Custom vs Universal IEMs

[uchihaitachi]

What is the exact science behind the claims that Universals are better than Customs for an IEM of the same model.
 
As long as they are inserted properly with the correct seal, shouldn't it sound the same? Do the tips that you use on the IEM make a difference? 
Is there any objective data for comparing these differences?

 

[castleofargh]

the more apart will your left and right ears be, the more you might benefit from customs as they can carry the sound with less interference from the in ear canal.
but in practice I'm not even sure I agree with that idea, because if we have an imbalance of sort, in loudness or in frequency response, we have it all the time, so our brain is compensating for it. wouldn't the custom create the opposite imbalance?
well I really don't know, and I guess it depends on how much time you spend with the CIEM ^_^.
 
another important factor is the distance between the driver and the eardrum. with CIEM if well done the guys should have a pretty good idea of the right distance based on the bends on the molds. but then you can also just learn how to use your IEM and where to place it to get the best response.
obviously that depends on the shape of the IEM, an ER4 can be placed almost anywhere in a 2cm distance and still seal pretty well, so it may take time. something like a shure or westone, you don't have that much of maneuverability. you put it where it goes and you're done, if it's not right, well too bad.
 
yes the tips you use have an impact on the sound. that much is very very clear. in a way we could see the custom tip as just another tip with another impact on the sound.
 
 
objective data, I don't know, but for tips you have many on the M.R.O blog like this one http://rinchoi.blogspot.fr/2012/12/the-effect-of-ear-sleeves-westone-4.html

 

[Spyro]

  What is the exact science behind the claims that Universals are better than Customs for an IEM of the same model.
 
 

 
I never heard this claim.  The only reason one would go with a custom is for great difficulty with universal fit to assure a more even sound left to right.
 
Also, some like customs for the quick convenience of insertion.  Its like a corkscrew.  super easy and quick.

 

[uchihaitachi]

   
I never heard this claim.  The only reason one would go with a custom is for great difficulty with universal fit to assure a more even sound left to right.
 
Also, some like customs for the quick convenience of insertion.  Its like a corkscrew.  super easy and quick.

I meant to say Customs are better than Universals, sorry!

 

[Toom]

   
I never heard this claim.  The only reason one would go with a custom is for great difficulty with universal fit to assure a more even sound left to right.
 
Also, some like customs for the quick convenience of insertion.  Its like a corkscrew.  super easy and quick.

 
Surely customs are more tricky to insert than universals?

 

[uchihaitachi]

   
Surely customs are more tricky to insert than universals?

For sure in my experience....

 

[castleofargh]

 

   
I never heard this claim.  The only reason one would go with a custom is for great difficulty with universal fit to assure a more even sound left to right.
 
Also, some like customs for the quick convenience of insertion.  Its like a corkscrew.  super easy and quick.

 
Surely customs are more tricky to insert than universals?

it will depend on your ears and how deep the shell goes into the ear canal(depends on the brand, but you also can usually make personal requests).
but a well done custom shell is super easy to put on, it will kind of pop in place while you turn it in.
I don't use my customs when I know that I will have to take them off often, simply because as soon as I put them somewhere I feel the need to clean them up before putting them back on. with universals, I will badly wipe the tip with my fingers and put it back on like a dirty little monkey that I am ^_^. else I would say that the customs are easier to put on.

 

[Toom]

 
it will depend on your ears and how deep the shell goes into the ear canal(depends on the brand, but you also can usually make personal requests).
but a well done custom shell is super easy to put on, it will kind of pop in place while you turn it in.
I don't use my customs when I know that I will have to take them off often, simply because as soon as I put them somewhere I feel the need to clean them up before putting them back on. with universals, I will badly wipe the tip with my fingers and put it back on like a dirty little monkey that I am ^_^. else I would say that the customs are easier to put on.

 
Reminds me of the days when I had the Ety ER4s and used to 'lick' the triple flange tips to make them slide in easier.

Yes, this is every level of gross, I know....luckily I now use earbuds and ear-rape is many therapy sessions behind me.

 

[nanaholic]

   
Surely customs are more tricky to insert than universals?

 
For universals I think it depends on what sort of tips you are using.  When I was using Comply foam or Shure olives with my Westone universals, putting them on requires a few good squeeze of those tips to compress them so they could slide into your ear canal and then waiting for them to expand and sit right to get a good seal, if it doesn't you take them out and repeat the steps again, and then adjusting the unit so as to make them sit in the bowl of your earlobes.  For customs once I got used to the "in and twist" motion putting them on right takes no time and they slide in right 99% of the time, that 1% of the time it doesn't sit right could be fixed by a quick moving around of my jaws.  

 

[F208Frank]

I am debating the whole custom vs universal issue for myself right now too, sigh.

1. custom (supposedly more comfortable) but ear shapes may change and resell value tanks.
2. universal, fit will never be as ideal as custom, but resell value much higher.

 

[gregorio]

I'm not aware of the actual published science but I would think it depends on what you're using them for. If you're using them as actual IEMs, then customs are by far the best choice, they generally provide better isolation and crucially, they're far more secure when moving around performing. Neither of those is so much of a vital concern if you're just using them as a consumer for music enjoyment, especially if you can find universals which give you a decent seal.

G

 

[dhc0329]

I struggled with CIEM with the fit as I have very sensitive ear canal before moving to UIEM and I do not miss CIEM at all.
In fact, I couldn't be happier. I did not sense much difference in sound as UIEM is just as good.

 

[jaakkopasanen]

Same priced universals might give you better sound quality than customs simply because it's possible to push production costs down with mass production. However manufacturing and marketing economics don't always work this simple and often if a company can get away with selling IEM that costs $1 to produce for $300 they have no reason not to do so.

Customs provide fantastic isolation but I wouldn't necessarily go through again the process of having my customs rebuilt two times to get the right fit. All in all it took me more than a year. If you absolutely need the isolation then customs are the way to go and paying little extra shouldn't be a problem. I wouldn't call my customs more comfortable than the universals I have used, they're about the same.

 

[F208Frank]

I guess at the end of the day for me I want to see for myself so I went custom route with the A18t...

I have swapped earphones and headphones once in a while and although the upgrades satisfy me, that curiosity of some small group of people stating it is a game changer makes me curious. With that said I'm sure some of those people or perhaps maybe even all of them are exaggerating.

Best to trust own ears and own experiences imo. I did go into this expecting some turbulence and lots of money lost due to heavy HEAVY depreciation though so... yeah.

Thanks for the words though, perhaps after I receive mine, I will scoff at customs forever. Haha.