EarSonics SM3 Appreciation, Discussion, & Review Thread - Technically Best Universal? (see first post for reviews and info)

[shigzeo]

255£ is a great price. I have a few customs to compare with the SM3. The SM3 stands its ground very well as a universal, certainly keeping its head in comparison to expensive customs. But, when it comes to comfort, customs are bar none the best.
 
Also, customs can be made to vibrate in different ways. Hollow customs such as the JH13Pro tend to allow high mids and low trebles more energy transferred into the ear - makes space far better than any universal. Bass-vibrations rock in silicon earphons such as ACS and Sensaphonics earphones. The SM3 is a best of in the universal category, but that doesn't mean it can overthrow anything bigger and 'better'. I love it either way.

 

[Big Kev]

Quote:

Does anyone here with SM3 has customs too? If so, how is it compared to the customs you guys have?
 
Handheldaudio sells their SM3 for 255 British Pounds (that's the price the gave me, using Airsure for shipping). The pound dollar conversion is at an all time low now...it will be only around $370 plus shipping. One gripe is that US is not listed there in the shipping address, so it will be better to email handheldaudio before purchasing. Mick has been very helpful for all my inquiries so far.

They're listed as £299 on their website, plus shipping, so are you sure they said £255, because  I'm going to be ordering from them and would rather save a few quid if I can.

 

[koonhua90]

I am in US, so I am exempted from paying the tax, which you have to pay. They said £255, without the shipping. The exact total Mick gave me was £267.31. But I believe this would not apply for everyone. It's better to email them and ask about it.

 

[the search never ends]

@ Big Kev........no winning huh?  Those taxes gotta suck, I guess us americans get taxed a bit differently.
Trust me, it seems like we pay enough taxes here.

 

[Big Kev]

Quote:

@ Big Kev........no winning huh?  Those taxes gotta suck, I guess us americans get taxed a bit differently.
Trust me, it seems like we pay enough taxes here.

It's very rare that we actually pay less for anything over here mate, most IEM's are far cheaper over the pond.  The only exception that I can think of, are the IE8's.

 

[the search never ends]

Well that's certainly true, you guys seem to get raped on all things headfi related, clothes too from what I hear. Don't really understand it. Seems in this global economy it shouldn't matter much, then again, no politician in the world cares what us average citizens think.

 

[average_joe]

Quote:

Hello, my sm3's came today , had them in my ears for about 5 minutes 

 
I saw you posted in your thread that the SM3 has less bass than the e-Q7.  Me thinks you need a better seal with your tips!
 
Quote:

Thanks Joe for your tips comparison. I have the same SensorCom assortment as you and tried each, made a few notes and then went to your comparison/review. I agree mostly with all of your observations. The one "diamond in the rough" is the dual flange not inserted too deeply. (They could wobble a bit if you you fiddled with them but they stay put). A good trade off soundwise. The other tips, deeply inserted, although making the sound more dynamic, mucks up the width and bass definition too much for me. My second favorite (or maybe first, not sure yet) is the stock foamies they came with.

You are welcome...I will try to update as time to try different configurations presents itself.  Thanks for your additional thoughts.
 
Quote:

255£ is a great price. I have a few customs to compare with the SM3. The SM3 stands its ground very well as a universal, certainly keeping its head in comparison to expensive customs. But, when it comes to comfort, customs are bar none the best.
 
Also, customs can be made to vibrate in different ways. Hollow customs such as the JH13Pro tend to allow high mids and low trebles more energy transferred into the ear - makes space far better than any universal. Bass-vibrations rock in silicon earphons such as ACS and Sensaphonics earphones. The SM3 is a best of in the universal category, but that doesn't mean it can overthrow anything bigger and 'better'. I love it either way.

Thanks for sharing.  Just to clarify, are you saying the JH13Pro has a much bigger space than the SM3?  And how is the silicon customs bass different, specifically?  And do you know how the SM3 would compare to say, a JH5?
 
But hey, you can't say the SM3 is 'best,' or does that just apply to when I say something close (and all the people come out of the woodwork to tell me I am wrong, and why)

 
Quote:

Does anyone here with SM3 has customs too? If so, how is it compared to the customs you guys have?
 
Handheldaudio sells their SM3 for 255 British Pounds (that's the price the gave me, using Airsure for shipping). The pound dollar conversion is at an all time low now...it will be only around $370 plus shipping. One gripe is that US is not listed there in the shipping address, so it will be better to email handheldaudio before purchasing. Mick has been very helpful for all my inquiries so far.

