Any recommended cables for the L3?
ThieAudio Legacy Series IEMs
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thejoneser
100+ Head-Fier
I have no issues with driver flex when inserting them. I also don’t have any fit issues as some have mentioned on YouTube.
robervaul
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If someone had the opportunity to compare L3 vs ISN H40 it would be phenomenal.
Alright here's my review of the ThieAudio Legacy 3s after about 5 days of use:
I'm just want to start by saying that there's kind of a lot of hype around these right now, some of which I do think is well deserved particularly at a price point of around $120-130 for the universals. They're absolutely some of the best and most refined IEMs I've heard in this price range. However, I do want to advise those waiting on these right now to temper their expectations just a little bit. The L3s are not world beaters, particularly when it comes to certain technicalities. That being said, they are some of the most fun, musical, nuanced, and coherent hybrids that I've heard in this range, and punch solidly above their weight. Now, let's get into my full impressions.
Sound Signature: I'd describe the sound signature of the L3s as confident, rich, and engaging. They play music with vibrancy, completeness, and energy, regardless of the genre you're listening to. The tonality is on the warm side, though by no means dark. I'll get into it in more detail below, but the bass is absolutely phenomenal to my ears. There's also a very nice refinement and realism to instruments and vocals, which are pushed forward to a tasteful degree. The L3s also never become harsh and are very easy to listen to for long periods of time, making them an exceptionally versatile IEM. The sound is actually surprisingly coherent for a sub-$150 hybrid, and the tuning is top notch. Overall, while there are a few deficiencies that hold the L3s back from entering absolute legendary status, these are definitely worth the money in my opinion.
Bass: If you're like me and love quality DD bass in your IEMs, there's no doubt in my mind that you'll love the bass on the L3s. It's just excellent, probably some of the best I've heard at any price range to be honest. It's not insanely overpowering (and might not be quite enough for pure bassheads without EQ), but it's very well textured, weighty, and impactful. Overall the L3s are pretty balanced throughout the bass frequency range, with a slight mid-bass emphasis. That being said, the bass extends to fantastic depths with almost no roll-off. It's also got a great level of detail and variation - upright bass sounds excellent and you can feel the pluck of the string even at the lowest register. Lower range drums and percussion, whether in a band or orchestral setting, sound hefty with a speedy attack. On electronic, reggae, hip-hop, and funk music, the rumble is clean, epic, and provides an engulfing effect without infringing on the lower mid-range. The one thing I will say is that those looking for a flat response should look elsewhere, but I do think the tonal balance is pretty great.
Mids: The mids on the L3s are great in my opinion. They are definitely a bit forward, so those that want a little more laid back sound might not love it. I actually love a good mid-forward presentation, and in terms of mid-range quality these do not disappoint. The timbre is fantastic and natural, there's zero BA weirdness, instruments and vocals sound just right. There's also a good amount of detail for the price, and it never feels like anything is missing. While the L3s are not super analytic detail monsters, there's absolutely enough here to make music feel alive and full. What's really impressive is the amount of nuance and refinement. For instance, the various tonal qualities of different brass instruments or high mid percussion or various stringed instruments (I was a semi-professional violinist for over 15 years so I'm very sensitive to crappy sounding strings), are all immediately discernible and apparent. This makes music feel quite vibrant. Vocals are also really nice, striking a good balance between revealing and smooth. These won't blow your mind with microdetails, but the more I listened to them the more I appreciated the subtleties that they're able to produce, particularly for the price.
