Repost from comments on the LH forum:
Alright, so I've spent some hours with these trying to figure out exactly what the problem is with the unpleasant, overpowering bass. Here's what I've tried:
* button trick = no change
* re-seating the connector = no change
* multiple devices = no change
* different ear tips = no change (only one will stay in my ears at all)
* positioning = bass is more pleasant when IEMs are half removed from my ears, but other frequencies suffer
* volume = volume at just above an audible level sounds alright, bass is overstated but not to the point of distortion (at regular listening levels - appropriate, not blaring - overbearing bass destroys any musicality)
* music = the less bass in a song, the better they sound (violin trio - sounds great, rock w/ bass guitar/female vocals - sub-par (Mariah Carey vocals sounded like she had throat cancer), metal w/ double bass drum - un-listenable)
* EQ = I was able to get a reasonably clean sound by severely cutting most of the lower frequencies (at the expense of...not having any low frequencies)
Conclusion: It seems to me that one issue may be related to the tuning. i didn't have time to narrow it down, but the overpowering bass seemed to come from a specific frequency (resonance), drowning out and distorting the rest of what would otherwise be an acceptable offering. Not sure that this helps anyone, but it's the best I'm able to objectively describe what I'm experiencing without just saying that they aren't good IEMs or that the sound signature isn't for me. Without this very specific and unfortunate bass issue, they would probably be worth the MSRP. With it, they don't sound like they are functioning as intended (resonance/borderline distortion), therefore preference for a specific sound signature is irrelevant and I wouldn't recommend them even at the initial price.
