I can't help but wonder whether Mr SGS' interest in the Angie is in any way related to the sparrow's hype in this thread, or a result of limited funds, ie bash the pricier product to excuse your own poor man's Layla purchase.

I would suggest that making an audio discussion about oneself is problematic. After all, in that case if someone doesn't agree or if they like the same earphone, but not as much, then it could he perceived as a personal affront. And facetious sentiments have a way of being more serious than they may seem.

Also, speculating on someone else's finances is in poor taste, even when possibly meant as a joke.

Certainly, advice on getting a better fit can be useful.

I was wondering if you've seen this review? http://headphone.guru/angie-review/
At the bottom of the page he specifically compares the angies to the uerm, but although he doesn't outright say it, it seems that he favors the latter.  How do you find his impressions?

Ok, let's bring a couple variables to the table so we have a better understanding of where things stand between the person who wrote that review and The Charming Sparrow's impressions. It is often the case that some of these variables are used as mere excuses to not lose face. I will try and be as honest as I always strive to.

1.  Mr Headphone Guru (HG) uses: iPhone5, iPod Classic, AK120, CalyxM, and for giggles, the NuForce uDAC-3. The sparrow uses: AK240, MBP + V200 (with onboard DAC) and 5G iPod Touch.

2.  Although Mr HG & the sparrow have a set of custom UERMs, I do believe the same set of customs may not yield the exact same sonic results for everyone, and this is not simply the result of what is an unquestionable fact: that we hear differently, describe things differently, have different preferences and thresholds, ages, earwax, volume level preferences, music types for testing gear, time of day (oh, yes!), and more… I had 4 sets (3 re-fits) of ES3X, of which 3 sounded differently. I have 4 friends with UERMs and it seems our sets sound somewhat different, or, as noted, perhaps we're just unable to describe what we hear in exactly the same terms. Or both.

3.  Similar things happen with universal IEMs, where fit, seal, tips used, ear/canal shapes vary.

OK, then...

---- Mr HG says, "With the potentiometer tuned down to zero the Angie sounds flat from top to bottom, think neutral. The midrange is dry and at times can boarder on lean based on the source material that is played. When compared to the UERM midrange, the Angie is the flatter sounding of the two but not necessarily the most resolving nor detailed." ——— TBH, I'm not clear about this 'sounds flat from top to bottom, think neutral' thing; then HG adds, "Truthfully, anything past 10 or 11 o’clock on the Angie bass potentiometer was too much bass for me". Now, the bass pot goes from 8 o'clock to 4 o'clock and, compared to the sparrow's UERM's anything lower than 2 o'clock has overall less bass amplitude and impact on my Angies. To these ears, anything below 12 o'clock is decidedly bass light/unnatural sounding and, as a result, the rendering of mid freqs does sound drier/leaner. I've yet to decide whether the perfect setting for me is 1 or 2 o'clock (been favouring the 2 o'clock setting in the last few days). I do, however, on any setting, find the midrange more resolving and layered on the Angies.

---- Mr HG says, "Sound staging for both IEMs was very similar. While I’ve heard far bigger soundstages on other IEMs both the UERM and Angie could be classed as mid-sized bordering on large with the proper source" ———  I personally find the Angies as having slightly better soundstage width and height, but perhaps not depth (not 100% about that one yet, tbh).

----  Mr HG writes, "In contrast, the UERM as an overall package, while bested in certain areas of sound staging was still able to give the slightly better cleaner and crisper overall image when overly busy music where lots of PRAT was demanded and in the end sounded like the more balanced IEM." ——— I've found the A ngie, specially on busy passages, more accurate in instrument placement and cleanliness of sound (absolutely no question about that here). The UERM sounds crisper, yes, but a little less natural than the Angies (the former seems a tad boosted overall).

Anyway, as I noted earlier on as best as I could, I do believe some might genuinely prefer the UERMs, and some the Angies. I do feel the UERM (my set) may initially appear more appealing/exciting on first listen, seeming a little more V-shaped within a fairly flat/neutral/reference curve; this may, to some, sound more lifelike. My ears seem to prefer the Angie's curve (whatever it is), which seems flatter and more faithful to the recording, to these ears, and, dare I say, a better all-rounder phone and more, err, well, closer to how things sound in real life (again, taking my own set of UERMs as reference).

A few more posts like that and I may well get a pair myself. Do carry on...

EQ8 is pretty good, UERM (mine anyway) is better still as my tastes lean toward transparent honesty where possible.

As I posted above somewhere, not surprised the channel imbalance on a new CIEM went away over time. Been there, done that.

I'd also say the 800 being tonally similar to the 3003 is likely more to do with upstream choices than anything. It's simply chameleon. I can make the 800 sound like a poorly sealed ER4S easily with a DACPort or make them more like a richer Noble using a Leben.

EQ8 is pretty good, UERM (mine anyway) is better still as my tastes lean toward transparent honesty where possible.

As I posted above somewhere, not surprised the channel imbalance on a new CIEM went away over time. Been there, done that.

I'd also say the 800 being tonally similar to the 3003 is likely more to do with upstream choices than anything. It's simply chameleon. I can make the 800 sound like a poorly sealed ER4S easily with a DACPort or make them more like a richer Noble using a Leben.

UERM is better than the e-q8 in most respects, but there is 1 the e-q8 excels at: distortion guitars. I listen to a ton of guitar driven rock and the e-q8 gives me the best distortion guitar crunch and bite I've heard. It just brings a smile to my face every time.

My understanding is the Angie is a little between the UERM and e-q8 in forwardness, particularly upper midrange, so it might well be very well fit my preferences like a glove. I'll most likely give the universal a try very soon.