custom fit ear monitors
- Thread starter Alan R
- Start date
Ive had a pair of Mickey`s monitors for 2 years now and they are the bollox
I am not going to stick mine or anybody else's bollox in my ears, no matter how comfortable the experience is reported to be.
Just to add another option
I've had UEs for three years and yes a lead broke beside the earplug. £40 for cutting the lead and a remoulded plug. No issues with the company customer service BTW
I've a mate who builds radios etc recently been pointed me in the direction of some Chinese ear bud speakers - I was sceptical at first, just because they were Chinese and the cheap and cheerful reputation their kit had.
Anyway I'm blown away by their sound quality and value - Nothing else around for that prices comes anywhere near.
Ear buds by sound magic
I find that the quality as good if not better than my UEs. If you want the attenuation and all day comfort just as good as a moulded ear plug then try them with ear tips like these.
I use them with
silicone triple flange ear pieces similar to these.
The sound magic ear buds lay flat inside your ear, very comfortable with a crash helmet, and the usual 3.5 jack for your autocom helmet socket or ipod thingy.
I've cut the last flange off (ooooer Mrs) a set to see if there was any noticeable difference in comfort or sound. The result was just the same but less earplug in your ear canal which must be better.
I've had UEs for three years and yes a lead broke beside the earplug. £40 for cutting the lead and a remoulded plug. No issues with the company customer service BTW
I've a mate who builds radios etc recently been pointed me in the direction of some Chinese ear bud speakers - I was sceptical at first, just because they were Chinese and the cheap and cheerful reputation their kit had.
Anyway I'm blown away by their sound quality and value - Nothing else around for that prices comes anywhere near.
Ear buds by sound magic
I find that the quality as good if not better than my UEs. If you want the attenuation and all day comfort just as good as a moulded ear plug then try them with ear tips like these.
I use them with
silicone triple flange ear pieces similar to these.
The sound magic ear buds lay flat inside your ear, very comfortable with a crash helmet, and the usual 3.5 jack for your autocom helmet socket or ipod thingy.
I've cut the last flange off (ooooer Mrs) a set to see if there was any noticeable difference in comfort or sound. The result was just the same but less earplug in your ear canal which must be better.
pablo666
Registered user
Mike, I just don't understand how you and others manage to use them without the leads fracturing where they enter the silicone mould. Mine were cared for and under a buff. No tugs or pulls on the leads but they still broke. The £40 repair came back with a tear in the mould where they had rewired it. They also added a bloody great knot where the lead came out the mould. That repair soon fractured at the same site and I've given up on them. In my humble opinion, the design is not fit for the purpose of use under a motorcycle helmet. I just cannot understand how yours (and others) survive when mine didn't with honestly no rough treatment.
I don't know either. 
Before I commissioned them, I was aware of some grumbling here about them. However, I went ahead because I already had UE moulded plugs, had the mould impressions to hand and I could avoid trying to arrange another provider to start the process all over again.
I've not been particularly gentle with them either. Although I avoided using the cable to remove them from my ears (more because it was obvious that it wasn't a good idea than from fear of what has been said) but they have on occasions been dragged out by the cable when it has snagged on my helmet strap or something.
I use them every ride, even if I'm not listening to music and have relegated the 'dumb' UE plugs to back-up status carried on the bike in case of loss etc. because the fact that they have the cable means that I can just let them dangle instead of stuffing them in a pocket when off the bike for a short time (I once spent a long time in the dark at the roadside on my hands and knees looking for one of the original set that I managed to drop).
I'm not slagging-off any other plugs nor am I specifically promoting UE. I'm just saying that I've not had any problems with mine and will likely replace them with more based upon my experience.
Before I commissioned them, I was aware of some grumbling here about them. However, I went ahead because I already had UE moulded plugs, had the mould impressions to hand and I could avoid trying to arrange another provider to start the process all over again.
I've not been particularly gentle with them either. Although I avoided using the cable to remove them from my ears (more because it was obvious that it wasn't a good idea than from fear of what has been said) but they have on occasions been dragged out by the cable when it has snagged on my helmet strap or something.
