Question eartips

[jobas77]

Which eartips are good and inexpensive to use with the GK Kunten and KZ EDC Pro? I only use the original large GK and KZ eartips. Does changing eartips make a big difference in sound, or is the difference only in comfort?

 

[jobas77]

???

 

[Curupira]

They Do make a difference in sound, but it's hard to nail down what changes what. A good heuristic is to see it this way:

Narrow tips increase the high treble, while wide bore tips even it out (and foam tips damp the high frequencies, much more than the aforementioned types). Both changes have to do with the additional length to your ear canal, as they add or detract from your own ear resonances. In this context, shallow eartips and deeper inserts move the resonance peak forward, and deeper eartips and shallower inserts do the opposite.

These heuristics only apply if you're getting a good seal, as that is the most important factor by far. If you aren't, the bass will be compromised severely.

For recommendations, I recommend the Triclarion, the Tangzu Sancai, the Tangzu "HE Sonic" (search them up on aliexpress) and the Kbear Coffee and their silicone models.

All of them should be inexpensive enough.

 

[jobas77]

Currently I only use the original large eartips from KZ EDC Pro and GK Kunten, and they are comfortable for me.

If I use Tangzu HE Sonic, will the improvement be only in comfort, or will there be a significant improvement in bass, treble, and midrange?

 

[Curupira]

Currently I only use the original large eartips from KZ EDC Pro and GK Kunten, and they are comfortable for me.

If I use Tangzu HE Sonic, will the improvement be only in comfort, or will there be a significant improvement in bass, treble, and midrange?

Most probably only in comfort, but you will only know if you try them.

 

[ziggurcat]

I have recently gotten some Tangzu Noble and Spinfit W1 tips. After trying both, I think I might prefer the W1s.

 

[yo!]

Some recommendations (as I don't recommend 20$ eartips):
NiceHCK C04, very comfortable
Penon Orange, comfortable (try L and XL if you have L size!)

Penon is subbass specialist like no other with slight damping (-1dB) in the upper midrange.
The differs in tonality are sometimes relative huge when changing eartips.

 

[Sebby]

They Do make a difference in sound, but it's hard to nail down what changes what. A good heuristic is to see it this way:

Narrow tips increase the high treble, while wide bore tips even it out (and foam tips damp the high frequencies, much more than the aforementioned types). Both changes have to do with the additional length to your ear canal, as they add or detract from your own ear resonances. In this context, shallow eartips and deeper inserts move the resonance peak forward, and deeper eartips and shallower inserts do the opposite.

These heuristics only apply if you're getting a good seal, as that is the most important factor by far. If you aren't, the bass will be compromised severely.

For recommendations, I recommend the Triclarion, the Tangzu Sancai, the Tangzu "HE Sonic" (search them up on aliexpress) and the Kbear Coffee and their silicone models.

All of them should be inexpensive enough.

Narrow bore eartips, such as the widely used Final E, increase the upper mids/high but reduce the treble. Wide bore eartips reduce the upper mids but increase the treble.
Here is an example on the Truthear Pure using the stock wide bore and narrow bore eartips…

 

[Curupira]

Narrow bore eartips, such as the widely used Final E, increase the upper mids/high but reduce the treble. Wide bore eartips reduce the upper mids but increase the treble.
Here is an example on the Truthear Pure using the stock wide bore and narrow bore eartips…

In a way, yes. I think it's better to think on resonance modes being affected rather than on an universal effect of said tips, though.

Took this literally from @listener650 as I also own a Pure. When I use it with Final Es, the biggest quality of that IEM, being the linear higher treble, disappears for me. Like him, I also have pretty big 11khz resonance mode, and with those eartips (that also have a very long "canal") this peak becomes accentuated, defeating the heuristic that narrow bore attenuate the treble. Inversely, when I use very wide and shallow bores, like the Tri Clarions, there are no reasonance peaks in my audible range, making the IEM sound dull and dark up top.

My solution to this case was reaching a middle ground, with the Tangzu "HE Sonic" Ls, as they are wide and deep at the same time. The stock narrow tips also work, big I have a big ear canal and even the Large ones can't provide a firm seal.

 

[yo!]

In a way, yes. I think it's better to think on resonance modes being affected rather than on an universal effect of said tips, though.

I can confirm this, depending on IEMs, positioning of the tweeter / source can cause diametral looking results in the highs from one and the same ear tip. It's a interference effect in first place. All this in conjunction with the individual ear canal.
However, silicone exhibits a predictable damping in the upper midrange of 2.5-7 kHz.

 

[Subob]

Oh no!, you're thinking of entering the eartip rabbit hole!?

Go careful. I've been there...

I can only wish you good luck.