I understand that there may be discrepancies in sound, but what I was saying is even Grzegorz himself has used silicone-filled acrylic shells for his demos. A user (I believe it was @dennistdk) posted an image of an SE 3-way universal demo. This means that Grzegorz would be open to making universal demos if they could fit the SE5U’s five bores. This theory is further supported by his wording when he replied to my e-mail asking why there weren’t any demos of the SE5U. He told me that it was “physically impossible,” meaning that it would be possible if he had a shell with a big-enough nozzle. Although he did state that it wouldn’t be an absolute representation of the custom unit, he didn’t use that as the main reason why he couldn’t make an SE5U demo. What I’m saying is, technically, it would be possible to make an SE5U demo; he just needs the shells to do it.
That can be true, but speaking from personal experience, I find it easier to properly evaluate review units without bias, than it is to evaluate IEMs and cables I’ve personally purchased. This is because you see them as “assignments” rather than things you own and subconsciously have to justify. Even now, being totally transparent, I should’ve given the Lime Ears Aether 4-4.5 stars on Head-Fi if I was being 100% honest to myself.
Personal belongings can have sentimental value and it’s more difficult to admit a product’s flaws to yourself when you’ve spent hours upon hours auditioning it, hundreds (if not thousands) of dollars purchasing it, and weeks and weeks waiting for it to be made. That’s why we have cases of New Toy Syndrome, where when the CIEM finally arrives at your doorstep, the sheer time and money you’ve already spent before even listening to it influences your first impressions. You’ll be surprised how much of those impressions end up on the final review.
Of course it’s easy to say that most reviewers are only in it to get free stuff, and their work becomes compromised in the process. But, you’ll be surprised to find how physically-taxing reviewing can be. I personally don’t even have the time to enjoy review units after I’m done writing about them, because I have to instantly begin writing the next assignment. I can’t speak for every reviewer out there, but I never adopt the don’t-bite-the-hand-that-feeds-you mentality, because I want the same thing out of manufacturers as everyone else: For them to constantly improve. I have no other dog in this race other than providing information to those who need it, and the furtherment of the industry. Everything else is just fluff.
) - I know what sort of signatures I like and I don't actively badger manufacturers for gear, so odds are if something has been sent my way and I've agreed to review it then it will be something I already suspect I'll like, but I'm never worried about posting something negative. I'd much rather get blacklisted but highlight something I think could be improved so there get it better in future rather than just pay lip service to a review when I don't enjoy something.
