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Heir Audio 3.Ai Impressions/Comparisons/Review Thread - Page 2

post #16 of 309
8/10/12 at 8:42am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cotnijoe View Post

Monster Turbine Pro Gold:

I'll admit i did this more just for the kicks than really seriously sitting down to listen to the two since the 3.Ai is pretty much the obvious choice to go with. That said, i also didnt spend as much time comparing the two as i did for others. Originally i wanted to test the copper but they werent available to me so here's a short comparison of Turbine Pro Gold and 3.Ai.

 

The Gold...is very colored. Bass is overwhelming, gets quite muddy, and affects the mids at times as well. It is the bassist of the IEMs i tried and the only one that exceeds the bass quantity of the 3.Ai. Comparing the two, it becomes quite obvious that the Gold has what many would refer to the "cavernous" soundstage. Although the 3.Ai has a large bass quantity, I think many people will be pleasantly surprised at spacious Heir Audio has been able to make the 3.Ai soundstage considering the amount of bass it has.

 

Detail and soundstage goes to the 3.Ai. The Gold has too much focus on bass that, again, it affects the clarity of the IEM. Although the bass of the 3.Ai is big, it remains very clean and does not distort the sound. The 3.Ai does not have the largest soundstage but it does well in a 3D sense and gets the job done.

 

What surprised me, however, was that of all the IEMs i tried for comparison, the Gold was the closest thing to the 3.Ai in terms of signature, and my guess would be that the Copper would be even closer. The Gold was like a 3.Ai with even more elevated bass and recessed treble.

 

So in the end, the 3.Ai is similar to the Gold but much more natural and clean sounding. It also gets a significant upgrade in clarity, treble, musicality, amongst man other aspects of the sound. It would be a very nice upgrade for those who like the sound of the MOnster Turbine Pro Gold (and i assume the Turbine Pro Copper as well).

 

Makes me think that the Miles Davis Tributes are probably a good comparison too. I wouldn't mind a better version of the Tributes myself.

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post #17 of 309
8/10/12 at 8:44am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by HeroicPenguin View Post

 

Makes me think that the Miles Davis Tributes are probably a good comparison too. I wouldn't mind a better version of the Tributes myself.

Miles Davis aren't very easy to find in Taiwan...especially ones you can actually try on =\

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post #18 of 309
8/10/12 at 8:47am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cotnijoe View Post

Miles Davis aren't very easy to find in Taiwan...especially ones you can actually try on =\

 

Hmmm true. Just pointing that out, since the Tributes have been at a pretty cheap price point in the US ($150 for refurbs) so some people might have them. Haven't A/Bed them with the Turbines, but I imagine they're similar.

 

Nice comparisons though, especially with the UM3X.

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post #19 of 309
8/10/12 at 9:30am

Nice comparisons, Cotnijoe! Keep up the good work! beerchug.gif

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post #20 of 309
8/10/12 at 9:42am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cotnijoe View Post

 

With the price of the 3.Ai at $299 + shipping and the MSRP of the UM3X at $549.00 or $379,99 on Amazon, I think the 3.Ai really comes close to being another one of those "Giant Slayers." There's no doubt a product like the UM3X is a wonderful product, but the 3.Ai offers something that we do not see very often in larger companies like Westone and Shure.

 

The UM3X has never really been $549. The fixed-cable version has always officially been $379, even if purchasing directly from Westone (see 1st link below). The $549 price tag has always been a marketing gimmick by Westone to make the real MSRP of $379 seem like a relative bargain. The removable-cable version (UM3X-RC) has always officially been $399 (see 2nd link below).

In the USA, the UM3X can easily be purchased for $300 - $325 and the UM3X-RC for $325 - $350 from authorised dealers. With both models you get 10 pairs of eartips (including 3 sets of expensive Comply tips), a carrying case, an earwax removal tool, an 1/8 inch to 1/4-inch adapter and a volume control. You also get a 2-year warranty.

