There have been numerous threads over the time since the Livewires T1 emerged as the most cost effective personalised IEM earlier this year. This thread is my take on both the Livewires Experience and the Livewires T1 itself.
1. The Experience.
I live in Australia. I communicated with Livewires via email. I recognise others have indicated phone is the preferred communciation stream for John Diles and the Livewires team but I do not (as yet) have net-based (i.e. cheap) international phone services. Besides, I'm patient (most of the time).
In short I'd have to confirm what others have posted regarding email correspondence with the Livewires team. It can take a few days (at worst) to get a response. However, I always have got a response and the interactions have been sensible, fruitful and appropriately detailed. In short, they do the communciation job well. If you're in a hurry or need 'immediate' response, then use the phone.
My background to purchasing included time with Westone UM2s (with triflange modded to biflange) and a growing disatisfaction with the recessed top end. Don't get me wrong, the UM2s are a wonderful musical IEM: I just wanted to see whether I could get more from an IEM without going to the top of the range Ultimate Ears.
I tried Shure E500s. A better - more digital IMHO - top end, but still tailored off. Better than the UM2s but not so much better I'd lay down that many more dollars.
Westone 3s kept getting delayed. And although Apuresound created an improved cable for the venerable Etymotic ER4P & S, it still suffered from microphonics more than the cables on the Westone and Livewires products. So I chose a Livewires T1. After all, I reasoned (and confirmed by email with the Livewires team before proceeding), if I ordered direct from Livewires I'd be able to access the 30 day return guarantee.
The Livewires team couldn't recommend me a local audiologist. So I found one locally and got impressions (quite expensive here compared to other areas of the world it seems - $AU70!). And I sent them off and waited a month and got my Livewires T1s.
Based on advice and my initial impressions I burned them in for 150hours. The SQ improved, and got even better over the next 50 hours of listening.
What didn't work for me, though, was the fit. It's the curse (for manufacturers) of personalised IEMs - refits/remakes. I took all the Head-Fi advice and found ways to make them fit (basically by getting them further into my ears) but the seal was still dependent on me being stationary. Better seal on the left ear than the right but both could break seal by me moving in any way - turning my head, even just smiling (one of the seal techniques I was using to insert them as far as possible was to open my mouth wide while pushing them in deep and then tightly closing and holding a firm jaw - I must have looked the most sour music appreciator on the train!
).
Even allowing a few weeks of regular use for my ears to adjust to sealing with them only had slight improvements (the left ear held seal a lot better).
I approached Livewires for help/advice. Initially they proposed new impressions (because I thought I might need a set that naturally went deeper into my ears) but, considering the cost of impressions for me, they opted to provide me with a 'thicker' set.
The new set took a further three weeks and then they sent them out to me (all the time leaving me with my current set and advising me to return the current set when I'd setled with the new set. This was a good example of their level of trust and service.). The new set didn't even just arrive plain (as I'd expected) but they'd packaged them up with another case and another set of cables and cleaner! (It was packages as a true full 'replacement' set).
The following section will detail my impressions of SQ, etc, including a comparison between the two sets.
However I hope this 'story' section provides clear guidance for other potential cutomers on the high quality levels of service the small yet dedicated Livewires Team provides. BTW, all of my story occured over an exteremely busy time for them in terms of high volumes of orders plus the HeadFi posting raised by one disgruntled customer
Timeline...Enquiry-25/7/07...Impressions sent-29/8/07...Livewires sent-14/9/07...Initial email discussion re: fit/seal-26/9/07...Determine definite seal problem-4/10/07...Delayed response due to John Diles being out of town, then unwell: then commitment to provide a new set of Livewires with a thicker fit-18/10/07...Reworked Livewires sent-15/11/07...Reworked Livewires arrive and are brilliant
-23/11/07 (As I write this on the train I look around at so many fellow travellers with ibuds and feel so sorry for them 
)
2. The Livewires T1 Review.
When I first enquired with John Diles about the differences I might expect if I ordered a T1 to replace my Westone UM2s his response was: "I believe that you can expect a broader, brighter overall sound quality with Livewires. We are using the broadest bandwidth, highest output balanced armature drivers in the world and have 'tweaked' them minimally."
