Nearly a year later, i just wanted to stop in and say these sound fantastic!  They are much less muddy than the ES3X that I tried, and are very nice for on stage.  They've got a punch that is so satisfying and the highs are so crispy!

I don't think an amp will make a difference in quality unless you get one that uses the line-out (charging dock) connector.  It you run an amp from your headphone out you've still got the issue of the ipod's onboard audio processor.   Just something to think about. 

Half your problem is that the audio processor on the gen4 iPod is pretty terrible for dynamics and separation.   Do you have an iphone, or any other DAP?

Both truly effing horrible.  Do you seriously listen to those guys?  And not to mention they aren't a testament to the technical abilites of any IEM.  It's all noise.   Quote:   Quote:  

Are the Jew-owned or something?  The only other option would be Muslim.  At least in Israel they both cut out around noon on Fridays and don't come back until late Saturday or Sunday morning.

Livewires still manufactures just like their website details.    It's just that the operator of that company (Marc) started his own company so he could have the freedom to make whatever he wanted without having to ask the owner permission.

It's the same contact information for the Livewires support but i'll post it anyways so it's handy.    http://www.earimpressions.com/contact/contactus.cfm     MATRICS IMPRESSION SYSTEMS 8780 Jefferson Highway Osseo, MN 55369 USA Telephone: 763.315.3007 Toll-Free: 800.933.9899...

True, Naim, but they sure would market the hell out of it.  And masses of people would buy them just because it has that stupid "B" on the sides.

I paid $399 for the triple driver version he's calling Flatliner, they've got a dual driver (not sure on the price), and a quad driver (also not sure on the price).  Just call the guy, he's very well informed about his products and he's committed to restoring Livewires name. 

The ES3X's i tried were demos.  The sound difference between the Alclair Flatlines and the ES3X are modest at best.    Hopefully you guys can form your own opinion around this instead of taking what i say as absolute fact. 

Can't say for sure, only that it's a brand new company and he hasn't officially launched the product.

I tried the ES3X demo unit, but (as even discussed on here) the differences between that and a full custom are negligable.  At least in my opinion, if you're getting a good seal then the sound is reaching your ear drums fairly accurately.    As for it being odd, sure.  I had initially...

Probably, and it's a shame.  These rival the ES3X that i just recently got to try.  And the customer service was outstanding.

Let me pose a different question instead: Are flagship custom IEMs overrated.   The argument here seems to be that $1000+ are hard to be satisfied with.  I've got Alclair's flagship line and i'm incredibly happy with them (so long as the recording is of high quality).  In fact, I'm happier...

Well they sound great, not that anyone cares.