Bragi Launches 'The Dash Pro' With Bigger Battery, Better Bluetooth, and Real-Time Translation

[bingeciren]

Thanks. Went for the gray ones. Nice and boring. Hopefully easier to put on than iPhone screen protectors.

Watch the video on their website, it helps. Start from the top by aligning the tiny little hole at the top back and work your way down. Make sure the part that wraps around the stem is straight before wrapping it around. Good luck

 

[mistertomlinson]

Thank you, that makes sense!

Would you mind keeping us (me ) updated on the process and how well they turn out? I'm genuinely interested in the tailored Dash but it is a lot of money to invest, so I'd love to learn as much as possible in advance

It doesn't look like I'll be getting a pair of these after all.

Short version: You're expected to drive to a Starkey location to both place your order and pick up the completed monitors. My nearest Starkey is 40 minutes away. 1 hour and 20 minute round trip. 2 hours and 40 minutes in time and gas total to buy a pair of headphones. By the way, they do your ear impressions at no charge. So, if you have a Starkey nearby, this could be a great arrangement.

Long version: I called this morning to place my order. I explained to the representative that Starkey agreed to use an existing pair of custom monitors instead of ear impressions for scanning (this is customary for companies that have a 3D scanner as not all of them do, but when they do, it's easier for them to scan a pair of monitors because they're guaranteed to get a perfect fit on their first try, assuming the original monitors fit perfectly).

The rep understood I would not need impressions taken and simply needed to place my order and mail my existing monitors into them. She asks for my zip code and tells me she will have to schedule an appointment for me to go to my nearest Starkey... why? I just need to place an order. There is absolutely no reason for me to go anywhere. Everything I need to do can be done over the phone and I can mail the monitors wherever I need, myself. There are absolutely 0 reasons I should have to drive 1 hour and 20 minutes (round trip) to simply place an order for headphones. Yet this is what I'm expected to do.

To make things worse, I would have to do it again to pick them up when they're completed. I can almost understand this. As I explained in an earlier post, when working with a pair of ear impressions, some subjectivity is used in how they shape the impressions before printing the shell. They don't always get the fit 100%. Sometimes you can experience irritation and soreness. These can often be remedied on the spot if you can pinpoint the part of the shell that needs to be sanded down. Other times, you can't get a perfect seal and one monitor might not produce sound entirely identical to the other as a result, so it could be helpful for first timers who aren't familiar with the process to simply refuse to accept them and have the lab send them back for reshelling and handle everything from there.

But this isn't necessary for me because the pair of monitors I would send in for scanning fit perfectly. I don't need an audiologist to check the fit. And just because they feel ok while you're there doesn't mean you won't discover fit issues later.

I can't see them selling many of these things as long as this system is in place. Every custom monitor company I've done business with has always had the same procedure: 1. YOU schedule an appointment with an audiologist and get impressions made. 2. YOU mail them into the company making the monitors and 3. You receive the completed monitors in the mail. If you have fit issues, you have a return period and can send them back to reduce areas of the shell that cause irritation or have them rebuilt altogether. I have had to send monitors back at least twice to have them rebuilt because the fit wasn't 100%. I didn't need someone else to do it for me.

This is an absolute shame. I really wanted a pair of these, but the time and gas money effectively raise the cost of the headphones... and for no reason. I just can't oblige their inefficient, unnecessary procedure for ordering.

 

[Ankaa]

Wow, what a bummer, I'm really sorry I would have expected to receive the finished Dash in the mail. That's good to know, as for me I would actually have to fly to another place to get to a Starkey office (we're talking a good $100 per roundtrip) and I certainly don't want to (afford) this twice. And as you said, why would I need to pick them up in person? If there are issues with fit one surely would expect them to notice only after a while and not immediately ... and I certainly expect the molds to generally fit right away - no need for me to be there and have someone insert them into my ears, something I'm perfectly fine doing by myself.

I too hope they change that. Did you file a complaint?

 

[mistertomlinson]

Wow, what a bummer, I'm really sorry I would have expected to receive the finished Dash in the mail. That's good to know, as for me I would actually have to fly to another place to get to a Starkey office (we're talking a good $100 per roundtrip) and I certainly don't want to (afford) this twice. And as you said, why would I need to pick them up in person? If there are issues with fit one surely would expect them to notice only after a while and not immediately ... and I certainly expect the molds to generally fit right away - no need for me to be there and have someone insert them into my ears, something I'm perfectly fine doing by myself.

