I’ve been playing around with parametric equalization to make my iem listening experience more enjoyable. I think I have found the answer although I’d guess it’s fairly subjective. Sub bass seems to increase the depth of music and actually seems to inject it with more emotion. Anyway, after some PEQ, my new sonic cannons are the TRI x HBB Kai. Bass cannons are a tie between QKZ x HBB Kahn, Kiwi Ears Cadenza, and Beyerdynamic DT770 PRO 32 Ohm.
I have no idea why I waited almost to the end of my initial experiment with PEQ before I tested it with my firstborn, the Etymotic ER2XR. As fully expected, they are not the sonic mayhem of the Kai, nor are they the subdued yet balanced canons the truthears are. They are well past the truthears both in isolation and comfort. To my ears they sound equally as balanced if not edging out the Zeros. Guess this post means the prodigal son returned.