At first, as a newbie in the world of IEMs and the hobby of portable Music, I didn't believe that eartips could have a significant impact on the sound. However, after hands - on experience, I'm now convinced that eartips can make a huge difference. So, I've bought quite a few eartips for tuning my IEMs and as spares.
As we all know, both eartips and earphones/headphone upgrade cables play important roles in shaping the sound of IEMs. Compared to eaephones/headphone cables, eartips are much more affordable (most eartips cost less than USS25-30 for two pairs. To be honest, I still think they're a bit pricey
). Proper use of eartips can greatly affect the final sound of an IEM (or make it more to your liking). Although eartips can't completely transform a poor - sounding IEM to a good one, using the wrong ones can make a good IEM sound mediocre or unappealing
. On the contrary, using the right eartips can enhance the sound
. (Another crucial point is that the size of the eartips must fit your ear canals properly. They should fit snugly without any sound leakage; otherwise, the sound will become very thin.)
After experimenting with eartips for sometimes, I'd like to share the following experiences. (I usually share high - end audio equipment. This time, let's talk about something more affordable
). I hope this post can help those in need save some money (in Hong Kong, it's difficult （or even not allow）to try eartips in most places)
:
General Speaking:
♦ Soft or thin eartips: They produce a clearer, thinner, and looser sound. The sound is less concentrated, and the soundstage seems deeper and wider.
♦ Hard or thick eartips: They make the sound more concentrated with stronger linearity. The bass is tighter and more impactful, with better slam and a more dynamic sound.
♦ Eartips with an opening larger than the IEM's sound outlet: They allow more high - frequency sounds to come out, resulting in a more natural and relaxed sound.
♦ Eartips with an opening smaller than the IEM's sound outlet (most eartips): They make the high - frequency sounds duller a bit and the sound more compact.
♦ Eartips with a copper nozzle inside the opening: They produce a slower sound, with looser bass and a more natural sound.
♦ Eartips with an aluminum alloy nozzle inside the opening: They produce a faster sound, with tighter bass and a more dynamic sound.
♦ Eartips with a filter at the opening: They block the sound, especially high - frequency sounds. The sound becomes more compact and dynamic.
Here are my basic impressions of the sound of the eartips I've tried:
1. Eletech Baroque: It has the largest opening among all the eartips (other eartips usually have smaller openings than the IEM's sound outlet), so it doesn't block the sound, especially high - frequency sounds. In addition, the texture of the eartip is moderately soft. It doesn't significantly affect any of the three - frequency ranges, the sound's linearity, or the volume. Since it preserves the original sound characteristics of the earphone, it's my reference eartip. I usually use it when testing IEMs.
2. Pentaconn Coreir Brass: The surface of the eartip is a bit sticky (effectively reducing sound leakage). The sound is looser, and it enhances the bass volume but makes the bass softer.
3. Pentaconn Coreir AL Alloy: The surface of the eartip is a bit sticky (effectively reducing sound leakage). It refines the sound's linearity and enhances the bass impact, making the sound more dynamic.
4. DIVINUS PRISM - Liquid silicone eartips: The surface of the eartip is a bit sticky (effectively reducing sound leakage). Among all the eartips, it's softer and thinner, so the sound is clearest and thinnest and the soundstage is much deeper and wider comparably.
5. Penon Liqueurs eartips (Black): The surface is a bit sticky. When you choose the right size, it fits your ears perfectly and has excellent sound - isolation. It refines the sound's linearity and enhances the bass impact more than any other eartip I have. It can greatly improve the linearity and dynamics of your IEM.
6. Penon Liqueurs eartips (Orange): The surface is also a bit sticky, similar to the black version. The effect is similar to the black version, but it doesn't refine the sound's linearity as much, and the bass is a bit looser.
7. Artpical silicone transparent eartips: The surface is a bit sticky (effectively reducing sound leakage). The eartip itself is harder and thicker. It refines the sound's linearity, enhances the bass impact, and makes the sound more dynamic.
8. AZLA SednaEarfit MAX Standard: There is a filter inside the eartip's outlet, which blocks high - frequency sounds. It also enhances the sound's linearity and dynamics.
