Sleek Audio unveils adjustable SA6 earphones

Personally, we've no qualms with simply tweaking the EQ when the bass seems a bit light or the treble is making us cringe, but Sleek Audio's SA6 earphones purportedly don't need any fancy equalization to tune your tunes. Reportedly, these in-ear monitors utilize an "ultra wide band balanced armature driver with custom porting," which apparently allows the user to adjust the sound with the included treble / bass tuning ports. Additionally, the firm throws in a variety of tips and enables wearers to rock them "in three different ways." The SA6 is currently available for pre-ordering, and while these aren't slated to ship until Q3, you can save $20 off the normal $249.99 price tag by slipping your order in now.

[Via Audio Junkies]

[Brian @ Aug 30th 2007 4:56PM]

I've had the benefit of working with in-ears a lot. I run sidemix for a sound productions company. I would be really doubtfull of anything that adds "ports" to a closed system. Every musician I've talked to about them, (including my own experience) wants isolation when they're playing. That's the whole idea with having in ear monitors.

FYI, the most common ones are E2c's (mostly working bands and guys who can't afford better ones, but the most common ones are E6's that have been put into a molded enclosure, and for any higher end group that uses in-ears, it's 90% Ultimate Ears, either Triple.fi or the LE series.

[Zach @ Aug 30th 2007 6:44PM]

ugh, don't ever suggest the E2c. I HATE mine so much. Etymotics all the way.

[Benjo @ Aug 30th 2007 5:27PM]

My band uses the E2's. They're affordable and work great. We don't want isolation though because we're acoustic and need to communicate with each other away from the mic setup. It's one ear with and one without. While several soundmen I've worked with swear by E6's, I borrowed a pair once and only found a nominal difference.

We're not dealing with drums though.

[ET @ Aug 30th 2007 6:02PM]

someday, ear bugs will get longer and longer that they stick right into your inner ears or connect directly into your brain.

[Mark Galvan @ Aug 30th 2007 6:07PM]

What a great solution - now what's the problem?

Another plug for Ultimate Ears. Exceptional products and customer service.

My only complaint is they didn't select my entry in the name the triple.fi contest.

[huggles @ Aug 30th 2007 6:11PM]

I know this isnt a post about Shure. But... They so seriously rock.

I feel sad for those poor clueless peeps wearing white apple tarts in their ears..

E4c's whoooot

[Mindfield @ Aug 30th 2007 6:45PM]

I have the Shure E3s, and I agree. The foam pads are the best. The silicone tips don't work worth a damn for me and keep slipping out or jiggling slightly out of place, which creates an imbalance in the seal and drives me up the wall. The foam tips have been the most reliable for consistent sound and perfect fit. They have to be replaced every few weeks but what the hell. I get 14 pairs for $30 off eBay and that lasts me a good 6 months or so. Small price to pay. These headphones look kinda cool (but need foam tips) and the technology sounds interesting -- but everything sounds interesting on paper. The interchangeable ports sound a bit dubious, but I like the idea of detachable swivel cable. Still, if I'm gonna pay $250 for a set of IEMs, I'd expect at least dual armatures.

[Zach @ Aug 30th 2007 6:45PM]

Forget Shure's, at least the $100 spectrum. Check out Etymotics offerings. I love my etymotics 20x over my shures

[JULIEN @ Sep 1st 2007 12:15AM]

This is the most badass set of earbuds I have ever seen. Period. Except for those Ultimate Ears 4 tweeter 2 woofer setup I saw somewhere...maybe it wasn't Ultimate Ears. I want these. A lot. I will trade someone 1st gen Nano for a pair of these lol XD

[Jasp @ Aug 30th 2007 8:29PM]

Finally someone figured out that the only difference between a $175 pair and a $500 pair of IEM's is the porting and speaker design. Look at Shure they fool people into spending more money for bass by adding a "tuned port" I doubt the speaker is different between models. Ultimate ears has great customer service because product reliability sucks on their end. So much for 2 drivers. Etymotics has a great product but could use a little more lows but the sound is balanced and reliable.

Look at the new Klipsch IEM's. $350 and single driver. Better reliability but no ports looks like they went the trusted Etymotics route.

Maybe this is the answer "tuning" your own product to you likings. The site says one of the options is a closed bass port. Only the reviews will tell.

[sirius @ Aug 31st 2007 3:02AM]

These look like some alien cannons... or probes :|