Custom-3 announcements and impressions

[onlychild]

Hey guys, sorry been busy looking at the DAP posts while I am waiting on my SE530s to come in. The 530s should be here by the end of the week.

I have pretty much given up on the C3s. I will give them one more chance when the SE530s come in with the Shure fomaies (like others have mentioned).

But the more and more I am using the Image, the harder and harder it is for me to let them go. I have truly fallen in love with the Image for the uses that I put them through. They are easy to put on and take off, they don't look ugly when they are in your ear (you can hardly see them), and I like that you don't have to have a wire over your ear. And most importantly, the sound and bass that come out of these little things is simply amazing. I just got a Sony A818 and they sound incredible with it. The only thing I wish for is that they weren't so darn expensive.

When I get my SE530s, I will probably spend more time comparing them to the Image than the C3s. If I like the 530s, I might just have to keep both, because I can't let go of the Image.

[soozieq]

Originally Posted by onlychild

I just got a Sony A818 and they sound incredible with it.
The only thing I wish for is that they weren't so darn expensive.

This is quite interesting, because I found the Image/Sony combo quite disappointing. Although the Sony could drive the Image to the same volume levels as with the Zune - it failed dismally to present the same quality and clarity of bass. In fact, it sounded quite horrible, really mushy and indistinct.

I wondered if it was something to do with headphone impedance. The Image are 50ohms and 110 dB, and the Zune handled them very efficiently.
But the Sony didn't, and seemed to provide better bass with lower impedance headphones, like the Denon C700 @ 16ohms. They don't 'struggle' like they do with the Image. I think you also had the Zune too didn't you? And used it with the Image? Did you listen to the bass on both of them? If so, how did you find the difference in the bass? I couldn't get past how much the Sony seemed under stress. The Image just seemed to overload it.

I really feel the Image/Zune is a much more 'compatible' combination, not least because the bass presentation is excellent, but because they seem to bring out the best in each other. The only negative would be the midrange is very pronounced and you can't EQ it away with the Zune

[freeone-j]

Onlychild wait, don't give up on the C3s' yet. I received mine yesterday around 11am cst. Started listening and I didn't like them at first, couldn't get a good seal and didn't like the sound. I was listening to them thru my Imod/OG Move/75ohm adapter for about 5 to 6 hours. I know a lot of Head-fiers don't believe in armature burn-in, so if it is training my ear or what I believe to burn-in, the sound vastly improved. Oh!, I failed to mention that I changed tips (Shure gray soft flex). This morning all I could say is "Wow!", these babies where singing in my ear. Strong quad like bass, beautiful mids and vocals and I believe Professor decribed the high are like butter. My first impressions are IMO, pretty impressive!

[onlychild]

Soozieq,

You might be right about the Sony/Image combo, but I was comparing the Sony/Image combo to my previous 4G iPod/Image combo, and the Sony combo sounds a lot better (boomy bass or not) then my iPod combo (which had practically no bass when compared to the Sony). I will try the Sony with my Denons when I get home.

Also, I have never owned a Zune, so can't comment on that.

[onlychild]

Freeone-j,

I know what you mean with the C3's about giving them some time. When I first got them and heard them for the first hour I did not like them so much. Then when I listened to them for another 2-3 hours I really liked the sound.

Then after that, I was never able to get a proper seal, (I am using the large tips), no matter how hard I tried. I don't know what I did for the first couple hours to get a good seal, but after that it was almost impossible to get a good seal in my right ear.

When my SE530s come in I will give the C3 another go with the Shure black fomaies. I hope the C3s turn out to be equivalent to the 530s without the rolled off highs.

[pretzelb]

It's still too early to tell for me but I did compare one song with the Image and C3 and I could hear a big difference with the C3. There were subtle details that I couldn't get with the Image and a certain clarity without increasing the volume too much. But I was saying the same thing about the Image not so long ago. For example, a track from a Scott Joplin recording just came up on the C3 and it seems like I can hear the keys being pressed with very little volume (ack - next track in random play was Sex Pistols - that hurt).

I'm also ill prepared for this testing. I only have my iPod 5th gen for testing. I just rebuilt my home pc and have yet to copy over my music collection and install iTunes to rebuild a good headphone testing play list. I also sent my pocket amp to get adjusted for IEMs. I get the feeling I'm just juggling to stay afloat in my review.

Fit and comfort still remain an issue for me. Line noise is much better with the C3.

[onlychild]

Yeah, if you look at my original impressions between the Image and C3s, I also found the C3s to be more detailed than the Image.

Also, for anyone living in Chicago, I will be bringing the C3s and Image to the meet this Saturday for you guys to hear.

[slwiser]

I have to say, sound wise, the Custom-3s are worth some effort to make them work for me. I am now very impressed with it's sound qualities.

