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

[Dukedudez]

Alright fellow headfiers, I need a suggestion. I hope this is the right place to post this. The left earbud on my Soundmagic E30 earphones stopped working, and getting them fixed will basically cost the same as buying a new pair. So, instead, I want to buy a totally different pair of in-ear headphones. Here's what I'm looking for:

1. Under $75
2. Fairly large soundstage
3. Comfortable (I want to be able to wear these for hours)
4. Durable (I want to be able to use these while I'm running, longboarding, etc.)
5. I listen to mostly alternative and folk music so I want them to go well with these genres.

 

[Tilpo]

Alright fellow headfiers, I need a suggestion. I hope this is the right place to post this. The left earbud on my Soundmagic E30 earphones stopped working, and getting them fixed will basically cost the same as buying a new pair. So, instead, I want to buy a totally different pair of in-ear headphones. Here's what I'm looking for:

• Under $75
• Fairly large soundstage
• Comfortable (I want to be able to wear these for hours)
• Durable (I want to be able to use these while I'm running, longboarding, etc.)
• I listen to mostly alternative and folk music so I want them to go well with these genres.

This thread is for Custom IEM's. I'd check out the one for regular, universal IEM's if I were you, and ask the same question there.

Good luck with your search!

 

[average_joe]

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Seems like 5 drivers are where the magic's at these days.  Can't say my ears disagree.

 
Five is a good number!  Six and eight are also nice, but no one seems to like seven (unless you combine an aud-5X with an ES5)
 
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Isn't a studio monitor supposed to be neutral?

 
Of course not, they are supposed to be overly bright!
 
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Anyone have thoughts on the best custom IEM for female vocals? I listen to a lot of R&B, pop, and on occasion, soundtrack music.
 
My top contender right now are the Westone ES5s.

 
I haven't heard the ES5, so I can't comment about it, but the Earsonics products have some captivating vocals, and the LS8+ (even though I only heard the demo) and 5-way are also exceptional.  Really, there are many great choices, but what exactly are you looking for in your vocals? Forward presentation, brightness, liquidity, etc.
 
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I just sent out my impressions for the Lear LCM-5. I hope to have the finished product (including the true texture faceplate of course) by early July. I'll explain the whole adapter thing at that point.

 
Very cool, same here.
 
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Joe, what are your opinions on custom reshells?
I want to get a decent IEM, preferably custom, in the near future as I'll be doing a lot of commuting on the train/bus starting September.
Since all my past experiences with IEM's have been fairly negative in terms of comfort, I wish to try a universal out first. If I like it I want to try customs out too, but since it's not my primary listening device I don't want to spend huge sums on it. As far as I know reshelling is cheaper than getting a budget custom, but I'd be willing to spend a maximum budget of $500 for the CIEM's (including tax and shipping).
How do you think reshelled universals (e.g . TF10) compare to customs in the aforementioned budget?
Thanks.

 
A reshelled TF10 can be had for under $300, maybe around $300 with impressions (you can buy one that doesn't have a warranty since you will void it anyways).  I think it is essential to get an aftermarket cable such as the Chris_Himself or Silver Dragon as that really opens up the soundstage, fixes the recessed midrange, and smoothes the treble without reducing detail levels.  So, with the CH cable, it is about $400 and about $500 with the SD cable.
 
Technically, the custom IEMs I have heard ($500 and up) are better than the reshelled TF10 with aftermarket cables.  There are cheaper custom IEMs that I haven't heard with the exception of a demo and someone else's molded custom so I can't say for sure, but I do think the Rooth LS2 is a very good performer for a dual BA, and I am sure the JH5 is also.  If you do have $500, can you stretch to $550 to $600 or so?  If you can you have quite a few very good options such as the Ambient Monitor AM4, Dream Earz aud-5X, Alclair Reference, DUNU DC4, etc.  If you can't, I would go for something like the Rooth or JH.  Project86 reviewed a Westone that may fit your price range.

 

[ChrisSC]

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Five is a good number!  Six and eight are also nice, but no one seems to like seven (unless you combine an aud-5X with an ES5)
 

Yep, my 7-driver es5+'s are music to my ears! 

