[Review] Westone 4 Quad Driver earphones - Bird of Prey - Page 5

Please forgive me for dragging up an old thread but I received the Westone 2`s today in a trade deal from a very nice owner in Paris.

I recently received the Shure SE535. My first pair of BA iems and yip very detailed and less bass quantity than my dynamic phones but exceptional fast quality.

Anyways, the W2`s. There was me thinking BA`s couldn`t give you a nice bass thump. Well my theory is straight out the window. Yes not a controlled as the Shures but more "Fun".

Reason fro dragging this thread up? hoping to return my 535`s for either a refund or exchange for the W4`s. If a refund then possibly the um3x but if exchange the W4.

I have a feeling Westone has the signature that I am after, fun but still highly detailed across the spectrum. The 2`s have given me an indicator that the big brothers could be it.

Edit: What I think I am saying is that the 535`s are maybe too good for me? I like a not that precise bass, some may say bloated but "A bit thumpier and not soo detailed" I class that as fun. I want to listen not analyse. 

I have owned se530s and got some 4s earlier this week... and i will have to say the 4's are definitely not fun, thumpier and not so detailed.

However, I've heard the 3s are very much all those three.  someone else should confirm this, but 3s have been praised/criticized for being fun, thumpier and not so accurate.  give them a shot.

W3 is way to go especially is unamped.  It is the best universal Westone has ever made. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spyro 

W3 is way to go especially is unamped.  It is the best universal Westone has ever made. 

The W3 leans a little to the fun side, maybe like a re-cabled D7000.  I still enjoy them almost 3 years later, although I'm out of town for a day and the W4 is the only IEM I brought with me (no amp).  I think this is closer to the LCD-2 for me, and I'm using UM56 tips which open up the sound a bit.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spyro 

W3 is way to go especially is unamped.  It is the best universal Westone has ever made. 

W3 or the um3x?

W3, no question.  It has it all as far as trying to do the most with an IEM.  Great bass, great treble, huge soundstage, outstanding efficiency, perfect ergonomics.  What else do you want?

I think W4 was a colossal mistake.  I don't understand who the target marget was?  Having had W4 for a couple days I would ratrher have UM2 or W2.  I am just not sure what niche they were trying to fill with W4.   Especially considering the inefficiency....its a crap IEM IHMO. 

For anyone that wants to dispute my claim, I would like a live treble comparison from W4 to ES5.  I suspect it would be ridiculous since even W2 treble destroys W4 treble as far as crispness goes. 

I love Westone....they have great customer service....but I just dont understand the point of W4.  Perhaps a niche classical IEM offering on the side for $175 or so but to proclaim it as the #1 most expensive and best IEM in their line-up is a joke.

Yes, suddenly lots of dumping on the W4 and I don't agree with it. In my testing (just about 45 minutes at Kingsound Audio in HK), I thought that the W4 addressed shortcomings in both the W3 and UM3X while combining the best of each. I won't buy it because I have the ES5 which takes things up a significant notch but as a universal the W4 is very good. All IMHO YMMV but still...  :-)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spyro 

W3, no question.  It has it all as far as trying to do the most with an IEM.  Great bass, great treble, huge soundstage, outstanding efficiency, perfect ergonomics.  What else do you want?

 

I think W4 was a colossal mistake.  I don't understand who the target marget was?  Having had W4 for a couple days I would ratrher have UM2 or W2.  I am just not sure what niche they were trying to fill with W4.   Especially considering the inefficiency....its a crap IEM IHMO. 

 

For anyone that wants to dispute my claim, I would like a live treble comparison from W4 to ES5.  I suspect it would be ridiculous since even W2 treble destroys W4 treble as far as crispness goes. 

 

I love Westone....they have great customer service....but I just dont understand the point of W4.  Perhaps a niche classical IEM offering on the side for $175 or so but to proclaim it as the #1 most expensive and best IEM in their line-up is a joke.

 I for one think the w4 is the better iem having both w3 and w4 and while its true the w4 is less efficient than the w3 that certainly dose not make it a CRAP IEM .

I find the treble on the w4 to be pretty close to perfect for my ears and while it is lighter sounding than the w3s treble it is every bit as detailed and i also find the bass on the 4 to be very good ,it may not have the same impact as the mid bass dominated w3 but it has more detail and sub bass in my opinion so portrays a cleaner more accurate bass true to how the music was intended to sound,and i have also noticed the bass on the w4 makes the bass on my Sm3 sound thin in comparison .

Don't get me wrong i love my w3 ,its a fun iem and sounds great much of the time but the w4 is a better all rounder.
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by lucozade 

 

 I for one think the w4 is the better iem having both w3 and w4 and while its true the w4 is less efficient than the w3 that certainly dose not make it a CRAP IEM .

 

I find the treble on the w4 to be pretty close to perfect for my ears and while it is lighter sounding than the w3s treble it is every bit as detailed and i also find the bass on the 4 to be very good ,it may not have the same impact as the mid bass dominated w3 but it has more detail and sub bass in my opinion so portrays a cleaner more accurate bass true to how the music was intended to sound,and i have also noticed the bass on the w4 makes the bass on my Sm3 sound thin in comparison .

 

Don't get me wrong i love my w3 ,its a fun iem and sounds great much of the time but the w4 is a better all rounder.
 

 

Hey lucozade, between the eQ-7 and W4, which do you think is a better all rounder?
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Burma Jones 

Hey lucozade, between the eQ-7 and W4, which do you think is a better all rounder?
 

 

Both are fine iem's in there own way however for my tastes the w4 is the better all rounder as it suites most types of music,the eq7 lacks the bass to play stuff like the blues or heavy rock etc convincingly ,it just can not thump out those bass lines like the w4 can ,however if a more forward lush midrange is your thing than the eq7 might suit your needs better.