Hi team!!

 

I am making the transition to CIEMs mainly because my listening environment 90% requires me to be portable and around people. Looking for some ideas on what brands and models to start looking into

 

Location - New Zealand (Going to be in Europe for 2 months later this year).

Budget - ~$1000 USD without accounting for selling my X2s and Explorer 2 (add maybe 400).

Source - S6 and PC audio (Selling my Explorer 2 for a portable, maybe the HA2).

Requirements for Isolation - Main listening environments are at work and on the move.

Preferred tonal balance - Warm but with a little sparkle in the highs. Something about female vocals . I am a bit of a basshead.

Past headphones - V-Moda M100, Fidelio X2 - Both of which have bass that I love.

Preferred Music - EDM/House > Acoustic/Rock/Pop > classical/orchestral - I listen to everything.

 

Any suggestions CIEM models? My main issue is likely getting CIEMs into NZ. Thought I could get a used pair re-shelled?

Anyone have an opinion on re-shelling vs new? Likely considerably cheap to re-shell depending on the model.

Currently in my forefront:

1. Noble - Would love to re-shell some k10`s
   
2. 64 Audio - Heard good things about.
   
3. Also considering the Vibro Aria?
   
4. Unique melody is based out of AUS which might make things a bit easier. Thoughts?
   

Then the tinkerer in me thinks I could DIY....

Thanks to anyone with any advice.

For work? If yes you might be removing and inserting often ?

For 64 Audio, the A3 and A4 should be within your budget and fit the sound you're looking for. Possibly could consider the A5 as well. There is a thread for their IEMs. I'll to find it for you.

I personally have the A12. The Adel module does wonders for the soundstage. As for the hearing protection benefits of the modules, I have no idea if they actually do protect your hearing. I just know that with universal IEMs, I had ear fatigue and soreness after a couple hours of listening, and I don't with the A12. I don't know if it's because they're custom, the modules, or a combination of both.

jmills8 said:

For work? If yes you might be removing and inserting often ?

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Yes but regardless of what type of headphone I have I will be removing them. I tend not to listen to music at work if I know I am going to be talked to a lot. My understanding is that CIEMs are easily removable once you get the hang of it?
 

Originally Posted by kaye23 /img/forum/go_quote.gif

For 64 Audio, the A3 and A4 should be within your budget and fit the sound you're looking for. Possibly could consider the A5 as well. There is a thread for their IEMs. I'll to find it for you.

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I am thinking either the A6 or A8 (little outside my range).

I personally have the A12. The Adel module does wonders for the soundstage. As for the hearing protection benefits of the modules, I have no idea if they actually do protect your hearing. I just know that with universal IEMs, I had ear fatigue and soreness after a couple hours of listening, and I don't with the A12. I don't know if it's because they're custom, the modules, or a combination of both.

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I am very curious about the ADEL module. Do you notice much difference between closed and open?
 
What are peoples experience with Unique Melody CIEMs? I am interested as they are in Australia which I visit for work on occasion.

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Depends on the shape of your ear canal. We all have a slight bend and some more than others. If more than one must twist them in and untwist. Also custom doesnt mean it will sound better than a universal. In 2009 custom was the way to go to have more than three drivers but now universals has 14 drivers. Not saying more drivers will sound better.

Purely on sound alone, the A12 is right up your alley. However as I understand, your budget is around 1+k.

Perhaps you could look at the rhapsodio solar ( custom ). The galaxy also sounds like it is the sound you want but the custom does not sound as good as the universal.


There is a local brand in Singapore called Jomo Audio that make quality affordable ciems. The Jomo 5 ciem is priced at 859 sgd on music sanctuary's website. You could discuss with music sanctuary through their email about their recommendations amongst their range too as they do have an extensive selection of ciems and they're nice people so they don't mind helping.


Off the top of my head I can't remember any others that fit the bill in terms of sound and price. But is it possible for you to save up a bit more to reach TOTL ciems? As in my personal view, I'd be getting them sooner or later that's why I took the plunge on my SE5ULT instead of dabbling around more in other iems. It's not that they're not good. It's just that I'd rather save the cash on iems that I might use for a year or two and then get what I really wanted in the first place.

Just to add on to the post above, I own a Jomo5 myself(though it is an universal one), from what I see their waiting time if you excludes shipping and if nothing goes wrong, would be about 2~3 weeks. I can't say much of the sound for now since I am in the middle of burning in but the work is decent although I noticed some very small air bubbles on the shell which I don't mind. The price for customization is cheaper than some CIEM makers at SG$100 for their design package. Take a look at the gallery and give it some thoughts, cheers!
Gallery : http://www.jomoaudio.com/blogs/la-galerie