The ear impressions are the most essential factor in creating custom-fit earpieces that provide optimal comfort, retention, sound reduction, and/or acoustics. Inadequate impressions can cause discomfort, seal issues, insufficient attenuation, or inferior sound quality for music products.
Aside from ensuring you have your impressions taken by a professional who has proper training and experience taking earmold impressions, we recommend the following guidelines to ensure the earmolds are satisfactory:
- It is important to remain still and not talk or move your mouth or neck while the impressions are setting (do not chew gum). Head and/or jaw movements can change the shape of the ear canal, and may cause a poor fit or seal of the final product. If you’re looking at a phone or reading while your impressions are setting, keep your head up and hold the device/reading material at eye level so your neck isn’t bent down.
- We recommend that closed-mouth impressions are taken for all products UNLESS you’re using them for singing. Open mouth bite block impressions are essential for all vocalists to ensure there are no seal issues when you open your jaw wide while hitting loud/high notes. An open mouth impression will make the product feel tighter in the ear overall, so it is not recommended unless for a vocalist. Please note that whether you are purchasing Monitors, Earphones, Sleeves, or Musician’s Earplugs, if you’re using them for singing you will require a bite block.
- Impressions must be taken past the second bend of the ear canal to ensure optimal sound reduction, sound quality, ear canal resonance, retention, and a proper fit. The depth of the canal greatly affects the sound quality of all the music products. Canals that are too short won’t provide the correct amount of sound reduction, and will have poor fit and retention. The most important part of the entire impression is the canal.
If an impression exhibits questionable features, it is recommended to retake the earmold. HearSmart Solutions Inc. reserves the right to reject earmold impressions that do not exhibit the features necessary to produce a quality custom product. See our document: About Ear Impressions.