Introduction
                Reviewer Introduction
                Product Introduction
Technical Specifications
Sound Quality
Signature Overview
                                Sound Stage/Imaging
                                Resolution
                                Transparency
                                Layering and Separation
                                High End
                                Mids/Vocals
                                Lows
                Signature In Depth
Comparisons
Pairing
Suggestions For Improvement
Conclusions
 
 
 
 
 
 

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               I am both a stereophile and an audiophile.  I am an audiophile so as to further my enjoyment of the music I consider essential in life.  Life without music isn’t much life at all, when I’m able to hear more detail or the song better rendered the reason for seeking out exceptional audiophile gear becomes is clear.
 
               A big THANK YOU goes out to @Barra for organizing the US tour and @Piotrus-g for lending me the 8.2’s for review.  I am grateful for the opportunity to review the best CustomArt has to offer.  I demoed the acrylic universal version of the 8.2.  I had a difficult time finding a tip that worked for me but after much experimenting found the double flanged clear white tips to work good and allow me to hear the IEM as intended by Piotr.  I chose the title of this review Brown Belt In Everything because in Jiu-Jitsu a brown belt is right before black and because one of the most legendary MMA fighters was a brown belt in everything (more on that later).
 
 
              The 8.2 is the current revision of the Harmony 8 that Piotr crafted in 2014.  The current iteration features 8 drivers in a single phase four way crossover network with four bore holes: 2xhigh, 2xlow, 2xmid and 2xfull frequency range.  The 2xfull range drivers help form a coherent and balanced sound. The universal model was incredibly small.  I thought my A12’s were small but these are far smaller.  One of the things that sets Piotr apart is the silicone coating he applies to the insides of the acrylic shells to isolate the drivers and prevent noise such as ringing which can occur in BA designs.  This IEM was also designed with a low impedance so that it would sound great from any source.  
 

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Sound Stage/Imaging:
 
                I found the stage to be large in all directions and slightly wider than deep.  The stage you hear will vary by source with this monitor.  I hear a medium stage with my Mojo, a medium stage with my iPhone 5 and a spacious large stage with my ALO CDM being fed by Mojo.  Imaging is TOTL quality with instruments being clearly defined in stage.  I’ve heard more air between instruments in a few other TOTL monitors but you will have no trouble clearly telling where each instrument is being played from with little effort.
 
Resolution:
 
                I am hearing details from the 8.2’s that I have never heard before, especially in the upper mids, vocals and highs.  The 8.2’s are not detail monsters but on a scale from A-F the detail I’m hearing would be a solid B+.
 
Transparency:
 
                The monitor completely disappears.  The challenge with transparency is to provide a natural tone that doesn’t sound like it’s being produced from inside your head.  Transparency is the most significant hallmark of a TOTL monitor in my opinion and the 8.2 performs this feat flawlessly.  The 8.2 was transparent from all my sources.  The balanced tuning lends itself to the transparent sound of this monitor.
 
Layering and Separation:
 
                I never heard congestion from the 8.2’s even when listening to technical death metal.  This is because of the polite mid and sub bass which keeps sound of the IEM fast.  A good amp like the ALO CDM will help increase the separation and layering with this IEM although I don’t see it as necessary.  Overall separation and layering are above average.   
 
High end:
 
               The treble is not sparkly and doesn’t cross into that line into ear fatigue/discomfort territory that sparkly monitors can induce in some people.  The highs are slightly north of neutral and very clear.  Treble decay is very good and both upper mids and highs are quite detailed.  The brightness is balanced with the warmth so that nothing is missing yet nothing feels v shaped either.  The precision tuning of the high end is apparent when you hear cymbals crash with high resolution and then decay for a very long time with good detail.   
 
Mids/Vocals:
 
               Some other reviewers have said this is a mid-forward monitor I would not go that far as I don’t believe the mids standout more than a hair from the rest of the frequencies.  I hear a nearly completely balanced monitor with a slight bump to sub bass and an even slighter bump to mid bass.  Don’t think that these two bumps in the frequency response are going to stand out because the 8.2 is remarkably balanced across the spectrum.  In no way do these bumps obscure detail as the monitor is not warm enough for that to occur. 
 
               These are warm but detailed mids, the degree of warmth is the bare minimum necessary to make the IEM smooth.  Both male and female vocals are slightly closer to the front of the stage and sound like they emanating from a place further inside your ear canal toward the center of your head than the rest of the sound.  This creates more emotion in the sound and a high resolution vocal range as the vocals are more segregated from the rest of the frequencies.  Those looking for a detailed and emotive vocal presentation should look to the 8.2. 
 
Lows:
 
               The 8.2 isn’t the deepest reaching or hardest hitting IEM and with regard to punch it jabs instead of throwing knockout blows.  You can feel the punch of the sub bass but it is tight and controlled so as to not obscure the high level of detail retrieval the monitor presents.  Imagine how a boxer quickly pulls back his jab after it’s thrown-the 8.2 is similar.  I do not find mid or sub bass lacking.  Both mid and sub bass decay less than the high end does which gives a fast feel to the sound.  Bass texture is good but not spectacular-it’s plenty for my taste.  I was worried that my doom/stoner metal would sound neutered with this IEM since this genre is bass heavy with regard to the down-tuned, highly textured and amped guitar sounds employed in this genre but to my pleasure they sounded rich, detailed, thick and plenty heavy.
 

 
               There is a saying among Mixed Martial Arts fans: “Fedor was the greatest fighter to have ever lived because he was a brown belt in everything.”  You couldn’t point to one thing and say: “He’s better at that than everyone else.”  It was the way he put it all together that created the masterpieces we who we saw during his reign.  The pinnacle of his career was his defeat of Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira in their first match. 
 
               More than just brutes bashing each other in for prize money MMA is a dance and flow of hard earned techniques, improvisation, cunning and mastery of will and endurance.  A true master in his prime is never forgotten by true fans and his legend lives on long after he’s gone.  Such is the legacy of Fedor, a man who was the first in MMA to blend explosive striking, Sambo/Judo style takedowns and ground and pound into a single continuous flow that left opponents bewildered and defeated.  The Custom Art Harmony 8.2 is a lot like Fedor. 
 
