Custom Monitors

ciems

InEar’s ProPhile-8 – First Impressions

September 30, 2016

CanJam Europe 2016 was host to InEar's world premiere of the new ProPhile-8 flagship earphone. The product was announced a few days earlier but prototypes were handed around for quite some time. As the first su...

The LCM-BD4.2 CIEM By Lear

Marcus

June 1, 2016

$1000+, Custom Monitors

I must confess I am a bit of a latecomer to the Lear proposition having only met Tatco Ma and reviewed his gear starting the summer of 2015. However, I must say I have been impressed by their attempt to always ...

The ‘Only’ Range Custom Tips By Snugs

Marcus

May 11, 2016

$101-200, Custom Monitors, IEM & Earphones

The word Snug is a rather quaint and oft-used noun in English that if one takes the time to look up usually denotes something rather comfortable, cozy or a nice fit of sorts. It also stands for a welcoming spac...

The Miracle V2 By Unique Melody

Marcus

May 1, 2016

$1000+, Custom Monitors, IEM & Earphones

My first custom in 2011 was the Merlin from Unique Melody and it arrived around the same time I was testing my Audeze LCD-2. My initial remarks are at the time that it reminded me of an LCD-2 and it was the fir...

The EM32 By Earsonics

Headfonics

April 20, 2016

$1000+, Custom Monitors, IEM & Earphones

I wrote my first review ever for the EarSonics Velvet. Fueled by enthusiasm, and undeterred by the lack of any knowledge or background whatsoever in analytical listening, I reported my experience with the Velve...

The Apollo CIEM By Empire Ears

Headfonics

March 13, 2016

$1000+, Custom Monitors, IEM & Earphones

EarWerkz recently made a fresh restart as Empire Ears. Fueled by ambition, Empire Ears proudly released a mission statement to raise the bar in quality and customer service – both for themselves and the industr...

The Zeus by Empire Ears

Headfonics

March 3, 2016

$1000+, Custom Monitors, IEM & Earphones

A few years back EarWerkz was a blossoming company, making name with models as the Supra and Legend R/Omega. But its founder Jack Vang soon hit a glass wall, as his ambition reached beyond the constraints of hi...

The VE5 CIEM By Vision Ears

Marcus

October 18, 2015

$1000+, Custom Monitors, IEM & Earphones

The last time I checked out Vision Ears product range I went right for the big kahuna, the VE6XC in late 2014. This was and still is their flagship with the x1 and X2 versions combined into a switch operated CI...

The A12 CIEM by 64 Audio

Marcus

September 16, 2015

$1000+, Custom Monitors, IEM & Earphones

The reviewer's mortal enemy, the killjoy of audiophiles and the ticking clock of old Father Time. That's the gradual loss of your hearing; it is as inevitable as death and taxes. However, the premature loss of ...

The KAISER 10 CIEM by Noble

Marcus

August 26, 2015

$1000+, Custom Monitors, IEM & Earphones

Status and peak level audio quality rolled into one just isn’t enough for these guys. They had to go ahead and craft some of the most beautiful designs along with it. My K10 is one of those very few pieces of...

The SA-43 CIEM by M-Fidelity

Marcus

July 19, 2015

$501-1000, Custom Monitors, IEM & Earphones

Ever heard of Jørpeland? I bet you have not but if you figured it was somewhere in Norway you would be right. FedEx took about 10 minutes to figure it out when I was shipping some ear impressions and swore they...

The Stage 5 CIEM by Rhines

Marcus

June 17, 2015

$1000+, Custom Monitors, IEM & Earphones

Those of you who have been reading our customs reviews I had previously discussed the Compact Monitors story late last year when reviewing the VE6 XControl and mentioned the famous "Stage Series" brand of custo...

The Harmony 8 CIEM by Custom Art

Marcus

June 3, 2015

$1000+, Custom Monitors, IEM & Earphones

We have all been there before, well those who profess to be headphone nuts but I guess a few auto fans also come to think of it. Most likely it is after a few beers but you do tend to sit there with a set of he...

The VE6 Xcontrol CIEM by Vision Ears

Marcus

December 15, 2014

$1000+, Custom Monitors, IEM & Earphones

You mention the words "stage series" to any custom monitor fan and they will immediately nod their head in approval. It is a phrase commonly associated with the now defunct German brand label Compact Monitors w...

The W300AR CIEM By Advanced AcousticWerkes

Marcus

December 5, 2014

Custom Monitors, IEM & Earphones

There are a lot of custom IEM companies out there vying for your hard earned cash and sense of individuality. You would have to be living under a noise suppressing rock not to notice how popular they have becom...

The V8 CIEM by 1964EARS

Marcus

September 12, 2014

$1000+, Custom Monitors, IEM & Earphones

I really need to go to Oregon someday. A lot of my favorite audio gear is sold there by one vendor or another. There are amps from ALO Audio, decoders and even more amps from Cypher Labs and now customs from 19...

The Mi-Performer Pro & Artist CIEM by Minerva

Marcus

January 2, 2014

$401-500, Custom Monitors, IEM & Earphones

I am in a rare position this month of having more than one custom IEM on my desk thanks to the wonderful team at Minerva UK who kindly sent me their latest creations - the Mi-Performer Pro and Mi-Performer Arti...