How to: Getting Optimal Sound
We often get a lot of questions from listeners as to how they can optimise their listening experience. In any earphone design, obtaining a good fit will allow listeners to experience better
sound quality. Poor earphone fit will lead to these issues:
1. Lack of bass (especially subbass) due to poor coupling with the ear canal
2. Physical discomfort as the IEMs are not properly secured in place in the ear
3. Risk of the IEM falling out of your ears when you move around
That said, here are 3 ways to get the best sound with your Symphonium IEMs!
1. Insertion Depth and Fit
With a deep fit, a listener will hear treble more tamed; while with a shallow fit, a listener will hear
treble as more aggressive and forward. Manufacturers will design the shell (and how deep it should optimally fit) based on the way they tune the IEM.
Some brands choose to design their earphones to fit shallower, while other brands may opt for a deeper fit. There is no wrong or right here! It depends on what the manufacturer sets out to do.
For example, shallow-fit IEMs tend to feel more comfortable at the expense of less security within the ear. Or, it could be that they just prefer tuning IEMs with a shallow fit!
At Symphonium, we design and account for our IEMs to be worn deep-fitted. This allows us to fit complex crossovers and proprietary acoustic designs within our shells. We also value the feeling of security as we move around, whether for walks or during commutes. Most importantly, we find that treble quality is enhanced with a deeper fit. Using our IEMs with a shallow fit will
cause the treble to sound unintendedly forward and the IEM will also feel less secure within your ears.
So, how do you fit Symphonium IEMs in your ear? Here’s an easy 2 step process to ensure a deep and comfortable fit. This works for any IEM:
Note: Perform these steps gently so that you do not irritate your ear canal.
2. Try a variety of ear-tip sizes
Everyone has different ears. Always experiment with different tip sizes as they can vastly change your IEM experience! As a general rule of thumb with Symphonium IEMs, try the smallest tips you can while at the same time ensuring that you have a strong seal. Smaller tips will ensure that you can deep-fit our IEMs and attain a comfortable fit.
Make sure that you have the best possible seal with your ear-tips as this will greatly affect bass in any IEM. You should perceive environmental noises around you as muffled (without any
music playing). At the same time, however, ensure that the ear-tip is not too big to cause pressure build-up within your ear.
even require different ear-tip sizes for their left and right side IEMs!
In addition, some listeners may have a collection of different ear-tip designs to best enhance the sound qualities of their IEMs. Ear-tips with a wider bore size smooth out treble response while tips with a narrow bore size tend to cause treble response to sound peakier and sharper. Which ear-tip you use is entirely based on your own preference; find the best mix of comfort and sound quality.
However, that does not mean our IEMs do not synergise well with narrow-bore ear-tips. We’ve received feedback from some of our customers indicating that they prefer the sound of our IEMs
with narrow-bore ear-tips!
And that wraps up how you can optimise your listening experience! These tips and tricks seem easy and rudimentary but in practice, are rather tough and require some experience to get the fit and seal right. Always try a variety of sizes of ear-tips and different ear-tip designs with any IEM - it is so important in squeezing out that very last bit of sound quality.