Top-Tier Universal IEM Comparison Chart, Frequency Response Charts, & Discussion

[12345142]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tr4visphu0ng /img/forum/go_quote.gif How can a product this good is not well known, I blame bad marketing )

More like lack thereof. After all, most of the non-stock headphones you'd see nowadays are the heavily-marketed ones, like Monster Beats and Bose. Let's not get into Skullcandy. Actually, let's not derail this thread into a marketing discussion.

I would be interested in Earsonics' models, but the lack of any silicone tips is a real deterrent.

 

[average_joe]

Yes, no silicon tips included. Franck told me they will have another sized foam available soon. I am going to test some different ear tips, which I ordered from the UK last week, and will report on how they work for me. At some point I will probably also get custom sleeves. But, yes, more money for this product.

If the SM3 weren't so good, I wouldn't think it was worth it!

 

[tr4visphu0ng]

i really hope it's worth it, i'm selling my se530 and ie8 for it...
after this, there's probably only one way to go, custom, or stop.

 

[MayaTlab]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tr4visphu0ng /img/forum/go_quote.gif i really hope it's worth it, i'm selling my se530 and ie8 for it... after this, there's probably only one way to go, custom, or stop.

Taking sound signature out of the equation, I think my SM2 are technically at the very least on par with my IE8 and ahead of the SE530 I tried a few months ago. So the SM3 cannot be worse

 

[tr4visphu0ng]

thanks for reassuring my decision

 

[Somnambulist]

Bookmarked that, cheers TR4. I like the fact I can just get the SM3 here in the UK with the minimum of fuss, but cost-wise it's about triple the price of the DBA-02s, which I was also thinking about. Considering the FX700 too but I'm fussy about comfort and fit (ironic given my current IEMs!) and given most of my portable listening is done in places were I want to block out a lot of outside noise and also move about and not have them work their way out of my ears, I think they're scratched off the list.

If it helps with any suggestions, I'll be using an S:Flo2 and my listening preferences are all over the place, but most of it is fairly contemporary; guitars, basslines, some interesting vocal techniques, complex drumming, slow and gentle, brutal and fast. I can and want to indulge my ears in the top-tier, it's just choice makes me terribly indecisive.

 

[ericp10]

Quote:

Originally Posted by KLS /img/forum/go_quote.gif Pics in ear Not a good example though. Hope owners of these will post some pics of their own.

That model has small ears. Mine go in deep and the body actually rests inside the cup of my ear a little. Now I think the Radius may not be a problem for me.

 

[koonhua90]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ericp10 /img/forum/go_quote.gif That model has small ears. Mine go in deep and the body actually rests inside the cup of my ear a little. Now I think the Radius may not be a problem for me.

Agreed. Mine goes in much deeper too. The angled nozzle is a clever design. I think that, if the nozzle is not angled in such a way, it would not fit in easily.

 

[feverfive]

Great. Terrific. Looks like more $$ will be fleeing my wallet as the SM3 have piqued my interest. Shame about the lack of stock tips packed w/ them, however.

 

[KLS]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ericp10 /img/forum/go_quote.gif That model has small ears. Mine go in deep and the body actually rests inside the cup of my ear a little. Now I think the Radius may not be a problem for me.

Quote:

Originally Posted by koonhua90 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Agreed. Mine goes in much deeper too. The angled nozzle is a clever design. I think that, if the nozzle is not angled in such a way, it would not fit in easily.

She is using the smallest silicone tips I think lol...

 

[average_joe]

I just posted some of my thoughts from A/Bing the SM3 and e-Q7 here.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tr4visphu0ng /img/forum/go_quote.gif i really hope it's worth it, i'm selling my se530 and ie8 for it... after this, there's probably only one way to go, custom, or stop.

I think so...IE8 width with much better 3D space and a much more liquid presentation. Imaging better than the CK10 and transparency as good as the e-Q7. Powerful, reverberant bass, extended treble. It's all there! That's how I am hearing it!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Somnambulist /img/forum/go_quote.gif If it helps with any suggestions, I'll be using an S:Flo2 and my listening preferences are all over the place, but most of it is fairly contemporary; guitars, basslines, some interesting vocal techniques, complex drumming, slow and gentle, brutal and fast. I can and want to indulge my ears in the top-tier, it's just choice makes me terribly indecisive.

Some day my S:flo2 may ship, and then I will know about the synergy of the SM3. As shigzeo says, it is easy to drive. But IMO the better the DAC, the better the SM3 does. It really isn't challenged by, say, my iPod 5.5g HPO, but from the Fuze it does better. Then, when you get to even better sources like my 5.5g line out or my HUD-MX1 or Prodigy HiFi 7.1 it really can perform. Kinda like a supercar that can't show it's potential on surface streets. And that analogy holds true with rough roads being hard on a supercar, well, poorly mastered songs are exposed in all their, well, poor sound.

But with well recorded guitars, basslines, vocals, complex drumming, etc., the SM3 beats everything I have heard...

 

[Somnambulist]

I think you've twisted my arm.

Just need to sell some stuff to fund my purchase. Hopefully by then you'll have your S:Flo2 to tell us more, I was lucky enough to get one off eBay from a member here, so I haven't had to deal with the terrible wait for the 3rd batch.

 

[Pianist]

Man, I really want to get these, but sadly I will have to sell my e-Q7, AMP3, MiniBox E+ and RE0 to be able to afford them. But if it is worth it, I sure don't mind. How do the SM3s perform unamped?

 

[Pianist]

lol I must be going crazy. I am selling pretty much all my audio gear right now to fund these SM3s. My RE0 is gone. MiniBox E+ is next on the list. I really hope I am not making a big mistake...

 

[Young Spade]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pianist /img/forum/go_quote.gif lol I must be going crazy. I am selling pretty much all my audio gear right now to fund these SM3s. My RE0 is gone. MiniBox E+ is next on the list. I really hope I am not making a big mistake...

IMO you should make sure that they are that much better than the e-Q7s. After reading tons of comparisons from you and other members about the Ortofons/UM3Xs and using the 3Xs first hand, I can see that these phones would be damn hard to beat, although of course there's always better.