Westone UM3X vs. Earsonics SM3

[Jonoc]

Yea...

But I really do not like how the Sm3 looks. And given it's price, I might as well go for a chinese Custom !

Looks matters to me too...  
(Semi sarcastic) Anyone knows of a good triple driver with clear casing, large soundstage and good detail/resolution ?!

 

[KLS]

 
Quote:

If there are only 3 people voting, then that would defeat the purpose of voting, and there would not be a need for that. And at that, what the OP wants is actually some sort of persuasion, as he/she is going to get either of these two earphones anyway. I believe he has read enough post to better trust those who have heard both. He/she knows well enough that a lot of people who don't own both will vote. Even though I support the notion that those who don't own don't vote, but to have such an implementation is not easy.

 
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However, while poll like this might not be able to prove anything, I believe the figure gives courage and confident to OP to make his/her decision

Thanks @koonhua90 you expressed what I couldn't express in English ^^;
 
That is the purpose of this poll in my opinion. This poll is not about which IEM performs techinacally better based on experience of other users who own both, but rather a 'if money is not a problem which you choose?' poll.
 
I am pretty sure OP wants confirmation from the majority for a peace of mind
 
@kdwagg83, I once tempted to try the UM3X, but the small soundstage hold me off. People say SM3 is similar to UM3X but perform better. Experienced head-fiers like @search, @Pianist, @average_joe have given their precious opinion as well.
 
Now I have SM3 I don't think I need UM3X anymore, though I haven't tried them actually. So I didn't vote. I am happy with my SM3


 

 

[JxK]

Quote:

Yea...

But I really do not like how the Sm3 looks. And given it's price, I might as well go for a chinese Custom !

Looks matters to me too...  
(Semi sarcastic) Anyone knows of a good triple driver with clear casing, large soundstage and good detail/resolution ?!

If looks matter, perhaps you should just go with a low-end custom? Something like the sleek CT6 or livewires trips. You can get the casing to be transparent and add custom artwork on top of it.

 

[koonhua90]

Hey KLS, was your SM3 the SM3 that broke open? So you got it back already?

 

[KLS]

Yes that broke open SM3 is mine
 
I sent them for repair in the end of May and hopefully I can get them back by next week...

 

[koonhua90]

Hopefully we will get both our SM3 next week, I really want to see what they did to the shell to make it more durable 

 

[rawrster]

maybe they used stronger glue

 

[koonhua90]

Nah glue again?? Franck said it'll be some sort of ultrasonic welding...sounds really fancy.
 
By the way, KLS, how did you manage to break your SM3 open?

 

[KLS]

LOL @rawrster
 
I am lucky actually as Franck promised to repair mine using the new material.
 
Train derailed to the North Pole ^^;
 
EDIT: I was playing with some tips. When I tried to pull out the tips (left hand holding the housing and right hand holding the tips) the housing snaped apart...It was just the bore of a decored comply plus Sony hybrids, which means nothing really hold tight at the nozzle...

 

[koonhua90]

I see. Luckily I will be getting the new batch, but the wait is killing me. It seems much quieter today, maybe they all went to CanJam.

 

[rawrster]

well joe you may have found out who that UM3X voter is
 
I did notice that as well search but didn't look at post history. There was another post in another thread saying something along the lines of "sm3 joe phone of the month" or something like that. Also I would like to say that no earphone is beyond FOTM until after some time has passed and it is still standing. The SM3 may be popular now and have attracted a lot of attention and displaying FOTM status but if it is a capable phone it will still be around in a couple months and even years from now.
 
@KLS: I'm glad you got that Hopefully you get your SM3 soon and it's better build quality whatever they are doing to it.

 

[average_joe]

@ search, welcome back, and muchas gracias!
 
@ rawster, funny how it is my personal FOTM, yet others also agree since, and actually some have felt that way before.  I just vocalized it because I thought most of head-fi could benefit from something that is different in a good way.  I chalk it up to humor and as search said, one person with an agenda.

 

[the search never ends]

Quote:

well joe you may have found out who that UM3X voter is
 
I did notice that as well search but didn't look at post history. There was another post in another thread saying something along the lines of "sm3 joe phone of the month" or something like that. Also I would like to say that no earphone is beyond FOTM until after some time has passed and it is still standing. The SM3 may be popular now and have attracted a lot of attention and displaying FOTM status but if it is a capable phone it will still be around in a couple months and even years from now.
 

 

Yeah, like I said, one headfier, asked me for help on an equipment matter, then I got pointed to this mess.
As you said ANY iem gathering fanfare is FOTM until time passes, in fact, I saw the CK10 get labeld as FOTM, but it's a bit beyond that for the CK10. I guess this poster is a DDM or UM3X  "guardian"
Hoping to get to meet up with you at some point, and maybe a few other apple dwellers.
I really want to spend a few days there when my son gets back, he loves the apple. Not sure about you or kunlun, but I love the cold, 40 years of Florida, I miss it, but the winters are my new thing.
I have not worn long pant's since my first winter here, and that was only twice.
anyway peace : )  Back to my agenda so I can really sign off for good.  
Glad to have met you bro!
 
 

 

[Kunlun]

Quote:

 

I'd be happy to hang out with you and your son sometime!
 

 

[newzild]

Personally, I'm quite wary of the FOTM thing, because I've been burned before. A whole bunch of reviewers kept saying how wonderful the Future Sonics Atrio was, so I shelled out and they were complete rubbish (apart from the bass, of course). I seriously could not understand how anybody could consider the Atrios to be average phones, let alone the best on the market.
 
So that experience makes me a little more cautious this time.
 
It's interesting that a few months ago all the reviewers were raving about the UM3x, about how it was an improved Westone 3, and how it was virtually faultless. Then, after a few months, the first grumbles about soundstage started surfacing. Now the soundstage issue is recognised as being a negative attribute of the phone.
 
Now we hear that the SM3 is the "perfect" phone, how it has all the qualities of the UM3x but with a much wider soundstage. It all sounds wonderful, of course, but I'm just wondering what people will be saying six months from now...
 
I'm going to purchase a high-end IEM sometime this year. But I'm going to wait, I think, until things settle down a bit. The SE535 is shipping this month with a tweaked sound signature, and the x-jays are also on the horizon.