               The 8.2 doesn’t have the hardest hitting sub bass, it doesn’t have the most sparkly treble, it doesn’t have the most textured bass or the most spacious soundstage but it merges the elements into a seamless flow that’s emotional, detailed and spacious.  A Shrine of Clouds from Angellore’s La Litanie Des Cendres album elicits a strong emotional response as the voice of the vocalist sounds so intimate from the 8.2’s.  KzR’s visceral screams and howls are presented with excellent decay and extension against the contrast of the chaotic maelstrom of his feverish 10 string guitar playing on The Archer from Bölzer’s album Hero .  Yet KzR’s voice is not lost in the turbulent black vortex as the 8.2 renders everything with good detail and separation so that the layers can be pinpointed and isolated with ease if so desired.  Due to it’s jab like bass the 8.2 is able to keep up with speed demons like Archspire, Infant Annihilator and Necrophagist with ease all the while maintaining good separation/detail and avoiding congestion.
 
               When discussing the 8.2 balance is a term you’ll hear from Piotr and other reviewers.  This balanced tuning is a big part of the detail, clarity and separation I am hearing.  The 8.2 is balanced with a hint of warmth.  I prefer neutral signatures to have a slight bass bump which makes the sound more tactile as the air in the ear canal is more compressed, vibratory and alive.  The 8.2 does this balancing act the right way with a small bump in the sub bass and an even smaller one in the mid bass.  A small bit of warmth goes a long way, much the same way a chef will add a pinch of a spice to his dish.  The dual full range drivers are something that not every IEM maker employs and with regard to the 8.2 they go a long way toward creating the natural flow, balance and coherency I’m hearing.
 

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8.2vs64 Audio ADEL A12 w/MAM Module(Best module for A12 In my opinion):
                The 8.2 has more detail in the mids, upper mids and highs than the A12.  It’s highs extend further than the A12 and decay longer.  They are also more present and closer to the stage.  The A12’s soundstage is significantly larger in all directions than the 8.2’s.  A12 has far more powerful and authoritative sub and mid bass that hits much harder than the 8.2’s.  A12 has more textured mid and sub bass.  The 8.2’s have more forward and intimate vocals than A12’s.  A12 has thicker mids.  8.2 sounds faster due to it’s controlled bass while the A12 is more fun.  Both are warm with the A12 being quite a bit warmer.  They are both very transparent monitors.  The 8.2 does well at all genres, the A12’s sound great with Rap, Hip Hop, R&B, Jazz and Stoner/Doom metal.  The A12’s needs a powerful Amp like the ALO CDM, only then do they exceed the 8.2’s in nearly all categories.  The 8.2’s sound great from any source.   
 

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iPhone5 & Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge:
 
               I like that the tuning for the monitor is such that people don’t need to spend thousands of dollars on sources and amplifiers to get great sound.  For example I experience a very significant downgrade in sound when using my A12’s at the gym with my S7E but when I switch over the the 8.2’s I get exceptional sound out of it (both phones pair very well with the 8.2’s).  I didn’t notice very much lost detail between them and my Mojo or Mojo + ALO CDM.  I did notice that the iPhone5 and GS7E were not as dynamic or spacious as the CDM.  No hiss detected from the 8.2’s.
 
Chord Mojo:
 
               Switching over to Mojo the stage expanded slightly as compared to the phones, treble became a hair more recessed, both mid and sub bass gained some weight and the separation, imaging and depth improved.  No hiss detected from the 8.2’s.
 
MOJO + ALO CDM:
 
               Adding the CDM to the chain (Macbookpro Jriver MC20 bitperfect à Mojo à CDM à 8.2 / S7E UAPP bitperfect à Mojo à CDM) resulted in more dynamism.  The soundstage became even larger in all directions and air between the instruments and thus separation increased simultaneously as imaging improved.  Treble took on a bit more sparkle and the bass notes had more weight.  No hiss detected from the 8.2’s with the CDM in low gain mode(which had more than enough volume).    
 
Suggestions For Improvement
 
                Make the nozzles on the universals longer to make the tips easier to put on.
 

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               One word jumps out at me when thinking about the 8.2 after having spent some time with it: value.  The 8.2 is certainly deserving of the TOTL moniker.  It costs a fair bit less than many other TOTL monitors.  You get a nice warm neutral-ish signature that pairs well with nearly all sources and sounds great out of a mobile phone.  You don’t need to buy expensive DACs, DAPs, Amps or cables to get great sound with the 8.2’s.  The 8.2 is a brown belt in everything and probably one of the best values in the IEM world for those looking to break into the TOTL bracket. 

TOTL (Top-of the line) is something you hear quite often around Head-Fi. The cream of the crop of the audio-world. While that may be true in most instances, investing into a 1200$+ product seems unreasonable at best. With the law of diminishing returns kicking in fast and unrelentless, buying the most expensive product might turn out disappointing.

I have listened to a lot of gear over the years. Be it 10$ earbuds or 1500$ custom-IEMs. With the rapid growth of audio in both quality and quantity, buying High-End gear seems not all that worth it. The gap is closing fast.

With that premise in mind, many have challenged this very belief. One of them being Piotr Graniski and CustomArt. I have a deep respect for what he has accomplished. From hobbyist to full-fledged professional. Piotr began his audio journey quite like the rest of us - from initial interest in better audio gear. He subsequently began experimenting with his own designs, delving deeper and deeper into the art and craft of making custom-molded IEMs. I always wanted one of his designs, but I never took the plunge...

Enter Harmony 8.2 by CustomArt

Disclaimer: The Harmony 8.2 were send to me as part of an European tour. I am not affiliated with CustomArt in any shape or form.

Specifications:​

• 8 Balanced Armatures
• 10Hz-20000Hz
• 4-way crossover in Single Phase configuration: Dual Low, Dual full-range, Dual mid, Dual tweeter
• 118dB @1kHz @0.1V
• 15 Ohm @1kHz
• Silicone or Acrylic body

Build Quality:​

Keep in mind that we are looking at a universal variant of the custom model; take the following with a grain of salt:

Overall build is exceptional. The tour model is done in a dark brown/reddish colour, featuring an amber coloured faceplate with a CA logo on the left and Harmony 8.2 logo on the right. The acrylic looks wonderful in sunlight. The translucent body has no blemishes and bubbles to speak of. Finish is smooth around the edges. The 2-Pin connector sits flush around the socket. Perfect.

The CA H8.2 is available in both acrylic and the more soft silicone. Piotr is more known for the latter, but neither is inferior to the other. One can clearly see that the guy knows his craft.

Isolation is quite stellar. While it does not fully seal like customs, isolation is amazing nonetheless. Around -20dB across the board. Be careful when on the road.

