Yeah. Itâs pretty well documented that the Legacy 3 has a lot of unit variation. Some reviewers on youtube will call it one of the best sounding IEMs theyâve ever heard with treble that sparkles! Others will say it has no treble at all. There are also graphs from all over that back this up.
ChiFi QC.
OhâŠfunâŠlol
Iâm curious to know to what extent a set variation is physically. What changed within the unit itself to change the sound youâre hearing, and to what extent can that change affect the sound? Itâs not possible to EQ 2 sets that sound different into the same set is it? Can set variance only affect certain aspects of the sound such as the tonality, or can it affect technicalities as well?
What is a technicality?
Iâve been lucky enough to listen to 2 different L3 units and tonally they are indistinguishable, given that most of the playtime I spent on both of them was on the down-up setting.
Soundstage, detail, timbre and instrument separation are the ones I consider a technicality.
(although bass speed, tightness and texture is also close to that, but I count them as the quality of the bass, instead of the quantity.)
Iâll just drop these here for anyone wondering what happened to the Legacy 3 and Chi fi in generalâŠ
I am not very experinced with CIEM, but the one pair I got from 64 Audio does NOT need eartips.
But the L3 does?
The L3 comes in both universal and custom form. The CIEM of course doesnât need ear tips.
You can customize the design of a universal IEM version of the L3 though.
Does that apply to all ciems? I never knew that lol.
Well, it gets confusing because people have been referring to their customized L3s (customized designs) as âcustomâ L3 IEMs. I reserve the term CIEM to custom molded IEM shells. I can see how this is confusing. 
I cancelled my order for the Legacy 3, there are just too many reports of different sound profiles and bad QC. I am not buying something that could be great or meh, depending on what batch it comes from.
A warning for those with the QDC connector versions, with the included cable Iâve been hearing of cases causing stress fractures over time. Checking my clockwork version with a magnifying glass I can see both connectors are now riddled with cracks. This is only after a couple of months of use.
I would recommend switching the cable to 2 pin to relieve the stress on the connectors.
Just checked mine. Mine are starting to show cracks. Very disappointing. Also, disappointing is that Iâm also experiencing driver flex in the right channel, it doesnât affect the sound but still.
Iâm confused. Wouldnât using a traditional 2 pin cable extend the connection further from the shell, and thus increase torque and stress on the socket?
Yep, my L3 qdc sockets have fractures in them also. Wow, itâs getting impossible for me to recommend them now,
The QDC uses the plastic as structural support which is stress fracturing at the moment. Yes 2 pin has more leverage but atleast itâs metal only supported which doesnât stress fracture in the same way.
