REVIEW: WESTONE 3, the ULTIMATE UNIVERSAL IEM vs everything else
Aug 18, 2010 at 3:37 PM Post #1,936 of 2,117


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I couldn't agree more... I got a pair of Grado 225i  a few weeks ago.. I love the mids on them as well as everything else. I have been listening to nothing but my 225i except for exercise and grass cutting.  I find after the few weeks with the Grado's...I would love if the W3 mids were just a little more prominent. On the bright side..I think I finally found my full size can preference.


Happy Listening Del.
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  Grado's are special, you either love them or hate them in most cases.  Once you hear them, and like them, you'll crave their mids in everything you hear.  Sadly, my Grado's have barely been touched since I put the Copper's in my ears and I foresee even less time now that I have the 3's.  They might be sent off to a new home shortly with the Copper's and my PA2V2 following them.
 
Aug 18, 2010 at 3:48 PM Post #1,937 of 2,117
I understand your "sending them to a new home" for cost recuperation...But  I just want one pair of Iem's I love and one pair of regular cans  for when I don't feel like fiddling with an Iem. After years of searching...the Grado's may be my non Iem and the W3 ARE my Iem of choice. Happy listening...
 
Aug 18, 2010 at 4:33 PM Post #1,938 of 2,117
I've had Grado SR-80s for 11-12 years (recabled once) and I am also glad to have them, as for $99 they really do outperform the expensive IEMs I have owned, and they are hardly 225s. I may even go higher on the Grado chain someday, not sure when. It's like desktop PCs vs notebooks, you get a lot more for your money with desktops. Same with full-size vs. in-ears, I think.
 
Aug 18, 2010 at 4:40 PM Post #1,939 of 2,117


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I've had Grado SR-80s for 11-12 years (recabled once) and I am also glad to have them, as for $99 they really do outperform the expensive IEMs I have owned, and they are hardly 225s. I may even go higher on the Grado chain someday, not sure when. It's like desktop PCs vs notebooks, you get a lot more for your money with desktops. Same with full-size vs. in-ears, I think.


Hmm, I don't feel that the 80s (which I enjoy a lot and have had for over 9 years) outperform my newly acquired $79 Ety MC5 at all. I'd put the two about on the same level. The Etys are a little smoother, the Grado is a little livelier, both are outstandingly clear and detailed for the money; really there's not much to choose between them.
 
Aug 18, 2010 at 8:39 PM Post #1,942 of 2,117


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 No sibilance here either...SQ and fit is exceptional.
Showing my appreciation.
 



nicely done.. not a hint of sibilance here either.. They've been in my ears since I got home.. I've been so caught up listening to my music, I keep forgetting to order some Olives.. Time to to order a pack :)
 
Aug 19, 2010 at 1:33 AM Post #1,944 of 2,117


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A bit OT but I'll answer. The answer is yes I will eventually upgrade to a better custom. I found out today that the audiologist I went to is one of the JHA dealers so I might go that route or end up with the ES5 but I'll wait for reviews. I do have a lot of research to do before that as well as some savings to do but I definitely won't be buying either soon. For sure my next purchase will be a dap however.


I prefer the ES3X over the W3, but the ES5 are even better.  The ES5 soundstage is a bit bigger than the ES3X or W3, and the treble has more sparkle than the ES3X (reminds me of W3 in that regard).  The soundstage is not as forward sounding as the ES3X either, but still more spacious than the W3.  If I have been listening to my ES5 and then switch to my JH13Pro, the ES5 make my JH13Pro feel like they have too much bass and less detail.  
 
Note - when I first got the ES5 they seemed like they were bumped up at 10Khz, but putting a few hours on them definitely leveled that out and smoothed out the highs.  Now I don't carry my ES3X or JH13Pro around with me, and I only bring the ES5 for listening when I'm mobile.  I've had them for 2 weeks now, and couldn't be happier.
 
Aug 19, 2010 at 11:20 AM Post #1,945 of 2,117


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So you still have the Coppers?? Which do you like better?
 



I've only done one short A/B comparison so far, but the W3's have been in my ears since I got them and so far I like them more than the Copper's.  I'm not ready to give up my Coppers just yet, I'll do more A/B'ing this weekend and post a full update next week.  They are both fantastic, but I'm loving the bass of the W3's.  Coming from the IE8's to the Copper's, I expected more thump from the Monsters, but they are more neutral than the IE8's.  The IE8's bass is infectious but the mid-bass hump can muddy the lower mids and the Sennheiser veil can mask the details.  The W3 has as much bass impact (to me) as the IE8 minus the hump, which reveals more details in the bass and mid-range.  The Copper's highs are more to my liking than the IE8 or the W3, I love their sparkle and clarity.  With the W3, I seem to get the best of my past favorites in one small comfy package.
 
Aug 19, 2010 at 3:10 PM Post #1,947 of 2,117


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Where are you going to get ur olives? ebay does have them :frowning2:



Earphone solutions (Head-fi Sponsor).  They have a 10% coupon promotion right now.  That'll lessen the blow for the tips.
 
Aug 19, 2010 at 4:20 PM Post #1,948 of 2,117

 
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I've only done one short A/B comparison so far, but the W3's have been in my ears since I got them and so far I like them more than the Copper's.  I'm not ready to give up my Coppers just yet, I'll do more A/B'ing this weekend and post a full update next week.  They are both fantastic, but I'm loving the bass of the W3's.  Coming from the IE8's to the Copper's, I expected more thump from the Monsters, but they are more neutral than the IE8's.  The IE8's bass is infectious but the mid-bass hump can muddy the lower mids and the Sennheiser veil can mask the details.  The W3 has as much bass impact (to me) as the IE8 minus the hump, which reveals more details in the bass and mid-range.  The Copper's highs are more to my liking than the IE8 or the W3, I love their sparkle and clarity.  With the W3, I seem to get the best of my past favorites in one small comfy package.

Thanks for your thoughts. I think the Coppers have a very nice top end too. I do prefer the bass response with the W3 better though. Overall I like the W3 better vs. MTPC. I wish the W3 had treble like the PFE which seem to be my favorite in this regard.
 
 
Aug 19, 2010 at 4:27 PM Post #1,950 of 2,117


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Thanks for your thoughts. I think the Coppers have a very nice top end too. I do prefer the bass response with the W3 better though. Overall I like the W3 better vs. MTPC. I wish the W3 had treble like the PFE which seem to be my favorite in this regard.
 


My pleasure.  I haven't heard the PFE's yet, they are on the list of IEM's I'd like to hear (a pretty long list).  Notice I said hear, not buy
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.  I too wish the W3's treble had a little more splash or pizazz to it.  I did try the Treble Booster EQ setting on my iPhone last night, and it helped a little, but I'd rather not EQ at all.  All in all, I really can't fault the W3's.  They might not be perfect but they are close enough for me and my wallet.
 
 

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