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Yikes - Custom IEMs hurt - Is it normal?

darwin-bass

darwin-bass

Supporting Member
Mar 29, 2013
5,436
9,107
Salem OR
#1
I just received my custom molded IEMs. First surprise is that they are hard plastic, not semi-flexible silicone like my custom earplugs.

Once I have them in, the hurt. Just plain hurt. If I sit still they are tolerable for say 30 minutes. When I then twist them to remove them it hurts enough to make me catch my breath.

Is this just the initial adjustment period? Like the way your fingertips hurt when you first start playing guitar? Is this normal and will pass?

I will say I really like the sound. I'm getting fairly good isolation and the bass sounds quite good. Full but not at all muddy like my studio headphones.
 
#4
darwin-bass said:
I just received my custom molded IEMs. First surprise is that they are hard plastic, not semi-flexible silicone like my custom earplugs.

Once I have them in, the hurt. Just plain hurt. If I sit still they are tolerable for say 30 minutes. When I then twist them to remove them it hurts enough to make me catch my breath.

Is this just the initial adjustment period? Like the way your fingertips hurt when you first start playing guitar? Is this normal and will pass?

I will say I really like the sound. I'm getting fairly good isolation and the bass sounds quite good. Full but not at all muddy like my studio headphones.
Click to expand...


They may have made your IEMs too deep...it's a bit tricky. You actually want them as deep as possible because it helps with occlusion effect which distorts the frequency response. But if the plug goes in too deep, it come in contact with a part of the ear canal that is not flexible. You may need new molds, or if the lab that made your molds is local, they may be able to reshape the ends so the fit is better.
 
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#5
s0c9 said:
When you got your impressions made, was a bite block used ?
Click to expand...
Yes, a bite block was used.

Wasnex said:
They may have made your IEMs too deep...
Click to expand...

They don't look very deep to me at all. My custom ear plugs are much deeper.

When I insert the IEMs they are difficult to insert. Takes lots of wiggling and rotational force to get them lined up and slid in to the ear canal. They feel tight in the inner ear and tight around the outer ear as well.

I'll use them for this weekend's gig but will probably get in touch with the manufacturer after that to get them to help me out.
 
#7
darwin-bass said:
I just received my custom molded IEMs. First surprise is that they are hard plastic, not semi-flexible silicone like my custom earplugs.

Once I have them in, the hurt. Just plain hurt. If I sit still they are tolerable for say 30 minutes. When I then twist them to remove them it hurts enough to make me catch my breath.

Is this just the initial adjustment period? Like the way your fingertips hurt when you first start playing guitar? Is this normal and will pass?

I will say I really like the sound. I'm getting fairly good isolation and the bass sounds quite good. Full but not at all muddy like my studio headphones.
Click to expand...
The first pair I had were hard plastic and they would wiggle slightly as I opened and closed my mouth. This made my ears feels sore and didn’t make a good enough seal. Once the supplier swapped them for the softer version everything got better. Hope they swap them for you!
 
#9
bpmben said:
The first pair I had were hard plastic and they would wiggle slightly as I opened and closed my mouth. This made my ears feels sore and didn’t make a good enough seal. Once the supplier swapped them for the softer version everything got better. Hope they swap them for you!
Click to expand...
Hard acrylic shells is the norm these days, due to being hypoallergenic and easy to clean.
The silicone ear pieces - while softer (and more expensive) - tend to wear out and turn hard over time.
 
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#11
Definitely talk to the manufacturer. There can be a small adjustment period while your ears get used to them but there should never be pain. Most manufacturers can refit them for you. Normally involves marking on the earpiece with a marker where it is tight and causing pain and sending them back.
All the custom molded IEMs I’ve ever seen have been hard plastic. Easier to clean and more protection for all the components. Also easier to get into to repair if ever needed than silicone. That said I do have an old set of Westone custom ear plugs that have turned basically to hard plastic. They are much cheaper to replace then my IEMs...
 
#15
darwin-bass said:
I just received my custom molded IEMs. First surprise is that they are hard plastic, not semi-flexible silicone like my custom earplugs.

Once I have them in, the hurt. Just plain hurt. If I sit still they are tolerable for say 30 minutes. When I then twist them to remove them it hurts enough to make me catch my breath.

Is this just the initial adjustment period? Like the way your fingertips hurt when you first start playing guitar? Is this normal and will pass?

I will say I really like the sound. I'm getting fairly good isolation and the bass sounds quite good. Full but not at all muddy like my studio headphones.
Click to expand...
They should not hurt, as others have posted. Mine also caused pain as delivered, and required a N/C refit to get them right. The hard plastic is unyielding. If the points inserted into the canals are too large in diameter, they can be quite painful. Mine were very slightly reduced, and the problem was solved. As to whether or not this is common, I have no idea on statistics, but suspect is is not altogether uncommon. One of those things where it is better to slightly overshoot and then correct vs maybe being undersized. GL
 
#18
fwiw I went through three different pairs of in-ear monitors before saying “screw this!” and switching to conventional over-the-ear headphones for my live, amp-less band situations. I don’t like the feel of *anything* in my ear canals.
 
#20
4Mal said:
Huh. I tried a couple of the populr generics. Hated 'em Got impressions made at the audiologist and then IEMs from 64 Audio. Love 'em
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Been using 64 Audio for 13 yrs now. Current set are A8’s. LOVE THEM.
I can’t use universals due to SMALL ear canals. I bought a set of KZ Pro16’s to try last year. They sounded great, but even the barrels without sleeves were too large, so I gave them to my drummer. He LOVED them. I’m stuck with using only CIEM’s.
 

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