[skeptic]

My Westone 4's arrived a few days ago, and I am really pleased with them overall.  The Westones don't quite equal my former IE8's in mid-bass impact or soundstage, but I expected this going in and like them better in every other important respect (extension, detail, fr, transparency, coherence, comfort, isolation, etc.).  They are great all-arounders, with a sound signature that is balanced and smooth without any perceptible loss of details.  In other words, although they are more detailed than premium dynamics, they don't have the sort of clipped, overly articulated signature of something like etymotics - which sounds pretty unnatural to my ears when compared to live music.  
 
The W4's sound outstanding in my bedside ipad4 -> cck (or note 2 -> otg usb) -> odac -> diy O2, and also sound very good straight out of the ipad4 hp jack.  Per gsmarena, the note 2 also measures quite well, but the W4's are evidently sensitive enough that I do hear a low level hiss when using them straight from the hp jack.  
 
Akin to Barid's comment, I can't detect any channel imbalance that would justify the premium for the 4r's.  Also, I was pleased to find that all variations of the new star tips, as well as the true fit foamies, were included with my pair.  The short medium star tips are perfect for me, and I defeinitely prefer the feel (and sound) of these to my old IE8's with sony hybrids.

 

[aras]

skeptic, I see that you also own a bottlehead crack. Have you tried W4s with it? I'm wondering how W4s would sound with a tube amplifier.
 
Also, I originally bought the non-removable cable W4 just to avoid possible cable connector problems. 

 

[skeptic]

I agree that it would be neat to hear them through an ultra low noise tube amp, but the crack wouldn't be a good match.  The crack is absolutely wonderful with high impedance headphones but, like most otl tube amps, terrible with low impedance headphones - which sound anemic and suffer major bass roll off due to the topology.  
 
Something with a transformer coupled output, like a Woo 6, might work though.  I believe headphoneaddict owns/used to own both the Westone 4's and Woo 6 or 6 se, you might shoot a pm his way.   

 

[nelamvr6]

I'll have to try mine through my Lyr...

Sent from my Android phone.

 

[Inks]

Quote:

I was also skeptic at first but you never know unless you try it I used w4r before and I was able to demo a stage93 silver cable and boy I was in for a shock the sound signature really change the improvement in the high is what caught my attention so now I always plan what cable to get for my iems to suit my liking

For me Cable does more dramatic change than tips (tips itself not seal) depending on quality
And about star tips its not for everyone , I wasnt able to get a good seal from them and they are rather uncomfortable

There can be a difference with cables, but you're wasting your time. Addding resistance will do the same in a more efficient matter, I know the mechanics behind it. Stock+33ohms will sound better than any cable. 

 

[caracara08]

There can be a difference with cables, but you're wasting your time. Addding resistance will do the same in a more efficient matter, I know the mechanics behind it. Stock+33ohms will sound better than any cable. 

What about upgraded cable + 33ohms? Where can I find something that adds resistance?

 

[Inks]

Quote:

What about upgraded cable + 33ohms? Where can I find something that adds resistance?

The W4 will cap at 100ohms, so there will be no difference between stock and upgrade cable with that much resistance, but then you need an amp. I suggest 33ohm to keep it driveable via a standalone source. Ebay sells adapters, just search ER4 adapter. 

 

[caracara08]

Interesting. Thanks.

 

[wakeride74]

Just ordered some W4's from amazon. Been having a hard time finding an IEM I like. Tried the UE900 and returned them. Like the detail and PRaT but found the upper mids to be flat leaving many vocals sounding anemic and lacking emotion. I picked up some SE535's and good grief what a muddy mess! I can't believe anyone would prefer these over the SM3v2. Instrument separation is poor and ,ost of the spectrum just sounds like it is being dragged through sap. I'm hoping the W4 will be a good balance between the soundstage and fun factor of the SM3v2 and the detail and PRaT of the UE900. I enjoy intimate vocal presentation and prefer to have it slightly forward but not at the expense of the rest of the spectrum as in the SE535's.

 

[RapidPulse]

Quote:

 I'm hoping the W4 will be a good balance between the soundstage and fun factor of the SM3v2 and the detail and PRaT of the UE900.

 
This is something I am interested in hearing about.  Please make sure to post an update when you get them!

 

[shane55]

Quote:

Just ordered some W4's from amazon. Been having a hard time finding an IEM I like. Tried the UE900 and returned them. Like the detail and PRaT but found the upper mids to be flat leaving many vocals sounding anemic and lacking emotion. I picked up some SE535's and good grief what a muddy mess! I can't believe anyone would prefer these over the SM3v2. Instrument separation is poor and ,ost of the spectrum just sounds like it is being dragged through sap. I'm hoping the W4 will be a good balance between the soundstage and fun factor of the SM3v2 and the detail and PRaT of the UE900. I enjoy intimate vocal presentation and prefer to have it slightly forward but not at the expense of the rest of the spectrum as in the SE535's.

