I read an article in the December 2010 "Sound and Vision" magazine that discussed Etymotic's custom-fit program: you visit any audiologist in their network and get fitted for custom-built ear pieces that work in any of their in-ear monitors for $100. So, a $179 pair of HF3s would run $279 for custom fit!

However, I work on planes, in coffee shops, next to a 21 year old cat, and in other noisy places. Beyond the sound quality, I was wondering how custom-fit ear pieces blocked noise when compared to, say, Shure sound isolating earphones, which I currently use.

And no, I don't want to buy a pair of Bose QuietComfort 15s.