[FYI] Basic Guide to In-Ear-Canalphones

[Timaty]

Thank you for taking the time to write such a detailed thread about IEMS. I'm looking for a new IEM and since I have some problems with my ears this guide really helps out.

I didn't even know that you could insert IEMS that good

Thanks for your time and keep up the good work!

[winmazing]

Nice guide, it really helps big time

[ljokerl]

Thanks a lot for the comprehensive guide!

I'm pretty new here and only on my 2nd set of IEM's. This guide had pretty much everything I wanted to know (and sume stuff I didn't know I wanted).

[juda]

Very good guide for people like me

[uschxc]

hiya fellas and ladies... i've been on many a forum and i know its annoying to see someone come on with their first post being a 'help me buy something' post... but i have a short time frame and desperate need.

i work for the department of defense and spend 90% of my time between rows of server racks. the white noise is deafening and i often feel drained like i hadn't slept in two days when i leave work. i've been using some bestbuy bought earbuds for a while anticipating buying some nice IEMs. that being said, i'm blowing out my ears by cranking up the ipod to overpower the white noise.

i'm a drummer, and have never had a quality set of ear phones, so i've never heard a quality reproduction of hi hats or cymbals, and obviously rarely even the sound of a kick drum. i mostly listen to rock with some hip hop and an assortment of jazz, classical, and instrumental.

originally i've been attracted to shure and ultimate ears, as those seem to be the big players in the IEM world but have heard about westones and such. essentially my budget would probably top out at $200, with comfort and noise isolation being paramount. i'm very uneducated on this subject matter but i believe sound would be more easily, accurately reproduced with proper sealing in the ear canal. i'm not sure if this would help anyone trying to help me.. but i always end up using the smallest earbud fittings.

reason why this is urgent is i'm being sent to iraq then bahrain for a month or more and desperately need to get an order in for a pair of IEMs.

[Kawai_man]

Nice guide thanks

[Kawai_man]

nice guide thanks

[Kawai_man]

sorry triple post I have a really slow internet connection

[mikenmike0001]

can someone pm me a response to :

is it the eartip or the earpiece that provides the mechanics of the isolation?

[hockeyb213]

my only issue is when he speaks about the life cycle of a custom I mean really how many people on head-fi are keeping universal cans for much longer then 4 years anyway? Not me

[ClieOS]

Originally Posted by hockeyb213

my only issue is when he speaks about the life cycle of a custom I mean really how many people on head-fi are keeping universal cans for much longer then 4 years anyway? Not me

The chance is, that is the kind of knowledge that most people won't know, and sadly, many custom IEM makers don't bother to mention. As I recalled (when I were doing research for this guide), only ACS has mentioned durability issue with some detail (more or less, as they are using soft silicone mold which of course degrades much faster than acrylic). Quite often, you simply won't find any remark of IEM life expectancy in plain sight of the product page, even if it does very from person to person. Do you really expect everyone to shell out $1k for a piece of the product that didn't bother to tell you that it can lose its perfect fit in as short as 2 yrs? I am sure there will be people who believe the risk is totally worth it and there will be those disagreed - the point is, you should have all the information presented to you before you make the decision, not after.

Remember, manufacturer's legal responsibility ends with the warranty and it can be as short as 1 yr (which including fit adjusting period) even with some of the most expensive custom in the market.

[Sinocelt]

Originally Posted by ClieOS

The chance is, that is the kind of knowledge that most people won't know, and sadly, many custom IEM makers don't bother to mention. As I recalled (when I were doing research for this guide), only ACS has mentioned durability issue with some detail (more or less, as they are using soft silicone mold which of course degrades much faster than acrylic). Quite often, you simply won't find any remark of IEM life expectancy in plain sight of the product page, even if it does very from person to person. Do you really expect everyone to shell out $1k for a piece of the product that didn't bother to tell you that it can lose its perfect fit in as short as 2 yrs? I am sure there will be people who believe the risk is totally worth it and there will be those disagreed - the point is, you should have all the information presented to you before you make the decision, not after.

Indeed. I shouldn't have needed to come to Head-Fi to learn that. Past-warranty refitting can be quite expensive ($350 I believe for Westone, which is more than what other custom IEMs sell for).

Originally Posted by ClieOS

Remember, manufacturer's legal responsibility ends with the warranty and it can be as short as 1 yr (which including fit adjusting period) even with some of the most expensive custom in the market.

I saw that. I was surprised to discover that some of my <$100 earphones came with a 2-year warranty (HF5, CX 380) but that customs from Westone and Ultimate Ears (even the ES3X and UE-11 Pro) only came with a 1-year warranty. (I also searched for the warranty information on JH|Audio but couldn't find it.)

[hockeyb213]

Originally Posted by ClieOS

The chance is, that is the kind of knowledge that most people won't know, and sadly, many custom IEM makers don't bother to mention. As I recalled (when I were doing research for this guide), only ACS has mentioned durability issue with some detail (more or less, as they are using soft silicone mold which of course degrades much faster than acrylic). Quite often, you simply won't find any remark of IEM life expectancy in plain sight of the product page, even if it does very from person to person. Do you really expect everyone to shell out $1k for a piece of the product that didn't bother to tell you that it can lose its perfect fit in as short as 2 yrs? I am sure there will be people who believe the risk is totally worth it and there will be those disagreed - the point is, you should have all the information presented to you before you make the decision, not after.

Remember, manufacturer's legal responsibility ends with the warranty and it can be as short as 1 yr (which including fit adjusting period) even with some of the most expensive custom in the market.

Well the key is to make sure the company supports recasting the iem's which I am pretty confident any of the customs companies may be with the exception of UE will do it if you throw them some pennies for the job. My warranty on my jh-13's is 2 years I plan on getting them recast near the end of those 2 years as well.

[ClieOS]

Originally Posted by hockeyb213

Well the key is to make sure the company supports recasting the iem's which I am pretty confident any of the customs companies may be with the exception of UE will do it if you throw them some pennies for the job. My warranty on my jh-13's is 2 years I plan on getting them recast near the end of those 2 years as well.

That is only valid if people know they will need recasting (and more fee) down the road before they paid for their custom. The problem is not what people can do to prolong their custom life, but the lack of information from many companies about the life expectancy of custom nor the option they provide. Imagine a user who pay $1.5K has to find out 2 yrs later that a company where he has bought an expensive gear from reluctant to tell him he will have to pay more to keep his gear usable in the future. You simply can't assume this is common knowledge and every customer should know it before they paid for their custom.

[Sinocelt]

Originally Posted by hockeyb213

Well the key is to make sure the company supports recasting the iem's which I am pretty confident any of the customs companies may be with the exception of UE will do it if you throw them some pennies for the job. My warranty on my jh-13's is 2 years I plan on getting them recast near the end of those 2 years as well.

Pretty confident? Without any actual information? I'm sorry, but that's wishful thinking. Better ask than assume that what you want to be -- and think should be -- will be, only to be disappointed and feel "betrayed" if you discover later that your desires and reality fail to coincide.