Spoke with my CIO about using my productivity budget on a pair of custom IEMs and it seems like it's going to get approved. What's the current consensus on which one is preferred here?

 

I like the ER-4 sound sig. I greatly preferred my im716's over my Triple-Fi 10's. But they broke so I'm stuck using the TF10's.
 

As for budget, as long as it's under $1,500. 

I think only one of JH13's and JH16's are under US$1.5K.

while I am a bit of a fan of the JH line the 16s may have too large a bass hump for you if you prefer the ety signature. They are fast like the etys and the bass does not obscure the miss and highs like the UE universals I have heard. In the end the bass quantity of the 16s may throw you the 13s have a mid bass hump but it is less pronounced  and may fir the bill here. 

I have the JH13 and don't feel like I need any more bass (I also like the Etys though). I would get them over the JH16 if I were buying now. I doubt there are any other custom IEMs out there that compete.

There's a review of 24 top of the line custom IEMs on InnerFidelity.  You might want to take a peek at it.

I have the JH13 and don't feel like I need any more bass (I also like the Etys though). I would get them over the JH16 if I were buying now. I doubt there are any other custom IEMs out there that compete.

 

I think the Westone ES5 does well. The JH13 is more exciting, and is more coherent (better imaging) but the ES5 is more neutral...though a tad rolled-off up top. Both are really good IMHO.

Thanks for all info! 

 

I was under the impression that most customs were priced below $1,500. The 16's are listed at $1,149.

 

And thanks for the link!! I'll check the link out when I have some time.

I stand corrected.  I think I was remembering the price of JH16 + JH3A, but with the current "freqphase" iteration, the JH3A is no longer necessary (by all accounts).

I know the talk was JHA has trying to fix their customer service issues. I'd probably never buy anything from them again, but for those newly considering, has it improved?

Jeffy seems pretty happy with his.

 

And I don't think you should discount current owners -- cables still break, drivers still break, they still need service, so that question goes to current owners, too.

I bought my replacement cable from westone

I bought mine in 2009 and they are fine but I am pretty careful with them and don't use them everyday. 

I think the Westone ES5 does well. The JH13 is more exciting, and is more coherent (better imaging) but the ES5 is more neutral...though a tad rolled-off up top. Both are really good IMHO.

 

I like mine though I don't listen to them very often.  They were quite the value IEM for me.