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Most IEM these days have proprietary numbers on them. This prevents other IEM companies from copying another IEM companies designs. Proprietary numbers also prevent employees from shareing information regarding product designs etc. In short, proprietary numbers protect a companies investment.
Because proprietary numbers are being used, I can open up a JH Audio product, and find out who made the driver, but I could not tell you what the specs are (such as impedance). Because of this, one can not easily copy a companies sound signature etc. Even the capacitors etc, being used by some of the IEM companies have no distinguishing marks.
My point is, I do not think that re-shelling is a key component of developing good IEMs.
I believe you don't know what you are talking about, sir. Except for the last sentence which is 100% correct.
Take it for what it's worth, each company has its equipment for testing and developing IEMs. You can disassemble an IEM and measure each driver's impedance vs freq, distortion, crossover points and so one.
There're companies that can copy for you ES3x or UM18 for half the price of original IEMs
Propietary means that the driver has tweaked perfromance to suit particular design, for example fixed impedance issues to help crossover with other drivers. Improved bass response or vented back/diaphragm.
Sometimes numbering on stock drivers can't tell you more than production date.
You can't copy original IEM with stock driver however you can go very close to that. My UM customs are based on non-propietary drivers I sent them and I can asure you that they surpass in every department universals with the same drivers f.e. W3 or SM3