I've said this before - To these ears, there is better SQ on the ES3X, but some people would think it's almost a life-altering experience type of SQ improvement over the UM3X's. To me, if you've already heard the UM3X's -- in my case getting perfect fit, comfort & great SQ with soft grey tips -- the improvement I get from my ES3X is NOT massive, ie yes, there is improvement, but not to the extent some people might think, and I'm sure honest listeners would admit this as long as they got a good fit on both IEM's - the improvement on the ES3X over the UM3X is NOT exceptional, but then again, what you may call exceptional I may simply call good. Or if I said, for instance, that the ES3X sounded 15% better you might call that exceptional/ extraordinary, and others might just call say 'yeah, sounds (a bit) better'.
In my case that 15% (or whatever %) extra is worth the upgrade and I have no regrets about getting my ES3X's and I do enjoy them immensely but I believe it is NOT worth the more than double the cost to a lot of other people. Already $330-$379 for the UM3X IS a lot of money, that kind of money is already REALLY providing high-end sound.
Now, re: the mids and vocal presentation I may be wrong but I think only soozieq (perhaps one more person?) has actually found the mids/ vocals 'in your face' -- no problem there as we all have our sound preferences. The problem I see is when already new posters say things like 'some people find the UM3X's vocal presentation in your face'. Not everyone reads ALL (specially very long) threads, and comments like that don't help, but I guess that's practically inevitable. These comments then get read by others, and suddenly you read other threads where people start repeating such claims, even using the exact same words and...well, you catch my drift.
I personally find the mids absolutely fantastic and find they're are very very very similar to the ES3X's! -- not yet found people not only not saying the ES3X's vocals/ mids delivery to be 'in your face' but no complaints whatsoever on the whole mid-range. Of course, we mustn't forget all the different tips we all use, ear shapes, and so on. At least with customs there seems to be a more general consensus as to what some customs sound like. The tips I use with my UM3X's provide the SQ which is NOT that far from my ES3X's.
And to these ears the mid-range is second to none (apart from the ES3X's), having owned the SE530's & Westone 3 - but I insist, that's me.
As for the treble, I honestly think 'Thank God there isn't any more there', my ears would not like it, and I get plenty of treble extension on many many good recordings on all genres. However, I could not take the rolled-off highs on the SE530's. With the W3's I found them fatiguing at louder volume levels (specially with Rocc & Pop for more extended listening periods.
Anyway, I'm starting to repeat things I've stated before.
