Westone 4 vs Shure se535 Special Edition (red 535) with Baldur mk2 cable

These are the initial impressions as I have been a/b ing them for the last 3 hours. 

 

Some background- I have never liked the original se535s and a brand new pair out of the box red 535 didn't change my impressions too much. I found them very fatiguing as everything was spotlighted to much and what was coming out didn't seem like real music. basically no coherency to the sound. However, there were signs of magic emanating from the red 535s such as the articulation, immediacy, speed, impact and slam. For me the bass sucked as there was no bloom making it sound very woody. Things took a whole new direction when I swapped out the stock cables.

 

Here goes-

I never thought I would ever say this, the W4 now sounds very distanced and muffled compared to the red 535 with Baldur mk2 cable. The red 535 matches all the impressive qualities of the W4 and surpasses many of the W4s class leading attributes.

 

The red 535 now images slightly wider, matches the W4 in depth but the biggest improvement is the presentation of height. The ease that instruments flows from a pitch black background is truly stunning. Vocals, male/female are represented just as impressively. All the characteristics, subtleties, nuances and tonalities are portrayed so realistically and lifelike.

 

Portrayal of music is now so relaxed, full of ease. Every detail is present, resolution is just so high and all presented so organically just like live real music. There is more to come. The bass is now full of bloom and combined with the inherent speed, impact and slam of the red 535 provides shocking moments of greatness. Drums are incredibly represented coming out of no where with great weight and attack.

 

I think the defining difference of this red 535 combination and what is making it such a wonderful IEM is that it has the ability to portray the leading edge of any note. This in itself just makes everything sound so lifelike and real. 

 

Price wise, converting to US$, the red 535 with baldur mk2 cable are $100 more than the Westone 4s. I manged to get the red 535 and the cable at a very good price.

 

Will post more extensively with pictures later in the week. 

 

 

 

 

for me , it changed sonic character completely. it has eliminated the brightnesss, edginess of the stock. the bass is truly stunning now. you can now with good recordings grasp the size of the venue. i mean stock red 535 s were never praised for its imaging qualities

 

in the air tonight by phil collins- when the drums come 2/3s into the song. with most iem s and home systems you hear the drums played across the soundstage without much variation in tonality. so the sound comes through as large full individual drum struck on a big drum rig. what i hear now is the individual impact and note before it blooms into the sound described above.

 

 

 

I have never tried the baldur mk2 on a regular 535s.

 

I have never owned normal 535s but heard them on a few occasions. To be honest, I prefer not to make a comparison as I don't think I would portray an accurate comparison. 

 

Funnily, the same thoughts came to me, I am now considering whether to buy a pair of W4Rs in order to swap out the cables or go with customs. The trouble with customs for me that is, I just don't have the time nor patience to have impressions done, send them off etc etc. IEMs are spur of the moment purchases for me. However, I must say, the Heir customs might make me change my mind though.

 

I don't think the Baldur mk2 cable would go well with the W4Rs!

 

I tried 6 cables before purchasing my ones and the other 5 didn't sound too good on the red 535. With that said I could see a few of those sounding good/excellent with the W4Rs. 

Where are you located? Best bet is to try Ebay and search for Shure 535 cables.

 

If you still have difficulties PM me. Hope that helps. 

I tried 5 other cables before settling on the one I bought. They showed no improvements to my ears or to put it better the sound I like. The synergy with the Baldur mk2 and the red 535 is even better than a few more expensive cables. I am lucky to be in this hobby and located in Hong Kong so most cables are available for audition. 

 

However, having said this I am quite a newbie in this hobby as my main interests are in home systems. 

I tried the cable that you posted a link to and from memory it's not such a good match for the red 535. Made it shriller sounding and hardened the bass. This ofcourse from memory as I never made notes.