Audeze LCD i4 TOTL In-Ear Monitor Discussion

Sep 10, 2024 at 12:20 AM Post #4,846 of 4,933
Sep 10, 2024 at 12:42 AM Post #4,847 of 4,933
I hear all of you with the custom printed over ear hooks...

Have you tried in ear hooks? They work for me and are so much easier and more comfortable!
 
Sep 10, 2024 at 4:21 PM Post #4,849 of 4,933
I

How much did it cost? The local shop says there is a lot of work involved to clean it up and make sure they fit tolerances.

What is a reasonable price to pay for getting a set printed?
I paid about $100 for 10 pairs. They basically snapped after about 3 uses. I ended up ordering more from Audeze until I can do some research about which materials have more durability.

3D printing your own ear hooks is not a bad choice at all. They definitely got a better seal with the 3d printed earhooks as they were a much better fit. @Audeze doesn't sell the size I need without buying the whole kit. If they just sold medium ear hooks in a 10 pair pack... I'd be all for it.
 
Sep 10, 2024 at 4:23 PM Post #4,850 of 4,933
I hear all of you with the custom printed over ear hooks...

Have you tried in ear hooks? They work for me and are so much easier and more comfortable!
Any recommendations outside of the Bose Stayhear ear hooks? They didn't work out for me.
 
Sep 10, 2024 at 5:11 PM Post #4,851 of 4,933
I paid about $100 for 10 pairs. They basically snapped after about 3 uses. I ended up ordering more from Audeze until I can do some research about which materials have more durability.
That’s really disappointing to hear. What material did you use? My local shop recommends a tough resin for maximum strength.

Did anyone here find a material that lasts for printing hooks?

Nothing has worked for me other than the hooks. So, I’m really trying to find a durable solution to the breakage issue. Sometimes, I’ll be out relaxing, enjoying music with the i4s, and then all of sudden the hooks give out.
 
Sep 10, 2024 at 5:40 PM Post #4,852 of 4,933
That’s really disappointing to hear. What material did you use? My local shop recommends a tough resin for maximum strength.

Did anyone here find a material that lasts for printing hooks?

Nothing has worked for me other than the hooks. So, I’m really trying to find a durable solution to the breakage issue. Sometimes, I’ll be out relaxing, enjoying music with the i4s, and then all of sudden the hooks give out.
PLA+ Material with 0.1mm layer height was what I ordered. I would definitely avoid using PLA+ at 0.1 layer height. I'm still learning about the materials and layer height. I'm going to try another batch with some different materials.
 
Sep 10, 2024 at 5:42 PM Post #4,853 of 4,933
That’s really disappointing to hear. What material did you use? My local shop recommends a tough resin for maximum strength.

Did anyone here find a material that lasts for printing hooks?

Nothing has worked for me other than the hooks. So, I’m really trying to find a durable solution to the breakage issue. Sometimes, I’ll be out relaxing, enjoying music with the i4s, and then all of sudden the hooks give out.
I was told Resin may be best for durability. This is all new to me. I just copied the file from earlier in the thread and tried what sounded good at the time. not knowing how easy it would snap.
 
Sep 10, 2024 at 6:12 PM Post #4,854 of 4,933
Any recommendations outside of the Bose Stayhear ear hooks? They didn't work out for me.
I can't remember which ones I actually bought for mine since it's long ago, but they are pretty much the same as these: Ear Hooks
 
Sep 10, 2024 at 6:12 PM Post #4,855 of 4,933
I’m down to my last two hooks so I’m gonna print my first ones tonight out of PLA. I’ll let you guys know if it works out for me. Ultimately I might just wind up seeing if reusing the hooks off my koss ksc75 is doable.
 
Sep 10, 2024 at 7:33 PM Post #4,857 of 4,933
I’m down to my last two hooks so I’m gonna print my first ones tonight out of PLA.
Sad words. Why must we live this way in fear (grin)?

Something I’m going to explore is trying to design a retainer housing that attaches the hooks to the horseshoe clips from the earfins, Since those are made of a hard rubber, they will never break. If I could just find a way of printing a part that would securely attach the hooks to those rubber clips it should last.

If you have any ideas please post here.
 
Sep 11, 2024 at 3:10 PM Post #4,858 of 4,933
I had this idea yesterday, kind of similar to edwardsean’s thoughts about using a rubberized solution.

It’s just using a regular garden hose washer, poking a hole in it with a needle, and running some bailing wire through it. It looks crappy at the moment but I intend on getting some black sheathing for the wire. This solution allows me to conform the hook to my ear. The washer fits snuggly and honestly the whole setup has felt a lot better than the crappy plastic hooks to wear.
 

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Sep 11, 2024 at 9:48 PM Post #4,859 of 4,933
I had this idea yesterday, kind of similar to edwardsean’s thoughts about using a rubberized solution.

It’s just using a regular garden hose washer, poking a hole in it with a needle, and running some baling wire through it. It looks crappy at the moment but I intend on getting some black sheathing for the wire. This solution allows me to conform the hook to my ear. The washer fits snuggly and honestly the whole setup has felt a lot better than the crappy plastic hooks to wear.
Hey Brady, those gaskets you pointed me to on AZ will get here tomorrow. I’m going to use the earhooks I have, cut off the clips and attach them to the gasket.

I may also give your solution a try with wire and heat shrink some tubing over it. Can you point me to the baling wire you used? How stiff is it? Is it hard to work with? Can you show a picture of how you attached it to the rubber gasket?
 
Sep 11, 2024 at 10:18 PM Post #4,860 of 4,933
Hey Brady, those gaskets you pointed me to on AZ will get here tomorrow. I’m going to use the earhooks I have, cut off the clips and attach them to the gasket.

I may also give your solution a try with wire and heat shrink some tubing over it. Can you point me to the baling wire you used? How stiff is it? Is it hard to work with? Can you show a picture of how you attached it to the rubber gasket?
I'm just using 18 gauge baling wire. You can bend it by hand but it will take a little hand strength. As for how it is attached, as I posted above I just used a needle to make a pilot hole in the rubber then worked the wire into the hole by hand. The rubber basically reforms after being punctured and makes the hole almost nothing so once you get the wire in there it's held in place fairly well. I believe a little glue will completely secure the wire to the gasket but so far after wearing it all today I didn't have any issues with them coming out. If you try this method with a needle I would suggest using some needle nose pliers to hang onto the gasket with so you don't accidentally stab yourself.
 

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