I too hope they change that. Did you file a complaint?

I just found out you don't have to go to a Starkey lab, but just an audiologist within their network. I just assumed the address they gave me 40 minutes away was a Starkey but it's just a run of the mill audiologist. Apparently, no one in town is authorized to work for them.

You might have better luck than I if you go to the Starkey site and search for the closest authorized hearing center near you.

And I'm not really sure there's anyone who will hear my complaint. I made it pretty clear in all phone calls and emails I've exchanged that it doesn't make sense for me to drive 40 minutes to place an order when I don't need impressions. I've basically complained to each of them. But this is the bureaucratic process that Bragi and Starkey have come up with. It doesn't really matter if it doesn't make sense. That's the process and they wouldn't know how to circumvent it.

 

[Ankaa]

I just found out you don't have to go to a Starkey lab, but just an audiologist within their network. I just assumed the address they gave me 40 minutes away was a Starkey but it's just a run of the mill audiologist. Apparently, no one in town is authorized to work for them.

You might have better luck than I if you go to the Starkey site and search for the closest authorized hearing center near you.

Thanks for the update! That might work. There is an audiologist in my area that works with Starkey. However, it sounds utterly complicated and prone to mistakes/miscommunications if more and more parties are involved. For example, the original Dash doesn't fit my ears because they are too small, so it needs to be determined if all the tech of the Dash would even fit into a mold that fits my ears... I'm pretty sure the audiologist in my area doesn't even know Bragi and the Dash exist...

 

[RichardF]

I own both The Dash (9 months) and the Airpods (2 months).

I'd like to offer more insight. Here are a few comments I haven't seen mentioned so far in this thread

- The AirPods sound great (much much better than I expected).
The low end is adequately reproduced and the volume can go dangerously high if you like it that way.
But it's all sort of a waste: I don't understand why they didn't design them to go into the ear canal. To keep simple, I know... But not having a proper seal means I don't reach for them for anything but calls/ casual media consumption is quiet environments.
I prefer the seal and audio reproduction "experience" I get once I find a great fit/ seal with The Dash (the problem then is I loath removing them and that's when Transparency is great).

- Apple nailed the Bluetooth connectivity: in/outdoors, phone in the pocket, in hand, across room, from a floor to another in my home. It just works and I love it.

- The AirPods (with their case) footprint is wonderful. It's small enough that you can have them in your pocket without worrying about them and being bothered.

- I wish Apple had gone with USB-C at this point.

- The Dash offer the best fit I have ever experienced after going through numerous BT earphones.

I love the beautiful and relatively small design of The Dash. I can wear them for hours (to watch an entire movie or during a flight for instance) before I start feeling any discomfort (by then the battery will have ran out anyway). Your mileage will vary in this regard since we are all different.

I also think they are beautiful and a pleasure to touch and use. That's important to me. I respect and enjoy well designed and made objects tremendously.
Other example: I love that I can shake them in hand and get the LEDs to show me the current charge level for instance.
Ear fit is personal to each individual but in my case I find the angle and length perfect. I further improved the seal by using ComplyFoam tips and the seal is amazing, even if I hate the grippy feeling you get when inserting them (bc of the foam vs. the OEM rubber tips).

- Bragi should/ could trim the footprint of the case while conserving the same battery charging capacity and hardware features/ purposes.

- the latest Dash update is amazing. It has improved the transparency mode to the point where it is easy to forget you are wearing anything at all. Really pleased with that.
The 4D menu works and is fun. Not sure how often I'll use but once it's nice to have.

- the BT connectivity issues didn't bother me and have been moderate in my case. I have been willing to accept them because I love this toy so much. The latest update seems to mitigate them further.

- it's awesome being able to control volume and playback from the earphones themselves if the phone is my pocket, out of reach etc.

- I don't use the fitness features seriously and couldn't comment on how accurate they are, but they are an added set of features which is nice to have. I look at the data produced sometimes.

- vTech builds Bragi's products, or at least The Dash. I am not confident the contact pins design idea is a durable one. I am meticulous and careful with everything I own but it is liberating sometimes to not have to worry about breaking something. I baby The Dash the same way I baby my Zik 3.0 headphones and it's annoying when compared to the way I can just use the AirPods, which is the same way I also just use my QC35 (I never do though the sound is not great).

