Multi-Custom In-Ear Monitor Review, Resource, Mfg List & Discussion (Check first post for review links & information)

[average_joe]

Quote:

I do not suggest, nor even demand; I state facts. Your contradicting them would be an offense to the very cosmos and all of reality.

 
Sorry sir.
 
Quote:

Joe, can you share the statistics about how many times you had to send your CIEM for refit? I remember you sent back Hidition NT-6 and Spiral Ears SE-5. Did you ever get ideal fit out of stock? Have you ever sent your CIEM back more than 1 time?

 
Of the CIEMs I have reviewed, I have had the NT-6 reshelled since the canals were a bit too tight.  I probably could have lived with them, but since I rarely use any one CIEM for an extended period of time, except when I review it, I figured I could get it fixed.  I have sent two others back for refits (no need to name names) and Grzegorz sent me another 5-way which allowed me to compare that with the new one.  My first custom IEM, the EM3 Pro also has a fit issue, which I now know was due to the ear impression not being taken nearly deep enough.  I have built up the canals with nail polish, and lots of it!  
 
But I do get an ideal fit most of the time.  The keys are to take a good impression following how the manufacturer recommends they are taken and make sure the block is as deep in your ear as possible.  Ship the impressions in a protective box, and most of the time things will work well.

 

[Sinocelt]

Quote:

I do not suggest, nor even demand; I state facts. Your contradicting them would be an offense to the very cosmos and all of reality.

Sorry sir.

Well. At least now we know why the world will end this year.

 

[Kuroda Tsubasa]

Well. At least now we know why the world will end this year.

Does it mean that we should return to the past and take away the mentioned CIEMs from Joe to prevent this fateful event?

At least I hope that I will be able to get my Miracle done before the world will end.

 

[Metalboy]

How are your first impressions of the NT6 Pro?

 

[average_joe]

My first impressions of the NT-6 pro are that it is close to the NT-6 except with more bass and not as bright, but then I haven't listened to it for many days, so I don't have a great feel for where it really fits.  However, if it were my only CIEM I don't think I would be complaining.
 
And I also added a CK10 vs. NE-6 comparison to the NT-6 review not too long ago, so if that is of interest to anyone, check it out.

 

[rawrster]

I think I'm done for a long time in terms of headphone rig so I may think about a backup or main earphone. I have my JH5 but maybe something different could be in order but still haven't decided.
 
Have you ever heard the HD800? Would the Reference Monitors be the closest to the sound signature of the HD800? If theres nothing like that here then any idea about something similar to say a CK10 with more bass but less treble?
 
Ideally it would be ConUS since I'd rather not deal with customs and longer shipping times (or paying for more for EMS) and I'm aware that limits me in some way but there are still a good amount of choices here.

 

[FrostIK]

Quote:

My first impressions of the NT-6 pro are that it is close to the NT-6 except with more bass and not as bright, but then I haven't listened to it for many days, so I don't have a great feel for where it really fits.  However, if it were my only CIEM I don't think I would be complaining.

 
How many sound bores have NT-6 Pro? It's 5-way while NT-6 is 4-way with 3 sound bores. So I have expected NT-6 Pro to have 4 of them.

 

[average_joe]

Quote:

I think I'm done for a long time in terms of headphone rig so I may think about a backup or main earphone. I have my JH5 but maybe something different could be in order but still haven't decided.
 
Have you ever heard the HD800? Would the Reference Monitors be the closest to the sound signature of the HD800? If theres nothing like that here then any idea about something similar to say a CK10 with more bass but less treble?
 
Ideally it would be ConUS since I'd rather not deal with customs and longer shipping times (or paying for more for EMS) and I'm aware that limits me in some way but there are still a good amount of choices here.

 
I haven't heard the HD800 for quite a while so take what I am saying with a gain of salt, but from memory it is brighter than the Reference.  As far as being close to the CK10, or DBA-02, the closest I have heard would be the UERM from a US manufacturer.  Overseas, the Rooth LS6 seems fairly close to what you are looking for.  The new LSX5 has a nice sound to it and once I am done with my 5-way review, I will be evaluating the X5.  It may help if you let me know how close you think the JH5 is to the HD800 and CK10.
 
Quote:

 
How many sound bores have NT-6 Pro? It's 5-way while NT-6 is 4-way with 3 sound bores. So I have expected NT-6 Pro to have 4 of them.

 
Both the NT-6 pro and NT-6 share the same outer construction; 3 sound bores.Since I didn't get a clear shell, I really can't (and haven't even tried to this point) compare internal hardware.

 

[rawrster]

The JH16 demo is similar to the JH5 custom. I haven't heard the real thing but the JH5 sounds like a baby JH16 demo so similar signature but different level of ability.
 
It does sound like the Reference Monitors is for me esp since I don't really want to deal outside of the US for things such as refits or communication.

 

[average_joe]

Quote:

The JH16 demo is similar to the JH5 custom. I haven't heard the real thing but the JH5 sounds like a baby JH16 demo so similar signature but different level of ability.
 
It does sound like the Reference Monitors is for me esp since I don't really want to deal outside of the US for things such as refits or communication.

 
The Reference is warmer than a CK10.  You may want to talk to Marc at Alclair and see what he says about the sound signatures of his other models, but the Reference is technically quite good for the price.  Also, Mitch from Dream Earz can do frequency shaping for you, so that is another thought...
 
---
 
Update on the availability of the DUNU DC4:  It will be released internationally in the future, but not until 100 units are sold within China to make sure everything is OK with fit as DUNU wants to have the best possible CS experience for international customers.

 

[FrostIK]

Joe, what do you think about Sleek Audio CT7? Dual driver design for $700. Some people say it sounds flatter and more realistic than any top tier 6-8 driver CIEM.

 

[Kuroda Tsubasa]

Quote:

Joe, what do you think about Sleek Audio CT7? Dual driver design for $700. Some people say it sounds flatter and more realistic than any top tier 6-8 driver CIEM.

I doubt that Joe will be able to give you an answer that would satisfy you as he hasn't reviewed Sleek Audio CT7 yet.

 

[Xymordos]

O.O Joe how come I haven't heard news about Dunu selling customs in China?! I didn't see any news on erji.net yet!

 

[Mython]

Quote:

O.O Joe how come I haven't heard news about Dunu selling customs in China?! I didn't see any news on erji.net yet!

 
 
The explanation is simple:
 
In the rarified world of Custom IEMs, Joe has access to 'The Batphone':
 

 
 
 
You, on the other hand, don't...  

 

[project86]

Quote:

Joe, what do you think about Sleek Audio CT7? Dual driver design for $700. Some people say it sounds flatter and more realistic than any top tier 6-8 driver CIEM.

 
The only person I've heard say they were on that level was the guy from pnosker.com - he claimed they were as good as his JH16 and UE18, in terms of being a good all arounder. I know several people who were fairly disappointed with the CT7 though, so I kind of doubt they are as good as that single review makes them out to be. I suspect they just hit that reviewer's ideal sound sig (which is fine, nothing wrong with that).