What Custom Earphone is right for me?

[taylorpoz]

Hey guys, this is my first post here so cut me some slack haha...im a noob. So anyway back to business...Christmas is coming up (as you all know) and im asking for a new pair of earphones. And if im gunna be aloud to ask for something nice, i might as well go the custom route(unless you guys tell me otherwise =P). My budget will probly be somewhere around $300. I love techno/hip-hop/rap, and ill be playing my new buds out of either my laptop or iphone, with the addition of my FiiO E5 portable amp.  And im 15, so how long will the custom molds actually fit my ears before my ears change? Or will they change at all from here on? Im open to pretty much anything so based on what im gunna use them for, what earphones sound right for me?
 
EDIT: ok so ive pretty much forgoten about customs and have focused on universal IEM's. alot of love for the SM3's is radiating from the Head-Fi forums, so im pretty stoked to get myself a pair. but would it be good to go from my weak skullcandies (i know, bad decision to even consider buying a pair) straight to the glorious SM3's?

 

[Thecoolguy]

If you dont mind upping your budget by $100, the JH5's are supposed to be very good. Or maybe the 1964 ears dual driver moniters, $350 moniters currently on sale for $275. I dont know how good the 1964's are though, as they are a brand new company.

 

[fatcat28037]

Check Etymotic, you'll find several IEMs within your budget. I own the ER4p and think they sound great.
 
http://www.etymotic.com/default.aspx 

 

[taylorpoz]

thanks for the feedback! i checked out the 1964's, and they have one low and one high driver, so how well would the mid-range be covered?

 

[darknessproz]

What you must understand is, although the 1964 ears custom's are very attractively priced now, no one has yet heard or reviewed them here. If you decide to get one, it will be a plunge into the unknown. If you aren't willing to take that risk, go for more established, albeit more pricey companies like Westone, JH Audio, Ultimate Ears. Other companies you can consider are Unique Melody, Alien Ears and Livewires.

 

[Thecoolguy]

Quote:

thanks for the feedback! i checked out the 1964's, and they have one low and one high driver, so how well would the mid-range be covered?

nobody knows. like the post above stated, you'd be plunging into the unknown. you could wait a month to how good of reviews these get.
 
but just because they dont have a mid driver doesnt mean their midrange is weak. the JH5's have a high and low driver, but are said to have an excellent midrange
 
 

 

[mythe]

I personally don't think you need customs right now.  First of all, you are almost certainly going to grow out of them, and $300 is pretty tight budget for customs.  You'll need impressions which are usually $50 unless you find somewhere really cheap.  You'd also only be able to afford bottom tier of custom phones.  I really think you'd be better off with a top tier universal model such as the sm3, triple.fi 10, um3x, se535, etc, they'll probably provide better sound and if you decide you don't like them you can resell them later.  Eventually, if you like them a lot, you can remold them and add drivers with UM's service, or just sell them and get full out customs. 

 

[darknessproz]

When do you think my ears will stop changing rapidly? I'm 16 this year, and want to get some customs soon.

 

[Guidostrunk]

Customs on a 300 dollar budget is pretty tough, Although if you manage to find a used pair or TF10's say for 100 to 150 get some impressions done 30 to 50 , and molds done by Fisher hearing 80 dollars i believe. That might be your best chance given the budget. Although i do agree with above post and just get a pair of top tier universals as described. Just my$ 0.02 Cheers

 

[Thecoolguy]

Quote:

When do you think my ears will stop changing rapidly? I'm 16 this year, and want to get some customs soon.

your ears never stop growing. I heard that customs will usually last teenagers for 1-2 years. plus, if you outgrow them, you can always get them reshelled for around $100
 
@Mythe- not exactly. Even a $300 custom will sound better than a $400-$500 universal because of driver placement

 

[rawrster]

I definitely agree than $300 budget is a tough one for customs. I'd say $400 is the minimum for customs if you can get one of the budget customs by JHA, UE or the Westone that's set to come out and get impressions done for free by one of their dealers. Impressions usually set you back around $50 not including shipping and the possibility of refits.

 

[Guidostrunk]

Hard to say , but i believe men stop growing at age 21 but don't hold me to it, as far as the ears I'm sure some changes will happen beings your 16, not sure how drastic they will be. might wanna consult an audiologist for that info, you will need to call anyway for impressions.

 
Quote:

When do you think my ears will stop changing rapidly? I'm 16 this year, and want to get some customs soon.

 

[Guidostrunk]

Last statement is subjective, I believe fit issues with universals and seal play a huge factor in the sound, which gives an edge to customs. But i dont agree that a 300 dollar custom will sound better than a 400 to 500 dollar universal in all instances , regardless of driver placement. Its subjective because all people hear different and have there own opinions.
Quote:

your ears never stop growing. I heard that customs will usually last teenagers for 1-2 years. plus, if you outgrow them, you can always get them reshelled for around $100
 
@Mythe- not exactly. Even a $300 custom will sound better than a $400-$500 universal because of driver placement

 

[darknessproz]

That's the biggest problem for someone like me. Sure, a custom like the ES3X will be far ahead of a universal like the UM3X. But it's really hard to decide if a AC2 is as good as the UM3X, considering that they go for around the same price.
 
Quote:

Last statement is subjective, I believe fit issues with universals and seal play a huge factor in the sound, which gives an edge to customs. But i dont agree that a 300 dollar custom will sound better than a 400 to 500 dollar universal in all instances , regardless of driver placement. Its subjective because all people hear different and have there own opinions.

 

 

[Guidostrunk]

If you really want customs and dont mind getting them reshelled every so often i say go for it. Right now i have the Sm3 and have the Em3 pro customs on the way, there being made. From the reviews i have read between the 2 is the Em3 is so much better, now is it because the fit is better or is it something more ie. higher end components, tuning, etc. it hard to say because my Sm3 is a universal so i'm relying on certain tips to get the best sound, which each tip creates a different sound and seal. But on the custom issue i say get them, and when they seem to lose there seal when you grow send them in for reshell. Theres no other way around it when your growing.
Quote:

That's the biggest problem for someone like me. Sure, a custom like the ES3X will be far ahead of a universal like the UM3X. But it's really hard to decide if a AC2 is as good as the UM3X, considering that they go for around the same price.