Return of the Sensa's

[raisin]

I had to send my Sensa's back to the factory for some work and just got them back (three week turnaround). I had blocked one tube with some earwax beyond casual reach, and was suffering intermittent cutout on the other unit.
Sensa was able to clean the blockage (nc!), but what was interesting was their treatment of the other plug. They sent the old silicone body back in the box, and it was melted through from end to end. Evidently, they are able to re-use the drivers. Seems like they plug the canal tubes to prevent the solvent from damaging the inside of the armatures, then dissolve out the unit, from wire to tubes.
What is also interesting is the change in construction techniques. On my still original left-hand unit, the curved plastic sleeve butts up to the silicone body. On the re-built side, they knotted the terminus and molded it right into the silicone body. Looks like an enhanced strain relief method.

 

[root]

A couple of weeks ago I had a similar problem to yours and Jason's (jjcha).
The connection to the high frequency driver in the left monitor was unstable/loose and worked intermittently as well- if I pushed on the monitor using my hand, and not always then. Only the high frequencies in the left driver were lost; the right IEM worked ok on all frequencies.

It's hard to imagine but I got treated very specially and got my 2XS repaired, back and perfect within a week (including the time it took to get them there and back again). The whole repairing process took only 3 days! as my case was treated very urgently (though I can't give out the secrets on this one

).

Anyway, they have managed to replace the left monitor (got the drivers replaced and got it coated in a new silicone) and the original, right one is still the same.

I do highly recommend the guys at ACS Hearing Protection (Harpenden).

Ps. It's important for all IEM users: when your IEM's are not in use it's better to put them back into a box with silicate crystals so as to get rid of humidity. From now on I store them in the same box they came with; but only the monitors with the wires coming out and the lid slightly ajar.

 

[iamdone]

Quote:

Originally Posted by raisin I had to send my Sensa's back to the factory for some work and just got them back (three week turnaround). I had blocked one tube with some earwax beyond casual reach, and was suffering intermittent cutout on the other unit. Sensa was able to clean the blockage (nc!), but what was interesting was their treatment of the other plug. They sent the old silicone body back in the box, and it was melted through from end to end. Evidently, they are able to re-use the drivers. Seems like they plug the canal tubes to prevent the solvent from damaging the inside of the armatures, then dissolve out the unit, from wire to tubes. What is also interesting is the change in construction techniques. On my still original left-hand unit, the curved plastic sleeve butts up to the silicone body. On the re-built side, they knotted the terminus and molded it right into the silicone body. Looks like an enhanced strain relief method.

That's how mine look now. My first set looked like your original.

As I stated in the other thread, I also have both drivers in the right earpiece starting to short out. I had mine for over a year so will they charge me? I guess I'll give them a call.

I wonder how many other's have this problem. Hopefully it's not widespread.

 

[Kurt]

Quote:

Originally Posted by iamdone I wonder how many other's have this problem. Hopefully it's not widespread.

Same here. After 8 months of very rare use one of the left drivers started to short out.
Sensa told me to ship them together with the impressions. But I didn’t receive the impressions together with the phones. So I told them. They would always ship them together with the phones, they answered. Not in my case I said. After I told them 3 times I don’t have them, I gave up.

This is a design flaw. I would have to pay 150 bucks per earpiece for the repair of a design flaw?

As mentioned, I use my portable setup way less often as I expected, so I can live with the HD-25-1. If I feel otherwise sometimes, I take the PS-1 with me, which smokes the IEM’s anyway.

Cheers

 

[iamdone]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kurt Same here. After 8 months of very rare use one of the left drivers started to short out. Sensa told me to ship them together with the impressions. But I didn’t receive the impressions together with the phones. So I told them. They would always ship them together with the phones, they answered. Not in my case I said. After I told them 3 times I don’t have them, I gave up. This is a design flaw. I would have to pay 150 bucks per earpiece for the repair of a design flaw? As mentioned, I use my portable setup way less often as I expected, so I can live with the HD-25-1. If I feel otherwise sometimes, I take the PS-1 with me, which smokes the IEM’s anyway. Cheers

This is what I thought would happen. I'm not spending more money on impressions and another $150 for something that can just short out again. It's got some life left but I'm just going to use the ue10 from here on out.

