Closer Examination

Custom Art pairs its Hybrid 3 Pro IEMs with the Null Audio Ethos cable by default, although you can opt for a version of the same cable with a built-in microphone or even go wireless with a Bluetooth adapter. I suspect most will stick with the default offering in all black which begins with a right-angled 3.5 mm singled-ended TRS connector on the source side. There's a subtle Null Audio logo on the anodized aluminium hardware here which in turn has integrated stress relief leading to the conductor. Here we get four strands of silver-plated copper braided tightly to form a thin and supple cable without any microphonics or memory retention. The splitter employs a similar design language as the plug housing and there is a functional black plastic cable cinch that allows you to retain the two split channels against the back of your head or under the chin, depending on how you route the cable. There are pre-formed ear hooks on the other end which ultimately lead to the two channels marked L/R for easier identification. This cable only comes in 0.78 mm 2-pin connectors unlike some other Null Audio offerings, although I'd argue this is what most people would prefer anyway. The connectors seem designed for recessed 2-pin pairings in the IEM shells and the various metal plugs come 24k gold-plated for oxidation resistance.


At this point I would encourage you to go through this article first, which talks more about the nature of custom-fit IEMs (CIEMs) and how they differ from more typical universal fit versions. CIEMs typically allow two modes of customization including the fit itself that requires you to have ear impressions, and also the very design of the IEMs given they are being custom made for you anyway. Some companies allow for universal-fit IEMs to be customized for aesthetics but in general CIEMs are the way to go for the most comfortable and secure fit. You will see how these Hybrid 3 Pro shells are clearly CIEMs based on my own ear impressions that I had scanned and sent over to Custom Art last year as part of my review of the FIBAE 7 Unlimited CIEMs. As before, the fit was exceptional out of the box which is more than can be said for most companies offering CIEMs—there are a lot of variables involved and only one needs to go wrong to affect the entire fit.


Now that the custom fit aspect was achieved in a more-than-satisfactory manner, I can focus on talking about the aesthetics and design of these shells. Custom Art has a handy configurator on the product page of the Hybrid 3 Pro, whereby you can decouple the design from the fit allowing you to go with fancier universal-fit versions too, although the default design is quite striking too. I also liked that Custom Art allows you to not only go between various shell finishes ranging from colors and transparency, but also doing it on a per-channel basis and also having the ear canals be different from the shells too! This allows for up to four different parts even before we get to the face plates, and that's where things go up a few notches. I had asked Custom Art to surprise me this time, perhaps going for a combination they wanted to try out and had not had the opportunity to do so. The end result is something that isn't even in the listed options in the configuration—abalone shell face plates and black shells with shiny powder interspersed to make for IEMs that are incredible to look and hold in person. I can only hope the photos do them justice here! Custom Art says to just talk to them about the design you have in mind and they can discuss different options even if they may not be listed online. The brand logo applied on top melds in neatly with the face plates to not take away from the design. If I had to nitpick, I would say the holes drilled in the resin shells for the filters could be cleaner. But I am not sure how easy that would be since the removal and installation of the filters are likely to necessitate some extra leeway in the first place. Here we see the pre-installed brown filter removed to allow for a group photo alongside the gray and yellow filters that come with the tuning kit. I don't recommend continually changing out the filters as much as trying them out and sticking with the one that works best for you. If you don't get the tuning kit then (spoiler alert) the default brown filter is going to serve you well as it is.


On the side are flush 2-pin cable connectors and the underside would normally feature the serial number of the units—possibly in blue/red colors to also help identify the left and right channels. These special shells were thankfully kept clear of branding as much as possible to allow better appreciation of the craftsmanship on offer. The ear canal sections become the de-facto nozzle here which also mean no ear tips are in use, given these simply slide into your ears. There is also no filter on the end where you see the sound tubes coming from the acoustic chamber and thus you do need to be more careful about the maintenance and upkeep of these CIEMs with a soft microfiber cloth, to wipe the shells and then use the provided brush to remove ear wax/dust stuck onto the nozzles.