Great help AJ, as usual
They are not for me honestly, a friend of mine who is new to the audiophile world and doesn't want to get attached by creating a head-fi account is asking for a ciem like that.
I think relatively warm-ish sound with lots of bass is what he is looking for. For him PP6 is out already, no extra device to be carried in the bag/pocket. I will also suggest him SE3 way ref (Kudos to Peter from Custom Art, who reminded me these ciems).
More suggestions are always welcome.
If this is for a friend, I would recommend the i9pro if it is still available (through custom-iem.com). That is the perfect bass-head CIEM IMO, but it isn't quite top-tier. If your friend doesn't have top-tier to compare with, then it will be amazing.
There is also the UM Merlin.
The SE4 is supposed to be closer to the SE5, but with more bass. I would recommend that over the SE3.
Oh, are those models are really bass heavy? I thought, for example, K10 is quite balanced while 8C is bass heavy.
The same goes for EM6 too, isn't it something like SE5way with small differences? So it shouldn't be bass heavy I guess.
Btw, how is your fit with EM6, I remember you had problems
I was comparing my 8.A vs. the Vision Ears (and Rhines) Stage 4, and the 8.A had a much larger emphasis on bass. The S-EM6 is not as bass heavy, but then I can change ear tips and get more bass and less treble.
I am almost sure it is the way I described mate. I think 8C (which is an updated/improved version of 8A from Good Old Heir days) is a bassy one while K10 is more balanced and neutral sounding. Anyway you can ask Dr Moulton I guess, in Noble Audio thread.
As for the EM6, I am also interested in EarSonics, both EM6 and EM32. Do you think for me (already have SE5way) is EM6 necessary or I should put my money on other things because they are relatively similar?
I think he might like the EM6, he was telling me: Ok the way you described SE5way is perfect, everything is fine, but I want more bass than that, even if the song is bass shy, I want to hear the booms/emphasis on low range. Maybe EM6 can really satisfy him.
The EM32 looks very interesting to me.
This is an unusual request for assistance in selecting a custom iem, and I was tempted just to send a pm to Average Joe, but just in case someone else has some degree of discomfort with wiring as it exits and loops around the ear, I'll ask publicly. I don't want to be overly dramatic, but this is nearly a life or death issue for me. As background, I have a rare disease known as Trigeminal Neuralgia (TN). It is pretty widely acknowledged to be the most painful condition known, with excruciating electric shocks and sharp stabs traveling along various nerves in the forehead and face, as well as other unpleasantries. If you google its informal name, "the suicide disease," TN is what will come up. Those like me who are further unlucky have type 2 TN which is defined by adding to the pain already described a constant, unrelenting nerve pain that is "only" as intense as a migraine.
For the last 4 1/2 years, listening to music has kept me sane. Giving the mind something else to concentrate on beside the pain signals constantly going off is a survival issue. And of course the "activity" needs to be passive. I can and do listen to music out loud, but I can't always hog the media room and perhaps more importantly, I need music to help me get to sleep. And thus my current problem. Different people have different "triggers" that can set off an attack of the sharper intermittent pain. Until recently, the area around my ears has not been a trigger zone and I've been able to use my UM3X for hours of comfortable listeneing. Unfortunately, now the area on the scalp under the protruding ear, especially at the top, has become sensitive. The area where the plastic covers the stock cord on the Westones is making them set off attacks and worsening the constant pain I experience.
So, at last, after all the self-indulgence, my questions: As you have evaluated CIEMs, have you noted any that are flush in the ear (or even recessed a bit) more than others? Can you remember any that have a more comfortable, softer or more pliable cord than others (particularly perhaps ones where the connection to the monitor is recessed so that it is only cord emerging)? Is there a particular company where you have a feeling they would work with me on further customizing their custom to accommodate my issues?
Not to be too greedy, but it would also be nice to have a choice with my preferred sound signature, which I think I can best describe by improving on what I like about the Westone UM3X. I like the fullness of the bass, but believe the Westone roll off a little too early, leaving that rumble the tiniest bit wanting. I guess a tad quicker in the bass wouldn't hurt, but not at expense of quantity, which is just right for me. I like the forward nature of the mids, and their warm, smooth nature. Especially fond of the fact that the midrange sounds dead even across its spectrum to my ears. Like the bass, I would sacrifice an iota of warmth and thickness of note for more transparency and instrument separation. But just an iota. In terms of treble, I am completely in agreement with ljokerl about liking the detail and non-fatiguing nature, but would like perhaps a tad more sparkle; not, however, at the expense of the ability to listen for long sessions. I'm not bothered, as some are, by the intimacy of the soundstage.
Thanks in advance for any suggestions you all may have.
Thanks for the question Mayordean and sorry to hear about your condition, but I am happy to hear you have found something to help make things tolerable. Many people have posted some great answers, but I will put in my 0.02.
There was someone on here insisting on the exact same thing, and unfortunately I can't recall who it was at this time. The person did find several CIEM manufacturers that could help. From what I recall, they figured out which CIEMs fit their sound signature and then started asking the manufacturers if they could make the CIEM with the cable down.
As far as overall comfort, silicone is generally better, but a properly fitted acrylic shell can also be fine for all day in my ears.
Here are some CIEMs that I have heard that are at least in the ballpark for sound signature:
Sensaphonics 3-MAX
EarSonics EM4
ACS T1
Dream Earz AUD-8X
Dunu DC4
Fit-Ear PS-5
UE PRM
Lime Ears LE3b (you can get it with a switch to change between the bass enhanced and standard versions)
On a side note, I have worn CIEMs (and universals) with an over-the-ear design in a way to where the cable was hanging down without touching my ears. It looks odd, as the cable is still going up and curving around, but it isn't looped behind my ear. They stay in place at my desk like that, so you may want to give that a try.
Hello guys,
I just wanted to share my experience in re-adjusting the fit of a CIEM. I received my reshelled Hidition NT-6 a couple of weeks ago, and the fit was ok, but a bit tight in the right ear, causing pain after 30mn or so. So I decided to resend them.
I had done the initial prints open mouth with a bite block (my fingers). I noticed that the right ear was too tight with my mouth closed but not as tight when my mouth was open. I understood then that opening my mouth made my right ear canal larger, but was fairly neutral on the left.
So when sending the right ear piece back, I send a new print, closed mouth this time, with the following pic:
Now I got them back and the fit is much better.
Since I took my SE5 prints closed mouth and the fit is perfect, I think I will take all my prints closed mouth from now on (BUT WHAT WORKS WITH ME DOES NOT APPLY TO EVERYBODY).
Yes, everyone is different from the standpoint of when their ear canals are larger, and it can change from ear to ear.
Which reminds me - @ Mayordean: once you get impressions, you can put them back in and see how they feel. You can check for what Mimouille experienced: issues with fit that are mouth position dependent. Some people also have had issues in certain positions, such as lying down, so that is a good thing to try also if you plan on lying down, for example.
Let us know if you have any other questions and good luck! There are so many CIEMs that are so good, even if they have different sound signatures, they do so many things right they sound amazing!
