my UM2 experience

[oluv]

first of all i cannot claim of myself to be an overexperienced headphile, but i have already heard a couple of headphones that i liked or disliked and i have various headphones at home, that i still use quite often, amongst them sennheiser hd25-1, sennheiser px100, koss porta pro, koss ksc35, sharp md33s sony ex71.

after all these great opinions and numerous postings about the westone um2, how great they were, i couldn't resist to finally order a pair too. i really like the md33s, except of some frequency peaks in the higher mids, that make them sound a bit plasticy and edgy, but the overall-sound is very pleasing to me and they sound similar to the px100. but i still prefer the hd25-1 most although they have a really strong bass (probably far from being neutral) and the highest treble is totally missing (everything above 16khz is more or less cut off). but they provide a nice and smooth and punchy sound that i personally like a lot.

so i thought the UM2 could be a nice alternative to my md33, with maybe a smoother overall sound, more detail, a rounder bass etc... maybe even similar to the hd25.

i also have to mention that i certainly know how to insert canalphones and how to get a good seal. i am used to sleep with earplugs since i was a child and my earplugs have neary the same size and the same consitency as the um2 comfys, so don't blame me for having a bad seal or something. also please don't tell me that my source is crap, and that i need an amplifier etc. even if an amplifier can bring out a bit more of sound from a headphone, the basic-sound cannot totally change...

so now to the facts:
compared to all my other headphones i own and i know, the UM2 totally suck. they sound like cheapy earplugs that you get when buying a 20$ walkman.
i sat there for hours and tried the different tips, tried 100 different ways of wearing them, i already had ordered the ety triflange tips before, but they haven't arrived yet, so i couldn't try them out. but even if they made the UM2 sound better by a little, still the overall sound couldn't change by 180°.
at the beginning i was sure to have done something wrong. but i even had them so deep inside, that it already hurt (and my ears still hurt because of this). i couldn't bring out a really convincing sound-presentation out of them.

for my ears the treble is totally missing with the um2, i mean it is there but it sounds too distant and blurred. the mids are all washed together and the bass sounds boomy and disturbing. i couldn't find a tune that really sounded good with the UM2. some recordings (me'shell ndegeocello or erykah badu) were impossible to listen to because of their originally emphasized bass. with the UM2 the bass was too boomy and disturbing masking everything else.

the hd25 sound completely different, the bass reaches much deeper (sounding more like a subwoofer) and although very present it never mushes the sound.
the difference between um2 or hd25 and md33s is not a difference where you have to listen twice to be sure to hear it. this is a completely other sound. to my ears it was as if i was comparing a 2watt portable radio to elac loudspeakers.

i was really confused and i thought of having done something wrong. i even tried the UM2 totally without tips to see if i could get some treble out of it, but regardless of what i tried, even the ex71 sounded better (though i didn't even bother to really compare them side by side).

maybe my ears are not compatible with the UM2. maybe my UM2 are broken although brand-new, or maybe my idea of "good sound" is totally pervert. if this is true, so all my other headphones totally suck. but then even grados should suck, because i actually liked their sound when i was listening to them some time ago.

so what' s the deal? why 300bucks for something like this? i am really really disappointed and i certainly will never buy anything again based on some opinions without having actually listened to it by myself!

 

[toaster]

300 bux for that kind of impression?

 

[catscratch]

Quote:

Originally Posted by oluv I certainly will never buy anything again based on some opinions without having actually listened to it by myself!

This is a very good sentiment IMO. Just goes to show you, your ears are the ones that matter, not those of others.

I have had similar thoughts when first listening to the UM2's. Their treble is very recessed. Their bass is bloated and boomy. Thats why I use EQ to bring out the treble and lower the bass to manageable proportions. If you have EQ on your portable, try using it, but you need to have quality EQ, and most portables dont. Second, you can try using a series resistor to tame the bass and bring out the treble. Ideally, you want to be using something high-quality like the Ety P/S adapter, but even a cheap radio-shack resistor will give you a good idea for what it actually does for the UM2's sound signature.

The UM2 has the potential to sound awesome. I don't know if my definition of "awesome" has anything to do with yours, but the way I have mine set up right now, it's almost perfect. Not refined, and midbass has a lot of bloom, spilling over into other frequencies, but on the whole, I really like them.

BTW, it sounds to me like you're an Ety person. You might consider returning the UM2's and trying the ER-4P instead - it'll be cheaper too.

