Hehe.
I will do a brief comparaison between a 700$ custom dualdrivers earphones (WESTONE ES2) and a 9$ suprisingly good single driver earphones (PLEXTONE S50).
I know it can look absurd like making a boxing match between an anorexic and 250 pounds fighter on steroid, but i'm very curious about the REAL difference.
Source: Xduoo X3 (don't use my Dx90 for this...just a fast comparaison I do)
Westone ES2:
-Soundstage is IMMENSE, like really immense and around your head, earphone are immense too. Instruments separation are incredible and layers of sound too. Bass go very low and have it's own place in the mix and never interfer with the mids, I feel a lack of punch tough. It is very selective of the audio source and amping and can sound too bright and unatural with some. Their a sweeted brightness with this earphones, like something you consider them bright other time warm, it is because the treble is very revealing for details and background noise in a track, you can't listen bad mp3 with this. The sound is very articulate and high aren't peircing, I don't find this earphones extremely analitycal. Construction is INVINCIBLE, you can trow the resin earshell as hard as you can and will never break them. Just don't drop it in water.
Plextone S50:
-Soundstage is above average but smaller and more in-you-head than Westone. It is warmer and more forgiving with lossy music. The sound is more like a whole, we hear less hissing due to a less bright treble and less sensitive earphones comparatively to Westone ES2. Vocal are more foward with the S50 and feel sweeter because ES2 look like it extract too much layers of sound from it *like your listening to 2-3 signer when their one one), Guitar sound better on S50 because ES2 don't favorite some particular frequencies and isn't very tweaked and sound more balanced than S50, wich should make them a better all-arounder. Bass is dryish and don't extend very low, very punchy and good for rock. Treble is sparkly with the S50 and is permit to give teeth to highs and mids. Stil, they are less details craving than ES2 and the overall sound can feel more congested or Grado-one-ear-style. It's very urgent sounding but do not cause fatigue. Construction could be good, it's all good BUT the earshell are 2 part of cheap plastic glue together and feel we can break it between our 2 fingers, wich i'm certain we can, no need of a hammer to break those.
Euh.....i'm very confuse...I kind of prefer the Plextone S50 (today?).
With signer, but not with electro. The ES2 are so big and intrusive that it can hurt my ears after long listening...even if they are custom.
So...i'm not finish with this...it confirm what I was afraid of thinking.
The Westone ES2 cost 100X the price of the Plextone S50 and I confirm that it do not sound 100 times better, more like...1.5 time better.
PS:Yes, I prefer the Plextone S50 1 or 2 days, new good sound you know...but the Westone are still way more articulate and hifi. Finally 2.5 times better perhaps!