I have had ue super fi 5 pro's for years and love them. I just recently got a pair of ue18's and it seems like something is missing. They are a very comfortable fit but the sound just isn't as "fun" as my super fi 5's. I started re-ripping my music into FLAC and have noticed an improvement, but...

I know this will vary depending on brand and usage, but what is the life expectancy for custom IEMs used lightly by an audiophile. I am getting UE's as my first custom and am wondering what to expect. Anyone have any horror stories or praise for any brands out there?

Anyone know of a good source for audiologists other than the UE website?