Earsonics sm3 V2

[kingice10]

 
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Thanks for that, Kingice,
 
Sorry, but are you referring to the JH16 or SM3 in the bolded text?
- the JH16 Pros
 
 

 


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I've heard both the JH16 and JH13 universals for an extended period of time at my audiologist's office (and I own JH16 customs). In my opinion, they are two different beasts. I was surprised to see that they are quite different from one another--and it is not just the bass on the JH16 that makes them different. I noticed that the JH13 had a dryer midrange and highs than the JH16. The JH16 seemed more 'sparkly'  next to the JH13, whereas the JH13 sounded near neutral (not in a bad way). I actually preferred the mids of the JH13 to the JH16 as it sounded slightly more resolving and detailed to me. The only reason I think I experienced the JH13 as sounding better on the mids than the JH16 is because the bass on the JH16 really makes you focus more on the lower end (in a good way).
 
The JH16 just doesn't have 'better' bass than the JH13, it is more sophisticated than that. I actually think quality-wise, the JH13 and JH16 bass are very similar--presentation and quantity-wise, they are two different beasts. The JH16 sounds like a tower speaker--it has a grunt to it, it has a sound that screams 'power' and size. The JH13 in comparison has the same power, but it does not flex its muscles as often as the JH16 does; the JH13 shows its power in its ability to cover all frequencies with an extraordinary balance and resolution. The JH13 fits the famous quote: 'The pen is mightier than the sword.", whereas the JH16 begs to differ, more suiting the quote: "The sword is mightier than the pen." The JH13 is like a cold and calculated killer (like an assassin!), and the JH16 is a flashy and revenge-motivated killer (like a pissed off dude!), if that analogy makes any sense 

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In summary, I do not think the JH13 and JH16 are as similar as people point out. Yes, their sound signature is relatively the same and they share the same JH house sound. However, in terms of personality they actually sound really different from each other, in a good way (to me).
 
- This is a very good comparison to me...very nice!

 
 

 

[Heret1c]

Quote:

I've heard both the JH16 and JH13 universals for an extended period of time at my audiologist's office (and I own JH16 customs). In my opinion, they are two different beasts. I was surprised to see that they are quite different from one another--and it is not just the bass on the JH16 that makes them different. I noticed that the JH13 had a dryer midrange and highs than the JH16. The JH16 seemed more 'sparkly'  next to the JH13, whereas the JH13 sounded near neutral (not in a bad way). I actually preferred the mids of the JH13 to the JH16 as it sounded slightly more resolving and detailed to me. The only reason I think I experienced the JH13 as sounding better on the mids than the JH16 is because the bass on the JH16 really makes you focus more on the lower end (in a good way).
 
The JH16 just doesn't have 'better' bass than the JH13, it is more sophisticated than that. I actually think quality-wise, the JH13 and JH16 bass are very similar--presentation and quantity-wise, they are two different beasts. The JH16 sounds like a tower speaker--it has a grunt to it, it has a sound that screams 'power' and size. The JH13 in comparison has the same power, but it does not flex its muscles as often as the JH16 does; the JH13 shows its power in its ability to cover all frequencies with an extraordinary balance and resolution. The JH13 fits the famous quote: 'The pen is mightier than the sword.", whereas the JH16 begs to differ, more suiting the quote: "The sword is mightier than the pen." The JH13 is like a cold and calculated killer (like an assassin!), and the JH16 is a flashy and revenge-motivated killer (like a pissed off dude!), if that analogy makes any sense 

.
 
In summary, I do not think the JH13 and JH16 are as similar as people point out. Yes, their sound signature is relatively the same and they share the same JH house sound. However, in terms of personality they actually sound really different from each other, in a good way (to me).

Thank you, SolidVictory!! That's exactly the sort of answer / comparison I was hoping to find, instead of reading thru countless posts and still coming out confused. Lol.
 
Now I'm more clearer on the differences between the 2. Just a matter of deciding which one I would prefer more. Hopefully by the time i decide and save up enough for one of these, Jerry doesnt go adding another custom to the mix and throw a wrench in the works for me! Hahaha.
 
 

 

[karthdh]

Got the 15% discount from sound earphones!. The SM3 V2s arrived yesterday, enjoying them right now.

 

[i2ehan]

Welcome my friend! Do post your impressions if and when time permits.

 

[karthdh]

Thanks i2ehan!. Thanks to everyone in this thread, your comments helped me to pull the trigger and get the SM3 V2s. I think i like the sound signature from initial hearings. Let me post my impressions after some time when they set in.

 

[Heret1c]

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Thanks i2ehan!. Thanks to everyone in this thread, your comments helped me to pull the trigger and get the SM3 V2s. I think i like the sound signature from initial hearings. Let me post my impressions after some time when they set in.

