New custom IEM company - Custom Art: discussion, review, and impressions thread

[epilogue]

Agreed 1000%. The FIBAE 2 is one of the most unapologetically fun and musical IEMs I've ever heard. It's unique in that it's extremely intimate, yet it's tuned to sound slightly laidback, so it's a amazingly packed with vivacious energy, but with brilliant finesse; the details are up, close, and personal, but it's never shoved in your face or aggressive. It's a contrast to the H8.2, which is darker, bassier, and more relaxed; the F2 has a sparklier, airier treble, and a more open and transparent midrange, yet it is impossible to make it sound harsh. The price estimates I heard being thrown about did nothing but further fuel the anticipation. Definitely one of the best things I auditioned at CanJam SG and now probably my no.1 bang-for-the-buck IEM recommendation by a mile. I can't wait to see what else FIBAE will bring, and I surely can't wait to drop cash on a full silicone F2 for both my ears and wallet to enjoy.

If it does come up to that figure being thrown around it'll be too hard to resist. The fibae 2 was one of the only things that got me ready to part with my money at canjam. It's one of those earphones that make you forget about the sound and just enjoy the music.

 

[jelt2359]

I was about to leave Canjam then Piotr called me over to try the FIBAE. This really nailed the tonality- especially the one driver. Was also one of the only iems that sounded okay out of my iphone 6S plus. Smooth, coherent, I was impressed. I can see why some may prefer the two. It's bassier, has more impact, but there's something pure and delicate about the one driver that just couldn't be beat if you're not into super complex music.

It's kinda like me preferring simple, single-ended tube circuits over balanced behemoths. The latter is showy and flashy, but the former is simple, faithful and true. That's what I felt about the one driver. The two driver gained maybe 10-15% more impact and fun and lost that maybe 5% of magical purity.

Btw I tried these without knowing what they were and how much they cost, and I was plenty impressed just by what I heard!

 

[piotrus-g]

Much much appreciate your feedback. It's amazing how positive FIBAE has been received by the head-fi community. I'm thankful and incredibly happy

 

[daulagiri]

I was about to leave Canjam then Piotr called me over to try the FIBAE. This really nailed the tonality- especially the one driver. Was also one of the only iems that sounded okay out of my iphone 6S plus. Smooth, coherent, I was impressed. I can see why some may prefer the two. It's bassier, has more impact, but there's something pure and delicate about the one driver that just couldn't be beat if you're not into super complex music.

It's kinda like me preferring simple, single-ended tube circuits over balanced behemoths. The latter is showy and flashy, but the former is simple, faithful and true. That's what I felt about the one driver. The two driver gained maybe 10-15% more impact and fun and lost that maybe 5% of magical purity.

Btw I tried these without knowing what they were and how much they cost, and I was plenty impressed just by what I heard!

Totally what you said! One of the best sonding IEM with relatively crappy source . Agree with 1 driver purity, but I'll trade that 5% pure with powa & fun!!

Btw, are you the one Piotr called to try FIBAE Sunday afternoon, one with black shirt if I'm not mistaken?

If it's you, I'm the guy that converse with him when u came. So sorry I never say hi, I'm a very shy person .

 

[jelt2359]

Yes that was me

 

[Aradea]

Can someone PM me the price range/estimate of the Fibae 2? And expected launch date?
Thats is of course if piotr does not mind

 

[Deezel177]

Can someone PM me the price range/estimate of the Fibae 2? And expected launch date?
Thats is of course if piotr does not mind

 
The launch date for the FIBAE 1 and 2 are expected to be in April. I don't know if I have the go-ahead to reveal the price estimate though.

 

[piotrus-g]

The launch date for the FIBAE 1 and 2 are expected to be in April. I don't know if I have the go-ahead to reveal the price estimate though.

go ahead, it's not a secret, i guess, but I have to stress, it's only estimate

 

[Deezel177]

go ahead, it's not a secret, i guess, but I have to stress, it's only estimate

 
From what I heard, it's gonna be priced under S$1k, replacing the Music Two at its price point.

 

[Aradea]

From what I heard, it's gonna be priced under S$1k, replacing the Music Two at its price point.

Thank you.

Well if it is (hopefully) replacing the music two at its price point, I am praying it to be under $500

 

[Deezel177]

Thank you.

Well if it is (hopefully) replacing the music two at its price point, I am praying it to be under $500

I'm not sure under 500 SGD would be possible. The Music Two is currently priced at around 800 SGD. Somewhere between 800-1000 SGD seems the most likely.

 

[daulagiri]

Just reposting information from CustomArt's facebook page:


Edit:
Just got mail from Piotr. This facebook post refers to local EU price point. For international, expect price around less than €500. Still f-cheap for this tech & sound!!