- Same comment regarding USB-C. Too bad Bragi....



I'll get rid of The Dash to get The Dash Pro in the next few months.

We are fortunate all this innovation is happening around us. I embrace it. Of course, I'd want to fast forward and get hardware gen. 5 now for both the AirPods and the Dash but we can't so... the current offerings beat waiting IMO.

I am looking forward to a better battery life if the claim is accurate and to trying them for their BT connectivity (Bragi is now using a different vendor for the BT radio?).
The custom fit never really crossed my mind but now I am interested.

Both should offer an equalizer like Parrot does. It would make a world of difference.

Piece of advice for anyone considering buying these - I can't stress this enough: get them from a reseller such as Amazon. Dealing with Bragi is just a pain if you have any issues.
I also wait and never buy the first few batches produced for ANY product.


Any of you guys own these?
https://hereplus.me


It's very annoying how all of these outfits are claiming "best in class" streaming (i.e: BT connectivity).



I appreciate insightful contributions such as @mistertomlinson 's. I love toys but I am not an expert with music reproduction. @mistertomlinson could you please explain why you infer that the amplifier is largely responsible for the quality?

 

[batman75]

It doesn't look like I'll be getting a pair of these after all.

Short version: You're expected to drive to a Starkey location to both place your order and pick up the completed monitors. My nearest Starkey is 40 minutes away. 1 hour and 20 minute round trip. 2 hours and 40 minutes in time and gas total to buy a pair of headphones. By the way, they do your ear impressions at no charge. So, if you have a Starkey nearby, this could be a great arrangement.

Long version: I called this morning to place my order. I explained to the representative that Starkey agreed to use an existing pair of custom monitors instead of ear impressions for scanning (this is customary for companies that have a 3D scanner as not all of them do, but when they do, it's easier for them to scan a pair of monitors because they're guaranteed to get a perfect fit on their first try, assuming the original monitors fit perfectly).

The rep understood I would not need impressions taken and simply needed to place my order and mail my existing monitors into them. She asks for my zip code and tells me she will have to schedule an appointment for me to go to my nearest Starkey... why? I just need to place an order. There is absolutely no reason for me to go anywhere. Everything I need to do can be done over the phone and I can mail the monitors wherever I need, myself. There are absolutely 0 reasons I should have to drive 1 hour and 20 minutes (round trip) to simply place an order for headphones. Yet this is what I'm expected to do.

It sounds like you were asking the wrong people. If you are talking to the reservations person at Bragi - that person is a call center rep following a standard script. Your situation is not the norm.

What you should do is make an appointment with the closest Starkey location. Then call the location and let them know what you want, and make it clear that this is the only way you will purchase the product. The people in the store should be more willing to help you.

 

[mistertomlinson]

It sounds like you were asking the wrong people. If you are talking to the reservations person at Bragi - that person is a call center rep following a standard script. Your situation is not the norm.

What you should do is make an appointment with the closest Starkey location. Then call the location and let them know what you want, and make it clear that this is the only way you will purchase the product. The people in the store should be more willing to help you.

I had actually considered this. If the transaction has to take place between me and an authorized hearing center, perhaps I could negotiate directly with them over the phone. I have a vacation coming up in less than a month, so I'm considering just taking the drive. The nerd in me wants these so bad.

Could you please explain why you infer that the amplifier is largely responsible for the quality?

First, thanks for sharing your thoughts on the Dash. It actually makes me want them more. I don't even intend to use the bluetooth often and would rely on the 4GBs of internal storage mostly, so I wouldn't worry about those issues much.

Also, you really have to get a pair of customs. I will never go back to universal fit headphones. It feels archaic to me.

I don't want to suggest I'm an expert on the subject, but I have dabbled in external headphone amps in the past and have a general understanding of how these things work. The simplest way to think about it is headphones are just small speakers and obviously need electricity to produce audio. When using a wired pair of headphones, the power to drive the headphones comes from the hardware it's plugged into.

Some people will actually use external headphone amps to drive their headphones with more power than their phone, for example, might be able too provide. This increased power, depending on the headphones, can actually improve the quality of audio.

