Let me start saying that none of the stock tips give me a seal. Luckily I had some T-400s on hand that work great. I don't have anything against the T-400s other than squeezing them every time (not bad, and I found out I can get a decent seal without squeezing them), the short lifespan (although per dfkt's suggestion in the PFE thread, they can be cleaned in hydrogen peroxide), and their cost. They give a great seal and are very comfortable, not to mention the only tip I have that works for me.

I did contact Sennheiser to see if they are aware of the issue with fit, and if there was anything they could do to help me. It resulted in them telling me I should get custom molds, tooling costs for new tips, etc. Not an ideal answer in my opinion.

So, I tried all my silicon tips, and none gave me a good seal, they all sit too far down on the nozzle. OK, how about the LL Sony tips for $40 ($14.95 each plus tax and shipping). So I ordered a pair. Sony sends me 1 (the other one is back-ordered). The IE8 nozzle is much bigger than the Sony tip hole. It does stretch on, but to me seems to somewhat lower the treble quantity, but hard to tell with 1 tip.

OK, now what? Am I going to use T-400s from now on? I like just being able to shove a silicon tip in, especially when I have a lot of interruptions. I decided to customize my included large silicon tips. I actually have better silicon tips on my NE-7 (these here), but wanted to try with the included tips.

So, here is what I did:
- Took a used T-400 and cut the foam off the center piece with an x-acto
- Cleaned as much of the remaining foam off with IPA and a q-tip
- Inverted the silicon tip
- Put the T-400 core in the silicon tip, with some of the core sticking out of the bottom (I actually did this twice, as the first time they stuck out too much)
- I made sure they both lined up and tried to get them where I thought they would give me a seal
- Applied super glue at the joint and waited for it to completely dry (I used epoxy first, as I didn't have superglue available. The epoxy didn't work.)
- Colored the exposed core with a sharpie and let the ink dry
- Stuck them on the IE8

OK, I got a seal, yeah! They sounded good, and wow, hello treble (reminded me of the PFE with the black filters for quantity). Note: The IE8 does not lack treble quantity, extension, or quality with the T-400, the quantity is just increased with the silicon.

But where did the isolation of the T-400s go?

So I cut the foam from the dissected tips in half and put it inside the silicon tip. Now the isolation is back to about where it was, I don't have to compress the tips, and there is more treble (better overall balance in my opinion). Now I just have to see if they are as comfortable as the T-400s. I am thinking of doing this with the double flange also, just to see what results I can get.

Nice mod these Average_joe.

Edit: If I can't get a decent fit, I'll buy some T400's and see if this works.

well done those are very detailed pictures and will make it alot easier for me to emulate the strategy. im also working on some custom tips when i finish them ill post some pics.

I use the large black foam~thinking of buying the comply ones though...

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Looking forward to seeing your mod, the more tips big ear canal freaks like me have the better

I already made a mod to my mod, as my right ear was hurting. I put a sure olive in place of the comply tip, mounded closer to the housing of the IE8. I will have to wait until tomorrow to test the isolation.

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You are lucky some of the stock tips fit! How many hours of burn in do you have on them? Are they sounding better to you?

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I followed the same thing as u. Sadly, its not as airy as i thought it would. The soundstage, not that as wide i expected. The clarity also dropped. But the bass is so much stronger, its actually more detailed. The highs doesn't sound so confusing and rolled-off anymore.

It think with a very good seal, there is more bass. Maybe that caused it to overpower everything. But still, im a hardcore basshead. SO i really love it .

Do note that i love dark sounding IEMs/headphones that i find the highs of both the Denon D5000 and the Audio Technica ESW10 to much till it felt like it pierced my ears and has such weak bass.

Are the standard "Olives" that the IE8 come with good? Could someone write a small comparison of the tips in terms of treble, and bass reproduction.

Great thread, and nice work average_joe. This will probably stimulate even more ideas for mods.

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The Senn "Olives" are pretty good if u prefer airiness, clarity and MAYBE soundstage. If u prefer a bassier, detailed, and decent non "confusing and rolled off" highs, then the Shure Olive mod with the Senn silicon tips are for u.

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But the olives are still pretty good for bass? I guess I will have to try it out myself, and try the Olive mod as well.

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Yup. The senns are already considered bassy enough. But with the olive mod, it has some sort of subwoofer effect.

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Woah, that sounds cool. I can't wait to get my IE8's! Hopefully, this Saturday or next Monday.

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What tips have you been using? The only tips that worked for me before my mod were the T-400s, and this mod with the olives has better treble than the T-400s IMO. I might have to compare comfort and airyness with and without the olives, but with, they still sound very airy to me.

Me thinks the reason they sound the same is the foam (T-400) absorbs treble, and the silicon doesn't, so if foam is used under the silicon, same treble as with just the silicon, but better isolation = more bass. Now, soundstage may be better without the olives due to less isolation, but listening right now, I don't think there is less.

Honestly, the T-400s are more comfortable though, but I think the treble resolution with the modded tips is better. Or maybe I just notice it more because there is more treble energy making it to my eardrums.

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Sadly, my ear canals are too big to know!

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Hopefully it will, and we will have more options.

Wow, great custom tips... Now I know what to do when they come.