He should charge more, and use those profit to expand his lab!!

 

[daulagiri]

Thank you.

Well if it is (hopefully) replacing the music two at its price point, I am praying it to be under $500

You can order direct via CA's website. Total cost will be cheaper. That is if you ok to handle your own impressions, shipping, and customs.

I won't encourage that if you don't have your impressions handy. Better pay extra for the experts (Music Sanctuary in SG) to mainly handle your impressions and those admin/formalities thingy.

 

[Aradea]

I'm not sure under 500 SGD would be possible. The Music Two is currently priced at around 800 SGD. Somewhere between 800-1000 SGD seems the most likely.

I meant in USD not SGD actually. Yeah ordering via CA website seemed cheaper

 

[cellarbro]

Peter, I commend you for the harmony 8.2. I didn't enjoy them at first until I finally figured out what went wrong.
 
I have to be completely honest, when I got the harmony 8.2 part of the tour and put them on I was like these sound really strange. They didn't have upper mid frequencies that were accurate. It sounded muddy in that range and extremely recessed.
 
I kind of disliked and didn't think the sound was any good to begin with. I definitely gave them at least 10 hours of ear time and the EI.XX about a good 3 hours maybe. The mid range vocals were there and forward but when presenting electronic music with pads that fill up the entire frequency spectrum, they sounded like something was being cut out and distorted to sound muddy.
 
I only liked the harmony 8.2 for acoustic music due to this challenge I found that it couldn't reproduce and make music with pad sounds that filled up a large portion of the frequency spectrum all at once. It wasn't until today that I thought to myself there has to be something wrong. I first tried to plug these into my dac/amp. The sound stage opened up and the instruments filled out. There was a better sense of imaging but there was still that pesky problem of electronic music sounding like trash. Still good for acoustic music but not for pop even. I found that strange that it wouldn't be tuned to utilize such a popular genre of music. I finally decided to play with the ear tips. I used some thickish foam ear tips that I got from RHA. They fit really well, increased the isolation by a wide margin. The best part is that it wasn't till I replace the silicone earths that someone had used before me on the harmony 8.2 that I realized that wow these are really good. The upper mid range no longer sounded like dirt. Something about the silicone ear tips and the way that the ear tip piece is shaped probably lead to weird acoustic reproduction in the ear. 
 
I mean it was literally the same thing with the EI.XX, I found it strange that the treble sounded like it was buried 10 feet in the ground. It didn't sound like it had anything above 8k on the frequency range. The bass was heavy and slammed hard, but at times a little too hard. Replacing the ear tips and changing the RHA ear tips back and forth between the EI.XX made me realize that this was probably closer to how the harmony 8.2 is supposed to sound - smooth, non fatiguing, musical. The EI.XX finally stopped being a one trick bass focused IEM and turned into a smaller version of the harmony 8.2 with probably more of a V shape in the sound. Mids still not being as great as the harmony but they still sound good.
 
 
This is how I am currently perceiving the harmony 8.2
 
Musical, clear, mid forward, not the final say in detail but very good clarity and detailed never the less, amazing low end sub bass without much fatigue to the treble. Somewhat a neutralish sound to the signature despite the mids being forward, maybe a little bump in the sub bass and bass region. Larger sound stage and better imaging when plugged into my Magni/Modi with a better separation in the instruments. I still don't think I am getting the pure essence of the 8.2 with the tips. Sounds absolutely fantastic when you have the right fit and tips. If not for the universal version, I could see it only getting better. Coherent, musical, detailed, easy to listen to. I still prefer my SE846 but in terms of them being in the same league, absolutely. Something I might considering purchasing. Before finding the right tips, I probably would have passed. Im glad I went back to mess around with them a bit.
 
 
EI.XX-
 
Similar to the 8.2, but the mid range isn't as clear, detailed and resolution isn't up to par with 8.2. Treble is a little on the rolled off side, but definitely not bad. It sounded really bad at first with the wrong tips.  After - Great bass and also very precise and balanced mid bass to bass frequency when set up properly with correct tips. Sounds very fun. Not the final word in detail as the mid range and treble are not as refined as the 8.2. On their own they would probably be pretty decent but when A/Bing the 8.2 as a contrast, the XX get killed. A baby version of the 8.2 harmony.
 
 
My honest review- Hoping to have the opportunity to test any other further brain child of yours in the future. My tip for those going out to test the 8.2 and EI.XX for the tour, try different tips. Both these IEM's sound great. If your not getting the sound and you think something is off, try looking into your own inventory bag for ear tips. Didn't find any tips part of the tour that particularly gave me the same results as some tips from my own supply.