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Why do I prefer Nuforce NE-7M?

#1
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6/30/09 at 12:23pm
  • Joined: September 2008
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Hi, I am an owner of both Westone UM3X and Nuforce NE-7M. Have been using them to listen to classical music almost 95% of the time and to my surprise, I am actually preferring the Nuforce over UM3X.

I could not answer why is that so as I know UM3X should be a lot better than NE-7M not to mention that the price difference is huge as well. NE-7M seems to pull and drawn me more into my classical music even though I know that should not be the case at least based on the reviews I read from this forum.

So could it be because of the sound signature?(Sorry noob here) Now I am actually looking for IEMs that can suppress NE-7M even more yet have the same sound signature as NE-7M if thats why I am more drawn to the music when using NE-7M than UM3X.

Your views? Thanks.
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#2
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6/30/09 at 12:31pm
  • Joined: May 2004
  • Location: Singapore <-> Malaysia, busy on family business..
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That is no account for taste?

SE530 comes to my mind as a NE-7M upgrade, though I haven't heard UM3X so take it with a grain of salt.

Tai
~ Team Intra-Aural ◊ Team Subjective-fi ◊ Team ER20 ◊ Team Noob-for-Life ◊ Team Blogger
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#3
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6/30/09 at 1:13pm
  • Joined: December 2007
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Sound is completely subjective. For you, the ne7m is better than the UM3X. Higher price does not necessarily mean better sound for everybody.

The only person that can tell you without a doubt which is better is yourself.

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See my profile for gear.

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#4
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6/30/09 at 2:16pm
  • Joined: June 2009
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I prefer my NE-7M to most IEM's too. The only ones I have that I prefer to them are the SE530's.
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#5
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6/30/09 at 6:02pm
  • Joined: March 2008
  • Location: Pasadena, California
  • Post Count: 360
I imagine a top shelf dynamic driver IEM (like the IE8's) would be to your liking.

The IE8's display much of what I like in the 7m sound signature but with a lot more detail, better tonal accuracy, wider and deeper soundstage, and better imaging.

Home: Arcam DV78 or (X-fi ASIO bit-perfect -> KECES 131 DAC) -> WooAudio 3 OTL Tube Amp (2x Amperex 7308PQ's & Tung-Sol 5998) -> Sennheiser HD650 / Beyerdynamic DT880 (250Ω)
Mobile: iPhone 3g -> IE8 (w/ sony tips) / NuForce Ne-7m (w/ sony tips) / ER-6i

Feedback: http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f12/sk...

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#6
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6/30/09 at 6:15pm
  • Joined: October 2008
  • Location: Edinburgh
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Aniki View Post
Hi, I am an owner of both Westone UM3X and Nuforce NE-7M. Have been using them to listen to classical music almost 95% of the time and to my surprise, I am actually preferring the Nuforce over UM3X.

I could not answer why is that so as I know UM3X should be a lot better than NE-7M not to mention that the price difference is huge as well. NE-7M seems to pull and drawn me more into my classical music even though I know that should not be the case at least based on the reviews I read from this forum.

So could it be because of the sound signature?(Sorry noob here) Now I am actually looking for IEMs that can suppress NE-7M even more yet have the same sound signature as NE-7M if thats why I am more drawn to the music when using NE-7M than UM3X.

Your views? Thanks.

given my experience with the um3x it could be the source you are driving them with that just doesnt go well with them
Head-Fi Feedback Twitter CX 300 EP-630 SE210 SE530 E3 SE110 C751 Custom 1 Custom 2 MDR-EX500LP Triple.Fi 10 IE7 Custom 3 ER-4P C-Jays IE8 Pop SHE9850 UM3X PL-50 Jazz RE-0 V-Jays iM-590 C710 RE-252 M2 M6 M9 M11 R1 UM2 325is Classical  Super.Fi 3 FX500 FX300 HJE900 CK10 R03 HD600 Super.Fi 4 PS320 M1...
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#7
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6/30/09 at 8:38pm
  • Joined: June 2001
  • Location: Malaysia.
  • Post Count: 867
After a while listening to UM3Xs, several days ago, I seriously listened to NE-7Ms with D10. To my ears, NE-7Ms sounded differently or peaky around 7-10 kHz. It do sound good with classical, where the strings sounded more clearly, but little bit unbalanced and the head/soundstage was less lively/3D.

So, I think you like the mid/treble centric or Senn's type sound signature, IEMs/headphones, example, full sized headphones Senn 595 or Senn IE8, which I listened briefly before. Based on others, IE7 should be good too.


Thank you.

Mohammad Bahathir Hashim

Team Phonak Audéo PFE, Team Westone, NWZ-X1000 owner's group
Reference/Main RIG : Lenovo Thinkpad T61-USB-> iBasso D10 -DAC-AMP-> Unique Melody Mage
Portable : Sony Walkman NWZ-X1060F -> Unique Melody MageNuforce NE-7M, Phonak Audéo PFE 112V1, Westone UM3XNuforce Icon...

