Custom Art Music One silicone custom in-ear monitor

Custom Art Music One silicone shelled custom in-ear monitor review

COMPARISONS

Custom Art Music One comparison
Custom Art Music One between the Perfect Seal Sportbuds Silver and Alclair Reference

Etymotic ER4S: Since both use single balanced armature drivers and have a similar prices*, the ER4S and M1 are true competitors.  The ER4S has a more laid back presentation while the M1 gives more focus to the midrange and has better depth of presentation for a more enveloping sound.  Instrument separation and placement of the M1 is a bit better than the ER4S, but the biggest differences are the note decay and bass presentation.  The M1 presents notes in a more natural way with a longer average decay and a larger difference between loud and quiet notes within the presentation.  The bass presentation is affected most by this note decay difference as the M1 is more reverberant and has a much better sense of power while the ER4S is more analytical.  The more natural note decay of the M1 leads to better transparency and tonality while only slightly trailing in clarity to the ER4S.

Bass depth and power are more prominent with the M1, being able to provide a more convincing bass experience.  The difference in warmth can be significant depending upon the track, and the entire bass region is more capable of adjusting to thicker presentations on the M1.  The midrange of the M1 is more musical while being a bit more forward vs. the more sterile and analytical ER4S.  The treble region of the ER4S is brighter, harsher, and less forgiving while the M1 can recreate a shimmy of treble instruments and overtones the ER4S misses.

The ER4S and Music one are both capable performers, but the M1 presents music in a more organic, realistic, and musical way.  The ER4S is great for music analysis, but is limited due to the quickness of the note decay and the M1 performs at an overall higher level.

* There are additional up-front costs associated with making a custom in-ear monitor, however I require foam ear tips for the ER4S, which will increase the cost of ownership over the lifetime of product use.

 

EarSonics SM64:  Weighing in at nearly double the price of the Music One, the SM64 has a thicker, warmer, and more bass oriented presentation in comparison with the brighter M1.  But the differences are more pronounced than that, as the bass region of the SM64 sounds like a subwoofer has been added while the M1 sound like a bookshelf speaker that misses the entire bottom octave.  This, combined with the brighter sound leads to very different experience and overall sound between the two.  Technically, the SM64 performs at a higher level, but both have different strengths.  The M1 has a bit more clarity overall while the SM64 images better, resolves more detail, and is more dynamic.  From a tonal standpoint, the M1 sounds more balanced from top to bottom with better coherence, but at both ends of the spectrum it is lacking extension in comparison. Spatially, the SM64 is larger in all directions and has a more laid back presentation.

These two are very different in presentation, with the Music One providing a musical and engaging experience that is involving for simple acoustic pieces, vocals, and fans of midrange.  The SM64 provides more power and does a wide spectrum of genres with more power, punch, and excitement.

 

Proguard P2+1: Lacking the punch and low end of the P2+1, the Music One provides a warmer, more laid-back and cohesive presentation.  Spatially, the Music One has more depth than width while the P2+1 is the opposite.  Both image well, but the P2+1 is superior overall, and with more detail, the it also has more resolution within the soundstage.  Technically, the P2+1 outperforms the Music One almost across the board, but the Music One does have a naturalness to it that somehow makes up for the technical differences in many ways.  It does outperform the P2+1 in coherence and is about the same in clarity, but the P2+1 has far better dynamics.  The Music One is more forgiving of poorly mastered and low bitrate tracks.

The bass region can sound similar or very different depending on the type of bass note, with reverberant bass notes sounding much more powerful from the P2+1 while acoustic notes are similar for the most part.  The more bass-heavy the music is, the more apparent the differences are.  The Music One is a bit warmer than the P2+1, and the midrange of the Music One is more forward with excellent coherence from top to bottom  This emphasizes the midrange of the Music One, highlighting vocals and many instruments for a different feel than the P2+1, which almost sounds slightly V-shaped in comparison.  Treble of the P2+1 is more present, but the Music One treble doesn’t give the appearance of being lacking and offers a smoother performance.

The Music One is made to be musical, which it succeeds at in spades while the P2+1 is made for gigging musicians, and it too succeeds at what it was designed to do.  The P2+1 provides a higher level of capability with more punch and rumble while the Music One has the ability grab your attention and let you just enjoy the music even though the technical performance isn’t the best.

