Westone UM3X vs. Earsonics SM3

[kdawgg83]

Been reading tons of reviews on these two top of the line IEMs and can't make a decision. Head-Fi seems to absolutely love the SM3's, but I'm getting a lot of love for the UM3X's as well. What do you guys think? The $70 or so difference doesn't matter to me and I'd get either phones just as quick so long as I know I'm getting the better of the two.
 
Thanks for the opinions! Keep jamming.

 

[SolidVictory]

I don't own the UM3X. But I must say, the SM3 made me stop listening to everything else. People who did own the UM3X and SM3 said that they thought the SM3 was everything the UM3X had to offer, but better (wider soundstage, better instrument separation, better bass, etc.).

 

[kdawgg83]

Only 2 votes? Come on people!

 

[Pianist]

SM3 is better. It has much better treble - much more present and detailed, and much tighter bass.It also has better dynamics and soundstage than the UM3X.

 

[gameboy115]

I doubt how many people in forum actually owns these two IEM together ................

 

[newzild]

I'm also interested in a comparison of these two IEMs, as they're top of my list, too. However, it appears that none of the posters on this page actually owns both. I would REALLY like to hear from someone who currently owns both.

 

[the search never ends]

I own both.......the SM3 is clearly superior to the UM3X....I can agree with everything pianist said, and add to the list. Not really a contest. More like a flogging.  I can't even offer much comparison, the difference is quite large in pretty much every way. Of course.....That's just my opinion.

 

[koonhua90]

I will vote for SM3, reason being I bought it. And I didn't buy the UM3X.

 

[newzild]

Good to hear from you <the search never ends>. Your post is valuable for those of us trying to choose between the two IEMS.

 

[average_joe]

I wonder who the one vote for the UM3X was from.  Too bad we can't see, as I would doubt it was someone that who owns both (or has heard both).  Please let us know if I am wrong about that.

 

[rawrster]

That's the bad thing about polls such as this. I don't know too many people who have both or have heard both. People vote for what they have. Opinions such as the one made by search holds more value as he had/have them both but I don't know who else has.

 

[koonhua90]

Well, you can't expect everyone to treat money as paper...not many people can afford to keep throwing down money on earphones.

 

[average_joe]

Quote:

That's the bad thing about polls such as this. I don't know too many people who have both or have heard both. People vote for what they have. Opinions such as the one made by search holds more value as he had/have them both but I don't know who else has.

I was going to create a poll, but the option to make it public (well, any option) is no longer there.  And I am not saying that someone that has heard both can't vote for the UM3X (but my ears tell me that wouldn't happen), I am just wondering who that was.  And yes, search's opinion is very valid and just about all his opinions mirror mine, which is why I wasn't going to open the DDM.  I did, and my thoughts so far mirror his, but I want to burn them in and need to spend a good amount of time with tips before I make any comments myself.
 
SM3 is superior for many reasons IMO, even though I have not heard the UM3X in quite a while.  I do specifically remember what I heard, which was a very in the head presentation, and that didn't sound natural and realistic to me.  Not saying the actual music didn't sound natural/realistic, but the presentation wasn't natural/realistic sounding to me.
 
Quote:

Well, you can expect everyone to treat money as paper...not many people can afford to keep throwing down money on earphones.

Care to explain what you mean a little more, as I am not sure I get your point?

 

[rawrster]

I'm sure they sound great or else you wouldn't have sold most of your universals along with going to the EM3. I can't confirm or deny since I haven't heard either UM3X or SM3.
 
I think koonhua means that both the UM3X and the SM3 are expensive and combined they are like 700-800 so not as many people can afford both compared to just one.

 

[koonhua90]

Yes, fixed that typo. My bad. What I meant was that both are really expensive, and throwing money down on both as of now would not be wise, and therefore not many people will have both.