OK - so next-to-last final post on my personal SE535 v UM3X experience. As bg, I'm a musician and singer, and also work in sound reinforcement for a mid-size church. I'm also a music lover with Ella Fitzgerald and Miles Davis on my iPod to Bruno's little release, Red Hot Chili's, Santana, Latin Electronica.... and even one London Symphony's Carmina Burana. Oh yeah - and gospel contemporary and black gospel. Pretty much all over.
So first ever high-end IEM's was 535's. WOW! Incredibly impressed. Read music_4321's endorsement of the UM3X's and ordered them for comparison, intending to keep whichever IEM worked best for me. UM3X they shipped me had a defective left monitor. Sent it back. Also in that time I bent the 535 nozzle trying to change the tip. So I had to send that back as well for replacement. (btw: earphonesolutions.com has been excellent in working to help me.).
Got the 535's back and sound was still amazing. Though I did find I needed to play with the EQ settings to boost the low-end, I was still amazed at the clarity, detail, separation and presence in my head of the sound.
Got the UM3X's back and man, the bass was just everywhere. All in the voices, in high-end instruments, there was a general low-mid emphasis on everything that was not a good thing. But definitely more bass overall - thumped in my ears.
" class="bbcode_smiley" height="" src="http://files.head-fi.org/images/smilies//smily_headphones1.gif" title="
" width="" /> So I decided to keep the 535's.
But freakin' music_4321's post and endorsement kept bugging me.
" class="bbcode_smiley" height="" src="http://files.head-fi.org/images/smilies//smily_headphones1.gif" title="
" width="" /> So I ordered a THIRD pair of UM3X's and guess what: they're different. They're very nice. Lots of low-end with none of the low-mid intrusion that bugged me. Now I truly have a 535 competitor.
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So two points: First, to have gotten TWO bad (one defective, one with low-mid intrusion) sets from Westone is kind of weird? I know they're a great company, etc. I guess I was just really unlucky - but there is a very noticeable difference in this 3rd set and the 2nd set.
Secondly, I'm really digging these. There is so much low-end presence. Very nice. And that's with the EQ left 'off' on my iPhone4. Maybe not quite the sparkle of the 535. Definitely a different sound signature.
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So a big thanks to music_4321. I love these. You were SO convinced in the quality of these that I had to give 'em one last try.
And now on to listening to my library again with these and the 535's. Lots of comparison, A/B'ing. In a while, I'll let you know which way I go and maybe see if I can sell the other set here on the forum.
Cheers,
Jared