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

[unknownguardian]

  I can confirm that all the SE5s (three of them are mine) I listened so far are top class.
 
However my two SE5s (with me now) clearly sound different. And my newer SE5 has shorter canal lengths than the older one. In my honest opinion, I don't really think canal length is significant enough to change the SE5's whole sound signature.  I do enjoy both of my SE5s. Although none of this matters now,  I wonder which one of my SE5s sounds the same as the one AJ reviewed. 
 
Because my older SE5 was actually finished later than AJ's "newer" SE5 that he reviewed. 
 
Interesting.......

and may i ask what's your reason for owning 3 SE5s? one for listening to, one for viewing pleasure and last one as the backup? 

 

 

[tupac0306]

and may i ask what's your reason for owning 3 SE5s? one for listening to, one for viewing pleasure and last one as the backup? 

 

After owning my first SE5, I couldn't believe there is a CIEM on earth sound as good as this. So... I lost myself.

 

[shakur1996]

After owning my first SE5, I couldn't believe there is a CIEM on earth sound as good as this. So... I lost myself.

And all of a sudden Harmony 8 Pro popped up and everything has changed

 

[Mython]

And all of a sudden Harmony 8 Pro popped up and everything has changed

 

 

[tupac0306]

Nope. nothing has changed SE5 is still a unique CIEM.

 

[Barra]

  Nope. nothing has changed SE5 is still a unique CIEM.

So I keep hearing about the Harmony 8 Pro, but I am not seeing anything special about it other than silicone shells and bass venting as it is only a traditional 3 way design. Am I missing something important like a unique BA model choice or pixie dust, does it reach SE5 or NT6 performance levels?

 

[tupac0306]

  So I keep hearing about the Harmony 8 Pro, but I am not seeing anything special about it other than silicone shells and bass venting as it is only a traditional 3 way design. Am I missing something important like a unique BA model choice or pixie dust, does it reach SE5 or NT6 performance levels?

 
I realize I should actually describe the sound of the CIEM rather than just show you some numbers. But I am very lazy. 
 
In short, yes it does perform at the level of NT6 and SE5.  If NT6 is a middle line, SE5 and H8P area like a pair of gloves, while they both have super technical ability, they match with each other in terms of sound signature (not brightness). SE5 is warm, organic, forward, detailed and emotional. H8P is warm, clear, spacious, laid back and more forgiving.
 
 
Not to mention H8P has THE best bass I have ever heard from a CIEM

 

[Mython]

  So I keep hearing about the Harmony 8 Pro, but I am not seeing anything special about it other than silicone shells and bass venting as it is only a traditional 3 way design. Am I missing something important like a unique BA model choice or pixie dust, does it reach SE5 or NT6 performance levels?

 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/663051/new-custom-iem-company-custom-art-discussion-review-and-impressions-thread/780#post_10415207

 

[SilverEars]

   
http://www.head-fi.org/t/663051/new-custom-iem-company-custom-art-discussion-review-and-impressions-thread/780#post_10415207

That's interesting, so you can have multiple woofers in electrical range output different sub frequencies ranges without crossovers.  Is this the characteristics of each BA or is it all integrated together?  I wonder if this is why Roxanne has 4 for each range and some of them cover certain ranges.  
 
I would guess this is only possible with woofers?  How are they dividing without crossovers?  Some sort of acoustical damper?

 

[Mython]

Peter is entitled to keep at least some hard-won cards close to his chest, don't you think..? 

 

[Barra]

 

  So I keep hearing about the Harmony 8 Pro, but I am not seeing anything special about it other than silicone shells and bass venting as it is only a traditional 3 way design. Am I missing something important like a unique BA model choice or pixie dust, does it reach SE5 or NT6 performance levels?

 
I realize I should actually describe the sound of the CIEM rather than just show you some numbers. But I am very lazy. 
 
In short, yes it does perform at the level of NT6 and SE5.  If NT6 is a middle line, SE5 and H8P area like a pair of gloves, while they both have super technical ability, they match with each other in terms of sound signature (not brightness). SE5 is warm, organic, forward, detailed and emotional. H8P is warm, clear, spacious, laid back and more forgiving.
 
 
Not to mention H8P has THE best bass I have ever heard from a CIEM

Wow, the more I hear about the SE5, the more I think it is the perfect CIEM for me. I just noticed how you describe it as having forward vocals as well.
 
The only thing that puts me off is the inconsistent reviews which I had always assumed has to do with the difficulty of fitting five bores into varying shaped molds while keeping consistent sound. However, you pointed out that both of your sets sound slightly different going to the same ears so there must be some version changes as well.

 

[Barra]

 

  So I keep hearing about the Harmony 8 Pro, but I am not seeing anything special about it other than silicone shells and bass venting as it is only a traditional 3 way design. Am I missing something important like a unique BA model choice or pixie dust, does it reach SE5 or NT6 performance levels?

