Can IEMs sound like ~LCD-3/HE-6?

[CT007]

I haven't heard IEMs over $600(nothing super impressive so far) yet, so I don't know what top-end stuff sounds like. Do high-end IEMs(Clairvoyance, MEST, U12T, etc) sound just as liquidy smooth and gorgeous as an LCD-3/HE-6 does? Or are IEMs masters of detail and bass, but cannot output a similar sensation of smoothness & water-like realism like these headphones can?

(Looking at IEMs under $1K)

 

[pbui44]

When comparing the LCD-i4 to the LCD-4 (first release; 100 ohm) and LCD-MX4, the LCD-i4 has the same speed, smoothness, general frequency response, and other general sound characteristics, but there are differences in imaging, instrument separation, sound-staging, and overall presentation.

Because the LCD-i4’s planar-magnetic driver is much, much smaller than the LCD-4’s and LCD-MX4’s planar-magnetic drivers, the acoustical characteristics are flatter on the LCD-i4, as there the sound is only projecting outside the ear, instead of around the ear and outside the ear. Conversely, because the ear pads of the LCD-4 and LCD-MX4 generally isolating the the sound from around the ear, the LCD-i4 soundstage is actually larger than the LCD-4 and LCD-MX4 soundstage, especially in width, length, and height.

The most prominent difference is the amount of power that each item uses and where the sound is perceived. The LCD-4 and LCD-MX4 uses more power, giving a more around-head sound and less need to spend time tracking in-head sound. The LCD-i4 uses less power, giving a more in-head sound and requires more listener tracking, though the listener tracking also goes to the larger soundstage and it’s increase in width, length, and height.

Bear in mind that the LCD-i4 is not just an open-back IEM, but a wide-open-back IEM that restricts it to the most quiet environments. Of course, you do get more for your money with the LCD-4 and LCD-MX4, than the LCD-i4, but more equipment may, and will, be required to surpass the LCD-i4 sound and “provide more value”. This leaves the LCD-i4 to possess the one of the best sound quality and largest soundstage combos in an open-back IEM, which all can be stored in a approximately 5”x1.5”x3” storage case with a similarly-sized DAP-with-case and IEM accessory kit box. I have never heard the LCD-i3, so take this eval with a grain of salt. Hope this helps.

 

[surfgeorge]

I haven't heard IEMs over $600(nothing super impressive so far) yet, so I don't know what top-end stuff sounds like. Do high-end IEMs(Clairvoyance, MEST, U12T, etc) sound just as liquidy smooth and gorgeous as an LCD-3/HE-6 does? Or are IEMs masters of detail and bass, but cannot output a similar sensation of smoothness & water-like realism like these headphones can?

(Looking at IEMs under $1K)

The IEMs you have listed are all BA or hybrid designs, which tend to excell at detail and precision. If you are looking for smoothness I'd rather try dynamic driver IEMs. I really like the engaging and fluid presentation they can produce.

If you are ok with an IEM with a tasteful bass boost and upper mid boost, but otherwise balanced and smooth sound with good technicalities (detail, timbre, clarity, soundstage and separation) look at the UM 3DT. I have only had it for 2+ weeks but I think this is going to be my new favorite. Beware of fitting and tip selection issues, these are big and tricky to get a good fit with, at least they were for me.

Thread here: https://www.head-fi.org/threads/uni...-3dt-announcement-thread.949402/post-16030385

 

[Merkurio]

When comparing the LCD-i4 to the LCD-4 (first release; 100 ohm) and LCD-MX4, the LCD-i4 has the same speed, smoothness, general frequency response, and other general sound characteristics, but there are differences in imaging, instrument separation, sound-staging, and overall presentation.

Because the LCD-i4’s planar-magnetic driver is much, much smaller than the LCD-4’s and LCD-MX4’s planar-magnetic drivers, the acoustical characteristics are flatter on the LCD-i4, as there the sound is only projecting outside the ear, instead of around the ear and outside the ear. Conversely, because the ear pads of the LCD-4 and LCD-MX4 generally isolating the the sound from around the ear, the LCD-i4 soundstage is actually larger than the LCD-4 and LCD-MX4 soundstage, especially in width, length, and height.

