A modular solution to end IEM damage-ironbuds

[Big Bear]

Its a Kickstarter project, a product that seeks to end the stupidness of IEMs.
Its called ironbuds and every single piece of it is replaceable.

The wear and tear, the tugging on the jack caused it to become intermittent.
Before ironbuds, you had to replace the whole pair. Too bad if they were 200$ high end IEMs.
Now, with ironbuds, just replace that part of the cord!

Seriously, I just think its a great concept. I know its been used on 1000$ IEM, but were talking under 100$ here. Last roadblock is the actual sound quality. We've been been promised excellent sound quality, but they're not going to say it sounds bad, are they?

Check it out:
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/...s-quo?ref=live

http://www.acousticforge.com/

[CrowdAds]

[WalkGood]

Very good idea, only hope the SQ is good too. The only place I'd not care to have it plug/unplug is at the Y-connector, the se530s I had did that and it didn't work well for any sports as they would occasionally disconnect.

[IDvsEGO]

but then what excuse would I have to upgrade?

[Pennhaven]

Originally Posted by IDvsEGO

but then what excuse would I have to upgrade?

At least when you did, you'd know you had cable components from your previous phones that would work with the new ones, whenever they broke.

[WalkGood]

Originally Posted by IDvsEGO

but then what excuse would I have to upgrade?

You could always sell off as working parts

[Confispect]

So let me get this straight you buy a separate IEM and then buy the kit? Or it's one of there IEMS

[Big Bear]

While it would be awesome to have a kit to transform any pair of IEM into modular headphones, its one of their IEM with the small connectors built-in.

[WalkGood]

We’ve been chatting about these in irc and I think we all agreed that just having removable cables is enough. The more connections you add the more joints you have that can fail, personally it’s a nice idea but I’d pass for good sound quality, good comfort and replaceable cables.

[Lagoo56]

How about making many different types of parts for these IEMs for people to choose from at all different price ranges for sound quality wise,that itself would make this amazing.

[sideways]

Originally Posted by Lagoo56

How about making many different types of parts for these IEMs for people to choose from at all different price ranges for sound quality wise,that itself would make this amazing.

I think they already make different earpieces for different budgets. The cables just need to be cheap, functional and user replaceable with enough demand to create a functioning after market.

They are going about the cables all wrong. The cables should be replaceable as a single unit.

[bennyboy]

A fiver says they sound like shite.

[Confispect]

^ Agreed.

[mikee]

I really like the idea but as stated before I also think that they have too many break away parts. I would just make the buds and cord able to separate not all those other places. I'd wager that every place the cable has to plug into another sound quality is lost and I see 3 places it separates. I know this from using cord extending products and they reduce sound quality. the buds themselves probably aren't of great quality either

[Xinz]

I had hoped for plug and plug multi drivers before I clicked the link, too hopeful I guess....

I also agree on just having replaceable cables view

[civicman]

To begin, I could hardly tell the difference between the packs, until I noticed the earbuds.
I think Sure do something where you can replace the cable. [yup] (the highest no. of fails I've had) the 1.2m of cable seems a little short to me, especially if I have them in my pockets (which is when they break.)

[WalkGood]

Keep in mind that the Shure se214, 315, 425 and the 535 all have replaceable cables, not to mention many other IEMs and the plethora of custom monitors on the market now … think I’d rather own one of these instead.

[mikee]

but how much does it cost and how easy is it to replace the shure cable?

[WalkGood]

Originally Posted by mikee

but how much does it cost and how easy is it to replace the shure cable?

I'd read reviews about each one to see which would fit your needs best, then shop price for that specific model. As far as how easy it is to change the cable as long as you can unplug and plug a new one in you'll be ok Look here to see the se series, all except the se115 are designed with the replaceable cables (btw the 115 has been discontinued).

[Big Bear]

I've checked amazon and replacement cables for the shures are around 35$.

http://www.amazon.com/Shure-Detachab...4360730&sr=8-7

With ironbuds it would cost you around 20$ at the very most.
I've e-mailed them and they assure me the connections are tight :P
I will, though, send them the suggestion of a one piece replacement, and different lengths of cables are already being considered.

As of sound quality, nobody can tell yet, but I can't say I believe they'll match the Shures. The soundmagic review just posted seems to tell cheap earbuds can be good, but I have my doubts. We'll see when we'll see. (hear)