 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/663051/new-custom-iem-company-custom-art-discussion-review-and-impressions-thread/780#post_10415207

That's interesting that the Harmony 8 Pro has four bores with two going to bass, one sub and the other mid bass - with all bass drivers vented. The three bores in my NT6pro are what I consider its disadvantage to the SE5 because it shares them between the 5-way crossover points mixing the sound frequencies which I wouldn't consider optimal.
 
So the Harmony 8 Pro sounds like a bass monster as Tupac mentioned with all its focus there, but its mids and treble don't sound like they are getting a lot of attention. Is this a very dark sounding CIEM? Wouldn't this kill its resolution outside of a great bass resolution? How organic sounding are cymbals for example?

 

[Barra]

 

   
http://www.head-fi.org/t/663051/new-custom-iem-company-custom-art-discussion-review-and-impressions-thread/780#post_10415207

That's interesting, so you can have multiple woofers in electrical range output different sub frequencies ranges without crossovers.  Is this the characteristics of each BA or is it all integrated together?  I wonder if this is why Roxanne has 4 for each range and some of them cover certain ranges.  
 
I would guess this is only possible with woofers?  How are they dividing without crossovers?  Some sort of acoustical damper?

My guess is that it has something to do with the tube length, diameter, or material providing different bass frequency responses. That is what is so wonderful about having the SE5 with a special tube for each of the five crossover points - it provides a lot of tuning options.

 

[tupac0306]

  Wow, the more I hear about the SE5, the more I think it is the perfect CIEM for me. I just noticed how you describe it as having forward vocals as well.
 
The only thing that puts me off is the inconsistent reviews which I had always assumed has to do with the difficulty of fitting five bores into varying shaped molds while keeping consistent sound. However, you pointed out that both of your sets sound slightly different going to the same ears so there must be some version changes as well.

My two SE5s do sound different, but I should only talk about the current one, which is obvious more important.
 
Apart from my old SE5, the current SE5 has the "best" SINGING vocals presentation within my CIEMs. It has most emotions, density, super layer, resolution, naturalness and smoothness. But I do know a small amount of people like very density-low, clear, thin vocals, specially for listening to female singing vocals. If you are one of them, SE5 is probably not for you because it sounds ORGANIC.
 
 

 
So the Harmony 8 Pro sounds like a bass monster as Tupac mentioned with all its focus there, but its mids and treble don't sound like they are getting a lot of attention. Is this a very dark sounding CIEM? Wouldn't this kill its resolution outside of a great bass resolution? How organic sounding are cymbals for example?

H8P is not a dark, but it's warm and the signature goes to your category of "colored". However H8P showed me that a CIEM doesn't have to be bright to present instruments well with super clarity, separation, accuracy and detail (including cymbals).
 
By the way I don't really know what is bass resolution. How resolving the bass is? hmmm hard to describe. 

 

[Barra]

 

  Wow, the more I hear about the SE5, the more I think it is the perfect CIEM for me. I just noticed how you describe it as having forward vocals as well.
 
The only thing that puts me off is the inconsistent reviews which I had always assumed has to do with the difficulty of fitting five bores into varying shaped molds while keeping consistent sound. However, you pointed out that both of your sets sound slightly different going to the same ears so there must be some version changes as well.

My two SE5s do sound different, but I should only talk about the current one, which is obvious more important.
 
Apart from my old SE5, the current SE5 has the "best" SINGING vocals presentation within my CIEMs. It has most emotions, density, super layer, resolution, naturalness and smoothness. But I do know a small amount of people like very density-low, clear, thin vocals, specially for listening to female singing vocals. If you are one of them, SE5 is probably not for you because it sounds ORGANIC.
 
 

 
So the Harmony 8 Pro sounds like a bass monster as Tupac mentioned with all its focus there, but its mids and treble don't sound like they are getting a lot of attention. Is this a very dark sounding CIEM? Wouldn't this kill its resolution outside of a great bass resolution? How organic sounding are cymbals for example?

H8P is not a dark, but it's warm and the signature goes to your category of "colored". However H8P showed me that a CIEM doesn't have to be bright to present instruments well with super clarity, separation, accuracy and detail (including cymbals).
 
By the way I don't really know what is bass resolution. How resolving the bass is? hmmm hard to describe. 

I like thick textured organic, but clear and transparent without a warm fog defusing the details. That's why I like the on stage type of presentation. Thin and set back sound stage has been used to describe the AK240 when compared to the 901 which is a real turn off with the AK240. My NT6pro can be thick and airy at the same time with textures that give me goose bumps even using my x5, so the AK240 description makes it sound like a downgrade to me.
 
IMO, an example of bass resolution at the extreme is my TF10s that tend to clump bass sounds into a single representative bass note/blob which makes the details hard to hear. Sounds great until I listen to the same "Tool" or "Disturbed" song with my NT6pro and I can hear that that bass guitar sound is actually two dueling bass guitars with some lead guitar notes as well as it allows me to hear the space between them.