Custom Art FIBAE 2 Review


Introduction:

Hello Everyone! I’m Binsterrrrr, an aspiring reviewer based in Singapore. I’ve been in this audio hobby for the past 2 years. I first got a chance to hear the FIBAE 2 at CanJam Singapore 2017 and subsequently at Music Sanctuary Singapore. I was impressed with the sound and was more interested in the technology behind this IEM. I then contacted Piotr of Custom Art and expressed interest in reviewing his new FIBAE IEMs.


Disclaimer:

Piotr agreed to send me a sample of a custom FIBAE 2 in exchange for my honest opinion on the IEM. I paid for the cost of my ear impressions.
Despite receiving this monitor free of charge, I will try to be as honest and objective as I can for this review. I do not need to return this review sample back to Custom Art.


Flat Impedance Balanced Armature Earphone (FIBAE) Technology:

The FIBAE technology is a brand new technology developed by Custom Art and it promises that FIBAE In-Ear Monitors will retain the same sound signature regardless of the audio source it is connected to.

Below is a description of the FIBAE technology taken from Custom Art’s website:

“Flat Impedance Balanced Armature Earphone (FIBAE™) technology is world’s first, revolutionary, In-Ear Monitor design providing flat impedance and phase. By changing Balanced Armature driver character from inductive to resistive we solved one of the oldest problem in the industry – dependence on output impedance of sound source for correct earphone output. With FIBAE™ technology your earphones will always perform best from any DAP.”






Specifications:

2 Balanced Armature Drivers (Single Low/Mid, Single Proprietary High)

113dB @1kHz @0.1V

7.1 Ohm @1kHz (+-0.5 Ohm 10Hz-20kHz)

10Hz-16500Hz (+-10dB into IEC 60318-4 coupler)


Unboxing and Accessories:

The FIBAE 2 is packaged inside a small black box.





The package comes with:

• FIBAE 2 Custom In-Ear Monitors
• 1 Black transparent Pelican 1010 case
• An instruction manual (Which also acts as a warranty card)
• Cleaning Tool
• Desiccant Pellet
• Small blue soft carrying case

Build Quality & Design:

I left the final design of the IEM up to Piotr and his talented design team. What I received in the end is an absolutely well built and beautiful end product. It is dark blue with a nebula design and I absolutely love how the IEM looks. There are no signs of glue residue and the faceplate and shells are joined seamlessly together. The shells are smooth and there are no signs of bubbles in the shell of the IEM. This CIEM has one of the best build quality among the CIEMs in my collection. I have seen many complex designs coming out from the Custom Art design and I am confident that they would be able to create a custom product with a design that you will be satisfied with.


Absolutely stunning nebula design.


Unique design of both faceplates.


Fit:

Fit of my FIBAE 2 is just nice in my opinion. It is not too tight and I could not really feel that it was in my ears after prolonged periods of listening and I did not experience much fatigue even after listening for hours. They sit nice and snug in my ears and it does not feel like there is anything inside my ears.


Shells are translucent and allows the drivers inside to be seen.


Size of the IEM:

I specially included this section to point out that the FIBAE 2 is actually smaller and more compact than most other custom IEMs out there in the market. It is the smallest custom IEM that I own and it manages to sit flushed with my ears and does not protrude much out of my ears. Attached are some images of the FIBAE 2 IEM compared with another custom IEM from another Polish company, Lime Ears Aether.




Sound:

For the purpose of the review, listening was done on an Astell&Kern AK380 Copper.

Summary

The FIBAE 2 is a balanced sounding monitor. It has a warm and rich sound with a forward midrange. Vocals sound sweet and it is very musical. Resolution of this monitor is definitely more than what you would expect at this price range. Extension on both ends is also superb. This is one IEM that is extremely easy to listen to and would definitely not disappoint.



Bass

The bass on the FIBAE2 is full sounding with good bass presence. It does not have the most bass quantity, but it extends deep down low and has sufficient kick to it. This is quality bass on the FIBAE2. Bass is not boomy and it is well controlled and never bleeds into the mids. There is sufficient rumble in the bass which manages to get my toes tapping and my body grooving with the music. The bass on the FIBAE 2 is not the fastest, but it is definitely quick enough and deliver ever bass note with just enough punch.

Mids

The midrange of the FIBAE2 is smooth and musical sounding. The midrange is slightly forward, but not too much. It allows the vocals to nicely shine through which gives an intimate feeling. I really enjoy my mids and that was the first thing that struck me when I auditioned the FIBAE 2 for the first time and it got me really interested in the FIBAE 2. The resolution of the midrange coupled with the intimacy of the midrange makes the mids on the FIBAE 2 extremely engaging and an absolute pleasure to listen to.



