Linsoul was quick to respond, accepted the return and gave me a decent discount for the replacement pair. This one was stiff but 'clicked' in with acceptable pressure...problem solved! Thanks Linsoul & Head-Fi listeners!

Yes!! I have tried both IEM's, with jack dots facing towards and away from earpiece, with mild to what I think is excessive force! It's going to be returned and I will report back if I have problems with that one too...

As far as it goes after a good shove...I am returning it for another and see how that works. Put under a microscope and could not see an obstruction but the amount of force I am using should realistically and fully engage the pins! Thanks for looking.

New to IEM's so maybe it's inexperience or maybe a defect? I cannot get the prongs from the cable to fully seat into either IEM. I have used enough force to the point I would bend/break the points but they would only engage some 1mm out of it's 3mm length. Is it me or is this unit defective?

The real Sony's with a US warranty are great headphones. Now I do not have a lot of experience with different brands of this type of sound reproduction- I am more of a speaker man ala vintage AMT, KEF, Altec, JBL: stuff that rocks! I can tell you the sony's are very detailed and while there are...