Anyone has experience of using ACS Custom Earphone Sleeves in UK? - Page 3

I kind of know what you mean. When I sent my sleeves back for a second refit I felt a bit bad, as I couldn't see their being much profit left for ACS ... but then again £90 isn't an insubstantial amount of money and I can't afford to pay that for something that isn't right.

When I got my third pair of sleeves I knew I'd made the right decision, as they instantly felt comfortable and secure where as the first two pairs had niggling little problems which stopped me feeling entirely comfortable.

I know it's harsh on ACS, but ulitimately it took them three attempts to get the sleeves right becuase they didn't make them right the first two times ... not because I was being fussy.

In fairness to ACS they never complained when I sent them back a second time ... they just got on and remade them. I'm sure that they get them right first time the majority of the time, but there will be occasions when it takes a few attempts. It's worth the wait.

They stated that they will fit the W3's and I duly paid my money, but they didn't provide a set that were fit for the purpose, so the onus was on them to sort out the problem and it wasn't up to me to help fund them, whilst they tried getting things right.

Although Andy did come out to see me, which was much appreciated, the final set were the worst of the lot and that, coupled with their staff ignoring me a lot of the time, made my experience pretty bad.

Yours is of course a perfectly sensible POV. I figure that I will try and work with them in the hope of avoiding the total wash out that you experienced.

If it wasn't for the fact that when they did work, they enhanced the W3's no end and did fit like a glove, I wouldn't have kept trying for 9 months.

Good luck mate, my old man sure loves his pair, with his Triple.fi's.

It certainly sounds like you gave 'em a good go. If you every fancy risking customs, Hand Held Audio in Enfield Lock have a very good rep and certainly sounded the part when I rang them. They apparently have universal versions of top end customs that you can try. Thanks for your good wishes.

Just to add my experience to this list.

I've only picked up my tips today from Boots High Street Kensington. So far, I'm quite impressed with ACS but not really with Boos/David Ormerod. The impressions themselves were done quite easily a month ago. The guy though didn't really seem very clued up on the product, took him 3 goes to get the name of my earphone right (Westone UM2) and even then I wrote it for him just to be sure. He then told me the sleeves "only come in clear" which I know they don't (though I wasn't fussed as I have clear UM2).

Picked up the sleeves today. Such a struggle putting them on. But the audiologist just started forcing them. I was panicking and actually had to ask him to be careful with the stems. The sleeves are now on, but they don't look "right". Checking the paperwork that ACS were supplied (which I don't think I was supposed to take with me), he's written "Westone 2", so now I'm a little concerned that the sleeves have been made to fit the new Westone 2 model. (will ring ACS tomorrow to check).

Absolutely no help in fitting, just said to me "see how they feel". I confess I'm a little surprised how difficult they were to put on and especially to take out!

The left one feels superb. Very, very comfortable, great isolation. The right one...hmmmm...bit sore to be honest. The top part of the sleeve is really pressing on the "heel" of my ear and it's achy. I'm prepared to give it a while to see if it settles down, but I also get the sense that the pressure is pushing the sleeve tip in a direction that's not optimal as it feels much more loose than the left one.

So far I'm fairly pleased with the sleeves. If the right one settles down to be like the left, happy days. I'm just not sure I'll go back to Boots/David Ormerod to get them redone as they haven't given me a huge amount of confidence.

If they don't feel right get them redone. You should know pretty much straight away if they are right or not. I've got a pair for my UM3x (same body shape as UM2) and they are a superb fit ... they couldn't be more comfortable and secure.

They had to be redone the first time as the right side was way fatter than the left side and was pretty uncomfortable. Turns out the audiologist did a bad job of the impressions (I think she got them mixed up with someone elses as she delayed sending them off to ACS for a couple of weeks) and when I went to get some new impressions done elsewhere the results were much better.

I also got a pair of sleeves made for my IE8s, using the good set of impressions, but it took ACS 3 attempts to get them right. They're still not as comfortable as the UM3x sleeves but I think that's got something to do with the fact that I just find the UM3x a much more comfortable earphone anyway. They sit snugly inside my concha where as the IE8s are placed a bit further out of the ear and less flush. Still not a bad fit though, and much more secure than the stock tips.

As far as ACS go, I found their service excellent, but they don't always get it right first time. Once they do get it right it's a superb investment and well worth the hassle.

I would contact ACS. Tell them you are not happy with Boots and ask if you can deal with ACS direct. They sent their rep to my house to take new impressions for me.

Well, I have to say I am delighted with ACS customer service.

Following on from the post above I sent my moulds back to ACS. They took a look at them and couldn't see what the issue was by looking at pictures so asked me to send my IEMs in. Unfortunately I was away from home at the time so didn't do until I got back last week (in between times they had emailed to ask if I'd sent them as they were concerned they may have got lost in the post). Got confirmation they'd arrived (in case i was worried) and then a follow up to say that they'd identified the issue and were making some new mould and returning the monitors to me.

Got them this morning and delighted with the outcome. Solved the issue of them sliding off the shells and also the comfort issue with the right ear.

Great outcome, but really excellent customer service from ACS.

Nice one

What IEM's are your customs for - any pics at all?

I took the plunge and book an appointment for the audiologist for today - I confirmed with ACS that I didn't need a voucher, and confirmed with Boots what my appointment was for. At the appointment, the audiologist didn't have any idea how to deal with the request, and at one point wanted to charge me £86 PER EAR!

We made another appointment, and I will buy a voucher from AdvanceMP3 or HifiHeadphones for £90, as he understood about the code on the voucher system!!

As I have also discovered today that the Shure triple flanges give me the fit I need for my W2's, not sure to take this as a sign, or to persevere........