Highs

The biggest strength of the highs on the FIBAE 2 is that it has very good treble extension. The treble on the FIBAE 2 never sounds sibilant but it is detailed with good extension but is never harsh or fatiguing to listen to. It is smooth and provides the sparkle on the top end. The treble actually provides a perfect balance between other frequencies to give the FIBAE 2 the warm sound that is ever so enjoyable to listen to.

Soundstage & Separation

When listening to recordings of live music, there is a very good sense of space and layering between the different instruments. Layering on this IEM is very good with good definition between the layers. Instrument positioning is accurate on the FIBAE 2. Soundstage is not the widest I have heard, but it is sufficient for me with just enough air and never sounds congested.




Verdict on FIBAE technology:

For many of you reading this review, you might have 1 lingering question in your head. “Does the FIBAE technology really work?”

The one short answer would be “YES!”. The FIBAE technology in fact does work better than I expected. I tested the FIBAE 2 with my iPhone X and also my xDuoo x10 DAP and I am glad to say that the sound signature that I hear from the FIBAE 2 coming out of the various different sources is largely the same. This means that even though the source I used for this review is an AK380CU, the sound signature described above should be similar to what you would be hearing regardless of what source you are using.

However, please take note that the FIBAE technology makes the monitors have more or less the same sound signature regardless of the source BUT it does not mean that the sound quality also remains the same. The sound quality of the FIBAE 2 still scales depending on the quality of the source. For example, when I switch from my iPhone X to the AK380Cu as the source, the resolution increases significantly with better extension on both ends but the IEM still retains the same warm, slightly mid-forward signature.

I find that the FIBAE technology is definitely a success for Piotr and his team and it would definitely benefit people who want the same sound signature from the IEM regardless of that the source is. However, the FIBAE technology also means that one would not be able to tweak the sound signature of their audio setup significantly by changing the source components.


Conclusion:

The FIBAE 2 is a warm, slightly mid-centric IEM that is very musical and smooth. It has good treble extension without ever sounding sibilant, intimate and sweet sounding midrange and also quality bass that is controlled and packs a punch without ever sounding boomy. If the above description sounds like something you would enjoy, I would highly recommend the FIBAE 2 as it is one of the best custom IEMs around in the market now at this price range.

The FIBAE 2 is an absolute joy to listen to and I must say that the Custom Art team has succeed in coming up with a product that is very technically capable at a relatively affordable price. The FIBAE 2 definitely punches way above its price tag and has successfully proven that more drivers does not mean better sound quality but instead it is the tuning of the drivers that determines the sound quality of an IEM. The customer service provided by Piotr from Custom Art is top notch and it definitely one of the best I have seen. He is patient and is extremely passionate and proud of his work. Build quality of the IEM is also very good with no major flaws and the talented design team from Custom Art would definitely be able to create a design that you are happy with.

Introduction:

Hello Everyone! I’m Binsterrrrr, an aspiring reviewer based in Singapore. I’ve been in this audio hobby for the past 2 years. I’ve recently embarked on writing my own reviews and am still working on my style of writing, so please bear with me here and feel free to offer any comments or insights for my pieces.

I troubled a good friend of mine to help me purchase the Ocharaku Shizuku from a store called E-Earphone in Japan. Also, I paid the full retail price of the IEM.

I own 2 pairs of the Ocharaku Co-Donguri Shizuku. One in Amber Orange and the other in Cosmos. I personally could not pick out any sound differences between the 2 models when using the same tips and source. I will be basing my review on my experience with the Cosmos version which has around 200 hours of run time out of the box.

I personally find this is a very capable IEM for its price of <USD50 and anyone looking for a relatively affordable IEM should give this IEM a try if possible! Read on to see if this IEM suits the type of sound signature that you are looking for!


Specifications:

10mm Dynamic Driver

Sensitivity:106 dBSPL/mW

Impedance: 18 Ohms

Frequency Response: 5 Hz to 40 kHz

Unboxing:


(Front of packaging)


(Back of packaging)


(Simple packaging which includes the earphones, 3 pairs of Spinfit tips in S,M and L size and an instruction manual)


Build Quality:

The build quality of this earphone does not look or feel cheap despite it costing significantly less than most of the other Ocharaku offerings. The cable does not feel cheap and has sufficient strain relief. Cable to me personally feels very light and not too thick but yet not too thin. Best part of the cable is that it does not tangle easily. The body of the earpiece feels sturdy despite being light and does not feel like a budget product at all.


