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Are there any Ety HF2/5 or even ER4 owners who switched to the UM3X and can you describe your impressions? Not that I'm tempted to splash the cash at this stage, but am keeping one eye open.
Well I switched directly from the Um3X to the ER4s so I guess I can chime in....
Overall the presentation was a little stepped back, I wouldn't call the UM3Xs "in your face" but instead very true to the actual placement of the microphones that were used to record. The soundstage isn't as artificially changed as it is in most other phones, it gives you what was recorded.
But the detail.... was there; there was better instrument separation with the UM3Xs... and better detail; granted the signature wasn't treble happy like the ER4s are, you had to listen for the detail but it was there.
The bass was a lot more powerful too; a little bit over neutral but it was there and didn't bleed into the other frequencies; it, along with the mids, and treble, were each separate.
I remember reading a post that someone said last year about the UM3Xs giving you all the parts of the music instead of the whole thing; and I could agree with them. I had less emotional experiences with the UM3Xs although I loved them to death; most of my listening was done analyzing the sound, which, again, was what the UM3Xs were DESIGNED to do since they are stage monitors.
The mids were lovely and gave acoustic guitars a nice sound; granted I'm going from memory here from over 3 months but I listened to these phones day in and day out.
Both are great, I don't think you would need to own both at one time though. The UM3Xs are better for a wider range of music... and personally I liked them more in ever aspect over the Etys, the only reason I did the downgrade (read YMMV/my opinion/ etc.) was because I wanted some cash to use to upgrade my home setup.