I own the Kato and Dusk. I personally prefer the Kato despite the shortcomings with their resolution. A bit more muffled in comparison since the Dusks are more detailed. But the treble response is much more smooth and the bass is controlled. Likely more to do with BA bass vs 1DD bass.

I was also blown away with the S8's when I demo'ed them. They're honestly tuned so well but are hardly discussed these days because of the bias towards new products. Definitely agree with you on the treble quality and extension since it's almost impossibly good compared to even my B2:Dusks, which lean sibilant in some areas. In a sense they are closer to the Kato than Dusk. These are the IEMs I will pick for my favorite under $1k. Glad you liked them- definitely a leap of faith but very much worth it!

The Hifiman Edition XS and 6XX are perfect for my usage. I think they sound great and haven't needed to upgrade in over a year. However, I instead shifted my focus to IEMs, more as a hobby and less about seeking perfect sound, just because I find the market and tech fascinating.

Nice collection, fellow Moondrop enjoyer. I agree that this year's releases have been lukewarm at best. Besides the Chu the line-up was middling.

Are those the Dunu Kima's near the back? Was curious about them but and how they compare to the Hexa's. Yhe latter seems like a new champ in the sub-$100 range from what I read.

BTW I also like your Yoshino figure!