FWIW, the Westone carrying case looks much more practical than the Heir case (see photo).

http://www.westone.com/store/index.php/westone-music-products/universal-monitors/um3x-true-3-way-monitor.html

http://www.westone.com/store/index.php/westone-music-products/universal-monitors/um3x-monitor-with-removable-cable.html

 

1000

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post #21 of 309
8/10/12 at 9:42am

Great impressions!

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post #22 of 309
8/10/12 at 9:46am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by music_4321 View Post

 

The UM3X has never really been $549. The fixed-cable version has always officially been $379, even if purchasing directly from Westone (see 1st link below). The $549 price tag has always been a marketing gimmick by Westone to make the real MSRP of $379 seem like a relative bargain. The removable-cable version (UM3X-RC) has always officially been $399 (see 2nd link below).

In the USA, the UM3X can easily be purchased for $300 - $325 and the UM3X-RC for $325 - $350 from authorised dealers. With both models you get 10 pairs of eartips (including 3 sets of expensive Comply tips), a carrying case, an earwax removal tool, an 1/8 inch to 1/4-inch adapter and a volume control. You also get a 2-year warranty.

FWIW, the Westone carrying case looks much more practical than the Heir case (see photo).

http://www.westone.com/store/index.php/westone-music-products/universal-monitors/um3x-true-3-way-monitor.html

http://www.westone.com/store/index.php/westone-music-products/universal-monitors/um3x-monitor-with-removable-cable.html

 

1000

yea definitely true with the price...lot of companies do that huh...

 

personally, i would prefer having the option to be able to get the Otterbox case. They really are great. The size isnt practical, yes, but then that's when u spend that 5 dollars to get a smaller case...or just use a small jewelry box lying around or something =P

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post #23 of 309
8/10/12 at 10:11am

I picked this up...

700

 

With Pick n Pluck foam... (black liner)... and it works perfectly to hold my Heir 4.A with Clip + and ear cleaning tool... all for $19 total.  The case was $11 or so I believe from Amazon... awesome deal and killer protection.

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post #24 of 309
8/10/12 at 10:25am

^  The 1010 Pelican case is a great case (I have two of them). However, for even better portability, the new-ish smaller $17 Westone "Vault Case" (which ships with the W4R) looks better (haven't trued it myself, though), or for even more portability, my all-time favourite case, the $20 Ultimate Ears metal case (I have two of those).

 

700

700


Edited by music_4321 - 8/10/12 at 10:27am
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post #25 of 309
8/10/12 at 10:26am
Quote:
Originally Posted by music_4321 View Post

^  The 1010 Pelican case is a great case (I have two of them). However, for even better portability, the new-ish $17 Westone "Vault Case" (which ships with the W4R) looks better (haven't trued it myself, though), or for even more portability, my all-time favourite case, the $20 Ultimate Ears metal case (I have two of those).

 

700

700

 

My Vault case is breaking as we speak :p  It has cracks in the hatch that closes it.  

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post #26 of 309
8/10/12 at 10:29am

^  Well, I did say "looks better (haven't tried it myself, though)". The UE case really is as perfect as it gets for true portability AND protection of expensive IEMs.

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post #27 of 309
8/10/12 at 10:40am

Subscribed, and great comparisons!

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post #28 of 309
8/10/12 at 10:57am

I have the UE case too... haven't tried them with anything but the TF10... I'll have to give it a shot.  I do have my Klipsch S4 case that is nice too... removed all the foam and it has space in there for the Klipsch S4 and my Clip + together.. Ultimate Portability!

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post #29 of 309
8/10/12 at 11:40am

to the OP: Can you commnet on the sub-bass performance of these phones? Quantity? By subbass, I mean 20-40 hz performance.

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post #30 of 309
8/10/12 at 11:59am
Quote:
Originally Posted by WayTooCrazy View Post

I have the UE case too... haven't tried them with anything but the TF10... I'll have to give it a shot.  I do have my Klipsch S4 case that is nice too... removed all the foam and it has space in there for the Klipsch S4 and my Clip + together.. Ultimate Portability!

 

The UE case can be a bit small for some IEMs (even my recabled TF10). The Westone case seems to be the perfect size, between that of the UE and the Pelican; it's too bad that apparently it isn't that durable.

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