 

Alclair Reference: The Reference was designed as named and displays a more analytical nature with a more laid-back, spacious presentation and better kick down low. In contrast, the M1 is more organic and smoother providing a more musical sound.  From a technical standpoint, the Reference has a larger space with better instrument separation and is more detailed with better articulation of that detail.  Transparency, dynamics, clarity are better with the Reference, but the M1 is more coherent and forgiving of poor tracks.

While the M1 doesn’t lack bass, the difference between the two is fairly large as the Reference extends deeper with more punch and warmth.  The midrange of the M1 is much more closed-in but is more coherent, and while it doesn’t sound as open, there is a smoothness and transparency that give it different dimensions of musicality.  The upper midrange is similar, but the M1 is a bit more up-front in converse to the slightly more prominent treble of the Reference.  The M1 has a longer note decay in the treble region that leads to a smoother, more natural sound in comparison with the analytical and more detailed Reference.

With different price points and benefits, the M1 offers an organic, musical experience while the Reference is more detailed and analytical with better technical capabilities.

 

In Earz IE-P250: The P250 has a lighter and brighter sound that is more forward and immediate compared with the more laid-back, warmer, and smoother Music One.  Spatially, the P250 has is larger overall, especially in the presentation width, but the Music One presents with more depth for the given width resulting in a more 3D experience.  The more detailed P250 images better with more articulation and resolution within the soundstage.  Notes are quicker on average from the P250 for a more dynamic and faster overall sound, but the Music One disappears more with better coherency across the frequency spectrum.  The smoother Music One is more forgiving.

Bass quantity and quality of the Music One varies quite a bit with the source while the P250 is much more consistent.  Ultimately, the P250 has more bass capability with an overall cleaner note with bass-heavy tracks, and goes deeper than the warmer Music One.   The midrange of the P250 is clearer and cleaner due to the thinner note as the Music One has a smoothness that makes listening easier for extended sessions, but the P250 does reveal more.  The upper midrange is a bit more pronounced with the P250, giving a bit brighter tonality to vocals, especially female vocals.  In the treble region, the Music One is relaxed in comparison with the more aggressive P250.  Decay is slightly better with the Music One, but not by much.

The P250 is more aggressive and detailed, with more punch, dynamics, and extension on both ends of the spectrum while the smoother Music One is a good performer that has a nice warmth and smoothness to the notes.  The Music One can be very musical and satisfy those looking for a more organic sound, including those that are fans of tube sound while the P250 will reveal more and give a better picture into what is going on in the track, good or bad.

 

Perfect Seal SportBud Silver: The Music One is more laid-back but has more emphasis on the midrange in comparison to the more linear presentation of the SportBud Silver.  Spatially the SS has a slightly wider presentation while the M1 has relatively deeper presentation; however the M1 can seem larger and more airy due to the more distant perspective.  Notes are quite similar between the two, but the SS can become congested in comparison with the Music One in thicker, more complex tracks.  Dynamics and detail levels are better with the SS, but the Music One is more forgiving and easier to listen to while relaxing.

In the bass region, the SS has more kick, especially in the deepest registers, with a bit better texturing.  Warmth between these two is quite similar, leading up to the large differences in the midrange.  The M1 pulls the midrange a bit closer than the bass and treble while the SS is more linear across the spectrum.  While the SS has better clarity overall, it can become congested and not as clear depending on the track and volume level, resulting in instruments mixing together, which happens much less with the Music One.  The upper midrange is a bit more prominent with the SS, but the overall quality isn’t quite as higher as the M1.  There is more treble presence with the SS, which have a similar quality.

The SportBud Silver presents with a more traditional sound signature that has better technical performance, but is more about the individual notes and parts of the frequency spectrum as opposed to the more relaxed Music One that gives musical overtones to the recreation of music.  Both are good for their intended purposes, as the SportBuds give a more dynamic and exacting presentation that is great for workouts while the Music One is excellent for music enjoyment.

 

SOURCE MATCHING

Custom Art Music One with iBasso DX50
Custom Art Music One with iBasso DX50

Portable Sources, DAPs

Sandisk Sansa Clip+: The Clip+ matches well with the Music One, providing plenty of bass punch, a 3D presentation, and good articulation while retaining the musical aspects of the Music One.  This combo is a steal for the price. 5/10

Apple iPhone 5: The iPhone 5 sounds good overall, but doesn’t have the presentation depth of the Clip+ and the deep bass isn’t quite as pronounced.  The iPhone does an OK job, but does leave room for improvement. 4/10