The most prominent difference is the amount of power that each item uses and where the sound is perceived. The LCD-4 and LCD-MX4 uses more power, giving a more around-head sound and less need to spend time tracking in-head sound. The LCD-i4 uses less power, giving a more in-head sound and requires more listener tracking, though the listener tracking also goes to the larger soundstage and it’s increase in width, length, and height.

Bear in mind that the LCD-i4 is not just an open-back IEM, but a wide-open-back IEM that restricts it to the most quiet environments. Of course, you do get more for your money with the LCD-4 and LCD-MX4, than the LCD-i4, but more equipment may, and will, be required to surpass the LCD-i4 sound and “provide more value”. This leaves the LCD-i4 to possess the one of the best sound quality and largest soundstage combos in an open-back IEM, which all can be stored in a approximately 5”x1.5”x3” storage case with a similarly-sized DAP-with-case and IEM accessory kit box. I have never heard the LCD-i3, so take this eval with a grain of salt. Hope this helps.

Having had an iSINE 20 and now an iSINE LX (heavily EQ'd), I concur with these impressions, based on my experience with other IEMs and headphones (like the LCD2 Classic).

 

[CT007]

When comparing the LCD-i4 to the LCD-4 (first release; 100 ohm) and LCD-MX4, the LCD-i4 has the same speed, smoothness, general frequency response, and other general sound characteristics, but there are differences in imaging, instrument separation, sound-staging, and overall presentation.

Because the LCD-i4’s planar-magnetic driver is much, much smaller than the LCD-4’s and LCD-MX4’s planar-magnetic drivers, the acoustical characteristics are flatter on the LCD-i4, as there the sound is only projecting outside the ear, instead of around the ear and outside the ear. Conversely, because the ear pads of the LCD-4 and LCD-MX4 generally isolating the the sound from around the ear, the LCD-i4 soundstage is actually larger than the LCD-4 and LCD-MX4 soundstage, especially in width, length, and height.

The most prominent difference is the amount of power that each item uses and where the sound is perceived. The LCD-4 and LCD-MX4 uses more power, giving a more around-head sound and less need to spend time tracking in-head sound. The LCD-i4 uses less power, giving a more in-head sound and requires more listener tracking, though the listener tracking also goes to the larger soundstage and it’s increase in width, length, and height.

Bear in mind that the LCD-i4 is not just an open-back IEM, but a wide-open-back IEM that restricts it to the most quiet environments. Of course, you do get more for your money with the LCD-4 and LCD-MX4, than the LCD-i4, but more equipment may, and will, be required to surpass the LCD-i4 sound and “provide more value”. This leaves the LCD-i4 to possess the one of the best sound quality and largest soundstage combos in an open-back IEM, which all can be stored in a approximately 5”x1.5”x3” storage case with a similarly-sized DAP-with-case and IEM accessory kit box. I have never heard the LCD-i3, so take this eval with a grain of salt. Hope this helps.

The same is likely true for the rarely discussed, rarely reviewed Stax IEM, I would assume. Though I'm wondering more about non-specialty IEMs, with typical enclosures/shells shaped more like the Euclid.

 

[CT007]

The IEMs you have listed are all BA or hybrid designs, which tend to excell at detail and precision. If you are looking for smoothness I'd rather try dynamic driver IEMs. I really like the engaging and fluid presentation they can produce.

Yeah, I'm not aware of any high-end pure DD IEMs, I guess. Oh, the new Moondrop Illumination. What I have/heard is FD5, DQ6, Kanas Pro, YBF, KB Believe, BLON 03, TC-01, EA1, RE400, and I'm sure some others. I definitely like YBF, the 03 is not bad, and FD5 can do great things, but I think it's all a matter of tuning for how they sound from very boring(Kanas Pro) to very exciting(FD5) within the same DD category. I can't say I've noticed any particular smoothness qualities with DD, just better bass and natural tone. My Legacy 3, Orb, Tape Pro, DM8 are all smoother than my DD's.