Sound Analysis:​

Keep in mind that a universal monitor is seated differently from a custom one. Due to the different distance to the eardrum, perception of sound will vary from your experience. In particular soundstage and treble are mostly affected by it.

Pairing:

- 15Ohm and 118dB/mW makes for easy listening out of almost anything
- Some hiss was noted with phones
- Neutral and bright sounding DACs will be your best match.
- Some sources were surprisingly better than others; from terrible sounding to pure eargasm

General observations:

- Soft tonality, relaxed listen
- Midrange is forward sounding
- Soundstage is grand and does portray an "out-of-head" image, depth is A+
- Bass decay is unusually long for Balanced Armatures; almost DD-like.
- Bass extension is above average.
- Treble is subdued; too much for my taste.




General sound-signature is mid-forward with slightly elevated bass and relaxed treble. A soft and mellow listen. The H8.2 is quite balanced, but definitely warmer than neutral.

While the sound of the Harmony 8.2 is balanced, both bass and mids are the high points of the 8.2. With Balanced Armatures, my general experience is fast and detailed bass. However the Harmony is atypical, with its bass being slower in both decay and impact. The low-frequencies are north of neutral, although quite even in balance. The bass in combination with the mids make the H8.2 sound very lush and full. Somewhere inbetween Dynamic Driver and Balanced Armature.

Lower mids are slightly leaner, but still have a nice body which adds to a natural tonality of the sound. Upper mids are smooth and detailed, though the accentuated 2kHz range adds to the fullness of sound without added grain. The organic nature of the sound makes both female and male vocals sound very realistic, albeit slightly congested with bad recordings.

Treble is to me, the weakest part of the overall experience. The highs got defused, adding to the overall smooth and relaxed nature of the monitor. Linearity is very good, until around 8kHz. After that it rolls off quite notably. Detail is still available in spades, however it is not exemplified - just enough to paint the complete picture of the sound, making the sound more forgiving in the process.

H8.2 soundstage is stellar in width/depth/height. Most of my other gear, including some great monitors, like the FLC8s and LZ A4 sound much more closed in, particularly with depth and height. While most are comparable in width, depth is the achilles-heel for many lower-priced IEMs.

I found the layering and separation of vocals and instruments to be rather average, due to some lack of airiness. Imaging features good placement of instruments and vocals, and in general it has a pretty convincing positioning of most sound elements. Even so, detail retrieval is outstanding, making my FLC8s look just average.

Comparison time - vs. FLC8s (~330$):

(Filter-combination used: Red(ULF)-None(LF)-Gray(MF/HF))

The FLC8s sounds much more lean in both bass and midrange. The lack of the LF makes the FLC8s more impactful, adding decay, compared to the other combinations. While the H8.2 wins in detail retrieval and soundstage width, depth and height, the FLC8s is superior in tonality. For me the less vibrant midrange and more extended treble, does help in perceiving the FLC8 as cleaner and more neutral.

vs. LZ A4 (195$):

(Filter-combination used: Black(B)-Green(F))

The LZ A4 sounds quite similar in tonality. This is where the similarities end. While the width is almost identical, both height and depth are clearly better articulated on the H8.2. Clarity and detail retrieval are superior on the H8.2, though the treble is slightly better extended and more prominent on the A4. The A4 sounds like 80% of the 8.2 at ~1/6 the cost.

Conclusion:​

Let's face it: 1150$+ is steep. And my pocket-money does only go so far.

However without the TOTL race to the top, our beloved market would look different. Much different, actually. 10% can make all the difference in the world. If it does for you, and you like smooth and natural sound, take a look at the Harmony 8.2.

Before I will start with this attempt to review, I would like to thank to Piotr ad Custom Art, who provide Harmony 8.2 for European tour, which I was honored to be part of.
Custom Art is located in Poland and they were found in 2012 by Piotr Granicki. CA is focusing on production of custom made IEM form two materials. Acrylic and Silicon. Advantages and disadvantages of bot are described at CA site. At this moment CA offer five models, from one driver per side unit up to 8 driver per side. Last one is called Harmony 8.2. 8 mean eight drivers, two is mean, that this is second version if these earphones. CA work so fare with balanced armatures only and eight of those in Harmony are set in four way configuration - Dual Low, Dual full-range, Dual mid, Dual tweeter. Frequency range is from 10Hz up to 20kHz. Ordering process is quite common – model, material, design, ear impressions, etc. Current lead time is about 5-6weeks.
 
I was second in line in this tour and I got Harmony 8.2 after some adventures with Czech post office last week. H8.2 which were provided for tour are made from acryl and they are universal version shells. As I mentioned CA is mainly focusing on custom versions, but upon the request they are able offer universal shells too. Harmony on tour have orange transparent face plate, so you can see all insides, shell itself is too transparent, but color is brown, honey like. On left face plate is CA logo, on right is model signature. Termination for cable is standard 2pin, so there is plenty of possibilities to fine tune sound with cable switching. I read some complains about universal shell fit and seal, but I´m lucky and I do not share these complains. I found Harmony quite comfortable in fact. Only nozzle is a bit bigger than usually ( 4 holes in it ), but I could use both of my mi favorite tips easily – SpiralDot and SpinFit. Although in the end I stick with SpinFits, which I found more convenient over JVC tips.
I can´t say, that my first listening impressions make me hyper excited. Past last few weeks I listen mostly earphones with dynamic drivers and switch from that to purely balanced armatures was not easy. I really like liveliness of dynamic drivers. I found, that on hybrid IEMs, is not easy to tune DD and BA drivers together, but there are few pieces on market, which are tuned pretty well. BA drivers may sound a bit boring compare to DD earphones. And that exactly was my first kiss with H8.2. Boring, not interesting. I did not use stock cable, provided with H8.2, I used my own PlusSound Audio X Series ( Silver + Gold Type6 Litz Cryo treated ) instead. I really like this cable, is flexible, comfortable and yet sturdy.
 

 

 
 
I listen to H8.2 for few days and after brain burning I start collect my thoughts for this review. So I do not consider H8.2 boring anymore. In fact I really like their warmer sound. From top to bottom. I think, that ,, weak point “ of H8.2 are trebles, which are a bit distant on background. I do miss more sparkles in trebles. That led me to another two points of my criticism - not exactly extraordinary detail retrieval and transparency. On both of these can be H8.2 outperform by some even cheaper rivals. However middle band together with low end are where H.2 rule. Coherency between those two is one of the best. Bass is strong and deep, when it should be and mids are nicely smooth. Instrument separation is good, although not exceptional, but instrument placement on scene is precise. Sound stage is not widest I ever heard, but is for sure above average. General sound character of Harmony 8.2 is calm, but can offer nice joy from music listening. H8.2 are suitable for listeners, who like warmer sound, not over-detailed, for longer listening sessions. H8.2 are relatively versatile in terms of music genres. I did not found any music which sound extra bad or extra good. Everything I have on my card form classical to Heavy Metal is quite listenable.
 
