[atty101]

Do you feel the SM3's benefit from an amp. I'm using an iPhone 4S as a source and am considering the purchase of a decent amp. How do you fellows feel about amping these things?

 

[calipilot227]

Quote:

Do you feel the SM3's benefit from an amp. I'm using an iPhone 4S as a source and am considering the purchase of a decent amp. How do you fellows feel about amping these things?

In my experience, they sound just fine out of the iPhone 4 (and 4S, I presume) and do not benefit much from an amp, or at least not enough for me to justify carrying around an amp in my pocket. I used them with the PA2V2, Headroom Total Bithead, and briefly demoed a Fiio E11.
 

 

[average_joe]

The SM3 does not benefit much from an amp, but from a better source chain it will.  The 4S headphone out and line out are fairly close in performance, so an amp won't net much change.

 

[dweaver]

OK my SM3 shells are basically rubble. So I have investigated sending them back to Earsonics but at almost $200 to get them reshelled (price includes all the over-inflated shipping charges to France) for a shell that appears to be hardly better than to original from some accounts in regards to durability. I am considering sending these to Fisher to be made into customs, have many had much luck with this process in regards to the SM3? When I started to look into this I contacted Unique Melody and they suggested I add another driver as this would mean a better quality cross over be put in and that straight reshelled of the SMm3 were not that successful. Is this true or just a saleperson trying to talk into an upgrade?

 

[atty101]

Quote:

The SM3 does not benefit much from an amp, but from a better source chain it will.  The 4S headphone out and line out are fairly close in performance, so an amp won't net much change.

Well I'd sure love to get the most out of these things. Miraculously I happen to have around $400 disposable. I'd like to use it to improve my portable audio situation. I was leaning towards a TTVJ slim and a decent LOD for my iPhone/SM3 setup. You think I'd be better off using that money for a better source? Any and all advice is appreciated. 

 

[average_joe]

 
Quote:

OK my SM3 shells are basically rubble. So I have investigated sending them back to Earsonics but at almost $200 to get them reshelled (price includes all the over-inflated shipping charges to France) for a shell that appears to be hardly better than to original from some accounts in regards to durability. I am considering sending these to Fisher to be made into customs, have many had much luck with this process in regards to the SM3? When I started to look into this I contacted Unique Melody and they suggested I add another driver as this would mean a better quality cross over be put in and that straight reshelled of the SMm3 were not that successful. Is this true or just a saleperson trying to talk into an upgrade?

Is the Earsonics reshell in acrylic, or another plastic universal shell?  I am not sure what to tell you about the extra driver; would it be a treble driver, and do you think it is necessary?  What is the price difference between UM and Fisher?
 
Quote:

Well I'd sure love to get the most out of these things. Miraculously I happen to have around $400 disposable. I'd like to use it to improve my portable audio situation. I was leaning towards a TTVJ slim and a decent LOD for my iPhone/SM3 setup. You think I'd be better off using that money for a better source? Any and all advice is appreciated. 

I like the HiFiMan players, but I am not too sure how the 601 pairs with the SM3 (I might has posted about it long ago, but I can't recall now).  I know the 601 paired quite well with the EM3 Pro.  You would get much better performance from the 601 than an iPhone to an amp IMO.  On the other hand, if you can sell your SM3, take your money and then some and get the EM4 (or buy nothing and save), I think that would be a great option.  The EM4 out of my iPhone sounds better than the SM3 out of my best source!
 
Here is an excerpt from my upcoming EM4 review comparing with the SM3:
 
 

[size=11.0pt]Saying the EM4 is an upgrade to the SM3 is an understatement as the EM4 is more dynamic, punchy, clear, and has a larger sound signature.  While the mid-focus of the presentation is retained and they are both liquid, the treble is significantly increased as well as the amount of bass.  The SM3 sounds fairly dull and lacking life compared with the EM4, not to mention somewhat veiled and on the dark side.  The SM3 does nothing better than the EM4, and it really isn't close.[/size]

 
 
But, if you want to stick with the SM3, getting a better DAC will work wonders.  The S:flo2 isn't all that bad except the UI.

