^ So the pricing probably won't be any cheaper than the custom version.  Aside from the resale value, I don't see the point of getting the universal.

Edited November 16, 201312 yr by Salt Peanuts

On Headfonia Mike said that the universal would be like 100 or 200 dollars cheaper, I don't remember.

 

I already placed my order 

Well the stock Roxanne is 1599 whereas Headroom has priced the universal at 1299.  So that's 300....

The comfort of customs is worth well more than $300 to me.

Yeah, I can't imagine ever investing serious $$ in a universal when the custom will be better in every respect save for resale value which shouldn't be high on the list of considerations when making a purchase like this anyway.

It's all about the instant gratification

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Yeah, I can't imagine ever investing serious $$ in a universal when the custom will be better in every respect save for resale value which shouldn't be high on the list of considerations when making a purchase like this anyway.

 

Well, if you like to buy and sell stuff instead of listening then universals will clearly be superior.

 

Seriously though, I have talked to some people who are afraid to buy customs because (1) they are afraid that they won't like them or will have buyer's remorse or (2) will want to upgrade and won't be able to sell their old pair for $$$ towards the new pair.  This will give them a chance to buy high end iems without those worries.  

 

Also, going to and finding a good audiologist can be a pain depending where you live.  I suppose it is probably easier nowadays.  Then there is the fun of sending back your customs when they don't quite fit perfectly... (wish I would have done that with mine). 

IMHO if you are going to spend well north of $1K, custom IEMs are the only option for that last bit of performance. Having said that, a great audiologist who can achieve that near perfect fit is paramount otherwise with a bad fit you have a small incremental improvement over a universal fit iem.  Luckily John turned me on to a local audiologist who fitted me perfectly the first time. 

Or worse, you could get an audiologist who rips out part of your ear while taking the impression -- sorry, my ears are precious, doubt I'll ever get a custom.

On the other side of things as someone who had to send their JH13s back five times for refits including two different sets of impressions - and don't think I still have a perfect set (though adjustments wildly jumped back and forth so stopped when close enough) - I wonder if universals gives you some play customs never will in channel balance, etc. 

Living outside the US, and knowing all the troubles that many people had getting their customs properly fit, I wouldn't ever buy customs at those prices. If getting an universal which fits me like any other IEM I've owned, is going to give me 90-95% of the performance of the JH13 for a lower price, that I might consider. If performance isn't up to that, or the price isn't significantly lower, I wouldn't.

I feel the same as Antonio, except inside the US.

Ditto. Living in BFN, I've never even considered customs because of the associated back-and-forth. Will think seriously about the universals though if the (good) reviews are good.

IMHO if you are going to spend well north of $1K, custom IEMs are the only option for that last bit of performance. Having said that, a great audiologist who can achieve that near perfect fit is paramount otherwise with a bad fit you have a small incremental improvement over a universal fit iem.  Luckily John turned me on to a local audiologist who fitted me perfectly the first time. 

 

Yeah I can relate to that.. with more than 4 times shipping back to USA.. Plus with them totally dismissing my notes.  I can see how this could work for guys like me if they really sound great in the universal form.

Doesn't anyone make a high-end IEM in Europe?

Yes, but they all have annoying accents.

Yes, but they all have annoying accents.

 

Winner.

^ Good one!

I'm convinced most fit problems are audiologist related and not manufacturing related (at least wrt JH Audio, anyway).

 

I've had two sets of customs done with an experienced audiologist. One shot, one kill each time. No remolds, no adjustments, no special notes.

 

It's all about the impressions.

 

That said, if shipping was a kabillion dollars and took 6 weeks in each direction...no fucking way would I do it.

The wild changes that JHA did with the same impressions (center point shifting 40 degrees for instance), not getting perfection with two sets of impressions (two audiologists), while not having any issues with two other companies customs makes me doubt your conclusion. Couple it with how many of us had issues with different audiologists. I don't know as many who've ordered customs recently to guess if the situation has changed. Hopefully, but I wouldn't necessary let JHA off the hook for the past.

Edited November 18, 201312 yr by blessingx

Yah, due almost entirely to tyrion's tribulations with them, I quit recommending them.  I get the impression, pun only sorta intended, that this is better now, but I'd still make it a cautious recommendation.  I do love my JH13s tho.

i'm the lucky one, i've had 4 pairs of custom IEMs made and these are my experiences:

 

Westone ES3X: had impressions made locally, perfect fit 

 

Westone ES5: they used the same impressions again, perfect fit

 

JH Audio 13: had impressions done by JH at CanJam. fit was very good but not perfect in right ear compared to Westones. I mentioned this to JH once and they were going to fix it. shipped my JH13s back to wrong address, lost...

 

JH Audio 16: got these as replacements for the lost 13's. I sent them my Westone ES5 to use as impressions. Perfect fit.

 

 

so there's an idea. get impressions done, use them to get custom ear plugs or something like that. if they work for you, ask JH if they can use them as your impressions.

Edited November 18, 201312 yr by justin

Lollers.

FWIW, the Universal Roxanne will actually look nicer than the Custom version, depending on your ear shape. 

I'd never want to go back to universals.  Sure, getting customs right can be a chore, but it's well worth the effort in my book.  The fit, the comfort, the ease of putting them on, and the lack of messing with universal tips are all huge factors in why I strongly prefer customs.