Hi, Joker (and anyone else who think they could help). I'm stuck in a three-way tie to replace my dead Ety HF5s:
1. 1964EARS V3
2. Alclair Reference
3. Custom Art Music Ones
How I narrowed it down to these three:
Regarding the HF5s, I loved their super-detailed and clear sound, as well as the amazing isolation. I disliked the weak bass in hip-hop/pop, microphonics in quiet settings, modest ear discomfort after long sessions, the occasional sibilance cropping up, as well as the "meh" soundstage (good left/right, but nothing really else).
I listen to many different kinds of music: rock, pop, folk, piano, vocal, some hip-hop, and a touch of spoken word, so balanced IEMs seem like the best option. I listen for hours on end, so comfort is important; I also like to run with music, so microphonics are also important. My budget is $500 maximum because I listen on a Samsung Galaxy S4/laptop/desktop PC and am already in the diminishing returns price range.
Taking these into consideration, I thought I should get the best entry-level custom IEM. These are the 3 highest sound-scoring custom IEMs under $500.
My current dilemma:
The Alclair Reference seems to be the best option, except that they may accentuate sibilance. I abhor sibilance and the HF5's sibilance sometimes got to me. The Music One and V3 seemed to be similarly technically talented (9.2/9.4 sound score, compared to the 9.4 of the Reference) that didn't have sibilance. I liked the V3 because you noted it was more "musical" than the Reference. I love music that excites me and gets me tapping my feet. But, I don't like muddy bass (about as much as I hate sibilance) which you mention about the V3s in comparison to the Reference: even though the HF5s lacked bass impact, I appreciated the bass' cleanliness.
So, then, I thought, OK, maybe the middle ground is the Custom One's: no sibilance and no muddy bass. But, it seems to be a little less technically talented than either the V3 and the Reference and I'm a bit hesitant about shipping costs to Poland for warranty and/or refit issues.
Where I need help: is the sibilance of the Reference worse than the V3's muddier bass? I realize I'm exaggerating their flaws here; these are two pretty great IEMs. I just want to make sure I spend my money in the best place.
The Custom Art Music Two's seem like the answer, sans shipping costs, but I realize you haven't listened to them and its reviews are scarce, particularly by those with custom IEM experience.