My latest pair of Etymotic ER-6 (which I use with custom earplugs in place of the filter) bit the dust. That's 3 pairs now that have gone kaput, and I'm tired of their fragility even under my very gentle use. Custom molds are a
must. I seem to have oddly shaped ear canals, which make universal fit in-ear 'phones quite uncomfortable...even painful. So, I'm looking for a new pair of custom-molded in-ear 'phones.
Requirements- Budget up to ~$250 (not including impressions)
- Custom molds
- Robust cabling & connections (i.e. won't break easily)
- Right-angle mini stereo connector
Bonus- Removable / replaceable cables
- Different color earpieces (I struggle to see the small blue or red dot on my otherwise clear earplugs)
- Dual driver
These are for strictly casual listening, so I'm not looking for absolute top-notch IEMs. But I don't want bunk, either. Just something in budget & comfortable for quality (but not critical) listening in planes, trains (but not automobiles), etc. I found an
outdated list of IEM manufacturers on Headfi. In reviewing those options, and poking around a bit online, these seem to stand out:
$259 | Fidelity Duals (splinter from Livewires; not sure if/how they're different)
$249 | LiveWires Dual Driver
$250 | Tunz Duo (couldn't find pricing on their website)
$189 | Alien Ears C1000 (single driver)
$249 | EarSound Maestroz SD (single driver; these are all but ruled out due to poor product name alone!)
$289 | Westone CR1 (single driver)
Right now, I'm leaning towards the Fidelity Duals. Anyone have recommendations for other IEMs suiting my requirements and budget, and / or feedback on any of the above?