ljokerl said:

 
Yes, it is also my preferred way of wearing them as indicated by the boldface in the original review:
 

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pakoboy said:

 
one last question, how much to the astrotec sticks out the ear when you wear them (over the ear), because in this picture: http://chinamall.c.yimg.jp/img03.taobaocdn.com/imgextra/i3/24086955/T2Cr5oXgtaXXXXXXXX_!!24086955.jpg
 
they stick out A LOT!!

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jekostas said:

 
The model in the picture is a tiny Asian woman with tiny ears.  Not representative.
 
Unless you are in fact a >5 foot tall Asian woman, at which point you may have a problem.

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selferinoz said:

The largest that i have is currently the Beta's(v2), the housing size is ok, wearing it straight down with no problems, is the DDM gonna be bigger than it or its the same/almost as the size of my beta's?

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orel said:

So GR06 is the more balanced earphone? I'm looking for a balanced sound, I just don't want the bass overpowering, since I don't really need it
I currently have the Q350 so I'm looking for an upgrade. So you would say the VSonic GR06 is the better choice, also for my genres of choice?
Edit: Would you suggest me an other earphone altogether?

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gryphus0204 said:

Joker, what do you think of the stock styrofoam eartips of the GR06? I find that it increase bass by a significant amount but i think the accuracy and and instrument seperation is lost there. Is this just my speculation? Correct me if I'm wrong please. And if so is there a foam tip that increases both bass and clarity? Comply foams maybe? Or monster gel foam? Or olive shures?

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mondrin said:

I'm so very glad I found this forum and this wonderful set of reviews.  Hat's off to those taking the time to gather such great information.  Question for you all, do many of you buy several IEM's, testing them and return the ones you don't like?  I've done this long ago (long long ago) and am back in need of new headphones and hoping to move into the IEM world from my earbuds.  My wife has the Klipsch S4's and I do not find them to my liking.  mid bass and low mid's seem muddy and the treble is harsh.  I still prefer my old and dying sony mdr-e848 earbuds.  Sure they have no isolation and lack a lot of clarity, but I do like the overall balance of sound.  I've read through the reviews several times on this site (which rocks) and beleive I have no chance of just magically picking the right set the first time.  I'm not even sure what category I prefer but do know I must stay below $100.
 
Are there any good sites that allow returns of IEM's?

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pakoboy said:

 
one last question, how much to the astrotec sticks out the ear when you wear them (over the ear), because in this picture: http://chinamall.c.yimg.jp/img03.taobaocdn.com/imgextra/i3/24086955/T2Cr5oXgtaXXXXXXXX_!!24086955.jpg
 
they stick out A LOT!!

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amitl said:

There's something weird about the Xears online store...
no matter which product i chose, when i put in the coupon
that Joker gracefully shared with us here, the phone will now
cost 30 euros. is this a bug??

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extra said:

Hey Joker, I see that in your MEElectronics M6 review that the memory wire can be removed "with a bit of knife work." Could you explain to me how you removed your, the memory wire is really annoying and doesn't conform to my ears well.

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pakoboy said:

where did you buy it? can you give the link
 
and can the astrotec be worn over the ear??

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ljokerl said:

(1B7) Alclair Reference


Reviewed May 2012

Details: Triple-driver acrylic custom from MN-based Alclair
Current Price $499 from alclair.com
Specs: Driver: Triple BA | Imp: 27Ω | Sens: 105 dB | Freq: N/A | Cable: 4.2' L-plug
Nozzle Size: N/A | Preferred tips: N/A
Wear Style: Over-the-ear

Accessories (3.5/5) – Cleaning tool, cleaning cloth, and hard-shelled clamshell carrying case
Build Quality (5/5) – The reference is a two-way, triple-driver monitor with dual low drivers – a setup similar to the 1964EARS 1964-T and several universal-fit monitors. The molding quality is very good, with clean shells and very clear faceplates. The excellent finish around the nozzles and cable connectors sets the Reference apart from my 1964EARS and Kozee customs. The cable uses a recessed Westone-style connector.
Isolation (4.5/5) – The isolation provided by the fitted acrylic shells is excellent -slightly below what the higher-end Etymotic Research universal-fit earphones are capable of with foam or tri-flange tips but higher than that of the ergonomic monitors from Westone and EarSonics
Microphonics (5/5) - Pretty much nonexistent as with all of the custom monitors I’ve tried
Comfort (5/5) – The nozzles of my Reference were cut to a medium length – a bit longer than those of my Kozees and 1964s but nowhere near my Spiral Ear 3-way. As with all customs, putting them in will require a bit of getting used to for first-time users but the twisting motion eventually becomes second nature. The acrylic shells are hard but not in the least uncomfortable when fitted correctly. If the earphones remain uncomfortable after an initial break-in period, a refit is probably a good idea. There is added cost with shipping the monitors back and, if necessary, getting new impressions but on the whole a perfect fit is well worth the trouble

Sound (9.6/10) – The Alclair Reference utilizes a two-way, triple-BA setup with dual low drivers, much like that of the 1964EARS 1964-T. Its signature, however, is very different from the mid-focused sound of the 1964s. The Alclair pursues a more balanced response with some treble emphasis and a more laid-back presentation. At the same time the dual woofers give the sound a warm tone and fullness, making the Alclair Reference one earphone that can easily be enjoyed for casual listening as well as professional use.