Highs: The highs are quite good, particularly in the lower-high range, but the very top end is a bit pulled back for my liking. I'm not someone who wants to be inundated with sharp, piercing highs, but I do feel that the highs are a bit too safe and definitely take a backseat to the bass and mids. There are some qualities that I do like though. For one, as is the theme of the L3s, the actual tonality is very well done - cymbals have a realistic attack and decay, and flutes sound breathy and pure. The treble also extends nicely, and sounds particularly good on well done electronic music and jazz. The lower-treble is also clean and clear without ever becoming harsh and there's a solid amount of detail and separation for the price range. The only thing is that on very busy tracks, the top end can feel too far back in the mix. It's there but you have to really listen for it. This is definitely a matter of personal preference, but I find that this is where the L3s are being held back a little. Overall though, I do appreciate that these are not fatiguing while remaining engaging and lively over long listening sessions.
Soundstage/Imaging: I think this is an area where expectations need to be tempered a little. The actual stage on the L3s is not very wide and mostly resides within your head. I'd say slightly below average even in the price range, though there is some depth here and I do hear certain things from front to back. There's also good instrument separation and it never feels too congested. Part of this has to do with great imaging. Each element of the music has its distinct and logical place in the mix. Further, the locational accuracy is actually very good, evidenced by strong performance on binaural recordings.
Accessories: I'll start with the bad - the eartips are pretty terrible. While they create a decent seal, they're stiff, not very comfortable and to my ears they crush the highs a bit. I'm using Final Audio E series tips right now, which work really nicely and noticeably improve the sound, comfort, and isolation. The cable on the other hand is super nice. It's got a rubber weave structure that rejects tangles and microphonics very well. It's also got a sturdy 3.5 connector and is not too long or too short for me.
Look/Fit: This is obviously a very subjective category. Regarding look, I opted for the Mystique colorway, which I did not love when looking at pictures online but liked more than the clockwork faceplate. They actually look much better in person and in the ears. Much more subtle and premium than I was expecting. Still not my favorite but I'm happy with it. The fit for me is great, as they remain comfortable in my ears for hours at a time. They're smaller than I was expecting them to be based on pictures. The cable puts a little strain on the top of my ear where it wraps around after about 1.5 hours of listening, but it's not bad at all.
Conclusion: Overall, the L3s are a truly engaging and versatile IEM with excellent timbre, a refined mid-range, and fantastic bass response. While they are not super analytical and don't have an expansive 3D soundstage (not many IEMs do at this price point anyway), they are probably my favorite entry-level IEM at the moment.
I'm just want to start by saying that there's kind of a lot of hype around these right now, some of which I do think is well deserved particularly at a price point of around $120-130 for the universals. They're absolutely some of the best and most refined IEMs I've heard in this price range. However, I do want to advise those waiting on these right now to temper their expectations just a little bit. The L3s are not world beaters, particularly when it comes to certain technicalities. That being said, they are some of the most fun, musical, nuanced, and coherent hybrids that I've heard in this range, and punch solidly above their weight. Now, let's get into my full impressions.
Sound Signature: I'd describe the sound signature of the L3s as confident, rich, and engaging. They play music with vibrancy, completeness, and energy, regardless of the genre you're listening to. The tonality is on the warm side, though by no means dark. I'll get into it in more detail below, but the bass is absolutely phenomenal to my ears. There's also a very nice refinement and realism to instruments and vocals, which are pushed forward to a tasteful degree. The L3s also never become harsh and are very easy to listen to for long periods of time, making them an exceptionally versatile IEM. The sound is actually surprisingly coherent for a sub-$150 hybrid, and the tuning is top notch. Overall, while there are a few deficiencies that hold the L3s back from entering absolute legendary status, these are definitely worth the money in my opinion.
Bass: If you're like me and love quality DD bass in your IEMs, there's no doubt in my mind that you'll love the bass on the L3s. It's just excellent, probably some of the best I've heard at any price range to be honest. It's not insanely overpowering (and might not be quite enough for pure bassheads without EQ), but it's very well textured, weighty, and impactful. Overall the L3s are pretty balanced throughout the bass frequency range, with a slight mid-bass emphasis. That being said, the bass extends to fantastic depths with almost no roll-off. It's also got a great level of detail and variation - upright bass sounds excellent and you can feel the pluck of the string even at the lowest register. Lower range drums and percussion, whether in a band or orchestral setting, sound hefty with a speedy attack. On electronic, reggae, hip-hop, and funk music, the rumble is clean, epic, and provides an engulfing effect without infringing on the lower mid-range. The one thing I will say is that those looking for a flat response should look elsewhere, but I do think the tonal balance is pretty great.
