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

[the search never ends]

^^^^ Thanks, I find it very interesting how the tips used varies so much among owners.  I hope you find a tip that works even better for you.

 

[brandnewgame]

Quote:

^^^^ Thanks, I find it very interesting how the tips used varies so much among owners.  I hope you find a tip that works even better for you.

Thank you 

. I do like the presentation on the SM3s so far, if I didn't have a love affair with Grado GS1000s I would probably be more blown away by them. Still, electronic is quite beautiful being played through them.

 

[mark2410]

is it nutty that i think i want to hear the 420 more than i do the sm3?

 

[brandnewgame]

Quote:

is it nutty that i think i want to hear the 420 more than i do the sm3?

Reminds me of my fascination with bad movies.
 
Plan 9 from Shure Labs?

 

[MayaTlab]

Hello,
 
do you think the SM3 would benefit from amping (example : pico slim) out of the headphone out of a Cowon S9 ? I'm asking this question since I'm a bit worried about the S9 bass roll-off.
 
To combat the issue I'm currently using a Westone volume attenuator (as an impedance adapter) and it sure renders the sound of my IE8 more dynamic, punchy, rythmic, full bodied, and of course corrects the deep bass issue. However, it also adds a little harshness in the upper frequencies.
 
Would an amp solve those issues with SM3 + S9 or should I go not only for a new amp but also for a line-out DAP (such as iPod, S:flo 2 - might be a problem with my Mac - , etc.) ?

 

[brandnewgame]

A volume attenuator is a good way of decreasing bass roll off, the potential quality drop depends on the resistors within the volume attenuator (if its using resistors as my Ety P->S attenuator does). I'm currently using the Ety adaptor with the SM3s because they're too easy to drive when with amps, to the point where the lowest volume setting is far too loud for me. Unless the headphone out is virtually line out quality, I wouldn't recommend the extra hassle of an amp, I've found it can sound worse going through both circuits than just the player's. Also, if portability is in any way important, the size of both the player and the amp combined can be frustrating.
 
The S:flo2 will not be a problem with any computer that supports USB Mass Storage, i.e. anything modern, and contains pretty much a portable high quality DAC/amp solution in a hassle-free solution. Mine hasn't arrived yet, but it's the portable player I've been waiting for. My iMod is collecting dust for a good reason, its barely more portable than my laptop.
 
The next step up from the S:flo2 would be some kind of optical solution.. but for me it's totally not worth the sacrifice.

 

[lucozade]

@average joe, Well bass response on the SM3 changes alot with different tips,,however at  the moment I'm using a home made monster white foam hybrid duel tip which is the core taken out of the stock comply tips and the large hybrid tip placed at the bottom and smaller one placed at the top of the core , this gives the SM3 a big pounding powerful and impactfull bass with similar quantity as the monster golds 

 while not suppressing the midrange or treble in eny way and the expansive sound stage stays intact which makes the SM3 really rock
 
Quote:

      Quote:

Thanks for painting that picture.  I agree and I am blown away with the width these can achieve with some of my trance from my HUD-MX1.  The music isn't all that 3D, but extremely expansive with amazing placement, clarity and bass.  Which is what I wanted to ask you about...do you still think the e-Q7 has more bass?  And what tips are you using?
 

Yes, good things come to those that wait.  I am looking forward to your thoughts on them.
 

Welcome, but it must have been a real tough decision between the SM3 and SE420

 

[lucozade]

^^^^ also using the same long comply cores i find putting the ortos large tip on the bottom and the small ortos tip on top makes a nice duel tip with great bass also with added brightness and is very comfortable.

 

[average_joe]

 
Quote:

Hello,
 
do you think the SM3 would benefit from amping (example : pico slim) out of the headphone out of a Cowon S9 ? I'm asking this question since I'm a bit worried about the S9 bass roll-off.
 
To combat the issue I'm currently using a Westone volume attenuator (as an impedance adapter) and it sure renders the sound of my IE8 more dynamic, punchy, rythmic, full bodied, and of course corrects the deep bass issue. However, it also adds a little harshness in the upper frequencies.
 
Would an amp solve those issues with SM3 + S9 or should I go not only for a new amp but also for a line-out DAP (such as iPod, S:flo 2 - might be a problem with my Mac - , etc.) ?

If there is bass roll off, then yes.  There won't be roll off into the amp due to the very high input impedance, and most portable amps do fine in the bass region.  As far as a new DAP, my personal opinion is the better the DAC section, the more you will hear with the SM3.  I notice a good amount of difference in the micro-detail between my iPhone via LOD and my modded iPod 5.5g via LOD, with the 5.5g being better.  Some day they may ship my S:flo2 as well as my Pico Slim, so I might be able to speak about those also.
 
