Thanks bro, is have you tried both samba and flamenco? I'm really interested in them, sounds like a cooler more engaged and detailed S-em9 to me.
What's the difference between Samba and Flamenco?
Yes, I have. The Samba is crisper, brighter, and drier overall compared to the Flamenco with both switches down. The bass response is the only region where this differs, where the Flamenco is brighter and airier in tonality and neutral in impact, while the Samba's sub-bass is much more pronounced, and mid-bass more dark.
They both have transparent and clear midranges that are closer to neutral than natural. I can't recall how they differ in this region specifically, but it's worth noting that they both have a midrange that's airy and articulate, but rather "small" if that makes sense; although it's technically proficient, it's not the most soulful, or euphonic, or rich midrange. Though, with the bass switch up, the Flamenco has a rather hefty lower midrange that compensates for this at the cost of a bit of coherence.
The upper-midrange of the Samba is significantly more pronounced, leading to the impression of more clarity and air, but this causes the Samba to become a more fatiguing IEM than the Flamenco when heard at the same listening volumes. The Flamenco's upper midrange and treble can somewhat simulate this with the treble switch up, but there's a certain hardness to the Samba's treble that's not present even in this configuration; the Flamenco will always come out smoother. However, due to the Flamenco's superior extension, resolution, instrument placement and instrument body on the Flamenco supercede that of the Samba.
Soundstage-wise, they both present engaging, proportionate, and rather intimate soundstages, compared to the competition. Although, great imaging and stage organisation prevents its soundscape from ever becoming congested, closed-in, or messy. The Samba has the airier presentation with (arguably) a blacker background, while the Flamenco's superior extension and instrument reproduction presents a stabler image with a more realistic and "physical" aural image.