just a quite update on my experience with the B3s:
despite the good fit i had with the small-sized stock tips, i switched over to the foam tips provided just to see if it would get better, and it did!
my review a few days back mentioned that the B3s were a little towards the warm/dark (still waiting for some clarification ^) side. the foam tips changed that completely. it definitely leans more toward an the airy/open tone now, though not signficantly so. upon examining both tips, i suppose some part of it has to do with the foam tips being slightly wider in diameter. it was also much easier to put on as compared to the original small-sized tips which i had to practically jam up the thick top portion of the nozzle.
i'm not sure if the following is a result of that, but the bass now also seems slightly reduced, in quantity at least, whereas the detailing/ clarity is also a tad better. again, i'm not sure if this is the right phrase for description, but the overall sounds seems 'cleaner'.
on the overall, i think i will stick to the foam tips as i like it more (not saying the small-sized normal tips were bad either). they are now perhaps more similar in sound signature to my R50s, though still being slightly better in soundstage and bass, while being weaker in mids and treble (no shame in that really!)
if i really liked the B3s before, i can safely say i'm in love with it now.
cheers everyone!