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Best IEM for heavy metal, alternative, and punk rock?

post #1 of 7
12/29/12 at 10:34pm
Thread Starter 

My budget is 400, but I can push it a bit. I'm looking for a warm and "creamy" sound signature. I want mids to be very present, no recession whatsoever. As for the treble, I want a lot of impact in snare drums, but thats pretty much the only thing I want in the treble. Although I said I'm looking for a warm and "creamy" sound signature, I don't want an IEM with forward mids and toned down treble (like the SE535 and HD650) because it sounds kind of blurred to me. I don't want something overly smooth. And of course, it needs to be good for heavy metal, alternative, and punk rock (heavy metal is my priority since it's what I mostly listen to). From what I've read, the UE900 might be a good choice for me, what do you guys think?

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post #2 of 7
12/29/12 at 10:52pm

Well its hard to think of a warm IEM with forward creamy mids that also have bright crisp highs.  I use the SM3 V2 and while they have exactly what your looking for in the mids I don't know if the highs are enough.  They do have better highs that are more crisp than the SE535 and the HD650, to me the highs are perfect with just the right amount of sparkle.  

 

The TDK BA200 is another warm mid-centric IEM and the SM3 has brighter highs than those do as well.  The SM3 also has an amazing soundstage with great 3D imaging and some of the best instrument separation I've heard.

 

The SM3 V2 would be my recommendation and if you want more from the treble a lot of people take out the filters and they say it really opens them up and you still have fantastic mids so that's an option as well.

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post #3 of 7
12/29/12 at 11:15pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Techno Kid View Post

Well its hard to think of a warm IEM with forward creamy mids that also have bright crisp highs.  I use the SM3 V2 and while they have exactly what your looking for in the mids I don't know if the highs are enough.  They do have better highs that are more crisp than the SE535 and the HD650, to me the highs are perfect with just the right amount of sparkle.  

 

The TDK BA200 is another warm mid-centric IEM and the SM3 has brighter highs than those do as well.  The SM3 also has an amazing soundstage with great 3D imaging and some of the best instrument separation I've heard.

 

The SM3 V2 would be my recommendation and if you want more from the treble a lot of people take out the filters and they say it really opens them up and you still have fantastic mids so that's an option as well.

Yeah, I guess I'm asking for a bit to much. The highs don't need to be very prominent, I just don't want them to be toned down to the point where it sounds dark, I tend to dislike dark IEMs. Do you think the SM3 is the best choice for a mid-centric IEM that doesn't sound dark?

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post #4 of 7
12/29/12 at 11:26pm

I love them more than any other IEM I've heard and I've been through around 50 this past year.  Mid-centric is what I like also and the SM3 is amazing and they don't sound dark to me at all, warm but not dark.

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post #5 of 7
12/29/12 at 11:27pm

The mids are silky smooth with great detail and like I said the 3D imaging is fantastic along with the separation.

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post #6 of 7
12/29/12 at 11:46pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Techno Kid View Post

I love them more than any other IEM I've heard and I've been through around 50 this past year.  Mid-centric is what I like also and the SM3 is amazing and they don't sound dark to me at all, warm but not dark.

I researched a bit and they seem perfect for me, thanks :)

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post #7 of 7
12/30/12 at 12:05am

No problem and I think you'll really like them since you like a mid-centric signature.

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