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- Jun 5, 2003
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iponderous-
Welcome back! The place was rather boring without your writing style.
The differences are pretty big. Over time, I've grown to prefer the DDM's to the FX700's because of their smoothness in the highs. Their stage is more 3D than the FX700's, but maybe not quite as wide. They are very similar to the IE8's, but with a slightly better level of clarity and treble, and more 3D soundstage there too. The bass is quite similar to the IE8's but not as mid-bass oriented and chesty.
Now enter the SM3's.... they are much clearer than the DDM's, and yet are even smoother in the upper end somehow (I don't know how they pull off their level of clarity, detail, and relaxed manner. I've never heard anything like that rich combination they have). The soundstage is perhaps not quite as wide as the DDM's or FX700's, but when recordings have a highly surrounding space, they convey that in spades. They make all the other earphones I've had seem very localized, and one axis so to speak. Some owners have commented they don't like that aspect of the SM3's, which supposedly makes them sound unnaturally expanded or something, but I really like this immersive quality. Along with their detail, this space gives instruments fantastic space to breathe, and you find yourself noticing new details you hadn't heard before (as cliched as this saying is, it's true with them). Bass is not quite as deep or impactful as with the DDM's, but is the best of any BA I've heard, including the TF10's and Westone 3's. It's quick, and can stop on a dime. They can make even the DDM's sound a bit flabby in the low end.
One other thing, the DDM's don't isolate for anything, and are more of a sit at your desk type of listen, while the SM3's isolate much better. So if you're trying to choose between the two, that should come into play. But then again, there's the price difference- the DDM can be had for about $150 USD, and the SM3 goes for close to $400.
Welcome back! The place was rather boring without your writing style.
The differences are pretty big. Over time, I've grown to prefer the DDM's to the FX700's because of their smoothness in the highs. Their stage is more 3D than the FX700's, but maybe not quite as wide. They are very similar to the IE8's, but with a slightly better level of clarity and treble, and more 3D soundstage there too. The bass is quite similar to the IE8's but not as mid-bass oriented and chesty.
Now enter the SM3's.... they are much clearer than the DDM's, and yet are even smoother in the upper end somehow (I don't know how they pull off their level of clarity, detail, and relaxed manner. I've never heard anything like that rich combination they have). The soundstage is perhaps not quite as wide as the DDM's or FX700's, but when recordings have a highly surrounding space, they convey that in spades. They make all the other earphones I've had seem very localized, and one axis so to speak. Some owners have commented they don't like that aspect of the SM3's, which supposedly makes them sound unnaturally expanded or something, but I really like this immersive quality. Along with their detail, this space gives instruments fantastic space to breathe, and you find yourself noticing new details you hadn't heard before (as cliched as this saying is, it's true with them). Bass is not quite as deep or impactful as with the DDM's, but is the best of any BA I've heard, including the TF10's and Westone 3's. It's quick, and can stop on a dime. They can make even the DDM's sound a bit flabby in the low end.
One other thing, the DDM's don't isolate for anything, and are more of a sit at your desk type of listen, while the SM3's isolate much better. So if you're trying to choose between the two, that should come into play. But then again, there's the price difference- the DDM can be had for about $150 USD, and the SM3 goes for close to $400.
, thanks for your help btw. i sent an email to unique melody asking if they can do a remold. actually, i wouldn't count on it, but who knows?
