Quote:   Honestly, I'd get a set of UE-4 Pro and ask to upgrade to the soft-fit option, if they can on that model (for even better isolation) and call it a day, save the extra cash.  I've only heard the JH-16 and the UE-18 of those you mentioned, and honestly, the UE-4 Pro stacks up...

Quote: You're right, and perhaps I should change my wording.  They are flat, but have a lot of impact -- it's just not the prominent feature, as I would say the JH16 tends to be a little more leaning toward heavy (yet high-quality) bass.  There's certainly no bloating.

Quote: Thanks so much for the feedback -- as I haven't heard the ES5, I can't really compare.  My policy is to only review and compare products which I've had ample time to really dig into personally under a variety of situations.  I'll reach out to my contact at Westone and see if I can...

Guys:   Please see my review at About.com about this product, including some comparisons to other leading products:   http://homerecording.about.com/od/audiomonitorreviews/fr/Review-Ultimate-Ears-In-Ear-Reference-Monitors.htm  

Based on what you're looking for, I'd consider the JH16.  Lots of bass, good highly detailed highs and mids, and a wide soundstage.  A very fun monitor.   The Future Sonics sound signature is very pleasing for stage performers -- many of the top people in the business prefer it.  I haven't...

  Quote:     "Boring and lifeless" is in the ears of the beholder.    The idea UE had with these is to provide flat, studio reference-quality monitoring in any situation, in a portable package... for a really trained-ear audiophile they'll enjoy the neutral, flat sound signature. ...

You guys are going to love these.   Think UE-10 clarity and accuracy with a nice, tight low end that's not intrusive.  UE-10 with a little more balls.   They're not as aggressive as the UE-18 -- so flat, so nice.    I'll reserve a full review for the final production model, as like...

Marty:   Driver placement inside custom in-ears is a science.  They may not always be symmetrical or perfect.  Driver placement in the shell and positioning of tubes, filters, etc. is dependent on the individual's ear anatomy.  Positioning drivers and filters a certain way to give a precise...

Hi Izzy,   First of all, forget the idea of ambient tubes.  Ambient tubes aren't really a solution to anything.  Your bass response of your earphones will suffer greatly if you do ambient tubes, because low end response of balanced armature-based IEMs relies on having a firm seal.   The...

Having heard the UE-4, I think you'd find it to have a lot more clarity than the SF-5 and Livewires, but the low-end is slightly more anemic.  It's there, and it's got punch and depth, don't get me wrong -- but the headroom on the low end is fairly restricted, compared to the UE-10/11/18 and...

Quote: Originally Posted by shigzeo Would be nice of the 3MAX could be reviewed by a professional rather than an audiophile though. I'd like to hear realistic impressions of how an earphone is used rather than toyed with. That's the angle I review all of my in-ear monitor...

Hi everyone, Need a recommendation of a Chicago-area audiologist or hearing aid maker that takes affordable impressions. I have a good friend who's getting fit for in-ears, and asked me for a recommendation. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance!

Thought some of you might enjoy this recording I made this past weekend. Put some of that high-end gear to the test! Download STS-130_2496.wav from Sendspace.com - send big files the easy way This is a 24-bit, 96-kHz file in WAV format, uncompressed. The sound of the launch of space...

Also failed to mention: Sensaphonics 2X-S and the European brethren ACS T2 and ACS T1. I like them as well, and if comfort is a major issue for you, their all-silicone construction might be more to your liking. I find their presentations to be more performer-oriented with vocal clarity in mind...

That's what many people who use those products tell me. I work closely with musicians as an audio engineer and production consultant and I can tell you, there's so many products to choose from -- but Future Sonics gets consistently top ratings from clients. That's not to say other products...

I would give Future Sonics a consideration. If they're mainly being used during performances, you might find the single-driver, diaphragm-based system in the Future Sonics much more pleasing and less fatiguing for stage use. Bass impact and mid-range detail is emphasized. If you want a flat...

Quote: Originally Posted by cmokruhl I just got my impressions done for the JH13s I'm about to purchase. However, I'm a little worried that he didn't do them right... I gave him JH Audio's instruction sheet, but he didn't use cotton (or foam) and he didn't use a bite-block. I kept my...

Another angle that's not publicized, if you're a hi-fi listener who has unilateral (single-ear) hearing loss, this is a great option to not miss anything in a good stereo recording. Sensaphonics has a similar earpiece, as well.

You have to remember that the crossovers on these are relatively simple, so the chances for signal path degradation is minimal. That being said, one of the complaints of some musicians of multi-driver systems is that sometimes the crossover circuit isn't done perfectly: you'll be sliding along...

Yet another great announcement at NAMM: NAMM 2010 News: Sensaphonics introduces 3MAX triple-driver custom monitors Looking forward to hearing impressions as customers try these out. If you do, please drop me an email as I'd love to share your impressions with my readers (Sensaphonics...

not long after their introduction, I reviewed the livewires on about.com (part of the new york times company). it remains one of the most popular reviews. i have gotten some emails from readers who have had issues with recent orders. if any of you still have a problem with your liveswires...

thought you guys would enjoy hearing about this... Summer NAMM 2009 Live: Sensaphonics announces major upgrade to custom monitor line i was able to handle a sample of the new 2XS, and while the build quality on the original models was great, these are really nice.

i'm REALLY curious why no stateside company is doing this. aside from the labs that handle the major players, i'd think any number of the smaller labs out there would be capable of doing this.

trust your ears, not the specs. wait for some reviews to come in. audio specs can mean a lot of things, and they're there for professional engineers to make assessments. no engineer, myself included, looks at specs to make decisions entirely.

oh, and PLEASE don't take your own impressions. ever. think about the pain and subsequent effects of rupturing your own eardrum with dried impression material because you failed to block your ear canal properly. i can tell you from personal past experience (not with self-impressions but with...