Top-tier universal IEM comparisons

[Azathoth]

Snitched from average_joe at head-fi.org:

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f103/top-tier-universal-iem-comparison-chart-discussion-first-post-updated-often-476315/

This should help everyone who is looking to step up to a top-tier universal decide. 

I would rate the top-tier universals that i've heard as follows:

Sennheiser IE8

excels at: massive soundstage, sense of air between instruments
strengths: detail, treble sparkle, bass extension/quality/quantity
weaknesses: may be too laid-back for some, tricky fit, poor noise isolation

Westone 3

excels at: natural midrange and impeccable detail retrieval
strengths: great isolation, very lively and dynamic, no problems at all with complicated/busy musical sections, every detail is there
weaknesses: annoying sibilance and strident high end on some music, though i've read that changing tips remedies this

Westone UM3X

excels at: forward, visceral and enjoyable midrange
strengths: isolation second to none, cable looks to be very durable, warm and musical without sacrificing micro-detail or sounding too flat
weaknesses: not the widest soundstage, picky with source material, sounds a little boxed-in

Ultimate Ears Triple.Fi 10

excels at: the best top end i've heard, great extension/decay without being too grating
strengths: highs and midrange, new low price! (price has now shot back up though)
weaknesses: trickiest fit of all the universal IEMs, bass can be overemphasized at times

Shure SE530

excels at: creamy, smooth and delectable mids
strengths: detail and separation, above-average soundstage and imaging
weaknesses: clunky modular cable, insanely expensive locally, rolled-off high end

On my to-audition list:

Earsonics SM3
Ortofon eQ-7
Monster Turbine Pro Gold
Monster Turbine Pro Copper
Monster Turbine Miles Davis
Fischer Audio DBA-02
JVC FX700
Audio-Technica CK10

[Mikado]

Contributing, based on my impressions :

Sennheiser IE8
Pros: Unmatched soundstage for an IEM, adjustable bass port, smooth mids and highs, very musical, replaceable cable
Cons: May be a little laid back, has a mid bass hump that tends to muddy the mids, can be alleviated by shallower insertion at the cost of isolation
Works well with: Just about any genre, but excels well on electronica, hiphop/RnB, rock, classical


Westone 3

Pros: Great EQ response, slightly above average soundstage, good bass and highs, a bit on the warm side, lots of included tips
Cons: Midbass hump, has some sibilance issues, mids are somewhat recessed and has tendency to be tip dependent
Works well with: Pop, Rock, Metal, Jazz


Westone UM3X

Pros: Very good EQ response, incredible instrument separation, imaging and detail, excellent mids, scales well with good a source and when amped,
Cons: has a tendency to sound flat/neutral on some recordings,  bass lacks impact, mids may be a bit too forward, small soundstage, very few included accessories 
Works well with: acoustic, male/female vocals, jazz (may work well on other genres, depending on source and recording quality)

Shure SE530

Pros: Excellent Mids, good soundstage, instrument separation and detail
Cons:  rolled off highs, detail lacks body, MAHAL.
Works well with: male/female vocals, jazz, acoustic


Ultimate Ears TripleFi 10

Pros: very good detail, crisp highs and excellent bass presence, very good soundstage
Cons:  recessed mids, fit could be a pain in the neck, stock cables harden over time.
Works well with: pop, rock, electronica, metal


my top tier rating:

1. UM3X/IE8
2. W3
3. SE530
4. UE TripleFi 10 (would actually fare higher if not for the poor fit issues with my ear)


still wanting to hear:

1. Ortofon E-Q7
2. Grado GR8
3. X-Jays (once released)
4. Monster Turbines Pro Copper
5. Apuresound recabled ER4P (basically an ER4P on BANKAI)
6. Earsonics SM3

[Mochan]

Did anyone save this thread? I think we forgot to repost it here. Would be great to have it here.

If no one posts it, I'll just add my own comparos of the stuff here including:

TF10
TF10 Silver Recable
IE8
SE530
UM3X
Turbine Golds
RJ's Special "Custom 530" which strangely can fit my ears

What other Top Tier IEM did miss? I forget. Josh can't get back home soon enough to give us the SM3 and EQ7.

[Azathoth]

Yup, I already reposted this here - merging threads. 

Updating with my impressions of the MTPG in general.

Monster Turbine Pro Gold

excels at: musicality, bass depth
strengths: engaging midrange, deft sense of balance while still remaining fun
weaknesses: detail retrieval is lacking, and its smooth laid back nature may be off-putting for some genres

[ceph752]

Contributing, based on my impressions :

Sennheiser IE8
Pros: Unmatched soundstage for an IEM, adjustable bass port, smooth mids and highs, very musical, replaceable cable
Cons: May be a little laid back, has a mid bass hump that tends to muddy the mids, can be alleviated by shallower insertion at the cost of isolation
Works well with: Just about any genre, but excels well on electronica, hiphop/RnB, rock, classical

my top tier rating:

1. UM3X/IE8
2. W3
3. SE530
4. UE TripleFi 10 (would actually fare higher if not for the poor fit issues with my ear)

makes me want the ie8s more, but still need to wait for 3 weeks,

tf10 at #4 so the ie8s must be really good,

and i thought the tf10s,  were the best i have ever heardm well actually that was the only top tier iem i used to have

[shoktongxxx]

IE8 meron na ako eh.

next is
customs IEM kagaya nung kay doc RJ having 6 drivers aw..wala kanang hahanapin pa..clarity of mids, highs, bass impact, soundstage, instruments separations, timing ang galing..down thing is very expensive di kaya ni mondi to.

TF10 re-cabled FTW!,di ako naniniwala sa pag recable ng IEM is may magbabago sa SQ nito, but nung ma audition ko yung recabled TF10 ni rvdeleon kahapon it really change my impressions for the TF10..ang laki ng pinagbago sa SQ its cleaner and non stressful ang highs unlike with the stock cable.. I remember na mas na gustuhan ko pa SQ ng MF200 over the TF10 sa highs,bass and soundstage, but for the recabled TF10 its a big NO for MF200..and if I will get another IEM I will go with the TF10 and have it recabled..almost the same sa clarity in mids and highs that the UM3X produces with wider soundstage and overwhelming bass impact nga lang. ang sarap sa metal nito uy..

UM3X with detachable cable siguro susunod ko sana ma audition ko sila.

-custom IEM like nung kay doc rj with 6 drivers (in my dreams)
-IE8   
-TF10 (recabled) / UM3X

[rvdeleon]

Buti sir shok nagustohan niyo SQ ng recabled TF10 hehehe

[skeith1002]

Royal Rumble Meet if theres going to be one im really going to go!

[shoktongxxx]

Buti sir shok nagustohan niyo SQ ng recabled TF10 hehehe

ang ganda bro eh, ang linis ng SQ compare sa stock cable lang ang gamit..first time ko ma appreciate ang TF10..me wants one.

[airwax]

ano nabili na cable ni rv?

[ceph752]

bro shok mukhang narinig mo na lahat ah, mapawestone, sens, ultimate ears, ano na lang ba kulang?
tagal pa antay ko sa IE8,

[thaddy16]

ano nabili na cable ni rv?

pearl cable ver.2 ata ung kay rv.

[shoktongxxx]

bro shok mukhang narinig mo na lahat ah, mapawestone, sens, ultimate ears, ano na lang ba kulang?
tagal pa antay ko sa IE8,

dami pa bro, hehe gaya ng JH13/16 etc..
btw congrats sa IE8 bro.

[rvdeleon]

Ill bring my TF10 again on the next meet.

[shoktongxxx]

Ill bring my TF10 again on the next meet.

for sale bro?haha!