I use them every ride, even if I'm not listening to music and have relegated the 'dumb' UE plugs to back-up status carried on the bike in case of loss etc. because the fact that they have the cable means that I can just let them dangle instead of stuffing them in a pocket when off the bike for a short time (I once spent a long time in the dark at the roadside on my hands and knees looking for one of the original set that I managed to drop).
I'm not slagging-off any other plugs nor am I specifically promoting UE. I'm just saying that I've not had any problems with mine and will likely replace them with more based upon my experience.
Me too. Very good product IMHO
Many thanks for the positive comments folks 
I'm a 'one man band' and in control of the process from start to finish. I only use top quality materials imported from the States. What I syringe in to your ear becomes the finished article ... no impressions, no moulds, no outside processes or middle men .... so I can therefore offer a full money back guarantee (less £10.00 for postage and packaging costs) if you are not happy with your earplugs
None returned, to date, in six years ....
I'm in South Yorkshire and I require your ears, one way or another, if you want a pair. How you get your ears to me is up to you
Many thanks again all
I'm a 'one man band' and in control of the process from start to finish. I only use top quality materials imported from the States. What I syringe in to your ear becomes the finished article ... no impressions, no moulds, no outside processes or middle men .... so I can therefore offer a full money back guarantee (less £10.00 for postage and packaging costs) if you are not happy with your earplugs
None returned, to date, in six years ....
I'm in South Yorkshire and I require your ears, one way or another, if you want a pair. How you get your ears to me is up to you
Many thanks again all
I just shelled out for a pair of ACS custom ear buds for some klipsch s4 headphones.
I seriously considered the UE route, but was put off by the numerous quality issues reported here and elsewhere.
Just has the impressions taken and await delivery of the finished items.
Will report back.
I seriously considered the UE route, but was put off by the numerous quality issues reported here and elsewhere.
Just has the impressions taken and await delivery of the finished items.
Will report back.
I'm on my third UE cable fix 
It's becoming expensive ..........
It's becoming expensive ..........
judge
Registered user
- Joined
- Feb 24, 2002
- Messages
- 10,323
- Reaction score
- 7
Interesting thread - some fact based on personal opinion, some conjecture and opinion some subjective some objective. Lets start with some facts.
Do Ultimate customers experience problems? Yes some do.
Do Ultimate manufacture products that are not 'fit for purpose'? No they don't, see above re: CE approval and Google EN352-2 if you really want to know what is entailed.
Have Ultimate ever screwed up? Yes they have and it would be naive and arrogant to believe that just because they make hundreds of plugs a week that customer experience doesn't matter, it absolutely matters. Companies don't survive or thrive on a bed of poor product and poor customer services.
There is no resting on laurels or any of that nonsense. They produce a premium product and it does come at a premium price. In comparison to competitors though they are very price competitive because there are very few who actually manufacture their products.
Ultimate also push their product out their to get it tested or compared against what's available in the market, if you read Ride magazine you might have read an article on custom hearing protection this month which Ultimate assisted with (and I'm quoted in) and yes at the time I was an 1150GS owner!
So why does Ultimate appear to get a bad press at times? Simple, their product is (relatively) everywhere. Why do BT or British Gas get bad press, because their product or services is everywhere. I've personally been involved in about 70 purchases of Ultimate products this year through this forum and there are many I have had nothing to do with, how many have problems? Very few.
Have a look in the 1200 section, who'd buy one of them after reading some of that? Answer fekkin loads of people do, why? Because its a damned good product and in spite of what some experience most believe owning them is a fantastic thing, same goes for customers of Ultimate's products, for everyone who has had a problem there are hundreds who haven't.
Yes there is more involved in making the lab produced products and yes sellers of insta-mold do make their plugs from the mould that is taken and we don't.
So why don't Ultimate use it?
The silicone used in lab produced plugs is far softer and far easier to keep clean and in good condition. Soft = greater comfort.
If your ears were to remain static and never move then of course a mould rather than a cast product would be better, but the ears do not remain stable, in fact under a helmet the ear contorts massively so a flexible plug is more likely to maintain a good seal than a firmer material.
The other rather important reason why Ultimate don't use Insta-mold is it isn't CE approved and therefore they cannot sell them as PPE legally in Europe, this is significant given the proportion of their sales that are commercial.
