CIEMs fascinate me, but I have my children that I pass these things to as I keep moving, so they are not for me. Maybe some time in the future, who knows 😁. Thank you Lachlan for this presentation.
I was never going to get a custom IEM because of the impressions was expensive unreliable and uncomfortable. This 3D scan tech has actually made me rethink customs. Thank You for sharing.
Do you find your customs are easier to keep clean than uni tips? I’ve heard a custom can change the tuning slightly, for better or worse, compared to its uni twin. There are also custom tips that can be made for unis like the ones ADV makes for a lot less cash. Got my ear scans done at an audio show for free and I have the files. Haven’t pulled the trigger on a set though. That’s another way for someone to get them done. Plus, there’s Sennheiser’s custom tips that I think are still in beta in Germany only.
Yes, lots of great options out there between custom tips/sleeves and full customs. As for cleaning, you need to maintain customs in much the same way and it can be easier (Fir Audio) or harder (traditional multi-sound tube designs) depending on the IEM. With the tuning, because the custom can extend a consistent length into the canal, it should be closer to the designer's intended tuning because there's less influence from your ear canal shape and length. That said, audio is subjective and all ear canals are different so it's impossible to predict when the shallower depth from universals might prove preferable.
Have you heard about Myna IEMs? They're marketed mostly at sound recordists because they are designed to replicate the sound of either Sony MDR 7506s, or Beyer DT770s. I haven't seen any audiophile reviews of them and I'm quite curious.
I watched this hoping I'd get an insight as to whether it would make much of a difference with IEMs that have Bone Conducting Drivers. One person with a custom UM MEST mkii told me that if i really like my Universal its not really worth doing a custom. I couldn't get much more out of him than that. You'd think with a BCD there'd be a notable benefit from going to a custom version... But as much as Ive fiddled with my Universals and eartip rolling, Im clueless. Maybe the BCD doesn't benefit from additional skin contact in the IEM housing? Ive been told that my current universals can be re-shelled for a few hundred dollars, but that involves sending them back to China from the USA. Im not too trusting in that option.. Too easily lost from my end! Getting a new pair done would cost over $1500. Can you imagine how sickly upset I'd be if I couldn't really hear much improvement after spending that much $$$? And its not like i could sell them and cut some of my losses. I saw some comments here from professional audiologists. Perhaps at least 1 of them could comment on custom vs universal bone conducting IEMs?
Bone conduction will likely be more effective in a custom because the contact with the ear is made by rigid materials. In universals, the vibration of the BCD is being damped as it tries to travel through the silicon or foam tips. On the other hand, more of the BCD isn't necessarily better so that person isn't entirely wrong - if you have no issues or concerns with the universal, there's no guarantee that a custom version will be better.
There’s one question coming to mind for me as well: I normally have pressure build up problems with all ba IEMs such as Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite, Softears Studio 4, Dunu SA6 and and and Will Customs cause the same problem then assuming the seal would be even tighter? Or do CIEMs use vents?
CIEMs with dynamic drivers should have vents, but you might also want to look at models from brands like 64Audio and FiR Audio because they have specific venting systems.
Audiologist here, sadly to say that an audiologist dont typically do these molds is incorrect. Its a basic way that we make custom hearing aids. I have done so many impressions to know the amount including for hearing aids, custom iems, swim plugs, night plugs, hearing protection, etc. Its sad to hear this from you.
I'm sorry you feel that way and I don't mean to blanket all audiologists the same. The point is that, from personal experience and multiple anecdotes from fellow audiophiles, there are great audiologists who nail it first time and then others who deliver sub-par impressions that have to be redone or that do it a certain way that they prefer and the end result is less than ideal for a good custom fit for audiophile use. The key here for me is that audiologists are 100% going to be the experts for hearing aid related impressions, but there's more variance when it comes to the audiophile world because it's more niche and not all audiologists can be expected to be totally across it.
Just to chime in here as the retailer who communicates with a number of audiologists when sending customers to get impressions. What we have learnt (from being told directly from audiologists and receiving impressions) is that while all audiologists are accustomed to taking impressions for things like hearing aids and earplugs, they are often not as accustomed to taking impressions deep in the ear canal past the second bend, or capturing the entire outer cymba area as required for CIEM impressions. We often receive impressions that are of insufficient depth, or they have issues with the otoblock string resulting in an unusable impression. We definitely work with some good audiologists who are used to doing impressions for CIEMs, but it is a little more chancey than we would like for a good customer experience. As a general note we recommend when customers go to their audiology appointments they bring along the manufacturer's impression guide and communicate clearly exactly what needs to be taken.
I wish the bluetooth codecs were better and truly lossless because a great quality custom TWS would be an awesome game changer for many people. People have 2 general complaints about IEMs. Comfort and Inconvenient cables. Sennheiser was heading into this market but I have not seen a audiophile Custom TWS yet.
One day I do want to get a set of customs from fir audio. I owned the m5 and loved them but the customs are such an investment and a tank in value.
Absolutely! Important to go for an IEM you'll never get tired of. 🙂
CIEMs fascinate me, but I have my children that I pass these things to as I keep moving, so they are not for me. Maybe some time in the future, who knows 😁. Thank you Lachlan for this presentation.
That's nice that you can share your journey and gear with them! 🙂
Awesome content…well done 😊
I'm so glad you liked it! 🙂
I was never going to get a custom IEM because of the impressions was expensive unreliable and uncomfortable. This 3D scan tech has actually made me rethink customs. Thank You for sharing.
