I started my IEM journey with UE super.fi 5's, then shure SE530's, UE10's, Westone UM3X's, Westone 3's, then quit IEM's for full size cans. I'll get a pair of Shure SE535's when (if) I start traveling again. I just like the Shure sound. Rich mids, decent bass, good, detailed treble without the slightly unnatural sparkle. And no fatigue. The W3's were close, but too much bass, too much treble sparkle, too much fatigue. The cheesecake analogy was spot on for me.
I agree they are very nice for the price and that they're not in the same league, but my God man, have you not yet learned that balanced is not my thing?? LMAO Now slide that cheese cake over here.. I think I could handle one more piece...
Oh I know you're just teasing and trying to bait me.. LOL I'll hear the UM3X's and the 535's at some point (if someone is willing to loan them to me) but for now, I'm good.
I had the IE8's for a while and loved their impact, but the veil and the mid-bass just got in the way. The W3's are almost as visceral, but they retain excellent mids and nice sparkly highs. I love them with Comply's or Olives, as you know, they tame that little extra shine that can cause sibilance or fatigue for some. Ok, now I'm hungry.. No cheese cake here, I guess it'll be apple pie
I had the IE8's for a while and loved their impact, but the veil and the mid-bass just got in the way. The W3's are almost as visceral, but they retain excellent mids and nice sparkly highs.
When you find the right tip combo with the IE8, they sound amazing. The UE single flange tips did the trick for me. Had the IE8 and W3 at the same time. Very similar sound sig. Midbass and mids were about the same. Brighter sparkling highs with the W3 and larger soundstage with the IE8. I sold my W3's and kept the IE8's. However my recently acquired UM3X is something else...
Can you expand on that a little bit more? I recently bought a pair of UM3X too. I am not a bass head and I like natural phones but I am just not sure if I am missing a whole lot in comparison to IE8
Can you expand on that a little bit more? I recently bought a pair of UM3X too. I am not a bass head and I like natural phones but I am just not sure if I am missing a whole lot in comparison to IE8
I love my Westone 3s, but I liken "fun" to like a wonderfully rich cheese cake. You love it while it's going down, but very quickly when you're done....your done.
The SE535s get zero fatigue being balanced and another advantage of being neutral, they work with more genres of music (not just rock/metal/jazz).
After 6 months with SE535 I have actually come back to W3 and think I prefer it for two reasons. One, I listen somewhat loudly and the forward Shure midrange can fatigue your (my) ears after an hour. As nicely detailed as the SE535 is, the W3 still shows a little bit more in the treble and I love it!
I also think the SE535 cable is more of a novelty. Unless you are recklessly destructive with your gear, the SE535 cable is overkill. It is heavy and bulky and has significant microphonics. I take great care of my stuff so the Westone cable is plenty durable, more comfy and far less microphonics.
I preferred the old fit and cable though I didn't own the 530 long enough to experience a cable issue. Glad to see you're still into the GR10. I'm still waiting.
After 6 months with SE535 I have actually come back to W3 and think I prefer it for two reasons. One, I listen somewhat loudly and the forward Shure midrange can fatigue your (my) ears after an hour. As nicely detailed as the SE535 is, the W3 still shows a little bit more in the treble and I love it!
I also think the SE535 cable is more of a novelty. Unless you are recklessly destructive with your gear, the SE535 cable is overkill. It is heavy and bulky and has significant microphonics. I take great care of my stuff so the Westone cable is plenty durable, more comfy and far less microphonics.
See, I'm the opposite...I find the "U" W3s fatiguing over time and prefer the "-" SE535s. To each his own I guess.
I never had an issue with my W3 cables, but it is nice knowing that the SE535s is virtually indestructible (with no real microphonics I can speak of....not like the ER-4Ps) and user replaceable should anything happen.
After 6 months with SE535 I have actually come back to W3 and think I prefer it for two reasons. One, I listen somewhat loudly and the forward Shure midrange can fatigue your (my) ears after an hour. As nicely detailed as the SE535 is, the W3 still shows a little bit more in the treble and I love it!
I also think the SE535 cable is more of a novelty. Unless you are recklessly destructive with your gear, the SE535 cable is overkill. It is heavy and bulky and has significant microphonics. I take great care of my stuff so the Westone cable is plenty durable, more comfy and far less microphonics.
I'm in full agreement Spyro.. The W3's highs and bass are outstanding and I keep wanting to reach for the EQ with the 535's. Something's just not right with the 535's, they aren't as musical to me. I've yet to find a genre that the Shure's do better than the Westone's. I was wondering why my brow was starting to furrow.. it was fatigue setting in. Within one song with the W3's in my ears, the smile was back. Granted this is based on the first hour, but then again, I was in love with my W3's immediately. I'll have to spend some more time with the Shure's to give a more detailed impression, but I can say unequivocally, that my W3's aren't threatened by the 535's.
I'm in full agreement Spyro.. The W3's highs and bass are outstanding and I keep wanting to reach for the EQ with the 535's. Something's just not right with the 535's, they aren't as musical to me. I've yet to find a genre that the Shure's do better than the Westone's. I was wondering why my brow was starting to furrow.. it was fatigue setting in. Within one song with the W3's in my ears, the smile was back. Granted this is based on the first hour, but then again, I was in love with my W3's immediately. I'll have to spend some more time with the Shure's to give a more detailed impression, but I can say unequivocally, that my W3's aren't threatened by the 535's.
Right. There is an un-natural hump in the lower highs that just was painful for me after a while. Whatever that group of frequencies was, they were very fatiguing to me. I've never tried the W3, but I did find that my UM2's were far more natural sounding and listenable.
There is a lot that the 535 do right, but what it did wrong, my ears really didn't like. And that's just sonically. I did find the cable microphonic and the guide-wire casings were a real pain with my glasses. I actually greatly prefer the lighter braided cables of the SM#, UM2 (same exact cable), or DBA-02.
After 6 months with SE535 I have actually come back to W3 and think I prefer it for two reasons. One, I listen somewhat loudly and the forward Shure midrange can fatigue your (my) ears after an hour. As nicely detailed as the SE535 is, the W3 still shows a little bit more in the treble and I love it!
I also think the SE535 cable is more of a novelty. Unless you are recklessly destructive with your gear, the SE535 cable is overkill. It is heavy and bulky and has significant microphonics. I take great care of my stuff so the Westone cable is plenty durable, more comfy and far less microphonics.
I'm in full agreement Spyro.. The W3's highs and bass are outstanding and I keep wanting to reach for the EQ with the 535's. Something's just not right with the 535's, they aren't as musical to me. I've yet to find a genre that the Shure's do better than the Westone's. I was wondering why my brow was starting to furrow.. it was fatigue setting in. Within one song with the W3's in my ears, the smile was back. Granted this is based on the first hour, but then again, I was in love with my W3's immediately. I'll have to spend some more time with the Shure's to give a more detailed impression, but I can say unequivocally, that my W3's aren't threatened by the 535's.
If you're wanting more bass/treble, then that's cool, it's just not recorded that way. The bass on the SE535s is totally flat...so you're pretty much hearing it the way it was recorded (as best as a universal IEM can do). Any more is coloured...different strokes for different folks I say.
I prefer the flat response of the SE535s. I found the sparkly treble of the W3s very nice, but over time quite fatiguing. Overall these are both great IEMs, just different flavours...neutral vs. fun.
The nice thing with a neutral IEM is that they pretty much go with everything...coloured IEMs are typically limited to a few genres of music.
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