So, I'm just a little skeptical that you'd get great audio from such a small device that has such little room for a significant amp and DAC or power, for that matter. I'm not saying I think it sounds bad... I just wouldn't expect it to compare to a wired set of custom monitors.

 

[RichardF]

[...]thanks for sharing your thoughts on the Dash. It actually makes me want them more. I don't even intend to use the bluetooth often and would rely on the 4GBs of internal storage mostly, so I wouldn't worry about those issues much.

Also, you really have to get a pair of customs. I will never go back to universal fit headphones. It feels archaic to me.

[...]

Thank you very much.
I understand.
Bluetooth does not have that kind of bandwidth but You'll be happy to learn that the embedded music player can playback mp3 up to 320kbs bit rate (source: just found via Google an original Kickstarter project campaign update post https://www.kickstarter.com/project...ireless-smart-in-ear-headphones/posts/1363585 )


Your explanation prompted me to read up on this topic a bit.
Example: http://www.fiio.net/en/products

There are portable amplifiers, USB amplifiers to use with a computer etc. to help achieve a better sound quality.

But the quality of the audio source and headphones/ earphones then become the bottleneck in that pursuit.
In others words, all elements of the set-up must be top notch otherwise, there is no point or the gain (pun intended) will be unimpressive.
Actually, I have had the Shure SE846-CL Quad Driver Earphones in my Amazon cart (without having worried about also getting an external amp) for over a year and never pulled the trigger. I wonder what they sound like...

Bragi used to advertise "balanced armatures" when touting the sound quality of The Dash without mentioning their vendor (has it been Knowles all this while?).

Since The Headphone came out and now for The Dash Pro, they advertise Knowles balanced armatures.
https://www.bragi.com/compare-products/

I Googled the company and it seems they are big with hearing aids and other types of earphones.

http://www.knowles.com/eng/Our-comp...nology-platforms/Balanced-armature-technology

 

[mistertomlinson]

Thank you very much.
I understand.
Bluetooth does not have that kind of bandwidth but You'll be happy to learn that the embedded music player can playback mp3 up to 320kbs bit rate (source: just found via Google an original Kickstarter project campaign update post https://www.kickstarter.com/project...ireless-smart-in-ear-headphones/posts/1363585 )


Your explanation prompted me to read up on this topic a bit.
Example: http://www.fiio.net/en/products

There are portable amplifiers, USB amplifiers to use with a computer etc. to help achieve a better sound quality.

But the quality of the audio source and headphones/ earphones then become the bottleneck in that pursuit.
In others words, all elements of the set-up must be top notch otherwise, there is no point or the gain (pun intended) will be unimpressive.
Actually, I have had the Shure SE846-CL Quad Driver Earphones in my Amazon cart (without having worried about also getting an external amp) for over a year and never pulled the trigger. I wonder what they sound like...

View attachment 701217



Bragi used to advertise "balanced armatures" when touting the sound quality of The Dash without mentioning their vendor (has it been Knowles all this while?).

Since The Headphone came out and now for The Dash Pro, they advertise Knowles balanced armatures.
https://www.bragi.com/compare-products/

I Googled the company and it seems they are big with hearing aids and other types of earphones.

http://www.knowles.com/eng/Our-comp...nology-platforms/Balanced-armature-technology

Knowles is basically the only company any monitor makers use. There's one other company that makes these things. I forget their name. But there really isn't much competition in the driver space, so I would chock that up to marketing.

 

[Ankaa]

According to Bragi's facebook page, the first people are receiving their taylored Dash. I'm looking forward to some reviews.

This thing is all I've wanted since I had to return the original Dash last Fall. Time to start saving

 

[mistertomlinson]

Actually, I have had the Shure SE846-CL Quad Driver Earphones in my Amazon cart (without having worried about also getting an external amp) for over a year and never pulled the trigger. I wonder what they sound like...

Or you could sell a kidney and buy an 18-driver custom. $3,000 by 64 Audio.

 

[RichardF]

18 drivers? Holy smokes!
What else don't I know?

I think fit/ seal is paramount.
Beyond a certain point, it's hard to ignore diminishing returns.

Is hearing (audition) a sense that benefits from "training" and "exercise"? In other words, does playing top quality music help it stay in top shape? :grin:


Edit: https://www.64audio.com/product/1964-A18-Custom-In-Ear-Monitor

So tempting right?

