EarSonics SM3 Appreciation, Discussion, & Review Thread - Technically Best Universal? (see first... - Page 6  

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Originally Posted by average_joe I agree there with some brain burn in, but not that your brain will completely change the sound signature of an IEM (from overly warm and source dependent to amazingly balanced). And how much brain burn in could someone's brain have if they listened for 5-10 minutes a week ago and again yesterday, as happened with my coworker?

Well, if he only listened for 5-10 minutes a week ago (a couple of tracks?) I'm not sure he could be that precise about how they sounded a week later. Did you say you'd burned them in for 200 hours before he listened again? There aren't even 200 hours in a week, not in my week anyway

I know you've been a big advocate of long burn-in times (700 hours+ for the dynamic-driver IE8?) but I still don't believe BA's need hundreds of hours to reach their final sound signature, mainly because I've never experienced a BA phone having one sound on the first day, and then a totally different sound signature a week later, and I've had quite a few BA's.

Also, one of your posts pulled up quotes about the EM3 Pro. Are they the customs version that cost 460 Euros more than the SM3? Does that mean your agreement with those reviews makes buying the customs version virtually pointless if you're hearing exactly the same thing with the universal model? I always thought customs were supposed to be a pretty big step up from universals, but your impressions suggest otherwise.

Oh well, I'm looking forward to james and eric's impressions as usual
 

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Originally Posted by soozieq 

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Originally Posted by GuyDebord The Em3pro's are a different animal, starting from the drivers and crossover points, the SM3's are 3 way-3 drivers and the EM3pros are 2 way-3-drivers. Here are the specs of the two side by side: SM3: Sensibilité: 122 dB/mW Réponse en fréquences: 20 Hz -18 kHz Impédance: 17 ohms Driver: 3 drivers (3 way crossover) EM3pro Sensitivity: 124 dB/mW Frequency response : 20 Hz -18 kHz Impédance: 23 ohms Driver: triple balanced armature drivers (dual bass, 1 high), 2 way crossover.

Thanks GuyDebord for the info.

The specs look pretty different to my untrained 'spec' eye

But from what I've read of joe's review, he hears the SM3 the same way as others hear the EM3 pro. There's a lot of money to be saved if that's the case.

I'm pretty sure that he meant that they have the exact same sound signature and sound characteristics, with only variations in magnitude, ie the EM3-pro soundstage is a bit more 3D, or they have more details, but always with the same sound signature (liquid, etc.). My SM2 can already be described in the same way GuyDebord described his EM3-pro, but they're certainly not at the same level of performance.

Earsonics IEMs tend to all share the same sound signature with only minor differences, but they have, however, major performances differences. The SM3 has been described as an SM2 with every single aspect of the sound at the very least least a bit better if not much better. But they'll still be liquid, warm, etc.

Hey average_Joe, what kind of tips on SM3 give you the best sound? or does it not depend on the type of tips used?

^^ earphones of any type will change their sound depending on what tips are supplied. Dynamic earphones move more air and therefore may have more change depending on how much earphone tips block the sound tubes. The SM3 is no different, but on a different scale, more laid back. I need to purchase a few more tips, but I keep going back to the Comply if only for comfort. 

@shigzeo, what others tips you have tried with SM3?

Joe - Sure, send some to me - let's deal!

Can I ask if the SM3's would suit someone with narrow(ish) ear canals? I prefer to have a somewhat deeper fit too, so that the IEMs stay put without me having to loop the cable back over my ear (which I really dislike) I'm just slightly concerned that a multi-driver design is going to heavier and more bulky than would suit me.

Their narrow sound tube allows for very small foams (which can compress more tightly than any silicon flange) for narrow canals. I've been told that I have narrow canals and these fit fine. I use the smallest tips from many companies, but with foam pieces, I can size up one or trim down for excellent fit. 

I found the Shure grey flanges to work very well with the SM3.

Thanks shigzeo. I wasn't aware of Earsonics until I saw the enthusiastic response here, and as I'm in the UK buying from France is easy. That makes them an interesting choice.

Well, I was lucky enough to find them last year and enjoyed the SM2. Call me an addict, but I have the SM3 and EM3Pro now... Their house sound, while not exciting, is great. And since last year, they have tweaked their monitors to run very well from pretty much any reasonably well-implemented SoC's and HPO. My old iPods and Cowons aren't very good with the ES earphones, but my Sony A828, iPod touch 2G, Sansa Fuze V2 and Clip V2 all work very well with the SM3 and EM3Pro - an amp improves a few things (if the amp is worth its weight in salt), but not all amps can really drive earphones well. 

I am fully happy with my iPod touch 2G and/or a Clip and that is it!