Seperately I'd found out from other previous-UM2 users that although I would gain the high end I was seeking I would likely lose some warmth (T1s were more analytical) and find the high end a bit crisp, even dry. I decided I could afford the gamble due to the luxury of the 30 Day return Policy.
On initial receipt I found all of the above to be true. The T1s are analytical compared to the Westones, even with a relatively warm amp like the RSA Hornet or Tomahawk. In fact I had my usual love/hate response to them in this way - I adhere to the GIGO principal and believe they are a good example of this. The better the quality of signal they receive the far better they deliver: they are NOT forgiving of poor quality musical information. But that also means that the better the quality of signal the even better they can deliver to you what you want - terrifically reproduced music!
The brittleness of the top end did annoy me, though, so I took the advice of some threads and burned them in with pink noise for 150 hours. As mentioned above, this did improve them (even out the sound and make the topend far more listenable) but, for me, this process didn't really complete till I was in excess of 200 hours (and it then got marginally better before being fully settled somewhere in the 250-300 hours mark (or maybe that timeframe was when I'd fully settled to their sound..
On receipt of my replacement set (see 'The Story' above) I did an immediate A-B to see what the difference was like. OMG! It's not the IEMs, or even the cable - I checked that seperately as well - but the fit. There's more bass - full bass, bass decay, bass detail. Not that there wasn't bass with the first set fully inserted but this new set seem to provide a fuller, more rounded musical experience. I tried the original set again and the detail is there but it's so much smaller in soundstage, breadth and depth. This new set sticks out from my ears by a good milimetre whereas the original set were pushed in almost 2 milimetres to get their seal, and it obviously wasn't as good as the one I get with the new set. With the old set the left ear sealed better than the right; the same with the new set in terms of how big they feel inserting them in - you can feel it's much closer to the limits of what the ear can take. But what a difference. These are working great from the start. If there is any improvement from the 150 hours burn in I'll let you know - but right now this new set is easilly improving on the sound of the originals. Thanks Mr Diles and Co!
As many may know, IEMs are the only area where I do not use an electrostatic headphone (basically because there isn't a truly portable noise sealing or noise cancelling electrostatic model out there! - Yes I am aware of how much Kevin Gilmour used to carry as his electrostatic portable rig and the 4070 with an SRM-X would be even easier, but not as truly portable as non-electrostatic options). As others have indicated IEMs are good at getting closer to the speed of electrostatics than other options. In terms of SQ the T1s produce a full sound across the spectrum. The original set were not as 'fat' in the bass area as the UM2s; the new set retain the tight yet full sound - the UM2 (from memory now) would be a little bloated (mid bass hump?) in comparison to the T1 bass. Overall the high end is slightly on the tinny side but this is pretty marginal and very dependent on the quality of the source and source material. In my opinion, they drive and punch very well with a good quality track through a good quality player through a good quality amp. Once you reduce the quality of the input, though, you'll more than likely edge more and more to a tinny-er high end. As I've said, they are NOT forgiving.
But, with that said, I've found them more then acceptable for 320kbps MP3 listening through an RSA Tomahawk (which is my lower end of portable setups - I prefer FLAcs and a Hornet or Mini3).
CONCLUSION:
Deal with this company. They communciate well but can take some time to get back to you. I equate it based on my reading to working with Xin for a Xin amp. I feel both Xin and Livewires have small dedicated teams that produce quality gear but struggle at times to keep up with customer demand. Patience and persistence is the key - provided you are cordial and considerate.
Try this IEM. It's well worth the effort of getting ear impressions. There are many finish options. The cables are the best on the market for microphonics (which I consider a critical factor when you're moving around whilst listening). And you even get a 30 Day return policy! I mean how good is all that for the price?
For me, though, although it has primarilly been about getting a good SQ for the price, I have to add that it has truly been a pleasure dealing with a trustworthy and trusting group of individuals who are producing a high quality product. This Member Of The Trade is human (we've all read his regrets about the way he initially worded his dealings with the disgruntled overseas customer) but I appreciate his forthrightness, honesty and consideration of the needs of individual customers such as myself. All thumbs up here. Thanks John Diles and Livewires. I love my T1s! (and my wife prefers them for my bedside listening over my preferred higher end Stax SR-001s - she gets zero sound leakage when I use the T1s)
1. The Experience.
I live in Australia. I communicated with Livewires via email. I recognise others have indicated phone is the preferred communciation stream for John Diles and the Livewires team but I do not (as yet) have net-based (i.e. cheap) international phone services. Besides, I'm patient (most of the time).
