Hello Klipsch community...
I'm looking for some advice. I'm having a hard time finding a balance between comfort and a good seal with my pair of IMAGE earphones. Without the ability to draw you a picture, here is what I think my Ear feels/looks like. We have three areas, outer hole, canal and inner hole (these are non-scientific names );
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___/ \___
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Best I could do without using paint but I hope the picture acts as a reference. My ear canal opening is small; I would say the smallest single gel is a tight fit for the outer hole.
I will go down the list of gels and tell you how I feel with them and how they sound.
---- Large Single.
Difficult to get into my ear comfortably, but these make for the best seal and they sound the best. I can't wear them for more than 10 min without pain. I get the seal not from the outer hole but from the middle canal. If I try to get a seal on the outer hole, I can just barley get them in and they are TIGHT and always slip out. Insertion angle, straight.
---- Large Double
A little more comfortable than the Large single, can slide in easier than and the sound is still good. Again, seal is achieved from the ear canal and not the entry area. Insertion angle, straight.
---- Medium Single
These are supposed to be the average size. With these I can get a seal from the opening hole, but it's still a little tight. When getting a seal from the outer hole, they too tend to slip out over time. They sound best if I get a seal from the INNER hole, meaning I cram them way in there but they do sound great. Fatigue happens at about 20 min as well with these. Insertion angle, straight.
---- Small Double
Easily the most comfortable of the bunch, it goes in great and effortlessly but it's hard to find a seal in the canal. Going in straight and using the outer hole I will lose my seal over time as the too tend to slip out. I found it most comfortable by inserting them towards the top of my ear and having the tail of the IMAGE in the little grove in my ear. You know, in between the actual bottom of the ear lobe and the wind blocker piece of the ear... Finding a seal is kind of difficult, but once I find it life is good. I get to listen for about an hour before my ears start to tingle/itch. These do not sound near as good as the Large Single, but comfort is top notch compared to what I’m use to.
---- Small Single
These are harder to insert than the Small Double, most likely due to the stiffer nature of the actual gel. I can get a seal when placing them in straight but they too eventually push out. I can also find a seal when I insert them towards the top and have the tail in the same said notch in my ear as above. I can sometime get a seal on the inner hole but it's a little too deep for my comfort.
What am I doing wrong here? How can I improve the comfort level expected f these wonderful earphones! BTW, when I get a seal, the sounds heard in my head are like no other. Simply the best I have ever experienced without a doubt!
Thanks for taking the time to help, anything is appreciated. Amy is the best PR person from ANY company I have ever dealt with. Thank you for your compassion and enthusiasm towards this highly superior product. Btw, please excuse any random incomplete thoughts that may be portrayed in this thread, have a lot going on right now being deployed to Iraq and I’m trying to squeeze in some time for this thread.
Thanks again, talk to you shortly! Thanks again Amy!
Mitch, from Baghdad!