I did not want to do this. But, if I kept quiet, it would seem like I accept that I did some sort of plagiarism from dfkt's review.
Since you had asked I would like to point out the similarities I or any person would immediately notice from those two...
1. Build quality impressions (both say they are cheap)
2. Comfort (you both guys compare exactly to TF10...?)
3. Similar comments about cables.
4. similar comments about the chin clip/strain reliever.
5. WOW initial reaction of disliking and you adjust to its hearing.
6. And emphasis on the speed of the BA (Sorry i have not read many reviews empasising the speeds of BA drivers)
and worst part these all follow in the same order.
and still worse I could not locate your comment (Pls don't say you are Ma_t14 )
But sorry, this might be the findings which i could find or any reader may find when going through them.
BTW I'm not in a offesive mode. Just made them to clear my point...
Feel free to contact....
My replies in order:
1) Build quality is piss poor. It does feel like cheap plastic. You can say this in isolation and also the fact that next to the Pana's Zirconias or the well built Ortofon e-Q5, these feel cheap and plasticky. I don't need dfkt's review to lift this idea. All I need is to keep them side by side and feel them. Do I need to use esoteric language just in order to differentiate? That will only scream that I know/lifted words from the dictionary, which has nothing to do with the purpose of a first impression/full fledged review - which is to convey what I think to others as simple as possible.
2) A misunderstanding. dfkt compares the SM3's comfort to that of TF10. I've never uttered a word about "comfort" as these fit snugly sometimes and their square shape hurts sometimes. I reserve that part for my full review after using them for a while, not in 3 hours unless they are very uncomfortable or extremely comfortable.
I compared SM3 in
build quality to TF10. I've earlier posted link to a thread where one person has reported SM3 breaking (In Top-tier IEM thread -
here. And while you are there, please read the post I am replying to. It also mentions the poor $20 chinese IEM like construction. Hey! May be I stole this idea from many others and not by something I can see, touch, compare and write?). In the last page of the SM3 appreciation thread, another person too has reported the same. We know that TF10 does not have the greatest build quality either (shells breaking on changing cables, though it may be due to poor handling by the users themselves)
3) dfkt is satisfied with the twisted cable because it's the same as custom IEMs, whereas I am complaining about the fact that a twisted cable is only as thick as my Ortofon e-Q5 cable. BTW, Fischer Audio DBA-02 also uses twisted cables, but it is much thicker and feels more sturdier to handle than this. It's not that it won't last. But at this price point, I'd rather have a detachable cable than spending lot of Euros to send them to France in case something goes wrong.
4) For anybody who has tried many IEMs, it's an easy fact to pick. The first time I wore them, the chin slider was literally at my chin and had no space left to go. It took some time for me to even wear them over the ear. And again handling these cheap shells was not easy. Some IEMs don't come with chin slider at all and they are a different mess altogether.
5) If someone is familiar with my
Panasonic HJE-900 review, they'd know that I can hate and later like them. I can also like them like
RE1 and then hate them. Sure Ortos were more forward in comparison, but I figured that out only after a direct A-B. Prior to that, I felt that the mids were too forward. "In your face" is a term both I and dfkt used. For anybody who has written comments on sound signature / reviewed, these are not uncommon phrases to use to describe something. I have used it to describe how treble sounds in my
DBA-02 review earlier too!
6) I have mentioned this a LOT before. I have read even more about the differences between BAs and dynamics. In the same DBA-02 review linked above, I've mentioned about BA speed. In fact, I think many of my impressions / reviews have mentioned that.
They follow in the same order probably because it's logical or simply how my thought process works. I can say something on the lines of "greater minds think alike", but I am not as good or experienced as dfkt. His reviews are more professional, thorough and honest. I am just trying to be honest. Besides, look at how much time he waited before he wrote the review - months. And his Cowon J3 review is one of the most complete reviews I've ever come across. I am just an excited and opinionated guy sharing my excitement with fellow IEM connoisseurs.
My comment is the third one with my full name mentioned in the
comment post. I posted that before starting this thread. Do you see any similarities in what I stated there and here?
Again, I take no offense to what he said. I would not usually go to the extent of putting a PM on a public thread and go on ranting. But in this case, if I only clarified to him, no one else would know what his complaints are. Sorry for doing this. But instead of being a gentleman and coming across someone who plagiarizes simple stuff (which can easily be verified with one's own eyes, touch and ears), I'd rather do this.
Secondly, I'd venture to say that all reviews / impressions are opinions basically. An opinion becomes a FACT only if other people can verify it. Sound preferences and description of sound signature apart, I am sure if somebody else here reviews them, they'll mention the very same facts about build quality or chin slider or cable. It's a bit over stretching to accuse somebody of "being inspired" by another reviewer just because their opinion on build quality matches. Many people would agree on the signature as long as a reviewer / one writing impressions takes time and care to post a honest and detailed opinion. Doesn't mean they all get influenced by the review.
. I have also commented on his review if you scrolled down. 