Custom head-phones look nice, cost a lot
Let’s face itin-ear headphones don’t always live up to their name. Spend too little and you might wind up with a pair that’s constantly slipping out of your ears, especially if you’re using them for exercise. Even if they stay in, the sound quality often leaves something to be desired. These disadvantages have inspired a special category of custom-molded earbud headphones. Unsurprisingly, there is a catch to these devices, and the major one can be measured in hundreds of dollars.Ultimate Ears, a manufacturer formed in 1995 selling fitted micro-speakers to musicians, soon found another business in selling custom earphones to tech-savvy audiophiles. The manufacturer’s cheapest option is the Ultimate Ears 4 Pro, a 399.00 pair of fitted headphones with two speakers in each monitor. But why settle for two when you can get three (Ultimate Ears 7 Pro, 850.00), four (Ultimate Ears 11 Pro, 1150.00), or even six (Ultimate Ears 18 Pro, 1350.00).I’m sure some readers dropped out after those prices listed in the last paragraph, but the truth is that there is a market for these kinds of high-end listening devices, which help to block out ambient noise and pick out all the nuances of the audio. Each pair of custom monitors is based off of the physical impressions of an individual’s inner ear, which can be made by a trained audiologist and/or ear-molding specialist. Ultimate Ears assists its customers in finding a specialist near them at the end of each order.Westone and Sleek Audio also offer custom-molded options at somewhat cheaper prices. Future Sonics offers a custom fit in-ear sleeve which slips over a pair of universal headphones. A Wired review said that these sleeves are difficult to get into your ear initially, but are comfortable and secure afterwards. If you’re serious about your sound, think about checking out one of these options and taking your listening experience to the next level.