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Worth it to get cheap customs?

post #1 of 20
2/14/10 at 12:45am
Thread Starter 
I have wanted to get a good portable setup for a while but do not have a large use for it. I just found out Im going to africa again that includes a 16 hour flight :O, and want something good for that.
The custom IEM look very attractive to me but the price is not so attractive.

I see some cheap ones are around $250 and I suppose I could spend that. But would I be better off spending that much on universal IEM?

I listen to Hard Rock, Classic Rock, ska and some Post-Rock. I have a Zune HD and a broken 5.5th gen Ipod that I plan to fix and fit with a larger Hdd. Only high quality Mp3 and flac. I would be willing to get an amp also.

Thanks!
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Gear mentioned in this thread:

Zune HD 16 GB Video MP3 Player (Black)
Zune HD 32 GB Video MP3 Player (Platinum)
Zune HD 64 GB Video MP3 Player (Black)
post #2 of 20
2/14/10 at 1:00am
I'm not so sure the lower level customs are worth it anymore. In the past I was thinking about getting them now there are companies that reshell most universals. It's over 250 however for the most part but if you are willing to buy an amp would you considering buying a high end universal and then having them reshelled into a custom iem instead of a lower end custom plus an amp?
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post #3 of 20
2/14/10 at 1:00am
Well I think you can basically answer this question for yourself.

The more you pay for the customs, the better your music will sound; however you might not get *500* dollars of SQ improvement out of your music but the more expensive pair will definitely sound better.
IMO if you are going to use them a lot after and before the flight I would just go ahead and get the higher end models if I had the extra money laying around. You can always get them remolded later in the future.....
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post #4 of 20
2/14/10 at 1:02am
My answer is no. You will get some problem to sell it later. Low level custom is lacking of reselling value.
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post #5 of 20
2/14/10 at 1:07am
Thread Starter 
I did not know that you could remold them. What about buying used and having that done? How much does that generally cost?
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post #6 of 20
2/14/10 at 1:13am
That depends on where you get it done. There are two main places that I know of that many people here have gotten it done.

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f103/u...thread-443197/

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f103/i...earing-454174/
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post #7 of 20
2/14/10 at 1:14am
I think lower end customs are worth it. Just because they're low end customs, doesn't mean low end in absolute terms. It's not just SQ, but isolation, build quality, and comfort.
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post #8 of 20
2/14/10 at 1:19am
I would suggest buying some TF10's, as they are pretty cheap right now, and have them remolded into customs.
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post #9 of 20
2/14/10 at 1:26am
I have no clue on the subject but what is the total cost beside the IEM and the custom mold? Say a cheap IEM like RE0 which is $80 plus Fisher hearing mold which is another $80. What are the other costs?
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post #10 of 20
2/14/10 at 1:29am
Well I think the RE0 is a single driver IEM which some people might suggest not having molded into customs. Most people usually have dual or triple drivers remolded. Correct me if I am wrong...
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post #11 of 20
2/14/10 at 1:32am
Quote:
Originally Posted by NumLock View Post
What are the other costs?
Audiologist appointment, cost of impressions, cost of paying for shipping and possibly having to get impressions done again if there's a problem (though that can sometimes be done for free, depending on the circumstance and with whom you're working).

I wouldn't get customs at that price. You can get better sounding, and possibly better isolating universal iems. If you spend the money there, you can always turn them into customs later if you want.
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post #12 of 20
2/14/10 at 1:35am
Thread Starter 
I think any way I do it to do it right its gunna be way more then I want to spend. What do you suggest for my music tastes for under $300 less is better.
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post #13 of 20
2/14/10 at 1:44am
A lot of people have fitment issues with the triple.fi's. I think they are WONDERFUL for the price. If you can bypass fitment issues with custom molds, it sounds like a winner to me.
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post #14 of 20
2/14/10 at 1:56am
I also suggest you get good universal IEMs and get them reshelled, and skip the amp for now.

I have a TF10 reshelled by Fisher that I love. Sounds great straight out of an iPod too.
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post #15 of 20
2/14/10 at 1:58am
Thread Starter 
Well im looking at SuperFi 5 Pro's from a head-fier, would that be a good candidate for a reshell?
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Gear mentioned in this thread:

Zune HD 16 GB Video MP3 Player (Black)
Zune HD 32 GB Video MP3 Player (Platinum)
Zune HD 64 GB Video MP3 Player (Black)
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