BASN Mix-PD

The BASN Mix-PD delivers shockingly good, detailed sound for the price, but the mediocre build and comfort remind you it's built to a budget. Buy them for the audio, not the accessories or the mic.

The hybrid driver setup is the star here. The planar driver delivers a crispness and speed in the highs and mids that makes cymbals shimmer and vocals sit right in the room with you, while the dynamic driver handles bass duties with a controlled, satisfying thump that never gets muddy. What surprised us most is the soundstage. For a closed-back IEM, it's remarkably wide, giving instruments plenty of breathing room. Our database puts the sound quality in the 89th percentile, which is outstanding for this price bracket. It's a detailed, almost analytical listen that's still fun, not sterile.

Stacked against wireless competitors like the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro or Sony WF-C700N, the BASN Mix-PD is a completely different animal. It's wired, has no ANC, and its mic is terrible. But for pure, unadulterated sound quality per dollar, it wipes the floor with them. The Sonys and Samsungs are for convenience and calls. The Mix-PD is for sitting down and actually listening. If you're cross-shopping, the real competitor is something like a Shure SE215. The BASN offers a more detailed, spacious sound thanks to that planar driver, but the Shure has a more universally comfortable fit and a legendary reputation for build quality that the BASN's 35th percentile build score can't match.

Pricing for these is all over the map, with a wild spread from $60 to $1325 across vendors. Let's be real: at the low end of that range, these are a no-brainer. You're getting a sound signature that rivals IEMs costing two or three times as much. If you see them anywhere near the $60 mark, buy them before you finish reading this sentence. At the higher end of that spread, you're getting ripped off, so shop around. The sweet spot is definitely at the budget-friendly price point where they first made their name.

The BASN Mix-PD is a wired IEM that throws a planar and a dynamic driver into each earpiece, and the result is a sound that punches way above what the budget-friendly price suggests. The one thing to know is this: if you want neutral, detailed audio with a wide soundstage and you don't need wireless or a mic, these are a genuine steal. They're built for musicians who need to hear every detail on stage, but they're just as good for anyone who wants to dissect their music library at a desk. Just don't expect them to replace your Bluetooth earbuds for calls or the gym.

If you need a headset for Zoom calls, working out, or commuting on a noisy train, these aren't it. Go get a pair of wireless earbuds with decent ANC like the EarFun Air Pro 4+ instead. The Mix-PD is a specialized tool for focused listening, and it's terrible at everything else.

Get the BASN Mix-PD if sound quality is your only priority and you can find them for under $100. They're a fantastic entry point into hybrid driver IEMs, offering a level of detail and soundstage that's rare at this price. They're perfect for drummers, musicians on a budget, or anyone who wants a wired backup for critical listening. Just know that you're sacrificing build refinement, all-day comfort, and any semblance of a usable microphone to get that stellar audio performance.