**Updated 10/27/15 - 10 months of ownership**
Disclaimer:
I purchased the W30 for myself and am in no way affiliated with Westone.
Background details:
I've spent a while searching for a comfortable slightly warm IEM that isolated noise well, had detachable cables and most importantly - offered high resolution with a touch of rumbling bass. So far my search had led me to the world of hybrids but I found the most popular models in the audiophile community had either problems in the treble and/or weren't too comfortable to wear over an hour or so. Well my search seems to have come to an end...for the time being at least.
I won't spend too much time on the packaging and photos. There are plenty of photos and videos out there, which you've probably already seen. Jumping straight to the meat of it.
Design, build quality and fit:
Happy to report Westone have stayed true to their funciton over form design philosophy. The design is very inconspicuous and it seems every aspect of it is focused on comfort - no rough edges and nozzles are slim like Shure's models. The only exception is the swappable faceplates, which IMO add questionable value. It's nice to have a blue left channel and red right but they kept cracking right below the screw. Westone sent me replacement ones but it keeps happening for some reason.
The fit is the most comfortable I've tried to date and I have literally no complaints in this regard. I can wear them for hours and there is no way they can fall off my ears. The epic twisted cable seems flexible, sturdy but also thin and inobtrusive. Unfortunately it hardened pretty quickly in the parts that touched my face and started tearing near the housing tension reliefs. Westone replaced it but it happened again. I bought the earhook epic cable for the UM Pro series and it has worked well for me for over 6 months now. The iPhone G2 cable is pretty useless to me as it's too springy to stay over my ears and I don't use Apple devices.
The standard Westone tips are new to me and I am extremely pleased with them. Even the short medium silicones feel much better than what I am used to. The long ones seal easier but they are a bit too long for my canals causing the housings to stick out a little. My only criticism here, and mind you I'm nitpicking at this point, is that the housings could feel a bit more premium for a $400 UFIEM. I would even be happy with a clear plastic option. Also I was a big fan of Westone previous generation's 1, 2, 3, 4 stylized logos. Not loving the W logo as much.
Ok now to the really important stuff - sound. My listening is done with either the medium short (black) star tips or medium Shure olives with removed filters. As you will read below, the other tips change the signature for the worse so I avoid using them. My source is mainly my Fiio X1 (no amp) and sometimes my LG G3 (for streaming services).
General Signature:
I would define the signature as mildly v-shaped.
Lows:
The first time I put them on I was expecting there was no way the bass could come close to a hybrid. Boy was I wrong. They were a bit underwhelming the first time I put them on but an hour in I constantly found myself decreasing the bass bump on the EQ I had initially implemented. Goldenears' measurements show these have the most linear bass out of all Westone models and I agree completely. There is no noticeable midbass bump and the bass is typically quick for BA. No bleed into the mids. I think only bassheads can't be happy with the bass.
Mids:
Although mids are slightly recessed, both male and female vocals sound great - not nasal and not distant, very articulate. The detail is great and I can hear details I haven't heard before. In the first time in my life I'm actually looking forward to songs with lyrics.
Highs:
All my other BA IEMs have had some issue with the highs - too recessed or too hot. Sibilance is a big issue for me as I love the treble energy and sparkle but I am very sensitive to sibilance. Happy to report listening to sibilance-prone genres like heavy metal and drum&bass even at high volumes, I didn't notice any sibilance whatsoever. Furthermore, this is my first IEM where there are no glaring peaks or dips in the treble. At the same time the highs are very detailed, sparkly and, as with the mids, I actually hear details that I haven't heard before.
Resolution and soundstage:
Hands down these are the most smooth and detailed IEMs I've ever tried. I have a few tracks that have always sounded distorted at some spots with any of my other IEMs, but the W30 made even them into masterpieces. The soundstage is pretty track-dependent IMO. I have some songs that felt really airy while others felt like the band was right next to my ear.
A note on tips:
After spending a while tip rolling, I found that the short star tips and Shure olives with removed filters give me the best sound and fit. None of the long star tips worked for me as they created a mild sibilance and a midbass bump. Don't like the westone foams at all - they lose seal easily and create the same sibilance and midbass bump I see with the long star tips.
Conclusion:
The W30 are still my favorite IEM to date. Even the UM Pro 50 couldn't win me over. They have great bass slam, smooth and detailed mids and highs, a closed IEM noise isolation and the ultimate fit and comfort for a universal fit IEM. They work great with every music genre I throw at them from jazz and classical to bass-demanding EDM and hiphop. Really happy with my purchase and I hope they last me a long time. Highly recommend to anyone that can afford them, except for die-hard bassheads or ppl who are looking for flat sound signature.
Comparisons:
UM Pro 50 - Treble is more laid back than W30. Midbass and mids are more present. Sound is warmer and more natural. W30 is brighter and crisper.
Dunu DN1000 - Treble gets too hot at high volumes and is not as detailed. Bass is slower but more in quantity. Subbass is more elevated. Mids are slightly more recessed.
Fidue A83 - Treble is more laid back than W30. It's drier and doesn't have the W30's sparkle. Mids are more present. Bass is similar.
JVC FXT90 - Very similar signature. Treble is slightly more recessed. Mids are slighly more elevated. Subbass rolls off a bit, whereas W30's extends all the way to 20Hz.
VSonic VSD1 - More pronounced v shape than W30. Highs have similar energy but get sibilant at high volumes. Not as detailed and as sparkly as the W30. Bass is more in quantity and a bit slower.
