The Package

In order to get a set of custom in-ears you need to get some ear molds done first. The impressions must be past the second bend, and it is best if you have them done while having a biteblock in your mouth, since the jaw position affects the shape and size of the ear canals. I had mine done at a local audiologist, the whole process took about 10 minutes and costs about $50 (prices may vary around the world). Above you can see my right ear mold done in smurf blue silicone with a foam block.


The Sleek-Audio Custom in-ears were delivered in a heavy-duty rugged box. The ones I got for review feature TechPowerUp Logos and custom graphics on the ear pieces. Outside the box there is a little badge with both the Sleek-Audio logo and TechPowerUp Logo engraved, nice little accent. If you are set on getting some custom artwork for your earphones Sleek-Audio gives you a lot of options in regards to the graphics, the price for a two tone paint job will be $50. With more complex graphics or more colors the price will be around $100.


Inside the box the earphones lay extremely well protected. The box is stuffed with soft foam and holds the earphones in place under all circumstances. Definitely the most rugged in-ear carrying case I have every gotten.

Closer Examination

The Sleek-Audio custom earphones I received had the signature "TechPowerUp" logo on the sides in bright red, which turned out nicely. Normally I am a bit put off by graphics on in-ears, but these turned out great. In the future you will get a lot of options when it comes to the graphics work on your earphones. Right now there is only limited information out on that aspect of the new customs from Sleek. My best guess is that you will be able to get the two tone artwork in pretty much any color you like. You do of course have to think it through, Not all logos and types of graphics look nice in miniature size. There are probably some limits as to how fine they can etch the acrylic so you have to keep that in mind while deciding on the design.


A new feature on the Sleek-Audio custom in-ears is that you choose where they mount the coaxial cable plug, you can choose either to have it in the center for normal wearing, or like mine where it is mounted so that you can wear the cable over the ear. With the plug at the front you can also wear the cable just hanging straight down, but it is not all that practical. It uses the same connectors as the SA6 which means that you can get a spare cable if you ruin the one you get to start off with.


On the part of the in-ear that points towards your ear there is a small Sleek-Audio logo and a serial number so that they can identify your in-ears on a later occasion.


One of the things that are radically different on the custom in-ears compared to the SA6 is the diameter of the sound hole (upper left part of picture). It is huge compared to most in-ears, and of course it exits the sound canal closer to the ear drum. You can choose how deep your in-ear-monitors should go.


From the side you can really get a feel for how complex the shape of your ears is. This is also why getting a good fit from a normal earphone just using silicone tips can be somewhat tricky.


Compared to the old universal styled Sleek-Audio SA6 the custom earphones are rather large. This is of course just because they are fitted to your ear and not restrained to a small form factor like the universal SA6s. One of the major benefits from having custom in-ears is that you can get extraordinarily good wearing comfort because they follow the contours of your ears. The two sets of customs I currently own are way more comfortable to wear than any non-customs I currently have and use.


The LiveWires T1 Custom in-ears that I have been enjoying for a while now do not look nearly as good as the Sleek-Audio Custom in-ears. This really boils down to two things, for one the face plate color on my LiveWires has begun to wear off a bit, and the fact that the surface is more uniform on the Sleek Custom earphones. The LiveWires exhibit some air bubbles in the acrylic shell, but I have not found any in the ones manufactured by Sleek-Audio. While it does not hurt the performance it does not make them look any prettier. Another difference between the two is that with the Sleeks you have the option to customize the exterior faceplate.


The cable design has not changed since the SA6s came out so it is still the same old design with some chrome trim pieces. The jack is quite durable and the swivel connectors provide a good connection to each of the ear pieces. The adjustable y-split is alright perhaps a bit on the flashy side, but it does what it is supposed to.