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dingie
136
Dec 12, 2016
I missed the Earsonics SM64 and have been loading the site 20x a day waiting for the next good IEM drop. I'm committed! Now we just need 89 more of you.
zakalwe
125
Dec 12, 2016
dingieI must admit. I'm looking for an IEM with bass punch for metal music but not sure if these have the speed. Waiting for a response on Head-Fi and I might join you. I have Campfire Novas and they are great but they don't have that thump to them.
dingie
136
Dec 12, 2016
zakalwePost what you find out if you don't mind. I'm also a metal head.
zakalwe
125
Dec 12, 2016
dingiecourse. No probs
FiXeman
10
Dec 12, 2016
dingieSince you mentioned Campfire, have you tried the Lyra's?
zakalwe
125
Dec 12, 2016
FiXemanI haven't actually. I got the Novas on a drop and can't really pony up for the Lyras. Can't even try them since my local stores won't carry them. I'm thinking similar things though; that dynamic drivers might be the answer. Or at least a hybrid. Not sure about these Westones, they will likely be good cos they are Ws ... but the sound sig is guesswork.
Peterfat
70
Dec 12, 2016
zakalweI have once owned the previous generation (when it still called westone 3 and fixed cable).
For your reference, my upgrade path of in ear monitor is Shure E2C >Shure SE110 >UM2 >Westone 3 >Westone 4 >Sennheiser IE80>sennheiser IE800
Take only BA driver headphones for comparison , Westone 3 has the most bass quantity among the Westone I have owned. Overall it is emphasizing on bass, while the mid is slightly recessed. I don't remember the high as it is already 5years ago. My upgrade to Westone 4 is too look for more forward vocal.
In conclusion, for bass head, Westone 3 is definitely choice from Westone if the tuning is similar to Westone 30, and with 249.99 it is an attractive price.
Edit: Forgot to mention, the Westone 3 has a nice guitar reproduction, and I am not really know the different between basshead/metal head, so I hope my experience can help who are still struggling.
Flyingvee
2
Dec 12, 2016
zakalweif you want good bass, you're going to have to spring for custom earmolds....been using iems for ten years now - fine for guitar and vocals, but for bass and kick, I had to have custom molds made.
here in Iowa, a set of molds is $175 - they'll make anything sound worlds better. Like turning the sub on or off.
OneLove
2962
Dec 12, 2016
PeterfatYes, great bass
zakalwe
125
Dec 12, 2016
FlyingveeThanks @Peterfat that's a detailed response, I really appreciate it. the description even says it is a bass+ tuning compared to original Japanese 30s, whatever they sound like. I wouldn't call myself a basshead as such but I need to feel the guts in the rhythm section...and with metal it's got to be fast response otherwise it's mush. Live gigs always make me hate iems for that because the minute the drummer hits the kick, or the drop tuned rhythm guitar chunks, it's so far different to the sound you get from iems I almost want to give up on them.
And @Flyingvee thanks, I fear you are right. I had made the decision to go custom a week or so ago but I heard some horror stories of people needing several re-fits. I wouldn't have the patience for that. Saying that, I found an audiologist that does it for about the same as what you are saying.
ViperGeek
66
Dec 12, 2016
zakalweCan you point me to the most relevant discussion about these on Head-Fi? A search for "Westone 30" returns about 6000 hits.
OneLove
2962
Dec 12, 2016
FlyingveeI find universals have better seal, more bass and better resale value.
zakalwe
125
Dec 12, 2016
ViperGeekI've been reading this but it might not be too close as it's W30s but it has some interesting sound sig graphs on that. Remember these Westone 30s in the drop are Japanese version AND re-tuned for + bass
http://www.head-fi.org/t/729130/w3-versus-w30-exciting-news/225
zakalwe
125
Dec 12, 2016
Shwaabz
0
Dec 12, 2016
PeterfatHaving tried ie800's would you say the bass for w30 is similar? Personally I found the ie800's bass to be overpowering and if the w30's are similar I doubt I will join this drop
SilentReign
26
Dec 12, 2016
zakalweI can clear this up for you.
These are the same as the Japanese 30 and are not re-tuned on top of that. They were specially produced earphones using the W3's body but updating it to the new MMCX audio connector.
Talking with the audio engineer at Westone, he explained it to me as having a low end a little warmer than the W30 but not as warm as the UM30 while keeping the mids and highs in tact with the current W30.
Flyingvee
2
Dec 12, 2016
OneLoveUniversal - sure. Especially for resale. But to get the best sound - you can have a custom mold MADE, that fits on the universal mount, instead of the cheap silicon and foam earpieces that come with it. That extra mold makes all the difference....imho.
Of course - everyone else is entitled to their opinion. If factory throw away earpieces work for you, for sure - no need to spend $200 bucks for the custom earpiece. But if a person WANTS/needs better bass or isolation, the molds are the only way to go.
