Well, today’s the day!
They have arrived, and they fit! Isolation is pretty damned good as advertised (may be a good solution for people looking to have ANC-tier isolation on wired sets) and the sound is robust. I tried them with the custom tips only, and I haven’t had them for ~2 months but the lows are powerful and rumbly, mids are clean and the treble is sparkly and non-fatiguing. The first tracks I tried seemed darker than I remembered but again, this was just after getting home and not having listened in ages. I will try to do some comparisons once I have time this weekend or next week to do some A/B with normal tips versus the new ones. I will say that, while kinda awkward getting them in the first time, the went in without issue (I didn’t use the included ear lube since I wanted to go without first) and they don’t feel as ear “violate-y” as something like deep earplugs, the initial molds at the Audiologist or Etymotic-style IEMs. I did also receive the IEMs with a pair of silicone tips installed from ADV as well; they look like Velvet clones but without the Velvet texture, may be house tips for them (edit: on further inspection and comparison, I think they are just Velvet tips. Very nice addition!). I will try to follow up with more impressions and long-term fitment/comfort as I get time with them. May be intermittent as I am also currently enjoying a set of Omnium Ti from a tour and need to spend a lot of time with them before passing them on to the next person (spoiler: Fun-as-hell Bassy U-shape with GREAT tactile bass, if you are attending SoCal Canjam find @SoundJedi around the Symphonium table and give them a try when you can!).
Total timeline (note that I opted for no rush order or special shipping:
July 15: Ear-mold impressions confirmed arrived at ADV’s lab
Aug 26: Custom Tips in production
Aug 29: Custom Tips enter Quality Assurance
Sep 9: Custom Tips shipped
Sep 12: Tips & MEST JB arrive!