Glad I could help. It definitely improves the process IMO
Thanks mate lots of useful info 👍👍🤝
My pleasure!
This video was awesome!!!! Thank you, extremely helpful :))
My pleasure! Glad I could help
Do you find your customs are easier to keep clean than uni tips?
I’ve heard a custom can change the tuning slightly, for better or worse, compared to its uni twin.
There are also custom tips that can be made for unis like the ones ADV makes for a lot less cash. Got my ear scans done at an audio show for free and I have the files. Haven’t pulled the trigger on a set though. That’s another way for someone to get them done.
Plus, there’s Sennheiser’s custom tips that I think are still in beta in Germany only.
Yes, lots of great options out there between custom tips/sleeves and full customs.
As for cleaning, you need to maintain customs in much the same way and it can be easier (Fir Audio) or harder (traditional multi-sound tube designs) depending on the IEM.
With the tuning, because the custom can extend a consistent length into the canal, it should be closer to the designer's intended tuning because there's less influence from your ear canal shape and length. That said, audio is subjective and all ear canals are different so it's impossible to predict when the shallower depth from universals might prove preferable.
Have you heard about Myna IEMs? They're marketed mostly at sound recordists because they are designed to replicate the sound of either Sony MDR 7506s, or Beyer DT770s. I haven't seen any audiophile reviews of them and I'm quite curious.
I've not heard of those. I'll take a look
Did get the RN6 in Uni or bought customs right away ? I just ordered the vary last universal unit from bloom audio and I’m so excited 😩😭
I reviewed the universal version a while back so I already knew how great they are and so I bought customs 🙂
You're in for a real treat!
I watched this hoping I'd get an insight as to whether it would make much of a difference with IEMs that have Bone Conducting Drivers. One person with a custom UM MEST mkii told me that if i really like my Universal its not really worth doing a custom. I couldn't get much more out of him than that.
You'd think with a BCD there'd be a notable benefit from going to a custom version... But as much as Ive fiddled with my Universals and eartip rolling, Im clueless. Maybe the BCD doesn't benefit from additional skin contact in the IEM housing?
Ive been told that my current universals can be re-shelled for a few hundred dollars, but that involves sending them back to China from the USA.
Im not too trusting in that option.. Too easily lost from my end!
Getting a new pair done would cost over $1500. Can you imagine how sickly upset I'd be if I couldn't really hear much improvement after spending that much $$$? And its not like i could sell them and cut some of my losses.
I saw some comments here from professional audiologists. Perhaps at least 1 of them could comment on custom vs universal bone conducting IEMs?
Bone conduction will likely be more effective in a custom because the contact with the ear is made by rigid materials. In universals, the vibration of the BCD is being damped as it tries to travel through the silicon or foam tips.
On the other hand, more of the BCD isn't necessarily better so that person isn't entirely wrong - if you have no issues or concerns with the universal, there's no guarantee that a custom version will be better.
There’s one question coming to mind for me as well: I normally have pressure build up problems with all ba IEMs such as Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite, Softears Studio 4, Dunu SA6 and and and
Will Customs cause the same problem then assuming the seal would be even tighter? Or do CIEMs use vents?
CIEMs with dynamic drivers should have vents, but you might also want to look at models from brands like 64Audio and FiR Audio because they have specific venting systems.
@@PassionforSound Great! Thank you!
Audiologist here, sadly to say that an audiologist dont typically do these molds is incorrect. Its a basic way that we make custom hearing aids. I have done so many impressions to know the amount including for hearing aids, custom iems, swim plugs, night plugs, hearing protection, etc. Its sad to hear this from you.
I'm sorry you feel that way and I don't mean to blanket all audiologists the same. The point is that, from personal experience and multiple anecdotes from fellow audiophiles, there are great audiologists who nail it first time and then others who deliver sub-par impressions that have to be redone or that do it a certain way that they prefer and the end result is less than ideal for a good custom fit for audiophile use.
The key here for me is that audiologists are 100% going to be the experts for hearing aid related impressions, but there's more variance when it comes to the audiophile world because it's more niche and not all audiologists can be expected to be totally across it.
Just to chime in here as the retailer who communicates with a number of audiologists when sending customers to get impressions. What we have learnt (from being told directly from audiologists and receiving impressions) is that while all audiologists are accustomed to taking impressions for things like hearing aids and earplugs, they are often not as accustomed to taking impressions deep in the ear canal past the second bend, or capturing the entire outer cymba area as required for CIEM impressions. We often receive impressions that are of insufficient depth, or they have issues with the otoblock string resulting in an unusable impression. We definitely work with some good audiologists who are used to doing impressions for CIEMs, but it is a little more chancey than we would like for a good customer experience. As a general note we recommend when customers go to their audiology appointments they bring along the manufacturer's impression guide and communicate clearly exactly what needs to be taken.
I wish the bluetooth codecs were better and truly lossless because a great quality custom TWS would be an awesome game changer for many people. People have 2 general complaints about IEMs. Comfort and Inconvenient cables. Sennheiser was heading into this market but I have not seen a audiophile Custom TWS yet.
Noble audio does custom TWS
That's a great point. A true lossless TWS custom would be amazing! No doubt, the Noble TWS is about as good as it can be with current codecs though.
Naa... My worlds best iem its a single transducer.. Peace!
AirPod or did you really splash out and get the AirPod pro?
Wtf... We r talkin bout custom iem bra.. N mine is single transducer So does it need a custom sumore? ha3 noobs.. Peace!
@@st200ol Good one. As expected, flew well above the head of our "bra-peace" friend