[joey99]

I'm using the large tips from a $6 Ivery IS1 with tape mod and they're excellent. 
I have had the H3s in from 9am till 4pm today out of a O2+ODAC and it's has been wonderfully enjoyable ... love these things. 
My Shure 846 are coming tomorrow ... lets see how they stack up.

 

[Soundsgoodtome]

Looking forward to that Totl comparison!

I'm using the large tips from a $6 Ivery IS1 with tape mod and they're excellent. 
I have had the H3s in from 9am till 4pm today out of a O2+ODAC and it's has been wonderfully enjoyable ... love these things. 
My Shure 846 are coming tomorrow ... lets see how they stack up.

 

[Change is Good]

I use MH1 tips on mine, with no tape mod

 

[hockey_magnet]

Looking forward to that Totl comparison!

As before I'm really interested in that comparison. I'm certainly using my 846's more than the H3's but I still think the H3's are fantastic for the price and actually for me they are more comfortable.  

 

[Marco Angel]

As before I'm really interested in that comparison. I'm certainly using my 846's more than the H3's but I still think the H3's are fantastic for the price and actually for me they are more comfortable.  

I'm using the large tips from a $6 Ivery IS1 with tape mod and they're excellent. 
I have had the H3s in from 9am till 4pm today out of a O2+ODAC and it's has been wonderfully enjoyable ... love these things. 
My Shure 846 are coming tomorrow ... lets see how they stack up.

Some mini review of the 846 vs h3 will be very welcome. Have to say they are whole different iems but still interesting the comparison.

 

[hockey_magnet]

Some mini review of the 846 vs h3 will be very welcome. Have to say they are whole different iems but still interesting the comparison.

I'm no expert but I did a mini comparison earlier in this thread (post # 2263). My initial impressions haven't changed a lot . The 846 with black filter sound most like the H3 . The 846's do have quite a bit more clarity and while the bass quantity is about the same, the 846's bass is more crisp. Overall the H3's , while not in the same league as the 846, hold up extremely well and are just as enjoyable to listen to if you're looking for a more fun relaxed sound. The 846's mids are definitely more forward and overall it is more balanced but as before, the H3 IMHO is certainly not that far off and more than worth the $. Keep in mind that I was only using an iphone with 192 kbps source files
 
Interested to see if joey99 agrees

 

[Marco Angel]

  I'm no expert but I did a mini comparison earlier in this thread (post # 2263). My initial impressions haven't changed a lot . The 846 with black filter sound most like the H3 . The 846's do have quite a bit more clarity and while the bass quantity is about the same, the 846's bass is more crisp. Overall the H3's , while not in the same league as the 846, hold up extremely well and are just as enjoyable to listen to if you're looking for a more fun relaxed sound. The 846's mids are definitely more forward and overall it is more balanced but as before, the H3 IMHO is certainly not that far off and more than worth the $. Keep in mind that I was only using an iphone with 192 kbps source files
 
Interested to see if joey99 agrees

as a shure iem fan im still planing to buy the 846 (used maybe). But since they are similar and im enjoying a lot more the sound from dynamic drivers, i guess i will be holding the 846 purchase =)

 

[Soundsgoodtome]

Anyone compare the H3s to upper tier CIEMs? Or other universals like Noble, Westone, UE, etc? Do they hold well against them?

Also do the H3s benefit from better DAPs like DX90 or X5? I notice a considerable improvement going from my phone GS3 to a FiiO E18.

 

[violencer]

a prototype of the XBA-H3

 

[Soundsgoodtome]

  a prototype of the XBA-H3

I definitely would've bought the transparent version if there was one!

 

[nehcrow]

  a prototype of the XBA-H3

That's pretty cool, damn. Looks a lot less bulky too

 

[hockey_magnet]

I kind of thought the 846's were upper tier at $1000

Anyone compare the H3s to upper tier CIEMs? Or other universals like Noble, Westone, UE, etc? Do they hold well against them?

Also do the H3s benefit from better DAPs like DX90 or X5? I notice a considerable improvement going from my phone GS3 to a FiiO E18.

 

[joey99]

  I'm no expert but I did a mini comparison earlier in this thread (post # 2263). My initial impressions haven't changed a lot . The 846 with black filter sound most like the H3 . The 846's do have quite a bit more clarity and while the bass quantity is about the same, the 846's bass is more crisp. Overall the H3's , while not in the same league as the 846, hold up extremely well and are just as enjoyable to listen to if you're looking for a more fun relaxed sound. The 846's mids are definitely more forward and overall it is more balanced but as before, the H3 IMHO is certainly not that far off and more than worth the $. Keep in mind that I was only using an iphone with 192 kbps source files
 
Interested to see if joey99 agrees

My 846s arrived today ... have been listening to all sorts of different things today but I mainly listen to music with female vocals. 
I think you're right on with the comparison. I really haven't done too much A-B-ing but only just enjoying the 846 at the moment. What immediately strikes me is how spectacular vocals is on the 846 .. if that's your thing, the 846 is the only one to get .. clarity and realness (if that's a word) of vocals is just amazing and quite forward .. and I love that. Vocals are slightly more distant on the H3. I'm using the tape mod on the H3 and the bass is tighter than before but the 846's bass is just so well defined.
 
So far, just the vocals and bass quality of the 846 was worth the price for me. As hockey_magnet  said .. H3 by all means is not that far off really .. the 846 is more than 3 times the price and one would expect some improvement. Both so very enjoyable and both very comfortable to wear. Will write more when I give it more listening over the next week.

 

[hockey_magnet]

My 846s arrived today ... have been listening to all sorts of different things today but I mainly listen to music with female vocals. 
I think you're right on with the comparison. I really haven't done too much A-B-ing but only just enjoying the 846 at the moment. What immediately strikes me is how spectacular vocals is on the 846 .. if that's your thing, the 846 is the only one to get .. clarity and realness (if that's a word) of vocals is just amazing and quite forward .. and I love that. Vocals are slightly more distant on the H3. I'm using the tape mod on the H3 and the bass is tighter than before but the 846's bass is just so well defined.

So far, just the vocals and bass quality of the 846 was worth the price for me. As hockey_magnet  said .. H3 by all means is not that far off really .. the 846 is more than 3 times the price and one would expect some improvement. Both so very enjoyable and both very comfortable to wear. Will write more when I give it more listening over the next week.

Glad you're enjoying the 846's. Certainly the best iem I've heard to date. As you mention I think we agree on the main areas of improvement over the H3's are Clarity across the board, more forward mids inc vocals and a sharper more defined bass. Still hanging on to the H3's as a backup though

 

[Soundsgoodtome]

Went back to using my Samsung Galaxy S3 for the XBA-H3 and I can say that the phone and IEM just does not pair well. Sloppy bass, recessed mids and highs. Come E18 and it sounds fantastic. Relatively tight bass (could be tighter), but mids and highs shine. So no-go with straight to a cell phone but with an amp or DAC/AMP and it sounds great.