Yikes - Custom IEMs hurt - Is it normal?

[darwin-bass]

Folllow up 7 years later.

I ended up returning the IEMs two or three times for minor adjustments. The got them to fit better but never to the point of being truly comfortable. I decided to just live with them and have used them for 7 years. They still get hurt a bit upon removal after wearing for a while, and they'll be generally uncomfortable when wearing all the time.

But it wasn't bad enough for me to quit using them.

Alas, they have quit working and I'm shopping for replacements. Probably go with a different brand in hopes of a better fit.

 

[drpepper]

...have used them for 7 years. They still get hurt a bit upon removal after wearing for a while, and they'll be generally uncomfortable when wearing all the time...

Geez! I know you said not bad enough, but that still sounds awful...I kind of think in terms of how much pain and discomfort is acceptable with IEMs, none is my answer. Anyway, at 7 years in, my understanding is that many people have enough change in their ears that a refit would be called for anyway.

Good luck.

 

[s0c9]

Folllow up 7 years later.

I ended up returning the IEMs two or three times for minor adjustments. The got them to fit better but never to the point of being truly comfortable. I decided to just live with them and have used them for 7 years. They still get hurt a bit upon removal after wearing for a while, and they'll be generally uncomfortable when wearing all the time.

But it wasn't bad enough for me to quit using them.

Alas, they have quit working and I'm shopping for replacements. Probably go with a different brand in hopes of a better fit.

Wow... sorry to see that after 7 yrs, you still had minor issues.
FWIW - the 2 sets of 64Audio CIEM's I bought had impressions done by the SAME audiologist who made them for a local mega-church who used 64Audio.
Perfect fit both times. No return(s) to make minor adjustments, no pain.
I can wear my A8's for hours at a time.

 

[darwin-bass]

Thanks @s0c9 for the personal testimony. I'd love to get the A4 but cost is out of my league. A8 - I can only dream. I'll probably end up with A3 and assume they'll be better than the dual driver Alclairs I've been using.

 

[Pep]

Folllow up 7 years later.

I ended up returning the IEMs two or three times for minor adjustments. The got them to fit better but never to the point of being truly comfortable. I decided to just live with them and have used them for 7 years. They still get hurt a bit upon removal after wearing for a while, and they'll be generally uncomfortable when wearing all the time.

But it wasn't bad enough for me to quit using them.

Alas, they have quit working and I'm shopping for replacements. Probably go with a different brand in hopes of a better fit.

What brand were they? Mine are Alclair and they’re great. They went too deep when I first received them so I sent them back twice. I understand that they didn’t want to remove too much and have to remake them. I would definitely buy from them again.

The key to this entire scenario in the person doing the mold. Most companies will call the oersin doing the mold to discuss the proper procedure. I drove to Alclair in Nashville and had them do the molds.

Sensaphonics will make custom silicone sleeves to fit a set of Shure IEMs. I went that way at first, buying the cheapest Shure 215. They needed to be shortened. Once the fit was right I used them for about 6 months. I upgraded to the Shure 525s which Dur the sleeves fine and used those for about 5 years before ordering the customs from Alclair.

Last but not least. When getting used to inserting the hard molded earbuds and removing them I took a little bit of baby oil and lightly my ears. Note: I used very little, just enough so they would slide in and out easily. I cleaned them after each use and after about 4 gigs quit using the baby oil. Never had another problem.

Alclair - 800-933-9899

Sensaphonics - 877-848-1714

 

[erayser]

Thanks @s0c9 for the personal testimony. I'd love to get the A4 but cost is out of my league. A8 - I can only dream. I'll probably end up with A3 and assume they'll be better than the dual driver Alclairs I've been using.

I own both Alclair (Tours) and 64 Audio (A12t)... and had no issues with pain. I used the same audiologist do my impressions for both. The audiologist that did my impressions was recommended by 64 Audio (Dr. Swan)... and she usually works in the 64 Audio booth at NAMM Anaheim every year. I wanted to make sure I got an audiologist that would do my impressions right the first time... and she is known to mainly do impressions for musicians. She knows the requirements well... she looks at the impressions to make sure it meets 64 Audio Impressions guide requirements before she boxes it up for shipping.

My Alclairs are now my backups... but I have to say, the 64 Audio 3D Fit technology fits better in my ears. It feels like it clicks into my ear and seals. My Alclairs don't feel the same way when I put them on. If you aren't in a hurry, you can always wait for their Black Friday sale next month, you can probably get the A4s at a good price. I've heard good things about their hybrid models... especially for bass.

 

[s0c9]

Thanks @s0c9 for the personal testimony. I'd love to get the A4 but cost is out of my league. A8 - I can only dream. I'll probably end up with A3 and assume they'll be better than the dual driver Alclairs I've been using.

I understand.
I got the A8's back when I was doing some "serious" gigging - 100+ gigs a year while working full time and was a 64 "artist" so I got their discount.
I try to look after my gear, but should something happen my A8's I'd have a dilemma for sure.
I CAN'T use universals. So I'd have to get new impressions done - the ones 64 has are too old now.
Then decide on what to buy.
The BASS on the A8's is awesome, so I might have to save up to go with N8's. idk.

I posted elsewhere on the forum that I bought a set of KZ Pro 16's early '25. Even the barrels - with no tips - were too large for my ears. So I gave them to my cover band drummer. He LOVES them. I couldn't use them, so I'm stuck w/ Customs for as long as I keep playing!

