hey guys,
 
Val here, stopping by real quick to write my quick review of these affordable IEM's W30 SE Massdrop edition. They are indeed as good as I hoped and more, let me tell you why. The presentation of the box alone you can tell Westone means business, very classy and refined great first impression.
 
Unboxing this IEM was a pleasant experience (links below) but when you hold them in your hands you can tell this is build quality made with level of pride right here in Colorado Springs, USA. The W30SE construction quality has solid attention to detail and feels/looks quality all around product. The cable is beautiful, flexible and very light and does not drag the IEM around. There are many included ear tips probably enough for most ears. There is also ear wax cleaning tool included so you can maintain your new IEM. Comfort is truly excellent you can easily forget you have IEM on so I give comfort 9.5/10.
 
My first impression listening was indeed VERY good the sound is neutral like with just a touch of bass probably in the 2 to 3 db level. The extra bass does not bleed into midrange and is tastefully executed. I would say the mid range is as mostly neutral just touch recessed between HD650 and HD600 level. The bass is satisfying, refined and accurate and does not effect mid range or upper frequencies. The channel and instrument separation is very impressive you do get pretty good sense of both instruments and voices positions. The timbre is also fairly accurate not as accurate as my B&W 805 speakers but we are talking about completely different products here. Sound I would rate 9/10 as to my ears this is very good and accurate sounding IEM.
 
Let's talk about value guys, for $229 can you really do better? Maybe or maybe not it depends. In my opinion you can't because you want to look at whole product (not just the actual product) and what value it brings for your hard earned cash. This is a quality made IEM here in USA, 3 way driver design, balanced drivers, 2 year warranty (not 1 like most other companies), customer service in house and IEM experience of 50+ years. If you look at the whole product here you can easily see why I give this product so much respect because there is lot's of substance here for your money. Value I give it 9.9/10.
 
So here we go boys and girls. I can highly recommend this IEM because it sounds great and will not cost you like house mortgage. It's a wonderful IEM for both enjoying music and critical listening.
 
If you are interested I made a quick Youtube video with unboxing. In next few weeks I will make a YT video review and see how and if my opinion will change.
 
https://www.youtube.com/user/masterfuu
 
The product is available at Massdrop:
 
https://www.massdrop.com/buy/31449
 
If you have any questions or pointers leave a comment I will get back to you.









 

You know that feeling when you wake up in the morning and you can smell the coffee (Columbian, beautiful like their women), bagels (plain but fresh no manager specials) being toasted and birds singing (bunch of them in perfect harmony). It's the feeling of life just being right and problems being thing of past. That's how I feel today so I thought let's write a long overdue review of this little wonder called Objective2 headphone amp. There are many reviews with detailed numbers and measurements but my review is just my opinion based on many hours of listening all type of music with different headphones.
 
My unit was purchased used for only $55 shipped here at head-fi few months ago. This is my second O2 amp first one was a JDS my current one is Massdrop made in China. Don't let the price tag fool you this little amp can't be beat for the money spent compared to amps costing much more. I had amps up to $2000 and unless your trying to power Hifiman 6 or certain planars your search can end right here right now. Do not waste your money do not fall for the hype because only hype real is the Objective 2 hype and that hype is real backed by measurements and cult like following over past few years.
 
What makes O2 special is that it's a neutral amp (wire with gain as we call it) and it does not change the flavor of the sound . That is exactly how amps should be and rest of the gear so you can enjoy the soundtrack the way it was recorded in the studio and listen to headphones the way they were designed with their own sound signature. This little Tarzan has good power and is able to make most headphones sing including HD600, HD650, Beyer T1 (600ohm but fairly efficient). 
 
Now is there a better amp out there? Yes, of course but requires you to spend at least six times of O2 price tag. While powerful, this little Tarzan could use slightly more power since I find some of my headphones slightly lacking in the lower frequencies but we are talking about very small improvements that takes good ear to evaluate.
 
For money O2 is a slam dunk and one of most popular amps of all time for a good and well deserved reason. If you are trying to get your feet wet or just trying to find your final amp O2 will not disappoint most of audiophiles.
 
Now back to last sip of coffee....  refill time. Let's load up on some more bagels. Oh snap, I'm out of cream cheese.
 
If you find my review informative and fun please take quick moment and sub to my youtube channel:
 
https://www.youtube.com/user/masterfuu

Audiophile world can be your salvation or your hell. It depends how deep you will be sucked in and how confused you are what you’re looking for. For me it has been both. It all started two years ago when my old headphone broke on me and I had the wild idea to press the “buy” button on $1000 headphone called Grado GS1000.
 
I remember holding them in my hands with watery eyes upon the sight. The texture of the mahogany the smell of the wood it was something retro and to behold. Everything about that headphone was unique and I was excited to try them out. Then the disappointment when I found out that it was lacking in comfort and bass. How can a $1000 headphone be lacking in anything? Is the audiophile world about just sound or is there more to it? Just when you get a Porsche 911 do you expect it to perform great in every category considering its price tag?    
 
The answer is no. The audiophile world is more than sound its world of senses such as visual, emotion and imagination. The GS1000 was beginning of the end as I took on a journey to find my headphone that will take me on a journey each and every time. I bought few other headphones such as HD800. T1(Gen2) and few others until I discovered the HD650. Or maybe we can say HD650 found me.
 
I got the HD650 on a sale for $299 which is ¼ price tag of other flagships I previously owned. Yet this baby makes me happy. The mid-range is possibly the best I’ve yet heard. To my ears not recessed one bit with extremely balanced and textured imaging. Also the bass is very satisfying it does not bleed into mids.  Possibly the greatest quality of this headphone is the slightly tamed high frequencies which makes it very forgiving main headphone (Spotify Premium, YouTube, Netflix). This is everyday audiophile headphone that can be your last audiophile headphone considering its audio reproduction qualities.
 
HD650 received many positive reviews from both professional and amateur audio enthusiasts and I believe it is well deserved. This is a subjective review of a guy who is so impressed with the quality for $ that I had the urge to write this review this Saturday morning over cup of warm coffee.
The only weakness I can think of is that in stock form clamping force can be little on tight side but is easily corrected. Just expand the headphone all the way and unbend the metal slightly. Do not unbend the plastic because it will break. After this comfort is nearly perfect.  Pads also could be memory foam but they are not uncomfortable overall.
HD650 deserves to be heard.
 
Now let’s get back to drinking the coffee and bagels.  
 

 
 
 
 
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https://www.youtube.com/user/masterfuu