I also had some custom molds or impressions made for the in-ear monitors (prices varied locally from $15 to $300 for a pair of impressions!).My results were not favorable. When they showed up, the seal wasn't good and the sound was horrible. For the first round, the manufacturer blamed me for not knowing how to put them in (yeah. Right!). Then, for round two, they will blame the audiologist who did the impression. The audiologist then blamed the manufacturer for trimming too much. After a while, neither will talk to you (damhik!) and they certainly won't talk to each other as neither thinks they can make a mistake.
Note that the big three custom in-canal manufacturers: Sensaphonics, Westone, and Ultimate Ears all offer 30 days on the impression fit and some from the time they are shipped - not when you recieve them. If they don't fit who is to blame and how will you resolve it? None offer a money-back guarantee (as they are custom made) so if it doesn't work, you are out $700-900 depending on what you bought.
It's a gamble on fit and you can be out a lot of money if the fit becomes a finger pointing game. If you "think" $900 is expensive, you may be better off forgeting about something as extravagant as custom made in-ear phones.
A jar of petroleum jelley should not be a requirement to assure fitment of custom molded plugs - but it can! Buyer beware.
posted 04-19-2005 03:26 PM CST (US) 