Note: *I've forgotten the effects of some eartips I bought before because I haven't used them recently. For example, the DIVINUS VELVET eartips. I'll add my impressions after I have the chance to try them again later.
As we all know, both eartips and earphones/headphone upgrade cables play important roles in shaping the sound of IEMs. Compared to eaephones/headphone cables, eartips are much more affordable (most eartips cost less than USS25-30 for two pairs. To be honest, I still think they're a bit pricey
). Proper use of eartips can greatly affect the final sound of an IEM (or make it more to your liking). Although eartips can't completely transform a poor - sounding IEM to a good one, using the wrong ones can make a good IEM sound mediocre or unappealing. On the contrary, using the right eartips can enhance the sound. (Another crucial point is that the size of the eartips must fit your ear canals properly. They should fit snugly without any sound leakage; otherwise, the sound will become very thin.)After experimenting with eartips for sometimes, I'd like to share the following experiences. (I usually share high - end audio equipment. This time, let's talk about something more affordable
). I hope this post can help those in need save some money (in Hong Kong, it's difficult （or even not allow）to try eartips in most places):General Speaking:
♦ Soft or thin eartips: They produce a clearer, thinner, and looser sound. The sound is less concentrated, and the soundstage seems deeper and wider.
♦ Hard or thick eartips: They make the sound more concentrated with stronger linearity. The bass is tighter and more impactful, with better slam and a more dynamic sound.
♦ Eartips with an opening larger than the IEM's sound outlet: They allow more high - frequency sounds to come out, resulting in a more natural and relaxed sound.
♦ Eartips with an opening smaller than the IEM's sound outlet (most eartips): They make the high - frequency sounds duller a bit and the sound more compact.
♦ Eartips with a copper nozzle inside the opening: They produce a slower sound, with looser bass and a more natural sound.
♦ Eartips with an aluminum alloy nozzle inside the opening: They produce a faster sound, with tighter bass and a more dynamic sound.
♦ Eartips with a filter at the opening: They block the sound, especially high - frequency sounds. The sound becomes more compact and dynamic.
Here are my basic impressions of the sound of the eartips I've tried:
1. Eletech Baroque: It has the largest opening among all the eartips (other eartips usually have smaller openings than the IEM's sound outlet), so it doesn't block the sound, especially high - frequency sounds. In addition, the texture of the eartip is moderately soft. It doesn't significantly affect any of the three - frequency ranges, the sound's linearity, or the volume. Since it preserves the original sound characteristics of the earphone, it's my reference eartip. I usually use it when testing IEMs.
2. Pentaconn Coreir Brass: The surface of the eartip is a bit sticky (effectively reducing sound leakage). The sound is looser, and it enhances the bass volume but makes the bass softer.
3. Pentaconn Coreir AL Alloy: The surface of the eartip is a bit sticky (effectively reducing sound leakage). It refines the sound's linearity and enhances the bass impact, making the sound more dynamic.
4. DIVINUS PRISM - Liquid silicone eartips: The surface of the eartip is a bit sticky (effectively reducing sound leakage). Among all the eartips, it's softer and thinner, so the sound is clearest and thinnest and the soundstage is much deeper and wider comparably.
5. Penon Liqueurs eartips (Black): The surface is a bit sticky. When you choose the right size, it fits your ears perfectly and has excellent sound - isolation. It refines the sound's linearity and enhances the bass impact more than any other eartip I have. It can greatly improve the linearity and dynamics of your IEM.
6. Penon Liqueurs eartips (Orange): The surface is also a bit sticky, similar to the black version. The effect is similar to the black version, but it doesn't refine the sound's linearity as much, and the bass is a bit looser.
7. Artpical silicone transparent eartips: The surface is a bit sticky (effectively reducing sound leakage). The eartip itself is harder and thicker. It refines the sound's linearity, enhances the bass impact, and makes the sound more dynamic.
8. AZLA SednaEarfit MAX Standard: There is a filter inside the eartip's outlet, which blocks high - frequency sounds. It also enhances the sound's linearity and dynamics.
Note: *I've forgotten the effects of some eartips I bought before because I haven't used them recently. For example, the DIVINUS VELVET eartips. I'll add my impressions after I have the chance to try them again later.
Last edited:
