[Podster]

   
I'm tempted to try the B3 Pro 1 - but let's not forget that each copy may not sound the same, especially with Chinese (erm) 'QC' (cough).  That's the worst thing about posting here, we have no idea if we're even hearing the same SQ on our copies.  I did some Googling and the B3 Pro1 was measured as having significant driver mismatches, I'm hearing similar (but not critical) things on the Easy UES.  There is a reason why this stuff is cheap guys, and this is one of them (the other is inaccurate / fantasy specs, listing mistakes, possible shills hanging out in these threads, sloppy handling etc).

Yes, been a member since '07 and have more than 4500 post so I'm a real shill candidate. You may have read some quality issues with some B3's over the years but for the most part many are fine and I also believe if you are a daily user, I mean you listen to nothing but one iem every day then like everything else in this world it eventually breaks down and that is when you decide whether you got your monies worth and you want to replace it with the same or move on but one thing is for sure if you love something so much you use it to death what does that tell you about that product?
 
Just like a pair of Vandersteen 2CE, you won't find another iem at this level that gives you everything for the price. The Havi B3 Pro1 has earned it's place in the sub $100 iem world and as far as I'm concerned and no matter who says any of these new Chinese iem's are the next great thing they are all far from proving this to me at this point! When all of these new killer iem's (TK12/13, SWIII, DQSM2 and QT5's) have been around and produced for several years I'll consider moving them into the space that the Havi holds but until then they are just the latest greatest for the moment and the Havi is still here and proven.
 
I for sure think you would not be disappointed in the Havi for $60, I mean if you really love listening to fine audio

 

 

[_gl]

 
Yes, been a member since '07 and have more than 4500 post so I'm a real shill candidate.

 
I was not calling you a shill Podster.  I'm talking more generally about these threads, where I have seen a few suspicious posts over the last month or so of listening in.  I base this on having dealt with Chinese sellers on both Ali and Ebay for years - some are very good, but many are super sloppy, and quite a few are outright liars and ruthless when it comes to disputes.
 
My overall impression is that, with good exceptions, these Chinese sellers are not conscientious at best and often dodgy to varying degrees.  I would not be shocked to find a few Chinese shills in these threads.

 

[Saoshyant]

We each have our own favorites among the inexpensive IEMs, an IEM that suited us quite well.  Some of these IEMs are loved by many, others contested, still others are loved by only a few of us.  All that really matters is whether or not you love them, as nobody else's opinion will really affect this.  Even if you're the only one in the world that loves something, which for at least one of cans I'm a fan of it feels like, it doesn't really matter because it's something that brings you joy.  There will always be people that don't have your taste, and that's fine.  But really, this hobby should be about enjoyment, and sometimes we forget that.
 
But seriously, can we get back to the enjoyment?  Otherwise we detract from the goal of this place.

 

[_gl]

 
You may have read some quality issues with some B3's over the years but for the most part many are fine and I also believe if you are a daily user, I mean you listen to nothing but one iem every day then like everything else in this world it eventually breaks down and that is when you decide whether you got your monies worth and you want to replace it with the same or move on but one thing is for sure if you love something so much you use it to death what does that tell you about that product?

 
I wasn't talking about failures, I was talking about sound quality differences.  For example, I believe that accurate driver positioning is crucial to getting a consistent frequency response.  If a manufacturer has some tolerance there, there's a good chance that each copy sounds la little different.  I'm sure there are others parts of IEM design that have the same issue. (EDIT: and then there's variations in the drivers themselves).
 
From what I've seen here, a lot of these IEM makers are small outfits, some only starting out.  eg. there was a post that said Rose was having some quality issues.  If that's the case, we have to be really careful of stuff like this - making things to tight tolerances is difficult, and in general there seems to be a 'good enough 'attitude in China that we're not used to in the West.
 
That's why I say we have no way of knowing how closely each copy actually matches.
 
Even Sennheiser seems to have significant SQ variation.  Sonarworks do a headphone EQ correction plugin - they say that due to sound differences between each copy of the same model cans, they average the correction curves of several copies.  The resulting correction curve is only accurate to -+3dB - that's a pretty significant variation!  If Sennheiser can't produce something more reliable than that, what chance a small China OEM can?

 

[Podster]

   
I was not calling you a shill Podster.  I'm talking more generally about these threads, where I have seen a few suspicious posts over the last month or so of listening in.  I base this on having dealt with Chinese sellers on both Ali and Ebay for years - some are very good, but many are super sloppy, and quite a few are outright liars and ruthless when it comes to disputes.
 
My overall impression is that, with good exceptions, these Chinese sellers are not conscientious at best and often dodgy to varying degrees.  I would not be shocked to find a few Chinese shills in these threads.

