[MarkParity]

If you could pick just one iem in between mach 80 or ie 900, which would you pick?

Just to add to @rwelles reply which is probably more balanced than mine. I would say I couldn't choose between the two really, but if I had to choose and as they both sound perfect in their own way to me. I would choose the MACH 80 for the better comfort and then I would miss the ie900 for it's audio strengths but at least I would still own an IEM that I could listen to literally all day without any discomfort.

 

[sjcal]

Thank you both! @MarkParity @rwelles The inner hans zimmer, john williams, joe hisaishi in me says go for mach 80 then. (But still get the ie900 when it goes on sale)

 

[zerogorgor]

I was (and still am) very pleasantly surprised by Westone's MACH series at the London CanJam this year. They sound sharper and more crisp than the Westone I knew (UM2), and I like this better. It was too overwhelming to try out all the 8 models in one go. So, if I remember correctly, I had only listened to MACH 10, 20, 70 and 80. While MACH 80 (and MACH 70) sounded more capable, I was most impressed with MACH 10, esepcially after taking cost/performance and my needs into account.

I have been enjoying my MACH 10 for a couple of months now. It is very comfortable: I like the light-weight and the touch of the plastic shell (would be too cold to use any earphone with a metallic shell these days), and the lightness (and lack of earhook) of the Linum Bax cable. MACH 10 sounds good and is extremely versatile in terms of genres, so these are my go-to IEMs these days.

Just a few comments/thoughts on accessories: (1) I like the earphone case! (2) The stock tips didn't work for me, but Etymotic's dual-flange does. (3) I am a big fan of Linum's SuperBax but not its Bax, which gets tangled very easily. Unfortunately Westone only offers the version with an earhook, and buying the earhook-free version from Linum is substantially more expensive. Well, at least now I have signed up for Linum's newsletters, hopefully there will be some deals soon.

Finally, I can't really forget that box at CanJam that housed the entire MACH series. That looked super cool. I know I don't NEED them, but I do WANT them.

 

[Bret Halford]

Just a few comments/thoughts on accessories: (1) I like the earphone case! (2) The stock tips didn't work for me, but Etymotic's dual-flange does. (3) I am a big fan of Linum's SuperBax but not its Bax, which gets tangled very easily. Unfortunately Westone only offers the version with an earhook, and buying the earhook-free version from Linum is substantially more expensive. Well, at least now I have signed up for Linum's newsletters, hopefully there will be some deals soon.

FYI, the 2.5 mm balanced superBax cable from Westone doesn't have an earhook. I myself wish it did, but it's no big deal.

I agree the Mach series has some really great models!

 

[zerogorgor]

FYI, the 2.5 mm balanced superBax cable from Westone doesn't have an earhook. I myself wish it did, but it's no big deal.

I agree the Mach series has some really great models!

Yeah, I know, unfortunately (or fortunately) I don't have any player with a 2.5mm output. Ear-hook is really a personal thing, I myself cannot stand it, but I respect people who prefer ear-hooks. I find the lack of consistency in Westone's offering rather frustrating, but at least Linum does offer what I want so I will just keep an eye out.

 

[emdeevee]

FYI, the 2.5 mm balanced superBax cable from Westone doesn't have an earhook. I myself wish it did, but it's no big deal.

I agree the Mach series has some really great models!

UE has a Superbax 2.5m cable with ear hooks.

 

[zerogorgor]

There are some pretty good deals on MACH 10 (~65% off), MACH 30 (~30% off), MACH 50 (~25% off) and MACH 80 (~40% off) on Amazon US. These discounts come sooner than I expected, given this is a new series. Waiting to see if there will be one for MACH 60...

 

[Bret Halford]

Mach 60 and 70 seem to only rarely go on sale... I'd keep an eye on Lucid's site on Boxing Day tomorrow, they had a really good deal on the 60 for Black Friday.

I really love my 60, even more than the 80 tbh.

 

[zerogorgor]

Mach 60 and 70 seem to only rarely go on sale... I'd keep an eye on Lucid's site on Boxing Day tomorrow, they had a really good deal on the 60 for Black Friday.

I really love my 60, even more than the 80 tbh.

Sounds very, very interesting. Would you mind doing a brief comparison between the MACH 60 and MACH 80 please?

Edit: I am interested in your take.

 

[rantng]

https://twister6.com/2022/10/12/westone-mach-series-10-20-30-40-50-60-70-80/3/

 

[Bret Halford]

Sounds very, very interesting. Would you mind doing a brief comparison between the MACH 60 and MACH 80 please?

Edit: I am interested in your take.

