on our site—MusicTeck Buyer’s Guide. Moving forward, we’ll be publishing more audio-focused articles, not only discussing products themselves, but also exploring the drivers, technologies, and design philosophies behind them.

Our goal is simple: to help you make informed choices and spend your money wisely in this hobby we all love.

Cheers, and Happy New Year!