REVIEW: ACS custom tips + SENNHEISER IE8 - Page 3

First, I would say they are quite hard to install and remove. But I don't think you want to take it off afterall. Just try not to break
the nozzle now.

Hah. hey I got the null audio and ACS custom tips idea before you. nah. Just
joking. We will have to see how much the cable cost. Cause this semi-custom is getting expensive.

for the colour, try transparent black. Im sure its looking nice.

For my understanding Null Audio cables are silver. They should bring out
the treble and refines the bass. keep the smooth mids please.

Yes. Your concern I can understand. Cause I have you question before I got these. I was a big fan of bi-flanges and used to senns. bi-flange + upsidedown. I had a chance to compare them to W3(with silicon tips) and would say isolation on par/above that. But now I got customs vs senns. bi-flange. which isolation is much improved by customs. I was amazed how much details you still get from a subway ride. I have Shures but I cant recall the isolation.

One reason is the design of customs. If you havent realise,our ear canal opening has many turns and its much more like a oval than circular like the universal tip. When inserted, universal tips are forced into a oval shape which no all area contact the ear cannal surface. Also the tip material and thickness comes into account. Tri/Bi-flanges helps a bit, some case Tri-flange will change the sound much. While customs have all custom made tip surface which contacts with you ear cannal and seals. Also how thick the tip is, it's like a huge foam ear plug.

keep in mind, how comfortable customs are, which tri/bi-flanges eventually will hurt after a few hours. I worn customs 4 hours straight last night and they are as comfortable as first 15mins.

Problems with the IE8 is the fit, which nozzle won't insert deep enough depending on the person's ears. Well. i guess you're talking the tuning port(screw) for bass. I believe it is agruable if that has even a audiable of better isolation. But hey, trust the german engineers they know what they are doing.

But for max isolation, I would say customs are the way to go. Plastic shells of Universal might have slight disadvantage. But the ACS soft silicon does seal excellent. Something like ES3X(soft tip) or ACS customs (&tips) is suggested.

If anyone could send in tips or IEM. I would be happy to do a comparison.
But head-fiers in my area that I know all sold their W3s.

I believe they spend most of them time on R&D the dynamic drivers rather than fit.

Maybe I could give you some examples: back when I was using bi-flanges( I listen to music lowest volume possible for enjoyment), The isolation is great that I could use the lowest volume of 7/20 on zune for subway and home. it is because many of the noise is blocked. When I got these customs, there's a point could use 6/20 but the decrease in volume is just too big. A amp dial would help. I could listen to relatively slient music like acoustics guitar, jazz & classical is much more enjoyable. It won't matter if the beside you in the subway is talking.

It really depends on their workload.

It took them around 10days with both way shipping of 7 days and 3days to make.

But I was told they are more busy these weeks and my "re-make" pair will be ready as early as late next week.

Sunday 5 April 2009: I will be getting a new pair with remade to support Cable-over-ear and I will update the impressions. Also, after few
weeks of usage. I'm glad that the I can say I agrees with the review impressions.

Another thing I discovered that if I don't wedge the customs. There is much more soundstage that way.