This is the END of budget IEM reviews! TRN Whale Shark & Starfish, Fosi IM4, OP.24 review

ooopusX OP.24 Global* - https://bit.ly/OP24ooopus TRN Starfish TRN global* - https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_c4rGxe2x Global* - https://bit.ly/TRNStarfish Fosi Audio IM4 Fosi global* - https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_c3381jVN Global* - https://bit.ly/48Ls16J TRN Whale Shark TRN global* - https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_c3fFIsor Global* - https://bit.ly/TRNWhale *affiliate links help support the channel - thank you! All my IEM measurements: https://pfs.squig.link/ Need help? Message me on Minnect: https://bit.ly/HiFiHelp Join my Patreon community: https://www.patreon.com/passionforsound Become a Passion for Sound YouTube member: https://bit.ly/PFSMember Get MERCH! https://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 - https://bit.ly/44b8KtW Global* - https://amzn.to/3UOFtAN Tipsy M1 IEM Review - https://bit.ly/48del5v https://tipsyaudio.com/ Apos Gremlin headphone amp Review - https://bit.ly/43FZjna Global* - https://bit.ly/GremlinAmp SMSL M20 DAC & headamp Review - https://bit.ly/4oManqu Global* - https://amzn.to/3YRxG79 Schiit Mimir DAC Review - https://bit.ly/4r3cuaI Global - https://bit.ly/484APo8 FiiO FT1 headphones Review - https://bit.ly/4lfVCLd Global* - https://amzn.to/4iC4VTG FiiO M21 digital audio player Review - https://bit.ly/3K3PzeU US & CA* - https://bit.ly/FiiOM21DAP Global*: https://amzn.to/3HS7wfe xDuoo TA-66 tube amp Review - https://bit.ly/448jRoo US & CA* - https://bit.ly/xDuooTA-66 Global* - https://amzn.to/3VWWSYS SMSL AS400 speaker amp & DAC Review - https://bit.ly/480NiZQ Global* - https://amzn.to/3JkFxWi Topping DX5 II DAC & headamp Review - https://bit.ly/47PmfR2 US & CA* - https://bit.ly/4mjCLy8 Global* - https://amzn.to/4ncA8zm AU* - https://amzn.to/4psgLni ADAM D3V active speakers Review - https://bit.ly/4rhHeoO Global* - https://amzn.to/4hw2Doo AU* - https://amzn.to/3Ctaap6 SMSL RAW-DAC1 DAC Review - https://bit.ly/43EXDKC US & CA* - https://bit.ly/RAWDAC1 Global* - https://amzn.to/4hgqgkJ AUS* - https://amzn.to/3PxxW6q Aune S17 Pro EVO headamp Review - https://bit.ly/4o2nrXF Global* - https://amzn.to/4jU7AZx SMSL PL200T CD transport Review - https://bit.ly/4o9LDaE US & CA* - https://bit.ly/SMSLPL200T Global* - https://amzn.to/3IKlkIQ AU* - https://amzn.to/46XOGNU Nitsch Pietus Maximus headamp Review - https://bit.ly/49nY3Yy Global - https://bit.ly/3JQqkwC Shanling EC Zero T portable CD player Global* - https://amzn.to/47U9RR1 AU* - https://amzn.to/47DiMFc Chord Mojo 2 DAC & headphone amp Review - https://bit.ly/43F0Rhg Global* - https://amzn.to/3E5GNKj AUS* - https://amzn.to/4i4vAI3 FiiO K17 DAC, headamp, streamer & preamp Review - https://bit.ly/42hKvIX US & CA* - https://bit.ly/FiiOK17 Global* - https://amzn.to/3QWziIH AUS* - https://amzn.to/42bZRyJ SJY Horizon Closed Carbon headphones Review - https://bit.ly/3DTKMd5 Global* - https://bit.ly/SJYHCCA ZMF Bokeh headphones Review - https://bit.ly/4hXLhAN Global - https://bit.ly/42vMLwo EverSolo T8 streamer Review - https://bit.ly/4pdmo7V Global* - https://amzn.to/4gjdSkx AU* - https://amzn.to/4gmIIsL Topping D900 DAC Review - https://bit.ly/4oJNoMP US & CA* - https://bit.ly/TopD900 (Apos) Global* - https://amzn.to/44D157g AU* - https://amzn.to/4kAt1i9 ADAM A7V active speakers Review - https://bit.ly/4i2hO8L Global* - https://amzn.to/43mIbma AUS* - https://amzn.to/4i7oMJP LTA Velo headamp/preamp Review - https://bit.ly/42Eeknp Global - https://bit.ly/LTAVelo Gustard X30 DAC Review - https://bit.ly/4p93yij Global* - https://bit.ly/GUSTARDX30 Amzn* - https://amzn.to/3LenKRj AU* - https://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