In short I'd have to confirm what others have posted regarding email correspondence with the Livewires team. It can take a few days (at worst) to get a response. However, I always have got a response and the interactions have been sensible, fruitful and appropriately detailed. In short, they do the communciation job well. If you're in a hurry or need 'immediate' response, then use the phone.
My background to purchasing included time with Westone UM2s (with triflange modded to biflange) and a growing disatisfaction with the recessed top end. Don't get me wrong, the UM2s are a wonderful musical IEM: I just wanted to see whether I could get more from an IEM without going to the top of the range Ultimate Ears.
I tried Shure E500s. A better - more digital IMHO - top end, but still tailored off. Better than the UM2s but not so much better I'd lay down that many more dollars.
Westone 3s kept getting delayed. And although Apuresound created an improved cable for the venerable Etymotic ER4P & S, it still suffered from microphonics more than the cables on the Westone and Livewires products. So I chose a Livewires T1. After all, I reasoned (and confirmed by email with the Livewires team before proceeding), if I ordered direct from Livewires I'd be able to access the 30 day return guarantee.
The Livewires team couldn't recommend me a local audiologist. So I found one locally and got impressions (quite expensive here compared to other areas of the world it seems - $AU70!). And I sent them off and waited a month and got my Livewires T1s.
Based on advice and my initial impressions I burned them in for 150hours. The SQ improved, and got even better over the next 50 hours of listening.
What didn't work for me, though, was the fit. It's the curse (for manufacturers) of personalised IEMs - refits/remakes. I took all the Head-Fi advice and found ways to make them fit (basically by getting them further into my ears) but the seal was still dependent on me being stationary. Better seal on the left ear than the right but both could break seal by me moving in any way - turning my head, even just smiling (one of the seal techniques I was using to insert them as far as possible was to open my mouth wide while pushing them in deep and then tightly closing and holding a firm jaw - I must have looked the most sour music appreciator on the train!
).Even allowing a few weeks of regular use for my ears to adjust to sealing with them only had slight improvements (the left ear held seal a lot better).
I approached Livewires for help/advice. Initially they proposed new impressions (because I thought I might need a set that naturally went deeper into my ears) but, considering the cost of impressions for me, they opted to provide me with a 'thicker' set.
The new set took a further three weeks and then they sent them out to me (all the time leaving me with my current set and advising me to return the current set when I'd setled with the new set. This was a good example of their level of trust and service.). The new set didn't even just arrive plain (as I'd expected) but they'd packaged them up with another case and another set of cables and cleaner! (It was packages as a true full 'replacement' set).
The following section will detail my impressions of SQ, etc, including a comparison between the two sets.
However I hope this 'story' section provides clear guidance for other potential cutomers on the high quality levels of service the small yet dedicated Livewires Team provides. BTW, all of my story occured over an exteremely busy time for them in terms of high volumes of orders plus the HeadFi posting raised by one disgruntled customer
Timeline...Enquiry-25/7/07...Impressions sent-29/8/07...Livewires sent-14/9/07...Initial email discussion re: fit/seal-26/9/07...Determine definite seal problem-4/10/07...Delayed response due to John Diles being out of town, then unwell: then commitment to provide a new set of Livewires with a thicker fit-18/10/07...Reworked Livewires sent-15/11/07...Reworked Livewires arrive and are brilliant
-23/11/07 (As I write this on the train I look around at so many fellow travellers with ibuds and feel so sorry for them )2. The Livewires T1 Review.
When I first enquired with John Diles about the differences I might expect if I ordered a T1 to replace my Westone UM2s his response was: "I believe that you can expect a broader, brighter overall sound quality with Livewires. We are using the broadest bandwidth, highest output balanced armature drivers in the world and have 'tweaked' them minimally."
