Comparison: Westone 3 and Westone UM3X, using Westone UM-56 custom tips

[Bolardito]

Thanks for this fantastic review. I really enjoyed it. If i want to get the UM56, can I deal directly with Westone or it is mandatory to do it through an authorized audiologist/dealer. Since I'm outside the US and there is no Westone dealer here i wonder. I have a post address in the US I can use for them to ship.

 

[Bolardito]

How would you compare them regarding soundstage?

 

[Edward Ng]

I haven't had an opportunity to focus much on soundstage yet; I will be able to comment on this when I do specific reference track impressions.

-Ed

 

[Spyro]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edward Ng /img/forum/go_quote.gif Westone 3 is slightly warmer than Westone UM3X; there's no, "midbass hump," on the UM3X--I feel it is more neutral from the mid lows down to the sub bass. , it is on the slightly bright side to my ears (again, extremely sensitive to high frequencies). Overall, I feel that the Westone 3s, if not fatiguing to your ears from a midbass standpoint, are a little more relaxed than UM3X, which is more forward from the mids and up. -Ed

Wow, maybe there is some thing to the UM56 tips because I find the exact opposite from a "relaxed" standpoint. With any of the supplied stock tips and numerous mods, I still found the W3 very muscular sounding and agressive whereas UM3X is smoother and more balanced throught the whole spectrum.

 

[Edward Ng]

There is a distinct possibility of that coming into play...the nozzles lengths are different between the two IEMs, and the shape of the nozzle base is also different (straight on 3 versus flared on UM3X), both things which can affect tip fitment and also the effect of tip choice and mounting on each monitor. This in turn also affects the distance into the ear they reach. So many variables, so little time.

-Ed

 

[gilency]

Ed, you did a great job describing both IEM's, pretty much in par with my own hearing experience. Is funny, I never had the sibilance described by W3 owners, although certain music, especially sopranos like Kathleen Battle would at times pierce my ears with the W3 but not with the UM3X. It is much easier to sleep with the UM3X than the W3's, for me a very important fact.
I am thinking of custom sleeves, But I am not yet sure because a softer material than vinyl may be preferable, Also important would be to make sure they remain flush so you can sleep on your side without pressure from your pillow.
For some reason, the black olive foams take some of the bass and sound brighter than triple flanges and large Comply's. Would UM56 retain the bass and highs as or better than the universals?
Again, thank you for your nice review.

 

[Edward Ng]

Thanks...

I find that bass impact and dynamics is best with the customs due to the excellent seal. Highs are definitely more present than with the Shure black olives or triple flanges, but I don't feel like there is excess sibilance. I am, however, a little bit curious as to whether I will notice any change in sound signature when I receive my redone UM-56 tips (with a properly narrow bore for the Westone IEMs; my current UM-56 tips are more open, but I am gapping using de-flanged triflange tip cores, so my assumption is that there won't be a major difference in sound--only actual comparison once I receive them will tell.

-Ed

 

[ivan2]

thanks for the review !!

 

[Edward Ng]

No problem...more to come in the next few days. This is only the start (didn't even post pictures yet)!

-Ed

 

[lisztian420]

I read your review and agree with you 100% about W3 is warmer. I think the UM3X sounds more detailed as a result of less mid-bass. I know this is still too early to tell, but which one will you keep?

 

[Edward Ng]

I honestly cannot say at this time; I need to do more listening comparisons, plus I need to get the new pair of UM-56 tips in to be sure sound doesn't change with them compared to current pair of tips. I suppose if I had to say at this point which of my three pairs of IEMs I'd choose to sell off for some cash if I had to, it would probably be my Sennheiser IE8s...but then again I'd really like to keep burning them in further, being that they are dynamic drivers, and then consider a cable upgrade just to see exactly how good they can possibly get in the long run, so we'll have to see.

-Ed

 

[qusp]

nice one, i've been running UM56 (the silicone version, not vinyl) for some time now on my SE530, W3 and soon to be UM3X and I have to agree with your findings on the W3. with custom tips the bass is less dominating, but at the same time more present if that makes any sense. there is also much more bass detail and texture. also the highs are still very detailed, but not so edgy, soundstage is superior to any universal tip I have ever tried; my previous favorites were/are the long standard size comply and modded triflange and I still use comply if i'm going somewhere I need to be able to remove and reinsert my IEMs frequently or somewhere I need less isolation. sometimes though I will just use my PTH unit in situations like that and just leave the IEMs in. i'm ith you on the westone customer service; IMO its the best in the industry.

Cant wait for my UM3X to get here; these will be my last pair of universals for quite some time I think, since i'm going for ES3X very shortly. the UM3X is just my final way of getting as close as I can to see that I like the sound signature, so I feel better about blowing the money on them as there is no going back with full customs. i'll drop in here and give some impressions when my UM3X get here.

 

[Edward Ng]

Yes, I did notice that while there is better air and detail in the highs, it is not as edgy and fatiguing (sibilant) as with universal tips, which is a curious phenomenon if I may say so. Bass dynamics and impact are amazing...I can literally feel the monitors bouncing against my ears from bass in very bass-heavy recordings, even though listening volume is only medium to medium-high (I rarely listen at high volume in order to retain hearing--after all, that's half the point of isolation, to keep volume lower while still experiencing the full sound).

-Ed

 

[kayser]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edward Ng /img/forum/go_quote.gif the nozzles lengths are different between the two IEMs, and the shape of the nozzle base is also different (straight on 3 versus flared on UM3X)

Thanks for the review, I was kind of waiting for it. Can you please take some photos of UM3x in comparison with W3, without any tips? Is there a considerable difference in nozzles lengths? The diameter of both nozzles is the same, right?

 

[qusp]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edward Ng /img/forum/go_quote.gif Yes, I did notice that while there is better air and detail in the highs, it is not as edgy and fatiguing (sibilant) as with universal tips, which is a curious phenomenon if I may say so.

yeah agreed, I think it has to do with the distance between the driver and the eardrum being increased, so there is more distance for the sound to become a little more diffuse. I made a longish post explaining my thouhgts on it in the W3 thread some time ago. sibilance in the recording studio is mostly caused by micing things too closely and can be solved by increasing the distance or in some cases placing a filter in between the instrument (usually a cymbal or vocalist) and the mic. you know those big circular filters you sometimes see them use when micing a vocalist very closely to get that intimate sound when singing really softly and sultry?? often used in jazz and blues and portishead use them often

Quote:

Bass dynamics and impact are amazing...I can literally feel the monitors bouncing against my ears from bass in very bass-heavy recordings, even though listening volume is only medium to medium-high (I rarely listen at high volume in order to retain hearing--after all, that's half the point of isolation, to keep volume lower while still experiencing the full sound).

true that; the bass is amazing for such small devices and you would never know it the sound is so big. I do find that it took me a while to start turning the volume down though, as I was enjoying it so much, but you are right; best to be conserving these instruments if I can. I do usually listen fairly loud though and I have to watch it with my rigs these days as there is no cue to turn it down as the SQ is so good that there is no way its gonna start to clip and prompt me to turn it down like with some other setups. I could crank it well past ear bleeding territory and there would be no signs of distortion in the signal; only thing that would give out would be my ears