Mids: The mids on the L3s are great in my opinion. They are definitely a bit forward, so those that want a little more laid back sound might not love it. I actually love a good mid-forward presentation, and in terms of mid-range quality these do not disappoint. The timbre is fantastic and natural, there's zero BA weirdness, instruments and vocals sound just right. There's also a good amount of detail for the price, and it never feels like anything is missing. While the L3s are not super analytic detail monsters, there's absolutely enough here to make music feel alive and full. What's really impressive is the amount of nuance and refinement. For instance, the various tonal qualities of different brass instruments or high mid percussion or various stringed instruments (I was a semi-professional violinist for over 15 years so I'm very sensitive to crappy sounding strings), are all immediately discernible and apparent. This makes music feel quite vibrant. Vocals are also really nice, striking a good balance between revealing and smooth. These won't blow your mind with microdetails, but the more I listened to them the more I appreciated the subtleties that they're able to produce, particularly for the price.
Highs: The highs are quite good, particularly in the lower-high range, but the very top end is a bit pulled back for my liking. I'm not someone who wants to be inundated with sharp, piercing highs, but I do feel that the highs are a bit too safe and definitely take a backseat to the bass and mids. There are some qualities that I do like though. For one, as is the theme of the L3s, the actual tonality is very well done - cymbals have a realistic attack and decay, and flutes sound breathy and pure. The treble also extends nicely, and sounds particularly good on well done electronic music and jazz. The lower-treble is also clean and clear without ever becoming harsh and there's a solid amount of detail and separation for the price range. The only thing is that on very busy tracks, the top end can feel too far back in the mix. It's there but you have to really listen for it. This is definitely a matter of personal preference, but I find that this is where the L3s are being held back a little. Overall though, I do appreciate that these are not fatiguing while remaining engaging and lively over long listening sessions.
Soundstage/Imaging: I think this is an area where expectations need to be tempered a little. The actual stage on the L3s is not very wide and mostly resides within your head. I'd say slightly below average even in the price range, though there is some depth here and I do hear certain things from front to back. There's also good instrument separation and it never feels too congested. Part of this has to do with great imaging. Each element of the music has its distinct and logical place in the mix. Further, the locational accuracy is actually very good, evidenced by strong performance on binaural recordings.
Accessories: I'll start with the bad - the eartips are pretty terrible. While they create a decent seal, they're stiff, not very comfortable and to my ears they crush the highs a bit. I'm using Final Audio E series tips right now, which work really nicely and noticeably improve the sound, comfort, and isolation. The cable on the other hand is super nice. It's got a rubber weave structure that rejects tangles and microphonics very well. It's also got a sturdy 3.5 connector and is not too long or too short for me.
Look/Fit: This is obviously a very subjective category. Regarding look, I opted for the Mystique colorway, which I did not love when looking at pictures online but liked more than the clockwork faceplate. They actually look much better in person and in the ears. Much more subtle and premium than I was expecting. Still not my favorite but I'm happy with it. The fit for me is great, as they remain comfortable in my ears for hours at a time. They're smaller than I was expecting them to be based on pictures. The cable puts a little strain on the top of my ear where it wraps around after about 1.5 hours of listening, but it's not bad at all.
Conclusion: Overall, the L3s are a truly engaging and versatile IEM with excellent timbre, a refined mid-range, and fantastic bass response. While they are not super analytical and don't have an expansive 3D soundstage (not many IEMs do at this price point anyway), they are probably my favorite entry-level IEM at the moment.