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#8
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7/3/09 at 12:03pm
  • Joined: June 2009
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How is the bass on the IE8's?
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#9
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7/3/09 at 1:49pm
  • Joined: March 2008
  • Location: Pasadena, California
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Quote:
Originally Posted by marcusicp View Post
How is the bass on the IE8's?
Once burned in, I would describe the bass as full, resonant, quite detailed, and with a pleasing amount of impact. Moreover, it is adjustable via a small screw on the back of each iem (although the vast majority of head-fiers prefer it on the minimum setting).

Straight out of the box, the bass is pretty bloated, even at the minimum setting (although within a few hours, it calms down some and becomes noticeably more detailed than the bass of the NE-7m's for example). As burn in continues, bass recedes substantially (to the extent that I was missing it), and then it blossoms again, as do the trebles, which start out fairly recessed.

I'm really loving my IE8's as they currently sound, and my understanding from HPA and others is that they should continue to subtly improve all the way up to 500 hours of use.

Disclaimer - finding the right tips will be really important. My take is that foamies swallow some of the trebles in what is already a somewhat warm and bassy IEM, and should be avoided. The default single flange silicones aren't bad if you get an adequate seal, but the sony hybrid silicones, available on amazon for < $10 are a major improvement. You should be able to find a link in the IE8 appreciation thread.

Home: Arcam DV78 or (X-fi ASIO bit-perfect -> KECES 131 DAC) -> WooAudio 3 OTL Tube Amp (2x Amperex 7308PQ's & Tung-Sol 5998) -> Sennheiser HD650 / Beyerdynamic DT880 (250Ω)
Mobile: iPhone 3g -> IE8 (w/ sony tips) / NuForce Ne-7m (w/ sony tips) / ER-6i

Feedback: http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f12/sk...

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#10
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7/3/09 at 2:10pm
  • Joined: December 2008
  • Location: Orange County, CA
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bakhtiar View Post
After a while listening to UM3Xs, several days ago, I seriously listened to NE-7Ms with D10. To my ears, NE-7Ms sounded differently or peaky around 7-10 kHz. It do sound good with classical, where the strings sounded more clearly, but little bit unbalanced and the head/soundstage was less lively/3D.
Strings sounded clearer on the NE-7 than UM3X

Quote:
Originally Posted by marcusicp View Post
How is the bass on the IE8's?
The bass of the NE-7 vs. the IE8: NE-7 more low note weight, but the IE8 is warmer and a good deal more detailed.

Headphones: EM3 Pro * SM3 (custom sleeves) * Tesla T1 * RE252 * CK90Pro (modded) * HDR-SA5000 * LCD-2 pre-order
Sources: 2 x DIY iPod 5.5g 240GB/80GB * Sansa Fuze * iPhone 3g * Rocoo * USB-DAC-Cable (modded) * HUD-MX1 * AMP3 * Studio * S:flo2
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#11
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7/3/09 at 2:47pm
  • Joined: June 2001
  • Location: Malaysia.
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Yes, strings instruments such as violin, do sound clearer, but, that's it. just clearer (not as details as with UM3Xs) with NE-7Ms. But, others such as acoustic guitar, viola, cello, and overall balance and soundstage, no match with UM3Xs

Mohammad Bahathir Hashim

Team Phonak Audéo PFE, Team Westone, NWZ-X1000 owner's group
Reference/Main RIG : Lenovo Thinkpad T61-USB-> iBasso D10 -DAC-AMP-> Unique Melody Mage
Portable : Sony Walkman NWZ-X1060F -> Unique Melody MageNuforce NE-7M, Phonak Audéo PFE 112V1, Westone UM3XNuforce Icon...

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#12
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7/3/09 at 4:07pm
  • Joined: October 2007
  • Location: Chicago, IL
  • Post Count: 119
I prefer my NE-7's over my SE530's when i'm using my iphone, but i'll still take my 530's over the 7's when using my Walkman or iAudio X5
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#13
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7/3/09 at 4:10pm
  • Joined: March 2009
  • Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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Why do people question their own taste?

 Sony 5 Disc Changer --> CA DacMagic --> Gilmore Lite w/ DPS --> HD650                                                                                                      

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#14
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7/3/09 at 4:50pm
  • Joined: May 2008
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Because it's kind of shocking when you prefer something that costs $50 over something that costs $400.
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#15
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7/3/09 at 4:52pm
  • Joined: March 2009
  • Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Scott549 View Post
Because it's kind of shocking when you prefer something that costs $50 over something that costs $400.
A bit. Isn't there an article out there showing that some people prefer the "crispy" sound of low bitrate mp3s to lossless files? Still gotta say, whatever floats your boat.

 Sony 5 Disc Changer --> CA DacMagic --> Gilmore Lite w/ DPS --> HD650                                                                                                      

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