Westone UM3X Appreciation Thread - Page 12

I was a fan of the UM2. I really liked the bass and clarity I got from them. I listen to R&B and electronic a lot and I'm in a crossroad between the W3 and UM3x. Anyone have ideas as to which may better suite my needs?

...and therein lies the paradox of innovation. It's only fresh until something fresher is released! Personally, I'll say fairplay to Westone. For most business' going concern, that is the model one would adopt. Can't sit on your laurels hoping to stay in business. There are far worse offending companies than M$ or Westone in this respect. Sony comes to mind.

Ultimately, it's upto the consumer to decide what they want. Not everyone bought and 'upgraded' to Vista, I for sure didn't! Based on early impressions it was all style no substance; nothing more than what XP offered.

I'm sure some are reading the early impressions and are not too impressed. I, for definite am, and have already placed my order since they seem to share the creamy smooth vocals of the pfes but with greater bass quantity and perhaps imaging. Slightly apprehensive on the highs but will find out soon enough!

You haven't bothered reading the thread have you?

I have had the 3 of them. I loved the UM2's even if they were not as clear as the W3's. The UM3's in turn are IMO better than the W3 although I think I would be happy with both of them. I like the bass and highs of the W3. Never had a problem with sibilance. The UM3X are more neutral. it depends of what you are looking for. If you liked the UM2's you will probably like both, but you need to decide between more accurate and neutral sound vs more fun, louder bass and brighter highs although they are more finicky re proper fit. The smaller size of the UM3X means they are a little more comfortable.

Have you listened to the W3 or UM3X? FYI they may suit different tastes. I personally like both but still prefer the UM3X. How about Shure? they have not released anything new for a couple of years and their 530 model is beginning to look updated. Westone has produced 2 products here catering to different tastes. I should also say their customer support is excellent. I don't want to sound like a fanboy because Westone is not the only great company but your comments are a little harsh if you don't know their products. I would say the same of Sennheiser. People seem to love the IE8's and they are great, but Senn will eventually come up with a different/upgraded version. Would you criticize them for keep improving or updating their IEM's?

Alright first of I didn't attack westone, in fact I said that
"I would like to believe westone is more reputable than that."

Meaning I think that Westone is much better than microsoft.... geez.. in other words.... Westone is a good company. For crying out loud please take the time to read before you flame a post.

Second I have listened to the W3 and I fell into the group that felt that it was too sibilant and any attempts to mod it (following the triple flange mods etc..) I realized that after modding the W3's they eventually ended up sounding like the SE530's... so there and it seems to me that the UM3x from other people's impressions are that they sound closer to the SE530's than they do the W3's.

Third yes the SE530's are old, but as far as I know the ER4S/P's are even older... and many of us have used them as benchmarks So I really don't get the point of your comment about the se530's being old. Its a pointless stupid little comment.

Fourth. As far as I'm concerned Shure's customer support surpasses any company I've dealt with.. Broken headphones sent in on Friday, replacement received on Tuesday. All I'm saying is I have yet to see a thread saying "WESTONE CUSTOMER SERVICE.. AWESOME" and I've seen quite a few threads SPECIFICALLY for Shure.

Sennheiser periodically updates their IE design (IE6,7,8) But usually for actual improvements from one line to another. The W3 to UM3X seems to be at best, a switch in frequency response/sound signature. If that is the case, then why not release them at the same time?

You haven't bothered reading my post have you.. But of course you are forgiven for having assumed I have not read 10 pages of a long thread versus the single post that you should have probably read before making comments about my post. Please forgive me for my abruptness/rudeness/idocracy/and sheer and blatant stupidity.

I am glad you are happy with the 530's. they are a great pair of phones.


I am listening to several pieces now, including Bach's fugue in M major from the Well Tempered Clavier with Edward Aldwell, Russian Rhapsody in 2 pianos with Ashkenazy and Previn, Scriabin Prelude in B played by Evgeny Zarafiants and Chopin's Piano in E flat op 18 with A Rubinstein with equalizer off. The piano sound is very smooth and sweet. I like it!

We forgive you.

...wow... i give up

pdupiano, your post was just funny. Read back a page from your post and you will see why (I know its hard that there's a thread before your post)
Interesting, but then some have grown out of the UM2 and notice its flaws more I think your comment is the first hint of the limitations of the UM2 anyone has cared to mention
I've stood still in my IEM journey, but my other journey has given me new ideas on what I like about warm, detailed, intimate yet spacious open sound. Maybe time for a 3rd IEM

The release of the UM3X has complicated the picture for me. All of the comparisons to the UM2 actually has a negative effect on my perception of what this latest westone sounds like.

There were many positives to the UM2, but it also had bloated, uncontrolled bass, and very little treble extension. I know that this is said to have been remedied, but even the fact that they're compared to each other as sharing the same basic signature is off-putting. I guess it's because of the forward mids.

If the UM2 is even 80% as good as the UM3X, I don't want it.

I've been considering four IEM's: W3, IE8, IE7, and now the UM3X.

The two westones are a little out of my budget, but I am weary about the potential issue with isolation with the IE series.

If the UM3X were to push the market price of the W3 downward, I would gladly opt for those. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem as though the westones get discounted, so it's looking more and more like the IE8...

I really hope they're not too dark and that they isolate reasonably well-

I also disagree with those who are assuming that the UM3X automatically displaces the W3 as being the superior earphone. Once the FOTM effect starts to wear off, I expect that they'll be seen as variations on the same basic level of sound quality...

To clarify my points about Westone marketing, they don't dick around and release a slew of garbage filler IEM's every other year in between their flagship model(s) so I don't see where you are coming from saying they are taking customers and putting them upside down, vacuuming their cash and hitting them with "sticks". To my knowledge, Westone has been very idle in the IEM market as far as new products. UM1 and UM2 have been out about 8 years if I am not mistaken. NO NEW UNIVERSALS IN 8 YEARS! They fancy themselves as a "monitor" company which is evidenced by why they make the majority of their IEM money on custom monitors. So they release W3 last November, a fun big sounding not so accurate IEM. Now, 5 months later they FINALLY release a top of the line 3-driver incredibly accurate MONITOR which will actually vacuum cash AWAY from their much more expensive custom IEM's.

Sounds like a very consumer conscious manufacturer to me.

pdupiano: I did not mean to offend you. Please accept my apologies.

I agree with your comments about the UM2 about the bass, but I still find then a fun IEM, non fatiguing and ideal for long listening periods. I cant tell you how much better the UM3X's are when compared with the UM2. They are better, with controlled bass. They equalize nicely to suite different music and different tastes.
I agree with you that they don't displace the W3's. they are different. May be some day I will get the IE8's. I am sure I will like them too.