Hisoundaudio Nova: The Nova has a more forward presentation than the Clip+, but less depth to the presentation, which is not typical for the Nova.  The sound isn’t quite as dynamic, and is missing the musicality of the Clip+. The combo isn’t horrible, but it does not play to the strengths of the Music One.  3/10

iBasso DX50: The DX50 pushes the Music One a bit further than the X3 and Clip+, with better presentation depth, more detail, and a more articulate sound.  This additional resolution reveals more of both the good and bad within tracks, as the X3 and Clip+ are both a bit smoother, but overall the DX50 adds a level of performance. 7/10

Fiio X3: The X3 exerts good control of the Music One for tight, well defined bass and a cleaner sound across the spectrum than the Clip+.  Reverberant bass comes across as more prominent from the Clip+ due to less control of the driver resulting in a messier presentation.  The X3 is slightly smoother than the DX50, but less revealing with less bass capability.  Bass quality between the X3 and DX50 is similar.  6/10

iBasso DX100: The DX100 sounds almost identical to the DX50, as spatially it is the same, but the DX50 has a slight bit more of a V-shape to the sound signature, with more emphasis on both bass and treble.  Detail and presentation quality are the same. 7/10

iPhone 5 -> ADL X1: The iPhone/X1 combo is only a bit better than the iPhone alone, with a more mid-centric focus and less but better controlled bass.  The presentation is a bit more spacious, but this combo isn’t worth the extra hardware.  Compared with the DX50, the combo isn’t as articulate, spacious, or clean. 5/10

 

Portable Sources, DAPs with Amps

iBasso DX50 ->

Sunrise Dolphin: The Dolphin has a more laid-back presentation than the DX50 headphone out, which gives a more spacious rendering of the track, but the presentation depth is slightly less.  There is a bit less detail articulation from the Dolphin and the presentation is a bit smoother without lowering the actual detail level.  7/10

Shonyun 306a: The 306a has a more narrow presentation than the DX50 headphone output, but details are better articulated with the 306a due to superior instrument separation and a more forward presentation.  Bass is a bit more prominent from the DX50 headphone output. 7/10

Neco V2: The Neco adds a layer of depth to the presentation while cranking up the bass, which is better controlled from the DX50.  Although the DX50 bass is better controlled, the Neco doesn’t have issues in the rest of the frequency spectrum.  The Neco is more refined and improves imaging over the DX50 headphone output. 8/10

Epiphany Audio EHP-O2: The O2 doesn’t have quite the presentation depth nor the bass control and quantity, and sounds like it is trying harder than the DX50 headphone output.  Overall, the DX50 HPO is more refined and more transparent than the O2. 5/10

Leckerton UHA-6S MKII: The 6S is more laid-back than the DX50 headphone output, resulting in less brightness and bass response.  Spatially, the DX50 headphone output has a bit more presentation depth, but other than that the two are very similar. 6/10

Ortofon MHd-Q7: The Q7 pairs well with the Music One, improving imaging within a larger space both width and depth wise, adding to the musicality and making the overall presentation more 3D and realistic. Adding to the soundstage, the refinement of the overall notes are better with more articulation of detail, but at the same time a smoother presentation.  The Q7 does have a slight hiss with the Music One. 9/10

Tube Amp TA-1: The TA-1 amp has a slightly more spacious sound than the DX50 headphone output, however the advantage of using the TA-1 amp is the additional level of resolution and layering, making background instruments clearer with the TA-1.  The differences aren’t huge, but they are definitive. 9/10

ADL Cruise: Like the TA-1 amp, the Cruise adds a level of resolution and layering the DX50 headphone output doesn’t have, but also improves the depth of the bass response while giving it a bit more weight without any loss in quality.  Spatially, the Cruise has a slight edge. There is some hiss from the Cruise, reducing the score from a perfect 10 due to the sound match. 9.5/10

ADL X1: The X1 is more relaxed/laid-back than the DX50 headphone output.  Notes are slightly more articulated and bass is deeper and more pronounced, but not to the same level as the Cruise or TA-1.  There is a slight hiss with the Music One.8/10

Lear FSM-02 V2 (class A): The FSM-02 V2 has a more refined sound with better presentation depth, less bass emphasis, but more bass depth with the Music One than the DX50 headphone output.  The 02 sounds more dynamic than the DX50 HPO, giving a more live and exciting sound. 9/10

Portaphile 627: The 627 presents very similarly to the DX50 headphone output, but with a bit better midrange clarity and refinement and a slight bit more presentation depth and width.  Bass has a similar emphasis, but the 627 is more extended and can sustain notes longer when called for. 8.5/10

Source Summary: The Music One benefits from a good source as the bass response is highly dependent on the amp section.  The limited spatial size and detail levels of the Music One limit the improvement a DAC can provide, but due to the musical nature, there are still some improvements to be realized.  Lower output impedance amps are necessary for the best bass response that can approach dual BA designs.

