Feb 5, 2012 at 12:30 PM Post #1,111 of 4,841


Quote:
^To me its the unavailability of demo units. So I had to settle with an uIEM I really liked and have it customized. Fortunately, I didn't encounter any fit issues, it was perfect with Stage93 in Singapore. I am from the Philippines btw :D


Yeah I considered reshelling my favourite uIEM but was worried if it would change the sound in any way. Also toyed with the idea of reshelling and adding a driver (or 2 or 3). But there's so many variables to consider, its kinda nerve-wracking. Dunno if i'd take that risk over just getting a proper CIEM. Anyways, i'm in no rush.
 
 
Feb 5, 2012 at 12:59 PM Post #1,112 of 4,841
Quote:
^To me its the unavailability of demo units. So I had to settle with an uIEM I really liked and have it customized. Fortunately, I didn't encounter any fit issues, it was perfect with Stage93 in Singapore. I am from the Philippines btw :D


Yeah I considered reshelling my favourite uIEM but was worried if it would change the sound in any way. Also toyed with the idea of reshelling and adding a driver (or 2 or 3). But there's so many variables to consider, its kinda nerve-wracking. Dunno if i'd take that risk over just getting a proper CIEM. Anyways, i'm in no rush.
 


The Fabs 'fabulous earphones' aren't exactly 'cheap' but, as CIEMS go, they look like reasonable value.
 
Feb 5, 2012 at 2:16 PM Post #1,113 of 4,841
Thanks guys.  It was just the right ear piece that was sent for a refit, and the manufacturer is Livewires and model is the Trips.  I wanted to be generic as I know, price wise, they don't belong on the list of this thread, but build and function, I would surmise as being pretty similar. 
 
Yes, I already placed them in my drying container with silica drying agent.  Same thing.  The  right side is volume is much weaker and therefore, the sound is left centric.  They were originally refitted because the angle was a little too sharp and was causing slight ear discomfort.  This was after approx 30 hrs of wear time to allow ear/seal adjustments. I thought about the change in angle and even flipped wearing the right piece in my left ear and adjust it to provide a descent seal and the sound was pretty identical when worn correctly in my right ear.
 
I can go on speculating about the filters not being in the same placement as the left piece, but I wish to end my ordeal with this post.  It's being sent back along with the left piece to get it corrected. 
 
To the Heret1c, yes, it's an inconvenience, but like most customs, it's a service that you pay for and should take full advantage of making sure your customs fit perfectly and perform as it should.
 
On an irrelevant side note, I've found that ear impressions that I've done myself resulted in better results versus professionally made impressions - go figure.  With my Livewires and Future Sonic custom ear sleeves, both were made with professional impressions.  My latest set of FS custom sleeves and previous two universal reshells fit perfectly the first time without issues with impressions done only by myself.
 
Feb 5, 2012 at 5:12 PM Post #1,114 of 4,841
I was expecting major improvement in bass and said to myself if the treble didn't wise-up, I can always resort to tweaking. And just hoped the mids will not change. Anyway, result was no major change in mids if there's any, major improvement in bass and the treble wised-up, I'm wagging my tail ever since
biggrin.gif

I think the treble gets 'hot' though if that's the correct term from what I'm hearing, but it doesn't bother me when I'm just listening to the music.
 
Quote:
Yeah I considered reshelling my favourite uIEM but was worried if it would change the sound in any way. Also toyed with the idea of reshelling and adding a driver (or 2 or 3). But there's so many variables to consider, its kinda nerve-wracking. Dunno if i'd take that risk over just getting a proper CIEM. Anyways, i'm in no rush.
 



 
 
Feb 6, 2012 at 9:19 AM Post #1,115 of 4,841
Hi there,
 
I'll really will appreciate your help here guys- it's one of the few times I need it !!
 
I'll be getting some acs T1's very soon hopefully. The main reason is that this company also makes what they call 'sleepsound ear plugs' which are basically custom soft sleeping earplugs (i really need these). Both need an impression, but should i let the same impression be used for both products? I mean the ear canal changes shape according to my posture and there is a significant change of shape when I lie down.
 