At this moment I have at my disposal 3 DAPs – Shanling M1, xDuoo X10 and iPhone 6s with Hiby music player in it. From all these I really like combination with xDuoo most. X10 is balanced and detailed and so fare I did not found earphones which will sound bad with it. With iP6s was too warm combo for me and Shanling is good small player, but is not that good as X10, which are much more detailed and it fit to H8.2 better.
 


 
 
At this moment I have no at home any multi BA driver earphones. I sold EE Athena ( direct competitor ) and my EE Spartans are on tour I did organized here for my headphone Czech and Slovak friends. Anyway just from the memory. My feelings from Athena were similar as I have with H8.2. Very first listening was not really stunning, bat after some time I found reason to like them. It took some cable experiments, than I got result, but in the end – nice. Athena are better on resolution and has wider sound stage. But Harmony sound to me more balanced and If I would chose Athena or Harmony … I will take Harmony with no hesitation.
 
My personal opinion is that Harmony have very hard position compare to many cheaper especially hybrid models from Asia, but considering how fare Custom Art get after 5 years of their existence, I strongly believe, that we have many too look forward from Pioter and his team. Great job at Custom Arts. Thank you.

    I would like to thank @piotrus-g and @Bananenbrot for German tour for CustomArt Harmony8.2 , Music One and Music Two iems.
 

 
Background: I think Piotr and I joined head-fi about 8-years back.  We both have been active on CIEM DIY thread. I have been following his post for quite some time, he is very knowledgeable and open to share. He is still very active on thread and provides very valuable information to new comers who want to try DIY route. During a headphone exhibition I met him and we had a very good discussion about how he decides on driver and how he tunes his in ear monitors and process of manufacturing. During the event I also tried various iems including his upcoming FIBAE lineup and was quiet impressed with single driver iem , it will surprise a few. I also tries flagship from CustomArt, Harmony8.2 and frankly speaking I was a bit underwhelmed. During the discussion I came to know about the ongoing demo tour for CustomArt iems in Germany. Next week I got in contact with @Bananenbrot and he readily agreed to add me to the list. Communication and tour arrangement was great from @Bananenbrot.
 

 
 
 
I received the Harmony8.2 iems at work and was surprised to find music one and music two. I couldn’t resist temptation to try the iems before I got home. Especially as I had just had 7-days I wanted to use make most use of them.  Thought the tour had universal Harmony8.2 its actually a modified custom iem.
For 8 driver is surprisingly small. It has four acoustic ports.
 

 
 
Sound: On the first listen was again not impressed similar to what I heard at exhibition. I changed the tips used wide bore tips as I thought other tips might have covered acoustic tubes. After a while the iem starts to grow on you and you start appreciating all the technicalities of the high end iem.
It has spacious sound [don’t mix it up with soundstage], nice instrument separation and note thickness. Detail retrieval is quite good. On one of the live albums where there was a interview section between songs there was slight noise of jacket rubbing against the mic and a small knock on table which I had never heard before with different iems.
 
It has a balanced sound, not analytical. See below pic from Sonion.

 
Soundstage:  Soundstage is above average, I won’t use expansive or other terminology for this iem. But the magic Pitor has done to make it sound spacious and to generate a sense of space around the instruments is quiet nice. Depth and height perception is quite good.
 
Bass: What you would appreciate is bass quality, it has very nice texture, speed and decay. There is no Bass kick, punch or rumble but people will appreciate sense of weight and impact. Detail in bass are nicely revealed. Critics of balanced armature driver who complain of quality compared to dynamic drivers should hear Harmony8.2
 
Mids: Again very unique compared to bass, it’s a bit hard to describe. It has bit of air, highly resolving without being harsh or grainy or thin. I won’t call them lush or warm as some have described it, but it might be difference between uiem and ciem and tip selection. But I liked how mids are presented. Both male and female vocals sounded very good but a slight bit distant. In simple terms I would say mids are natural  but not smooth organic.
 
Highs: The treble response was exceptionally smooth, delicate and precise. I think this was Pitor choice for natural reference tuning. I think Harmony Pro has more extension from what I heard. Personally I would have liked a bit more sparkle in highs.
 
Measurements:
 

 
 
 
Conclusion: Those who are in market for high end CIEM should try Harmony8.2 for sure. There are two tours currently running.
 
US tour:  http://www.head-fi.org/t/818111/customart-us-ciem-demo-lineup-tour-including-harmony-8-2-and-ei-xx
Europe tour: http://www.head-fi.org/t/823648/the-custom-art-harmony-8-2-european-demo-tour

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The Custom Art Harmony 8.2
 
Hi Head-Fi members and visiting audio lovers, my name is Adam and have been a long time member here on this forum.  I was lucky enough to have the chance to review the Harmony 8.2 custom in ear monitors, from The Custom Art.   A company located in Poland, ran and owned by Piotr Granicki also a member of Head-Fi.  If you have been around here long enough CA needs know introduction. Before I get started I would like to say thank you to Piotr for giving me the opportunity to be chosen to review the H8.2, I am in no way affiliated or being paid to write this review and is based on my honest opinion.  My review style may differ from other reviewers, and like to keep them simple for the average consumer. I don’t get into using graphs, special meters and charts.  There are plenty of great reviewers that go in depth and can explain sound better then me.  
 
Over the years I have had the chance to review 2 other product for CA, including the Ei.3 and the Ei.xx that was collaborated with CA and Massdrop.  Ciem’s are widely used through the professional music industry.  But over the recent years have become very popular with audiophiles, music lovers and consumers that want the best products for their listening experience.  Customs can be a big jump from headphones, universal monitors and earbuds.  There are numerous steps to the process for customs, CA makes the jump very easy.  When I think about The Custom Art, customer service is the first thing that comes to my mind, because they are just that good at it. Customer service is a huge part to me when buying ciems.  When it comes to fit of the custom they need to be perfect for them to perform up to their full potential.  CA has easily been the best company that I have ever dealt with.  Although out of the 3 customs I own from them I have never had to send a pair back for a refit.  I have had other experiences with other companies, and it can be a pain in the ass to get them right.  So my hats off to CA for getting it right the first time, which doesn’t happen all the time.
 
