I reviewed the now ancient Altec Lansing im600 for the Home Theater site. It came in so handy that when it died, I bought two replacements, not counting the one I gave Mom for Xmas. The fact that it's rechargeable is helpful because I use it for bedtime music and there's only one (overworked and badly placed) power outlet in my bedroom.
CES 2012: Altec Lansing and ACS
When at Staples or Best Buy, I'll often take a little time to listen to the computer speakers. After headphones, I reckon this may be the most common way people hear their music. It's been my experience during these impromptu listening sessions that the Altec Lansing computer speakers have consistently sounded quite good. I still have a couple old sets around the house. Unfortunately, the computer speakers in the display were not able to play, so I requested review samples of the Octane 7 and the Expressionist Ultra MX 6021. I have to admit to a personal interest in inexpensive stuff that sounds good, but I'm not entirely sure InnerFidelity readers have the same interest. I'd love to have some comments from readers regarding your interests along these lines, and if you think I should continue to look at inexpensive computer speakers.
Last year, Altec Lansing teamed up with U.K. in-ear hearing device specialist ACS to co-brand their custom in-ear monitors. This category is heating up with now about a dozen makers world-wide. The difficulty when evaluating product in this category is the fact that you pretty much have to buy one to hear one. I'll be working hard in the coming year to get evaluation samples of the top-of-the-line models from as many makers of custom IEMs as possible for review. Unfortunately, because these cans will be custom made for my for my ears, I will be unable to measure them. Oh well, I'll just have to listen carefully.
Craig Casper, and audiologist from ACS, made my ear impressions at the booth and told me about their cans.
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Comments
Custom IEM reviews
Submitted by mward on January 16, 2012 - 4:01pm.
Tyll, I'm glad you're going to be taking a look at some custom IEMs. I'm gearing up to make an eventual purchase, but, from a consumer point of view, it's *very* difficult to make an informed purchasing decision for the reasons you specify.
In particular it seems like JH and Ultimate Ears may have the best sound quality, but I believe they use acrylic enclosures? I have ACS custom tips for my Etymotic MC3 and love the comfort of the soft silicone, which makes me very tempted by the offerings from Altec and ACS. But I worry about whether there's any tradeoff in sound quality versus the models from JH and UE.
Hopefully you'll be able to speak to that and ease my decision making 
It'll take a while to round
Submitted by Tyll Hertsens on January 16, 2012 - 4:28pm.
It'll take a while to round up enough models to do a good overview, I bet 6 months at least. Westone's TOTL custom IEM has a hybrid body: acrylic shell, soft tip --- don't know if it's silicon. In the short term, I'd have to say the JH13 is the sure bet.
I can wait
Submitted by mward on January 17, 2012 - 11:57pm.
Thanks, Tyll. I've definitely gotten the impression from you and others that the JH is hard to beat (interesting to hear you recommend the 13 over the 16, though). But I've been pondering whether it's worth sacrificing a bit on sound quality to optimize comfort. Westone's hybrid offering certainly seems like it could be a good compromise.
It also seems like it should be easier to get a very tight fit with soft tips since they have some give to them.
As far as time scale goes, I'm a ways out from a purchase. I suspect you'll have the piece together in plenty of time.
Lots of options....
Submitted by John Grandberg on January 16, 2012 - 5:24pm.
Tyll mentioned there being about a dozen custom IEM makers worldwide. I think that's rather conservative - I've got nearly a dozen different models myself, and there are quite a few brands I've not yet heard.
JH is certainly a good one. UE has their Reference Monitor, but I'd stay away from the rest of their models. Westone is the third member of the "big three" in the custom IEM world, and probably my favorite of the bunch.
Other brands worth looking in to: Heir Audio, Unique Melody, and 1964 Ears are all very competitive, each having some strengths that the big three can't match.
I'd love to write more on the subject (hint hint Tyll!) as I really see it as an emerging market. Consumers have more choices at better prices than ever before.
Thanks for the advice.
Submitted by mward on January 17, 2012 - 11:59pm.
Very interesting, thanks. Are you on Head-Fi? I'd love to hear more about your experience with different customs. I can't imagine there are many people that have your level of exposure.
Yep
Submitted by John Grandberg on January 20, 2012 - 1:34pm.
My name on HeadFi is Project86, and I've done fairly extensive (long-winded) reviews on many of my custom IEMs.
A recommendation ...
Submitted by Laurence Wayne on January 16, 2012 - 5:05pm.
Tyll, since you asked for recommendations re "inexpensive stuff that sounds good" watcha' think:
BTW the inventor of the ZO2 technology spoke with someone named Dr. Heinrich Esser, who was complimentary.
Of Course...
Submitted by droilfade on January 16, 2012 - 7:56pm.
..review the cheap stuff. It's all good when you review the expensive stuff...but there is only so much expensive stuff that I can buy (especially as a grad student 
). I have recently gotten into all this audiophile stuff...and bought myself a FiiO E7+E9 a ATH-M50. Cost: $300. My plan is to buy cheap stuff first and then move on to more expensive headphones. And there are so much awesome cheap stuff too like the JVC and MEE Electronics...etc. Keep on going Tyll, serve the masses
I am interested in
Submitted by donunus on January 17, 2012 - 1:32am.
I am interested in inexpensive computer speakers but i don't think I have come across a pair that has sounded good yet.
I'm interested too!
Submitted by Mkubota1 on January 17, 2012 - 1:39pm.
"I have to admit to a personal interest in inexpensive stuff that sounds good, but I'm not entirely sure InnerFidelity readers have the same interest..."
Absolutely! I actually started this hobby at or very near the high-end, but I've found myself working my way 'back down' the price chain. I find that when you do get past the point of diminishing returns, you start to split hairs, make lateral moves, or get tied up in theories of what you're supposed to hear, etc.- i.e., further away from the *music*. So while I still have great interest at what the best sounds like, it's nice to see and hear the ever-growing variety of gear that normal people listen to. 
Plus, for those who do own SR-009s, HD800s, etc., there's always room for a cheap(er) set of cans for backup, work, recommendations, or gifts.
As for computer speakers, I think this would make a good sub-forum/topic here. Both headphones and desktop speakers serve similar purposes and more often than not are used by the same people. They are both for confined living conditions, work spaces, limited budgets, and they will both likely play from the same source.
On measuring custom in-ears
Submitted by Many on January 17, 2012 - 2:59pm.
Hi Tyll,
I'm pretty sure manufacturers use blu-tack to couple custom-made shells to an ear simulator in order to create a proper seal. I don't see a reason why customs should behave differently from universals which are coupled to your simulator using a universal tip. It would be great if you gave it a try - if you haven't already that is, and the results proved unsatisfactory.
Well ... I'll play around
Submitted by Tyll Hertsens on January 17, 2012 - 3:22pm.
Well ... I'll play around with it a little and see if it'll work, but it's a bit scetchy. Wouldn't want to measure flagship cans poorly. Usually headphones of this type are measured with a small coupler where you can place just the tip into a soft orifice of the measurement coupler.
!
Submitted by John Grandberg on January 20, 2012 - 1:35pm.
Tyll, if you figure it out, let me know. I can send a bunch of customs your way.
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