No wonder you're always pushing the PS-1 having such a bad experience with the iems. I am not longer recommending the sensas and would suggest people think twice before getting any custom iems since their life expentancy is only 3-5 years anyway. Looks like sensas could have a problem on their hands if more people start having this problem.

 

[root]

None of us has had problems with both monitors- only one was causing malfunction (in my case it was the HF driver in the left one). Maybe it was just a batch of faulty drivers and their faults showed up only after some use.
We won't know it now as the new drivers need to show their full capacity in the long run. I wouldn't discard them, though. iamdone- yes, I'd advise you to phone them; if it's really a design flaw on a larger scale it has to be free of charge. Right now my pair is perfect as it is, but I've learned my lesson and now I clean my ears even more often

and treat my 2-XS with fetish-like care after each use and I always keep them in the box with silicate crystals since that time.

 

[iamdone]

Quote:

Originally Posted by root None of us has had problems with both monitors- only one was causing malfunction (in my case it was the HF driver in the left one). Maybe it was just a batch of faulty drivers and their faults showed up only after some use. We won't know it now as the new drivers need to show their full capacity in the long run. I wouldn't discard them, though. iamdone- yes, I'd advise you to phone them; if it's really a design flaw on a larger scale it has to be free of charge. Right now my pair is perfect as it is, but I've learned my lesson and now I clean my ears even more often and treat my 2-XS with fetish-like care after each use and I always keep them in the box with silicate crystals since that time.

I'll give them a call but if I have to pay anymore, I'm not going to bother.

On mine, actually both right drivers are shorting out with just a little pressure. On the other set I had it was just the left treble driver. I really think it's just a very delicate connection on the inside and the silcone allows too much movement and eventually can cause a short. I've been extremely careful and they've been in their original box sealed up for half the time I've owned them.

I'm just finding my overall experience with all the troubles doesn't outweight my enjoyment. Both iems are not quite to the sound level I'd hoped for. I should have spent my money on a pair of PS-1s and skipped the whole custom iems experience. Oh well, I guess I'll chauk it up as a learning experience and spend my money more wisely in the future.

 

[random person]

This is distressing news. Happily, Ultimate Ears has a full one year warranty -- but I also think (as iamdone posted in another thread) that the hard acrylic might indeed be more durable than the Sensa material. I've had my UE5cs a year and four months now with no problems. I've dropped them on the floor three times, hooked them on objects (door knobs, weight benches etc) a couple of times and I also run with them routinely where they get soaking wet. To date, no problems at all.

 

[raisin]

I don't see faulty drivers or the flexibility of the silicone as being the root of the problem being described here.
When I recieved my pair originally, my only concern was the way the memory sleeve terminated at the body. It just seemed that all the twisting forces would be focused in that spot. The "fix" sensa has implemented indicates that to be a problem area.
Although my pair was repaired under warranty, I don't think $150 is a terrible price to pay to salvage an $800 investment. That said, I agree that people have to accept that these custom IEM's are a rapidly depreciating luxury.

 

[iamdone]

Quote:

Originally Posted by raisin I don't see faulty drivers or the flexibility of the silicone as being the root of the problem being described here. When I recieved my pair originally, my only concern was the way the memory sleeve terminated at the body. It just seemed that all the twisting forces would be focused in that spot. The "fix" sensa has implemented indicates that to be a problem area. Although my pair was repaired under warranty, I don't think $150 is a terrible price to pay to salvage an $800 investment. That said, I agree that people have to accept that these custom IEM's are a rapidly depreciating luxury.

My pair already have this supposed fix, if you mean the knot in the wire on the inside of the driver.

It's $150 plus another $50 for another impression (since they shrink after a year). I don't really think $200 up keep after only a year on a $800 investment is worth it. I think if you pay this much, you'd expect it to last at least the 3 year minimum they claim, if not more. Just take this thread as a word of caution. Maybe we're the only ones with problems out of all the iems they've sold.