Here is a link to The Custom Art’s products below and there FB page.
http://thecustomart.com/index.php
https://www.facebook.com/thecustomart/?fref=nf
 
The time came around and Piotr emailed me and asked what kind of design I would like.  Just like the last two times I left it up to Piotr own artistic freedom.  If you ask why I have done this, all you have to do is look at the rest of the customs he has created.  Up to now I have only owned acrylic monitors, Piotr asked if I would like to give silicone a try.  I am always up for something new, after receiving them I first struggled getting them in.  Silicone can very grippy against your skin and can take some time to get used to inserting them.  I have mixed feelings about the silicone.  But I have to say after they are in and come to body temperature, there is nothing more comfortable than these.  My acrylic monitors melt away into my ears, but the silicone ones just disappear.  I have to say it’s a trade off for me after I get them in the comfort is worth it.

 

 
I won’t talk much about packaging since customs pretty much come standard with a Pelican 1010 case.  CA also includes a small blue clamshell pouch that can be zippered.  Also you will get your welcome card to the CA family with the manufacturing date of your monitors (warranty card 12 months).   Packed inside the case is the bore cleaning tool and moisture absorbent pack.  The clamshell case works pretty well for keeping your monitors and cable tangle free, it even fits inside the Pelican case.  
 
When it comes to build quality with customs, there either good or bad.  Some of the things that can go wrong are with the quality of the shell itself.  With acrylic shells you have to worry about bubbles and cracks.  But with 3D printing most of quality issues are resolved.  The monitors I received are silicone and were most likely poured by hand.  I received a pair that has a blue faceplate with CA’s logo in the middle.  The body of the shell is a glittery skin toned color, which I am very happy with.  The quality of my ciems is pretty much perfect if not perfect.  I used to be into DIY customs, and can tell you just trying to fit 2 balanced armatures in a shell is hard enough.  Piotr must be a magician for fitting 8 balanced armatures into each shell, and my ears are very small.  To fit all the tubes, wires, acoustic filter and crossovers into a small shell is an art form itself.

 

 
Now on to the sound, most my listening was done with my AK100ii and Samsung S7 Edge.  Surprisingly the H8.2 are pretty efficient to drive and sound pretty damn good straight out of my cell phone.  I listen to just about everything except country, but mostly what ever my daughter makes me listen to.  When I first placed the H8.2s into my ears I could tell it’s in the same bloodline of the Ei.xx.  The overall sound to me is very well balanced with a natural feel to it.  The low end is very comparable to the Ei.xx with slightly less impact but with better detail.  Having reviewed other products from CA Piotr is a master at tuning the low end to sound more like a dynamic driver.  When the bass hits I instantly get the image of a speaker breathing back and forth.  Bass is very well controlled and never takes over your listening experience.
 
The mids have a very captivating sound and have a smoothness and slight warmth to them.  Every type of music I played male and female vocals were very detailed and precise.  The amount of presence you get from the mids is the perfect amount to be tuned with the lowers and upper frequencies.  The upper frequencies are just enough without being too much but might not be enough for treble heads.  Coming from the Ei.xx treble of the Ei.xx sounds on the brighter side but with the H8.2 retrieving more details in a natural way.  Its very hard to explain sound especially when everyone has a different sensitivity to sound.  

 

 
Whenever I review any kind of headphones, earbuds, speakers or customs, I like to throw in a pair of cheap headphones or earbuds on just to see how much more I can hear with what ever I am reviewing.  It’s truly amazing of how much more I can hear using the H8.2,  the amount of  details I hear across the board is just mind blowing.  Next time you listen to a high end pair of customs or anything else give it a try and throw in the pair of earbuds you get for free with your cell phone.
 
Overall the H8.2s have to be the most advanced tuned listening device that I have ever stuck in my ear. They are tuned in such a way they sing with perfect harmony, the amount of details and balance is something special.  Piotr has given me the opportunity to review customs from his  most affordable, midrange to his top of the line products.  I know can hear why the H8.2 sits at the top of his product line up.  Custom Art has come a long way in this industry where we have many other companies to choose from.  There is a reason why this company continues to grow and is able to stay competitive.  Piotr is a very rare owner of a company, and is very hands on with the engineering and manufacturing of his products.  For example how often do you see owners of companies interacting directly with consumers on forums.  I could not recommend the H8.2 more if you are in the market for a high end ciem.  There are tons of reviewers that like to do critical listening for reviews, which is fine.  I am not a  technical kind of listener,  I do want my customs to make my music sound good.  And that is exactly what the Custom Art Harmony 8.2 monitors do.  They make the music I listen to sound balanced and natural with just enough bass impact to keep your music energized.  I joined Head-Fi for one reason, to find products that make listening to music more enjoyable.  Custom Art H8.2 do just that and makes me forget about anything else and lets me escape reality for awhile to just enjoy whatever I am listening at that time.  


Next to the Ei.xx
 
To top it all off  Piotr offers customer service that seems to be lost in some companies.  If you ask any of Custom Arts customers, Piotr main goal is to make sure you are 100% satisfied with your customs.  He is very fast to answer any questions and responds to emails within a day if not the same day.  Custom Art makes the process of buying customs very easy and straightforward.   If you're not in the market for a TOTL custom they also offer customs that are very affordable.  Thanks for reading, don’t pass the chance up if you ever come across a Harmony 8.2 demo unit you will not be disappointed.

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The product was provided to me free of charge for the review purpose in exchange for my honest opinion.  The review was originally posted on my blog, and now I would like to share it with all my readers on head-fi.
Manufacturer website: TheCustomArt, available for purchase directly from CA or MusicSanctuary.
* click on images to expand.

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Intro.
 
My introduction to CustomArt happened last year when I got an opportunity to test and to review their MassDrop special edition Ei.xx CIEM, covered in THIS write-up which also includes more info about the company.  Ever since that review, I stayed in touch with Piotr, the creative force/mind behind CA, and always enjoyed our occasional email exchanges which I found to be very educational about IEM design.  Even with success of Ei.xx Drops and the rising popularity of his original Harmony series which I’m sure keeps him busy, he was still always prompt with his replies and took his time to explain everything in details.  While talking to other head-fiers, many shared a similar experience when dealing with Piotr where everyone was treated as VIP, not just “chosen” reviewers.  This is important to know, to have a peace of mind that a company as small and young as CA stands behind their products and offers a quality support.
 