 

[Pep]

I own both Alclair (Tours) and 64 Audio (A12t)... and had no issues with pain. I used the same audiologist do my impressions for both. The audiologist that did my impressions was recommended by 64 Audio (Dr. Swan)... and she usually works in the 64 Audio booth at NAMM Anaheim every year. I wanted to make sure I got an audiologist that would do my impressions right the first time... and she is known to mainly do impressions for musicians. She knows the requirements well... she looks at the impressions to make sure it meets 64 Audio Impressions guide requirements before she boxes it up for shipping.

My Alclairs are now my backups... but I have to say, the 64 Audio 3D Fit technology fits better in my ears. It feels like it clicks into my ear and seals. My Alclairs don't feel the same way when I put them on. If you aren't in a hurry, you can always wait for their Black Friday sale next month, you can probably get the A4s at a good price. I've heard good things about their hybrid models... especially for bass.

This one puzzles me. You used the same audiologist for the impressions and one set ended up better than the other. I assume these molds were done at two different times.
I don’t believe it’s the manufacturer that made the difference because the shell is made from the molds and the process is the same.
I believe you got a better mold impression from you audiologist for the 64s.

 

[erayser]

This one puzzles me. You used the same audiologist for the impressions and one set ended up better than the other. I assume these molds were done at two different times.
I don’t believe it’s the manufacturer that made the difference because the shell is made from the molds and the process is the same.
I believe you got a better mold impression from you audiologist for the 64s.

I bought my Alclair's a decade ago, so I did have to get new impressions made. I got my 64's about 3 years ago. I'm pretty sure both companies used different processes of making shells. When I got my Alclairs, from what I recall they were still using the dipping method to make shells. My 64's were made with the current 3D Fit process... where they scan the impressions digitally, then 3D printed. I'm pretty sure Alclair wasn't 3D printing shells 10 years ago... At least that's what Google AI says... they were still doing hand-poured shells back in 2018.

Either way... I can't say all shells are made the same from one Custom IEM company to another. I'm not saying my Alclairs don't seal... just saying they fit differently when I insert them in my ear. The 64's feel like they snap in when I twist them in my ear... the Alclairs still fits and seals.. it just doesn't snap in place... and they never have.

Here is the comparison of the shells...

 

[Pep]

Folllow up 7 years later.

I ended up returning the IEMs two or three times for minor adjustments. The got them to fit better but never to the point of being truly comfortable. I decided to just live with them and have used them for 7 years. They still get hurt a bit upon removal after wearing for a while, and they'll be generally uncomfortable when wearing all the time.

But it wasn't bad enough for me to quit using them.

Alas, they have quit working and I'm shopping for replacements. Probably go with a different brand in hopes of a better fit.

These aren’t custom fit, but if you’re up for trying something new you may want to checkout Plunge Audio. Designed for bassists, the Unity Dynamic looks like it might we worth a shot at $279, especially with a 30 day full refund policy. I’m going to give them a try.

The Best IEMs For Bass Players

Powerful in-ear monitors for bass players. Get thick low end, clarity, and comfort with Unity Dynamics—designed by bassists, for bassists.

plungeaudio.com

 

[Gopherbassist]

Yes, a bite block was used.



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.

I wonder if they sent you the wrong set.

 

[Pep]

I wonder if they sent you the wrong set.

I’m thinking the same thing.

 

[Pep]

I bought my Alclair's a decade ago, so I did have to get new impressions made. I got my 64's about 3 years ago. I'm pretty sure both companies used different processes of making shells. When I got my Alclairs, from what I recall they were still using the dipping method to make shells. My 64's were made with the current 3D Fit process... where they scan the impressions digitally, then 3D printed. I'm pretty sure Alclair wasn't 3D printing shells 10 years ago... At least that's what Google AI says... they were still doing hand-poured shells back in 2018.

Either way... I can't say all shells are made the same from one Custom IEM company to another. I'm not saying my Alclairs don't seal... just saying they fit differently when I insert them in my ear. The 64's feel like they snap in when I twist them in my ear... the Alclairs still fits and seals.. it just doesn't snap in place... and they never have.

Here is the comparison of the shells...

I checked with Alclair and they’ve been 3D Printing since 2022.

 

[erayser]

I checked with Alclair and they’ve been 3D Printing since 2022.

Thanks for the clarification. That could be the reason why they fit differently.

 

[Pep]

Thanks for the clarification. That could be the reason why they fit differently.

you sparked my curiousity.

 

[darwin-bass]

I checked with Alclair and they’ve been 3D Printing since 2022.

Ohhh, Hmmm.

 

[darwin-bass]

I wonder if they sent you the wrong set.

The ear impression was done by their employee at a conference. It is possible either the guy just didn't do a great job (you don't get a second chance to make a good first impression ) or maybe mine got mixed up with someone else before the molds make it back to the plant?

 

[Pep]

The ear impression was done by their employee at a conference. It is possible either the guy just didn't do a great job (you don't get a second chance to make a good first impression ) or maybe mine got mixed up with someone else before the molds make it back to the plant?

What brand were they?

 

[darwin-bass]

What brand were they?

Alclair. Dual XB model. And they were made by dipping rather than 3D printing.

 

[pepj]

My first set were very comfortable..my new lot are not anywhere near as good.
I think the key is in the person making the moulds.
I'm looking around for a new set.