Things you could do easily: 1) Generally speaking you shouldn't be putting cotton buds/wool or any other foreign object into your ears as wax should get rid of itself.  Unfortunately that would mean avoiding the use of IEMs.  2) Try not to get water or soap into your ears if possible (shower...

I had fresh mint tea for the first time last week, and unfortunately didn't like it much. The scent, colour and initial taste were all great, but I couldn't drink a second cup due to the flavour.  I think I will stick to pu-erh, which remains my favourite tea.

I actually stumbled upon these whilst walking through - of all places - Selfridges in Birmingham.  I must confess I didn't even know they existed.  According to the salesperson they just rocked up along with a shipment of red P3s with a princely MSRP of £325 (=$525).  Whilst obviously made in...

The Form 2: a bit fragile, bass-light, and the foam covers may disintegrate after a few years, but actually very satisfying with its spacious, mid-centric presentation. The A8: handsomely built like most B&O products, sound decent.   These?  I'm excited.  Fingers crossed they'll be a...

Very informative.  Always thought there was much more to it than what BAs were used...  I wonder apart from durability and comfort, what benefits, if any, soft silicone brings to a custom IEM's sound, or is it just a different way to achieve a common goal?   Which leads me to think...

In which case the treble on mine is still on the "screechy" side. I've just done two multi-leg long haul flights in the past week and found the Amperiors average overall for this sort of usage. It's not comfortable enough to use for more than 4 hours or so due to the clamp (I don't have a big...

Just picked up a silver pair from Apple Store in Glasgow.  I originally planned on trying the P3 with a view to getting a pair of portable cans for casual listening on the go.  The P3 seemed to fit the bill until I realised how unsatifactory they sounded, and for that matter, the P5 were also...

pretty much sums it up for me. with certain tips, this IEM is unlistenable. having gone through quite a few different tips now, I realise there is not one ultimate be all end all tip. each have the strengths and weaknesses, just that some lean to far towards the latter. with the short complies...

Excellent posts guys.  I've taken delivery of the PureSound tips.  They do indeed have quite a wide sound tube.  The overall sound signature is unchanged, but the tonal balance certainly takes a step forward (bad pun ha!).  In fact, the whole soundstage may have shrunken slightly, and I'm not...

I wonder how the UM65 will sound with these.  There's no doubt I'm tempted by them, but it's all too apparent to me that good fit does not necessarily translate into the best sound.  Like you say, the gauge of the bore also plays an important part, as do other factors.  I have no doubt my tips...

An observation:  Shorter tips tend to have a cleaner midrange response, but the highs are a tad sibilant.  A fan of a sound signature that leans on the brighter/leaner side, if I think it's sibilant, I'm pretty sure 99% of the population will think so too ;) Longer tips emphasis the mids, bring...

I guess it's because I used to go to concerts on a weekly basis, play the violin/piano myself, and have over the years sampled a range of different audio gear.  It's difficult to beat the experience of a live performance, but I'm pretty sure it's possible to recreate most of it in the confines...

Hmmm... still quite veiled, especially/mainly the lower midrange.  There's far too much bloom.  The upper midrange and highs are absolutely beautiful (great attack & decay, crystal clear, not a hint of grain), as are all the minute microdetails.  Almost all orchestral music have this bloom in...

i agree with your analysis. the SR325i inho does have a more visceral attack though,and with the right pads and amplification wont sound as peaky. the W4 certainly have a more 'neutral' sound though. guitars simply sound fantastically forward and metallic on the sr325i.  Quote:  

I just wonder what sort of tips/insertion depth Headroom used for their measurements as most know as well as I do that it makes a huge difference.

Just got a pack of  S M L.  Mighty expensive (15 quid incl vat/delivery) considering you'll only be using one pair, but an even greater waste of money if I got a pack which didn't fit. Anyhow.  Will report back.  If the sound is as you say it is, I'd happily pay that for a pair. Quote:  

Quote: Haha really?!  I'm glad someone's verified that I don't have tin ears!   PS modded tri-flanges sound great  (cut stalk to flush with largest flange + snip off smallest flange flush with the middle flange).  Slightly sibilant though, but lower mid/upper bass is quite clean now. ...

^^  The upper midrange is actually quite good.  Articulate, detailed, and not at all too bright.  It's the bass that sounds a tad anaemic/rolled-off and lacks visceral impact; the attack/decay in the lower end of midrange & upper bass (cello/double basses around) is a fair bit off and blends...

Quote: Unfortunately isolation is quite important.  That said, both the MDR-EX1000 and ATH-CK100 have piqued my interest.  Something about the Japanese :)   On the subject of tips, I'm having a little fun with the white translucent tips.  With the smallest one, the seal is poor and...

Well.  Mighty impressive in many ways, but not without its flaws.  Ah... where should I start?  The overall sound reminds me of the UM3x + W3.  The sound is not so in-your-face.  There's a certain distance between you and the sound.  I guess I would call the presentation 'laid-back', but not...

Quote: Oh goody.  I'm a long time Etymotic fan too (way back to the multicolored flat cabled ER4S, ER4P, ER6i).  I think we'll have to carry different expectations when trying the W4.  Would be interested in your impressions.

Well naughty me decided to go against my own ears and get a pair of W4s.  They'll arrive on Monday.  I hope I'll be able to see past the "flaws".  Nothing beats a nice long audition.  I'm already curious about them UM56 mods, they'll make a fine specimen for reshelling too :)

Quote: Hmm.  My thoughts exactly.  "Transparency", "clarity", "instrument separation", however you want to describe it.  I just don't think it's a strength of the Westone house sound.  I've heard the W4, W3, UM3x, UM2, UM1.  The UM2 and UM1 seem to fair a little better, but the higher end...

Quote: Congrats :)  The Etymotic sound may not be the most detailed, but the ability to convey a sense of clarity is really special.  

Birding and bugging a few days ago :)             D300, 70-200vr1, 50-500OS, TC 1.4x