The simplest yet most amazing tip for IE8 owners (updated)(slow for 56k) - Page 3

I think you're misunderstanding my post, which could be taken in a couple ways I guess. I never said I dislike soundstage, but in music I feel it takes a backseat to a few things. I never said it was not important, or even a possibly good thing, however - I do feel soundstage is more important in other things such as video games and movies where precise location is very important. Surround sound isn't going to work very well if everything is misplaced. It would completely destroy the whole purpose of surround sound if the soundstage was tiny or wrong. In video games, soundstage is important to pinpoint someones location and/or tell their distance away from you.

Now, is soundstage in music good? That's a matter of personal preference. Some people love the in your face sound and small soundstage (or so I've read) of the lower end Grado's and other similar cans. Some people love the larger soundstage of Sennheiser's and other brands.

I personally think soundstage in a music is a good thing, but I think sometimes people make too much a big deal out of it when I feel it should be on the bottom of the list. I would agree most people or at least a fair amount don't like "in your head" sound and a soundstage even if it's smaller is good - but it's certainly not the end all some people seem to make it out to be on here and think omg it has the best soundstage therefore it must be the best ever!

Wow, thanks for the tip tip! I am vacationing in Lake Tahoe, and my IE8 tips are at home, who knew I could use them?

I will have to try this in a week. I have large ear canals, so hopefully this will work for me.

Please keep the impressions of the tips coming.

I tried the tip suggestion, and while it does enhance the soundstage it dulled the treble and pretty much everything else for me. I think once you hit a decent level, soundstage isn't that important. I find no problems with the W3 soundstage, and yes the IE8's is bigger but like I said, no complaints about the size on the W3 which imo is pretty good for an IEM itself. I don't even have a problem with the CX400's or NE-7M's which have considerably smaller ones. If there's good clarity etc, I just don't care about how big the soundstage is or isn't.

Too big of a soundstage takes away from the intimacy and engagement you get with the music, at least for me. Personal preference.

I'd like to share my favorite tips; i also posted that in the offical IE8 but that treat's size got seriously out of hand, so I thought I repeat it here, might help someone.
Anyway, this what I wrote:

Hi, as it seems we are all in a quest to find the ultimate tips, I like to contribute my findings.
Right now I use the large silicon tips meant for the Shure E2.
Not for everyone, many people find them to hard, but they soften up with time and give far better isolation then soft tips, they also suffer less from microphonics, and I for one get a good seal with them.

I tried them when first got my IE8s but found that, while isolation and comfort were OK, they did not permit optimum placement, making the IE8's stick out too far from the ear canal. So it didn't sound right.

Now that my burn in process is well advanced I might try all these options again.

No seal for me with the backward double flange.

The tips I use are the medium shure E2C black softflex tips. I get a great seal every time; something I couldn't do with stock tips.

Of course it dpends on your ears (perhaps the medium sleeves for you?) but with some careful applied force I could get the sleeves further on the stem, and now the phones body just touches my ears. Seal is very good, sound seem to get slightly brighter; not unwelcome since I combine the IE8s with the new Sony X, that more or less share the same qualities; friendly smooth treble and generous bass.

Ha I don't what it is about that picture it just makes me laugh looking at it.