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I don't know where you've read that the triple.fi 10 sounds better than the E500. From what I've read, the triple.fi 10 sounds bright if not sibilant compared to the E500, which I would expect because I own the super.fi 5 pro which is a tad sibilant as well. The E500 is more balanced and neutral, however the high-end is a tad rolled off, which can actually help prevent ear-fatigue at times when you don't have an EQ. It comes down to personal taste: If highs are more important to and the fit works, stick with the triple.fi 10 pro. If neutrality, balance, fit/comfort, and excellent detail in the lows and the mids are all more important to you, the E500 is the way to go.
sorry moseboy, but you sound like you just came out of a Shure brainwashing seminar... How can E500 be more neutral if it has rolled-off treble? Truth is, E500 is darker, 3fi is brighter, E500 humps the mid-range while 3 fi emphasizes highs and lows; 3 fi also has better SS and sounds more analog; E500 sounds more digital and therefore can lead to the perception of more detail and separation. hope that helps.
it's obvious to me now that unless one tries every single fit (including mixing single tip sizes - my best fit is m in left ear, L in right) possibility and is having fit issues with their IEM, they're not using the buds right.
I tried mixing tips to get the best fit with my super.fi 5 pro. I ended up having the same configuration as you: medium in the left, large in the right. But the different levels of isolation and sound in each ear along with general discomfort drove me towards the E500. I still own the super.fi 5 and occassionally go back to it as it has a different yet still enjoyable sound signature, but for long-term listening, I still with my E500.
sorry moseboy, but you sound like you just came out of a Shure brainwashing seminar... How can E500 be more neutral if it has rolled-off treble? Truth is, E500 is darker, 3fi is brighter, E500 humps the mid-range while 3 fi emphasizes highs and lows; 3 fi also has better SS and sounds more analog; E500 sounds more digital and therefore can lead to the perception of more detail and separation. hope that helps.
There is a big difference between "rolled-off" and "recessed." It wouldn't be neutral if the highs were recessed, but they're not. They're just slightly rolled off, which occassionally keeps the extreme details from coming through (such as people breathing in the background), but not distracting by any means. Plus, if you need those extreme details, an EQ does wonders to the E500.
I really wanted the W3 to be perfectly honest, and RS's surprisingly great review got me even more interested. But at the end of the day, I guess I'd rather get the Shures now rather than wait until god knows when for the W3.
Reading this thread convinced me to preorder the Westone 3's a month or so ago, but add me to the list of those who couldn't wait anymore. I just ordered my Shure SE530PTH's from B&H Photo today (full price, but their current promotion includes a 512K iPod Shuffle stick [1st generation] & a $100 gift card to use on future purchases, which lessens the price sting a bit.)
I play keyboards in the pit for touring Broadway shows and needed to replace my Etymotic ER6i's for some time.
Darn! I wish I could have been there!
Do you think there is any reason to wait around for the 3s? Or should I just go for the SE530s?
I'm fairly happy with my UM1s but I know that I'm missing some great SQ with the others...
I was at the San Jose meet. Just 2 days prior I purchased E500s (and could have easily have returned them to the store). At the meet I took them to the Westone and Ultimate Ears booths and A/B'd with my 4th gen iPod line out. I liked the Westone 3 but preferred the E500. I preferred both over the Triple-fi. This has saved me from the long wait that so many on this thread have experienced. I don't think that the Westone 3s blow away the E500 or vice versa. Maybe the Ety 4P/S fans (I am not one) will like having an IEM with more bass but lesthan the E500. For many others I suspect they will prefer the E500. Bottom they seem to be close enough in SQ that personal preference will be the determining factor. So if your personal preference is to have an IEM now, then the choise seems obvious. And if you don't mind waiting longer then the Westone 3s may or may not become your preference.
"When Ruthie says come see her in her honky-tonk lagoon, where I can watch her waltz for free 'neath her Panamanian moon. An' I say, "Aw come on now you must know about my dedutante." An' she says, "Your debutante just knows what you need but I know what you waaaant."
