New UM2's, my thoughts...

[AuroraProject]

So I received my Westone UM2's today. These are my first impressions, I've been playing around with them for a few hours now.
The packaging is excellent, they come in a nice Pelican case with room for spare tips and a dessicant pod to absorb moisture, very nice. The cable is nice and light, and is virtually unnoticeable when worn. I haven't really examined the overall build quality, but they feel well built.
Right out of the box I plugged them into my ipod (since thats what I bought them for), using the short Comply tips. Words cannot decribe the utter disappointment I felt when the first track spun up (read on please), I had read the reviews and user comments but wasn't prepared for what I heard. The bass was there, but it wasn't the copius amouts I was expecting from all of the reviews. The treble was severely rolled off, and I just generally disliked the sound. So I thought maybe I put them in wrong, but they were inserted correctly. I tried the ipods treble booster and the sound brightened up slightly, but I'm still not happy.
So I decide to try the longer Comply tips, much of the same, infact these give me less treble. Hmm, so I get on Headfi and do some searches and come to find out that some recommend using Ety triflanges modded to biflanges. I hack the smallest flange off and slide them on the UM2's. Hey, there's the treble! Except now it sounds screechy and silibant, oh the ipods treble booster is still on! With the Ety biflanges the treble is good, but the bass has dropped off slightly. Hmm, what to do now?
It then occurs to me to try the Ety grey foamies, so I slide them on and fire up some Infected Mushroom. Wow, much better! Great bass and some really nice treble. After a bit of tinkering I've found the Ety foamies coupled with the ipod treble booster gives me the sound I was looking for.
I can't believe the difference a simple tip change makes, who would have thought the tips could have such a profound effect on the music? Not me thats for sure! The UM2's are also VERY sensitive to recording quality, some of my mp3's sound downright terrible on these, while others sound absolutely fabulous.

So, some tips for new UM2 owners:

Try out lots of different tip options, there's a sound thats just right for you, trust me.
If the sound is no good, check the source, 128 mp3's don't sound good with UM2's, in fact my VBR's have me considering lossless.

These definitely wont replace my Ety's, but they give me what I was looking for, decent bass and isolation straight out of the ipod with minimal or no eq. I'm questioning the value right now, but again I've only had them a few hours.

One other thing, there is actually a soundstage with these, the music is no longer just in my head! (You know what I mean) I'm used to the Ety's minimal soundstage.

 

[Scunner]

I was about to post for exactly the same reason; my UM2s also arrived today.

My source is similarly a 20GB iPod. I had been using Sony's MDR-EX71s, and while there was plenty "thump" (its hard to call it bass, really), I knew I was missing out on a lot of detail in my music. I've always been keen on quality audio reproduction, but never had the means to support that lofty goal.

My wallet is now sobbing to itself in a corner...

I was impressed with the presentation of the carrying case; solid construction, weighty, and water-tight it seems. An immediate case-mod springs to mind; cut out the dessicant-holder and you've also got a handy-dandy iPod case.

I've been listening with the default tips for a few hours now and already I'm in love with them. The details! God lord, the details! Bass sounds like bass, but without the same in-your-faceness of the EX71s, which isn't altogether a bad thing. Unlike the previous poster, I find that the treble is present and bright. They are strangely comfortable for having something firmly inserted into my ear canal, and quite frankly I hardly notice I'm wearing them. I've learned several new words and phrases since I started lurking here a few weeks ago. One of them that I'm marvelling over right now is "microphonics". The cable material is a wonder; the EX71s were a constant source of annoyance as they transmitted the smallest body movement, disrupting my listening pleasure.

I've read many accounts of people taking their tri-flanges, hacking the end off, and using them instead of the Complys, often to much better effect. I can't imagine right now that the quality of the audio will improve more than what I'm hearing. Of course, that's what they said when colour TVs came out.

I can't believe that I spent more on the canalphones than I did on the player itself. But if all the music I listen to from now on sounds as good (or better) than what I've experienced in the past few hours, I don't think anyone will blame me if I sweep my guilt under the carpet.

Thanks to everyone on this forum for directly or indirectly pointing me towards digital audio nirvana. If music be the food of love, play on; Give me excess of it... and a pair of UM2s.

 

[DJGeorgeT]

Congratulation on your purchase!!! I had a similar experience. When I decided to spend the hard earned $$$ on the UM2 back a year ago, I did not know what to expect. There was only one guy at head-fi who had tried them. At that time, just about everyone at head-fi kind of dissed Westone. When I got them, I was surprised about the packaging. It was nice. The dessicant is also a nice feature that I do not see with other IEMs - to keep your IEMs dry and prevent them from oxidizing. When I first wore them and plugged it into my karma, it sounded dull (I was dissapointed), but then I after 1 hour or so it sounded so good. I decided to sell my Shure E5s then. The highs on the UM2 are clear -slightly veiled and the bass is ass shakin' strong in comparison to my er-4p. Out of my Karma, they sound awesome. Yeah, I agree that these won't replace your er-4p (listening to 'em as I type) - nothing does in the detail department.

 

[drssyoon]

2 words - custom molds. It is difficult to decide to spend yet another $100 for something that you don't know will improve the UM2s. I know I waffled for a long time. I am absolutely delighted with the results. Far superior sound to the foamies (both Etys and UM2) in comfort and sound quality. Very discreet. Unbelievable isolation.

 

[DJGeorgeT]

that's an additional $100 I don't have

but if I were a full-time musician, I would skip the universal fit IEMs and go straight up to the custom ones with dual bore design.