(Photo of Shizuku with M sized Spinfits)


(Photo of Shizuku with M sized Spinfits)


(Soft and flexible cable with sturdy strain relief and does not tangle easily)


Fit:

The earphones can be worn both straight down and over the ear. However, the earpiece is very light and it can be worn straight down comfortably and that is the method that I use when I listen to the Shizuku.


(Photo from Ocharaku website showing the different ways of wearing the earpiece)


Tips:

Tips change the sound of this earpiece pretty significantly. The stock spinfit tips are comfortable and provide sufficient isolation for me with the M sized tips. However, during my visit to CanJam Singapore 2017, the Final Audio booth was giving out some free Final Audio Type E Eartips which manage to fit the bore of the Shizuku. These tips are my preferred choice of tips with the Shizuku as they make the sound thicker and richer than the spinfits. The lusher sound with slightly better comfort make the Final Audio tips my preferred choice of tips for this IEM. However, this IEM has a pretty common bore size that is the same as the other IEMs from Ocharaku and it would be easy to find other third party tips and experiment with the different tips.


(Final Audio Type E tips fitted on the Shizuku)


Sound:

Summary

The Shizuku is a warm sounding monitor, a lot warmer than the other Flat-4 offerings from Ocharaku that I own, namely the Ocharaku Flat-4 Akakeyaki Plus and the Sakura Plus. The sound signature of the Shizuku is a slight V-shaped sound. The Shizuku has a lot more bass than I had expected but still had a very nice sparkly treble. Very musical and fun sounding monitor.

Bass

The Shizuku packs a really deep and dynamic bass that is unlike that of the other Ocharaku Flat-4 IEMs that I have tried. Bass is boomy and rumbly and not the kind of tight and lean bass. Bass is slow and carries a lot of weight and thus it might not be suitable for those very fast paced music. The bass of the Shizuku might be a little too much in terms of quantity for some.

Mids

The midrange of the Shizuku is one of the areas where I was left hoping for more. Midrange might be a little too recessed at times and the vocal positioning is a little too far back for me. When on the Spinfits, the vocals might come across as hollow at times, but when I switched over to the Final Audio Tips, the “hollowness” disappears and the vocals sound more “full”.

Highs

For me personally, I find that the treble of this IEM is the star of the show. It has a very airy top end with just enough treble energy for me. It also gives a lot of detail with nice clarity and is rather well extended. Instruments have a natural sounding timbre and cymbals have a lot of sparkle and energy without sounding sibilant to me.

Soundstage

The Shizuku has a very airy feel with wide soundstage. Although not as wide as any of its siblings from the Flat-4 lineup, it still has a nice 3D soundstage with good instrument separation. Instruments are all nicely spaced out and does not sound congested in any way at all.


Sources:

I used my iPhone 6s, Macbook Air mid 2012, xDuoo x10, Astell&Kern AK240 Stainless Steel and AK380 Copper for this review. The Shizuku scales well with higher end gear but it also sounds fantastic out of the iPhone directly. It is easy to drive and does not really require an amplifier, but it does also have a fuller sound when hooked up to an amplifier like the Kojo KM-01 Brass. Personally, my favourite setup with the Shizuku plugged directly into my iPhone 6s as the synergy between the 2 gives a very warm and musical sound and is very convenient without the need of another external music player.


Conclusion:

In conclusion, the Shizuku is a great performer especially at this price range and I would strongly recommend it to anyone looking for an earpiece but is not willing to spend hundreds of dollars. You would still be able to get high fidelity audio from this earpiece from Ocharaku. This IEM would suit genres like POP, rock and it also performs well with classical. It would suit people looking for a slight v-shaped sound signature with bass rumble, sparkly treble and a more airy sound.

However, this might not be the IEM for you if you are looking for an IEM with intimate vocals and you want the feeling where the singer is singing right next to you. Due to the wider soundstage and more recessed mids, vocals are more backward. Also, the bass might be a little too much for some especially if you do not like too much bass.

The Shizuku is an IEM that is very easy for me to recommend to people and it is a great all rounder that sounds good out of almost any source. Good job Ocharaku for creating this IEM.

Introduction:

Hello all, I am Binsterrrrr and I have been in this hobby for close to 2 years now. I just started writing recently and I am still trying to develop my own style of writing so please help me out along the way and feel free to point out anything. I paid the full retail price for the Aether and I am writing this so as to share my own opinion on this wonderful IEM. Please take my words with a pinch of salt and YMMV.