Quote:

Originally Posted by oluv so now to the facts: compared to all my other headphones i own and i know, the UM2 totally suck. they sound like cheapy earplugs that you get when buying a 20$ walkman.

These are not facts, these are opinions. What sounds recessed to you may not sound recessed to someone else. Different people have different definitions of fidelity and neutrality. You may even say that fidelity is in the accurate reproduction of live acoustic instruments. Well, I had that argument with Jazz a while back and he correctly pointed out that people do not hear live acoustic instruments the same way either. I may hear a piano as being warmer, while you might hear it as being colder. To me, one headphone will sound neutral, and to you, another will. Keep that in mind when making claims that something "sucks," especially when said something has a lot of established supporters who know what they're talking about.

 

[Jmmmmm]

well, either something is wrong, or you have the most distorted view of good sound ever.

the ety tips do make a huge difference, though the um2's sound very good (and much better than those listed, which I've also compared them to) with the comply tips also.

They are not as good as my grados or hd595's, but they are far better than any other canalphone/earbud I've heard.

I'm sorry to hear that you don't like them, I know you debated on it for a while. It's interesting that people with er4's could like the um2's, but you do not. I know my first impressions of them were of amazement, not disappointment. I guess it's possible that you just don't like them, though. Give them some more time and see how you like the triflanges (or biflanges, as I use them), it sounds like they will prove more to your liking.

 

[bLue_oNioN]

I can relate to the OP because my initial impressions were of disappointment, not amazement. Give them at least a week of acclimation, hopefully your thoughts will change.

 

[oluv]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bLue_oNioN hopefully your thoughts will change.

to tell the truth i am afraid that my ears are not meant for this kind of audiophile-sound. apparently i prefer the much cheaper mid-fi sound.
therefore my next headphones will probably be some grados i guess, as they sound so different to the UM2. at least i can have a listen to grado in some stores around here so i won't make the mistake to buy a pig in a poke again.

i am sure i won't give the um2 a week or even more, because i already know they are not for me. even if they change by 50%, they still won't sound how i would expect them to... i am very sorry, because i really thought they would be perfect for me.

 

[bLue_oNioN]

Quote:

Originally Posted by oluv to tell the truth i am afraid that my ears are not meant for this kind of audiophile-sound. apparently i prefer the much cheaper mid-fi sound. therefore my next headphones will probably be some grados i guess, as they sound so different to the UM2. at least i can have a listen to grado in some stores around here so i won't make the mistake to buy a pig in a poke again. i am sure i won't give the um2 a week or even more, because i already know they are not for me. even if they change by 50%, they still won't sound how i would expect them to... i am very sorry, because i really thought they would be perfect for me.

How long have you been listening the UM-2s thus far?

 

[oluv]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bLue_oNioN How long have you been listening the UM-2s thus far?

for some hours. but even if i listened for some days i doubt this would change anything, as i actually don't like the sound. they sound too different from what i expected. i expected a similar sound to the hd25. but it is completely the other way round.

 

[Jmmmmm]

i understand what youre saying about not liking the sound, but i think it's a mistake to return any canalphone without a week of acclimation. they may not be the sound you were expecting, but that doesnt mean you will never like it. but of course it's your decision

 

[bLue_oNioN]

Quote:

Originally Posted by oluv for some hours. but even if i listened for some days i doubt this would change anything, as i actually don't like the sound. they sound too different from what i expected. i expected a similar sound to the hd25. but it is completely the other way round.

I'm not sure I agree with this statement because I was disappointed beyond belief for the first few days; it was only after a week or so that I began to truly appreciate the UM-2s. The same can be said for the Shure E5s, I was on the verge of making an instant return when I decided to give them the time they deserve. I'm glad today that I did that because the rewards were worth it.

All thoughout Head-Fi, you will find opinions shifting as time passes. If your final opinion on equipment is formed within the first few hours, you will be missing out on a lot, IMO.

Anyway, that's just my stance on the issue, you're welcome to take it or leave it.

Good luck!

 

[RockCity]

Lol, I love um2-bashing because it tells me only a few "selected" individuals can truely tap the sweetspot, and I guess I'm one of them. Here's my resolution. Instead of having others telling you how your um2 should sound, how about you list a bunch of music that you think brings out the worst of um2. In return, I and other um2 users will simulate the test, and give you our impressions. Also, please tell us your source, so we can match it as close as possible.