 
Disclaimer... Have not listened to the SM3v2, but owned the SM3v1, and the SE535.
To me, no comparison to the W4. I agree wholeheartedly abou the SE535. I'm actually astounded that they could get any praise. It must be an taste-thing, because even the best sound I could get out of them was unacceptable, unrealistic, yes muddy, etc.
But the W4 just rocks them in they way they produce a more natural and 'acoustic' sound, with much cleaner highs and mids. Good, full (though flat) bass.
I find them slightly rolled-off in the highs, but not as much as the SM3v1... or my UM2's.
 
Good choice.

 

[wakeride74]

Quote:

 
Disclaimer... Have not listened to the SM3v2, but owned the SM3v1, and the SE535.
To me, no comparison to the W4. I agree wholeheartedly abou the SE535. I'm actually astounded that they could get any praise. It must be an taste-thing, because even the best sound I could get out of them was unacceptable, unrealistic, yes muddy, etc.
But the W4 just rocks them in they way they produce a more natural and 'acoustic' sound, with much cleaner highs and mids. Good, full (though flat) bass.
I find them slightly rolled-off in the highs, but not as much as the SM3v1... or my UM2's.
 
Good choice.

The SM3v2 certainly have their issues, yes they roll off up top, they have bass bloat but the vocals are sweet, the soundstange is pretty decent for an IEM and they render instrument and vocal timbre in a more organic way than the SE535. You nailed  it with the "unrealistic" quality, that is what I hear as well... there is something just false sounding in the way they translate the sound of real instruments IMO. 
 
I've been around the block with this stuff and have no problem accepting something that is unbalanced if it is fun. I just got some PS500's and love them, very energetic and fun cans. As for IEM's I've been out of the game for a while but a job change on the horizon has me on the hunt. In the past I've owned:
Westone UM2, ES2
Shure E4c, 500, 535
UE900 and my favorite to date the UE11
 
I'm hoping the W4 will keep me happy for a while. 

 

[caracara08]

Quote:

 
Disclaimer... Have not listened to the SM3v2, but owned the SM3v1, and the SE535.
To me, no comparison to the W4. I agree wholeheartedly abou the SE535. I'm actually astounded that they could get any praise. It must be an taste-thing, because even the best sound I could get out of them was unacceptable, unrealistic, yes muddy, etc.
But the W4 just rocks them in they way they produce a more natural and 'acoustic' sound, with much cleaner highs and mids. Good, full (though flat) bass.
I find them slightly rolled-off in the highs, but not as much as the SM3v1... or my UM2's.
 
Good choice.

I feel its really interesting how polarizing the SE535 is. Some hate it, some love it. I think its more extreme than any other TOTL or near TOTL headphone/earphone I have read about.  I have them both right now and thought the SE535 did sound good but I just prefer the fit and overall signature of the W4 better.  

 

[shane55]

Quote:

I feel its really interesting how polarizing the SE535 is. Some hate it, some love it. I think its more extreme than any other TOTL or near TOTL headphone/earphone I have read about.  I have them both right now and thought the SE535 did sound good but I just prefer the fit and overall signature of the W4 better.  

 
Ya see... part of my 'problem' is my love (passion, penchant, etc.) for acoustic music. Classical, jazz (old standards, esp.), folk, bluegrass, celtic... small chamber ensembles and on. So my needs, desires, tastes, wants... and frame of reference may be very different, thereby pushing me to favor one color of sound over another.
While my preferred color is off-white... towards the eggshell. LOL... very slightly warm, I have a great respect and appreciation for the neutral to very slightly cool. My Benchmark DAC is so neutral it's nearly sterile. Amazingly analytical... clear, crystal. But today I'm tending towards a more warm sound that my new Audiolab DAC can provide... especially with one of its 'filters'.
 
My favored headphones are the Denon D-7000, with their overall warm and fun sound. And in that way, I agree very much with wakeride74. They may not be nutral, but they're very enjoyable. I feel the same way about the W4.
But I love my Ety's and DBA-02's.
 
Sorry... rambling. So my point is that the SE535 was just un-natural when listening to acoustic music. (Even though a lot of people appreciate the mid-bump for vocals). I found them nasal and a bit metalic. But... of course, that's my ear, my system, my tastes... blah. blah.

 

[wakeride74]

Oh yeah... now we're cookin with peanut oil. The W4's came today... (thank you for the 1 day early delivery amazon prime) and I'm loving them. If I had a complaint it would be a slight darkening in the upper mids that seems to slightly conceal some of the subtle vocal tones that while recessed and a bit flat, came across with more clarity on the UE900. I think it's safe to say these are the ones to get if the SM3v2 and SE535 lack clarity, bass texture, top end extension, and the UE900 lack emotion and fun factor. The W4 seems to have captured the better qualities of the UE900 and SM3v2 and merged them into a better articulated and more balanced, yet fun and engaging IEM. 
 
I've been listening to them straight from my iPhone and from the iMac using a little FiiO E17 both with better results than with the SE535 or UE900 using the same. A few of the tracks I've been using to demo are below if anyone would like to take a listen. I'm keeping these, anyone wanna buy some SE535's?