 

[Heret1c]

Quote:

 
 
 
Here is an excerpt from my upcoming EM4 review comparing with the SM3:
 
Quote:

[size=11pt]Saying the EM4 is an upgrade to the SM3 is an understatement as the EM4 is more dynamic, punchy, clear, and has a larger sound signature.  While the mid-focus of the presentation is retained and they are both liquid, the treble is significantly increased as well as the amount of bass.  The SM3 sounds fairly dull and lacking life compared with the EM4, not to mention somewhat veiled and on the dark side.  The SM3 does nothing better than the EM4, and it really isn't close.[/size]

 
 
 

OOOOOH!!!

 

 

[dweaver]

I am not sure which driver they add for the SM3 I suspect it would be an extra high speaker or that would be my preference. Price wise it's around $350 for UM and $120 for Fisher.  I would prefer better treble but at the same time the higher isolation may give me the clarity I am looking for. I believe both use acrylic for their shells.
 
I am currently using a pair of ACS custom tips with a pair of Etymotic HF3 and find them comfortable and have the clarity I am looking for. My reason to reshell the SM3 is really about trying to salvage some of the $400 I paid for them but I was never as enamored with their sound as I would have liked. So I sometimes wonder if I should just write them off.

 

[average_joe]

I am not sure you are going to get the clarity you want from the SM3, even with another driver as the sound signature is on the thicker side.  However, a upper midrange bump may help, but it will be unknown until you hear it, and I am sure they won't give you a money back guarantee!  Unfortunately it seems like writing them off may be the best way to go.

 

[dweaver]

I'm leaning that way Joe. I think I may save my money up and go ES5 or another custom versus any reshell. In the meantime I am quite happy with my Ety's and the ACS tip.

Do you think I would be out of line trying to sell the SM3 for around $100 with clear communication that they need to be reshelled by either Earsonics or a 3rd party custom shell company?

 

[average_joe]

If you are happy with the Ety, why are you looking for something else?  And, no, that does not seem out of line.

 

[dweaver]

LOL that's been crossing my mind as well Joe. The fact is I do miss more bass occasionally but the mids and treble are so very right and I love the Ety clarity. So I may buy a full custom like the ES5 at some point to hopefully address the bass issue (I also am thinking if trying the audio fly AF78 but will wait for some reviews of that one).

But for now I am just going to enjoy my Ety's and use a couple of other bass heavy IEM's I have on hand when the need for bass comes upon me.

 

[atty101]

I went ahead and pulled the trigger on a TTVJ slim. I plan on pairing it with my iPhone 4S and my SM3's. But I also have a Beyerdynamic DT 1350 and a Sennheiser HD25-1 ii so even if I get no appreciable sound q increase with my SM3's I figure I won't have wasted my money on the Slim since I'll still be able to drive my 2 on ears better.
 
Thanks again for your help joe.

 

[average_joe]

 
Quote:

LOL that's been crossing my mind as well Joe. The fact is I do miss more bass occasionally but the mids and treble are so very right and I love the Ety clarity. So I may buy a full custom like the ES5 at some point to hopefully address the bass issue (I also am thinking if trying the audio fly AF78 but will wait for some reviews of that one).
But for now I am just going to enjoy my Ety's and use a couple of other bass heavy IEM's I have on hand when the need for bass comes upon me.

That is a good idea.  And the AF78 does have a nice, full sound from my short listen.
 
Quote:

I went ahead and pulled the trigger on a TTVJ slim. I plan on pairing it with my iPhone 4S and my SM3's. But I also have a Beyerdynamic DT 1350 and a Sennheiser HD25-1 ii so even if I get no appreciable sound q increase with my SM3's I figure I won't have wasted my money on the Slim since I'll still be able to drive my 2 on ears better.
 
Thanks again for your help joe.

As long as you have a use for it.  Let us know what differences you hear comparing the sound from the amp and from the HPO with the SM3.  Oh, and there is the i.Fuzen HP-1 iPhone case that I reviewed that is a nice amp for the iPhone 4/4S

 

[Richard-iu]

The best I heard from SM3 V2 is using Twag V2 + TX100 tips. Sound close to JH13.