After my Ei.xx review, the two things that stood out for me the most were the comfort of the fit and the quality/quantity of the bass.  Out of all CIEMs I have tested and reviewed so far, Ei.xx still holds the top spot in my book having one the most comfortable fit which Piotr got in one shot without any additional re-fits.  The powerful impact of the bass was also a strong attribute of the sound tuning, but it left me hungry for a better top end extension and a little better retrieval of details.  Though I wasn't familiar at all with the original Harmony 8/8Pro CIEMs, based on other impressions my imagination ran wild fantasizing about a crossover between Ei.xx and Harmony 8 (something I even mentioned to Piotr) without realizing that Piotr was already making plans to turn this fantasy into reality.  The result?  A 2nd generation Harmony 8, in a form of a new Harmony 8.2 (H8.2) model I would like to share with you about after spending the last 3 weeks enjoying these beauties.
 
Unboxing and accessories.
 
Similar to a number of my recent reviews of other IEMs/CIEMs, H8.2 unboxing experience follows a minimalistic route where the emphasis is more on a product itself rather than the packaging.  But it was still nice to see an actual cardboard box, though all black and plain without any labeling.  Obviously you can't put a specific picture since we are talking about CIEMs where you customize the shell to your liking, but perhaps printing a company name (in silver on black) with a spec list would be a nice touch to consider in order to personalize the packaging.
 
Inside, you will find a traditional Pelican 1010 micro case which, as many familiar with, provides a bullet proof protection.  This case is bulky to carry in your pocket for everyday use, so Piotr also included a compact rectangular clam shell zippered case.  It works great with H8.2 and its slim stock cable, but if you are planning to upgrade the cable to an aftermarket bulkier one, you will have to switch to Pelican case for extra room.  My only comment here, Piotr really stepped it up in the design quality, and I would have loved to see a small foam insert with cutouts inside of the Pelican case to keep these CIEMs from banging against each other.
 
Along with both of the cases, you also get a traditional cleaning tool, a small dehumidifier container, and a folded welcome manual.  I don't believe anything else is really necessary, and I can't think of any other must have accessory, maybe a piece of a branded soft cloth to wipe/clean the shells.
 
 
 
 
 
The Cable.
 
Included is just a generic stock OFC cable with a slim 90deg rubbery connector housing, a nice strain relief, and a standard 3.5mm TRS gold plated plug.  A rubbery y-splitter mold is also surrounded by a nice strain relief and a chin slider is just a piece of a clear plastic tube with a decent sliding friction.  Going up to a standard 2pin connectors, marked accordingly with red/blue dots to ID corresponding Right/Left sides, you have a typical flexible memory wire with a clear flexible tube over it forming a hook you can shape to your liking.
 
The wires have a nice tight rubbery coating, making cable very pliable, easy to manage when wrapped for storage, and free of microphonics.  Wires going up to earpieces were tightly twisted, while going down after y-splitter, the ground wires were combined and all 3 were twisted down to 3.5mm plug.  I know, this is just a basic generic cable, but it felt durable and reminded me of Westone Epic cable quality.  Even so ground wires were combined, I went back’n’forth with some of my other OFC cables with 4 separate conductors and haven’t noticed too much difference.
 
 
 
 
 
Unlike Ei.xx where from day one I switched stock cable to BaX (a must have in that case) and never looked back, here with H8.2 I actually enjoyed the stock cable performance and found its pair up to be quite good.  Testing it with pure silver cable (TWag) didn't yield a huge improvement, but I did notice changes on a level where I hear bass being a little tighter and even a bit more articulate.  Upper mids got a bit brighter but the level of detail retrieval didn't change drastically.  Also, I didn't hear a significant change in treble.
 
I wasn't too crazy about Pure Copper (TWcu) or Litz SPC (BaX and other SPC cables) either since they affected the quality and quantity of the bass, and made upper mids a bit grainy, not as smooth anymore.  Gold plated silver (TWau) was also surprisingly not the best match since the bass became more neutral and upper mids even gained a shade of a metallic sheen.  All this cable replacement testing was done using PAW Gold, making sure I was feeding H8.2 with the best source in my current possession.
 
Though I like to bring up the cable replacement and document the sound changes I hear and to encourage to experiment with cable rolling you have access to, with H8.2 it’s not really necessary to spend extra money on replacement cable since I found a stock one to do the job.
 

 
Design.
 
I typically limit the design section of my reviews to a description of the shell exterior and the partitioning of drivers inside, but here it's going to be a longer story.  Up until being introduced to Harmony series, I wasn't even aware that CIEMs could be made out of a material other than acrylic.  The only exception was ES60 with an acrylic shell and a silicone nozzle which is kind of stiff to begin with and then body-heat activated to soften and to form a better seal after I put them in my ears.  CustomArt offers an option to have the entire shell made out of silicone material.  It's definitely rare and probably requires more work to manufacture, but it also beneficial for those who find acrylic shell to be too hard and want to have a better comfort wearing customs.
 
Piotr surprised me at first with a set of silicone H8.2, definitely one of a kind experience putting these semi-soft shell molds in my ears.  Unfortunately, my ears weren't exactly "jelling" with a silicone shell, even after an extended wear time while using proper ear lubricants.  After a week I noticed less friction, but still felt a bit uncomfortable, obviously a matter of personal preference.  I do realize, there are many happy Harmony 8/8Pro users who wouldn't trade their silicone shell for anything else, and it's nice that CustomArt offers both options, but I wish they would also offer a universal acrylic model.  Many people are still anxious to commit to Customs, and Universal version takes some of the commitment pressure off.
 
The first pair of silicone H8.2 I received looked very exotic with a swirling color design.  CustomArt website offers a choice of 40 different shell colors under silicone finish, and I'm sure you can customize it further by contacting Piotr.  For example, the sample I received had a combination of two different swirling colors.  Since a silicone shell turned out to be not my cup of tea, Piotr kindly offered an acrylic shell replacement, but I didn’t realize how much surprise I was in for.  When I received and took out of the case the next review pair of H8.2, I was mesmerized by the black and gold swirls of the acrylic shell, a rich combination with deep colors and a beautiful Cocobolo real wood veneer faceplate.  When designing the acrylic shell, CustomArt website tool offers a choice of 10 predefined solid/transparent shell colors, with an option for a custom one, 10 different solid/transparent faceplate colors, and a choice of either body matching or transparent blue/red canal part (good idea for a quick id of L/R sides), and of course the option of transparent color is also available.  On top of that, you have a choice of 24 (!!!) real wood beautiful veneer faceplates.
 
