Can't get seal with Etymotic HF5 - Page 2

Quote:

Originally Posted by dweaver 

Use the video and "libricatr the tri-flange tip before inserting. At the risk of being gross I find if lick my finger and roll the tip between my fingers the little bit of saliva helps the insertion immensely.

 

Alternate tips are the Shure Olives or tale a look at the main in praise thread for my posts on some tips from the Earplug store.

Nothing gross about that -- standard operating procedure for me .   One more point about the Comply tips, both the T100's and Tx100's really bring out the LF on my HF5's with some minor loss of detail (but certainly at an acceptable level for me).  All Ety's are sensitive to earwax, and require filter replacement.  I think the Tx100's are a good choice for people who want both deeper bass, much better comfort (especially for long listening sessions, long trips, etc.), plus enhanced protection of the filters.  Sure, they are easily replaceable -- but what a PITA if you are traveling and didn't bring filters and the tool.

Just about every company agrees that moisterizing your tips before insertion does help...  However, they suggest water.  If you've got strep throat then you're kinda' screwed when that gets in your ear :p  So make sure you aren't sick.

The T-100 creates a notable treble loss for me, I feel if I'm using it, I'm not utilizing the hf5's true potential.

I got the ACS custom earmolds for my HF5's, and they isolate really well. (duh.) Check http://www.acscustom.com/ for more information. Did set me back about €150, though... That's a lot of money.

As a general note on the HF5's: out of the box I was not too impressed with these IEM's. Soundstage seemed rather narrow, bass was lacking. I have now let them burn in for about 100 hours, and that improved the sound a lot. Instruments are now much more separable and around me, instead of all right in front of me. I might even start using them on the road again. (I was now mainly using my Fischer FA-004's. Wonderful headphones for a really great price.)

Quote:

Originally Posted by PomPWNius 

It is confusing me.

You are getting a good seal if the IEM 'pop' when you remove it. What you are not getting enough is isolation. Ety has the best isolation of all universal IEM (and probably beat out most custom as well), but it will never be dead silence. The only way to get dead silence is to drop dead, so to speak. Other than that, everything is relative. If you have the TV on 90dB, cutting off 30dB will still leave you with 60dB, which is around the same level as a normal face-to-face conversation.

For those who are the first time user of tri-flanges, a tiny bit of baby oil works wonder.

Many people don't believe in burn-in even with dynamic based IEM's and more so with BA based IEM's. I have noticed minor changes with BA based IEM's but nothing major like what I have seen with some dynamic based models. But as I stated earlier it can't hurt to try it, so I'm glad your enjoying your HF5 more.

One other form of burn-in I also believe in is brain burn-in. This is the process of your brain getting used to a certain signature. When this happens we start to appreciate the signature more and can sometimes think this is because the IEM is changing instead of us. In both cases the good news is we enjoy our gear more :-).

Quote:

Originally Posted by dweaver 

Many people don't believe in burn-in even with dynamic based IEM's and more so with BA based IEM's. I have noticed minor changes with BA based IEM's but nothing major like what I have seen with some dynamic based models. But as I stated earlier it can't hurt to try it, so I'm glad your enjoying your HF5 more.

 

One other form of burn-in I also believe in is brain burn-in. This is the process of your brain getting used to a certain signature. When this happens we start to appreciate the signature more and can sometimes think this is because the IEM is changing instead of us. In both cases the good news is we enjoy our gear more :-).

I do believe that this is an instance of brain burn in vs actual burn in knowing how big this change was...  From what I noticed, the only thing that happened to my HF2s was that the mids lost some harshness and the highs settled down. 

Yup, I'm a believer in brain burn-in and the type of tips that one uses affecting the sound signature, but not in any of the playing white noise for 100 hours stuff.

I can't tell why the Etys sound better after a week than they did beforehand, but the important thing is that I perceive them to sound better.  

I agree that they sound anemic and weak and lifeless upon opening.  Not impressive.  But give them a chance, esp now that they are routinely just $100.  I would not return them at that price point; you can afford to wait and see and just keep them lying around.

Quote:

Originally Posted by pufftissue 

Yup, I'm a believer in brain burn-in and the type of tips that one uses affecting the sound signature, but not in any of the playing white noise for 100 hours stuff.

I can't tell why the Etys sound better after a week than they did beforehand, but the important thing is that I perceive them to sound better.  

I agree that they sound anemic and weak and lifeless upon opening.  Not impressive.  But give them a chance, esp now that they are routinely just $100.  I would not return them at that price point; you can afford to wait and see and just keep them lying around.

As from my other thread, compare a brand new pair vs a 100 hr pair.  The difference is huge.  I did it with a new pair that I bought vs my old pair.  After a while the differences disappeared