Last night I was usimg Etymotic ER3, latex tips. Darned things kep migrating when I was singing. Did I select too small a tip ? I also have KZ10 Pro's with moldble/squishable tips. Didn't get a good seal with those maybe i sized too large ?
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
IEM Tips What do you like ? and how do you size them?
- Thread starter 4Mal
- Start date
Comply foam tips, Mal. And experiment until you get a good fit.
I have some ka-RAZY big ear canals. I use the largest Professional P series tips.
It’s still tough, though, when you move your jaw. IEM’s will break a seal pretty easily. At least that’s my experience. And I don’t even sing!
I also put a drop of KY jelly (or another water based lubricant) on the tip and it’ll insert more easily and go deeper. (Insert your joke here.)
I have some ka-RAZY big ear canals. I use the largest Professional P series tips.
It’s still tough, though, when you move your jaw. IEM’s will break a seal pretty easily. At least that’s my experience. And I don’t even sing!
I also put a drop of KY jelly (or another water based lubricant) on the tip and it’ll insert more easily and go deeper. (Insert your joke here.)
For my ears, I've found that different types of tips work to differing degrees with different IEMs, and that seems to correlate with nozzle size. That is, generally, silicone tips tend to work better for me and are more comfortable on IEMs with larger diameter nozzles, such as the KZ ZS10 Pro and similar (~6mm) and memory foam tips tend to work better and are more comfortable on IEMs with smaller diameter nozzles, such as Westone and Shure models (~2.5mm).
The effectiveness of tips is dependent largely of their ability to conform to the ear canal and seal. My ear canals are fairly middle of the road in size and not drastically atypical is shape. With smaller nozzles with foam tips have a greater opportunity to conform because at an equal outside diameter (13mm for medium), there is logically more foam material to do the conforming than with a 6mm nozzle. With wider nozzles, the foam tip's rubber core adds maybe 2mm or more to the diameter, and now we're talking about an "inflexible" center of 8mm or more. Add the compressed foam to that and it's easily in the range that's going to be wider and almost as tall as many people's ear canals (ear canals tend to be a boxy oval shape, taller than wide). In those cases, if they nominally fit and actually seal well, the ear canal is going to have to do some of the conforming and that will tend to lead to discomfort and possibly pain.
It also seems that how the shell fits and sits in the outer ear, the angle of the nozzles in relation to your ear canals, how the cable loops over the ear and whether they have a cable cinch come into play with how IEMs fit and stay put. In these regards, it looks like those Etymotics have narrow nozzles, but it doesn't look like they doing much to help versus the more common attempt at generically form-fitting shell shapes.
I think one key to finding the type and size that works best for you is experimentation. You might try foam tips with the Etymotics and silicone tips with the KZs. Also, Comply offers oval tips now, you might consider those too.
The effectiveness of tips is dependent largely of their ability to conform to the ear canal and seal. My ear canals are fairly middle of the road in size and not drastically atypical is shape. With smaller nozzles with foam tips have a greater opportunity to conform because at an equal outside diameter (13mm for medium), there is logically more foam material to do the conforming than with a 6mm nozzle. With wider nozzles, the foam tip's rubber core adds maybe 2mm or more to the diameter, and now we're talking about an "inflexible" center of 8mm or more. Add the compressed foam to that and it's easily in the range that's going to be wider and almost as tall as many people's ear canals (ear canals tend to be a boxy oval shape, taller than wide). In those cases, if they nominally fit and actually seal well, the ear canal is going to have to do some of the conforming and that will tend to lead to discomfort and possibly pain.
It also seems that how the shell fits and sits in the outer ear, the angle of the nozzles in relation to your ear canals, how the cable loops over the ear and whether they have a cable cinch come into play with how IEMs fit and stay put. In these regards, it looks like those Etymotics have narrow nozzles, but it doesn't look like they doing much to help versus the more common attempt at generically form-fitting shell shapes.
I think one key to finding the type and size that works best for you is experimentation. You might try foam tips with the Etymotics and silicone tips with the KZs. Also, Comply offers oval tips now, you might consider those too.
Ordered a set of the oval Comply tips in assorted for the KZ10 Pro. Will have to see what they have to Etymotic.
I have the ZS10 Pro’s and use the Comply Isolation 500 Tips which seem to be the best for these IEM’S.
I quickly established that the large size was simply too big (even without trying them), but it took a bit of time trying out the small and medium to get the best fit. I think I am actually between sizes but ultimately I go with the medium.
During a gig I do find that I have to periodically push/twist the buds in to re-establish a good seal, I think if you sing you will find this is necessary. I do find as well that I have to push and twist upwards to sort of ‘lock’ them in position and this also ensures the best bass reproduction.
In addition I would strongly recommend replacing the stock cable with something like a Tripowin, they look and feel great, plus I’m sure there is a small improvement in sound over the stock cable that comes with the ZS10 Pro’s.
I quickly established that the large size was simply too big (even without trying them), but it took a bit of time trying out the small and medium to get the best fit. I think I am actually between sizes but ultimately I go with the medium.
During a gig I do find that I have to periodically push/twist the buds in to re-establish a good seal, I think if you sing you will find this is necessary. I do find as well that I have to push and twist upwards to sort of ‘lock’ them in position and this also ensures the best bass reproduction.
In addition I would strongly recommend replacing the stock cable with something like a Tripowin, they look and feel great, plus I’m sure there is a small improvement in sound over the stock cable that comes with the ZS10 Pro’s.
Comply memory foam tips on ZS10 pros have been working for me. I started by ordering the 3 pack with S M L. The mediums are what work for me. I don't have problems with them falling out, even if I'm sweating which made the tips that came on the KZs slip right out. They also seal well and greatly improve the overall sound, especially in the low end.