 

[batman75]

According to Bragi's facebook page, the first people are receiving their taylored Dash. I'm looking forward to some reviews.

This thing is all I've wanted since I had to return the original Dash last Fall. Time to start saving

That's interesting. I haven't seen any reviews other than one from the launch event. I would love to hear if these are any good since I have my ear mould appointment this friday.
[doublepost=1496071751][/doublepost]I just read the review on instagram by @45wheelgun. Here are some quotes:

Is the bluetooth connection stable and usable in the pro unit?

"I'm running a Samsung Note 5. I took them out of the box and put them in my ear. A voice told me to long press the right button. They paired immediately. I've had them connected for 24 hours or so. Probably 18 hours being utilized. Haven't dropped once. Phone in hand, phone in belt holster, phone on desk while I pace around. Also been listening to music all day. My experience with my phone has been perfect."

What about sound and volume? Can people hear you well?

"I have rather extensively tested connectivity and audio quality over the past 48 hours. People on the receiving end of calls report that I sound clear and the results are similar to using no ear piece or using a plantronics headset. Bluetooth conductivity has been flawless."

 

[Ankaa]

That's interesting. I haven't seen any reviews other than one from the launch event. I would love to hear if these are any good since I have my ear mould appointment this friday.

I don't know if it's the same review you've come across:

https://www.facebook.com/dpointer1/posts/10212650095832512

 

[RichardF]

That's interesting. I haven't seen any reviews other than one from the launch event. I would love to hear if these are any good since I have my ear mould appointment this friday.

Here you go: https://www.reddit.com/r/thedash/comments/6dthii/got_my_dashpro_on_wednesday_245_thoughts_after_a/

 

[batman75]

Here you go: https://www.reddit.com/r/thedash/comments/6dthii/got_my_dashpro_on_wednesday_245_thoughts_after_a/

Thanks. This one is less positive than the other one. The other one said bluetooth worked flawlessly even with some distance. This one says you can't put it in your left pocket.

 

[RichardF]

Thanks. This one is less positive than the other one. The other one said bluetooth worked flawlessly even with some distance. This one says you can't put it in your left pocket.

I wouldn't let that stop me.

The wireless environment in which those observations were made matters and the observant's body and cellphone make/ model as well.

 

[8281]

LOL. They wrote three paragraphs explaining their thought before offering the idea. Here is an idea that I gave no thought to before coming up with: move the microphone so I don't look like a twenty-second century runway model when I listen to podcasts.
[doublepost=1495061503][/doublepost]

How long does that take, and what does it cost? My wife loves her music. I got her some AudioTechina headphones one year and she loves their sound, but doesn't like to wear them out of the house. She prefers to take the bus so she can relax on her way to class, so I am sure she is listening to her music louder than she ought to be.

Depends on the type of molds, but I think about a week or two. Cost will depend on the type and the business...

 

[RichardF]

Full disclosure, I work at an audiology clinic so we do see a few people who come in. Usually musicians...if these things are meant to be worn for a long time, I wouldn't be surprised to see more people get them fitted. I like Apple, but their earphones aren't that comfortable.

I have an appointment early next week to get this done for the Dash Pro. The audiology office will then sent my ear imprints to Starkey in MN.

Why should I pay attention to when going through this process to help them and make sure I get the best possible imprint (is that what's it's called btw)? I have never done this before.

And I asked, the final material of my custom sleeve for the earphones will be made out of smooth plastic.
I used ComplyFoam tips and they have been great but hating the grippy sensation of the foam when putting them in.

 

[mistertomlinson]

I have an appointment early next week to get this done for the Dash Pro. The audiology office will then sent my ear imprints to Starkey in MN.

Why should I pay attention to when going through this process to help them and make sure I get the best possible imprint (is that what's it's called btw)? I have never done this before.

And I asked, the final material of my custom sleeve for the earphones will be made out of smooth plastic.
I used ComplyFoam tips and they have been great but hating the grippy sensation of the foam when putting them in.

The audiologist will walk you through the process. Don't worry. They usually get you to put a bite block in your mouth. This helps expand your ear canals so you don't lose your seal when you open your mouth wearing the headphones. Like seen in this picture.

