[ibkurtbrown]

 
I have spent hours and hours reading postings and reviews and am just looking for suggestions on the best, economical custom in-ear monitor. I am thinking probably duals would be good? I currently have a pair of Shure E3s that I like.
 
I play in an acoustic duo (guitar and ukulele) and just want something that fits well. I don't have a picky hearing taste and don't need anything fancy. Just comfortable and good customer service.
 
I have been looking at 
Alien Ears - seems like poor service
Fidelity - I don't think I like the swivel chord
1964 - seem solid
InEarZ - a bit more expensive maybe?
 
Is one company better than other? A company I don't know about? I want to save money, but get something that will last.
 
Is detatchable chord worth the extra money?
 
Thanks for any help.

 

[Parall3l]

Theres also JHAudio. If you only want the isolation or other benefit of a custom but is perfectly fine sound-wise with what you have, you can also look into remolding services or custom sleeves. What those services does is basically turn your universals into a custom. Unique Melody's been getting good feedback on their remolding services, so you might want to check them out too.

 

[ibkurtbrown]

Thanks. I will check those out.
I think my ears are a funny shape and universals are never very comfortable for me. I think I would rather customs or remolds rather than just a custom sleeve.

 

[Spyro]

JH5 with an amp is about as good as it gets.  I'd take it over JH13 any day and it handidly beats everything I have used in my profile except for JH16.  But it's 85% of what JH16 gives me and at 1/3 the cost...a complete no brainer economic decision.

 

[PANGES]

I've dealt with Ultimate Ears on a couple occasions, both for refits and warranty work, and they have always been responsive and helpful. They have a UE4, which is a dual driver IEM, around the same price as the JH5.
 

 

[ibkurtbrown]

So, we are looking at
Fidelity Duals: $259
Alien Ears AE2 $300 including impressions
1964 Dual $325
 
But you say
JH5 Pro $399 or
UE 4 pro $399
 
Worth the extra money for the JH5?

 

[PANGES]

I only suggested UE because you seemed concerned about customer service, and my experience with them has been nothing but positive, even after the sale. 
 

 

[ibkurtbrown]

Thanks PANGES - I appreciate that.
 
Any thoughts on the cheaper brands? Good value? Not worth it?

 

[PANGES]

np ibkurtbrown. One thing I'd like to note is that when I compare my Ultimate Ears UE4 with my Westone 4, as far as sound quality goes, the Westone 4's beat them as far as detail goes (at a slightly lower price.) 
 

 

[ibkurtbrown]

I kinda like my Shure E3s but I also have a pair of Altec Lansing UHP 336s. They don't fit my ears very well and the detachable chords keep falling out (I almost lost one of the buds when it fell off my cable).
 
Would they be decent drivers to use for a custom remold?
 
Here are a few links to the earbuds that I am talking about:
http://techcores.com/2010/01/altec-lansing-uhp336-earbuds-unboxing/
http://www.legitreviews.com/article/665/2/
http://www.techtree.com/India/Reviews/Altec_Lansing_UHP336_In-ear_Earphones/551-102796-536.html
 
If so, where should I get the remolds done? Lots of options.

 

[ibkurtbrown]

Also, what about the Kozee Infinity X2?
$299 with impressions (+50 for upgraded stuff)
http://kozeesolutions.com/product/7/infinity_x2
 

 

[Il Mostro]

Quote:

np ibkurtbrown. One thing I'd like to note is that when I compare my Ultimate Ears UE4 with my Westone 4, as far as sound quality goes, the Westone 4's beat them as far as detail goes (at a slightly lower price.) 
 

If the OP is on a budget, I would advise against customs and go for a better sounding universal.  On top of better SQ, he will be able to easily sell them at less of a loss, without eating the buyers cost to re-shell on an already depreciated "nothing-special" IEM.  Moreover, buying customs and having to re-shell is limited to top of the line models pragmatically speaking. I am a Westone fan, but this applies to other brands with a "musicians line" as well.  My dos centavos.

 

[ibkurtbrown]

Quote:

JH5 with an amp is about as good as it gets.

Will I need an amp with my wireless in-ear system? How about listening on the plane through my phone? I am not an audiophile - just need decent sound.
 

 

[Spyro]

[WHOOA ! !   4,000th post ! !]
 
What wireless ear system?  Did I miss something?

 

[Il Mostro]

Quote:

[WHOOA ! !   4,000th post ! !]
 
What wireless ear system?  Did I miss something?

Fastball.