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Forgot to mention this but most of my testing was done with both the dip switches up - i.e. the "detailed" setting. This was my favorite as it brought out the highs a little and I actually found the stage widened slightly with this setting on. Dip switches don't change the sound too much tho imo.
Tempted to grab a pair given its price.
You mentioned "a few deficiencies that hold the L3s back from entering absolute legendary status ", aside from the treble extension and soundstage, are there any more areas where this set is lacking? Also, what is your benchmark for a "legendary set" out of the iems that you've tried/owned? I really like the CA Atlas for its dynamism and 64audio Trio for the same reason... I was wondering if you'd heard either of these and... if you have, where the tuning of this set falls in relation...
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Hey man, thanks for reading! It's kind of difficult to find too much at fault at this price point in my opinion. They sound really good to me. The soundstage is definitely not ideal, limits the amount of expansiveness that the sound can have on certain tracks, and detail retrieval is not revolutionary, but still very good. I really think that overall though, these are fantastic all rounders for the price.
Regarding your second question, I don't own any IEMs in the $1000+ price range at the moment so kinda tough to comment on that. Never tried anything from 64Audio though definitely would like to
. I was kind of using the term legendary to signify a "giant killer," and while I couldn't A/B bc of where I'm staying right now, I have owned the Fearless S8F (though sold it), tried the Andromedas in store, and listened to a friend's Z1R in the past and I can confidently say that the L3s are not going to reach those levels of technicalities. However, in their price range, I like them quite a bit more than the Blon 03, Starfields, Shozy 1.1, and Final Audio E4000. If you're looking for dynamism in your music, these definitely produce an energetic and lively sound that also has really great tonality and does not lack in refinement. There's no doubt for me that they're worth the $120 and then some.I would have prefered more sub-bass and impact for EDM. IMO their biggest flaw is trying to please everyone. While the bass is emphasized, for me, around 1-2db sub-bass is missing. This opens up the opportunity to have really detailed mids and highs, but they pulled the upper treble back. Their strongest point is still the bass, which is clean and has strong impact for most genres. I already have some sets which have more engaging vocals and better treble presentation, making the L3 a jack of all trades for me. If you don't need exaggerated bass for EDM, the bass is the best thing about them.
Summarized, the L3 is an all-rounder for most genres. Really great for people who tend to only have one set at a time and not bad for enthusiasts to have for a relaxed listening session.
Dualscreens2
New Head-Fier
Honestly i hate to say this but I'm not impressed with this legacy 3. I put both dip switchs in every position. The Jade Audio EA3 out performs this set in every category. I wasnt impressed with the moondrop starfield either. The EA3 has ruined every headphone for me even before burn in. Only other headphone i was inpressed with was the oh10. The legacy 3 sounds like what i imagined the voyager 3 would sound like in the bass department. This is very disappointing. Will try to return these or sell them. The vocals are SHOUTY at higher volumes. Cant get the drums in my ears without some punk or b**** shouting infront of it. Waste of money.Hey man, thanks for reading! It's kind of difficult to find too much at fault at this price point in my opinion. They sound really good to me. The soundstage is definitely not ideal, limits the amount of expansiveness that the sound can have on certain tracks, and detail retrieval is not revolutionary, but still very good. I really think that overall though, these are fantastic all rounders for the price.
Regarding your second question, I don't own any IEMs in the $1000+ price range at the moment so kinda tough to comment on that. Never tried anything from 64Audio though definitely would like to
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uncola
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Great second post 
If you hit them with a little sub bass EQ it does wonders
@tma6 did you try other tips than Final Audio and is there a difference in sound stage / treble with other tips?
My Legacy 3 order was shipped 15 days ago and has not yet left China... 
Soundstageluvr
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Mine will be delivered Monday of next week. So it's going to take 20 days for my L3's to be delivered. This Covid-19 thing sucks.My Legacy 3 order was shipped 15 days ago and has not yet left China...
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