[csglinux]

I just posted a small review of my experiences with Sensaphonics' custom sleeves for the 846. I realize this is going to make me the most hated member of headfi, but I can't feel the love for these that others do.  More info at the link below.
 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/749859/review-chi-town-chi-sound-sensaphonics-custom-sleeves-is-a-slice-of-the-windy-city/15#post_11699431

 

[moedawg140]

Thank you, csglinux, for sharing your experience.

 

[olddude]

I doubt you are the most hated member of Head-Fi for posting the above.  We all have our different reactions and responses to equipment, and yours is as relevant as any other poster.
 
That said, my Sensaphonics sound superb with the Shure 846s.  I don't get any of the tunnel effect you discuss, and the seal is great.  No pain, no chafing, etc.  I do get some wind noise if I walk into the wind, but that seems reasonable.  The seal is good enough that, while I can hear cars around me, it's not annoying.  In my house, they are great.  Not as good as when I had my ears filled with gunk for the molds, but who wants that complete an isolation (I'm sure some of you do, but I found it a bit much)?
 
I've used Complys for years, on all of my iems, and I've never gotten as good a seal, with as much isolation, as with the Sensaphonics.  And I REALLY like Complys.

 

[Jazzi]

  I doubt you are the most hated member of Head-Fi for posting the above.  We all have our different reactions and responses to equipment, and yours is as relevant as any other poster.
 
That said, my Sensaphonics sound superb with the Shure 846s.  I don't get any of the tunnel effect you discuss, and the seal is great.  No pain, no chafing, etc.  I do get some wind noise if I walk into the wind, but that seems reasonable.  The seal is good enough that, while I can hear cars around me, it's not annoying.  In my house, they are great.  Not as good as when I had my ears filled with gunk for the molds, but who wants that complete an isolation (I'm sure some of you do, but I found it a bit much)?
 
I've used Complys for years, on all of my iems, and I've never gotten as good a seal, with as much isolation, as with the Sensaphonics.  And I REALLY like Complys.

Thanks, olddude.  My feelings/findings are the same as yours.

 

[moedawg140]

Still adoring the SE846 + SCS.  They are my go-to as-custom-as-possible IEM if I want to workout or if my Legend R/Omega is away for various reasons.
 
The SCS has been in my possession for over a year, with no discoloration or structural deterioration as well.
 
Even better is Sensaphonics, where they are very receptive and accommodating to most any questions or requests as well.

 

[moedawg140]

 
Thanks, olddude.  My feelings/findings are the same as yours.

 
How are you liking your multi-colored SCS these days?

 

[Jazzi]

   
How are you liking your multi-colored SCS these days?

Still loving them, moedawg140.  They're more comfortable than any IEM I've ever owned and the sound is fantastic. 
 

 
One of my better sound investments, thanks to you.

 

[moedawg140]

 
Still loving them, moedawg140.  They're more comfortable than any IEM I've ever owned and the sound is fantastic. 
 

 
One of my better sound investments, thanks to you.

 
Love that picture - great color selections.  I agree, the SCS reigns supreme when it comes to comfort.  On the other side of the spectrum there was an IEM that I listened to recently where the bore was shaped like a large oval.  Uncomfortable would be the nicest of terms I would use to describe the fit.
 
Glad the SCS is one of the better sound investments that you love!
 

 

[fzr100098]

  I just posted a small review of my experiences with Sensaphonics' custom sleeves for the 846. I realize this is going to make me the most hated member of headfi, but I can't feel the love for these that others do.  More info at the link below.
 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/749859/review-chi-town-chi-sound-sensaphonics-custom-sleeves-is-a-slice-of-the-windy-city/15#post_11699431

 
1.  Comply foams don't seal as well and they get mushy quickly when exposed to sweat, the SCS blow them out of the water (and I used foamies of many styles for many years)
2.  The first set of SCS I received sounded pretty muffled, I sent them back and had the canals reworked/enlarged - made all the difference
 
Your review is off

 

[csglinux]

1.  Comply foams don't seal as well and they get mushy quickly when exposed to sweat, the SCS blow them out of the water (and I used foamies of many styles for many years)
2.  The first set of SCS I received sounded pretty muffled, I sent them back and had the canals reworked/enlarged - made all the difference

Your review is off

My review is spot on - for my experience with the SCS. I'm glad they've worked out better for you. You may well be correct about item 2. Maybe I needed to have the canals reworked, but I'm well past the window of opportunity for returning them. As for item 1, I partially agree with you. Comply foams eventually end up mushy and need replacing (and they aren't cheap). As for the seal, both foam and SCS seal well, but from my experience (which may be different from yours), I consistently get better isolation from foam tips.

If I'm allowed to count these SCS, I've now had three sets of custom IEMs. None have isolated as well as foam (for me). I'm just sharing my experiences. I am not trying to insult anybody's ancestors.

 

[fzr100098]

Isolation with foamies is temporary at best, if they get sweaty or you breathe on them too hard the bass is gone.  You may want to try getting new molds from a different ear specialist.  You are the only person out of everyone I've seen provide a review to say the seal on the SCS is bad, it doesn't add up

 

[csglinux]

Isolation with foamies is temporary at best, if they get sweaty or you breathe on them too hard the bass is gone.  You may want to try getting new molds from a different ear specialist.  You are the only person out of everyone I've seen provide a review to say the seal on the SCS is bad, it doesn't add up

I never said the seal was bad. On the contrary, the seal is excellent with the SCS. I can get a vacuum seal every time. I said the isolation is not as good as properly-sealing foam. This is because the rubbery silicon material itself transmits sound, whereas foam attenuates it. As an earlier poster suggested, I am one of those people looking for extreme isolation.

It could be that a re-working of the canals would improve the sound from my SCS, but it wouldn't improve the isolation.

You may also be right about foam tips getting sweaty during a working. That's irrelevant to me - I never workout with headphones on. BTW - there's a lot of research that says you shouldn't do this either. (Your ears are less able to protect themselves from loud noise during exercise.)

This was my third (and final) attempt at custom molds. They just don't work for me. At least, not silicon molds.

 

[fzr100098]

I love these things for working out, nothing else worked.  I'm selling 130 Westone orange if you or anyone is interested.
 
I've worked out to portable music for, oh, 30 years - my hearing was recently tested and fine

 

[moedawg140]

I love these things for working out, nothing else worked.  I'm selling 130 Westone orange if your or anyone is interested.

I've worked out to portable music for, oh, 30 years - my hearing was recently tested and fine

I wholeheartedly agree with regards to loving the SCS for working out. Anything that I can shake at the SCS with regards to working out: 10K-type runs, lifting weights, cutting weight for Nationals (involves a lot of sweating), etcetera, have been no match at all and a complete joy to use.

The silicone is pliable and durable as well, which means you will have close to zero issues with doing strenuous exercise-type of movements, and would give less issues with not only acrylic custom shells (since the shells are hard, not pliable, and doesn't move) but would also give less issues compared with most all sizes-fit-all tips on the market today.

 

[csglinux]

I've worked out to portable music for, oh, 30 years - my hearing was recently tested and fine

Normally it'd be hard to argue with overwhelming anecdotal evidence like that. Except when an audiologist says your hearing is "fine", it only means you can hear up to 8 kHz. They only measure what's relevant for speech. I am not trying to rain on anybody's parade here. I am genuinely happy for you that you like your SCS. However, they didn't work well for me.

http://reviews.bestmat.ch/dangerous-time-listen-headphones/