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Product Description
Whether you wear IEMs in the studio, at the gym, or during your daily commute, the Dekoni Bulletz earphone tips can take your listening experience to the next level. They’re made from dense, slow-rebound memory foam that contracts when pushed and expands once inserted, closely conforming to the inner ear to provide a noise-isolating seal and a comfortable fit Read More
Comparison review of Dekoni vs. Comply tips (plus a way to find out whether these fit your particular IEM)
I usually have to use foam tips to get a good seal, and have used both Comply tips (TN Series) and these Dekoni tips (purchased from MD) for a pretty good amount of time now, so thought a comparison might be useful to others.
Common to both brands: If you have trouble with your IEMs falling out, or with getting a good seal, foam tips can dramatically improve your IEM experience. If you don't know which size fits your ear, you should start with the multi-pack to get a good understanding of which size is right for you.
Foam tips will fall apart quickly if you use them regularly - much faster than silicone. Plan on replacing them regularly. Clean them with a slightly damp, warm cloth for longevity and appearance.
My experience of impact on sound quality is that, if you get a tight seal that you didn't have before, you can expect much more isolation and higher quality sound, particularly in the lower ranges. If you already have a good seal with silicone tips, my experience is that I don't really notice a difference - in line with this article https://www.innerfidelity.com/content/comply-foam-tips-and-effects-tip-selection. I also don't notice a sound quality difference between the two brands.
Know that they can get a bit...gross, as ear wax tends to affix itself quite visibly. If that hottie you've had your eye on makes her move while you're listening to your IEMs, don't pull these out and leave them in sight :).
Differences: The Dekonis have a slightly narrower, straighter profile, while the Complies have more of a rounded shape at the end (see images below). The biggest difference is that the Dekonis are "spongier" than the Complies. In other words, they rebound back to their shape much faster. Why this matters is that the best way to insert foam tips is to compress, insert, and let the foam expand to fill your ear canal. This is a much more rapid process that can make them frustrating to use when they are on IEMs with an over-the-ear fit, or something like that where it's not a quick "compress and insert straight in" process.
The Complies, on the other hand are slow to rebound, giving you plenty of time to place them. From my perspective, that slow rebound is one thing you're paying a premium for, as it does give them an advantage in applying them consistently and effectively. The other major difference is that Comply offers much broader compatibility with different size IEM stems than Dekoni - 6 or 7 sizes from Comply vs. 2 from Dekoni. Comply also has several different models for different use cases, which Dekoni doesn't offer.
Overall, if price is not a concern, I'd recommend Comply tips for better selection and user experience, but at the current $7.99 drop price, the Dekonis are a solid, viable alternative if they fit your particular IEMs. I can easily recommend them at this price.
Bonus- Will they fit my particular IEMs?: Visit the Comply Foam homepage at https://www.complyfoam.com/. Enter your IEM in the "Find Tips" search and see your results. If they come back with the 100 series, then the 3mm Dekonis should fit. If they come back with the 400 series, the 4.9mm Dekoni's should fit. If you get one of those two series, make your choice based on your brand/price preference. If it doesn't come back with one of those two series, I would say you're taking a chance on the Dekonis that I wouldn't :).
Comparison Images: Comply on Left vs. Dekoni on right
GunsOfBrixtonI got used to Comply tips initially from my JayBird X3, and later from Campfire Comets. In the case of the Comet - and since they come with a decent assortment of silicone tips (from 2 companies) as well as foam tips from Comply - I dabbled in tip rolling from the moment I got them. I can really hear a difference in sound quality between silicone and foam! It's in the presentation, rather than in tonality. Comply tips give a rounded, layered, and a little-bit expansive soundstage. Silicone give a disappointling single-dimensionality to the music that put me off.
As much as I like foam tips' sound, I dislike the fact that they're perishable. I go through a pair in a couple of months, so I have to keep buying them. I've heard about hybrid foam/silicone tips, so I'll try to get some with the hope of longevity. Would anyone care to direct me to where I can buy hybrids?
For people looking for a better compatibility list for the Dekoni tips that includes iem’s missing on the Dekoni list, by applying a little logic you can look at the Comply compatibility list.
https://www.complyfoam.com/content/ALL%20MODELS%20COMPATIBILITY%20CHART.pdf
The Dekoni Gemini series (3mm) is equivalent to the Comply 100 series. How can I tell? Both have the same Westone and Shure models listed, so they are compatible. You can then use he Comply list to see what else is compatible if it is missing from the Dekoni list. You can see that, for example the Nuforce EDC3 are on Comply 100 list so must also work with the Gemini size, although not listed.
Similarly the Dekoni Mercury series (4.9mm) is equivalent to the Comply series 400. I can tell because both list the Echobox Finder.
Obviously the Comply options are much broader as there are so many more sizes available. But, if you are interested in the Dekoni tips, the Comply chart should help you figure out if your IEMs are compatible with the Dekoni Gemini and Mercury series.
yep, they're overpriced junk; the foam deteriorates within a month. last few years, I'll buy a single set of complys (that fit whatever IEMs I like atm) and reuse the plastic core in 3M E-A-R Classic Earplugs. Cut to preferred length, then use a leather hole punch (there's a 2-4.5mm one on amazon for ~$9). More comfortable, durable, and provides a better seal.
Eli35Amazon has them for 8usd atm
But me an EU user is still searching for some - not gonna pay 10usd in shipping . . .
Massdrop could ship those out in letters with a tiny box, instead a whole package just for tiny foams
$8 product, $10.30 shipping to EU, plus ~EUR 10 tax? Its not viable for the guys on this side :( And I'm in the market for replacement tips for my T3s right now @dekoni
If you're shipping $8 tips....for $10 (which is the quoted shipping to my region)....
When a $2 bubble envelope would suffice....you're doing shipping wrong.
These extortionate shipping charges are becoming a common thread at Massdrop. Completely defeats the idea behind the site if your shipping pushes the overall cost to basically the MSRP.
I'd expect costs to go down as Massdrop becomes more popular and the number of people per drop grows. Instead what's happening is that drops are only matching prices we can get on 'normal' sites elsewhere, and then they're slapping crazy high shipping charges on them.