Custom Art Music One silicone custom in-ear monitor

SUMMARY

The Custom Art Music One was designed to be musical first and foremost, and succeeds.  While it seems like all headphones would be designed to do this, most within this price point just recreate the music and miss the recreation of emotion within the recordings, which is what the Music One does so well.  Technical performance is good for a single balanced armature driver, but not great in the grand scheme of things, yet the sound signature plays well to the strengths and weaknesses.  Extension on both ends of the frequency spectrum leaves something to be desired and punch and dynamics aren’t great, there is never a feel the Music One is lacking, especially when paired with a good amp.  I have heard many IEMs in the price range, with some great technical performances, but nothing I have heard recreates a musical experience quite like the Music One.

Pros
–       Entire presentation is seamlessly put together for a very musical performance
–       Weaknesses of the single BA driver design are hidden by the sound signature

Cons
–       Limited bass reverb in the lowest registers results in the inability to recreate some deep bass notes
–       The best sound is achieved with a good amp

Overall Sound Score: 53.6

View the Custom Art Music One in the Multi-custom in-ear monitor review list

The Custom Art Music One is recommended in the Custom In-ear Monitor Buyer’s Guide

Check out ljokerl’s Music One review

Page 1: Background, how to buy, design, accessories, cable, isolation, sound

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ABOUT AUTHOR

average_joe

average_joe

Having a life-long love of high-quality audio and gadgets, average_joe got back in touch with his audiophile side after a hiatus caused by life. His focus became headphones and related gear as the size and price fit his life better than home audio. He believes the entire audio chain is important, and likes to continue to think past the headphone and on into the head, as he believes understanding the details of how we hear will lead to a better audio experience.

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8 Responses

  1. Hard to beat a silicone custom IEM for comfort, and this is the best one I’ve tried in its price range both for sound and value. Seems like a good choice in this case.

  2. Thanks for your detailed reviews! I’ve been using a UE triple.fi and HD595 for a while and am looking to upgrade to something with good value and suitable for on-stage monitoring (bass guitar). Comfort has always been an issue so thinking about going the CIEM route. Would this be a good recommendation?

  3. Hi Mark,

    In my experience, CIEMs perform at a higher level than universals, so I would say performance is going to most likely be at the top of the performance chart, but joker may have a different perspective. If you plan on biking/running, something like the Perfect Seal Sportbud Silver may be a better fit since it is designed for working out and uses a canal only style and is closer to the B&W sound.

    Cheers,

    Joe

  4. Hi,
    I am looking for a new earphone on the go, but I don’t wish to spend too much, do you think I could get any better around this price range? I currently use a Bowers and Wilkins P2, but I can’t use that while biking/running.
    Cheers

  5. No, the RHA MA750 will sound extremely bassy and too muffled in the midrange coming from a VC1000, which has fantastic clarity, or even from an HD600.

  6. Thanks for the reply! I guess I will avoid the Music One then even though it’s tempting.

    Regarding the sound signature: I would most likely prefer the Music One given your description and the reviews that I’ve read on this site. I’m looking for something like my Hd600+Bottlehead Speedball sound signature in an IEM. Maybe the RHA MA750 would be better?

    I tried the Hifiman RE-400 and thought the were “ok” in their sound signature. The needed the “musical” factor you are talking about and I guess I missed the laidback sound of my desktop setup. Also, they had impressive SQ but were uncomfortable – too wide for my inner ear.

    Cheers

  7. I didn’t write this particular review but I do have both the Music One and the VC1000.

    If you want a lean, balanced, analytical-sounding earphone, the Music One is not really a sonic upgrade over the VC1000 (though it still has superior construction and noise isolation, less cable noise, and likely will be more comfortable).

    What the Music One does better than the VC1000 is note weight – it sounds thicker and more natural. It also delivers a warmer tonal character with less treble – the VC1000 can be a little bright. None of these are huge differences and it’s hard to put a dollar value on them – the Music One is a better overall package, but I don’t know if it’s 3x better.

  8. Hi, I am a bit curious. What would I gain in terms of comfort and SQ by choosing the M1 over something like the Vsonic vc1000. With the cost of creating a mold the cost of the M1 is about 3times higher. Is it worth it?

    Cheers
    -Rune

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