They slide little "otoblocks" into each ear to prevent the silicon from damaging your ear drums. These are usually cotton or foam and have little strings attached to them so they can be pulled out in the event something goes wrong. They insert these very deep which can be uncomfortable and cause your eyes to water, but this is normal.

A set of completed ear impressions (they're called "ear impressions"). Notice the otoblocks attached to the impressions. It usually takes 3-5 minutes for the silicon to harden before they can remove them from your ears, so you'll have to sit for a while.

And the Dash will be entirely made of a hard acrylic. There will be no soft parts. But it's very comfortable because it's shaped just like you ear canal so it slides right in. It could take some getting used to. Your ears could itch after prolonged use and if the fit isn't perfect, there could be some sore spots inside your ear in which case, you have 30 days to take it back for them to fix (or remake). I've personally had some monitors make my ears a little sore, but eventually got used to them without sending them back in. YMMV.

Here's a picture of an ear impression and the finished product by another company:

One piece of advice for anyone getting this done: clean your ears before you get the impressions made. And I don't mean with a Q-tip. Use 1 part rubbing alcohol, 1 part white vinegar warmed to 98 degrees. Put a few drops in, one ear at a time and let soak at least 15 minutes. Then flush out with an ear syringe filled with ~98 degree water (using water that is too far from body temperature can, in worst cases, cause you to blackout). If I haven't done this in a while, I usually flush until a big, disgusting blob of wax comes out of each ear. It usually takes several flushes.

I got my ear syringe from Walmart for a few bucks. And I've heard you should do it several days BEFORE because the cleaning process can temporarily change the shape of your ear canal subtly. I don't know how true this is.

The first time I ever got impressions, the audiologist told me I wouldn't be able to until they cleaned my ears. I don't know if this is common or if the guy was trying to make more money.

I called 2 days ago and tried to arrange ordering over the phone and mailing them anything I need so I don't have to drive 40 minutes to the nearest authorized audiologist and am still waiting for a call back. It sounded like they were gonna be able to arrange it, but I can't imagine why they haven't called back by now. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

 

[Ankaa]

@mistertomlinson: You had me completely confused just now I had opened the forum and read your initial post and after going ahead to quote it there suddenly were more pictures

And I asked, the final material of my custom sleeve for the earphones will be made out of smooth plastic.

And the Dash will be entirely made of a hard acrylic. There will be no soft parts. But it's very comfortable because it's shaped just like you ear canal so it slides right in.

I keep reading about the material being smooth plastic and it actually has me a little bit worried. I know that the main secure fit of the original Dash comes from the three-points-fit in the ear, but I felt that the somewhat rough surface also helped keep the Dash in place through additional grip, especially when moving (as in exercising/running). I'm somewhat skeptical that is the case with a smooth - and in my mind hence slippery - plastic surface. Yes, it's technically a perfect fit (and thus seal, good for audio), but the friction is missing...

 

[mistertomlinson]

@mistertomlinson: You had me completely confused just now I had opened the forum and read your initial post and after going ahead to quote it there suddenly were more pictures






I keep reading about the material being smooth plastic and it actually has me a little bit worried. I know that the main secure fit of the original Dash comes from the three-points-fit in the ear, but I felt that the somewhat rough surface also helped keep the Dash in place through additional grip, especially when moving (as in exercising/running). I'm somewhat skeptical that is the case with a smooth - and in my mind hence slippery - plastic surface. Yes, it's technically a perfect fit (and thus seal, good for audio), but the friction is missing...

Yeah... I kept editing and adding stuff to my post. Sorry.

Trust me, you do not need rough plastic with custom fit headphones. If it was necessary, they would have been made this way all along. I have owned 5 pairs of custom monitors and they have never fallen out. It is impossible. Hell, I've snagged the cable several times and they don't come out (very uncomfortable when that happens). In fact, you'd destroy the cable before they came out of your ears (if these were wired).

Maybe this will help explain it. Because your ear canal isn't straight, but bends, when inserting your custom monitors, you actually have to TWIST them into place. You don't plug them in like earbuds. So they lock into your ears as you push them into your canal. Watch this video (mute audio. LOL)

 

[RichardF]

The audiologist will walk you through the process. Don't worry. They usually get you to put a bite block in your mouth. This helps expand your ear canals so you don't lose your seal when you open your mouth wearing the headphones. Like seen in this picture.
[...]