 
Quote:

I am in US, so I am exempted from paying the tax, which you have to pay. They said £255, without the shipping. The exact total Mick gave me was £267.31. But I believe this would not apply for everyone. It's better to email them and ask about it.

 
Handheldaudio price is pretty close to what I paid from EarSonics.  I paid 318EUR which is about £273. 
 
And I personally believe they are worth every penny!

 

[crocandy]

Hi i have recently purchased the SM3s.  I am a bit of a noob when it comes to all things headphone related so please forgive anything i say that is phrased wrong or is just plain wrong.
 
I used to have some Shure 500s until my loving brother left them on the plane in a jet lagged stupor.  I have a few Shure black/olive tips left over which i am using on the SM3s.  I was wondering if these are the right type of tips to use or are there something better to use.
 
Also how many hours do these need to have on them before they are burned in?
 
Edited: only put 1 'o' in the word 'noob' 

 

[KLS]

 
Quote:

Hi i have recently purchased the SM3s.  I am a bit of a noob when it comes to all things headphone related so please forgive anything i say that is phrased wrong or is just plain wrong.
 
I used to have some Shure 500s until my loving brother left them on the plane in a jet lagged stupor.  I have a few Shure black/olive tips left over which i am using on the SM3s.  I was wondering if these are the right type of tips to use or are there something better to use.
 
Also how many hours do these need to have on them before they are burned in?
 
Edited: only put 1 'o' in the word 'noob' 

Hi @crocandy, congrats on your purchase.
 
If you visit the post #3 in this thread you can find a lot of information on tips for SM3. http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/485632/earsonics-sm3-appreciation-discussion-review-thread-aka-the-most-affordable-high-priced-universal-iem/0#post_6592319
 
I am not sure if they benefit from burn in, just play some music even you are not using them fo a week I suggest. Then try different tips and see what you like the most.
 
This is an interesting tips mod too:
http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/485632/earsonics-sm3-appreciation-discussion-review-thread-aka-the-most-affordable-high-priced-universal-iem/315#post_6639504
 
 
EDIT: @average_joe, the pictures of tips is not working on post #3
 
 
EDIT2:
    
 
     Quote:

 
I saw you posted in your thread that the SM3 has less bass than the e-Q7.  Me thinks you need a better seal with your tips!
 

 
Me think the same too

 

 

[mark2410]

Quote:

Ah, yep, you're right. I just remembered who I was thinking of. Both of you live in england, and that somehow caused me to think you two were the same person.

you wernt meaning me were you?

 

[lucozade]

Quote:

you wernt meaning me were you?

hello mark, did you hate the umx3 ?

 

[mark2410]

well i didnt and do not hate them per say but i really was disappointed with them.  maybe my most disappointing purchase which i largely put down to the rabid westone/grado its made in the US so it MUST be better than everything fanbase that heaps praise on them like jesus himself came down from the heavens and crafted each one by hand.
 
so usually when i comment on them its to bad mouth them so people arent falsely lead to believe they are universally adored. 

 

[lucozade]

he he,ok cool,i feel much the same way about my westone 3 
 
Quote:

well i didnt and do not hate them per say but i really was disappointed with them.  maybe my most disappointing purchase which i largely put down to the rabid westone/grado its made in the US so it MUST be better than everything fanbase that heaps praise on them like jesus himself came down from the heavens and crafted each one by hand.
 
so usually when i comment on them its to bad mouth them so people arent falsely lead to believe they are universally adored. 

 

[the search never ends]

The UM3X ....I don't like it, But If I were you Lucozade, I'd trade your SE420 for one : )
Only the SE420 let me down more than the UM3X.......which sounds like a lame attempt at duplicating the sound sig of the SE530 IMO. No Flames please, I just never found much redeeming in either the SE420, or the UM3X.

 

[koonhua90]

Quote:

255£ is a great price. I have a few customs to compare with the SM3. The SM3 stands its ground very well as a universal, certainly keeping its head in comparison to expensive customs. But, when it comes to comfort, customs are bar none the best.
 
Also, customs can be made to vibrate in different ways. Hollow customs such as the JH13Pro tend to allow high mids and low trebles more energy transferred into the ear - makes space far better than any universal. Bass-vibrations rock in silicon earphons such as ACS and Sensaphonics earphones. The SM3 is a best of in the universal category, but that doesn't mean it can overthrow anything bigger and 'better'. I love it either way.

I have been trying to find a good price on this. So Shigzeo, if I want something that offers superior comfort and isolation, while at the same time has a sound quality that rivals or bests the top tier universal IEMs, the wise choice for me is to go custom?