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Westone UM56 custom earmolds In my March <strong>2007</strong> review of Shure’s E4 earphones (p.118), I described my preliminary experience with the custom earmolds Westone makes for Shure’s E2, E3, and E4 series of in-ear ’phones, as well as for Westone’s own UM-1, UM-2, and the new 3 ’phones (which I plan to review). Westone’s earmolds are made from silicone material impressions of your ear canals made by your audiologist. Westone’s literature suggests that the fit should be positive—when it’s in right, they say, you’ll know it. That wasn’t my experience. The right side, especially, didn’t seal well, and wiggled loose when I exercised. I had a replacement made for the right earpiece, but it was only a little bit better. The fit on the left side wasn’t the greatest, either. Turns out there was a good reason for that. “Westone recommends open jaw ear impressions taken to the second bend of the ear canal,” Westone says at www.westone.com. “If you ask your hearing healthcare professional to take your impressions this way, we’ll have the best possible starting point for crafting your monitors or musicians’ earplugs.” When I mentioned this to my audiologist, who is very experienced in most matters audiological but not in making custom earmolds, she disagreed. I’m not going to be listening to music slackjawed, she reasoned, so why should she take the impressions that way? Why, indeed? When she called Westone to find out, she was told that Westone makes earmolds primarily for musicians who perform on stage, and FOLLOW -UP Jim Austin & Brian Damkroger musicians on stage often sing. That didn’t apply to me, so we went with the relaxed-jaw approach. As I wrote in the March issue, I wasn’t satisfied with the result. But when I submitted that review, John Atkinson told me that both he and Shure E4 earphones with Westone custom earmolds, in blue. Wes Phillips had been told to keep their mouths wide open while the silicone hardened. “Maybe that’s why yours didn’t work so well,” he suggested. So I set up another appointment with my audiologist, who, to indulge me, once again took a few minutes out of another day of helping hearing-impaired school kids. Audiologists have rubber “bite blocks” that help you keep your mouth open without tiring your jaw muscles, but bite blocks aren’t made big enough for my mouth. (No jokes, please.) So I opened wide and toughed it out as the silicone was injected and hardened. I’ve been using the new earmolds for several weeks now, and I’m very pleased with the result. There’s a nice, positive fit, they seal out outside sound, the bass response is strong, and, when attached to my Shure E4s, they sound great. As I wrote in my review of the E4s, the combination of Apple iPod, Shure in-ear ’phones, and custom earmolds from Westone falls well short of the transcendent musical experience delivered by the finest high-end gear, but for not too much money, it allows me to listen to music with pleasure during time that would otherwise be wasted—a major improvement in my days. At $125/pair, Westone’s earmolds are a real bargain by hi-fi standards, and satisfaction is guaranteed: there’s no extra charge for AUDIOLOGISTS HAVE RUBBER “BITE BLOCKS” THAT HELP YOU KEEP YOUR MOUTH OPEN WITHOUT TIRING YOUR JAW MUSCLES. remakes, for me or for you. Highly recommended—but open wide. —Jim Austin VTL TL-7.5 Series II Stereo Reference preamplifier When it was introduced in 2002, the VTL TL-7.5 Stereo Reference line stage sent a huge ripple through the high-end world. Paul Bolin and John Atkinson contributed to the commotion with raves in the October 2003 Stereophile, and I repeated their superlatives in a “Follow-Up” in December 2005. I also echoed PB’s conclusion that it was nearly impossible to attach any specific sound to the TL-7.5. With 20/20 hindsight, it’s now clear that the www.Stereophile.com, May <strong>2007</strong> 115
Get Closer to the Performance “It’s all there in black and white” NovaPhonomena Designed by Michael Yee Made in U.S.A. Introducing the Clearaudio Performance turntable. Our most affordable package with new Ceramic Magnetic Bearing, composite plinth, and Satisfy Carbon Fiber tonearm. Made in Germany Batteries Included • Circuitry derived from SuperNova • Dual mono, including battery supply • Gain and loading adjustable at rear panel • Discrete audio topography Phonomenal • 2 rechargeable NiMH battery packs, one for each channel • AC and charging circuits disconnect when listening in battery mode • Cool switch 5662 Shattuck Avenue, Oakland, CA 94609 phone: 510.547.5006 fax: 510.547.5009 www.musicalsurroundings.com
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"After intensive listening sessions
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MAY 2007 VOL.30 NO.5 48 61 FEATURES
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The RAINMAKER will exceed any expec
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©2006 NHT, Inc. now hear this. www
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Bred Bred for for forhostile hostil
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call us today! 800-782-3472 shop on
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The Ultimate HD Viewing Experience.
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In 1981, John Beyer and Steve Keise
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Grand designs result from grand con
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points where I could see a squarewa
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These are great times for analog, a
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MEGALINE EUPHONIA HELICON • MENTO
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THE GLEAMING TENOR ROLANDO VILLAZÓ
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Wes Phillips DESCRIPTION Single-box
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Musical Magic! Magical Music! Stere
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Page 78: John Atkinson DESCRIPTION Two-way,
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Page 90 and 91: Michael Fremer DESCRIPTION Three-wa
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Page 107: which she played on this recording,
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Page 112 and 113: just start the feature. Because the
Page 114 and 115: perfect music reproduction KOETSU B
Page 118: TL-7.5, along with VTL’s Referenc
Page 121 and 122: Wilson Audio is now in Dallas Since
Page 124 and 125: Ely’s musical depth is more than
Page 126 and 127: Performance ★★★★ Sonics ★
Page 128 and 129: Thompson and Gigi Gryce. He is an i
Page 130 and 131: MANUFACTURERS’COMMENTS Kuzma Stab
Page 132 and 133: MANUFACTURERS’ COMMENTS MANUFACTU
Page 134 and 135: MANUFACTURERS’ SHOWCASE ADVERTISI
Page 136 and 137: Acoustic Sounds 112-113, 124 Acoust
Page 138 and 139: AUDIO MART ADVERTISE IN STEREOPHILE
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