Ergonomically these are killers for me out of the box. Having to use both hands for an install is something else. I also learned today after going through almost all the tips that the "big single" is, if any are, the ones for me. At least it began to work for me later in the day. About that time I had almost worked out a method of contortion to get them back into my ears without the second hand. It has to do with having them positioned in a certain way before heading toward my ear, then as I am positioning them I turn them much like a key into a lock with the wire rotating over the "Helix" (top of ear).

So I am "going long" on these hoping to finalize a method that I can be comfortable with in getting them into and out of my ear. Later if this works out maybe I need to write up a methodology (originally:mythology which may be a Freudian slip) for anyone needing at least something that may work for them. One thing to make sure of is to get the fleshy lip that is 90 degrees toward the front of the "Crest of the Helix" out of the way of sound box (the one with the word Klipsch on it) that the tube comes out of that goes into your ear. The sound box needs to set into that cavity just behind the lip making sure that it sort of locks the sound box into place. For terms about the ear check here:anatomy of the human ear, the parts which aid in the process of hearing

Maybe this can be understood.

[tnmike1]

Originally Posted by slwiser

I have to say, sound wise, the Custom-3s are worth some effort to make them work for me. I am now very impressed with it's sound qualities.

Ergonomically these are killers for me out of the box. Having to use both hands for an install it something else. I also learned today after going through almost all the tips that the "big single" is, if any are, the one for me. At least it began to work for me later in the day. About that time I have almost worked out a method of contortion to get them back into my ears without the second hand. It has to do with having them positioned in a certain way before heading toward my ear, then as I am positioning them turn them much like a key into a lock with the wire rotating over the "Helix" (top of ear).

So I am "going long" on these hoping to finalize a method that I can be comfortable with in getting them into and out of my ear. Later if this works out maybe I need to write up a mythology for anyone needing at least something that may work for them. One thing to make sure of is to get the fleshy lip that is 90 degrees toward the front of the "Crest of the Helix" out of the way of sound box (the one with the word Klipsch on it) that the tube comes out of that goes into your ear. That box needs to set into that cavity just behind the lip making sure that sort of locks the sound box into place. For terms about the ear check here:anatomy of the human ear, the parts which aid in the process of hearing

Maybe this can be understood.

sounds like a lot of work for IEMs costing 300 bux. Mine are on the way so we'll see. My Etys just pop in and that's that. Hopefully, these Customs can be made to fit just as easily. Who knows???

[slwiser]

Originally Posted by tnmike1

sounds like a lot of work for IEMs costing 300 bux. Mine are on the way so we'll see. My Etys just pop in and that's that. Hopefully, these Customs can be made to fit just as easily. Who knows???

I hate re-reading my posts, I see all sorts of errors...editing my original.

I just compared these with my HFI-780...the 780s still have the edge on the Custom-3s in my book.

Good luck.

[PeterDLai]

Originally Posted by slwiser

I hate re-reading my posts, I see all sorts of errors...editing my original.

I just compared these with my HFI-780...the 780s still have the edge on the Custom-3s in my book.

Good luck.

Could you ever see yourself bringing your HFI-780 around with you for portable use?

[slwiser]

Originally Posted by PeterDLai

Could you ever see yourself bringing your HFI-780 around with you for portable use?

I have used it a couple of days at work at my desk but this is truly not portable. This was more a level of performance type thing.

[HiFlight]

I received my C3s today, after much anticipation. Unfortunately, I have not been able to get and keep a seal, regardless of the tip I use. It just seems as though the stem is a bit short for my ears.

For whatever little bit of extra audio performance that the C3 provides over my Images, it does not seem to be worth the loss of comfort and the hassle with trying to get a seal.

Mine will be returned, I am sure.

[slwiser]

Originally Posted by HiFlight

I received my C3s today, after much anticipation. Unfortunately, I have not been able to get and keep a seal, regardless of the tip I use. It just seems as though the stem is a bit short for my ears.

For whatever little bit of extra audio performance that the C3 provides over my Images, it does not seem to be worth the loss of comfort and the hassle with trying to get a seal.

Mine will be returned, I am sure.

I can't blame you at all. I may go for the Image myself if return these.

[PeterDLai]

Interestingly enough, I'm not really having seal issues, though it seems like the seal is inconsistent (like sometimes awesome and sometimes only pretty good, never bad though with the Shure black foam sleeves), but it doesn't seem as bad as everyone else's experiences.

My biggest gripe (which is not really the fault of the Custom-3's) is the sound signature. I just find that I'm not the warm, "musical", smooth, relaxed, mellow, dark, and so on type of guy.

I'm starting to think I need to listen to a pair of Grado's. It sounds like it would suit me, yet I've never found any reason to own a pair (I'm looking for portable and closed, I use speakers when I'm at home).