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chuck1252
70
Jun 30, 2017
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I have tried literally dozens of IEM's.  Not one has fit my ear.  My ears LOOK normal.  My doctor has never mentioned any deformity regarding my ears, so I am at a loss.  I just want one that fits comfortably in my ear, doesn't fall out, and sounds good.  Is this the one?
Jun 30, 2017
nametag
6
Jun 30, 2017
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chuck1252Have you tried different sized and shaped tips? The only kind that work for me are three flanged tips. You might look into memory foam tips as well.
Jun 30, 2017
EdinNJ
271
Jun 30, 2017
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chuck1252You are not alone. I started with IEMs a very long time ago. Loved them but I could either get great isolation and sound, or not have my ear canals screaming in pain after a couple hours. Regular IEMs are based on the concept of average ear canals in shape, with some variation in size. Some people (raising my hand) have oddly shaped ear canals. Mine are very oval, lots taller than wide, and almost rectangular.
Eventually this led me to custom tips. Etymotic had a program where they'd subsidize the cost of having custom tips made - download a form, get your ear impressions, send them off to the mold place with the form and get a discount. (They don't do that any more.) Having custom tips was WOW. I got spectacular isolation, with comfort that ran to 5-6 hours. (Never really tried more than that...) Even nicer, it made the Ety sound better, because of the flawless isolation and because they go much deeper in the ear canal.
You can still get custom tips made for Etys. Probably $60 for getting impressions done, depending on where you live. (I live in an expensive area so I had mine done when visiting a friend in a less expensive place.) The custom tips were $150. The custom tips for Etys will work on a fair number of their IEMs, but not all. Still, it's not like if your earphones die, you got nothing.
That got me into the world of pricey custom IEMs, but since I traveled 4-5 days a week, sometimes on 22 hour flights, I treated it as an indulgent treat for enduring too much travel. If CIEMs die, you've got near nothing. Massdrop does great deals on CIEMs from time to time, but really, even with a sale it's not cheap. But, if you're in a job where you need to wear strong ear protection, and you like listening to music (like flying to Singapore each month) worth considering.
ACS Custom does tips for many more than Etys now. Poke around on their site. A few IEM companies now also will offer ways to get custom tips.
I still have and love some non-custom IEMs, because often I know I'll be listening for a limited time - gym workout, mowing the lawn. I have two different MEE and love one of them, like the other a lot. If I could get custom tips... I'd click to buy within 30 seconds of Massdrop posting the offer.
Jun 30, 2017
enssorcel
1
Jun 30, 2017
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EdinNJI don't have the funds (or even justification if I did) to go the route you've gone but its good to know there's a cheaper option than going all the way to CIEMs so thank you for the detailed post.
After quite a few pairs of different IEMs I'm pretty convinced my ear canals are more oval than the perfect circles IEM tips seem aimed at. For this reason I recently ordered the Ety kids as a last desperate attempt to find IEMs which don't slip out every minute or so. I figured if Etys don't fit then nothing will, hence why I went for the cheapest model. If they do I might be looking at the HF5 or ER4 in the future... If not then either good riddance IEMs or I'll be tempted into the path you took.
Jun 30, 2017
EdinNJ
271
Jun 30, 2017
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enssorcelHope it came across that my life at the time was such that 90% of the high def music I listened to was on airplanes or hotel rooms. Ah the glamor and glory.
I've had Etys for more years than I can remember. Had several generations of ER4, beginning with the first one. For whatever reason, my ER4 got stolen again and again. The HF5, IMHO, are as good to listen to (understanding that I"m not talking about isolation listening rooms, but airplanes) as the ER4 of any model. And any tips you have made for any of the Ety balanced armature IEMs will work with ALL of their balanced armature IEMs. And, I'd own only one set of CIEMs other than my family pooled money to buy me some set or another of two others.
My wife has such small ear canals that none of the standard tips fit. I sprang for a set of tips for Etys and now she never hears me when I talk with her. And we're going to leave that right there.
Jun 30, 2017
twibmassa
106
Jul 1, 2017
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enssorcelHave you tried klipsch X11's? They can be found on Newegg occasionally for $50 these days and it's hard to believe they wouldn't work....they are so tiny it's basically like just putting the iem tip in your ear canal.... Klipsch also has slightly oval shaped tips.
Jul 1, 2017
hawkward
4
Jul 1, 2017
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EdinNJwell, another thing you could definitely look at if you fly to Singapore every month would be to get the CIEM/tips done there? SIngapore has so many little audio shops that have great pricing and service!
Jul 1, 2017
chuck1252
70
Jul 1, 2017
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chuck1252Wow! Many thanks to all of you for the information and suggestions.  I am going to look at the Newegg option first.  I recently purchased an HP Omen from them, and still have the preferred customer thing going.  Again, many thanks!
Jul 1, 2017
Phasmainmachina
38
Jul 2, 2017
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enssorcelTry the silicon triple-flange eartips, I've been using them for some years, and honestly they're the next best thing to custom eartips at a tiny fraction of the price, I buy in bulk because tips will just fall of while you're bundling the 'phones up or even just pulling the out of your ears, they're so cheap they're almost a consumable!
Jul 2, 2017
smy1
28
Jul 5, 2017
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chuck1252 Custom iems
Jul 5, 2017
twibmassa
106
Jul 7, 2017
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chuck1252The X11's are $50 today on Newegg with coupon code EMCSRHRH3. :)
Jul 7, 2017
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