tracyrick
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Jun 4, 2004
- Posts
- 276
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- 37
Tips for Tips after years of trial and error:
I find the Westone True-Fit to be best for sound isolation, even better than the Shure olives. I use on my SE535s. The Westone are longer/bigger and insert deeper. That's the key for me. I use the giant orange ones. They get mushy over time and have to be replaced. But that takes weeks/months. When they're fresh they are unbeatable.
The Star-tips didn't work as well for me. I think they were smaller and didn't block external sound as well as the True-Fits plus the SQ/bass was weaker.
Triple flanges go in easy (moisten them) and get fairly tight. However, sound isolation and bass/SQ is not as good, kind of like the Star-tips. They are also irritating to my ears, especially with lots of listening.
Custom molded Ety's - I wouldn't pay the money again unless you can find a great audiologist you trust to do the fitting and get them TIGHT. I got the customs a couple of years ago. It took a second molding before they were close to good, the first molding left them a little loose. Even after a second molding they are not as tight as the True-Fits. I couldn't deal with asking for a third fitting, I gave up I suppose. Sound isolation is good to great with them. Comfort is also great. But if I try to move around (like exercise or even eating), forget about it, they don't retain their seal very well. Best for sitting at a desk or flying on a plane. Other part of the equation is the microphonics issue, which of course getting the custom molds did nothing to solve. So I only use my SE535s when exercising.
I find the Westone True-Fit to be best for sound isolation, even better than the Shure olives. I use on my SE535s. The Westone are longer/bigger and insert deeper. That's the key for me. I use the giant orange ones. They get mushy over time and have to be replaced. But that takes weeks/months. When they're fresh they are unbeatable.
The Star-tips didn't work as well for me. I think they were smaller and didn't block external sound as well as the True-Fits plus the SQ/bass was weaker.
Triple flanges go in easy (moisten them) and get fairly tight. However, sound isolation and bass/SQ is not as good, kind of like the Star-tips. They are also irritating to my ears, especially with lots of listening.
Custom molded Ety's - I wouldn't pay the money again unless you can find a great audiologist you trust to do the fitting and get them TIGHT. I got the customs a couple of years ago. It took a second molding before they were close to good, the first molding left them a little loose. Even after a second molding they are not as tight as the True-Fits. I couldn't deal with asking for a third fitting, I gave up I suppose. Sound isolation is good to great with them. Comfort is also great. But if I try to move around (like exercise or even eating), forget about it, they don't retain their seal very well. Best for sitting at a desk or flying on a plane. Other part of the equation is the microphonics issue, which of course getting the custom molds did nothing to solve. So I only use my SE535s when exercising.