[H20Fidelity]

  I'm also looking for a comparison, as I want to buy either the westone 3 which is on sale or the m200, anyone heard both?  Always liked the westone house sound and have owned the westone 4 and um3x, liked the um3x better....I do own the ASG-2, looking for something to compliment it.  Thanks in advance!
 
Zach

Been a long time since I heard/owned Westone 3, I have KEF M200 with me, what exactly did you want to know?

 

[zach915m]

Hey h20!
 
Well, I have owned the h200 and the hifiman iem's, I guess I want to know if the timbre of the k200, being dynamic is closer the "analog" type sound quality of the hifiman iem's.  I've always been very concerned with mids and how they are in relation to the westone sound quality in regards to being able to handle acoustic music, and EDM.  Any thoughts?

 

[Sonido]

I've yet to find any IEMs that match the transparency of full sized headphones. Even the M500 has great transparency. I'm starting to believe that you need that 40mm driver to attain the level of transparency I'm used to. So I guess my question is how does the M200 compare to full sized cans in transparency and lack of veil?

 

[H20Fidelity]

  Hey h20!
 
Well, I have owned the h200 and the hifiman iem's, I guess I want to know if the timbre of the k200, being dynamic is closer the "analog" type sound quality of the hifiman iem's.  I've always been very concerned with mids and how they are in relation to the westone sound quality in regards to being able to handle acoustic music, and EDM.  Any thoughts?

Much closer to the Hifiman timbre over something like H-200 somewhat metallic sound, I think between Westone 3 and KEF M-200 it's a touch call when SQ is concerned, I think the newer M-200 will have W3 beaten from what I'm hearing. They're both rather bassy, and show some mid-bass bloat to my ears however I think the KEF inches out in detail, the KEF sound very good from my Studio V, especially with acoustic music and EDM, a little bass heavy for me though, possibly the best dynamic based IEM I have heard, just the fit is not for me and it limits my time with them.  

To me Westone 3 is something that's aging now, it was good and still is a great contender but as it's now lower price suggests and replacement and technology advances forward so does the performance of new releases, and what I hear in KEF M-200 is a sure sign of that, they give a real feeling of listening to a 'sound system' rather than just having a set of earphones in your ears. (something Westone 3 doesn't truly escape imo) 

If I had to choose I would take the KEF, but take warning the fit for me is the worse I've come across. 
 

  I've yet to find any IEMs that match the transparency of full sized headphones. Even the M500 has great transparency. I'm starting to believe that you need that 40mm driver to attain the level of transparency I'm used to. So I guess my question is how does the M200 compare to full sized cans in transparency and lack of veil?

M-200 is a touch warm and veiled it's not the most transparent IEM I have heard, but the detail does a wonderful job of pushing through underneath, if you want transparency in an IEM then look at Dunu DN-1000 hybrid

 

[caracara08]

I don't have much time to really listen to my IEMs but every time I do, these m200 always amaze me. Might not play nice with every genre but loves what I listen to apparently. I might just have to bare the slightly uncomfortable fit to get this sound for this price. To me it's like a more detailed hd650, which I love.

 

[zachgraz]

The KEF M200s are amazing headphones. In my opinion they are more similar to W4/W40 in sound signature than to W3 or UM3x.
Their signature is clearly laid back and smooth and I agree, there are clear similarities between them and the Sennheiser HD650.
I compared them with the Westone W40 and to my ears the M200s beat them in every regard but speed. Soundstage is among the largest I have ever heard in IEMs and timbre is fantastic. Resolution is great and there is a naturalness to the tone that always reminds me of good over-ear headphones. I like them more than all higher end universals with BA-drivers including Fitear 334 and Earsonics S-EM6, ASG or Stagedivers. Some of them might still have the upper hand technically (resolution, speed) but all of them sound kind of dry and grainy compaired to the KEF (just my opinion). A close relative to the M200 are the Sennheiser IE800s in terms of general sound when used with EQ. The IE800s sound a bit punchier, similar resolution. Without EQ the IE800s sound brighter. It is mostly a matter of personal preference between the two.
The M200s are great if you get a good fit. Stock tips are useless for many people.
 