- Apr 29, 2003
- 9,073
- 9,789
- Disclosures
- Contributor- Bass Musician Magazine | Marketing Manager- Trickfish Amplification
I also reccomend getting the "variety pack" of the comply tips in the compatible shaft size for your iem's to find the right size for your ears.
- Apr 29, 2003
- 9,073
- 9,789
- Disclosures
- Contributor- Bass Musician Magazine | Marketing Manager- Trickfish Amplification
ZS10 Pro and Comply tips have kept me very happy, Also got an upgraded cable which feels beefier and doesnt tangle. they say it sounds better too but I dunno bout that
Another +1 for comply tips. Getting the the variety pack to figure out the best size for you is definitely a good idea.
I had an ER4PT set (sadly the left ear driver died), I used medium comply memory foam tips and they worked perfectly for my ears, excellent seal and isolation, even opening and closing my mouth didn't really affect it much. They were also comfortable for hours.
The foam tips Etymotic sells are good, but you can't clean them at all so the price adds up quickly. I never had any luck with the Etymotic Triple Flanges, regardless of size they'd work their way out.
I had an ER4PT set (sadly the left ear driver died), I used medium comply memory foam tips and they worked perfectly for my ears, excellent seal and isolation, even opening and closing my mouth didn't really affect it much. They were also comfortable for hours.
The foam tips Etymotic sells are good, but you can't clean them at all so the price adds up quickly. I never had any luck with the Etymotic Triple Flanges, regardless of size they'd work their way out.
Another vote for Comply. I bought one of the packs from Amazon that had small, medium and large. I tested the medium (which is what I normally use) and they worked perfectly for me. I then ordered a 3-pack of the medium to keep in my gig bag for just in case scenarios.
Custom molds. Nothing beats custom molds.
You can have them fit for any IEM. I don't know about the international custom mold scene, but in Europe, you can go to your local hearing-aid shop and have impressions made - they will send them to their maker of custom molds, if necessary along with your IEMs and 10 days later, you get them back.
There are various options. I went for softer material and larger molds (that protrude from the ear canal) because they have a better fit and tighter seal, which results in more bass and less problems with a moving jaw.
I did like the seal provided by those memory foam tips, but I hated them when rehearsing. You're completely deaf with them in, so you take them out to talk, but when you want to play again it takes about half a minute per bud to be inserted again.
You can have them fit for any IEM. I don't know about the international custom mold scene, but in Europe, you can go to your local hearing-aid shop and have impressions made - they will send them to their maker of custom molds, if necessary along with your IEMs and 10 days later, you get them back.
There are various options. I went for softer material and larger molds (that protrude from the ear canal) because they have a better fit and tighter seal, which results in more bass and less problems with a moving jaw.
I did like the seal provided by those memory foam tips, but I hated them when rehearsing. You're completely deaf with them in, so you take them out to talk, but when you want to play again it takes about half a minute per bud to be inserted again.
Get some self molding earplugs on Amazon and watch a video on YouTube to see how to do it.
Not too difficult, great seal, great bass, and zero ear fatigue, which is a big deal for me.
Been using these for about 3 years with around 150 IEM gigs on them.
I just bought a new pair of Kzs, the black ones, with a new black cable, and made a couple of new molds. Only because I wanted a back up pair.
Not too difficult, great seal, great bass, and zero ear fatigue, which is a big deal for me.
Been using these for about 3 years with around 150 IEM gigs on them.
I just bought a new pair of Kzs, the black ones, with a new black cable, and made a couple of new molds. Only because I wanted a back up pair.
I switched to these with no regrets. i could never get a good seal with "regular" tips, especially if singing.
Earbud Adapter
There is probably somewhere local that could do this service if in a larger area?
Earbud Adapter
There is probably somewhere local that could do this service if in a larger area?
Those look like something out of a David Cronenberg film! But, yeah, custom molds all the way. They are a consistent fit for your ears and don't require a bunch re-fitting like when re-doing a generic tip. And, done right, you can't beat the comfort and seal.
Never found any that worked properly and were comfy so I bit the bullet and got customs and never looked back.
Stock IEM tips that come with KZ ZS10 Pro X work well for me, silicon ones. I tried some no-name memory foam tips, but didn't feel there was any difference in fit, they just get dirty really fast.
Those Comply 500 tips look interesting, though! Which ones do you recommend: normal, round, or oval?
Those Comply 500 tips look interesting, though! Which ones do you recommend: normal, round, or oval?
No tips worked for me. I tried. Comply tips were the best but they usualy didn't seal or didn't stay sealed.
Went custom and get a great seal every time.
But now I see they make oval Comply tips. That is news to me and might have worked. I may order a set of low cost generic IEMs and give the ovals a try.
Went custom and get a great seal every time.
But now I see they make oval Comply tips. That is news to me and might have worked. I may order a set of low cost generic IEMs and give the ovals a try.
I use AS10's and the ZS10pro's and found the Compy tips just did not work for me. I know that many here on TB really promote the Comply tips, and I'm sure they work for some, but after quite a bit of trying, I found that Flanged Silicon tips work best for my ears. Outside of custom molds, it definitely seems to be a trial and error process until you find the right fit for your IEM's and ears.
After a couple of years on IEM's I am going to try and go the custom mold route. I started with the KZ IEM's and found they work fine for my needs (and my hearing), so going a few bucks more for custom molds for them makes sense to me.
good luck 4Mal!
After a couple of years on IEM's I am going to try and go the custom mold route. I started with the KZ IEM's and found they work fine for my needs (and my hearing), so going a few bucks more for custom molds for them makes sense to me.
good luck 4Mal!
