There are countless options in the budget IEM category, and it’s the entry level where things get especially interesting. ddHiFi is a well-known Chinese outfit and its recent collaboration with India’s Headphone Zone resulted in Skyfall and Iris, two IEMs targeting the same category.
The Iris has a 10mm dynamic driver and costs ₹2,699 ($28)and Skyfall has the same 10mm driver along with the BA driver and it It comes at a price of ₹3,699 ($38).. Both normally cost ₹300 ($3) more, but with the Headphone Zone there is a saleif you are interested, now is the best time to get your hands on it.
Over the past month, I’ve used both IEMs interchangeably and tested both with the Fiio M21. I’ll get to the sound a little later, but before that I want to highlight the design. The iris has a nice looking green color and the Skyfall has a bold blue design that makes it stand out.
Both IEMs have a 3D printed shell, and the design is definitely a plus point; you don’t usually see this kind of build quality at the entry level. I like the transparent design because it does a great job highlighting the drivers and connectors housed in the shell. This is more obvious in Skyfall as you can easily distinguish the specific BA driver.
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Both pods are on the larger side, but I didn’t see any issues when it came to use. The sound nozzle on the Iris is larger than on the Skyfall, but that wasn’t a problem.
You get a decent choice of ear tips with the IEMs, and the Iris has a 3.5mm cable, while the Skyfall incorporates a 4.4mm balanced cable. The standard cable is good enough, and the braided cable has a nylon sheath that gives it a little better durability.
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Both IEMs sound great on their own. They have detailed bass, a clean midrange that lets vocals shine, and good treble extension without seeming bright. I like Skyfall a bit better in this area; The addition of the BA driver leads to better detail in the midrange and a livelier overall sound, and in my testing I preferred it over the Iris. You also get more sub-bass energy, lending itself very well to background music.
That’s not to say that the Iris is bad by any stretch – she has an outstanding vocal presentation, and if that’s what you need, the Iris will suit your needs better.
If you can’t decide between the two and just need a recommendation, I’d suggest going with Skyfall. It costs a little more, but you get a more engaging sound and a balanced cable. I also like the blue a bit more and I think that’s fine all-inclusive for just ₹ 3,699.
