As someone that has heard both, and owns the W4's, it depends on what you want for sound signature. I listen to just about everything short of country and the W4's literally can do no wrong, and I really enjoy their sound a lot. While they're not lacking in bass, there are times that I miss the...

I'd suggest the W4 as well to add a vote in that regard - I sold off a pair of 535s after hearing the W4s and literally couldn't be happier. The midrange was too much for me as well, and I prefer not to EQ. I can't imagine another IEM sounding any better to my ears and sounds like it's exactly...

I agree w/music_4321 - I have the W4's and absolutely love them, and recently sold off a pair of 535s as the Shure sound didn't sit well with me. I have literally slept with the W4's in b/c I love listening to them that much. They don't have the bass emphasis that say the W3s (or IE8/SM3/etc)...

You can read my impressions here.  The sound signature just didn't sit well with me at all, as the mids were way too much for my tastes and/or the music I listen to on a lot of tracks. I don't regret selling the 535s for a second. The 4's also don't have the hiss I heard on the 535s and seem to...

I've owned the original and 2nd iteration Vibes (the first was much better IMO) and found the Rockford Fosgate Punch Plugs to have a similar sound, though the mids & highs are a bit recessed in comparison recalling from memory. There's a ton of bass (their strong point for sure). I think they're...

I ordered mine early last week and they arrived on Monday while I was out of town - it definitely made for a long week of anticipation, but I had them in my ears w/in 20 minutes of getting home and they are simply amazing. The 535s have been sold and will be shipped off first thing in the...

I inserted the comply tips too far into my ear canal, and when I removed the IEMs Complys came off of the stem and were lodged in my ears and I couldn't get them out on my own as they were too far in. Whoops. The Complys and the olives are very close, but to my ears the olives didn't impact the...

Also, not sure where you do most of your listening but if isolation (blocking outside noise) is a concern such as on the bus/plane, at work, the gym, etc. The Westone 3's will provide a great amount of isolation, while from what I've read the IE8's don't do so well. The W3's are also very...

I compared the W3s and W4s here. I'd second the W4 for a more balanced sound that's not boring or overbearing in any particular area.

I'd definitely recommend the Westone 3 or IE8 over the SE530/535 if bass is what you're looking for. The Westone 4 is a phenominal sounding IEM but doesn't have the same bass emphasis as the Westone 3 or IE8 - it's a much more balanced sound. I've heard the W3 but haven't the IE8 so I'm going...

Thanks for the response vinnievidi, much appreciated! I wasn't expecting a detailed review, but really was wondering if there were any attributes that were night and day b/w the two that were obvious to you. I look forward to hearing a more detailed review at a later point.   Quote:  

Hey vinnievidi  - I'd love to hear your impressions of the W4's compared to your Quads. I've recently listened to the W4s and really liked what I heard, and would have ordered but they appear to be on backorder. My impatience now has me considering going customs and the Quads seem like a solid...

I've been listening to the PP15's for about 5 months and they're very decent for the price (I paid closer to 100 before the price dropped) - I've also had the VModa Vibes, and considered the Turbines at the time but ended up w/the Punch Plugs so I can't speak to them. The punch plugs have a...

Oh - and wanted to mention that I learned a VERY important lesson today about not inserting Comply tips too far. Was wanting to try a different pair of tips w/the 535s so I put some short medium Comply tips on them, which did help w/the mids but rolled off the highs a bit and the lower end...

Thanks - hopefully I can get my hands on them soon, as they appear to be on backorder at the moment. Have been listening to my Punch Plugs the last week. They're definitely not in the same league (though the bass is 1/2 way decent, at the cost of recessed mids and very rolled off highs). Kind of...