BlueSwift
Head-Fier
- Joined
- Dec 16, 2008
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Hmm... this is my first post here. But im not sure whether this review might be helpful or not. Because i have tried the Westone 3 not too long ago, i want to compare it with the Senns IE8 and base it on my preferences. Since this is a teenager's review, well... it might not be useful to you guys. And especially im a Newbie
*Note: I only own the IE8 (100 hours of burn-in) and i auditioned the W3.
Looks:
Well, the Westone 3 definitely looks nicer for my kind of age. With a nice red "3" logo (almost looked like a man) and a shiny black finish. Whilst the Sennheiser is more rigid looking and it looks like a military sort of equipment with a matted dark grey finish and a nice, shiny chromed "S" logo on the IE8.
Wires: I guess this is even. Both wires look long lasting and they have absolutely no microphonics at all.
Sound Isolation:
Well, the W3 definitely has definitely more sound insulation than the IE8.
Comfort: Both are surprisingly comfortable. But i guess the winner for this category is the IE8. The size of the IE8 is smaller and lighter, so it fits much better to my ears than the W3. Since the IE8 is flat shaped while the W3 is curved, i guess when you wear them on the bed, the IE8 is flushed with the pillow.
SQ:
Bass: Sennheiser IE8 wins, but only by a slim margin. The IE8 has slightly stronger and lower bass and it also suites more to my taste as well.
Mids: The IE8 still wins this. It is more powering on the mids, and that feel seems to be SLIGHTLY less that comes out of the W3. But when the mids goes higher to the highs, the W3 sounds better.
Highs: Well, the highs goes to the W3 and it feels much nicer and it will not be rolled-off as the IE8 (the rolled off highs of the IE8 can still have a very slight notice even after 100 hours of burn-in)
Soundstage: The IE8 definitely wins this one. It is much wider than the W3s.
Clarity: The W3 wins this. Very clear and detailed all rounder at highs, mids and bass.
Conclusion: (I am trying to be fair as possible)
IE8 - Good in it's Bass and mids and soundstage and great comfort.
W3 - Good in it's clarity, treble and highs and looks very cool looking.
So, the IE8 still wins my heart (by 60%) due to the Natural feel, warm mids and bass (dark sound) that i really like which the the W3 can't as it is SLIGHTLY too clear for me which I don't really prefer. The IE8 is more laid-back as well, which is much suited to my liking.
I only travel only twice in a day when i have school (It's school holidays for me now) and it takes the most 1 hour to reach home or to school. So i'm not fussy about the sound isolation.
But still, if I have the money again, I will definitely buy the W3. There is some feel and SQ that is just missing from the IE8 but it seems to appear on the W3. Hmm... how i wish we can combine the W3 and IE8 together and become a Wesheiser WE 6. (the middle number of 8 and 3 is 6)
Anyway, that is just to my ears. I will burn in my IE8 longer to see if the rolled off highs will completely disappear.
*Note: I only own the IE8 (100 hours of burn-in) and i auditioned the W3.
Looks:
Well, the Westone 3 definitely looks nicer for my kind of age. With a nice red "3" logo (almost looked like a man) and a shiny black finish. Whilst the Sennheiser is more rigid looking and it looks like a military sort of equipment with a matted dark grey finish and a nice, shiny chromed "S" logo on the IE8.
Wires: I guess this is even. Both wires look long lasting and they have absolutely no microphonics at all.
Sound Isolation:
Well, the W3 definitely has definitely more sound insulation than the IE8.
Comfort: Both are surprisingly comfortable. But i guess the winner for this category is the IE8. The size of the IE8 is smaller and lighter, so it fits much better to my ears than the W3. Since the IE8 is flat shaped while the W3 is curved, i guess when you wear them on the bed, the IE8 is flushed with the pillow.
SQ:
Bass: Sennheiser IE8 wins, but only by a slim margin. The IE8 has slightly stronger and lower bass and it also suites more to my taste as well.
Mids: The IE8 still wins this. It is more powering on the mids, and that feel seems to be SLIGHTLY less that comes out of the W3. But when the mids goes higher to the highs, the W3 sounds better.
Highs: Well, the highs goes to the W3 and it feels much nicer and it will not be rolled-off as the IE8 (the rolled off highs of the IE8 can still have a very slight notice even after 100 hours of burn-in)
Soundstage: The IE8 definitely wins this one. It is much wider than the W3s.
Clarity: The W3 wins this. Very clear and detailed all rounder at highs, mids and bass.
Conclusion: (I am trying to be fair as possible)
IE8 - Good in it's Bass and mids and soundstage and great comfort.
W3 - Good in it's clarity, treble and highs and looks very cool looking.
So, the IE8 still wins my heart (by 60%) due to the Natural feel, warm mids and bass (dark sound) that i really like which the the W3 can't as it is SLIGHTLY too clear for me which I don't really prefer. The IE8 is more laid-back as well, which is much suited to my liking.
I only travel only twice in a day when i have school (It's school holidays for me now) and it takes the most 1 hour to reach home or to school. So i'm not fussy about the sound isolation.
But still, if I have the money again, I will definitely buy the W3. There is some feel and SQ that is just missing from the IE8 but it seems to appear on the W3. Hmm... how i wish we can combine the W3 and IE8 together and become a Wesheiser WE 6. (the middle number of 8 and 3 is 6)
Anyway, that is just to my ears. I will burn in my IE8 longer to see if the rolled off highs will completely disappear.
