Review on Immerse in Sound: Moondrop Quarks Earphone with Closed Anterior Cavity & Micro Dynamic Driver by Blake Burrell

IEM at this price point is a bit of a conundrum; The sound quality proposition is undeniable, they sound exceptionally good for $12. But it's the same with other IEMs. Nowadays it's not hard to find high detail and tons of bass at very low prices, which begs the question: what's the point? Anyone who can afford a $12 IEM should be able to afford something in the sub-$50 range. So why not just buy something better that's still relatively cheap if you're going to be using it all the time? They're great, but they're a lot less than, say, my last e4000 or my 3-piston engine, both of which I bought for $40. In a way, the Quarks are no better than the Panasonic hje-120k, which has a better fit, a more standard cable, and comparable overall sound quality, even for a lower price! (7-9 dollars). So what are you paying for here? Why not just something even cheaper or with a more sophisticated sound that you can almost certainly still afford? Well, I'll tell you: you pay for the balance. That's probably the bare minimum you can spend to get a truly balanced sound, rather than the V-shaped, over-the-top, and minimally thought-out sound you get in 99% of IEMs up to the $100 range. As said, there are plenty of cheap "good" IEMs out there, but almost all have annoying quirks or need extensive and thorough EQ to tame their tiring, unbalanced sound. Quarks hardly disturb, their sound is more than decent and damn good for everyday use. The sound tends toward neutral but with a slight bass boost and 3k bump to keep it from sounding sterile. Lower the EQ a little by 3k to warm it up and leave the bass alone, or just leave it stock, it'll sound good either way. I still think you can do better but not at this price point if balance is the goal. They're also pretty darn small, which helps a lot of people. Why not buy something better? Well, a lot of people just want a backup or everyday stick to protect their good headphones from abuse, or something they don't feel bad about losing or breaking because they're so cheap. Don't buy them expecting quality audio for $100 and more for $12. It's not that good, just pretty good. Now moving on to a couple of complaints I have, one of which unfortunately could be a deal breaker: the cable is fine and it's really everything you can expect at this price point. It's not too mic, but it's also not a mic. If you hate cable noise and move a lot, I would aim higher. You can wear them around the ear and that will reduce noise, but they're finicky, they're clearly meant to "wear out". The cable also retains its packaged form somewhat, not too well, but it's there. Maybe it will even out over time. The large black round Y-splitter isn't bulky, it just stands out and seems to add unnecessary bulk to a minimally sized IEM. Same goes for the cable, it could be thinner/smaller. I suspect they did this to try and downsize the mic in their cheap cable. This is the only potential deal breaker in my opinion because why buy a $12 IEM when you can spend as much or more on good third party tips? Well, you can completely refute this point just by using some of the old advice you have. Lots of people like me have tons of old tips from various IEMs bought over the years, but using "fresh" ones can be disappointing, especially since stock tips have a good chance of sealing badly, even if they feel bad bad. They're good there, which ruins the sound and gives a bad impression that the headphones are bad if they're earbuds. The tips are too hard and too smooth, uncomfortable and not secure enough. drop her I used some spare tips to finish the sound and now they sound a lot better. I suggest you get these if you're on a budget but still want a balanced sound, or just want a damn good beater. The lack of cable management is a bit of a distraction from working with the phone, but it is. If you're looking for something better that sounds the same, get the latest e4000. If you're looking for a comfortable all-day racquet, get the hje-120k. If you're looking for monsters with cheap parts, go for the KZ or something with a typical hi-fi sound.