Oh I did not think you were aiming that at me _gl, I was just making the statement that where I'm coming from in my response was not from any kind of shill territory

I knew exactly where you were coming from and I too have been disturbed by a seller telling me he did not apply a discount to an item I said I bought only to have to reply to them that I had bought two from what seller I could not remember but it was some time back and not recent so why would he just assume it was his sale and tell me he did not see my order.
 
I Live by a very strong creed that "your example is much more powerful than anything you can ever say"! Reputation is something you earn over time with hard work, dedication and most importantly honesty, to me all these things come together to make one of the strongest statements of yourself ever and that is when you have reached the ultimate goal of INTEGRITY

 
This new (or maybe not) fishing scheme disgust me and if some of these sellers don't get a grip and figure that out they may go by way of the Dodo Bird!

 

[peter123]

Hey thanks,great review as always!
Im considering the comfort factor also,thats why im stuck with E80,i read you review in them also.I have E10 2 years and they are by far the most comfortable iem i have...ymmv offcourse.I wear them under the helmet in my bike so comfort and small casing is a must.I probably go for E80C in August.

From all your experiences if an iem has mic then is most likely to brake the cable in mic section???

Thanks for the kind words

Tbh I've never experienced a cable to brake in the mic section and just rarely have I experienced a cable to brake at all (when it has happened it has almost always been at the jack).

That being said I've got a bit too many IEM's to wear them out but I usually pass them along to my teenagers and they pretty much use them up in 3-6 month lol.

are u referring to the 1 star review?

No not at all. I was referring to the post assuming that the drivers are just "thrown in there" by EE in their multi driver offerings. My experience is the total opposite.

 

[CoiL]

  You have done a ton of mods on budget KZ iem's and mind you every one of those sounds better after your upgrade...

No and there have been not only KZ`s.

...but no KZ to date can even begin to touch the sonic presence of the B3 and I really have to wonder when someone does not think so

Haven`t said anything about KZ vs. B3P1 and haven`t said KZ mods sound better than B3P1 - Your words, not mine. B3P1 is great IEM but didn`t work out for me for several reasons - cable, sound signature, need for amp.
I`m not going to argue here and no need to get defensive. There are many others that don`t find B3P1 sound "best bang etc.". Guess it`s about preference, taste, music, tips, gear amp(no-amp) etc. If B3P1 is " There is no better iem for $60 period. The Havi B3 is the Vandersteen 2CE of the portable world"  for You, then I`m happy for You and others who think so. 
 

 Anytime you think you have found a $60 iem that competes or you even modify something <$60 and think it takes the Havi I'll be glad to asses it for you

I don`t have B3P1 anymore to compare and won`t get it again. Don`t turn this into "war". You may say and think what You want but they are only Your subjective words and opinion to me as mine
are to You. I was just telling about my experience with them. JMHSO with my gear and my preferences, no need to bash it. Won`t comment on it anymore as it may cause further flaming (I`ve already seen it several times between B3P1 "fans" and those who don`t like them so much).
 

 
I'm tempted to try the B3 Pro 1 - but let's not forget that each copy may not sound the same, especially with Chinese (erm) 'QC' (cough).  That's the worst thing about posting here, we have no idea if we're even hearing the same SQ on our copies.  I did some Googling and the B3 Pro1 was measured as having significant driver mismatches, I'm hearing similar (but not critical) things on the Easy UES.  There is a reason why this stuff is cheap guys, and this is one of them (the other is inaccurate / fantasy specs, listing mistakes, possible shills hanging out in these threads, sloppy handling etc).

+1
 
Cheers!

 

 

[Saoshyant]

I'd strongly suggest you never buy a car if fishing schemes bother you.

 

[_gl]

 
Oh I did not think you were aiming that at me _gl,
 
<snip>
  I Live by a very strong creed that "your example is much more powerful than anything you can ever say"! Reputation is something you earn over time with hard work, dedication and most importantly honesty, to me all these things come together to make one of the strongest statements of yourself ever and that is when you have reached the ultimate goal of INTEGRITY

 

 
Amen

.

 

[Podster]

  No and there have been not only KZ`s.
Haven`t said anything about KZ vs. B3P1 and haven`t said KZ mods sound better than B3P1 - Your words, not mine. B3P1 is great IEM but didn`t work out for me for several reasons - cable, sound signature, need for amp.
I`m not going to argue here and no need to get defensive. There are many others that don`t find B3P1 sound "best bang etc.". Guess it`s about preference, taste, music, tips, gear amp(no-amp) etc. If B3P1 is " There is no better iem for $60 period. The Havi B3 is the Vandersteen 2CE of the portable world"  for You, then I`m happy for You and others who think so. 
 