The 80 is all about detail, detail, detail. Within days of getting it, I noticed my phone couldn't actually quite cleanly decode 88k or 176k sampling, it's just slightly warbly... Been using it happily for years and never noticed on any other IEM, but putting on some well recorded classical it was clear as day on them.

That said, they sound clinical and a bit too analytic for most music to my taste. They are basically classical specialists for me, I could imagine they'd be great for jazz too, but that's not really my jam.

The 60 and the ES60 are very well loved for a reason. They are relaxed and slightly warm, but with enough ear gain that they still sound slightly sweet and vocals are clear. They are sheer bliss for alternative and hard rock, I reach for them over inserts twice their price when I feel nostalgic for 90s Seattle Grunge. Along with that focus they are also quite unobjectionable across most genres, just a nice laid back tuning and a wonderful specimen of this more old school tuning.

 

[zerogorgor]

The 80 is all about detail, detail, detail. Within days of getting it, I noticed my phone couldn't actually quite cleanly decode 88k or 176k sampling, it's just slightly warbly... Been using it happily for years and never noticed on any other IEM, but putting on some well recorded classical it was clear as day on them.

That said, they sound clinical and a bit too analytic for most music to my taste. They are basically classical specialists for me, I could imagine they'd be great for jazz too, but that's not really my jam.

The 60 and the ES60 are very well loved for a reason. They are relaxed and slightly warm, but with enough ear gain that they still sound slightly sweet and vocals are clear. They are sheer bliss for alternative and hard rock, I reach for them over inserts twice their price when I feel nostalgic for 90s Seattle Grunge. Along with that focus they are also quite unobjectionable across most genres, just a nice laid back tuning and a wonderful specimen of this more old school tuning.

Very helpful, thank you. I do think the MACH 80 is a little too analytical too. Based on my short time with them, I find them capable and competent, but not really enjoyable, and they don't really have a memorable character. I listen to instrumental music only, but I still don't think I'd be interested in getting a pair MACH 80, at least not at these prices (due to budget constraints).

I remember somewhere I saw EtyDave write quite positively on MACH 60. Your comments make MACH 60 even more appealing to me.

 

[Bret Halford]

Very helpful, thank you. I do think the MACH 80 is a little too analytical too. Based on my short time with them, I find them capable and competent, but not really enjoyable, and they don't really have a memorable character. I listen to instrumental music only, but I still don't think I'd be interested in getting a pair MACH 80, at least not at these prices.

I remember somewhere I saw EtyDave write quite positively on MACH 60. Your comments make MACH 60 even more appealing to me.

I had the pleasure of being the first stop on the Head Fi review tour for the Mach 30 and 40. I wrote my impressions from my perspective as someone then quite new to Westone but very much an Etymotic fan.

In some response discussion, EtyDave mentioned that in his opinion the Mach 60 was the most 'Etymotic like' tuning in the series (although still very different of course) and suggested that I might like them in that context. His recommendation was spot on for me, but as with all things in this hobby YMMV. Not sure if that is what you are thinking of, I'd be very interested if he's discussed them more...

 

[zerogorgor]

I had the pleasure of being the first stop on the Head Fi review tour for the Mach 30 and 40. I wrote my impressions from my perspective as someone then quite new to Westone but very much an Etymotic fan.

In some response discussion, EtyDave mentioned that in his opinion the Mach 60 was the most 'Etymotic like' tuning in the series (although still very different of course) and suggested that I might like them in that context. His recommendation was spot on for me, but as with all things in this hobby YMMV. Not sure if that is what you are thinking of, I'd be very interested if he's discussed them more...

I haven't been paying attention to head-fi for some time, so unfortunately I missed the tour. A sceond tour seems unlikely, so hopefully I can find a place where I can try all of the MACH earphones properly. That response discussion is most likely what I had in mind. Sound-wise I am also a big fan of Etymotic, so EtyDave's comment on MACH 60, and now yours, really intrigued me.

 

[MarkParity]

Very helpful, thank you. I do think the MACH 80 is a little too analytical too. Based on my short time with them, I find them capable and competent, but not really enjoyable, and they don't really have a memorable character. I listen to instrumental music only, but I still don't think I'd be interested in getting a pair MACH 80, at least not at these prices (due to budget constraints).

I remember somewhere I saw EtyDave write quite positively on MACH 60. Your comments make MACH 60 even more appealing to me.

The one advantage of the 80 is it really is a blank canvas for EQ and sound enhancements. I mainly use mine with my Gryphon and I always use the xbass and xspace features to give it a more fun sound signature.