Guys forgive me for posting non-KZ related discussion here.
MT300 and TRI i3 Comparison:
These two are quite close in abilities and both quite satisfying to me.
Both IEMs are tribrids, so they each have a DD (handling bass for both) and BA (handling mids on the MT300 and highs on the I3). Additionally the MT300 has a TDK electrostatic driver for the highs while the I3 has a Planar magnetic driver for the mids. As you can imagine with a planar magnetic driver and electrostatic tweeter, they both shine when given lots of power but will not disappoint on a mobile phone.
They both sound very good to my ears. I have had great fun comparing these two.
The MT300 has good sub-bass with a mid-bass which has good impact. Overall the MT300 bass, is well defined, has good texture and is impactful. The TRI I3 on the other hand, has a highly potent sub-bass, which reminds me of REL subwoofers, in the background subtlety transmitting to you the viseral notes in your music....hmm! Sometimes, just sometimes, you want to feel your bass rather than be hit over the head with bass, the I3 does sub-bass so well. Again they both do mid-bass very well, so that bass is not just slam, it has definition, body and weight, while being dynamic, good quality bass, not just hard-hitting.
The MT300 mids are delightful and render voices and instruments with much detail and texture. Although, the two IEMs are not very far apart in their mids, I have to say, the planar magnetic driver gives the I3s a touch more than most Balanced Amatures can deliver. For me, every note rendered by the planar magnetic driver just sounds correct, whatever type of music I am listening to.
Highs on the MT300 are definitely incredibly pleasant and to me better than the I3s' highs. The detail retrieval across the two IEMs is very good, although neither is tuned to have you standing at attention analysing each and every note, they are both tuned to be more musical than analytical yet both retrieve substantial detail so you do not miss out on anything. The TDK electrostatic tweeter on the MT300 raises the bar a touch above the highs on the I3s.
The great thing about both sets is the natural timbre of instruments. To my ears, whether I am listening to piano, double bass, drums, cymbals, cello or saxophone.....etc, they both sound so realistic, near perfect timbral accuracy.
I hope I have given you a fair idea about how the MT300 and the TRI I3 compare to each other. It is a shame that the price of MT300 has gone back up, but I think we all played a part in raising the price here on Head-fi.
I used Dunu DUW02 cables on both of them (2 pin to MMCX converter) with the same set of silicone tips, plugged into the Fiio BTR5.
Both sets are really good, but if I was forced to choose one set, it will have to be the TRI I3s, the sub-bass speaks to me!
Now time for me to read
@1clearhead's comparison of the MT300 and LZ A7.