Plus - when you sell the iems, you can KEEP the molds for your next set of IEMs.
OneLove
2962
Dec 12, 2016
FlyingveeWho makes these molds?
zakalwe
125
Dec 12, 2016
SilentReignHey thanks for all the responses, I'm so amateur it's not even funny. I'm a musician as well which makes it all the more sad that I don't know more about iems. Now I just need a comparison with my current Campfire Nova. They lack some fast bass kick if I had one complaint. I feel like you maybe are someone from Westone but then again I thought the Wizard was commenting on the Noble X drop. Thanks anyway. I assume you'd say this is a good deal?
Peterfat
70
Dec 12, 2016
ShwaabzI do think IE800 is on different level from Westone 3. In term of bass quality, it is better and bass quantity is less. Bass on IE800 is more punchy, but it is more controlled. The mid and high will never be shaded by bass, and it is more detail. On the road, I listen to band like Sonata Arctica/Rhapsody of Fire/Luca Turilli and jpop (with the Japan traditional instrustment such as Ondekoza to the mix with pop rock such as Wagakki band and opera like Kalafina) . The IE800 can handle them quite well, punchy enough while preserving all the details and vocal is not recessed, and to athatn extend it is already into the BA driver level. And I can say it is head to head with Shure SE846 in terms of SQ and details as it was a gift to my father 2 years ago and I can listen to and compare from time to time.
I do believe people can only compare headphone to headphone which is directly before/after unless they can do A/B test at the same time point, as people will change to accustomed their current headphone. My case is that when I got my Westone 4, I give my Westone 3 to my uncle and he lost it one year after (about 3~4years ago). This please take my experience with a grain of salt.
Moreover, may I know if the IE800 you tried has been run in already? Because the IE800 do take an extremely long run in time. In addition, an amp is recommended. Although it is quite sensitive and low ohm, with amp it is just quite unbelievable that it can even best out my B&W P7 wired version. Sound crazy, but IE800 bested in every aspects, from sound quality to soundstage to punchy(!) and details.
And one more reminder, whoever considering IE800, please do really try to put it first on as my father always having problem with keeping the IE800 sealed properly, while I can put them on sealed my ear easily.
SilentReign
26
Dec 13, 2016
zakalweWell you figured me out. I do work for Westone and work closely with the audio engineer. I really like this model as it has a large BA just for the low end. You'll find more low end with a very quick and clear response. They fit just as well as other models so you'll have very little ear fatigue even during long sessions. I think it is a great value for a Westone 3 driver.
zakalwe
125
Dec 13, 2016
SilentReignThat's cool. Thanks for the response, and your words of wisdom; it helps a lot. I'll count my pennies and see what I can scrape together ;-)
NeoKronos
17
Dec 13, 2016
zakalweAs an owner of Westone UM30's and W40's and listener of metal music, I disagree. There are better choices out there that accentuate the bass notes (especially distorted ones) much better. While Westone's armatures can replicate bass sounds extremely clearly and accurately, they don't give you the gut feel or the raw energy of metal bass. The closest comparison is as if you were given a YouTube version of every song you had instead of the actual file.
Don't get me wrong, I love my W40's, but I have no choice but to reluctantly switch to a pair of Sennheisers JUST so I can fully enjoy my metal tracks, and then switch back for other genres, or movies.
zakalwe
125
Dec 13, 2016
NeoKronosInteresting. So which Sennheiser is good for some metal thump in your opinion? Dynamic drivers or...?
NeoKronos
17
Dec 13, 2016
zakalweEven something as cheap as Sennheiser Momentum In-Ears are significantly better than Westone for delivering the meaty feel of bass guitar sounds. I say this regrettably because I have 2 pairs of Westones which came over a grand after taxes.
But this only applies for music where bass is the core of sound. Westones are far superior when balance is the key. This is where most Sennheiser IEMs fall behind and BA's shine.
zakalwe
125
Dec 13, 2016
NeoKronosYeah. I see that from my Campfires; they are great at all the jazz, classical and blues I listen to but I often think back to some cheap buds I had when I was younger that rattled my bones when it comes to metal. Shure SE215s might fight the bill also with the dynamic do you think? I may still get these Westones as well for other genres. Thanks mate btw
michael.d.haas
10
Dec 13, 2016
OneLovewhat was the name of the brand and model IEMs you recently sold to another member in the community. Thought I was shooting for those, but didnt bookmark it Im looking for great bass
NeoKronos
17
Dec 13, 2016
zakalweSE 215s aren't that great. I found their lineup quite strange actually. The 215's, 315's, and 535's all have a sound signature that kills mids and don't extend into bass that far. They're also extremely dated, there are more current IEMs with recent R&D that sound nicer for cheaper. It switches around and sounds heavenly with the SE846 but that's a far cry in price.
OneLove
2962
Dec 13, 2016
michael.d.haasSorry, I didn't sell anything here.
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