 
Secondly, I'm concerned over the long term health impact of wearing custom in ear products. It's not about listening at loud volumes- i don't do that.
Let me explain. The first doctor I saw noticed no earwax. But the authorised acs audiologist said there are some flakes of earwax that will make it problematic to take impressions. Deep down flakes such that if ear impressions were taken these could be pushed to the ear drum and create a hazard. But isn't this what the custom iem body will do- push 'earwax' right near the ear canal. Isn't this dangerous?
Further- would it be dangerous to use the iem's for long periods during the day and then the custom earplugs at night? I mean what chance does earwax have of coming out....
 
 
I've been back to the doctors at my university (very well equipped department), and even after taking sodium bicarobonate eardrops (to prepare for wax removal), they won't take out any earwax. They see what they saw before- there simply is none there. Well i'll see what the audiologist now says, and if there's another 'dr vs audiologist' type disagreement, i'm scrapping this whole custom ear stuff- taken up so much of my time. Obviously I never think to buy a custom iem is worth all this effort, but it's that sleeping earplug that I really wanted. 
 
 
Hope to hear from some of you soon.
 
 
Feb 6, 2012 at 9:44 AM Post #1,116 of 4,841
I sleep with earplugs, and spend most of the day with either earplugs or a CIEM. When I take a shower, I pour some hydrogen peroxide to loosen the wax, before letting hot water pressure dislodge it away. No problem so far; I've seen two audiologists since I got my second CIEM and my ears were clean.
 
Feb 6, 2012 at 9:47 AM Post #1,117 of 4,841


Quote:
Thanks guys.  It was just the right ear piece that was sent for a refit, and the manufacturer is Livewires and model is the Trips.  I wanted to be generic as I know, price wise, they don't belong on the list of this thread, but build and function, I would surmise as being pretty similar. 
 
Yes, I already placed them in my drying container with silica drying agent.  Same thing.  The  right side is volume is much weaker and therefore, the sound is left centric.  They were originally refitted because the angle was a little too sharp and was causing slight ear discomfort.  This was after approx 30 hrs of wear time to allow ear/seal adjustments. I thought about the change in angle and even flipped wearing the right piece in my left ear and adjust it to provide a descent seal and the sound was pretty identical when worn correctly in my right ear.
 
I can go on speculating about the filters not being in the same placement as the left piece, but I wish to end my ordeal with this post.  It's being sent back along with the left piece to get it corrected. 
 
To the Heret1c, yes, it's an inconvenience, but like most customs, it's a service that you pay for and should take full advantage of making sure your customs fit perfectly and perform as it should.
 
On an irrelevant side note, I've found that ear impressions that I've done myself resulted in better results versus professionally made impressions - go figure.  With my Livewires and Future Sonic custom ear sleeves, both were made with professional impressions.  My latest set of FS custom sleeves and previous two universal reshells fit perfectly the first time without issues with impressions done only by myself.


Yes, that can really affect the sound, even a mm or so considering how small everything is.  It is best that you (anyone) do send channels back for a refit with detailed notes and even markings on the CIEM shell (wax pencil) so they can measure the two channels after their work is done. 
 
And the impressions I have taken myself also are as good, if not better than those taken by the pros.  But, I had some sub-par impression material which resulted in a slightly too large canal for the NT-6 as it was thicker than usual and when I injected the material it expanded my ear canal.  It really depends on the pro you go to IMO, but you never know until you go!  And I do want to point out that if you take your own and don't know what you are doing you are taking risks for safety and results.
 
Quote:
Hi there,
 
I'll really will appreciate your help here guys- it's one of the few times I need it !!
 
I'll be getting some acs T1's very soon hopefully. The main reason is that this company also makes what they call 'sleepsound ear plugs' which are basically custom soft sleeping earplugs (i really need these). Both need an impression, but should i let the same impression be used for both products? I mean the ear canal changes shape according to my posture and there is a significant change of shape when I lie down.
 
 
Secondly, I'm concerned over the long term health impact of wearing custom in ear products. It's not about listening at loud volumes- i don't do that.
Let me explain. The first doctor I saw noticed no earwax. But the authorised acs audiologist said there are some flakes of earwax that will make it problematic to take impressions. Deep down flakes such that if ear impressions were taken these could be pushed to the ear drum and create a hazard. But isn't this what the custom iem body will do- push 'earwax' right near the ear canal. Isn't this dangerous?
Further- would it be dangerous to use the iem's for long periods during the day and then the custom earplugs at night? I mean what chance does earwax have of coming out....
 