 

[imported_Matt_Carter]

Stop the UM2 bashing threads. UM2’s are the greatest things that happened in my life in a long time. When you first get them yes they'll suck, been there done that. You have no clue how to put in the crappy foam stock tips…. Get some shure tri’s, give it a couple weeks of practice and experimentation with insertion tell you get the perfect deep seal that caters to the UM2s signature, then master it, and your set. Your impressions after this time will do a complete 180 I guarantee.


UM2s need long chamber tips and need to be inserted so deep that they rest on your drums. You also have to pay attention to the pressure between your UM2s and your drums.

 

[oluv]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RockCity Instead of having others telling you how your um2 should sound, how about you list a bunch of music that you think brings out the worst of um2.

my source: iaudio m3 without any effects, eqs or sound-enhancements.

well only to name 2 examples:

- jeff lorber - worth waiting for - track 2 "the underground". when i heard this track with the um2 and the soprano-sax/synthesizer unisono sound came in, it actually hurt my ears. this lead-sound was totally dominant and my ears started clipping.
i heard the same sound with my hd25 and it was put much more in the background and integrated better in the overall mix, besides i could hear more nuances in the higher frequencies of this sound revealing more of the sax-character.

- me'shell ndegeocello feat. herbie hancock - noctural sunshine (from red hot + cool stolen moments) listen to the simultaneous bass/piano and rhodes playing. everything is washed together i cannot separate any sound of these.

i could find many more examples. listen also to some roy hargrove recordings. his mixes are mostly quite bass-dominant, they sound horrible with the um2.

the hd25 bass reaches much deeper, the whole sound-spectrum seems to be spread apart, whereas the um2 spectrum seems to be much narrower and mid-pronounced, everything is happening within the mids, where my ears (and usually most ears) are already quite sensitive. and this is the part of the frequency-spectrum that mostly causes my hearing to clip, the um2 even pronounce this undesirable effect.

by the way, i am not trying to bash anything. i have been looking forward to buying the UM2 for a long time now.
i only wanted to share my experience i had with them until now.
the whole day i was swapping my headphones between one and the other. and as soon as i had worn the um2 for a longer time and changed immediately to the hd25 i couldn't believe how huge the difference was.

i guess my ears are used to a more lo-fi sound than the um2 represent. the um2 are probably too high for me...

 

[Mr Iriver]

Quote:

Originally Posted by oluv my source: iaudio m3 without any effects, eqs or sound-enhancements. well only to name 2 examples: - jeff lorber - worth waiting for - track 2 "the underground". when i heard this track with the um2 and the soprano-sax/synthesizer unisono sound came in, it actually hurt my ears. this lead-sound was totally dominant and my ears started clipping. i heard the same sound with my hd25 and it was put much more in the background and integrated better in the overall mix, besides i could hear more nuances in the higher frequencies of this sound revealing more of the sax-character. - me'shell ndegeocello feat. herbie hancock - noctural sunshine (from red hot + cool stolen moments) listen to the simultaneous bass/piano and rhodes playing. everything is washed together i cannot separate any sound of these. i could find many more examples. listen also to some roy hargrove recordings. his mixes are mostly quite bass-dominant, they sound horrible with the um2. the hd25 bass reaches much deeper, the whole sound-spectrum seems to be spread apart, whereas the um2 spectrum seems to be much narrower and mid-pronounced, everything is happening within the mids, where my ears (and usually most ears) are already quite sensitive. and this is the part of the frequency-spectrum that mostly causes my hearing to clip, the um2 even pronounce this undesirable effect. by the way, i am not trying to bash anything. i have been looking forward to buying the UM2 for a long time now. i only wanted to share my experience i had with them until now. the whole day i was swapping my headphones between one and the other. and as soon as i had worn the um2 for a longer time and changed immediately to the hd25 i couldn't believe how huge the difference was. i guess my ears are used to a more lo-fi sound than the um2 represent. the um2 are probably too high for me...

I think you should try them for a little longer, or equalize them to get the sound more to your liking. Canalphones require a little getting used to. The first time I tried my shures I liked them, now I love them.

 

[atx]

Quote:

the whole day i was swapping my headphones between one and the other. and as soon as i had worn the um2 for a longer time and changed immediately to the hd25 i couldn't believe how huge the difference was.

You shouldn't try that hard to like something that costs $300. I say return it immediately. Even if you grew to accept the sound quality of the UM2s after a week, you're only cheating yourself. You might as well buy $20 plugs and convince yourself they're $300 after a week.