WESTONE 3 IMPRESSIONS AND APPRECIATION THREAD - Page 52

Originally Posted by jwbrent

This question may have been asked before, but what are these made of, metal or plastic? How's the fit and finish?

Thanks for any replies...

Originally Posted by p0wderh0und23

Talk to Stefan at Variphone (Welkom op de website van Variphone | Variphone Benelux). They handle our European distribution.

Originally Posted by SierraHotel01

Kudos, congratulations, and thanks to Westone - they're simply wonderful! (and every other superlative I can think of).

The Westone 3's were DEFINITELY worth the 2 year wait, as well as the full retail price (and, even the cost of buying SE530's in the interim - which will promptly go up for sale, or be given away!)

Picked my "3's" up from Fedex an hour ago.
Slapped on some Shure Olive tips,
and plugged them into my 3G Nano / ALO Cryo Dock / Tomahawk rig.
Within 30 seconds, I was "gone".

Absolutely lost in the most immersive earphone (maybe even headphone) listening experience I've ever heard.

What an epiphany!

This is exactly why those of us who frequent Head-Fi do this stuff. (continually abuse our wallets in search of sonic perfection)
I just can't get over these things.

Listening to Bella Sonus as I write this (extremely well engineered album - which Ray Samuels references for deep sub bass along with detail in the rest of the audible passband).

So far, the only comparison that comes to mind is with my Definitive Technologies BP2000 speakers (bipolar line source + 15" 500 watt powered subwoofer in each). The 3's sound more like the Definitives, than anything else; and more than any other headphone I own (HD600, SR325i, ER4P, SE530, PK2). I swear; they sound just like I stuffed the Definitives into my ears. Only difference is the lack of chest thumping sub bass from the 1,000 watts of subwoofer power on the Definitives.

These little puppies sound more like high end speakers than ANY headphone I've ever listened to. Balanced, detailed, more PRAT than you can shake a a stick at; deep, tight, articulate & punchy bass, almost surreal mids, and sweet, sweet high frequencies.

They put you right there - in the 2nd row.

wrt high frequencies: I don't know how Westone managed to maintain the detail and air I'm hearing, without getting that "too sharp / analytical" quality to the sound that I hear with the Grados & Ety's.

The bass is simply the best I've ever heard in an IEM, by a factor of 2, at least.

What really surprised me is the superior, smooth, lush mids. They blow the SE530's away in mids too (and I thought that was the 530's strong suit). The 3's do male & female vocals like no other. And, electric guitars are simply visceral on the 3's!

Matter of fact, it almost seems trivial to attempt to discuss the Westone 3 sound in terms of the traditional low / mid / high frequency parameters common in these forums. There is something about the 3's that seem to "integrate" those otherwise distinct sections of the frequency curve into a single, unified, holistic experience.

Headstage is fantastic. Close your eyes, and you can easily position each instrument.

May have to "call in sick" today - because I don't know if I can uplug, anytime soon.

A few non-SQ comments:

- cable length perfect
- distance to the Y-junction perfect.
- no cable microphonics
- fit with the Shure Olives perfect
- even less obtrusive than the 530's
- 90 degree 1/8 inch mini jack fits iPhone with Griffen leather case

Don't know when, but I will do some serious A/B'ing and report.
(although, it seems superfluous at this point)

Per Headphone Addict's recommendation, I plan on getting fitted for the vinyl UM56 tips. However, at this point, I can't even begin to imagine how the 3's could sound ANY better.

Better end this post now.
Spent the last 10 minutes just staring off into space, shaking my head at the sound of this "disruptive" product.

The Westone 3's are un-freakin' believable!

Originally Posted by PouncePony

Plastic. Very nice fit and finish. There is a lateral seam on the ear piece that very tight. I find these to have a much better quality than the SE530s. The shell on those seemed toy-like to me.

-Pony

Originally Posted by SierraHotel01

Kudos, congratulations, and thanks to Westone - they're simply wonderful! (and every other superlative I can think of).

The Westone 3's were DEFINITELY worth the 2 year wait, as well as the full retail price (and, even the cost of buying SE530's in the interim - which will promptly go up for sale, or be given away!)

Picked my "3's" up from Fedex an hour ago.
Slapped on some Shure Olive tips,
and plugged them into my 3G Nano / ALO Cryo Dock / Tomahawk rig.
Within 30 seconds, I was "gone".

Absolutely lost in the most immersive earphone (maybe even headphone) listening experience I've ever heard.

What an epiphany!

This is exactly why those of us who frequent Head-Fi do this stuff. (continually abuse our wallets in search of sonic perfection)
I just can't get over these things.

Listening to Bella Sonus as I write this (extremely well engineered album - which Ray Samuels references for deep sub bass along with detail in the rest of the audible passband).

So far, the only comparison that comes to mind is with my Definitive Technologies BP2000 speakers (bipolar line source + 15" 500 watt powered subwoofer in each). The 3's sound more like the Definitives, than anything else; and more than any other headphone I own (HD600, SR325i, ER4P, SE530, PK2). I swear; they sound just like I stuffed the Definitives into my ears. Only difference is the lack of chest thumping sub bass from the 1,000 watts of subwoofer power on the Definitives.

These little puppies sound more like high end speakers than ANY headphone I've ever listened to. Balanced, detailed, more PRAT than you can shake a a stick at; deep, tight, articulate & punchy bass, almost surreal mids, and sweet, sweet high frequencies.

They put you right there - in the 2nd row.

wrt high frequencies: I don't know how Westone managed to maintain the detail and air I'm hearing, without getting that "too sharp / analytical" quality to the sound that I hear with the Grados & Ety's.

The bass is simply the best I've ever heard in an IEM, by a factor of 2, at least.

What really surprised me is the superior, smooth, lush mids. They blow the SE530's away in mids too (and I thought that was the 530's strong suit). The 3's do male & female vocals like no other. And, electric guitars are simply visceral on the 3's!

Matter of fact, it almost seems trivial to attempt to discuss the Westone 3 sound in terms of the traditional low / mid / high frequency parameters common in these forums. There is something about the 3's that seem to "integrate" those otherwise distinct sections of the frequency curve into a single, unified, holistic experience.

Headstage is fantastic. Close your eyes, and you can easily position each instrument.

May have to "call in sick" today - because I don't know if I can uplug, anytime soon.

A few non-SQ comments:

- cable length perfect
- distance to the Y-junction perfect.
- no cable microphonics
- fit with the Shure Olives perfect
- even less obtrusive than the 530's
- 90 degree 1/8 inch mini jack fits iPhone with Griffen leather case

Don't know when, but I will do some serious A/B'ing and report.
(although, it seems superfluous at this point)

Per Headphone Addict's recommendation, I plan on getting fitted for the vinyl UM56 tips. However, at this point, I can't even begin to imagine how the 3's could sound ANY better.

Better end this post now.
Spent the last 10 minutes just staring off into space, shaking my head at the sound of this "disruptive" product.

The Westone 3's are un-freakin' believable!

Originally Posted by jwbrent

This question may have been asked before, but what are these made of, metal or plastic? How's the fit and finish?

Thanks for any replies...