Ultimate do make an acoustic tube monitor for those who want one, it contains no speakers in the earplug and is far cheaper, they are £126 posted (before discount). But we're not great fans of them because they offer 'good enough' sound quality and that makes them a bike specific product. Ultimate see the SoundEar as high quality earphones with hearing protection, the audio is excellent such that they are something you would use off the bike, I use mine as most do anywhere I would use earphones and I can do so because the quality is that good, replacing very good generic earphones. You cannot achieve that sound quality with the speaker as far away from the ear as the acoustic tube monitors are, as such I do not enjoy the sound of my acoustic monitors off the bike, they offer 'singalongability' on the bike or for those who don't want music and only require voice (phones, satnav, intercom) they make a worthwhile economic solution.
I've absolutely no doubt the personal service provided by Micky is unlikely to be anything other than top-notch and he has many satisfied customers. If getting to Yorkshire is do-able then check out the product or if you're going to a show compare the vendors products, there will be a range of insta-mold based and lab produced products, check out the products, ask to see the data that confirms the products capability and make an informed decision on where your money should go.
I did when I was a paying customer and was very happy with my choice, I have subsequently tested the market of all that is available and remain happy with my choice. If I wasn't working for them I'd still be buying from Ultimate.
So long as I have been involved with Ultimate, if people want to take advantage of a UKGS'er member to seek advice, help or even a discount of Ultimate's products then they can feel free to PM me. I gain nothing financial from you purchasing anything (although if the company didn't sell then I'd have no work from them).
Be happy in your choice
- Ultimate Ear Protection is NOT Ulimateears, the former are a UK company of some 11 years standing. Ultimateears are a US company now part of Logitech.
- I work in a part time capacity for Ultimate Ear Protection and have done for 5 years. Prior to that I was a customer and they were a client of mine (IT services).
- Ultimate Ear Protection are a manufacturer of their own products in their own lab based in Orpington, Kent. They employ staff who manage their entire production processes. There are no middle-men, there are re-sellers who sell Ultimate's products and there are agent Audiologists who take ear mouldings for Ultimate's customers.
- Ultimate manufacture hearing protection which is subjected to and meets the European Standard for in the ear hearing protection and carries the CE mark, that means it is independently assessed and has to pass stringent standards and the noise protection provided is proven and stated. It can therefore legally be sold throughout Europe for use as personal protective equipment (PPE). It also means the materials with which is is made is also CE approved for use for otological purposes.
- Ultimate make hundreds of plugs per week for a range of customers both commercial and personal for any number of purposes.
- Ultimate provide a range of services in terms of delivery its standard turnaround being 'up to 28 days', it also offers guaranteed express services of 10 day, 5 day or 48 hours, at very busy times 48 hours is suspended.
- All products come with a warranty, 1 year for those with speakers fitted, 2 years for passive plugs.
- All customers are offered an unconditional fit guarantee, all that is asked is that any fit issues are reported with 28 days of receipt of the plugs.
Ultiamate's products gone through many revisions in terms of design, manufacturing and component changes. The set I have from 2002 bear little relation to the one's made 2 months ago.
Do Ultimate customers experience problems? Yes some do.
Do Ultimate manufacture products that are not 'fit for purpose'? No they don't, see above re: CE approval and Google EN352-2 if you really want to know what is entailed.
Have Ultimate ever screwed up? Yes they have and it would be naive and arrogant to believe that just because they make hundreds of plugs a week that customer experience doesn't matter, it absolutely matters. Companies don't survive or thrive on a bed of poor product and poor customer services.
There is no resting on laurels or any of that nonsense. They produce a premium product and it does come at a premium price. In comparison to competitors though they are very price competitive because there are very few who actually manufacture their products.
Ultimate also push their product out their to get it tested or compared against what's available in the market, if you read Ride magazine you might have read an article on custom hearing protection this month which Ultimate assisted with (and I'm quoted in) and yes at the time I was an 1150GS owner!
So why does Ultimate appear to get a bad press at times? Simple, their product is (relatively) everywhere. Why do BT or British Gas get bad press, because their product or services is everywhere. I've personally been involved in about 70 purchases of Ultimate products this year through this forum and there are many I have had nothing to do with, how many have problems? Very few.
