MikePortnoy's Custom Monitor List - CanalWorks L71PSTS added (Full Reviews, Scores and Signature Descriptions)

MikePortnoy · Mar 28, 2023

Progressive Custom In Ear Monitor List

The list consists of several custom in ear monitors that I have tested during my journey. Hope you all find it informative. Please click the name of the monitors in the list for the full reviews.

New units will be added to the list, once they are confirmed and tested. Noble Audio Katana C review and Noble Audio Savanna S score&review will be added soon.

		Low	Mid	High	Tone	Stage Image	Speed	Instru. Separa.	Resolut.	Transp.	Comfort	Shell	Overall Score	Signature
1	UM Maestro v2	85	90	90	90	85	90	90	80	80	85	Acrylic 12 BA	89,0	Natural, Reference
2	CanalWorks Japan ($1700)	85	90	90	85	85	90	85	85	80	90	Acrylic 8 BA	86,5	Natural, Fast, Spacious, Tuning system
3	Spiral Ear SE5 Ref Poland ($1400)	85	90	80	90	80	85	80	90	85	85	Silicone 5 BA	86,0	Organic, Resolved, Mid-centric
4	Empire Ears Zeus USA ($2099)	80	90	85	80	85	80	90	85	90	85	Acrylic 14 BA	85,0	Resolved, Transparent, Mid-centric
5	Westone ES60 USA ($1300)	80	85	80	80	85	85	90	85	85	95	Acrylic 6 BA	83,5	Resolved, Transparent
6	Noble Audio Katana C USA [size=inherit]($1850)[/size]	85	85	85	80	85	80	85	85	85	85	Acrylic 9 BA	(preview) 83,0	Resolved, Reference, Warm
7	AAW W500 Morph [size=inherit]Singapore ($1100)[/size]	80	80	80	80	80	75	80	80	80	85	Acrylic 1DD+4BA	80,0	Warm, Dynamic
8	ACS Encore [size=inherit]UK ($1100)[/size]	85	80	80	80	80	85	85	75	75	80	Silicone 5 BA	79,0	Warm, Organic
9	HUM Pristine [size=inherit]Hong Kong ($1300)[/size]	75	80	80	85	75	80	75	80	85	80	Acrylic 2 BA	78,5	Natural, Dynamic
10	Custom Art Harmony 8.2 [size=inherit]Poland ($1200)[/size]	80	85	75	80	80	80	75	80	75	85	Silicone 8 BA	(preview) 77,5	Organic, Warm, mid-centric
11	Lear LCM-BD4.2 [size=inherit]Hong Kong ($1300)[/size]	80	80	75	75	85	70	75	80	85	85	Acrylic 2DD+4BA	77,0	Spacious, V-shape
12	Rhapsodio Solar [size=inherit]Hong Kong ($1550)[/size]	80	75	80	80	75	80	80	75	70	90	Acrylic 10 BA	77,0	Dynamic, Warm
13	M-Fidelity SA-43 [size=inherit]Norway ($950)[/size]	75	75	75	90	80	85	80	70	85	85	Acrylic filled with silicone 4 BA	75,5	Spacious, Realistic
14	Perfect Seal AR6 [size=inherit]USA ($1150)[/size]	80	70	70	75	80	75	75	75	80	70	Silicone 6 BA	74,0	Spacious, Warm
15	Jomo Audio 6R [size=inherit]Singapore[/size] ($1030)	70	80	75	75	70	75	75	80	90	85	Acrylic 6 BA	73,5	Bright, Airy, Resolved
16	Empire Ears Apollo USA ($1599)	75	75	75	80	75	80	75	70	70	85	Acrylic 10 BA	71,5	Natural, Smooth

Kerouac · Feb 24, 2016 at 10:40 AM

Some nice list with very interesting totl iem comparison scores => thanks for sharing!
Looking forward how the AR6 will hold up to those ''giants'' later on

flinkenick · Feb 24, 2016 at 11:05 AM

Nice job buddy, looking forward to your impressions.

Surprised to see differences between Apollo and Zeus in build & comfort, weren't they made from the same impressions on file? Mine are exactly the same I think.

MikePortnoy · Feb 24, 2016 at 11:18 AM

kerouac said:
Some nice list with very interesting totl iem comparison scores => thanks for sharing!
Looking forward how the AR6 will hold up to those ''giants'' later on

flinkenick said:
Nice job buddy, looking forward to your impressions.

Surprised to see differences between Apollo and Zeus in build & comfort, weren't they made from the same impressions on file? Mine are exactly the same I think.

Thank you my friends.

@flinkenick My Apollo and Legend, they were exactly the same. However Zeus has slightly bigger shell and different shape of upper concha. Less comfortable than Apollo, buddy.

AmberOzL · Feb 26, 2016 at 6:37 PM

Gotta make the list bigger. I don't mean in size but I am sure you will add other monitors in time

MikePortnoy · Feb 29, 2016 at 4:20 AM

amberozl said:
Gotta make the list bigger. I don't mean in size but I am sure you will add other monitors in time

More to come buddy

flinkenick · Feb 29, 2016 at 5:14 AM

How about AR6 buddy, are you waiting to place the review first?

MikePortnoy · Feb 29, 2016 at 6:10 AM

flinkenick said:
How about AR6 buddy, are you waiting to place the review first?

Both score and review of AR6 will be done soon, bud

I may add the score first.

Kerouac · Feb 29, 2016 at 8:31 AM

mikeportnoy said:
Both score and review of AR6 will be done soon, bud I may add the score first.

Very curious about your AR6 thoughts and scores (while waiting for my own in the meantime)

MikePortnoy · Feb 29, 2016 at 9:44 AM

kerouac said:
Very curious about your AR6 thoughts and scores (while waiting for my own in the meantime)

Mike should be fast in making..

MikePortnoy · Mar 15, 2016 at 8:57 AM

Empire Ears Zeus is added to the list and its full review is posted.

eddyheadphone · Mar 15, 2016 at 5:42 PM

So far SA-43 seems to have the best value. Can't wait to see how AR6 performs.

ChrisSC · Mar 15, 2016 at 11:46 PM

@MikePortnoy:

Thanks for the list- this is awesome! Any thoughts where the ref 1 ranks among the greats? I really love it and find it utterly unique but have only been able to compare it to Westone ES5s which I used to own.

dip registered · Mar 16, 2016 at 1:50 AM

Gunna add the new ultimate ears reference remastered in there at any point? Great list!!

MikePortnoy · Mar 16, 2016 at 5:23 AM

eddyheadphone said:
So far SA-43 seems to have the best value. Can't wait to see how AR6 performs.

SA-43 performs very good for its price. I call it ''baby'' SE5.

chrissc said:
@MikePortnoy:

Thanks for the list- this is awesome! Any thoughts where the ref 1 ranks among the greats? I really love it and find it utterly unique but have only been able to compare it to Westone ES5s which I used to own.

Thank you mate. Honestly, I wouldn't rank Ref1 with UBER in the same class with SE5 or Zeus. It may have decent scores. However, it doesn't mean that Ref1 is a bad monitor, it is smooth sounding unit. Also, I haven't heard ES5, but from what I read, I think it sounds ahead of its time.

benholmes said:
Gunna add the new ultimate ears reference remastered in there at any point? Great list!!

Thank you mate. UERR is not currently in my upcoming review list, but I will try to add it.

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