Btw. I know from a KEF distributor/retailer in Asia that they have received many complaints from customers regarding fit. This guy himself told me that the KEF simply don't fit him and therefore he hesitates selling them to (otherwise mostly satisfied) KEF customers. Asian ears might just be too small for them. The distributor forwarded the complaints to the engineers and it is very likely that we will see a redesigned successor of the KEF M200 in 2014.

 

[d marc0]

  The KEF M200s are amazing headphones. They are more similar to W4/W40 in sound signature than to W3 or UM3x.
Their signature is clearly laid back and smooth and I agree, there are clear similarities between them and the Sennheiser HD650.
I compared them with the Weston W40 and to my ears the M200s beat them in every regard but speed. Soundstage is among the largest I have ever heard in IEMs and timbre is fantastic. Resolution is great and there is a naturalness to the tone that always reminds me of good over-ear headphones. I like them more than all higher end universals with BA-drivers including Fitear 334 and Earsonics S-EM6, ASG or Stagedivers. Some of them might still have the upper hand technically (resolution, speed) but all of them sound kind of dry and grainy compaired to the KEF (just my opinion). A close relative to the M200 are the Sennheiser IE800s in terms of general sound when used with EQ. The IE800s sound a bit punchier, similar resolution. Without EQ the IE800s sound brighter. It is mostly a matter of preference between the two.
The M200s are great if you get a good fit. Stock tips are useless for many people.
 
Btw. I know from a KEF distributor/retailer in Asia that they have received many complaints from customers regarding fit. This guy himself told me that the KEF simply don't fit him and therefore he hesitates selling them to (otherwise mostly satisfied) KEF customers. Asian ears might just be too small for them. The distributor forwarded the complaints to the engineers and it is very likely that we will see a redesigned successor of the KEF M200 in 2014.

 
If KEF ends up redesigning the M200... they'll be the best seller for 2014!

 

[H20Fidelity]

  The KEF M200s are amazing headphones. They are more similar to W4/W40 in sound signature than to W3 or UM3x.
Their signature is clearly laid back and smooth and I agree, there are clear similarities between them and the Sennheiser HD650.
I compared them with the Weston W40 and to my ears the M200s beat them in every regard but speed. Soundstage is among the largest I have ever heard in IEMs and timbre is fantastic. Resolution is great and there is a naturalness to the tone that always reminds me of good over-ear headphones. I like them more than all higher end universals with BA-drivers including Fitear 334 and Earsonics S-EM6, ASG or Stagedivers. Some of them might still have the upper hand technically (resolution, speed) but all of them sound kind of dry and grainy compaired to the KEF (just my opinion). A close relative to the M200 are the Sennheiser IE800s in terms of general sound when used with EQ. The IE800s sound a bit punchier, similar resolution. Without EQ the IE800s sound brighter. It is mostly a matter of preference between the two.
The M200s are great if you get a good fit. Stock tips are useless for many people.
 
Btw. I know from a KEF distributor/retailer in Asia that they have received many complaints from customers regarding fit. This guy himself told me that the KEF simply don't fit him and therefore he hesitates selling them to (otherwise mostly satisfied) KEF customers. Asian ears might just be too small for them. The distributor forwarded the complaints to the engineers and it is very likely that we will see a redesigned successor of the KEF M200 in 2014.

I hear nothing like that from KEF M200, certainly not the emphasised low end compared to Westone 4's balance. The bass that comes out of this pair here is much more towards Westone 3 with an obvious boost somewhere in the low end, Now, the mid range and treble response could be likened to Westone 4 but no way that prominent low end to my ears.

Each to their own I guess. 

 

[ericp10]

Eric, are you still using the UE900 tips on your M200's?

As you know, I've been really loving the M200's with the UE TF10 and Comply Ts500 tips. Wondering if it would be worth while snagging some UE900 tips to try!

No buddy. I've been using the large stock tips and now theses large clear silicon tips I pulled from a Meel 11 variety pack (I believe).

