I'm lucky that bone conduction for me is pretty slight (can go on 2 hour walks no problem) and I only hear my breathing on rare occasions.
I have been wondering why they seem bigger lately but then I figured out that it has been me gaining weight! So warning to all about that...time for me to diet and get out from behind the computer.
I'm not gaining weight... they are defintiely growing!!
vs. Universals? I don't have any pain or bad pressure points
with the customs but there is a feeling of "fullness" that takes some getting used to. Any soft/sore outer pinnae points went away for me (had one on my right ear that is just gone now).
That's exactly what I expereience. A fullness when they are in, a sort of emptiness when they are removed until my ears sort of relax. I also got a good sore spot in one ear that took a while to go away, like over a week, but it's now completely gone and both ears are super comfy.
Goals?
One pair each of "neutral" Customs and Universals.
One pair each of "fun" (low bass and upper treble boosted- ends) Customs and Universals.
I think I have 2 out of 4 and am going to try several universals out soon!
Crazy, but I feel like I want a set of the IERM's to go with my 11's!!?? Maybe the 18's would have been the right compromise, and it's insane to consider another custom.... but I am!
Note: love the old Benchmark but with the IERM and low-level listening, the left channel comes in first. At regular levels they seem balanced. Maybe Shane55 can comment on the new Benchmark with variable gain and low-level channel balance with iems?
I get that slight imbalance at very, very low volumes on the Pico, below what I normally would listen at.