 

[Blitzula]

Quote:

Originally Posted by iamdone My pair already have this supposed fix, if you mean the knot in the wire on the inside of the driver. It's $150 plus another $50 for another impression (since they shrink after a year). I don't really think $200 up keep after only a year on a $800 investment is worth it. I think if you pay this much, you'd expect it to last at least the 3 year minimum they claim, if not more. Just take this thread as a word of caution. Maybe we're the only ones with problems out of all the iems they've sold.

That's what kept me from buying the high-end custom IEMs, no long term or lifetime warranty. For $500-$1,000, that's ridiculous.

I never understood either why posters here claimed these would last for a decade or lifetime when both UE and Sensaphonics said otherwise.

The PS-1 is a great choice for portability on a sound basis alone. I really thought it was excellent with my Ipod, but hearing problems have caused me to reduce my headphone usage dramatically and I had to sell it.

Sorry to hear about your problems Iamdone.

 

[iamdone]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blitzula That's what kept me from buying the high-end custom IEMs, no long term or lifetime warranty. For $500-$1,000, that's ridiculous. I never understood either why posters here claimed these would last for a decade or lifetime when both UE and Sensaphonics said otherwise. The PS-1 is a great choice for portability on a sound basis alone. I really thought it was excellent with my Ipod, but hearing problems have caused me to reduce my headphone usage dramatically and I had to sell it. Sorry to hear about your problems Iamdone.

No problem. The funny thing is I thought I was done using the sensas but on a whim decided to try the treble boost on the ipod and found I prefer this sound signature to the ue10. Now after I month of reusing them, they break. Oh, well, I'm back to the ue10 and enjoying them fairly well. I still find the RS-1 just so much more enjoyable though. Maybe I'll pick up the Grado streetstyles when they're released later this year.

 

[drp]

There was a custom IEM longevity-related thread about seven months ago, where Sugarfried made mention of a pair of Sensas that were going strong after extended use. Through many responses, I believe we settled on assuming around 4-5 years of use out of custom IEMs, major changes in personal weight notwithstanding. The general consensus for potential buyers was that this was an acceptable time frame for a custom product of this nature. I ordered my 2-XS with this understanding.

Mine are around four months old now and still working well, and I use them quite a bit and not too tenderly at that. The termination is with the small knot encased in the silicone. With this configuration, it seems that it would be very difficult to cause movement to the internal wires; take a pretty hard tug. I store them in the little flat zipper case.

I also hope that these are isolated cases. There are quite a few 2X-S users out there, and given that our forum flames the bad with the same zeal that we fanfare the good, we'll surely read about the bad ones.

Personally, I don't think that at this level any defects or less-than-optimal manufacturing techniques are acceptable and should be simply repaired without charge or hassle. I'm also very happy with the 2X-S as I thnk they sound fantastic and would order them again.

 

[ken36]

Excelleny information. Wonder how this is going to play out.

 

[digihead]

Quote:

Originally Posted by raisin I don't see faulty drivers or the flexibility of the silicone as being the root of the problem being described here. When I recieved my pair originally, my only concern was the way the memory sleeve terminated at the body. It just seemed that all the twisting forces would be focused in that spot. The "fix" sensa has implemented indicates that to be a problem area. Although my pair was repaired under warranty, I don't think $150 is a terrible price to pay to salvage an $800 investment. That said, I agree that people have to accept that these custom IEM's are a rapidly depreciating luxury.

I have to say, I disagree with the statement above. Spending another $200 ($150+$50 impressions) after only a year is ridiculous.

I rarely use my Sensas as I prefer the Westone ES3s for the music I listen to. I was doing an A/B comparison a couple of days ago and I think my left driver is indeed starting to short out as well. It is more of an intermittent type of sound situation but distressing none the less. For all the hassle I went through just to get the Sensas to fit and then to have them start to short out (and the cable is turning green), after less than a year of use is just crazy.

Based on the info from other members having the same issue, I would strongly suggest against getting Sensaphonics. Unless of course money is absolutely no object to you. If so, let me know and I'll be happy to let you PayPal me some....