You have both the i3 and i4, interesting. I've heard the iSine but not the i3. I'm wondering if it is something I can recommend to people who are looking at the i4 but balk at spending so much money. Can you share a bit of your impression between the i3 and i4?
First of all, I've only had the i3 for 2 hours and have tried it with Cipher V2, Dragonfly and iCan balanced.
The result is as expected.
It depends on how you want to use them.
i4: Yes that is a special house number. For me a stationary replacement for an over-ear in the range of 3-5TUSD. He can easily keep up with that, if not even better. But the i4 needs power and should be operated in balanced mode to reach its full potential. There's an awful lot in the i4, but you have to get it out. For me it is not a mobile phone, it's just not fun, it's average. It works, you can handle the volume, but the quality is far below its potential. It needs good, high quality, powerful amplifiers, then there's nothing better and Audeze has really set the bar extremely high for in-ear. As I said, for me a replacement for e.g. an LCD-4. i4 doesn't need any EQ settings, for me it's perfectly tuned in neutral position. Especially with the iCan in tube mode it is a dream come true. I don't know what more you can do with it. With the Cipher, as I said, it works. But it simply needs too much power and the cipher doesn't provide that. Nor does a Dragonfly or any other weak mobile amplifier. It is missing in the bass, in the power, in the openness and width, then it is just a "normal" in-ear. Therefore I don't recommend it for mobile. It is the connoisseur at home and a replacement for steel helmet headphones!
i3: ordered it as an upgrade for my iSine. It sounds great with Cipher. It has absolutely enough power, because it doesn't need much, basses are powerful, cleaner and deeper than the iSine. Mids, highs, excellent. Not poisonous, nothing. Velvety like the iSine. Clear upgrade and fully recommended. Also compared it quickly with the iCan balanced before. Yes day and night to the i4. It can't keep up with that by far! Rather a disappointment. Audeze just can't get the iSine and the i3 to be neutral and clean. He clearly needs EQ. I haven't tried that yet. Basses rather reserved, not the depth and cleanliness of the i4, mids are almost completely missing and the highs much too strong, much too garish, really toxic. Definitely no fun. Well, with the iCan it's also like shooting sparrows with cannons! Totally exaggerated by the performance. It has a balanced 14 Watt! But like I said, with the Cipher it's absolutely perfect! Fully satisfied and actually exactly what I expected. I will only use it via cipher and iPhone. Also not optimal with the Dragonfly, the mid and high frequencies are missing toxicly. Via DSP and Cipher it is corrected and fits. I was fully aware of this when I ordered it, so no negative surprise. But as a stationary listener at the amp definitely NO. Or you would have to try a long time with the EQ until it fits. I'll give it a try.
iSine20: is the predecessor of the i3. He's more the tough guy. For me, it's the fun listener! Not high-end, which is definitely the i3 with cipher.
Conclusion: the i3 is definitely not a replacement for the i4 or an alternative. No, it is a completely different headphone for a different application. The i4 is perfect for stationary use with extremely high quality amplifiers. It doesn't unfold its potential in mobile use, so the i3 is definitely a better choice and you can confidently save the money for the i4 and take the cheaper one. But if you want absolute high end and replacement of a very expensive overear, the i4 is perfect! Especially a beautiful opera, a classical concert with the i4, there is no more increase. But what a pity, Audeze couldn't get a neutral tuning with i3 either! Then it would indeed be a cheaper alternative to the i4. But it seems that this was deliberately not wanted in order to sell the expensive i4!
Will write more later when I have tested the i3 further. But as mentioned, I got what I expected due to many recessions!