Seperately I'd found out from other previous-UM2 users that although I would gain the high end I was seeking I would likely lose some warmth (T1s were more analytical) and find the high end a bit crisp, even dry. I decided I could afford the gamble due to the luxury of the 30 Day return Policy.
On initial receipt I found all of the above to be true. The T1s are analytical compared to the Westones, even with a relatively warm amp like the RSA Hornet or Tomahawk. In fact I had my usual love/hate response to them in this way - I adhere to the GIGO principal and believe they are a good example of this. The better the quality of signal they receive the far better they deliver: they are NOT forgiving of poor quality musical information. But that also means that the better the quality of signal the even better they can deliver to you what you want - terrifically reproduced music!
The brittleness of the top end did annoy me, though, so I took the advice of some threads and burned them in with pink noise for 150 hours. As mentioned above, this did improve them (even out the sound and make the topend far more listenable) but, for me, this process didn't really complete till I was in excess of 200 hours (and it then got marginally better before being fully settled somewhere in the 250-300 hours mark (or maybe that timeframe was when I'd fully settled to their sound.
.On receipt of my replacement set (see 'The Story' above) I did an immediate A-B to see what the difference was like. OMG! It's not the IEMs, or even the cable - I checked that seperately as well - but the fit. There's more bass - full bass, bass decay, bass detail. Not that there wasn't bass with the first set fully inserted but this new set seem to provide a fuller, more rounded musical experience. I tried the original set again and the detail is there but it's so much smaller in soundstage, breadth and depth. This new set sticks out from my ears by a good milimetre whereas the original set were pushed in almost 2 milimetres to get their seal, and it obviously wasn't as good as the one I get with the new set. With the old set the left ear sealed better than the right; the same with the new set in terms of how big they feel inserting them in - you can feel it's much closer to the limits of what the ear can take. But what a difference. These are working great from the start. If there is any improvement from the 150 hours burn in I'll let you know - but right now this new set is easilly improving on the sound of the originals. Thanks Mr Diles and Co!
As many may know, IEMs are the only area where I do not use an electrostatic headphone (basically because there isn't a truly portable noise sealing or noise cancelling electrostatic model out there! - Yes I am aware of how much Kevin Gilmour used to carry as his electrostatic portable rig and the 4070 with an SRM-X would be even easier, but not as truly portable as non-electrostatic options). As others have indicated IEMs are good at getting closer to the speed of electrostatics than other options. In terms of SQ the T1s produce a full sound across the spectrum. The original set were not as 'fat' in the bass area as the UM2s; the new set retain the tight yet full sound - the UM2 (from memory now) would be a little bloated (mid bass hump?) in comparison to the T1 bass. Overall the high end is slightly on the tinny side but this is pretty marginal and very dependent on the quality of the source and source material. In my opinion, they drive and punch very well with a good quality track through a good quality player through a good quality amp. Once you reduce the quality of the input, though, you'll more than likely edge more and more to a tinny-er high end. As I've said, they are NOT forgiving.
But, with that said, I've found them more then acceptable for 320kbps MP3 listening through an RSA Tomahawk (which is my lower end of portable setups - I prefer FLAcs and a Hornet or Mini3).
CONCLUSION:
Deal with this company. They communciate well but can take some time to get back to you. I equate it based on my reading to working with Xin for a Xin amp. I feel both Xin and Livewires have small dedicated teams that produce quality gear but struggle at times to keep up with customer demand. Patience and persistence is the key - provided you are cordial and considerate.
Try this IEM. It's well worth the effort of getting ear impressions. There are many finish options. The cables are the best on the market for microphonics (which I consider a critical factor when you're moving around whilst listening). And you even get a 30 Day return policy! I mean how good is all that for the price?
For me, though, although it has primarilly been about getting a good SQ for the price, I have to add that it has truly been a pleasure dealing with a trustworthy and trusting group of individuals who are producing a high quality product. This Member Of The Trade is human (we've all read his regrets about the way he initially worded his dealings with the disgruntled overseas customer) but I appreciate his forthrightness, honesty and consideration of the needs of individual customers such as myself. All thumbs up here. Thanks John Diles and Livewires. I love my T1s! (and my wife prefers them for my bedside listening over my preferred higher end Stax SR-001s - she gets zero sound leakage when I use the T1s
)
