I just had the most life changing experience, appreciating how different an IEM can sound, by changing the eartips. Went through this with two IEMs.
Now wondering, what are the factors that cause such significant changes? Cos if we know more about these, it can influence our choice of eartips, and we do not have to do trial and error.
I.e if we understood these factors, as consumers of these products, we could buy based on "science"/logic.
Considering that this has such a significant influence on what we hear, why is there far more focus on cables, DAC's, drivers, IEMs, when the eartip at the end of the audio chain, may have probably the most impact, on what we hear.?
Unfortunately I do not have a measurement rig, to demonstrate objectively, this assertion that eartips have a major contribution.
The factors I am taking a guess at, would be :
1. Bore size i.e the inner diameter, through which sound is propagated from the IEM into our ear
2. Length
3. Shape of the surround of the eartip, that touches our ear canal
4. Shape of the inner bore, straight, flared, etc.
5. Material or materials, from which the eartip is made, affecting the absorption of different frequencies
6. The hardness of the inner bore
7. The hardness of the outer surround.
8. Any reflections in the inner bore., also related to all of the above.
9. Fit - how airtight is the seal, in the ear canal. This one I am fairly sure of - a good seal improves the bass, but there is not really an exact science, to say how far is too far, and when is the seal too much. From practice I know - its a bit of a range, and somewhere in the middle sounds ok, too much and its too bassy, too little and its tinkly gone is the bass.
9.1 The fit of the outer bore, i.e how much air is leaking out from the point of contact with the ear canal.
9.2 The fit of the inner bore, i.e how much air is leaking out from the contact point between the nozzle and the eartip. In one case the TRI Clarion with the 7hz Zero 2, this inner bore seal is a bit loose, and I perceive that there is a loss of bass, compared to the STOCK RED eartips of the 7Hz Zero 2 - which has a tighter inner bore seal with the nozzle.
Makes me wonder are there any sealant liquids that one may wish to apply, on the contact points, with the nozzle and the ear canal, to improve the seal. E,g some kind of rub on, or spray on. Just thinking aloud.
Sadly, there really is not much information put out by the eartip manufacturers, on the impact of their eartips, on audio quality.
Furthermore when IEM manufacturers bundle eartips with their products, you are on your own, no real guidance. No instructions on how to use eartips properly, no guidance on which eartip to use for what. No proper listing of what each of the eartips was intended to achieve You are left to your own devices, and abandoned to your fate.
I really would want to get a solid grasp of every possible factor, so I can choose eartips, deterministically, not based on trial and error.
What do I know now. That I am fairly sure of, from my own testing of :
The stock RED tips that come with the 7Hz Zero 2 - against
The stock BLUE tips that come with the 7Hz Zero 2
The TRI Clarion Large
On the 7Hz Zero 2 IEM.
1. If all other things remain equal, a larger inner bore seems to improve the highs and reduce the lows, i.e larger bore, brighter sound
2. If the inner bore that holds on to the IEM nozzle, is made of stiffer material, it seems to make the sound brighter. But I have only tested 3 eartips so this is not conclusive, cos I can't make all the other factors related to the IEM, constant, while varying only the hardness of the inner bore.
Looking forward to an enlightening discussion, and getting to the bottom of this. Thanks in advance, for your contributions.
Now wondering, what are the factors that cause such significant changes? Cos if we know more about these, it can influence our choice of eartips, and we do not have to do trial and error.
I.e if we understood these factors, as consumers of these products, we could buy based on "science"/logic.
Considering that this has such a significant influence on what we hear, why is there far more focus on cables, DAC's, drivers, IEMs, when the eartip at the end of the audio chain, may have probably the most impact, on what we hear.?
Unfortunately I do not have a measurement rig, to demonstrate objectively, this assertion that eartips have a major contribution.
The factors I am taking a guess at, would be :
1. Bore size i.e the inner diameter, through which sound is propagated from the IEM into our ear
2. Length
3. Shape of the surround of the eartip, that touches our ear canal
4. Shape of the inner bore, straight, flared, etc.
5. Material or materials, from which the eartip is made, affecting the absorption of different frequencies
6. The hardness of the inner bore
7. The hardness of the outer surround.
8. Any reflections in the inner bore., also related to all of the above.
9. Fit - how airtight is the seal, in the ear canal. This one I am fairly sure of - a good seal improves the bass, but there is not really an exact science, to say how far is too far, and when is the seal too much. From practice I know - its a bit of a range, and somewhere in the middle sounds ok, too much and its too bassy, too little and its tinkly gone is the bass.
9.1 The fit of the outer bore, i.e how much air is leaking out from the point of contact with the ear canal.
9.2 The fit of the inner bore, i.e how much air is leaking out from the contact point between the nozzle and the eartip. In one case the TRI Clarion with the 7hz Zero 2, this inner bore seal is a bit loose, and I perceive that there is a loss of bass, compared to the STOCK RED eartips of the 7Hz Zero 2 - which has a tighter inner bore seal with the nozzle.
Makes me wonder are there any sealant liquids that one may wish to apply, on the contact points, with the nozzle and the ear canal, to improve the seal. E,g some kind of rub on, or spray on. Just thinking aloud.
Sadly, there really is not much information put out by the eartip manufacturers, on the impact of their eartips, on audio quality.
Furthermore when IEM manufacturers bundle eartips with their products, you are on your own, no real guidance. No instructions on how to use eartips properly, no guidance on which eartip to use for what. No proper listing of what each of the eartips was intended to achieve You are left to your own devices, and abandoned to your fate.
I really would want to get a solid grasp of every possible factor, so I can choose eartips, deterministically, not based on trial and error.
What do I know now. That I am fairly sure of, from my own testing of :
The stock RED tips that come with the 7Hz Zero 2 - against
The stock BLUE tips that come with the 7Hz Zero 2
The TRI Clarion Large
On the 7Hz Zero 2 IEM.
1. If all other things remain equal, a larger inner bore seems to improve the highs and reduce the lows, i.e larger bore, brighter sound
2. If the inner bore that holds on to the IEM nozzle, is made of stiffer material, it seems to make the sound brighter. But I have only tested 3 eartips so this is not conclusive, cos I can't make all the other factors related to the IEM, constant, while varying only the hardness of the inner bore.
Looking forward to an enlightening discussion, and getting to the bottom of this. Thanks in advance, for your contributions.