 

[average_joe]

Frogbeats has their custom IEM page up here: http://customs.frogbeats.com/
 
I have added some quick sound signature info to the first post of this thread for the CIEMs that are in process of being reviewed.
 
Ambient Acoustics can answer questions and place orders in English and they are working on an English version of their site.
 
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Yep, my 7-driver es5+'s are music to my ears! 

 
Dream Earz will be offering this configuration, so if you are interested, let Mitch know!

 

[project86]

I was just thinking that the other day - why no 7 driver customs? We have 1 through 6, and 8, but no 7. Then I hear about a brand launching a 7 driver model soon. I guess they'll be able to claim that they are unique in that aspect. 
 
But of course driver count is not the only important factor in sound quality, especially when you get to 5 drivers and beyond.
 
Joe, what colors did you choose for the Lear LCM-5? It would be quite embarrassing if we end up getting the same..... 

 

[Tilpo]

I wonder: how good are the crossover circuits in multi-driver CIEM's? Are dips or bumps in frequency response audible?

 

[tupac0306]

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I was just thinking that the other day - why no 7 driver customs? We have 1 through 6, and 8, but no 7. Then I hear about a brand launching a 7 driver model soon. I guess they'll be able to claim that they are unique in that aspect. 
 
But of course driver count is not the only important factor in sound quality, especially when you get to 5 drivers and beyond.
 
Joe, what colors did you choose for the Lear LCM-5? It would be quite embarrassing if we end up getting the same..... 

Hmm..I don't see the unique about 7 drivers. I guess it's really down to the technique how they crossover the drivers. Heir audio managed to do a 20 drivers IEMs.

 

[project86]

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Hmm..I don't see the unique about 7 drivers. I guess it's really down to the technique how they crossover the drivers. Heir audio managed to do a 20 drivers IEMs.

 
Oh, I agree. It's only "unique" in that I haven't seen anybody do it before (apart from upgraded reshells).  But nothing about it makes it particularly appealing based purely on the number 7. 
 
I don't even know the configuration of this upcoming model. Maybe it starts similar to an ES5, then adds dual super-tweeter drivers. Or maybe it's like the Heir Audio 8.A, but only has a single bass driver instead of dual. Or maybe it has quad low freq drivers, with dual mids and a single high. There are so many possibilities - again, none of which are necessarily desirable. 

 

[average_joe]

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I was just thinking that the other day - why no 7 driver customs? We have 1 through 6, and 8, but no 7. Then I hear about a brand launching a 7 driver model soon. I guess they'll be able to claim that they are unique in that aspect. 
 
But of course driver count is not the only important factor in sound quality, especially when you get to 5 drivers and beyond.
 
Joe, what colors did you choose for the Lear LCM-5? It would be quite embarrassing if we end up getting the same..... 

 
Clear shell with the gray True Texture, how about you?  And what brand is launching the 7 driver?  Beat Audio has a 7 driver, which they say has 14 drivers, but that is total.
 
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I wonder: how good are the crossover circuits in multi-driver CIEM's? Are dips or bumps in frequency response audible?

 
Depends on the particular custom IEM.  I think the bigger issue is driver matching.

 

[project86]

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Clear shell with the gray True Texture, how about you?  And what brand is launching the 7 driver?  Beat Audio has a 7 driver, which they say has 14 drivers, but that is total.
 

 
I had a hard time deciding. Was considering a nice green since I don't have a custom in that color yet. I also like the Yellow with black that they use in their promo shots. But I already have yellow for one side on my LCM-2B. So I ended up ordering black True Texture faceplates, light blue translucent shell on one side, darker translucent blue on the other, and clear tips. I don't think you can ever go wrong with blue shells. Same with clear shells though - it's like the tuxedo of customs, never going out of style. 
 
Yeah the 7 driver model I was talking about is the BA14pro. Now that I think about it, we have probably discussed it here in the past. I guess it's not really a "new" launch, but will be "newly available" to our region through custom-iem.com. I've never heard of anyone who has tried it, even among my friends from China.

