Heir Audio 3.Ai Impressions/Comparisons/Review Thread - Page 9

If anyone is interested in buying a 3.Ai, I have one to sell before I leave the states on Sunday. I will let it go for $300 shipped even though I *just* got them yesterday and paid more than that after shipping. I am just in the mood for something a bit warmer! Let me know ASAP if you are interested. Also have some Pro 900s that I would love to offload as well for the same reason (less than 2 weeks old).
 

Ooooh I see it. How about the heirs being used on stage?

Got these last week and have been listening to them for about a week. I can't really describe sound but I liked the Aurisonics better but these are pretty good too. They are really comfortable and the reason I like them more than the Aurisonics. I've had the IE80's before and to me these are more fun. The IE80's sounded dull in comparison. I'm now wondering if it would have been better to spring for the 4.ai. I'm having second thoughts :P

  You would say these are better overall than the ie80?  My two choices are the ie80 and the heir 3ai now.  If anyone can give some input that would be great.  

Ummm for me the 3.ai are better but that may not be the case for everyone. The IE80 had a lot of bass and it made everything else sound bad to me.

About to pull the trigger on these 3.Ai after finally selling my IE80 due to fit issues. I'm a little torn between the 4.Ai and 3.Ai though. I already have a pair of analytical IEMs with my ER-4, so would it be better to grab the 3Ai or 4Ai as a companion/compliment?

Quote:

Originally Posted by anoxy 

About to pull the trigger on these 3.Ai after finally selling my IE80 due to fit issues. I'm a little torn between the 4.Ai and 3.Ai though. I already have a pair of analytical IEMs with my ER-4, so would it be better to grab the 3Ai or 4Ai as a companion/compliment?

I know, it's me again about the Ety ER-4S vs. 4.Ai vs. 3.Ai...

As I have said before, doing an side by side comparison of the Ety's, 3.Ai and 4.Ai, to me, I did not enjoy the 3.Ai's. The highs were too harsh and sibilant. I am pretty sure why other Ety owners have expressed the same opinion. The Ety's are all about the highs. Whether they are exaggerated or not, once you are used to the Ety sound or you bought the Ety's because you loved all the highs in lieu of bass, then it makes sense that your preferences are not compatible with the 3.Ai's.

Again, I think it's the "Ety factor" that may skew Ety owner's impressions of other IEM's. When you hear something that has less high end and not as clear, you feel like you're missing something relative to the Ety's. Whether that's true to the actual sound or exaggerated, that's the perception.

So, I think for most Ety owners, the 4.Ai is the only choice. It's actually a good choice since the 4.Ai's have tons of bass compared to the Ety's.

I auditioned the 3.Ai and 4.Ai's twice specifically to compare them to my Ety ER-4S and Stax. The second time, I wanted to listen to the 3.Ai's more just to confirm how I felt about them the first time. Sure enough, I couldn't listen to the 3.Ai...

Sorry Heir Audio, "It's not you, it's me." (But at least I am telling people to buy the more expensive IEM's!)

That's wonderful information, thanks for passing it on. However, it seems like you speak of choosing the 4.Ai as a replacement for the Etys? I enjoyed the sound of the IE80 and only sold them because they didn't fit correctly. So I'm really just looking for something to fill the void that the Etys lack (or weren't made for)--particularly in un-amped bass response and an overall fun signature. 

Based on that, would you still say the 4.Ai is the choice for me? Maybe I should just sell my Etys and get the 4.Ai as my only IEM?

I mean, now that I'm moving into that price range, could the PFE 232 be a better choice?

EDIT: Screw it, I just impulse ordered the 4.Ai :) Let's hope these finally seal the deal for me in the IEM department. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by anoxy 

That's wonderful information, thanks for passing it on. However, it seems like you speak of choosing the 4.Ai as a replacement for the Etys? I enjoyed the sound of the IE80 and only sold them because they didn't fit correctly. So I'm really just looking for something to fill the void that the Etys lack (or weren't made for)--particularly in un-amped bass response and an overall fun signature. 

 

Based on that, would you still say the 4.Ai is the choice for me? Maybe I should just sell my Etys and get the 4.Ai as my only IEM?

I mean, now that I'm moving into that price range, could the PFE 232 be a better choice?

That's a tough call.

The main reason I wrote that info about the 3.Ai's is just to warn you that you MIGHT find the 3.Ai's to be unlistenable. (That's a bit too strong, but after spending the money, it would be a bummer to not like them.)

It depends what you're looking for. After a relatively short time with the 4.Ai's, I still liked the sound of the highs on the Ety's better. But from other reviews people talk about how great the highs are on the 4.Ai's. So if you are looking for an IEM with more bass and easier to drive, then the 4A.i seems like a good complement to the Ety's. The Ety's, I think, are still better for "bass light" music or to reveal tons of detail in a recording.

Once you get them, you can decide whether to sell your Ety's. You were planning on keeping them anyway, for now.

man these heirs are looking better by the day

Quote:

Originally Posted by thegrobe 


I have had my 4.Ai's for less than a week and they are SOUNDING better by the day, as they are allowing me to re-discover my music collection in a while new light. Get 'em!

haha, just dropped a grand on a cd player. not sure ill be getting these too soon :P

wonder if they sell them for cheaper in china tho? going there next month

Quote:

Originally Posted by ss2625 

 

haha, just dropped a grand on a cd player. not sure ill be getting these too soon :P

wonder if they sell them for cheaper in china tho? going there next month

       No, Heir Audio prices are the same world wide.

Quote:

Originally Posted by FullCircle 

 

       No, Heir Audio prices are the same world wide.

sad for me, good for everyone else i guess :P