I'll wait for your SM3|K2 mids comparison. It's also warmER and sweetER than the MDR-7550.
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.
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.
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.
Thanks for that comparo i2ehan. I have to strike the RE262 from list then - me likes ^mids
sended my sm3 v1 to fix unblance issue that been having for a while (warranty almost expired), frank offered me an upgrade to v2 for a lower price so i took it
i don't expect a diffrent sound signeture but i hope there be an improvement in the comfort zone
i realy need to find better source than the cowon s9
sended my sm3 v1 to fix unblance issue that been having for a while (warranty almost expired), frank offered me an upgrade to v2 for a lower price so i took it
i don't expect a diffrent sound signeture but i hope there be an improvement in the comfort zone
i realy need to find better source than the cowon s9
My apologies fellas, if what I said may have sounded as though it contradicts what my preference falls upon. When I say the I prefer the RE262's forward mids, it's always in reference to another in-ear (to the SM3 in this case). It's not as simple as simply bringing the mids forward. Instead, the RE262 renders midrange detail and clarity better than any other in-ear I've heard to date, while in that very regard, the EX1000 is a very close second to my ears. No, the EX1000 is nowhere near as mid-centric as the RE262 is, but my preference falls upon the EX1000 with reference to the entire signature (as compared to any other in-ear), while it's really the mids that draw me in with reference to the RE262 (as compared to the SM3), and I've little left to critique the RE262's highs and lows for since I feel they're presence is just right to my ears. Neither the EX, nor the RE is perfect however, because if not now, I'm confident that they'll meet their match for even my ears; albeit there may a universal out there already, which I've yet to hear that excels both, and if and when I do find a sound more suitable, you have my word, I'll be the first to admit it.
I'm not at all a reviewee by any means my friend, and I'm not saying that to humble myself before anyone. Up until now, anything I've posted has always reflected my impressions, of which I don't expect for anyone to use as a means of reference, since there are many experienced and well articulated reviews here on head-fi which are aimed to be just that. If ever I've said anything to the contrary, then I apologize in advance, as I certainly didn't intend for it that way.
Trust me when I say, I've tried all the bells and whistles with the SM3, ever since my initial purchase 3 months ago when conducting my comparison thread. That includes both the original and the V2. The Atrio tips I posted above work best for my ears, and reproduce the sound with the least amount of veil, when compared to all other tips I've tried. Flanges in general work best for my ears, after which my trusty Comply T-400's are always there as a backup.
