As promised, tip rolling sessions ended. I will be sharing only the summary because I don't have much time to write down a full review...
(So I am really sorry that you couldn't find an in depth review...)
(In total I have tried 66 pairs of tips, on the photo above you can see some of the tips used on the session)
The shape and the size of the earcanals varies slightly from person to person. This slight variations are transformed as huge different shape and size selections of iem tips.
Right tips can not only make your iem fit better (secure), isolate better, make you feel comfortable but also effects the sound perception.
Many tips accumulated on my collection over the years and I know how they can change the sound (and fit). I am showing some of them here...
(blue foams are the custom foams that I made, they are earplugs actually)
Large bore tips on this rolling sessions resulted in more open, more 3D sound. Also tamed some of the lower highs for my taste. On the other hand some small bore tips attenuated the lower highs and killed some sound-stage.
Some of the foams and gels killed the bass while most of them were not OK for B3.
Best Tips For Havi B3 Pro1:
First place: The best tips were the Sennheiser IE series Double Flange tips (S-M for me). Sennheiser IE have the largest bore (hole) compared to all the other tips.
Second Place: The second place goes to the Hifiman white silicone double flange type-1. Difference between these and the senns doubles were the isolation and attenuation of some high freq for the Hifimans. Although I like the isolation; attenuation of some (lower) high freq make me put the Hifimans to the second place. But while fitting the tip on the B3 its necessary to push the tip down to the body of the iem housing.
Third Place: Sony Hybrids and Senn single flanges
Fourth Place: Stock Single Flange Tips and No Name Foams (don't know the type)
(B3 in front of the Sennheiser IE Double Flange Tips)
Summary:
Although some kind of medium double flange tip were included with my original purchase of Havi B3 Pro1, it didn't work for me. From 3 different users here on head-fi I heard that senn double flange IE tips worked for them (They prefer it to the other tips).
This is exactly the same result for me.
Two people reported that they get good seal and fit with the triple flange tips. But pushing the tip to the body of the housing is a "must" for triple flanges. Otherwise they will extend too much and will not fit perfectly. Even using this method did not work for me, triple flanges were not-usable for me.
In my opinion
Havi should seriously be thinking of including Sennheiser IE Double Flange Tips (large bore) to their package.
The senn double flange tips elevates this iem's sound from
200USD level to the
300-350USD level in my opinion. Sound changes are that good. Comfort were also very good. The only drawback is the isolation. But I can live with that. My Havi is only "average" on isolation now. But its OK. Whenever I need more isolation I can switch back to the Hifiman double flange tips.
(Havi B3 Pro1 with senn double flange tips)
Hope this helps...
PS: For the senn tips you can google and ebay search.
And I cannot guarantee the fit for your ears But... you should give a try
New Information (04.2014) from Penonaudio: Havi started to include Senn double flange eartips (3 sizes) inside the B3 packages. Be sure that your Havi is from a fresh stock though
I have found these on ebay:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Replacement-Double-Flange-Ear-Buds-Tips-Cushion-for-Sennheiser-In-Ear-Headphones-/201007679659?pt=US_Replacement_Parts_Tools&hash=item2eccfdc8ab
...and these are with free shipping (found by the head-fi member Exesteils):
http://m.ebay.com/itm?itemId=261438597373
(But don't have any idea of the quality of their material and the seller...)
))
