ES2 $ too good to be true?

[smolak]

Hey all,

Long time listener, first time caller. First to say head-fi forums are the bees. One of the friendliest, helpful and informative forums ive read.

So, ive been looking in to getting a pair of Westone ES2 lately and have been phoning around the area for prices. Looking at Westones quoted price at $650 (that exact price was quoted from one audiologist), I then phoned another and the first price she gave me was $120. So i politely said "i dont think so" and she checked with the manager and quoted me $535 including molds, shipping and all that jazz.

Anyone who has these IEMs, around what price did you pay for them cause if I can get them for that, im going to have to listen long and hard to the E500 that im trying in the next week.

Cheers

 

[Wmcmanus]

It seems that there are only a couple of ES2 (or ES3 for that matter) owners here at Head-Fi, so chances are your information regarding prices is as good as anyone's. My guess is that the few people who do own them didn't think to shop around (I would have figured the price would be the same everywhere).

I'm not sure why more people don't own the Westone other than the fact that there was an initial surge of custom IEM buyers, maybe 30 or 40 people, and we were all influenced to one degree or another by the early reviews that other members posted about the UE 10-Pro and Sensa 2X-S. At that time, there wasn't really any discussion about the Westones. Either they weren't available yet, or nobody had discovered them and taken a chance with them.

I've always been intrigued by the ES3, specifically because Westone suggests that they're not ideal for audiophiles due to the spiked up mids. In my case, I'm always looking for something 'different' than my other headphone choices, and there is no sense in getting a ES2 or Sensa 2S-X if it will sound a lot like the UE 10-Pro. So I think it would be cool to listen to some of my music in the same way a stage performer woudl hear it with the ES-3's, despite the fact that it's intentionally "wrong" in a technical sense. I'm just not so sure that I want to shell out the $ to gain this particular perspective. But it is tempting.

Were I in the market for a first pair of IEM's, my choices would be the same as yours: E500 or ES2. From all that I've read about the ES2, it would seem that they are every bit as good as the higher priced Sensa and UE products (or the ES3 for that matter), and they present the music in a neutral yet very engaging manner. The E500's are much the same. I have heard them and think that they represent a tremendous value for IEM's in terms of their sonics, and have the added value of being re-sell-able! The UE Triple X (soon to be renamed, but not yet available) would be another contender in this general $400-$550 price range.

 

[arielext]

search the board there are some reviews available.
the es2's are mighty fine and if you can get them for $500,- something just do it! I paid more than double and still think they are worth the money.

 

[smolak]

Quote:

Originally Posted by arielext search the board there are some reviews available.

Yeah, ive read every review / impression / reference I could find for the ES2, and after having the UM2 for a brief stint before someone at my work borrowed them without my knowledge and lost them (hehe, it was funny when I told him how much they cost tho) I like the westone sound and everything I perceived to be weak with the UM2 seems to be fixed with the ES2, so im excited.

I was a little concerned about catscratch's repetition of their sensitivity and by his reckoning, it seems that they are such a great IEM that they have a place mostly for at home listening but little place for on the go portable due to inferior output of such devices. Since most of my listening with IEM will be through a portable (as well as through a laptop, although I have the beautiful sound Echo Indigo IO), his comments did raise some alarm bells. Not quite enough to dispell me, because although those were his repeated "observations", not complaints, im hoping that the pros will definately outweigh this particularity, especially as ive read that your impressions with them and your X5 (which i love and use daily) are making me anxious to hear the combo.

Also, back to the price. Its funny how a few audiologists ive phone have said "let me call westone" and im like no dont do that. They will tell you "well, our recommended price is 650. We sell them to you for a couple hundred less, so make up any price above that" and then they phone me back and say "yeah 650"

Although ive had two people quote me $535 and $550 so it looks like 535 is as low as im gonna get. Just shows, it definately pays to shop around.

Cheers,