tomscy2000
Headphoneus Supremus
**Note: NOT an April Fool's Announcement**
I'm a big fan of Custom Art. I have both the Music One and the Music Two silicone CIEMs. To me, they represent some of the most well-rounded silicone CIEM products on the market. The company itself, begun by fellow head-fier @piotrus-g in Warsaw, Poland, is a feel-good story about success driven by pure enthusiasm and hard work.
Now, after a couple of years doing silicone CIEMs to great reviews around the community, Custom Art is now stepping into the acrylic realm, however, and in an aggressive way, by offering a $300, triple driver, three-way IEM in the Ei.3:
Peter's been experimenting with acrylic for some time, and by his own admission, for a long time he could never get his shells as pristine and clean as could be. That's why Custom Art has largely stuck with silicone, with the exception of a few one-off projects, often with the collaboration of neighboring Lime Ears. A few months ago, he confided in me that he finally got the hang of getting consistently clean and bubble-free acrylic shells. For CA to be announcing an acrylic shell product means that he's ready to put that experience to the test, up to standards he's willing to stand behind.
Having been @piotrus-g's friend for some time, I know he has several things he insists in for his products. While these points are my own, I think they align with his value system:
- Value. Almost all of Custom Art's products, with the exception of the flagship Harmony line, are value-driven; they're made for almost anyone with a desire to experience custom IEMs to afford. I sincerely believe the Music One is one of the best all-around values in CIEMs around, silicone or acrylic.
- Fundamentally-Driven Acoustic Performance. All of Custom Art's products don't stray too far from acoustic accuracy. While each monitor projects unique sound qualities, they all exhibit frequency response profiles that preserve characteristics of a accuracy-based, monitor-like quality. While the Ei.3 is said to have a "big and bold sound, perfectly tuned for electronic music and all bass-lovers out there," I trust that the Ei.3 won't be too far from the truth.
I didn't learn about the Ei.3 until yesterday, but the revelation that it is a sub-$300 custom-molded IEM with triple drivers, is exciting for anyone to see. In a time where companies like UE and Unique Melody/Rooth are turning to 3D printing for more cost-effective shell solutions, it's nice to see a small, boutique CIEM maker like Custom Art step up to the plate and deliver a hand-made product at such a low price point. For Custom Art to deliver a CIEM at this low a retail price, I'm pretty sure there will be a number of concessions, such as limited color availability and faceplate options. However, for the starving musician, my guess is that the Ei.3 will be a great choice.
User Impressions
@xSteves: (1)
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