H8.2 shells I received were not selected by me personally, but I absolutely love the design and wish Piotr would setup a gallery page with pictures of his artwork to give people some ideas for inspiration.  At the same time, while picture is worth a thousand words, you have to actually feel the smooth finish of the shell to appreciate the new processing technique Piotr implemented which achieves near glass-like smooth finish of the acrylic shell.  The design was an absolute smooth perfection.  I went with my finger a dozen of times over the area where faceplate joins the shell and it feels like one solid piece.  Toward the inside on the surface of the shell, there is a model marking in red/blue which helps to id the sides, though obviously you can’t mistake right for left when putting these in your ears.  The shell finish continuous throughout a nozzle, matching the rest of the shell, even across the nozzle tip where you will find 4 bores, each connected to corresponding dual low, dual full range, dual mids, and dual tweeter drivers under partitioning of 4way cross-over in a single phase config.  The 2pin connector socket was non-recessed, and also across the faceplate my review pair had “The Custom Art” on one side and “Harmony 8.2” on the other side in gold letters, and I'm sure you can ask Piotr about the custom artwork.
 
Another thing that stood out for me was an incredibly slim shell design.  We are talking about 8-BA drivers in a shell that was flush with my ear.  By nature of Custom design, it’s uncomfortable to lay down with your head on the pillow wearing CIEMs because of the nozzle being deep inside of your ear canal, but I honestly didn’t expect such a slim profile for a shell hosting 8 Balanced Armature drivers and cross-over.  Since the shell wasn’t transparent, it’s hard to tell how everything is arrangement inside, but one thing Piotr mentioned – there was a clear transparent silicone filling inside of the acrylic shell.  As I just learned, silicone acts as a suspension (damping) for drivers, reducing their ringing.  In order to match audio performance of silicone vs acrylic shells, acrylic body of the shell was filled with silicone to achieve the same working condition for drivers.
 
The acrylic shell fit was perfect, and due to a very smooth finish and shorter nozzle (to match the “design” of my picky earcanal), it took me a minimum effort to insert H8.2 in my ears which felt almost like Universal fit.  I still needed a small "corkscrew" turn to insert them in, but was able to take them out without too much of a reverse turn.  Furthermore, the isolation was on a level of decent earplugs.  On a few occasions while using H8.2 at work I kept them in my ears even without playing music, just like a custom earplug.
 
Silicone version
 
 
 
 
Acrylic version
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The fit (silicone and acrylic)
 
 
 
Sound analysis.
 
Even though H8.2 has 8 BA drivers, I still put them through 100hrs of burn in to condition and to bake all the solder joints, crossover components, and the cable.  I have shared my earlier impressions about H8.2, but as it turned out due to a shorter nozzle and a slim CIEM shell (which I’m grateful for due to an anatomy of my ears/earcanal), I quickly realized that I didn’t have H8.2 shell pushed all the way into my ears thus some of my early impressions could have been a little off, especially when I originally assumed that silicone shell sound had a better bass and overall isolation.  Once I realized what was going on, I confirmed that both silicone and acrylic versions of H8.2 had an identical sound performance.
 
I found H8.2 to have a nicely balanced signature with an excellent retrieval of details and a smooth natural tonality.  I usually associate natural tonality with an organic non-fatigue quality which sometime lacks details in favor of a full bodied sound.  Here Piotr managed to tune all 8 drivers of his flagship to sound in a coherent unison with a very natural smooth timbre and plenty of details.  The details are not on micro-detail level and you shouldn't expect an analytical level of clarity or a bright treble sparkle, but surprisingly you still get plenty of details.  Another thing I found, H8.2 is quite forgiving even with low quality sources and doesn't sacrifice the level of details, regardless if I'm playing from PAW Gold or my smartphone.
 
Starting with a low end, you get a decent sub-bass extension with a nice textured rumble, it doesn't go very deep but has just enough oomph to add a nice weight under the mid-bass punch.  Mid-bass punch is moderately elevated (but not too much), and has average speed and average decay.  Overall, bass is well controlled, and doesn't spill into the mids, but it's not super tight or very articulate - I hear a natural bass performance typical of a dynamic driver, rather than a fast and snappy BA driver performance.
 
Lower mids are not too thick, but still have a nice body which adds to a natural tonality of the sound.  Upper mids are smooth and detailed, not a single hint of harshness or graininess.  Though overall sound is balanced, I think the smooth and slightly warm nature of the sound plays a bit of a role in pushing vocals slightly back.  This doesn't change sound signature and in no way I would call sound v-shaped, but upper mids are not exactly upfront in presentation.  The organic nature of the sound makes both female and male vocals sound very realistic.
 
Treble is where things do start to roll off and it's not as extended, but still has an excellent definition and clarity.  There is not as much airiness and I wouldn't call the treble being very crisp, but again - it's extended just enough to paint the complete picture of the sound, and doesn't accentuate the upper frequencies, making the sound more forgiving.
 
H8.2 soundstage is definitely above the average in width/depth/height, though I did find soundstage width to vary between the sources in a quite surprising revelation where my Note 4 smartphone actually outperformed LPG.  I wouldn't call it super expanded or reaching holographic level of expansion, but I think it goes along with a natural tonality and expectation of natural realistic soundstage expansion.  Another thing I never took into consideration was the length of the nozzle relative to my earcanal resulting in a difference of the distance from drivers to my eardrums.  Majority of my earphones are universal IEMs where I use long stem eartips.  That creates a longer distance between the driver and my eardrum, while H8.2 is nearly flush with my ear and has a short nozzle which narrows that distance.  Thus, under these circumstances my perception of soundstage will slightly vary in comparison to other H8.2 users.
 
I found the layering and separation of vocals and instruments to be average, since there is not as much airiness separating the sound layers, but the sound never gets congested or veiled, and that's exactly what impressed me about H8.2 the most - being able to have a smooth natural tonality without sacrificing details or making sound too lush and congested.  Imaging of H8.2 has a good placement of instruments and vocals, and in general it has a pretty convincing positioning of all sound elements, limited only by its soundstage expansion.
 

 
Comparison.
 
Before I started the comparison of H8.2 to other IEMs/CIEMs in my review collection, the first thing I was really curious about is how 6-BA design of Ei.xx stacks up against its big brother H8.2 with 8-BA drivers.
 