 

[drssyoon]

True - but think about return on investment. You are spending additional 30% or so of the total price, but the improvement in sound and comfort is greater than that, in my opinion. Also, you will never have to buy any more foamies.

 

[jamato8]

The UM2's need at least a hundred hours of play time to start sounding near their potentinial. You have elctrical, dialetric and mechanical forming, relaxing destressing.

Shortly after receiving my UM2's I was listening and sound became more and more edgy and slightly shrill. I was very unhappy with the sound, to say the least and thought I had made a mistake in purchasing them. Then over the next 20 to 30 hours they settled in and the sound became smooth and opened up.

John

 

[tayano]

AuroraProject, when using um2 w/biflanges the vocals really shine. :UM2smile:
How does the ety foamies effect the vocals ?

 

[AuroraProject]

I haven't had much time to do any critical listening today, I have a day off tomorrow so I'll try both and post some impressions.

 

[tayano]

Quote:

Originally Posted by AuroraProject I haven't had much time to do any critical listening today, I have a day off tomorrow so I'll try both and post some impressions.

looking forward to it, I'll get my shure ultra soft flex sleeves tomorrow,I don't think that they'll give me a more balanced sound than the biflanges but I'll give it a try.

 

[AuroraProject]

Ok, I did some listening today. The biflanges aren't on my list anymore, they sound good, but they seem to cause a noticeable drop in the bass. I can't tell much of a difference in the vocals between the Ety foamies and the biflanges, if any. I'm currently trying to decide which foam tip I like the best, the long comply gives the best bass, but reduced highs, the Ety foamies give slightly less bass but better highs, and the short comply gives almost the same results as the Ety foamies. I've given up on the ipod's treble booster, it boosts the treble sure, but it becomes harsh and shrill.

I've discovered I can't use the UM2's with my home rig (Rotel cd>Zu Gede>Gilmore Lite w/ psu) at the lowest volume setting the pot on the Gilmore has a channel imbalance, it I turn it up enough to correct the imbalance the sound is way too loud to listen to.

More impressions to follow.....

 

[Jmmmmm]

Quote:

Originally Posted by AuroraProject Ok, I did some listening today. The biflanges aren't on my list anymore, they sound good, but they seem to cause a noticeable drop in the bass. I can't tell much of a difference in the vocals between the Ety foamies and the biflanges, if any. I'm currently trying to decide which foam tip I like the best, the long comply gives the best bass, but reduced highs, the Ety foamies give slightly less bass but better highs, and the short comply gives almost the same results as the Ety foamies. I've given up on the ipod's treble booster, it boosts the treble sure, but it becomes harsh and shrill. I've discovered I can't use the UM2's with my home rig (Rotel cd>Zu Gede>Gilmore Lite w/ psu) at the lowest volume setting the pot on the Gilmore has a channel imbalance, it I turn it up enough to correct the imbalance the sound is way too loud to listen to. More impressions to follow.....

Give it a bit of time. At first, I hated the triflanges because it decreased the bass. For the first two weeks, I used comply tips and loved them. However, eventually I wanted more treble, and when I switched back to the triflanges (or biflanges, really) they were perfect for me. I was happy with the treble, and this time I actually liked what it did to the bass. I felt it was much less muddy and still had plenty of oomph. Obviously YMMV, but recently tayano (i think) posted that he went through nearly the exact same thing.

I had the problem with the volume from amps, too. I had to use a volume adjuster (shure's), a 75ohm adapter (xin's), or a volume attenuator (UE's).

 

[jamato8]

Biflanges aren't always best. I used the tri for some time and really enjoyed them then I thought, "why not go for the mod, it is better". Well for my ear canal I lost some bass and I don't like the fit. So less is not always more.

John

now I have to get some more tri's as I do like them better than the foams

 

[AuroraProject]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jmmmmm Give it a bit of time. At first, I hated the triflanges because it decreased the bass. For the first two weeks, I used comply tips and loved them. However, eventually I wanted more treble, and when I switched back to the triflanges (or biflanges, really) they were perfect for me. I was happy with the treble, and this time I actually liked what it did to the bass. I felt it was much less muddy and still had plenty of oomph. Obviously YMMV, but recently tayano (i think) posted that he went through nearly the exact same thing. I had the problem with the volume from amps, too. I had to use a volume adjuster (shure's), a 75ohm adapter (xin's), or a volume attenuator (UE's).

Hey I forgot I have the Ety P>S adaptor, I'll give that a try in a few. Right now I'm trying out the UM2 with my ipod Shuffle, and these things rock with the Shuffle!

 

[tayano]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jmmmmm Give it a bit of time. At first, I hated the triflanges because it decreased the bass. For the first two weeks, I used comply tips and loved them. However, eventually I wanted more treble, and when I switched back to the triflanges (or biflanges, really) they were perfect for me. I was happy with the treble, and this time I actually liked what it did to the bass. I felt it was much less muddy and still had plenty of oomph. Obviously YMMV, but recently tayano (i think) posted that he went through nearly the exact same thing. I had the problem with the volume from amps, too. I had to use a volume adjuster (shure's), a 75ohm adapter (xin's), or a volume attenuator (UE's).

That's right.
http://www6.head-fi.org/forums/showt...um2+triflanges

My ultra soft-flex sleeves arrives today,I'll do a small comparison between them and the triflanges. I don't use the comply tips any more,they are too muddy and bassy.

Jmmmmm,don't you miss your um2 ?