I don`t have B3P1 anymore to compare and won`t get it again. Don`t turn this into "war". You may say and think what You want but they are only Your subjective words and opinion to me as mine
are to You. I was just telling about my experience with them. JMHSO with my gear and my preferences, no need to bash it. Won`t comment on it anymore as it may cause further flaming (I`ve already seen it several times between B3P1 "fans" and those who don`t like them so much).
 
+1
 
Cheers!

 

Not trying to flame anything Coil and you know I admire your skilz but you really seem to dislike the B3 and those who do think it's all that, throwing the FANS thing out there kind of gives away where you are coming from as well with your dislike for the Havi. Nothing more, nothing less. It is all subjective to each listener but a simple I don't care for them works wonders, I mean they are listed as your first impression in your profile and it does state sold, they did not do it for you as you stated they did not have any umph. I actually think they are more like my B&W Nautilus 804's than a 2CE as far as how clean, refined and detailed they are but once again this is just one guys opinion. I'm fine with agreeing to disagree on this one

 

 

[HiFiChris]

RE B3 Pro I:

On the subjective side, the B3 Pro I is not my favourite budget IEM either (I don't feel like the two drivers are 100% coherent, there's a little too much warmth in the upper root for my preference and the upper treble could be slightly more even).
However, objectively regarded, I think it is a killer in-ear rarely found for less than $60. The level of details is pretty darn high for the price. The bass is very fast, arid and superbly controlled. And the soundstage is not only large and 3-dimensional but also relatively precise. If I would write a review about my B3 Pro I, it would be still 5 stars because how well it performs.

I think it was Peter who wrote in his B3 Pro I review that before he started with it, his feeling was that it would be around 4 to 4.5 stars maximum. But in the course of comparing, he realised that it just had to be 5, to which I agree.
When I decided to write a review about my Fostex TE-02, I also thought it would be 4 or 4.5, but doing more critical listening and comparisons, it just had to be 5 stars as well and it also comes very close to the Havi in terms of technical performance (from what I perceive) while having a smaller soundstage and flatter sound.
 
 
In the end, apart from subjectivity and personal preference, one cannot be 100% sure whether he/she has probably got a bad unit of a product or if the manufacturer has updated/changed something over time (which wouldn't be the first time that this happens).
For example, I have also heard that there are different versions of the Zero Audio Carbo Tenore. And to be honest, while I find it offers relatively good (better say adequate) value for the price, I did not get the hype train at all and would have rated it with about 3.5 stars (I actually have an older, rather short review of it in German, and I think ca. 3.5 out of 5 stars is what I gave it). Everything from the sub-bass to 2 kHz is alright with it but above the "middle" mids, the frequency response of the Carbo Tenore I have bought is quite peaky, with two bright peaks around 3 and 7 kHz that can get annoying because the treble resolution is only good/adequate for the price but not more (fortunately not less though).
Did I receive a bad unit of the Carbo Tenore? I don't think so as both sides sound identical. Who knows, maybe Zero Audio has changed something over time, used different drivers or whatever.

 

[AudioNewbi3]

Hey guys, have anyone in this thread seen or heard these two iems before?

https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a230r.1.14.168.FTuIBw&id=527714073624&ns=1&abbucket=5#detail
 
https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a1z10.3-c.w4002-13096650793.22.SA1ghi&id=522952059360

Thanks!
 

 

[MuZo2]

  RE B3 Pro I:
 The bass is very fast, arid and superbly controlled. And the soundstage is not only large and 3-dimensional but also relatively precise.

I agree with it fully. Regarding coherence issues yes there was QC issue on one pair, but on other pair I dont find coherence issues.

 

[CoiL]

  ...but you really seem to dislike the B3 and those who do think it's all that, throwing the FANS thing out there kind of gives away where you are coming from as well with your dislike for the Havi. Nothing more, nothing less. 

I said I won`t comment anymore but two things that irritate me is when people assume too much and read out too much from what one has said. To me, You are starting to flame... And I don`t understand what You mean by "gives away where you are coming from"? It feels quite insulting to me somehow. Sorry, If I misunderstood.
Sorry if my "fans" comment irritated You. I do think B3P1 is great IEM, just not "perfect" for me for several reasons and I`m allowed to share my opinion about that.
Btw, I emptied many IEM`s from my profile and that`s why they are now listed 1st - it means absolutely nothing.
Just let it be c`mon... 

 

[yawg]

   
Thank you for the information. I was afraid that the armband would be an issue. 

 
I hope it won't as I will get mine soon. I've got a big head, too. Largest helmet size, head circumference about 63 cm.