High End CIEM/IEM Thread!

[F208Frank]

What do you guys think about high end headphones vs CIEMS? I'm finding myself always reaching for my HD800 instead of my UERM. My CIEMs are great, but I'm convinced that the HD800 triumphs any CIEMs I've heard up to date. And that's coming from an IEM enthusiast.

Personally I feel over ears despite being better on paper, sometimes I do prefer the more intimate iem sound. Depends on the mood for me.

I either use the LCD4 or the Legend X or the U18t. Decisions...

 

[F208Frank]

A budget of 8k - 10k USD, will allow for an exclusive Prestige CIEM. They are fairly rare, I think we built three sets in 2016. The Noble Katana fits the sound description you are looking for.


Reviews of the Katana can be found here http://www.head-fi.org/products/noble-audio-katana


The prestige is made from a solid medium, the medium could be wood, acrylic, hybrid alloys etc The ear mold is scanned by a 3d Scanner, and a block of material is then CNC milled to build the shell/housing of the CIEMs. The mill work alone can require 20+ hrs per side. Over all, a Prestige can take around 80hrs to build.

Some photos of a prestige are below:

Those are some expensive IEMs! They are really pretty though. Were you the gentleman at the Noble booth at CanJam 2019 NYC by any chance?

 

[FullCircle]

Those are some expensive IEMs! They are really pretty though. Were you the gentleman at the Noble booth at CanJam 2019 NYC by any chance?

Sorry

To be clear, they dont cost 8-10k, I'm saying if that is your budget.... one can definitely purchase a Prestige. The cost for a Prestige is around 4k USD.

No, I did not attend the NYC show, I reside in Asia, so I attend the shows on this side of the pond.