westone um-1 to custom IEM

[Vasili]

thinking of upgrading from my 1 year old um-1 to either super freq or livewire

I know that i will get much better isolation will be improved but will i get significant changes in sound quality? what u guys think?

btw i listen to music mostly in buses and flight. Tips are appreciated too!

[trickywombat]

For commuting and travel purposes, the Livewires will be a significant upgrade over the UM-1.

I have the Livewires and have auditioned the UM-1. From what I remember, the Livewires will be a big jump in sound quality - you're not going to believe what you've been missing using the UM-1 (even though they are great IEMs to begin with).

On an airplane, the Livewires isolation is great, but the difference in isolation is not as great as the difference in sound quality compared with the UM-1. I find I get slightly better isolation with my Etymotic ER6 than the Livewires on the plane. The Livewires give slightly better isolation than my UE SF5EB with Comply foam tips (same kind of foam tips that come with UM-1s).

Comfort-wise, I think it's a close call, but it's nice to be able to do away with replacing foam tips on the UM-1 - which a custom IEM will allow you to do.

However, the sound signature of the Livewires is very different from the UM-1. Livewires to not have a boomy bass. They have a clean, unexaggerated deep bass, but a bass that's there only if it's in the original recording. Functionally, the Livewires are a significant improvement over your UM-1, but you have to decide what sound signature fits you.

[Vasili]

thx for the fast reply!

i know this might sound like silly question but what do you mean by "auditioned"?

Btw my mp3 player is cowon d2

is it safe to assume that custom iem must have a better isolation since its designed specifically for our ear?

[slowth]

i've gone from the UM1 direct to customs.. and sound wise.. it is significant. very very significant.

for some ppl, a universal would be more than enough for great isolation cos of the shape of their ear. for some.. any kind of tip would be useless.. so it depends on the anatomy of your ear as well.

[trickywombat]

Originally Posted by Vasili

i know this might sound like silly question but what do you mean by "auditioned"?

Auditioned as in I borrowed a pair of UM-1 to try. Didn't need to listen to it for long as my Livewires was far superior sound quality wise.

[Vasili]

thx for the advices i guess the only decision left is between lw or freq show hehe