Heir Audio 3.Ai Impressions/Comparisons/Review Thread - Page 8

Hi! I've been lurking for a while but decided to finally make an account ha. I've been looking for a new IEM since the my Aurisonics ASG-1's hurt my ears after about 2 hours. So I'm gonna sell my asg's and find something new! I've been looking through the 3.Ai thread for a while but I still need some help! I love the sound of the aurisonics but I can't deal with the pain. Do you guys think the 3.ai would have a better fit and won't cause pain? How does the sound of 3.ai compare to the aurisonics? I have the 1.2 revision. Thanks!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Randomthoughtz 

Hi! I've been lurking for a while but decided to finally make an account ha. I've been looking for a new IEM since the my Aurisonics ASG-1's hurt my ears after about 2 hours. So I'm gonna sell my asg's and find something new! I've been looking through the 3.Ai thread for a while but I still need some help! I love the sound of the aurisonics but I can't deal with the pain. Do you guys think the 3.ai would have a better fit and won't cause pain? How does the sound of 3.ai compare to the aurisonics? I have the 1.2 revision. Thanks!

The 3.Ai has a more recessed midrange, with sweeter vocals and clarity, and much better highs (it's V-shaped).  The bass on the 1.2 has a larger body and (perceived) depth over the 3.Ai that excels in impact and tightness over the 1.2.  That's basically it in a nutshell.  If you want a sound similar to the 1.2, may I suggest the Klipsche Image X10?  The graphs look like what the 1.2 would be like ;) (this is judging off of a graph though; I haven't heard them)

Thanks for the replies! But I'm glad to hear about the fit. I want something that I can wear while studying/doing homework. I think I'll just go ahead and pick up the 3.ai. I've been reading that they do bass/vocals well so I think they would be good for me. I want another universal custom so my choices are limited :P Thanks for the suggestions though! :)

I'm on the world tour #2 in Asia, I believe and have been listening to these for two days straight. Want to listen more, but have work to do, and sleep to make up. 

Got the Magnus cable on loan, too. Very very nice so far. Had another headfier, Anakchan listen to it today and he said some encouraging words which were: reminds me of the eQ5/eQ7, and by golly, I think he is right. There is a bit more speed in the bass and slightly more 3D in the image, but overall, for people who love the sound of the eQ5/7 and even the CK10, but who want faster, harder hitting mid-high bass, the 3.Ai is killer.

You get heaps of ear pieces with this. That is a big plus.

Build quality isn't as good as, say, the FitEar 334, but then again Mr. Suyama prides himself in making the best quality built earphones in the world. It will be years before anyone matches it. That said, the 3.Ai is much easier to wear: smaller, and finding perfect fit isn't as important. Even sitting deep, the same basic detail in soundstage comes to the ear. The 334 is very very very hard to fit perfectly, which turned me off at first. However, once found, sound is astonishing.

I've got three weeks to finish a review, so I'll be taking part in this thread a bit more. 

Overall, excited.

Quote:

Originally Posted by shigzeo  faster, harder hitting mid-high bass

Quite hard hitting, I should say... well, I didn't personally get along with the 3.Ai; looks like you find it more appetizing.

I am a likes-anything sort of bloke, as long as it isn't a nasty sound. So far, I find the 3.Ai very pleasing, though maybe not perfect for my tastes. I really am still the same old CK10/eQ5 person I ever was.

Quote:

Originally Posted by shigzeo 

I am a likes-anything sort of bloke, as long as it isn't a nasty sound. So far, I find the 3.Ai very pleasing, though maybe not perfect for my tastes. I really am still the same old CK10/eQ5 person I ever was.

I dunno, I guess I'm the odd one out --- the 3.Ai sounded okay for the first 10 minutes or so that I tried it, but I didn't want to keep listening to it. I kept reaching either for my 4.A or the 4.Ai. I think the 3.Ai is quite technically proficient, but I ended up enjoying the tonal balance of the TF10 and SE535LTD-J more when I compared them to the 3.Ai. The 3.Ai beats them in terms of detail retrieval, extension, and stuff, but I never quite enjoyed it as much. I think I'm prematurely getting old --- even my FI-BA-SS is too exciting for me.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomscy2000 

 

I dunno, I guess I'm the odd one out --- the 3.Ai sounded okay for the first 10 minutes or so that I tried it, but I didn't want to keep listening to it. I kept reaching either for my 4.A or the 4.Ai. I think the 3.Ai is quite technically proficient, but I ended up enjoying the tonal balance of the TF10 and SE535LTD-J more when I compared them to the 3.Ai. The 3.Ai beats them in terms of detail retrieval, extension, and stuff, but I never quite enjoyed it as much. I think I'm prematurely getting old --- even my FI-BA-SS is too exciting for me.

Might be a preference thing.  

Quote:

Originally Posted by tinyman392   Might be a preference thing.  

Definitely a preference thing!

Hi hi IE80 or 3.Ai??

I can get the IE80 at around 70usd cheaper in my country~

I was wondering-- for any of you who have heard/own both the 3.Ai and the 4.Ai, how close to the 4.Ai's balanced signature will the 3.Ai get to with some attenuation of the bass frequencies? Another way of as king the question is, Just how "fun" is the 3.Ai, and can it be brought close to balanced with a little tweaking?

My current portable rig (which is my main rig) is the Thinksound TS02 amplified by a FiiO E17 with my 32G iPhone 4s. I really love the Thinksound, but I'm interested in finding something with more accuracy and extension in the low end and more clarity across the board. The 3.Ai seems like a pretty worthwhile investment if it plays nicely with the FiiO's bass EQ, which seem to work like a dream with everything else I've thrown at it.

Any chance people can throw out some more comparisons between these and the TF10? I sold my TF10's off a little while back, because they were a bit chunky and I hated the cable, but these are absolutely gorgeous. I'm likely picking up a pair of 4.Ai for my dad, but I'm debating if I want a pair of 3.Ai for myself! lol.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mandala 

I was wondering-- for any of you who have heard/own both the 3.Ai and the 4.Ai, how close to the 4.Ai's balanced signature will the 3.Ai get to with some attenuation of the bass frequencies? Another way of as king the question is, Just how "fun" is the 3.Ai, and can it be brought close to balanced with a little tweaking?

My current portable rig (which is my main rig) is the Thinksound TS02 amplified by a FiiO E17 with my 32G iPhone 4s. I really love the Thinksound, but I'm interested in finding something with more accuracy and extension in the low end and more clarity across the board. The 3.Ai seems like a pretty worthwhile investment if it plays nicely with the FiiO's bass EQ, which seem to work like a dream with everything else I've thrown at it.

  Interestingly enough, I have never tried to EQ the bass out of the 3.Ai, but I did add bass in the 4..Ai and found that it does "deliver."

I use a Cowon J3, and if you are familiar with it you will know that it is a very versatile DAP. Also, when an Amp is used, the 4.Ai delivers at new realms as well.

Wizard

I don't know if this has been already answered but how do these compare to the Westone 3 and UM3X? Also, would these be alright to use on stage?