Have a look in the 1200 section, who'd buy one of them after reading some of that? Answer fekkin loads of people do, why? Because its a damned good product and in spite of what some experience most believe owning them is a fantastic thing, same goes for customers of Ultimate's products, for everyone who has had a problem there are hundreds who haven't.
Yes there is more involved in making the lab produced products and yes sellers of insta-mold do make their plugs from the mould that is taken and we don't.
So why don't Ultimate use it?
The silicone used in lab produced plugs is far softer and far easier to keep clean and in good condition. Soft = greater comfort.
If your ears were to remain static and never move then of course a mould rather than a cast product would be better, but the ears do not remain stable, in fact under a helmet the ear contorts massively so a flexible plug is more likely to maintain a good seal than a firmer material.
The other rather important reason why Ultimate don't use Insta-mold is it isn't CE approved and therefore they cannot sell them as PPE legally in Europe, this is significant given the proportion of their sales that are commercial.
Ultimate do make an acoustic tube monitor for those who want one, it contains no speakers in the earplug and is far cheaper, they are £126 posted (before discount). But we're not great fans of them because they offer 'good enough' sound quality and that makes them a bike specific product. Ultimate see the SoundEar as high quality earphones with hearing protection, the audio is excellent such that they are something you would use off the bike, I use mine as most do anywhere I would use earphones and I can do so because the quality is that good, replacing very good generic earphones. You cannot achieve that sound quality with the speaker as far away from the ear as the acoustic tube monitors are, as such I do not enjoy the sound of my acoustic monitors off the bike, they offer 'singalongability' on the bike or for those who don't want music and only require voice (phones, satnav, intercom) they make a worthwhile economic solution.
I've absolutely no doubt the personal service provided by Micky is unlikely to be anything other than top-notch and he has many satisfied customers. If getting to Yorkshire is do-able then check out the product or if you're going to a show compare the vendors products, there will be a range of insta-mold based and lab produced products, check out the products, ask to see the data that confirms the products capability and make an informed decision on where your money should go.
I did when I was a paying customer and was very happy with my choice, I have subsequently tested the market of all that is available and remain happy with my choice. If I wasn't working for them I'd still be buying from Ultimate.
So long as I have been involved with Ultimate, if people want to take advantage of a UKGS'er member to seek advice, help or even a discount of Ultimate's products then they can feel free to PM me. I gain nothing financial from you purchasing anything (although if the company didn't sell then I'd have no work from them).
Be happy in your choice
just as a further little note on my UE's as per my earlier post....
regarding the handling .. i had read the grunmbles re the cable snagging, or being tugged whilst in use.
I was prepared for this and used micropore tape to fix the wiring behind my ear, to give the slck before putting the helmet on etc - and still the cable was damaged..
No doubt about the quality of the plug, its comfort or its function ....just those damned fragile wires that appear to have no 'strain' sleeving where it leaves the plug.
regarding the handling .. i had read the grunmbles re the cable snagging, or being tugged whilst in use.
I was prepared for this and used micropore tape to fix the wiring behind my ear, to give the slck before putting the helmet on etc - and still the cable was damaged..
No doubt about the quality of the plug, its comfort or its function ....just those damned fragile wires that appear to have no 'strain' sleeving where it leaves the plug.
I wholeheartedly agree with everything that Judge says
For every person that complains, moans and belittles a product there are dozens going about their business without a problem ... but they don't 'write in'
Thanks MikeP ... you did
If we listen to the 'Prophets of Doom' there wouldn't be a 1200GS sold, yet I know of one or two that have done over 20,000 miles
Only kidding ... you're right on this one too Judge
But to cover a couple of points, if I may .... my materials come from Earinc in the USA, I'm one of just a couple of authorised providers here in the UK
For full details about the silicones used, attenuation, longevity and government agencies that use the product please have a look here
As Judge says ... be happy in your choice
For every person that complains, moans and belittles a product there are dozens going about their business without a problem ... but they don't 'write in'
Thanks MikeP ... you did
If we listen to the 'Prophets of Doom' there wouldn't be a 1200GS sold, yet I know of one or two that have done over 20,000 miles
Only kidding ... you're right on this one too Judge
But to cover a couple of points, if I may .... my materials come from Earinc in the USA, I'm one of just a couple of authorised providers here in the UK
For full details about the silicones used, attenuation, longevity and government agencies that use the product please have a look here
As Judge says ... be happy in your choice
Many thanks for the positive comments folks
I'm a 'one man band' and in control of the process from start to finish. I only use top quality materials imported from the States. What I syringe in to your ear becomes the finished article ... no impressions, no moulds, no outside processes or middle men .... so I can therefore offer a full money back guarantee (less £10.00 for postage and packaging costs) if you are not happy with your earplugs
None returned, to date, in six years ....