H8.2 vs Ei.xx – I found Ei.xx to have a slightly wider soundstage (coincidentally, Ei nozzle is slightly longer); Ei.xx bass is a little tighter and faster and has a noticeably bigger impact; lower mids are similar, while upper mids in H8.2 are pushed a little bit back in comparison to Ei and also have better retrieval of details, more transparency, and sounds more natural in comparison to Ei where upper mids are a bit thinner and less resolving; treble in both sounds very similar.  H8.2 strikes you with a superior natural tonality and a smoother and more resolving sound.
 
H8.2 next to Ei.xx

 
H8.2 vs K10UA - K10UA soundstage has a bit more width/height; sub-bass extension and quality is very similar while K10UA has a little stronger punch with a faster attack; lower mids are similar, while K10UA upper mids are more forward, brighter, and grainier in comparison; K10UA also has a brighter, crispier treble with more airiness.  I definitely hear a contrast of brighter crispier K10UA sound versus smoother and more organic H8.2.
 
H8.2 vs Andromeda - right away you notice Andromeda having a little more hissing in comparison, also Andro soundstage is more expanded in all three directions; Andro bass is tighter and more aggressive with stronger impact, not by a lot but definitely noticeable; lower mids are similar, but Andro upper mids are brighter, more revealing, more detailed; Andro treble is brighter, more crisp, and with a little more airiness.  This is another example of a contrast with a smooth organic sound of H8.2 versus more colored and more revealing fun sound of Andromeda.
 
H8.2 vs U12 w/B1 - U12 soundstage is more expanded in all three directions; U12 sub-bass goes a little deeper and mid-bass has more impact and faster punch; lower mids are very similar and upper mids also have the same positioning and similar organic tonality, but to my surprise H8.2 with a stock OFC cable has slightly more natural and detailed upper mids (especially in vocals) in comparison to U12 w/TWau cable.  This is actually a very interesting comparison because both of these have a natural smooth tonality, but with an exception of soundstage expansion, I found H8.2 to have a slight edge over U12, without even using aftermarket cables.
 
H8.2 vs ES60 - ES60 has more hissing in comparison, ES60 has a little wider soundstage; bass is very similar though ES60 is a bit faster and tighter and with a slightly stronger mid-bass punch; lower mids are very similar and the same goes for upper mids, very similar smooth natural tonality, but ES60 upper mids presentation is a little more forward; also ES60 treble has a better extension, a little brighter, and with more airiness. A lot of similarities in this comparison, but I still felt like H8.2 tonality was a bit smoother and more natural while ES60 wins in higher resolution and retrieval of details.
 
H8.2 vs Sirius - Sirius soundstage is more expanded in all 3 directions; also in this comparison bass is similar as well, but Sirius has a little stronger mid-bass impact; lower mids are similar while upper mids in Sirius are a bit brighter and a little more revealing; treble in Sirius is a bit brighter and with a little more airiness.  If you want a little more excitement in your sound – Sirius has an edge, while if you want a more natural smooth and still detailed sound - H8.2 hits the right spot.
 
Overall, with all earphones used in this comparison nothing was really night'n'day when it comes down to the differences, but it really does stand out in upper mids where H8.2 has a very impressive natural tonality.  Those who want more excitement in their sound might not appreciate it as much as I did, but I was drawn into the rich detailed smoothness of H8.2 tuning and fantastic pair up even with lower res sources.
 
H8.2 next to Ei.xx, Andromeda, Sirius, U12, K10UA, ES60

 
Pair up.
 
I wasn’t sure what to expect from H8.2 since I read about original H8 being picky when it comes to source pair up.  Without a doubt, you can’t expect the same level of resolution from a smartphone as you would from a top tier DAP or a quality usb DAC, but I found H8.2 to be one of the few TOTL CIEMs that sounds excellent with a stock ofc cable even straight out of my smartphone.
 
Note 4 - no hissing, nice wide soundstage, smooth detailed balanced natural sound, punchy bass, clear detailed mids, well defined treble.
 
LPG - no hissing, nice soundstage expansion, smooth detailed balanced natural resolving sound, lots of clarity, punchy bass, clear detailed mids, well defined treble.
 
Opus#1 - no hissing, a bit wider soundstage, smooth detailed balanced natural sound, punchy bass with a nice sub-bass extension, clear detailed mids, well defined treble.
 
DX80 - very faint hissing, a little wider soundstage, smooth detailed balanced natural sound, punchy bass with a nice sub-bass extension, clear mids but some details are lost, well defined treble.
 
N5 - very faint hissing, a little wider soundstage, smooth detailed balanced natural sound, punchy bass with excellent sub-bass extension, clear and very detailed mids, well defined treble which became crisper.
 
X7 w/AM2 - no hissing, nice soundstage expansion, smooth detailed balanced natural sound, punchy bass good sub-bass though a little less rumble, clear and detailed mids, well defined treble with a little bit of additional airiness.
 
L5Pro - no hissing, nice soundstage expansion, smooth detailed balanced natural sound, punchy bass with a nice sub-bass extension, clear and detailed mids, well defined treble.
 
Micro iDSD - no hissing, a little wider soundstage, smooth detailed balanced natural very resolving sound, punchy bass with excellent sub-bass extension, clear detailed very smooth mids, well defined treble.
 
Conclusion.
 
Unlike so many of my other write-ups where the main focus is usually on a sound quality and a comparison to other earphones, this one end up with me gushing over how much I like the design and how much I learned about the design while talking to the man behind it.  Don’t get me wrong, we are still dealing with quite an impressive natural smooth detailed sound and impressive bass performance, as well as a great pair up with most of the sources I threw H8.2 at.  As a matter of fact, I was quite happy using H8.2 with a stock ofc cable and driving it straight from my aging Galaxy Note 4.  The design, the finish, the material, all together really elevated the value of H8.2.  Perhaps it’s not about super high resolution or sparkling highs, but the signature of this CIEM is more musical, natural, organic, without compromising the retrieval of details and the clarity of the sound.  And along with an impressive sound tuning, you also get an equally impressive design with a choice of a rare silicone shell or a slim and super smooth acrylic shell that looks like a piece of art.
 
I'm sure many of you are probably familiar with exotic designs of Noble CIEMs and the handy work of the Wizard himself.  Based on the review pair of H8.2 I received from Piotr, it will be hard to ignore the fact that he is not wasting his time and heading fast in the same direction.  Just a few years ago Piotr was a regular head-fi visitor and reviewer with a passion for DIY CIEMs.  Today, he is running his own well known CustomArt company and continuous to raise the bar not only in sound quality but also in the design.