So after almost 24 hours with the W4, I thought I chip in my first impressions also. I would be one of those 'ordinary' headfiers (as music_4321 would say). My recent "decent" IEM history has been UE Super.fi5EB -> Shure SE530 -> Sennheiser IE8 -> MTPC. So I normally like bassy, and like javahut, I was kind of nervous about the early reviews and the "lack of bass". I normally listen to several different genres, pop, rock, hip-hop, dance, trance, metal. My main source is my iPhone 4, unamped and EQ set to Rock / R&B, now more often at "off."
For trying these out these were my reference tracks:
Jump Into the Fog - The Wombats (Indie Rock)
(Classical) Machines (The Remix) - Biffy Clyro (Classical / Vocal)
B.o.B. - OutKast (Hip-hop / rap)
All Hope is Gone - Slipknot (Metal)
You've Got the Love - Florence + The Machine (Pop / Vocal)
Mescaline - The Prodigy (Dance)
Stereo Bass - Bass Outlaws (Bass tester?!)
I was considering buying the W3 as I have had real trouble getting the MTPC to fit my ears and stay there and the W3 seemed to fit my sound likes. I have pretty small ear canals, and I tried every tip in the MTPC pack, even importing SuperTips into the UK and still no joy. But I perservered with them as when I got a good fit I loved their sound. I figured I'd hold off to see what these were like first though and if I didnt like them go for the W3.
So first impressions:-
Packaging - I was kinda disappointed! Its like a small white cardboard box with just the phones, case and tips. Oh and a CD. BTW, @Flavio T, on the website it says included is a "free EarphoneSolutions Instructions and Tips on How To Get the Best Sound Exclusive" but I never got one. Unless thats the Westone CD. Anyway, back on topic - compared to my other recent purchases I was a little taken aback at what my $449 just got me. Physically, they are plasticky and very light. The cable is thin but tightly braided and looks sturdy enough, as do all the supports. But they say you shouldn't judge a book by its cover and it seems they were right...
Fit - This is the first IEM I've had fit my ear like its meant to and shows on the marketing blurb. I tried both the small white bullet tips and the small gray silicones. Insert, twist back, and outside world noise disappears. Can't hear a thing. TV, wife, cat, dogs in the street - gone. And this is before the music started. Comfortable too. After a minute or so in my ear, I can't feel them at all.
Sound - I guess I could just about rehash everything here that has been said before by lostangeles, joeyrusso and javahut. First and foremost to me was the bass. There definitly isn't as much in your face bass as the 5EB or IE8, or even the MTPC, but in my opinion its marginal. What it is, is that its better presented. Its not lacking by any means, but it's better than I've heard off my other IEMs. Well controlled, fast, there, TBH this was the thing I was most nervous about, but I shouldn't have been. It no Bass Monster, but on stuff like Stereo Bass to test it with, its plenty there. The bass doesn't interfere with the mids like it does for me on the MTPC. There is clear seperation between the two and even between Mids and Highs. On tracks like Jump Into the Fog, I swear I could hear every audio mix of the track seperately, and all round my head. Sound stage on these is incredible, and compared to the other big soundstage IE8 is in a different league. On Classical Machines it was like I was sitting in the middle of the orchestral parts. The vocals on You've got the love were clear and front stage. Not an ounce of hiss on quiet parts also. I found I could listen comfortably at a lower volume on the iPhone too, maybe its because of the isolation on them. The sound is well balanced and I'm enjoying them more and more the more I listen. No matter what I throw at them they cope superbly, and right now I can't find their weak genre style - at least for me.
Are they worth $449? For me, yes. For you, I couldn't say. What I can say is that $449 is around £280 in UK money today, and that's not including the inevitable customs bill I'm going to get invoiced for. I don't regret buying them in anyway though. I seen them advertised on a UK site for £314.99 but they were out of stock. Depends on how much you want them now if you are in the UK I suppose.
To sum up - great fit, great sound, well happy. Anyone wanna buy some MTPC........
That may be where the line is drawn between universal and customs at this point. It has to be that last bit of detail/impact/balance that can be rung out of these armatures that you pay for in a custom. That and the isolation/comfort.