Disclaimer:
I purchased the W30 for myself and am in no way affiliated with Westone.
Background details:
I've spent a while searching for a comfortable slightly warm IEM that isolated noise well, had detachable cables and most importantly - offered high resolution with a touch of rumbling bass. So far my search had led me to the world of hybrids but I found the most popular models in the audiophile community had either problems in the treble and/or weren't too comfortable to wear over an hour or so. Well my search seems to have come to an end...for the time being at least.
I won't spend too much time on the packaging and photos. There are plenty of photos and videos out there, which you've probably already seen. Jumping straight to the meat of it.
Design, build quality and fit:
Happy to report Westone have stayed true to their funciton over form design philosophy. The design is very inconspicuous and it seems every aspect of it is focused on comfort - no rough edges and nozzles are slim like Shure's models. The only exception is the swappable faceplates, which IMO add questionable value. It's nice to have a blue left channel and red right but they kept cracking right below the screw. Westone sent me replacement ones but it keeps happening for some reason.
The fit is the most comfortable I've tried to date and I have literally no complaints in this regard. I can wear them for hours and there is no way they can fall off my ears. The epic twisted cable seems flexible, sturdy but also thin and inobtrusive. Unfortunately it hardened pretty quickly in the parts that touched my face and started tearing near the housing tension reliefs. Westone replaced it but it happened again. I bought the earhook epic cable for the UM Pro series and it has worked well for me for over 6 months now. The iPhone G2 cable is pretty useless to me as it's too springy to stay over my ears and I don't use Apple devices.
The standard Westone tips are new to me and I am extremely pleased with them. Even the short medium silicones feel much better than what I am used to. The long ones seal easier but they are a bit too long for my canals causing the housings to stick out a little. My only criticism here, and mind you I'm nitpicking at this point, is that the housings could feel a bit more premium for a $400 UFIEM. I would even be happy with a clear plastic option. Also I was a big fan of Westone previous generation's 1, 2, 3, 4 stylized logos. Not loving the W logo as much.
Ok now to the really important stuff - sound. My listening is done with either the medium short (black) star tips or medium Shure olives with removed filters. As you will read below, the other tips change the signature for the worse so I avoid using them. My source is mainly my Fiio X1 (no amp) and sometimes my LG G3 (for streaming services).
General Signature:
I would define the signature as mildly v-shaped.
Lows:
The first time I put them on I was expecting there was no way the bass could come close to a hybrid. Boy was I wrong. They were a bit underwhelming the first time I put them on but an hour in I constantly found myself decreasing the bass bump on the EQ I had initially implemented. Goldenears' measurements show these have the most linear bass out of all Westone models and I agree completely. There is no noticeable midbass bump and the bass is typically quick for BA. No bleed into the mids. I think only bassheads can't be happy with the bass.
Mids:
Although mids are slightly recessed, both male and female vocals sound great - not nasal and not distant, very articulate. The detail is great and I can hear details I haven't heard before. In the first time in my life I'm actually looking forward to songs with lyrics.
Highs:
All my other BA IEMs have had some issue with the highs - too recessed or too hot. Sibilance is a big issue for me as I love the treble energy and sparkle but I am very sensitive to sibilance. Happy to report listening to sibilance-prone genres like heavy metal and drum&bass even at high volumes, I didn't notice any sibilance whatsoever. Furthermore, this is my first IEM where there are no glaring peaks or dips in the treble. At the same time the highs are very detailed, sparkly and, as with the mids, I actually hear details that I haven't heard before.
Resolution and soundstage:
Hands down these are the most smooth and detailed IEMs I've ever tried. I have a few tracks that have always sounded distorted at some spots with any of my other IEMs, but the W30 made even them into masterpieces. The soundstage is pretty track-dependent IMO. I have some songs that felt really airy while others felt like the band was right next to my ear.
A note on tips:
After spending a while tip rolling, I found that the short star tips and Shure olives with removed filters give me the best sound and fit. None of the long star tips worked for me as they created a mild sibilance and a midbass bump. Don't like the westone foams at all - they lose seal easily and create the same sibilance and midbass bump I see with the long star tips.
Conclusion:
The W30 are still my favorite IEM to date. Even the UM Pro 50 couldn't win me over. They have great bass slam, smooth and detailed mids and highs, a closed IEM noise isolation and the ultimate fit and comfort for a universal fit IEM. They work great with every music genre I throw at them from jazz and classical to bass-demanding EDM and hiphop. Really happy with my purchase and I hope they last me a long time. Highly recommend to anyone that can afford them, except for die-hard bassheads or ppl who are looking for flat sound signature.
Comparisons:
UM Pro 50 - Treble is more laid back than W30. Midbass and mids are more present. Sound is warmer and more natural. W30 is brighter and crisper.
Dunu DN1000 - Treble gets too hot at high volumes and is not as detailed. Bass is slower but more in quantity. Subbass is more elevated. Mids are slightly more recessed.
Fidue A83 - Treble is more laid back than W30. It's drier and doesn't have the W30's sparkle. Mids are more present. Bass is similar.
JVC FXT90 - Very similar signature. Treble is slightly more recessed. Mids are slighly more elevated. Subbass rolls off a bit, whereas W30's extends all the way to 20Hz.
VSonic VSD1 - More pronounced v shape than W30. Highs have similar energy but get sibilant at high volumes. Not as detailed and as sparkly as the W30. Bass is more in quantity and a bit slower.