 

[ericp10]

I hear transparency in the M200. I agree with H20Fidelity that the KEF has more bass boost int he low-end than the W4 (which has more of a mid-bass hump), but I think the M200 sounds like a better W4 in the mids and highs. For me, the M200 is the best sounding universal IEM to come out this year for the money. In other words, there's no universal that I've heard this year that gives you more bang for the buck in sound than the M200. Of course, that's if you can get a good fit (which I can with the stock tips and other tips I have discovered works well with this earphone). It's a brilliant sound earphone that does sound like high-end speakers in your ears. It's the best sound earphone I've heard period that retails for $200 (universal). I don't think any of the hybrids beat it (although many come close).

On the other hand, I feel the same way (to a lesser extent though) about the ATH-IM70 dual dynamic for earphones costing between $100 and $150. Another bang for your buck marvel.

 

[zachgraz]

I hear transparency in the M200. I agree with H20Fidelity that the KEF has more bass boost int he low-end than the W4 (which has more of a mid-bass hump), but I think the M200 sounds like a better W4 in the mids and highs. For me, the M200 is the best sounding universal IEM to come out this year for the money. In other words, there's no universal that I've heard this year that gives you more bang for the buck in sound than the M200. Of course, that's if you can get a good fit (which I can with the stock tips and other tips I have discovered works well with this earphone). It's a brilliant sound earphone that does sound like high-end speakers in your ears. It's the best sound earphone I've heard period that retails for $200 (universal). I don't think any of the hybrids beat it (although many come close).

I totally agree. W4 does the mid bass a bit better but in terms of overall bass I think the M200 is one of the best and most prominent ever.
It is not the fastest bass but it has a very natural decay.
 
I don't get that sound with the stock tips though. I was using Hifiman tips - especially the Hifiman double flanges lead to an earthquake like bass.
Now I am using Heir tips. Their set of double flange tips and similar to Sony Hybrid tips fit on the KEF M200s perfectly.
Heir tip set: http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/2083/1f33.jpg
 
@H20Fidelity: Maybe the M200s are not you cup of tea but the low end "should" somehow impress you. I do not remember any Westone having such a potent overall bass - but I do not mean mid bass precision here. Have you tried different tips (the stock ones don't work at all for me).

 

[H20Fidelity]

There's nothing wrong with the bass besides there being a little to much of it. First, you say the M200 are very similar to Westone 4 signature (which is very balanced and neutral especially the low end). Now you're saying you don't remember ANY of the Westone series having such a prominent low end? Which is it?

Because to me due to such an emphasis on the KEF low end I just cannot place them in a similar field. If someone reads M200 are similar to W4 thinking they're balanced when they hear that low end on M200 they're in for the shock of their life.

 

[zachgraz]

There's nothing wrong with the bass besides there being a little to much of it. First, you say the M200 are very similar to Westone 4 signature (which is very balanced and neutral especially the low end). Now you're saying you don't remember ANY of the Westone series having such a prominent low end? Which is it?

Sorry I misunderstood you, I read your comments again - I was under the impression the KEFs did not have enough bass for you. I think the sound signatures between the 2 are very similar in terms of smoothness and slightly warm presentation. The KEFs have a more prominent low end but mid bass is a bit more precise on the W4. Just my perception. Is it different for you ?

 

[H20Fidelity]

Sorry I misunderstood you, I read your comments again - I was under the impression the KEFs did not have enough bass for you. I think the sound signatures between the 2 are very similar in terms of smoothness and slightly warm presentation. The KEFs have a more prominent low end but mid bass is a bit more precise on the W4. Just my perception. Is it different for you ?

With the source I've used which was studio v they were fairly bass forward with a decent dose of mid-bass, it was to a point I thought... that's a bit rich mate, turn off the car subs But I'm not a bass head by any means. Let me give them another listen with another source once I pshyc myself up for the fitting ritual.

If it means anything I did have 'I want to buy these thoughts' temporarily while picturing taking a hack saw to the ear hoops.

 

[zachgraz]

KEF M200 frequency response and harmonic distortion as measured by a magazine recently.
Just to give all of you an idea how to properly EQ them

 
http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/9986/y9n6.jpg