Hey all
 
So i made a nice earphone tour today in Singapore. I tried many headphones. JH13, JH16, the whole UE lineup, JH Layla, JH Roxanne, Noble 6, UM Merlin, UM Miracle, UM Legacy, SE846, W60 and an AAW (forgot model name)
There was one particular IEM that blew me away and that was the UM Legacy which is an exclusive to Stereo in Singapore so it is only sold by them worldwide (Why would they do that?). 
The clarity, the instrument separation, the low ends, mids and highs, all perfect to my ears, no strange dips and tops in the frequency spectrum. No harsh highs, well extended, very clear. The lows goes all the way to the bottom with enough bass, not like the SE846 (which is to bassy for me) with awesome punch. The mids are unbelievably clear with excellent instrument separation. It could handle Celine Dion going all in with her voice and still sound crystal clear.
 
Now the thing is, the UM legacy is available in universal and Customs. Would it be stupid to get the Universal? I don't live in Singapore so i would need to figure out a way to get the customs.
I also heard that it is not uncommon that you grow out of your Customs after ~5 years. Should i worry if i want to keep them for a while? I could also reshell them in worse case, right? I think the UM Legacy universal sits quiet OK on me. Not like the W60 and Se846, but still OK.
 
Any thoughts?

The debate between going custom or staying universal IEM is a pretty hot topic that has no real consensus or definite answer.
 
If you go custom, immediate comfort and isolation will markedly improve. Many have also remarked that this may lead to tighter bass and more perceived detail. Long-term comfort is another matter. I have no qualms with wearing my customs for 3-4 hours in a stretch - it is consistently more comfortable than universals. For some though, wearing customs over an extended listening session can lead to some discomfort due to pressure on the inner ear.
 
The downsides of customs are obvious. If you happen to fall out of love with the sound, or find another model that you prefer and wish to upgrade to, you'd obviously try to sell off your current pair of customs. Whilst there is still some resale value to it, the fact that a new owner has to reshell it drops the price significantly.
 
Even if your love of your customs burns eternal, there's no guarantee to what may happen to it - and quite a few things may happen. Drop it accidentally and the shell may crack and you'll have to get it reshelled, which will set you back a further $150 at least. If your physique changes significantly, for example a sudden weight loss/surge, I do know people whom I trust who tell me that your ear profile might change as well. Since the tolerances for custom fit IEMs are very slim, even a slight change can have a major impact on your listening experience in terms of comfort and seal.
 
In essence, it really boils down to your needs and preferences and your philosophy in this hobby.
 
If you're adamant about resisting the upgrad-itis that befalls many of us in this hobby, and hence sure that you will stick to a pair of customs for 1-2 years at least; if you're meticulous enough to not lose or drop your IEMs; if you're in pretty normal health -- going customs should be a no brainer.
 
In the context of your UM Legacy, I'd like to think that for such an expensive and multi-driver IEM, it'd be worth going the custom route since the relative level of comfort you can gain with respect to settling for the universal will be significant.
 
Good luck and hope you make the right decision!

Thanks

I needed that.