 
I've been back to the doctors at my university (very well equipped department), and even after taking sodium bicarobonate eardrops (to prepare for wax removal), they won't take out any earwax. They see what they saw before- there simply is none there. Well i'll see what the audiologist now says, and if there's another 'dr vs audiologist' type disagreement, i'm scrapping this whole custom ear stuff- taken up so much of my time. Obviously I never think to buy a custom iem is worth all this effort, but it's that sleeping earplug that I really wanted. 
 
 
Hope to hear from some of you soon.


If your ear shape changes, you should get different impressions for the best fit each way.
 
Here are my thoughts from a non-pro (Dr. or audiologist), so take them just as something to think about, but not to base your decision off of!  If you wear something blocking your ears for most of the day and night, you could get internal buildup, or you may get that wax collecting on the shells of the plugs/CIEMs.  It really depends on the type of cerumen you have (you said flaky, which means dry, similar to mine).  If you get internal buildup, your hearing will be affected and you will need to clean with hydrogen peroxide from time to time (this happens to my wife even though she only wears earphones at the gym, and that is unrelated).  If it builds up on your plugs/CIEM, you will need to make sure to clean them regularly (at least your CIEM) will degrade in performance if wax builds up in the sound tube.
 
There may be other issues from blocking off your ear canal for most of the day and night (other than wax related), but I am not aware of any.
 
Feb 6, 2012 at 11:40 AM Post #1,118 of 4,841
thanks for your responses. yea, if it builds up on the body of the iem then that's okay. I don't fancy using hydrogen peroxide though!

i'm still not sure on what happens if insertion of either the plug or the iem pushes wax right to the eardrum. is this an issue or is it something not to worry about?
 
Feb 6, 2012 at 11:56 AM Post #1,119 of 4,841
What do you think about acrylic vs silicon IEMs? I've heard that silicon IEMs is a kind of bacteria farm especially in summer. I mean the sweat soaks into the pores and etc. Acrylic IEMs do not have this problems.
 
Feb 6, 2012 at 12:20 PM Post #1,120 of 4,841
Hi,
 
Just wondering if anyone here has reshelled their Westone ES5s with Unique Melody?
Does the sound signature change and will the pure acrylic shell feel any different from the flex tip that Westone uses?
 
Thank you.
 
Feb 6, 2012 at 12:27 PM Post #1,123 of 4,841
By the way, for those of you who experience excessive wax in the ears, I happen to be aware, due to other, entirely non-audio-related, interests, that excessively waxy ears can sometimes be associated with a dietary deficiency of omega 3 fats. That doesn't always mean there is such a relationship, but it's at least worth considering.
 
Feb 8, 2012 at 1:50 PM Post #1,124 of 4,841
Hey guys. Just received my EM6 PRO. So I thought I should let you know how I find it.
biggrin.gif

 
Initial impressions, three words: detail! airy! bassy!
 
(I don't have EM3 anymore, so the comparison might not be 100% accurate)
 
EM6 With Twag cable > HM801+GAME card:
 
Sound signature: EM3 on steroid. More micro details. more extended both ends. I would still call it warm. a little bit faster than EM3, but not by much. It sounds more similar to LCD 2 rev.1 than EM3.
Highs/Treble: A lot more extended.  Very airy and at the same time doesn't produce any sibilance. Absolutely pleasure listening to it. I can hear a lot more details I couldn't with my EM3.
Mids: More neutral than EM3. Still liquid and organic. Not as forward as EM3, but still a bit more forward than JH16.
Bass: This is what impressed me the most. The bass is so powerful! It's at least as deep and punchy as JH16 if not deeper (I know this sound crazy since JH16 is a monster in bass department). The decay is a bit longer than JH16, but faster than EM3 I think.
Soundstage: I find it to be similar to EM3. Both the vertically and horizontally. 
 
 
I am so glad than I upgraded my EM3 (thanks for the bad fitting). I hope this short impression can help someone. Sorry for my crap english :p
 
Regards
 

 
 
 
Feb 8, 2012 at 3:31 PM Post #1,125 of 4,841
Looks like you have yourself a nice IEM, there, tupac0306 
beerchug.gif

 
 
 
On a different note, can anyone identify this IEM?:
 

 
I was speculating it might be fitear, but I'm really not certain
 
Thanks!
 

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