[size=9.5pt]A summary of my journey into custom IEM's and experience with 1964Ears.[/size]
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[size=9.5pt]My previous earphones have been etymotic ER6i (anemic, boring, but accurate), the Ultimate Ears Triple.Fi 10 (good bass, but recessed mids, and either piercing treble with silicone tips or muffled treble with foam comply tips), and UE900 (slightly less bass than the TF10's, good mids, slightly rolled off treble). Among these, my favorite was the UE900, but for the same price I figured I could get a better fit with the V3's. That remained my goal, to spend as little as possible to get the most sound. Of course if I just wanted to be done with it all I would have gone for the JH13 with freqphase but clearly I can't afford that right now.[/size]
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[size=9.5pt]Let's be honest, you can't go wrong with any of 1964 Ear's products as they all sound great for the price (especially with the Memorial Day sale). I've only heard the V3 but it's clearly better than any of UE's universal's products. The bass is pretty strong (I think the quads would be too much for me), the mids are nice and present, and the treble is sharp without being sibilant. You can read joker's multi-iem thread for an extremely accurate picture of what to expect. If I were to compare these to a full-size headphone, I would say the V3 and Sennheiser Momentum sound remarkably similar, although the Momentum has a larger soundstage as it is around-ear instead of in-ear.[/size]
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[size=9.5pt]Your first question might be, should I get custom IEM's? To give a little perspective, I am a student, I do not play in any bands, and my main use for these would be to listen either at home or to avoid excessive noise on airplanes or NYC's subways/buses. I have never liked silicone tips as they always slip out of my ear. Foam Comply tips are comfy enough, but take some time to insert as you have to roll it in your fingertips then wait for it to re-expand after insertion into your ear. Plus they occasionally fall out of my ear after extended use and generally require replacement every couple of months. I heard that acrylic conforms precisely to the contours of your ears and is comfortable for hours without moving around.[/size]
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[size=9.5pt]To get the earphones you need to first book an appointment with an audiologist used to making molds for custom IEM's. In Manhattan the going rate seems to range from $50 (Dr. Servedio) to $75 (Dr. Glick). I went in, got my impressions taken, sent them off to 1964 Ears, and received my V3's back in 3 weeks with standard processing and express shipping. At first, I had to look up videos on how to insert them. Once inserted, I noticed how much my auditory canal changed shape with head movement and jaw movement. If I leaned forward the canal constricted around the IEM and the seal and bass improved. If I protruded my lower jaw the seal improved. If I tilted my head to the left I started losing seal in the left ear. If I tilted my ear to the right I start losing seal in the right ear. If I tilted my head back 15 degrees I started losing seal. This extreme variability with movement, and the slight improvement of seal when I pushed in on the earpieces, meant I needed a refit. Based on my fit issues Vitaliy recommended I get a whole new set of impressions instead of slightly modifying my current earpieces. My audiologist graciously re-did the impressions for free, and I received the refits 2 weeks later.[/size]
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[size=9.5pt]When I put these into my ears I immediately noticed a sharp pain in my auditory canals likely due to the tighter fit, but the seal and bass were spot on. The seal now holds even if I tilt my head back at a 45 degree angle which is convenient when I’m reclining on an airplane seat. I will definitely monitor for any continuing pain, but already it is much less painful to insert than initially.[/size]
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[size=9.5pt]Truthfully, you will get excellent customer service from 1964 Ears. They are responsive on the phone, email, and willing to go the distance for you. My refits were built from the ground-up, after Vitaliy apologized for a problem that was probably not theirs in the first place. In fact, the problem with my first set was how much my ear canals change in shape with various movements. [/size]
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[size=9.5pt]For a tight seal, I would recommend using a bite block and tilting your head back 25 degrees instead of looking straight ahead. This way the canal will be maximally expanded when the impression is curing, resulting in a large impression.[/size]
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[size=9.5pt]In summary, it is a hassle to go to an audiologist, ship your impressions, wait a month (possibly longer if refits are needed), and another week for your ears to adjust to the feeling of hard acrylic. On the other hand, you do get the best sound for your money, with a company which stands behind its products and workmanship[/size]