I'm in South Yorkshire and I require your ears, one way or another, if you want a pair. How you get your ears to me is up to you
Many thanks again all
I used to be a bit sceptical of 'moulded plugs' & just used foam plugs for years, despite them hurting my ears after a long day in the saddle
After speaking to Micky, I decided to 'go for it' & try some
That was about 3 years ago, I think they're great - v comfy & quiet !
He did a very good job & offers a very slick service, coupled with a bit if banter too
I've seen Judge at work & he offers a similar professional service
Whichever you choose - be happy
I'm surprised you couldn't get on with foam plugs, unless they were the terrible parallel ones with a roughish surface?
I can't see past the Howard Leight Laser Lites - yellow/pink colour. Comfortable all day, and great for short trips where wired ones aren't warranted.
Al
So, is there any discernible difference in the quality of speech/music received from either Micky's or Judges types of earphones?
Are either just as good as say earbuds received with an IPod?
I am confused now.......(not difficult I know)
Are either just as good as say earbuds received with an IPod?
I am confused now.......(not difficult I know)
It has to be said, that the air-tube method (a la Micky) is slightly inferior to the Ultimate Ear "speaker in plug" type.
That said, for listening to stereo music whle on the bike - I don't think it matters any.
Al
That said, for listening to stereo music whle on the bike - I don't think it matters any.
Al
I'm in no position to offer a comparison, all I can say is that the UE Monitors are better than the buds that came with my iPod and I use them with it all the time now.So, is there any discernible difference in the quality of speech/music received from either Micky's or Judges types of earphones?
Are either just as good as say earbuds received with an IPod?
I am confused now.......(not difficult I know)
Many thanks for the positive comments folks
I'm a 'one man band' and in control of the process from start to finish. I only use top quality materials imported from the States. What I syringe in to your ear becomes the finished article ... no impressions, no moulds, no outside processes or middle men .... so I can therefore offer a full money back guarantee (less £10.00 for postage and packaging costs) if you are not happy with your earplugs
None returned, to date, in six years ....
I'm in South Yorkshire and I require your ears, one way or another, if you want a pair. How you get your ears to me is up to you
Many thanks again all
Dude - the link in your signature is pointing to a now-defunct Mobile Me site - suggest you update it.
itspilsbury
Registered user
I even purchased some of Autocoms own ear buds, the sound was tinny and I was a bit sceptical about the wind noise protection, I have used Sonic GENESIS moulded which I found very uncomfortable, after 2 years they offered no wind noise protection, I guess my ears had altered, I had some original Green Leopard moulds with filters, they were very good but sometimes uncomfortable, as I said I have had Micks a year now, no comfort issues, sound quality is good and wind noise attenuation is excellent. I have a fairly noisy helmet - Shark Evoline but with the plugs in and my Garmin 660 music volume on as low as 30% there is just nice clear piped music in my ears. When my ears grow, I understand they do? I will be rushing straight back to mick for some new moulds.
I wear the approved yellow sponge EAR plugs all day at work and find the noise attenuation is better with Micks but can still hear sirens approaching etc...
I am not familiar with UE, but Micks are 1st rate, and can be worn all day long on long distance rides.
Ian
I wear the approved yellow sponge EAR plugs all day at work and find the noise attenuation is better with Micks but can still hear sirens approaching etc...
I am not familiar with UE, but Micks are 1st rate, and can be worn all day long on long distance rides.
Ian
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