Thank you so much for taking the time to explain/ typing this.

No one mentioned the cleaning procedure to me. I'll look into getting it done now.

I hope they save the drive back and forth for your impressions.
Are you trying to get them to ship you the materials so you can do it yourself at home? Or are you just trying to avoid the second visit at the audiologist to take delivery of the Dash Pro tailored when they arrived (Starkey doesn't ship them to the client but to the audiologist, I guess so they can tried on and perhaps take corrective measure if they don't fit well).

@mistertomlinson: You had me completely confused just now I had opened the forum and read your initial post and after going ahead to quote it there suddenly were more pictures






I keep reading about the material being smooth plastic and it actually has me a little bit worried. I know that the main secure fit of the original Dash comes from the three-points-fit in the ear, but I felt that the somewhat rough surface also helped keep the Dash in place through additional grip, especially when moving (as in exercising/running). I'm somewhat skeptical that is the case with a smooth - and in my mind hence slippery - plastic surface. Yes, it's technically a perfect fit (and thus seal, good for audio), but the friction is missing...

I will add to what @mistertomlinson wrote by mentioning that I am not worried about the surface not being brippy.
It would be useful for my Motorola HINT but not for a design like The Dash and not the tailored version.

My only concern at this point is that the custom design would perhaps make the Dash sort of stick out of my ear more than the regular Dash (which didn't stick out all that much and looked very natural being there as far form is concerned if you ignored the fact its color made it obvious compared to the skin color).

 

[mistertomlinson]

Thank you so much for taking the time to explain/ typing this.

No one mentioned the cleaning procedure to me. I'll look into getting it done now.

I hope they save the drive back and forth for your impressions.
Are you trying to get them to ship you the materials so you can do it yourself at home? Or are you just trying to avoid the second visit at the audiologist to take delivery of the Dash Pro tailored when they arrived (Starkey doesn't ship them to the client but to the audiologist, I guess so they can tried on and perhaps take corrective measure if they don't fit well).







I will add to what @mistertomlinson wrote by mentioning that I am not worried about the surface not being brippy.
It would be useful for my Motorola HINT but not for a design like The Dash and not the tailored version.

My only concern at this point is that the custom design would perhaps make the Dash sort of stick out of my ear more than the regular Dash (which didn't stick out all that much and looked very natural being there as far form is concerned if you ignored the fact its color made it obvious compared to the skin color).

I'm just trying to avoid driving 40 minutes to order headphones. I don't need impressions because I can send in a pair of custom monitors I already have and they can use their 3D scanner to duplicate them, so there's no need for impressions. But, even if I did need the impressions, I can get those without driving 40 minutes. I can make a 5 minute drive tomorrow and get a set of impressions made if I have to. There's no need for me to drive 40 minutes, one way.

The Starkey rep I spoke to 3 days ago said she was going to contact the audiologist directly to see if they could arrange for me to make my payment over the phone and mail them whatever they need, but I haven't heard back from her and considering that phone call shouldn't take 3 days, I don't think she will be getting back to me. Sigh.

Also, I have relatively small ears and I'm pretty sure these are going to protrude quite a bit. It bothers me, but considering all the tech squeezed into these things, I can't really expect them to not to. But these are kind of the most amazing headphones I've ever seen in my life, so I'll deal with it.

And about the cleaning, they won't necessarily require it. The first audiologist I saw wouldn't do the impressions until I had them cleaned and it cost me around $80. The second audiologist (now my regular guy) never even looks in my ears. BUT, you will hear like you've never heard before, if you don't mind spending the money. The cleaning procedure I suggested isn't nearly as good as a professional cleaning where the audiologist actually goes into your ears with specialized tools to scrape and suck stuff out. I was just suggesting it if you didn't want to spend money in the off chance they want your ears clean first. It's pretty painful, to be honest and my ears were very sensitive for DAYS. During the procedure, it felt like the audiologist was actually scraping my ear drum directly. I was clenching my fists almost the whole time... but when they're done, it's a night and day difference.

Your hearing becomes so sensitive, high frequency sounds actually become aggravating. Running water from a faucet, for example was like scratching nails down a chalkboard. It drove me crazy every time I had to turn on a faucet. Talking about it actually makes me want to get it done. Haha.