[APWiseman]

I hate this new hobby

. It forces me to spend so much money, for sound equivalent to my dad's all McIntosh rig into a convenient portable rig. Right now I'm using Westone UM2 with a D2+ and Nuforce Icon Mobile.

I want to upgrade and make the higher frequencies more forward, but not cause fatigue like my previous Super Fi 3. This should help create a bigger sound stage I think. I love the bass of the UM2, and notice in some songs of that dominant mid bass hump people are talking about. I bought the Icon Mobile to brighten the music and it has helped balance it somewhat...but I want better now.

What IEMs should I be looking at now? Or should I look at another amp?

 

[decay]

UM3X, higher frequencies are more forward, overall sound more natural, less mid bass
hump, bigger soundstage, to some the most non-fatiguing thing second to ES3X,
no real need for amp.

 

[shubhangam]

PFE or UM3X !

 

[decay]

PFE will need a good portable amp to sound better, UM3X by itself is more convenient.

 

[APWiseman]

Quote:

Originally Posted by decay /img/forum/go_quote.gif PFE will need a good portable amp to sound better, UM3X by itself is more convenient.

Why would the PFEs need an amp vs. the UM3X? Sorry, I am a head-fi noob.

 

[decay]

the PFEs unamped has smaller headstage, less bass quantity, and don't reach as low. With the black filter and eq they could/should improve, but they only shine when paired with a quality amp (better than iBasso T4)