I was at the San Jose meet. Just 2 days prior I purchased E500s (and could have easily have returned them to the store). At the meet I took them to the Westone and Ultimate Ears booths and A/B'd with my 4th gen iPod line out. I liked the Westone 3 but preferred the E500. I preferred both over the Triple-fi. This has saved me from the long wait that so many on this thread have experienced. I don't think that the Westone 3s blow away the E500 or vice versa. Maybe the Ety 4P/S fans (I am not one) will like having an IEM with more bass but lesthan the E500. For many others I suspect they will prefer the E500. Bottom they seem to be close enough in SQ that personal preference will be the determining factor. So if your personal preference is to have an IEM now, then the choise seems obvious. And if you don't mind waiting longer then the Westone 3s may or may not become your preference.
I'm the exact opposite. I also owned the E500 and listened to the Westone 3's at the meet ad found the 3's to be superior in every way. My biggest gripe with the E500's is that the vocals presentation is not in line with the rest of the music. Vocals sound very distant as if you are 10 rows + back. I also found the bass to lose attack, speed and impact when a lot of other instruments were present, such as in bust sections of rock/metal. The detail and soundstage are both exceptional but in the end the cons outweighed the pros for my tastes. As far as bang for buck I think the E4C is the best IEM for the money but I do prefer the UM2 to those as well.
The Westone 3 is the first IEM I have heard that sounded more like a full size headphone than any other IEM. The vocals were not as close as the UM2 but there were not so far back as the E500 to be distracting or sound unbalanced. Bass was tight and punchy with excellent extension and the soundstage was massive for an IEM; even larger than the E500. Highs were brilliant and I would say some of the best I've heard from an IEM. I only heard them with the foam tips which I do not care for. Once I get mine and put some triflanges on them I'm sure the 3's will really blossom.
The delays and lack of communication are unfortunate and frustrating but when they do come out, those who have not been too soured by all of it will be pleased and the positive press will begin to flow once again.
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"That's the problem with people like you, you want results but you never want to get your hands dirty. You'd better start rolling up your sleeves. I'm gonna need a hacksaw." - Jack Bauer
---------------------------------------------------- Headphones - UE-11 - Westone ES2 - Grado PS-1 (reversed bowls) Amps - Headamp Pico in Slate Gray (yup, that be all I need!)
Well based on the testimony from those who have heard, I'm going to fall into the "good things come to those who wait" category. I can certainly appreciate people's frustration with the delays, but personally I have found myself a little short on cash (will have to move apartments soon) so this delay actually helped me out. I can't imagine being down $400+ if the 3 had come out when it should have
But I have had my fair share of buyer's remorse in the past, not wanting to wait for something, or trying to save a little by buying a lesser item than the one I wanted, only to end up buying the original thing anyway when I grew dissatisfied with the cheaper model. So I'm going to wait for Westone on this one...
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Home Rig: Sony DVP-NC875V SACD/DVD/CD or Panasonic RP-91 DVD-A/DVD/CD -> Beyerdynamic DT 880 or Grado SR60
Portable Rig: Apple iPod Classic 2G (120GB) [320AAC] -> Ultimate Ears Super.fi 5 pro
I don't know where you've read that the triple.fi 10 sounds better than the E500. From what I've read, the triple.fi 10 sounds bright if not sibilant compared to the E500, which I would expect because I own the super.fi 5 pro which is a tad sibilant as well. The E500 is more balanced and neutral, however the high-end is a tad rolled off, which can actually help prevent ear-fatigue at times when you don't have an EQ. It comes down to personal taste: If highs are more important to and the fit works, stick with the triple.fi 10 pro. If neutrality, balance, fit/comfort, and excellent detail in the lows and the mids are all more important to you, the E500 is the way to go.
How can E500 be more neutral if it has rolled-off treble? Truth is, E500 is darker, 3fi is brighter, E500 humps the mid-range while 3 fi emphasizes highs and lows; 3 fi also has better SS and sounds more analog; E500 sounds more digital and therefore can lead to the perception of more detail and separation. hope that helps.
