W4 versus UE900 - Page 4

So I have had W4 for about 5 months total.  The illness of this hobby has forced me to give the UE900 another go.  Luckily I have seemed to have gotten a fully functioning good pair after (2) mishaps back in January.

Anyway, after a couple days with them I have some comments.  I agree with most of what has been posted above but another opinion/perspective is always helpful too.  Call it the non-technical perspective.

No question W4 and UE900 are top-notch sounding IEM’s but I have a love/hate relationship with both of them.  With the W4, the very thing (lower mid boost) that makes it sort of dark and slightly “off” sounding to my ears, also makes it perhaps the best universal I have ever heard for vocals….just sensational.  That very lush midrange is W4’s best trait while I would call the bass, treble and soundstage all very good but not sensational in any way.

With UE900, while it doesn’t have “lushness” to it, I DO find the entire presentation generally more cohesive and open sounding.  It sounds very linear throughout the whole spectrum as well.  It's certainly not bright sounding but a bit airier than W4. When you add in a large soundstage and (what I think is) sensational imaging and sound placement, it creates a very euphoric and pleasurable listening experience with just about any kind of music.  While vocals aren’t quite as good as W4, they are still very good.  I DO prefer the bass as a whole with UE900.  I find it more complete and linear sounding and, quite, frankly….I do NOT hear more bass with W4 like everyone else seems to.  W4 might be punchier but I almost want to say I hear more with UE900 since it sounds fuller DEEP down.  Oddly, I hear NO difference amped or un-amped with UE900 (Ibasso T3 analog).

What really drives me crazy about both of these IEM’s is the veil.  I scratch my head and ask, “what are the manufacture’s so afraid of?”  Apparently they do not want a fatiguing presentation but must they go so far the other way?  With both of these, a quad driver should have more transparency IMHO. 

At this point I can’t say which one I like better.  I could see W4 being the choice if you listen to mostly vocal but only maybe 15% of my music is with vocals.  I’ve always been a sucker for a big-sounding, spacious and cohesive presentation and I think UE900 does this a bit better.

As a sidenote, I find both unlistenable (boring and lifeless) without a slight EQ bump.  Using “jazz” setting on the Classic which just slightly tips the top and bottom.

For what it's worth, among all the IEM's I have owned I am thinking the UE900 is closest to Senn IE8 with less bass.  Same big expansive sound, rolled off treble and a nice big veil thing going.