The Aether is my first flagship CIEM I owned and I bought this from Music Sanctuary Singapore early 2016. I had a budget to look for a CIEM that I really liked. My preference for music has changed since then to a more mid-centric sound signature recently from a slight V-shaped sound and something that is musical and slightly on the warm side. When I first heard the Aether, I was immediately wowed by the sound. Sound was smooth, musical and simply very enjoyable (More on that later). I went around to the different audio shops in Singapore to continue trying out different monitors but eventually I personally felt that the Aether was still the most suitable for me and I eventually decided to go with it.


Specifications:

5 Precision Balanced Armature drivers (Single Sub, Dual Low, Single Mid, Single High)

3-Way passive crossover design

Sensitivity: 109 dB/mW

Impedance: 46 Ohms @1000Hz


Ordering Process/Build Quality:

I did my impressions on the same day that I ordered the Aether and settled all the necessary procedures at and the ordering process was very smooth. In exactly 2 months and 2 days from the day my order was placed, my Aethers arrived in Singapore. I picked Victoria Red Shells and Piano Black Faceplates with Gold Glitter laser engraving of the Lime Ears and the Aether Logo.


Photo taken by Emil of Lime Ears.

Build quality of the monitors are superb with the exceptions of a few small air bubbles in the shell near the nozzle area. Monitors come with a stock cable, Emil’s name card, a desiccant and a cleaning tool inside a pelican case with my name printed on it.



Customer service by Emil of Lime Ears was also very good and I was able to message him personally on Facebook and check on the progress of the construction process and he also confirmed some details regarding the design online. Emil is very approachable and very friendly and helpful and he is willing to answer any questions you have regarding the Aether. Thumbs up for Lime Ears customer service.



Sound:

Summary

The Aether can be considered a warm sounding monitor which sounds very smooth but what hit me the most was the very good instrument separation with very deep, punchy yet controlled bass. I would not consider the Aether having a very wide soundstage but I would call it very intimate sounding with very good depth. It has one of the punchiest bass I have heard from IEMs (Switch up) and some might find that the bass is a little too strong for their liking, but it certainly does not overpower the rest of the frequency range.



Bass

One of the weaknesses of the BA driver is that it does not pack as much punch as a dynamic driver would. However, this is clearly not the case. If you were to look into the shell of the Aether, you can see a large driver inside there for the bass frequencies and they sure punch hard. The bass produced by the Aether does not sound like any ordinary BA driver IEM and it rumbles deep but yet sounds controlled and very dynamic. The best thing about the Aether’s bass is that is very punchy but does not bleed into the midrange at all.

Should the bass be a little too much for you, just flip the switch down and u will get a slightly less impactful bass punch. However, that does not mean that the Aether becomes bass-light with the switch down. The Aether still packs enough low end punch with the switch down to satisfy most genres of music and gives it a more balanced sound overall. In my personal opinion, I feel that the switch gives more of a mid-bass than an increase in the sub-bass. The switch makes the bass a little more punchy and makes you want to snap your fingers along with the music and not so much of an increase in sub-bass boom and rumble for me.

Mids

The main thing I can say about the Aether’s mids is that it is very smooth and seductive. It is slightly recessed but it keeps your attention there to the mid details and makes you want more. It has good resolution and speed and sounds very musical and enjoyable.



Highs

The highs of the Aether are very detailed and very resolving. Aether manages to give a lot of details but not sound too analytical at the same time. It matches the overall sound signature of the monitor very well and maintains the very musical sound without sounding too technical at the same time. Treble extension is very good and on tracks like Celine Dion’s All By Myself the treble remains sparkly and well extended all the way to keep up with the vocals while not becoming sibilant and non-fatiguing.



Soundstage

Staging on the Aether is not as wide as compared with my Jomo 6r CIEM but it has very good spatial arrangement of instruments and everything feels nicely spaced out and u don’t feel the instruments all cluttered together and making the sound feel mushy and messy.


Lime Ears Aether + Effect Audio Leonidas taken at Effect Audio Lounge in Singapore.

Cable Pairing

The main cable that I pair this with is the Effect Audio Leonidas. Even before my Aether arrived, I was chatting with Emil on Facebook and I asked him for any cable recommendations with the Aether. That time was just after CanJam Singapore 2016 and he mentioned that he heard a few cables but the Leonidas “really stands out” and that there is “a really big difference in amount and quality of highs”. He also warned me to “beware as you might get addicted”. Oh damn he was so right. Leonidas sounded so smooth with the Aether and makes the sound even smoother and more seductive with increased treble extension and tightening up the bass even more. This improvement in the lower frequencies is one of the most welcomed and significant improvement in my own opinion. The Leonidas is one cable that I would strongly recommend to any Aether owner looking for a smoother and more musical sound.