Quote:

@average joe, Well bass response on the SM3 changes alot with different tips,,however at  the moment I'm using a home made monster white foam hybrid duel tip which is the core taken out of the stock comply tips and the large hybrid tip placed at the bottom and smaller one placed at the top of the core , this gives the SM3 a big pounding powerful and impactfull bass with similar quantity as the monster golds 

 while not suppressing the midrange or treble in eny way and the expansive sound stage stays intact which makes the SM3 really rock

^^^^ also using the same long comply cores i find putting the ortos large tip on the bottom and the small ortos tip on top makes a nice duel tip with great bass also with added brightness and is very comfortable.

Sounds like some cool, creative tips, can you post pics?  I tried the head-direct RE tips and MC super tips and gel again today, but the triple flange are still the best IMO.  Better dynamics.
 
Sounds like you are enjoying them as much as I am!  But the true test is do you still have the desire to listen to your other IEMs?  I know, I know, the SE420 is something that demands ear time, but how about everything else?

 

[MayaTlab]

Quote:

A volume attenuator is a good way of decreasing bass roll off, the potential quality drop depends on the resistors within the volume attenuator (if its using resistors as my Ety P->S attenuator does). I'm currently using the Ety adaptor with the SM3s because they're too easy to drive when with amps, to the point where the lowest volume setting is far too loud for me. Unless the headphone out is virtually line out quality, I wouldn't recommend the extra hassle of an amp, I've found it can sound worse going through both circuits than just the player's. Also, if portability is in any way important, the size of both the player and the amp combined can be frustrating.
 
The S:flo2 will not be a problem with any computer that supports USB Mass Storage, i.e. anything modern, and contains pretty much a portable high quality DAC/amp solution in a hassle-free solution. Mine hasn't arrived yet, but it's the portable player I've been waiting for. My iMod is collecting dust for a good reason, its barely more portable than my laptop.
 
The next step up from the S:flo2 would be some kind of optical solution.. but for me it's totally not worth the sacrifice.

What do you think about the sound of your SM3 + Ety impedance adaptator :
 
1 - Do trebles become any harsher ?
2 - Does soundstage diminish ?
3 - What do you think of dynamic range ? Does it feel compressed ?
4 - What do you think of instrument separation ?
 
Thanks !

 

[shigzeo]

Mayla - Re S9 - the SM3 is an easy to drive earphone.
 
The S9 is a good sounding device. If you haven't been bothered by the S9 with any other earphone (most of which are probably harder to drive), then you shoudn't worry at all. There will be bass roll off, but as DFKT said, it shouldn't be a big problem. I noticed it because of my musical preference which relies on bass and a wide stage and for those reasons, I sold my Cowon. But if I hadn't been a trance fan, I might never have been really put off by the Cowon signature.
 

 

[MayaTlab]

Quote:

Mayla - Re S9 - the SM3 is an easy to drive earphone.
 
The S9 is a good sounding device. If you haven't been bothered by the S9 with any other earphone (most of which are probably harder to drive), then you shoudn't worry at all. There will be bass roll off, but as DFKT said, it shouldn't be a big problem. I noticed it because of my musical preference which relies on bass and a wide stage and for those reasons, I sold my Cowon. But if I hadn't been a trance fan, I might never have been really put off by the Cowon signature.
 

The S9 surely is a great player and drives a lot of phones decently indeed. But :
 
1 - I listen to all kinds of music, including bass-heavy genres.
2 - I'm a happy perfectionist.
3 - I've got a decently sized wallet which hasn't felt yet the need to scream out loud "sorry".
4 - I already see the limitations of the S9, especially for bass roll off with low impedance phones and presence of an increasing graininess with higher impedance ones.
 
Conclusion : I crave for more .
 
But I don't want to jeopardize the thread too much, so let's go back to the SM3.

 

[music_4321]

 
Quote:

They sound basically the same as any other MP3 player in a volume-matched AB test (Sansa Clip, Hifiman, etc). In RMAA tests they also "look" the same as most other players - almost all players roll off the bass with low-impedance phones. The good thing about Cowon players is their BBE sound enhancements, which are for many people the best you can get in the portable market (YMMV, of course). While they're nothing special played "flat", same as other players, they can sound really nice with their EQ and enhancements.

Any mention of the Hifiman HM-801 & AB/ ABX or RMAA tests may cause this thread to vanish into thin air, ie being censored.

 

[dfkt]

We've been long past that, why did you have to bring it up again?

 

[gameboy115]

I am sold it is extraordinary IEM, come on, similar to UM3X with large soundstage and better dynamic, that is what I need

,however the price is too steep for now which is not quite affordable to a student like me. I may wait a bit for price drop