Custom-3 announcements and impressions - Page 17 - Head-Fi: Covering Headphones, Earphones and Portable Audio

acidtripwow · #**241** (**permalink**) 02-18-2008, 09:35 PM

I received my Custom 3s a few days ago and here are some brief thoughts about their sound.

I used my IPod Video 60GB with and without an amp (old supermini). I also used my Sony Vaio laptop with a Creative Audigy 2 ZS PCMCIA soundcard. I have the Future Sonics M5 for comparison.

I recently found an old 1974 recording of Steely Dan Live in LA online and downloaded the MP3 files. This isn't an audiophile recording but I don't really listen to audiophile recordings or lossless recordings. I just listen to music I like. If Senn's put you in the 20th row and Grado's put you in the 1st row then the 3's put you right next to the drum kit. Wow, whoever designed these things really liked the sound of cymbals. That's the first thing I noticed about the 3s. They have a very upfront sound. You will hear the high end of the spectrum with these IEMs. The bass does not go as low as the M5s but is very tight. That's another thing I noticed with the 3s they stop on a dime. The M5s seem warmer and more harmonic rich. The 3s seem colder but have more resolution.

I used the standard sized foam tips with these but I have ordered some small foam tips to use with them since the standard foam tips are too long for the IEM. I never really liked any plastic tips with any IEMs I've owned(Shure e3cs and E500PTH).

I will also order another portable amp(Voyager) to try with these this week. We'll see how the pairing goes.

tnmike1 · #**242** (**permalink**) 02-19-2008, 01:34 AM

Acidtripwow: But your impressions are exactly why I'm in love with Klipsch, both in their large speakers and in these IEMs. Superior resolution, violins that are bright, and tympani that's really "there",especiallywhen listening to larger symphonic works. So maybe that's a clue here: if you love big classical, or piano-type jazz, these things really shine. Personally, i would hate to have a bass-heavy IEM. But that's my taste I guess

acidtripwow · #**243** (**permalink**) 02-19-2008, 12:46 PM

Yes, they can let some instruments really come through and shine. I personally like the sound of these IEMs. They are different than the M5s and sometimes they sound alike. I'm listening to Patricia Barber's "Cafe Blue" right now and find them a lot warmer now then on the Steely Dan recording. I guess they can be neutral also.

pretzelb · #**244** (**permalink**) 02-19-2008, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tnmike1

Acidtripwow: But your impressions are exactly why I'm in love with Klipsch, both in their large speakers and in these IEMs. Superior resolution, violins that are bright, and tympani that's really "there",especiallywhen listening to larger symphonic works. So maybe that's a clue here: if you love big classical, or piano-type jazz, these things really shine. Personally, i would hate to have a bass-heavy IEM. But that's my taste I guess

I hadn't thought about this before you said it but I think you maybe right about the "bright" factor. I was letting my iPod play at random and I noticed some of my songs that feature detailed guitar like flamenco or banjo in some classic country really shine. I think I need to go back and target specific albums or genres to test this out. I have a few Steely Dan and Tom Petty tracks that are very clean that I think would also be good tests. Then I need to go find some bass-heavy tracks and give them a whirl.

HiFlight · #**245** (**permalink**) 02-19-2008, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pretzelb

We disagree on the Custom 3 but I would totally agree with you on ease of use for the Image, it is really amazing. If anyone else placing a high value on comfort and ease of use I'd say it's worth checking out the Image.

After spending considerable time comparing the C3 to my Images, Atrios M5, and Etys, I have decided to return the C3s. While the highs are marginally better defined by the C3, I find that I still have difficulty with a proper seal. The comfort is not as good as the Atrios using the gel tips on both, as the shell of the C3 just doesn't match my ear contours as well.

The comfort of the Image far outweighs the slight difference in SQ, IMO. I also prefer the imaging of the Image, as it is further away than the C3. This is perhaps a psychoacoustic phenomena, but nevertheless, I don't care for a soundstage that appears to be between my ears.

I will say the the Klipsch gel tips are far superior to any tips I have previously used on any of my IEMs. They fit perfectly on my Atrios, Westone UM2, and Etys.

soozieq · #**246** (**permalink**) 02-19-2008, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HiFlight

I will say the the Klipsch gel tips are far superior to any tips I have previously used on any of my IEMs.

