Like any media outlet, we often get sent nice things for free, speculatively so as to garner some attention for said freebies appear the pages of DJWORX. Flare Audio sent a pair of D2 IEMs some time ago, and definitely planted themselves into my consciousness as well as my ears. And since my review, they’ve become my goto earbuds. So I was pleasantly surprised to get another package from Flare, in the shape of Isolate ear plugs.
Instead of delivering pristine sound to my somewhat haggard lug holes, the Isolates aim to… ummm… isolate your ears from the outside world. Not completely you understand, but by offering a more even filtering of frequencies. Apparently other materials are a tad selective in what audio comes through, but Flare’s technology is apparently just like turning down the volume rather than selectively EQing.
There’s a ridiculously over-subscribed Kickstarter campaign where the required £25K has been reached almost ten times over. There’s eight days to for you to get great deals on a pair or multiples. I’ve got a review pair of Titaniums to play with, and when I found myself in a situation to properly test them out then I’ll report back.
Do these do anything more than the foam ones we gave away at BPM last year? They don’t look like they do any filtering other than just blocking your ear canals. For those prices, I’d hope they did something a bit more.
The video explains. It’s science. I don’t think I have any of the ones we gave away left to compare. I have V-MODA ones though.
After losing two sets of custom musician earplugs (expensive) I’m back to units I could purchase over the desk — the new Etymotic ER 20XS are excellent especially as they have a short tube now, you get them under $20. I doubt I have interest or time to adjust hearing systems for specific frequencies…
Im a stage manager in a nightclub with LA Kara monitor system (4 18″ & 6 H/m) array cabinets. I currently have custom ear plugs that with no filters just str8 plugs. Anyone think this would be something to try out?
I think you mean “R2 IEMs”, not “D2 IEMs”? I’ve pledged back then for the R2 Pro’s (really wonderful IEMs), and now again for the Isolates. Beside making great products, they certainly know how to run a Kickstarter campaign.
I allready got a pair of molded ear protection with different filters. But I’m curious about these to my wife, since she don’t want to buy molded ear protection…
So what is the difference between titanium and aluminum?
Does Titanium provides a better sound?
Yes, Titanium actually reduces bass frequencies a little more (about 10 dB as seen on graph posted by dibb above) (now I notice there is the X axis missing which represents attenuation in dB).
Here’s the complete graph:
https://ksr-ugc.imgix.net/assets/013/168/193/dcd59b431c2a975c4392f43864853f56_original.jpg?w=639&fit=max&v=1469465976&auto=format&q=92&s=18dc4bb03f742718f1ee548ed63f08c1
doesn’t make any sense. so they do amplify the sound after 3k? lol
we need an industry standard measurement
Yeah I bet these are scientifically no better than a pack of foam ear plugs you can get at a drugstore. This is just a foam earplug with aluminum attached to one end. BS Gimmick.
Speaking of science, did you actually read their Kickstarter page and took a look at the frequency response graph comparing Isolates and foam plugs, before making such a claim? In case it’s too much trouble for you, I’ve attached the image here.
with X axis for dB attenuation
https://ksr-ugc.imgix.net/assets/013/168/193/dcd59b431c2a975c4392f43864853f56_original.jpg?w=639&fit=max&v=1469465976&auto=format&q=92&s=18dc4bb03f742718f1ee548ed63f08c1
I’m buying myself a pair of titanium and will receive in september and will post back here if I remember :) to say what I think and judge about them while using them for: blocking out noise to concentrate (work), dj mixing, producing.