I got my hf3 molds last Friday. With the 2-day shipping, my turnaround was exactly one week and one day. Very nice.
All there was in a large UPS puffy envelope was plastic baggie with Microsonic instruction pamphlet and the two molds.
I was initially struck by how small they were. They definitely didn't cover any more than the canal and the opening of said canal. My Freqs extended over the ridge and into the next "valley" of my ears. This extra surface area definitely made it easier to insert and remove than the hf3 molds, as I had something to grab and twist.
Was initially annoyed that there seemed to be no indication which one was for which ear. Eventually I came to realization that RED was RIGHT. Maybe this was obvious...
Inserting the hf3 stems was easy; just push the barrels on until it goes no further. Then you half-insert them in your ear and twist (I was experienced with my Freqs, but the pamphlet describes the procedure as well).
Disappointment: While the left ear fit seemed good, my right ear mold wouldn't seal. No amount of tugging my ear before, during and after insertion would seal. The only way to get the isolation I was hoping for was to push on the mold (toward my brain), but upon letting go, and and sound would rush in.
Realization #1: The custom molds (while pushing on right one) do not isolate any better than the Shure Olives. I sat in a quiet room playing white noise from an app on my phone. I carefully checked with each volume click, and the best-case isolation (with pushing on right mold) with the customs was exactly the same as with Shure Olives, possible one volume click worse.
Realization #2: The clear silicon molds seem to attract all sorts of wax, lint and stuff. I'm not sure it is an improvement in terms of comfort from my plastic Freqs, and it definitely seems like more of an annoyance in terms of upkeep and cleaning.
Realization #3: As mentioned earlier, with such small molds, it's harder to remove from the ear. You kinda have to pull on the hf3 housing and twist.
Sound quality: I did not do any critical listening or comparisons from customs to Olives. I wasn't about to sit and do a lot of listening with my finger pressing on my right ear. What little I did listen do didn't seem dramatically different or surprising. More to come on this...
Today's update: So I called the audiologist's office this morning. The receptionist remembered me and told me she would call me back after conferring with the audiologist. She noted on the phone that I was the first to have had such an issue (not sure if they have a 100% track record, if they don't do many of these, or if I'm super picky). She called back about two hours later and said she had contacted Microsonic. They would remake the right mold and send it directly to me. There was no discussion of making a new impression. "Call back if you have any other problems" was her last sentence.
Net net: So I'm back waiting. Even if the right mold is perfect, I'll probably still wonder if I should have just stuck with the Olives (as was suggested earlier). Knowing how my brain and wallet work, I would have always wondered if I was missing out and would eventually have gotten the customs. And the total price (clearance-priced hf3 and $123 molds) is still more than acceptable. And I'll definitely use them (perhaps more likely then foams at the gym). But I would definitely tell friends and Head-fiers that if the Shure Olives fit and work for you, save the money for something else.
Hope this helps others.
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