Cant wait!

 

[Freefallr4545]

look forward to hearing your impressions also

 

[i2ehan]

Just thought I'd share, I was fiddling with different tips, and even cables, and coupled with the JH16 stock cable and the Atrio tips (pictured below), the two brought back my love for the SM3's. I had forgotten how powerful the SM3's bass was, even without the Zo. Though as of late, I'm finding it harder and harder to get past the RE262/RE272 signature. Nonetheless, I've decided to dedicate the entire day today to the SM3's, to see if they can, yet again, draw me in as they once did.

 

 

[keanex]

These are so nice looking, I'd love to her them.

 

[dogears]

@i2, of course a comparo [RE262<>SM3] would be very

TIA!

 

[i2ehan]

Will do my friend, when the time permits, since I don't want to rush and mislead anyone, and more importantly, my own ears, for that matter.

 

[Heret1c]

Ooh this thread seems to have been somewhat revived. Hehe. Agree with dogears, would love to hear your comparison between the Sm3s and RE262 / 272 @ i2ehan.
 

 

[-y0-]

What would one say the sound is worth, <$350 or >$350?

 

[Heret1c]

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What would one say the sound is worth, <$350 or >$350?

Hmm, kinda hard  to put a price on these sort of things, really. To me the SM3 sounds absolutely amazing and I would pay good money for it. But I dunno if i''d pay more than $350 for any universal, really. I guess $300-350 is a decent starting point for it but given that its been awhile for so long now, its street price should be less.
 
So to me, its sound is worth >$350 as it can very easily compete with IEMs costing $400 and above, i.e W4, Final Audio Heaven series, etc. Maybe even the Sony EX1000 but i haven't heard this myself. But I still think my logic is flawed in that sense. Like I said, its hard to put a price on it, at least for me.
 
Hope that helped answer your question, somehow.
 
 

 

[i2ehan]

After nearly half the day with the SM3's in, I decided to end my night with the RE262's, and am sure glad I did. While the SM3's sound  is exceptionally engaging, the RE262 takes mids to another level altogether. I found this to no surprise, since the RE262' mids, to my ears, excel even those of the W4, and all other universals I've heard to date for that matter, excluding the EX1000 which isn't at all too far off. I personally find the midrange to be the most important factor within a signature. That's merely my opinion of course, and heavily varies from genre to genre. On that note, the 262's mids are simply crystal clear, and as of yet, IMHO, nothing I've heard stands in direct comparison. I hope I'm able to sit down and properly A/B the two sometime this week, but for the time being, there wasn't a single vocal track where I preferred the SM3 to the RE262, plain and simple. Again, I speak only on my own behalf.
 
Where the RE262 is warm & sweet, the SM3 is warmER & sweetER, and may very well be the preferred choice for certain listeners. Either one is most certainly an acquired taste, and carries with it a love/hate relationship IMO. With regards to staging, the RE262 offers better width (approaching an 'out of head' feel, much like my EX1000's, though comparitively to a slightly lesser extent of course) in comparison to the SM3's more intimate/engaging sound. Nevertheless, the SM3's mids feel more in balance with the rest of the spectrum, that is to say, when compared directly to the RE262's brilliantly accentuated mids of course. In other words, I find it much more difficult to draw my attention away from the 262's mids, while not so difficult to appreciate the rest of the spectrum with the SM3's. However, It seems that these ears have now come to prefer the former. The SM3's lows, however, pack considerbaly more impact than the 262's; then again, that's what the ZO is for.

 In the end, my initial prediction was quite right, and it seems that while still amongst my top favorite in-ears, I've grown accustomed to a different sound than that of the SM3. For the time being, my ears are most drawn towards the EX1000, first and foremost, followed by the RE262/RE272. I suppose beyond the sake of comparison, I bid my beloved SM3's adieu, and most probably won't be revisiting them again.
 
With all that said, I wish to remind everyone that my choice between the SM3 and RE262 is based solely and exclusively on preference, and preference alone. They are both exceptional in their own right, and completely unique from one another. I've no trouble believing that some listeners may label the SM3 levels above the RE262, and vice versa, whether it be in the technical sense or something or another. If there's anything I've disovered in my last 3 months of being active here at Head-Fi, it's that of nearly 2 dozen unniversals I've come to own, they're all completely unique from one another (with the exception of maybe the CK10 and DBA-02, which to my ears certainly share a resemblance, more or less), and for anyone to claim that one is 'better' than the other, it's almost always based upon preference. There are always exceptions of course. Those content with the SM3 should have no doubts in that they own one of the most competent universals out there IMO, and the same goes for the RE262 owners. Let your ears decide for themselves, else you'll never truly know what's best.