I know. They're fantastic. And I just my 2 free pairs in the post today.

I only registered them last week and they got to the UK in a few days

So now I have 3 pairs of the medium gels. They're the best tip ever!
They're softer and more supple than any other tips I've tried, and they just melt into the ear. Amazing. I imagine the comfort has a lot to do with the fact they're oval and not round?

OracleGuy · #**247** (**permalink**) 02-22-2008, 06:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amy

We're looking into this!

Hey Amy, are any of your Canadian dealers going to carry the IEMs? It would certainly be easier than shipping to a PO box south of the border.

London Drugs would be a good choice for Western Canada. I've only ever spotted the lower-end Shure IEMs there.

flargosa · #**248** (**permalink**) 02-22-2008, 03:23 PM

How is the accuracy, and flatness of the Custom 3 compared to the ER4S?

Amy · #**249** (**permalink**) 02-22-2008, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OracleGuy

Hey Amy, are any of your Canadian dealers going to carry the IEMs? It would certainly be easier than shipping to a PO box south of the border.

London Drugs would be a good choice for Western Canada. I've only ever spotted the lower-end Shure IEMs there.

Hello!
I believe they will be in London Drugs and Best Buy, although I do not have details of when. I will try to find out more for you.
Thanks!

tnmike1 · #**250** (**permalink**) 02-23-2008, 12:55 AM

just to let y'all know: I hate the single flange tips of the Custom. So tried the Ety triple flanges on the Customs and O what a perfect fit. You gotta jam 'em on there because they are a little loose. then just gently put the triple flanges intoyour ear. Do NOT do the Ety-type trick of opening up your ears by pulling on them--Etyphiles will know what I'm talking about--but just gently let those triple flanges nestle into your ear The pressure from the earpieces on the Customs seem to settle them in nicely. at least in my ears.

Wore them for about seven hours today while toruing our local Home a nd Garden show and were not in the least uncomfortable. Plus the seal wasn't total so I could hear people around me and could respond to questions.

So between the large ear gels from Klipsch and the triple flanges from Ety, I've found two that are quite comfortable

visia · #**251** (**permalink**) 02-23-2008, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tnmike1

just to let y'all know: I hate the single flange tips of the Custom. So tried the Ety triple flanges on the Customs and O what a perfect fit.

Similar here. I just tried large bi-flanges from Atrio's and those worked great, even through I did not like them with Atrio's. Sealed right away and really well. I prefer them to Shure olives.

tnmike1 · #**252** (**permalink**) 02-23-2008, 09:48 PM

I'm amending my comments with a caveat: have had one of those tri-flanges come off in my ear during experimentation. Thankfully, I've got a wife with a pair of tweezers who could tweeze it out.

So maybe I'm back to either using the large gels, the ones that came with the Custom--which according to the directions fit 60% of the people--or maybe trying the Olives.

honestly, these Customs deserve all the help they can get with proper fitting, because they sound magnificent once you get the gels fitting correctly.

HiFlight · #**253** (**permalink**) 02-24-2008, 12:16 AM

I tried diligently for a couple of days to get a decent seal with my C-3s, but to no avail. It just seemed to me that the driver housing interfered with getting a good seal. No matter what tips I tried, or how I rotated them, they were either very uncomfortable or didn't seal.

I really like my Images, and feel that whatever small sound improvement that the C3 might be capable of does not offset the sound and comfort of the Images.

I also preferred the sound of my Yuin PK-1s to that of the C3. Although not an IEM, it has way better imaging and overall pleasing sound than was my experience with the C3.

My C-3s went back home to Klipsch.

tnmike1 · #**254** (**permalink**) 02-24-2008, 11:44 AM

Ron--I'm curious. Notice in your sig you have the ER4P/S like Ido. So how do you compare the Custom 3 or Image sound quality to the Etys???

slwiser · #**255** (**permalink**) 02-24-2008, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tnmike1

honestly, these Customs deserve all the help they can get with proper fitting, because they sound magnificent once you get the gels fitting correctly.

These do sound very good but that seal still remains a problem for me to keep. Because of the seal issues with these earphones I have to say the bass is not very good. But when I can get time to play with them and before the seal is lost the bass is very good. So far there are no tips (Klipsch) that are consistent for me to keep that tight bass that is so much there when you can hold them in place.