Sources

I would consider the Aether as a forgiving monitor that sounds pleasant out of almost any source like my iPhone 6s, Onkyo DP-X1, Astell&Kern AK240SS and AK380CU but the sound changes pretty significantly when paired with different players, especially affecting the bass frequencies and the vocals. My favourite pairing now would be the Aether with my AK380CU as it sounds very musical and non-fatiguing and I can listen to it for extended periods of time. However, the Aether already sounds very pleasant straight out of my iPhone 6s or my MacBook Air but I would strongly recommend you invest in a DAP to bring out the maximum potential of the Aether.


Conclusion

The Aether is one of my favourite monitors. Period. Every time I leave an audio shop or meet and and get poisoned by all the gear, when I pop my Aethers into my ears, I still feel that sense of satisfaction and helps me to resist any temptation to get new audio gear. Aether is warm, smooth, musical and an all-rounder that manages to handle almost all genres of music. It functions well as an IEM for use on the go when travelling for work or for a critical listening session to relax at the end of the. I would highly recommend anyone who is looking for a new pair of CIEMs to go and audition this pair of monitors and the Aether is certainly a masterpiece that demonstrates that “More drivers does not equate to better sound”.


Update:
My Aether are currently back in Poland with Emil to replace the 2 pin sockets as they became a little loose.
I will take more pictures of my Aether and update this review when they return.

Introduction:

Hello everyone! This is my first attempt at writing a review and I aim to share my honest take on this pair of In Ear Monitors. I was selected in the Head-fi giveaway and won myself this pair of Seras. I only paid for the shipping cost of these IEMs. I have decided to write this review as I found that these pair of IEMs have really impressed me and would like to share more about it with all of you. These are my own opinions and please just take them with a pinch of salt.


The Seras arrived in a small cardboard box.

The IEMs are able to fit nicely into the hard carrying case.

There is a certificate of authenticity included.

Build quality:

Quality of the shells are really solid with no bubbles whatsoever and and smooth along the edges. Along the line where the faceplates are glued to the shells, there are traces of glue left along the sides. As the wood used is natural wood, it is not perfect but I like how the wood looks (Looks a lot better in real life than in photos).


Smoked shells allow you to get a peek inside the IEM and see all 3 drivers clearly inside.

Sound:

The sound that was described by vibro labs was a mid-centric sound and that is the kind of sound signature which I enjoy most. I own a Fitear Monet17 custom which has a very rich vocal centric sound with good controlled bass. I wanted a universal IEM with a similar sound signature so that I would be able to share the music I was listening to with the people around me. Did the Seras sound as described? Definitely.


I only managed to use Comply tips with the Seras as those were the only provided tips and the I did not have other tips that fit onto the Seras. I personally am not a fan of Comply tips as i find that they remove some of the sparkle in the treble and makes so me IEMs sound muddy. However, isolation is superb and I managed to get a good seal with them.

Comply tips fitted on the IEM along with the black stock cable.

Treble is not the most extended but it is not too rolled off. It has just enough sparkle. The midrange of the Seras isreally the star of the show. Midrange is smooth and forward and vocals sound lush and intimate. You can really feel the singer as though he/she is singing in front of you and you can actually “feel” the music instead of simply hearing the music. The instruments sound natural. The bass is another strong aspect of this IEM. This IEM has plenty of bass that extends deep and packs a punch. Despite having powerful bass, the bass is controlled and doesnot bleed into the midrange. The Seras have a very intimate soundstage but it does not feel overly congested.


The Sera has a warm sound with a sufficient quantity of bass for me. However, I would not think that it is suitable for bassheads who are looking for overpowering bass. This IEM is also not for people who are looking for something with a bright sound signature. Also, this is not a very detailed or transparent sounding IEM. It has a more “fun” sound that does not cause any fatigue even after long hours.


Conclusion:
Vibro Labs has done a good job with this new entry level triple driver IEM. I am very thankful that I got the chance to listen to this IEM here in Singapore as there are no demo units in the audio stores. This IEM surprised me with its price to performance ratio and made me want to write a review on it to let more people know about this IEM.


This IEM is priced at 399USD and it is not a cheap IEM, but I find that this IEM is pretty value for money if the sound signature suits you and I would highly recommend it if you are looking for a warm and smooth mid-centric sound. I find that this IEM would be suitable for you if you like a more intimate sound where you can hear the singer sing as though he or she was standing next to you.