The bass of the earphones is detailed and controlled, with good note thickness and minimal bleed. The low end is accurate, but impactful. It is crisper and more punchy than that of the Earsonics SM3 and similar in power but better-textured compared to a black-filtered Phonak PFE 232. Bass depth is also good - better than with the CTM-200 and 1964-T but not quite up there with the pricier UM Miracle, Spiral Ear 3-way, and AKG K3003. The Alclair Reference doesn’t produce a lot of sub-bass rumble but it sounds very clean and resolving across the range, as a good monitor should. It beats out the K3003 in clarity and control and produces a fuller, more realistic sound than the leaner CTM-200 – a good balance in my book.

The midrange of the Reference is balanced very well with the bass, making the Phonak PFE 232 sound slightly mid-recessed in comparison. It is warmed up a little by the bass and very well-detailed. Detail levels are higher than with the AKG K3003 and Spiral Ear 3-way and lag just behind the UM Miracle. The note presentation is on the analytical side but not overly so – the Reference is noticeably thicker-sounding than the CTM-200 as well as TWFK-based monitors such as the Fischer Audio DBA-02. The result is clarity worthy of a reference product without a drop in note weight and overall realism.

Things start to get a little complicated moving up from the midrange – the upper mids and lower treble of the Reference seem to be somewhat emphasized, likely tuned that way to give a boost to vocal clarity. There is a bit of treble unevenness, causing the Reference to sound a touch ‘hot’ with some tracks in a manner reminiscent of the VSonic GR07 and the Phonak PFE 232. The treble peaks of the PFE 232 come in a little higher up but are also slightly stronger, making the Reference less fatiguing for long-term listening, but I wouldn’t recommend either to those who generally prefer smooth and laid-back highs. On the upside, there is plenty of energy at the top, which can’t be said for the pricier Spiral Ear 3-way. Treble extension is good as well – not quite on-par with the Miracle or AKG K3003 but superior to the CTM-200 and vastly better than the 1964-T.

Presentation is a strong suit of the Reference – the soundstage is nice and spacious, with width similar to that of the CTM-200 but better depth and layering. It doesn’t have the best on-center feel – the AKG K3003 and Earsonics SM3 both do better when it comes to portraying elements that are up close but neither can match the sheer size of the Alclair’s soundstage. Instrument separation is also excellent and the Reference has good dynamics for a BA-based earphone. Overall coherence is also impressive, making obvious the slightly mismatched BA-dynamic sound of the AKG K3003 and the overly-mid-centric tuning of the 1964-T’s crossover.

Value (9/10) – Starting at $499, the Alclair Reference is a mid-level custom monitor that combines a versatile sound signature with the usual isolation, fit, and customization options of a full-shell custom monitor. The finish is nothing short of excellent and the standard recessed cable sockets make me less apprehensive of long-term cable durability, though some aftermarket cables may be more difficult to fit. More importantly, the sound signature of the Reference should make it the best crowd pleaser among all of the mid-level customs I’ve heard - the triple-BA setup produces a slightly warm, spacious, and energetic sound, an excellent compromise between accuracy and musicality and a potential upgrade to some very popular universals such as the VSonic GR07.

Pros: Great build quality; comfort of a custom monitor; slightly warm sound with good clarity, detail, and space; excellent bass & midrange quality
Cons: Treble may be hot for some

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anaxilus said:

Nice Joker, that looks like a serious price/performance winner and potential giant slayer.  
 
Does it have that absolute crystal like clarity of the DBA mk1?  Which is smoother or less hot in the troubled treble areas?

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putente said:

Great review, ljokerl! These look very promising... 

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luc shrine said:

hi joker. i've ever asked you what is the downgrade of tandem, and your answer is xcape.
now i have bought xcape and you are right xcape sounds similar enough with tandem eventhough from my memory, tandem sounds smoother than xcape. i was really impressed. thanks joker

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niyologist said:

The Alclair Reference sounds like a big step up from the FXT90, but with heavier treble and an analytical midrange.

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