Gearslutz.com - View Single Post - Which custom in-ears? Sensaphonics, Ultimate Ears, Westone, Futuresonics

Mitch Manger · 22nd May 2007

The discomfort and cable noise of my Etymotic ER-4s are too much...I need to move to a custom molded in-ear monitor set.

I'm trying to decide between the following:

1) Sensaphonics ProPhonix 2X-S
2) Ultimate Ears UE 10 Pro
3) Westone ES3
4) Futuresonics Ear Monitors

Which would you get, out of the four?
Do some have worse build quality or sound than the others?
Do any have excessive cable noise?

In terms of hard vs. soft shells, which is the better choice? I was told by David at Futuresonics that the main move to hard shells is due to serviceability. For example, if the soft silicone on the Sensaphonic tears, then there isn't much you can do, while the hard shells are much less prone to damage. But then Heather at Sensaphonic reminded me of the much greater comfort and seal that soft shells would provide. For those of you that have used these in-ear monitors, does the soft silicone mold on the Sensaphonics really make a difference with the seal, comfort and sound, as compared to the hard acrylic on the Ultimate Ears, Westones and Futuresonics?

I would be using these for tracking as well as casual listening in loud places.

22nd May 2007	#1
Mitch Manger Gear nut Joined: Jan 2005 Posts: 134 Thread Starter	Which custom in-ears? Sensaphonics, Ultimate Ears, Westone, Futuresonics The discomfort and cable noise of my Etymotic ER-4s are too much...I need to move to a custom molded in-ear monitor set. I'm trying to decide between the following: 1) Sensaphonics ProPhonix 2X-S 2) Ultimate Ears UE 10 Pro 3) Westone ES3 4) Futuresonics Ear Monitors Which would you get, out of the four? Do some have worse build quality or sound than the others? Do any have excessive cable noise? In terms of hard vs. soft shells, which is the better choice? I was told by David at Futuresonics that the main move to hard shells is due to serviceability. For example, if the soft silicone on the Sensaphonic tears, then there isn't much you can do, while the hard shells are much less prone to damage. But then Heather at Sensaphonic reminded me of the much greater comfort and seal that soft shells would provide. For those of you that have used these in-ear monitors, does the soft silicone mold on the Sensaphonics really make a difference with the seal, comfort and sound, as compared to the hard acrylic on the Ultimate Ears, Westones and Futuresonics? I would be using these for tracking as well as casual listening in loud places.