[Dinerenblanc]

  Man, now I'm tempted to take the offer on the W40's. Only concern is warranty limited to one (vs. 2) years...

I normally find it hard to pull the trigger on expensive headphones that only offer a year warranty. Frankly, it's just not worth it.

 

[MuZo2]

Personally I would try some other IEM for a change, keeping old W4 or even selling it here.

 

[Daniel4IEM]

  I normally find it hard to pull the trigger on expensive headphones that only offer a year warranty. Frankly, it's just not worth it.

yeah. If they offer 2 years I'll take it. otherwise, question becomes whether to pay $145 for recabling the W4 with zero warranty remaining if a driver goes. Or, just go with something new?

 

[Dinerenblanc]

  yeah. If they offer 2 years I'll take it. otherwise, question becomes whether to pay $145 for recabling the W4 with zero warranty remaining if a driver goes. Or, just go with something new?

Go with something new, many new IEMs outperform the W4.

 

[Daniel4IEM]

Go with something new, many new IEMs outperform the W4.

What do you recommend? Looking for good value for price on a versatile, comfortable universal IEM. Good isolation and capable of making a wide range of genres shine, from Latin percussion to acoustic singer/songwriter to hip hop. Mids and accurate deep bass important.

 

[faithguy19]

What do you recommend? Looking for good value for price on a versatile, comfortable universal IEM. Good isolation and capable of making a wide range of genres shine, from Latin percussion to acoustic singer/songwriter to hip hop. Mids and accurate deep bass important.

How much would you be looking to spend?

 

[fiascogarcia]

  Go with something new, many new IEMs outperform the W4.

Which ones do you like?  When I had the W4's, I felt that they carried an extremely strong performance to cost factor.

 

[faithguy19]

I agree. I really feel like the W4 is still a very strong performer even compared to some of the new IEMs that are out now.

 

[H20Fidelity]

Go with something new, many new IEMs outperform the W4.

One does not simply say THIS in a Westone 4 thread.

 

[milford30]

Comparing to the w4r (not w30/40) overall including comfort, sound etc, at similar prices Nuforce Primo 8 ~$400. Both the Aurisonics Rockets (price appears to be going up $250-300) and RHA T10i ~$200 sounds promising with reviews and seem to be extremely durable, although I have not heard these two.
 
For my tastes, I find the w4r to lack highs and bass impact, there are other $100-200 iems that I find more enjoyable than the w4r, but are definitely not comfortable for me.
 
Although it probably won't happen with the Rockets and T10i due to being relatively new, IF you are in the US consider waiting for black friday in ~2 weeks time and see possible discounts on the Primo 8. Personally if westone offers the w30 for around $170 I'd go for those, the new westone line is extremely light and comfortable, also you know what you are getting yourself into in terms of the house sound.
 
EDIT: Spending $150 for a recable on an old w4 with no warranty, while you can get a pair of NEW w30/40 with 1 year warranty less than $100 more doesn't make sense to me.... Especially if you it's possible to get the w30 at $150-200

 

[Daniel4IEM]

  Comparing to the w4r (not w30/40) overall including comfort, sound etc, at similar prices Nuforce Primo 8 ~$400. Both the Aurisonics Rockets (price appears to be going up $250-300) and RHA T10i ~$200 sounds promising with reviews and seem to be extremely durable, although I have not heard these two.
 
For my tastes, I find the w4r to lack highs and bass impact, there are other $100-200 iems that I find more enjoyable than the w4r, but are definitely not comfortable for me.
 
Although it probably won't happen with the Rockets and T10i due to being relatively new, IF you are in the US consider waiting for black friday in ~2 weeks time and see possible discounts on the Primo 8. Personally if westone offers the w30 for around $170 I'd go for those, the new westone line is extremely light and comfortable, also you know what you are getting yourself into in terms of the house sound.
 
EDIT: Spending $150 for a recable on an old w4 with no warranty, while you can get a pair of NEW w30/40 with 1 year warranty less than $100 more doesn't make sense to me.... Especially if you it's possible to get the w30 at $150-200

Thanks for all the input, everyone. Westone is offering a discount of $250 for W40 but with only 1 year warranty. Would be curious to hear comparisons of W4 and W40, and any feedback on durability issues on the W40. In other words, what's the chance of these things dying in second year? Not sure how long they have been out so there may not be history to draw from. If considering another IEM, I'd say $250 is the limit given my choice on the W40.

 

[Spyro]

W40 versus W4
 
W40 adds more bass but slightly smaller soundstage.  Everything else is same.
 
W30 is better than both as it does what both of the above do but better treble, more airy sound.

 

[Gandasaputra]

After having Westone W4 for nearly 2 years, I can say that the bass is wonderful on these; not boomy but adequate and smoooooth, like melting butter. But somehow it gets fatiguing when I listen to any metal song that uses crazy double-bass. However, has anyone find that Westone cable get stiffer? I never expose my W4 to sweat, always wipe off after use, and store it on the provided case.

 

[Daniel4IEM]

Westone customer service has offered the following replacement options, given my situation. All have a 1 year warranty:
 
Westone40 $250.00
Westone30 $200.00
Westone20 $150.00
Westone10 $100.00
 
From the tone of this thread, it sounds like many would reccomend best value for price at the $200 for the W30.
 
thoughts?

 

[MuZo2]

If I was in your place and had 200$. Would reshell W4 for 100$ & get GR07 classic or any other iem in that price range.