Custom IEM Questions

[Nonchalance]

Hi guys, I'm about to get some impressions made to send off to Fisher for a TF10 remold, a few last minute questions.

1. How often do you have to change the molds? I'm only 18, and I'm sure my ear canals are still changing. How long down the road should I start thinking about a remold?

2. How do you know when you have a good mold? I really only have the comfort factor to go by. Are there any tests for sound? Is there anything specific that I should feel for when they're in my ears?

3. Lastly, if anyone know a good and relatively cheap (<$50) audiologist in the San Francisco bay area, that would be great, I checked two places and was quoted $75 for a pair of impressions...

Thanks!

 

[JIGF]

Im also very interested in knowing number 1, 18 too over here.

 

[mnagali]

#2 -- comfort is absolutely key. as far as sound goes: just test it on songs/albums you're very familiar with, or try some of the "test tracks" that people have suggested in this thread and others. also, the Sensaphonics Seal Test to make sure you have a good seal

#3 -- also try a google map search for "hearing aids" too for more results

 

[Nonchalance]

Ah, thanks for the advice. The seal test will definitely come in handy, and I'll start calling hearing centers.

One more question: the UE instructions should work for every remold right?
http://www.ultimateears.com/_ultimat...structions.pdf

 

[cbeaumont001]

Nonchalance,

I'm not sure if you're willing to come this far south, but I used Hearbright in Santa Clara (on Samaritan Drive) to have my impressions made for my UM-56 as well as my JH16. I highly recommend them - they know what they are doing, are very professional, and they offer they best price I've found. I'm not sure I can quote it, but it's on the very low side of the $50-$100 range you hear thrown around.

 

[Nonchalance]

Thanks cbeumont, though Santa Clara is a bit too far, I live on the northern part of the east bay

 

[chaosfayt]

a good impression mould? You just have to ensure that sound is completely cut off, and your ear canals are completely blocked up so you hear very little environmental sound with those impressions in your ear.

 

[lonereaction]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nonchalance /img/forum/go_quote.gif Hi guys, I'm about to get some impressions made to send off to Fisher for a TF10 remold, a few last minute questions. 1. How often do you have to change the molds? I'm only 18, and I'm sure my ear canals are still changing. How long down the road should I start thinking about a remold? 2. How do you know when you have a good mold? I really only have the comfort factor to go by. Are there any tests for sound? Is there anything specific that I should feel for when they're in my ears? 3. Lastly, if anyone know a good and relatively cheap (<$50) audiologist in the San Francisco bay area, that would be great, I checked two places and was quoted $75 for a pair of impressions... Thanks!

Quote:

Originally Posted by JIGF /img/forum/go_quote.gif Im also very interested in knowing number 1, 18 too over here.

I think my experience will help you both. I made my livewires when I was 18 going 19, back in 2007. When I got my livewires, for the first 2 weeks they leaked sound in, because I still was not good at putting them in. After that, they blocked out almost ALL noise on my daily commute.

I recall not even being able to hear people talking to me across the table, at around 40% ipod volume. You could hear people talk if you concentrate real hard on outside noise, but who does that when listening to music?

I don't know what happened in between, but now, my livewires don't hold a good seal for long, without me constantly pressing them into my ears. They now only seal decently. I can tell when I get a good seal, when very low bass can be heard. No need to find test CDs for that, it should be apparent on almost any song.

 

[Nonchalance]

Thanks lonereaction

Hopefully there will still be cheap-ish remold services in the future.

 

[Kirby1356]

I had mine done for $20. I went to Kenwood Hearing in Santa Rosa, CA.

 

[pseudohippy]

To test if I have a good fit (this may sound strange though) I would put the radio on my stereo on a station that didnt come in, so all I would hear is very loud static. Id put the customs in my ear to block the static sound then adjust the volume on the static so I could just barely hear it, then Id open and close my mouth. It will become very evident if there isnt a good seal/fit because as you open your mouth the static sound will either get allot louder or there will be no change. You want the no change obviously. My original pair leaked allot of noise as I started to open my mouth that wasnt quite as evident in every day life.

 

[JIGF]

Yeah, remold would be the option for us. Thanks lonereaction.

 

[piotrus-g]

If you're 18 I believe you don't have to worry about fit issue over time. However it's quite common that your ear canal got bigger after some time of using IEMs. Typically it's about 2-3 years.