 

[average_joe]

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I had a hard time deciding. Was considering a nice green since I don't have a custom in that color yet. I also like the Yellow with black that they use in their promo shots. But I already have yellow for one side on my LCM-2B. So I ended up ordering black True Texture faceplates, light blue translucent shell on one side, darker translucent blue on the other, and clear tips. I don't think you can ever go wrong with blue shells. Same with clear shells though - it's like the tuxedo of customs, never going out of style. 
 
Yeah the 7 driver model I was talking about is the BA14pro. Now that I think about it, we have probably discussed it here in the past. I guess it's not really a "new" launch, but will be "newly available" to our region through custom-iem.com. I've never heard of anyone who has tried it, even among my friends from China.

 
Sounds nice!  Ours should look different then, and I am going with a red canal and blue canal for easy L/R identification!  Now, I just need to figure out how to take pictures as well as you do!
 
Are you going to be getting the BA14pro?  And isn't it a bank breaker?

 

[Xymordos]

BA products doesn't have a very good name in China, that's why not many experienced people tried it. 

 

[project86]

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Sounds nice!  Ours should look different then, and I am going with a red canal and blue canal for easy L/R identification!  Now, I just need to figure out how to take pictures as well as you do!
 
Are you going to be getting the BA14pro?  And isn't it a bank breaker?

Wait, are you insinuating that I take good pictures? Because I find that hard to believe.... seriously, I'm working on it but still have a LONG way to go.
 
I love the red/blue canal idea. Very cool. 
 
I don't have plans to try the BA14pro at the moment. With the LCM-5, Heir 4.A, HE-400, Ultrasone Signature Pro, and Thunderpants all arriving within a couple months of each other, I just don't see how I'd have the time for another one. Not to mention the price. Honestly, I'm more intrigued by the Aurisonics AS-2 and the UM PP6. But maybe someday. 
 
 
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BA products doesn't have a very good name in China, that's why not many experienced people tried it. 

 
Can you clarify this for me a bit: do you mean literally, the name they use in China is not very good? Or are you saying their reputation is not all that good? If it's the reputation, is it a matter of just not being very well known, or is it more like some people have tried them and not been very impressed?
 
Just curious. I love getting the inside scoop about perceptions, from a different point of view. 

 

[average_joe]

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Wait, are you insinuating that I take good pictures? Because I find that hard to believe.... seriously, I'm working on it but still have a LONG way to go.
 
I love the red/blue canal idea. Very cool. 
 
I don't have plans to try the BA14pro at the moment. With the LCM-5, Heir 4.A, HE-400, Ultrasone Signature Pro, and Thunderpants all arriving within a couple months of each other, I just don't see how I'd have the time for another one. Not to mention the price. Honestly, I'm more intrigued by the Aurisonics AS-2 and the UM PP6. But maybe someday. 
 
 
 
Can you clarify this for me a bit: do you mean literally, the name they use in China is not very good? Or are you saying their reputation is not all that good? If it's the reputation, is it a matter of just not being very well known, or is it more like some people have tried them and not been very impressed?
 
Just curious. I love getting the inside scoop about perceptions, from a different point of view. 

 
 Is this a case of people thinking their own work isn't as good as it is!  I think these pictures are pretty good.

 
And the market has exploded.  I am backlogged with custom IEMs, but am happy that I have finished my amp reviews as for me, amps take longer to review.  My problem is that the more custom IEMs I have, the more comparisons I need to do.  And I realize I need to change up my reviews into a different, easier to digest format.  I am working behind the scenes to make things easier for people to get a quick impression about how something sounds, performs, and compares but am still thinking about how exactly to do so and present it.
 
Anyways, there are so many products that have the ability to be great.  I am very interested in hearing the PP6, especially since my recent experience with the Rooth demos.  While the demos didn't perform on par with my custom Rooth, their performance was much  more impressive than the UM demos that went around a while ago.  And there is also the UEPRM, Dream Earz 7 driver, and many more.  So many more!  As far as the AS2, if the BA and dynamic are well integrated like the LSX5, we could have another great contender on our hands and the LCM5 with the ability to change the sound with the cable sounds pretty interesting.  I am still interested in some of the CIEMs I haven't heard, but they will have to wait.  Oh, and companies that don't have reviews on here, like the G-Customs products,  Stage 93, and Compact Monitors also interest me.
 
And good call on the questions about the perception of BAs in China...