Are (High-end) Custom IEMs Overrated? - Page 17  

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spyro 

UM3X is 56 ohms and will blow your head off.  It's about sensitivity, not ohms.

No it isn't.  That's a false dilemma.  Sensitivity won't fix your impedance curve.  There's a reason there are two different measurements.

@music_4321.  Gotcha.  Just wanted clarification.  I did send them an email btw.  

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaoDi 

Quote:

Originally Posted by music_4321 Well, in my question "Are custom IEM's overrated?" the more expensive the customs the more likely they'd be overrated, to me at least. So, I think there's a bit of a contradiction in your post.

It's not contradicting at all. Some Customs cost more cause they perform better, I'm perfectly fine with that. I just think that all customs are "Overprice" and needs to be lowered.

Reason custom IEM's are costly is because they are CUSTOM MADE to each individual " not mass produced" with way better drivers and crossover networks, Custom IEM's are like the Ferrari, Porsche " just perfect" in in ear headphones, all the universals are like an American Corvette " nice and fast, but still has it's flaws" I have owned quite a few universal IEM's and none come even close to my JH16's, if you never heard a quality custom IEM you should really stay away from commenting since you really have no idea what they sound like, you want the best, you must pay for the best, and for the people who cry about the price of custom IEM's, do yourself a favor, stop buying all these different universals "waste of money" save up, brown bag it for lunch, and cut back on a few other unnecessary expenditures, like hundreds spend on a tab at the bar for a few months:) , then go get your custom IEM's, it will be the last in ear headphone yo will EVER purchase.

Quote:

Originally Posted by music_4321 

Just came across a post (see below) written 4 days ago. The "Quads" the poster refers to are the 1964 Ears Quads (4 BA drivers). I've mentioned before that it's not uncommon for those not too happy with their customs purchase to either say nothing - probably also due to the fact they may want to sell their custom set on HF - or post once and leave it at that. Quite the opposite with those happy customs owners, who will often post (a lot) more often.

 

The poster says the W4 are "a bit cheaper", but they can be quite a bit cheaper - $150-$175 cheaper, in fact, from an authorised dealer - if one looks around.

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by vinnievidi 

I sold my Quads and replaced them with Westone 4.  In my humble opinion, the W4 are much better overall and a bit cheaper.

 

well, now that I am in the clear, i will say, my monster turbine (standard edition $60) sounded better than my 1964 ears quads

and the brainwavz dba-02 sounded much more detailed and quicker

Hear!

Quote:

Originally Posted by music_4321 

I've mentioned before that it's not uncommon for those not too happy with their customs purchase to either say nothing - probably also due to the fact they may want to sell their custom set on HF - or post once and leave it at that. Quite the opposite with those happy customs owners, who will often post (a lot) more often.

The W4 can be had for USD500 from a Japanese site.

Quote:

Originally Posted by music_4321 

You'd better do your homework: Perhaps start by reading beyond page 2 of this thread. Some of the claims you make are simply wrong and I won't waste my time pointing them out for you. But I have a strong feeling that no matter what I and others may say, you'll be convinced your JH16s are it. So, perhaps better not read the rest of this thread or do your homework.

 

Enjoy your 'Ferrari'.

 

in a way, customs are mass produced, the first part is molding the shells to the impression sent (this is custom)

then it is mounted with circuitry, armatures and what not (this process is also a custom process, but the schematics for the design are created outside in a mass production method and then mounted inside the shell. other than the custom shell, universals and customs are the same

^Time is money.

Quote:

Originally Posted by shotgunshane 



Wow, what happened, if you don't mind telling? I read you had fit problems but I don't keep up with the 1964 thread.

gladly, i sent it in for two refits at first, the fit was still off since hippity hoppity-ing or jogging kept breaking the seal, then i finally decided to get a new impression, and ordered the soft tip canal option. here were the faults with the customs, the soundstage was really in my head, causing the sensation that sounds were being forced in and in general, too claustrophobic. instruments meant to be left or right frequently ended up behind me. treble was recessed and the phones were overly warm. the main issue was the recessed treble and soundstage. as a result of the bass hump and overly bass heavy nature, the monster turbines were in general much more detailed (more treble while at the same time, nearly just as much bass, less subbass but thats about it) In the end, I sold at a great loss to myself. I know this does not apply to all customs, but i think the 1964 ears quads are fatally flawed since vinnievidi seems to voice my same concerns in comparison to universals 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sinue 

^Time is money.

yup, but the process isn't as difficult as one would imagine, after carefully observing my customs, the build isn't as diificult as it is made out to be. now a disclaimer, i have never made any custom nor will i in the near future, but if somebody gave me the equipment, uv light gun, molding material and the materials along with schematics for the internals, I could pull it off ( I do realize this is a bold statement, but customs aren't complex marvels of engineering , the internals are practically the same as universals (at least in my case, 1964 quads where the sound signature and in general was far from impressing to my ears) 

There is actually quite a bit of an art and craft to placing and aligning the drivers then shaping each of the bores to each custom shell.  Also in shaping the shells since they are finished by hand.  When it's not pretty much perfect you can hear it.  It sounds like you can't appreciate that because they really messed yours up by the sound of it.  I've heard similar stories like your case and they are coincidentally related to build quality among other things.  You can spend $250,000 on a Ferrari but that doesn't mean it won't catch fire 5 miles after your initial drive.  These things happen.  There are no guarantees.

Some customs do use parts not found in universals as has been said before.  So it's not cut and dry.   

think about it - why would any custom product in a niche market be called 'overrated'?

if people won't pay, then it's overrated. if there is a market for them at a given price, that's where they are rated. that's the only rational metric you need so as to answer the question.

all the other factors - your ears, whether you're trained as a listener or not, your history of IEMs, your history of headphones, your commute and workplace and home, your source quality, your choice of music etc, are irrelevant. of course they might factor into every individual buyer decision - but they have nothing to do with how a product is rated.

overrated - do a quick search here or anywhere for the hype cycle research gartner has done. underrated - another word for fotm. since the individual most likely does not buy everything that comes to market, but only a few products at a few points in time, that individual track is meaningless for product rating. you may have buyer's remorse, or you may have gotten a good price used - irrelevant to a general statement about the product as such.

i can postively say the 1964 ears quads were overrated, when i first read about them, several members in the appreciation thread were describing them like they were a cut above universals (bashing those who claimed they were "overrated", or doubting there actual performance and flat out ignoring those who had a different opinion, even worse were their chums who had never heard the phones and were bashing those who did, i can happily say several of those members were promptly blocked)

Quote:

Originally Posted by buffalowings 

in a way, customs are mass produced, the first part is molding the shells to the impression sent (this is custom)

then it is mounted with circuitry, armatures and what not (this process is also a custom process, but the schematics for the design are created outside in a mass production method and then mounted inside the shell. other than the custom shell, universals and customs are the same

 

You have the option to have the drivers tuned to a deficiency in your hearing or other reason and the positioning of the drivers are customized to your ear canal dimensions. Also, custom IEM's are able to use more and improved drivers which isn't always the deciding factor in overall SQ but it sure does help.