BF2S Forums Custom In Ear Monitors

You can go for Foam-tips like what you get from Shure (for example). Basically, you squeeze them together and they expand in your ear, thus filling it. Full isolation, and nobody else hears you. Also, a lot cheaper.


I haven't tried custom ones, but I'd seriously take a look at regular foam if you haven't already.

[HOF]Mercenary wrote:

I have tried a variety of VERY high quality in ear monitors on an Ipod touch, and they all sounded very bad (playback through an actual in ear monitor box was, of course, extremely good)

I don't know if it was just my play back device, but perhaps in ear monitors just aren't made for anything else but on stage performing?

Another possibility is that I am just retarded.

What's this in ear monitor box you speak of? IEMs need amping, the one in an iPod doesn't cut it.

Jenspm wrote:

You can go for Foam-tips like what you get from Shure (for example). Basically, you squeeze them together and they expand in your ear, thus filling it. Full isolation, and nobody else hears you. Also, a lot cheaper.


I haven't tried custom ones, but I'd seriously take a look at regular foam if you haven't already.

lol. That isn't what a custom in-ear monitor is. This is what a custom in-ear monitor is:
http://www.ultimateears.com/_ultimateea … e11pro.php

Dauntless, that isn't what custom in-ear monitors are for. They are built for stage performing and shouldn't really be used out and about. Not worth the cost and they aren't exacty "portable".

If you're going to shell out big on earphones, I suggest
http://www.ultimateears.com/_ultimateea … i10pro.php
or
http://www.etymotic.com/ephp/hf2-customfit.aspx

If you want custom fit (which will significantly reduce background noise) then the HF2s will be absolutely delightful. Now, the problem is if you listen to "bassy" music. Then you aren't going to get the best out of them. They have amazing mids and highs, but the bass is slightly lacking, as they focus more on clarity. If you want good bass, then the Sennheiser IE8s would be a good bet.

If you own an iPod, then I'll tell you right now you're wasting your time (iPod lovers gtfo - iPods DO have bad audio quality in comparison with other media players). They have such poor audio quality and volume levelling that the best in-ear earphones just make it sound worse because you're used to the crackling and background noise with your normal earphones.

I own the UE 700s and I commute to work every day on 2 trains that are jam packed. I cannot hear what the person next to me is saying and the volume on my Zune is bang in the middle. The 700s might not have the class the others do, but they are hellishly comfortable, tiny and light. Sound quality is absolutely crystal clear and the bass isn't lacking either. Cable is perfect as well. The best noise cancelling earphones I've had are the Etymotic (closely followed by the UE 700s with foam eartips) but the gel inserts with the Etymotics aren't for everyone. Foam or custom is the best way to go (you get 2 sets of Comply Foam eartips with the UE 700s and my god are they lovely)... Unless you've tried the gel inserts that Etymotic supply and enjoy them, if so, then the HF5s would be a better choice. Their gel inserts are like no other earphone, so its best you know what you are buying.

Dauntless wrote:

Jens didn't say they were custom iems tbh

this

I just read all the reviews here: http://store.apple.com/uk/reviews/TR313 … TA5NzMzNDg
and pretty much everyone is saying the same thing, the sound quality is awesome and it completely silences background noise, but they keep falling apart and loosing sound in one ear. They come with a 2 year warranty but I don't know if I want to spend £100 (or even £190 if I get the custom moulding) just to have my headphones sent backwards and forwards between apple/etymotics, and then in two years and 20 sets of headphones later they tell my my warranty has expired.

But they do sound like they are awesome, and the mic and pause/next track buttons are very useful for me.

You might be better with the HF5s, as their build quality is much improved. You could email Etymotic support and ask if they do custom in-ear for the HF5s (their customer support is the best I've ever encountered, they gave me free flanged ear tips when my friends dog ate them, instead of directing me to the shop to the buy them).

Winston_Churchill wrote:

Dauntless wrote:

I just read all the reviews here: http://store.apple.com/uk/reviews/TR313 … TA5NzMzNDg
and pretty much everyone is saying the same thing, the sound quality is awesome and it completely silences background noise, but they keep falling apart and loosing sound in one ear. They come with a 2 year warranty but I don't know if I want to spend £100 (or even £190 if I get the custom moulding) just to have my headphones sent backwards and forwards between apple/etymotics, and then in two years and 20 sets of headphones later they tell my my warranty has expired.

But they do sound like they are awesome, and the mic and pause/next track buttons are very useful for me.

Why would you get them from the Apple store? Thats probably one of the worst possible places to get earbuds.  Get them from a regular audio store or an online one

zimmer posted the link

Available exclusively through Apple UK Retail Stores and the Apple UK Online Store

Zimmer wrote:

You might be better with the HF5s, as their build quality is much improved. You could email Etymotic support and ask if they do custom in-ear for the HF5s (their customer support is the best I've ever encountered, they gave me free flanged ear tips when my friends dog ate them, instead of directing me to the shop to the buy them).

I really like the fact that the HF2s have a mic and pause/next track button. Do you think I could be reading too much into the people complaining about the build quality? It's quite a lot of people saying the same though.

No, you're reading about right. The cabling for the HF2s is weak and flimsy, and therefore the contacts usually wear down faster than other earphones. I have the Etymotic ER6-i earphones, and the right one stopped working because of how poor the cable was for them.

The HF5s, however, are said to be a lot sturdier and have seriously improved on the cable problems.

I'd honestly ask them if you could get custom in-ears for the HF5s, they would probably be more than willing to do so.

Winston_Churchill wrote:

You really thing theyre sold nowhere else in the UK?  I highly doubt that

Read the website. They're exclusive to Apple. The custom ear ones anyway. Normal HF2s aren't.

Shit Dauntless, I meant the ER•4 MicroPro™ Earphones, not the HF5s.

The JH16 Pro: JH Audio Announces The JH Audio JH16 Pro Custom In-Ear Monitor

They come with three types of ear fittings: two sizes of triple-flange tips and one set of extra-long foam tips. Each set requires insertion pretty far into the ear to achieve a proper seal, so if that sounds uncomfortable to you, steer clear.

Anyone tried headphones that go that far into the ear, I'm not sure how I feel about it. Do you get used to it after a while?