Soranik MEMS-3S
The IEM that feels like no other IEM
Fitting and Build Quality:
MEMS-3S feels more premium than MEMS-3. It feels more solid in the hand, feels well-made overall.
The fitting is also one of the best to my ears.
1. Sound
All of these reviews used the AP0's built-in Energizer.
I think the MEMS-3S has a similar sound DNA to the MEMS-3, which is U-shape.
But MEMS-3s take it up a notch, it sounds more U-shape leaning toward V-shape compared to MEMS-3.
There is a boost in the Bass and Treble sectors.
Bass:
The MEMS-3S has a very well-tuned bass. Punchy, deep, dynamic and detailed.
The bass is more focused on the subbass area. It has a decay that's not too long, so it's still quite fast in response.
The bass is handled by the DD and MEMS, so the bass has a superb extension.
Mids:
For the mids, the 3S has mids that feel slightly behind the bass and the treble.
The mids have good note weight, clarity and superb detail.
It's not the best mid for me because it's a little less forward for some songs that focus on vocals, but it's still enjoyable nonetheless.
Cable and eartips rolling seems to help the mid to be slightly more forward.
Also, I'm told the Energizer upgrade to AP1 will help compensate the mids in this 3S.
Treble:
The treble is smooth, full bodied and the extension that is above any iem I have hard so far.
It is sparkly, detail and clean.
Even though the treble is very extended, the treble is still safe and not piercing at all.
The airiness is simply superb, helped of course by the open back design of the iem too.
For any treblehead, this iem will not disappoint at all.
2. Technicalities
Detail, Transient, Resolution:
Not much to say, simply a TOTL level technicalities. Slightly better than the MEMS-3 I had heard as well but not a night and day different either.
Both can compete in the TOTL class at any price in my opinion. No complaints.
MEMS-3s resolves slightly better detail than Madoo typ821, Seeaudio Hakuya, Kinera Odin, or Noble Viking Ragnar.
While it's miles ahead in term of detail, resolution from IER-Z1R.
Soundstage:
I think the soundstage is special for IEM. It's grander than most IEMs. it is wide, tall and airy.
The open back design helps MEMS-3s feels very open for an IEM.
Also due to it's open-back nature it is quite a bit unfair to compare it to most IEM out there.
It quite delivers an open back headphone-like experience comparable to at least a HD600/Focal Clear.
3. Source and Drivability
This is the hardest IEM to drive that I have ever tried. This IEM is harder to drive than its MEMS-3 sibling.
Soranik told me that the Energizer AP0 can't fully drive this IEM. So Yeah.
For MEMS-3S, you need a source that powerful enough to drive hard to drive headphones to enjoy the MEMS-3S fully.
In that regard, it's not a very portable IEM.
But you get the amazing sound for the trade.
4. Comparison:
Vs MEMS-3 (2MEMS+1BA)
Disclaimer: the MEMS-3 I had tried is the prototype unit with 2MEMS and 1BA, it is slightly different than the current MEMS-3 with 1MEMS and 2DD.
Soranik told me the MEMS-3 with BA and DD differ in the bass (more subbass on the DD version). Similar technicalities for both of them.
I haven't heard the new version, that being said I hope I can heard it someday.
Overall, the 3S has a more warm, full-bodied and smooth sound than the MEMS-3. The MEMS-3S is also cleaner so it feels more detailed.
The MEMS-3s is slightly more V-shape compared to MEMS-3 which has a more forward upper-mid.
Bass:
The 3S has much better bass than the MEMS-3. The 3S has more dynamic, more detailed and deeper bass.
The 3's bass is more focused on the midbass so the subbass is a bit lacking. While the 3s bass is more complete from subbass to midbass.
In some songs, the MEMS-3 bass can feel a bit one-note, still deep but less dynamic. In MEMS-3S, that never happens
Mid:
For the mids, the 3s feels a bit more reserve compared to the 3. The MEMS-3's mids are more neutral and forward by comparison.
The MEMS-3S mids are warmer, full-bodied, and smoother. The timbre is also slightly better in my opinion. MEMS-3 has a thinner mid overall.
Also the slightly more forward mid of MEMS-3 can be more sibilance than the 3S.
For Ani-song playlists, that require more vocals presence, MEMS-3 actually is more suitable than MEMS-3S.
On the other hand, for a deeper voices, MEMS-3S is better.
Both have different flavors in the mid.
Treble:
Very similar treble response overall However MEMS-3S has more full-bodied treble.
MEMS-3 by comparison has a thinnish treble.
The extension is great on both variant.
But MEMS-3S hands down has better detail and resolution at the top end, also a tad cleaner as well.
Technicalities
Not much difference to be honest, but the 3s is cleaner and has better micro-details especially in the low and high end.
The bass is overall better and more complete as well in my opinion.
Soundstage also feel grander, more holographic on the MEMS-3s. MEMS-3 feels more 2D-ish by comparison.
Drivability
As I mentioned above. MEMS-3S is harder to drive than MEMS-3. Both of them are very difficult IEMs to drive overall.
So just prepare a strong source like a desktop setup.
Vs HD600
Soranik seems to be interested to know my opinion on MEMS-3s compared to any Headphone.
Why HD600? Simply because it is the headphone I used the most.
Overall, I think MEMS-3s is more detailed, has a faster transient response.
Probably MEMS-3s is closer to Focal Clear than to HD600 in term of sound quality. Which I think is very impressive for an IEM to have.
However, it has been a while since last time I use my Focal Clear, so take it with a grain of salt.
The bass and the treble on MEMS-3s both go deeper than HD600. The mid is cleaner and detailed on MEMS-3s as well.
HD600 feels more neutral balance while MEMS-3s feels musical and fun.
As an open back headphone, HD600 doesn't boast a massive soundstage like other openback for example ADX5000 or its sibling HD800.
MEMS-3s soundstage isn't as wide as ADX5000 but it is at least as big or even bigger than HD600. Definitely a win for an IEM.
The only thing that has HD600 completely better than MEMS-3s is that the comfort. Also, the main reason why I still use headphone nowadays anyway.
The comfort of Headphone especially lightweight one like HD600 is very hard to beat by any IEM.
But that applied to any IEM not only to MEMS-3s, so yeah.
5. Conclusion
I think it can be considered that the MEMS-3S is still best of the best from Soranik's MEMS lineup in term of technicalities. It is also currently one of the best IEM I ever heard. My listening experience with the MEMS-3s always an absolute bliss to me.
It's not so much different from the MEMS-3 by any mean, however the MEMS-3S is still technically a better IEM. Mems-3s has a safer tonal, smoother, better detailed, resolution, and better immersive holographic soundstage as well.
However, for its price, the MEMS-3 which is below 2000 USD, is still hard to beat.
The drawback for MEMS-3s and MEMS-3 is in portability for those looking for a portable set as this IEM needs a dedicated AMP. In addition, there is also sound leakage due to the open back design.
But other than that, for the sound, technically for me personally there is no complaint.
Soranik definitely deliver with this.
