Iem tip rolling / tip advice thread

@Pyotr
I don't know how other foam tips are, but one cool thing about Comply tips is that they soften very quickly with just body heat. I place them by my ear canal, and slowly insert. I used to roll them like I rolled foam earplugs at the shooting range, but I learned that I can just put them against my ear and slowly push them in. Body heat softens them and allows easy insertion.

FWIW...

 

It's been a while since I last tried comply, so I think I'll give it another shot, I just remember not being able to shove it in like silicone, even with smaller tips, they were either too small to seal or too large and necessary to compress before insertion for a proper fit and sound. Got my eyes on the campfire Ara, so I may be tip rolling again here pretty soon.

 

I have some Sonic valves I wear at the range. The triple flange seals really good, and they are very good at keeping loud sounds out. Pretty much the exact opposite of what I want in an IEM though

https://www.researchgate.net/figure...diaphragm-that-is-housed-within_fig2_50399086

 

I remember assaulting my ears with double-flanged tips for either an early Shure IEM or an Ety!

Slightly off-topic - I use foam earplugs and plastic ear muff-style hearing protection at the indoor range. Can’t get enough protection indoors with everyone popping AR-15 rounds down range!

 

Amazon brought me some SednaEarFit tips just in time for Christmas. Thanks for the heads up, these things seal really well. Kind of pricey but worth it.

 

It helps to pop them off the IEMs every month or so and give them a dip in some isopropyl alcohol; at least that works for me to keep them sealing up really well.

 

Long shot, but has anyone been crazy enough to try all 3 of these AZLA SednaEarfit?

 

Haven’t tried with AirPods Pro but I enjoy XELASTEC in general with my IEMs but it is not for everyone. It is sticky and attracts dust and goes out of Shape often. But to me it gives a boost to bass and I like it. Azla tips are good generally.

 

Xelastic doesn't have as great of a lifespan. You have to put them in hot water to undo the shape they form from your hot ears.

Crystal are nice - they are my, but I am using Max's on my highly used set. Extra protection from debris in the housing/driver.

I purchased APP2 for my mother and also got her Max tips - that's how confident I am in those. I doubt I'd use them for anything else than the APP though - they are more throw around than my serious IEM's that I traditionally use Final, Sedna EarFit Light/Regular, and JVC.

 

Another vote for the XELASTEC here. They are pricey and take some extra care, I clean them in some pure isopropyl regularly as recommended in this thread, but they do what they are supposed to do better than anything else I have used so far.

 

I find that I prefer foam tips with some of my IEMs and silicone with others. I use foam on those I deem brighter than I'd like, and I use silicone with those that sound fine just as they are. Crazy?

 

No, I find foams tend to tame highs and can add some amount of bass quantity (although this might simply be I have better luck getting solid seals with foam than silicon tips on the whole). I do think silicon is more “honest”.

 

How would you compare Crystal vs Max on APP2 please?

 

I'll take my ApP1 home to compare to the APP2. My 1's have crystals and the 2's have Max's. Just lets you know I was interested and not fully sold. I'd probably go with the Crystals if you are going to take care of you IEM's. The Max's feel a little sturdier - stiffer & thicker material. The Crystal's don't have anything in front of the driver, so that usually is the way to go. I didn't like the stock tips- they were too thin.

I have to fiddle less with the Max to get a good seal. The Crystal warm up a little and you can get them to seat better. Honestly I don't think I'd be able to tell the passive noise blocking between the two.

Anything specific you might want to know? My choices were less about SQ and more about a balanced approach of protection and comfort.

 

I'm more concerned about comfort then SQ a very close 2nd. What do you mean by protection? Durability or a good seal?

 

The Max has a "mesh" made out of the same material as the main tip in the center. One could argue that it helps keep out earwax if you go 6+ hours a day wearing them.

Max is a thicker material, so there is a touch more pressure. The Crystals are thinner, same with xelastic. The X's seal the best, then crystal and max. Just because the Max conforms the least, but are thick and do as good as most the other premium tips.

 

Thank you! I also got this from the sales rep FWIF...
"Crystal is made of German premium LSR and MAX is made of KCC medical silicone. Crystal can give you more precise sound and boost high pitch. MAX can boost the bass and is the safest material for your ear. So if you are more of a high pitch listener, Crystal will be better, vis versa, MAX will be better. XELASTEC is the best for exercise and runners, it has the maximum stickiness."

 

Yes, that sums it up way better than I could. I wouldn't purchase the Xelastec again, just because they are almost disposable with how they deform. Hot water repair only worked so many times for me.

 

For Xelastec, to what extent did you mean with “deforming in your hot ears”? Cause i dont wear anything when im exercising and its cold 9 out of 12 months here in East Coast Canada…

 

The Xelastec do deform. Over time they tend to become shaped more like my ear canals, but all eartips seem to do that more or less. I don't consider this a huge detriment, so long as they are clean (read: sticky) they seem to seal fine, but YMMV.