Spyro
Headphoneus Supremus
- Joined
- Apr 15, 2003
- Posts
- 6,576
- Likes
- 247
I keep reading the W4 threads and realized this many people can't possibly be wrong. This IEM has been out 18 months and people are still raving about it. Level headed audiophiles with very discriminating tastes are still raving about it. I though, what the hell was I missing??
Well, I have just become a convert and W4 has just unseated W3 as my favorite Westone and universal for that matter.
I originally purchased the W4 a year ago April just after they came out and about 2 months BEFORE I got my Ibasso T3 amp. For whatever reason, I did not like them...at least unamped. I sent them back after only a couple days. Not sure if giving them more time would have mattered but an amp definitely help. The perfect analogy is when driving a mid-sized sedan (Camry, Accord, etc). The 4 cylinder is fine but the 6 takes it to another level.
Well, now I see what I was missing. Paired up with the T3 with the Ipod Classic on "treble booster" EQ setting and large P-series comply tips with top cut off flush to where stem starts (so it looks like an Ety foam tip) and I'm pretty floored. It's jaw-dropping. Bass is plentiful, detail retrieval is fabulous, depth and expansiveness of the presentation is like a great headphone. Doesn't sound muffled or veiled much at all. Not how I remember hearing it 1st time around. Just buttery smooth and totally non-fatiguing as so many seem to say. I quickly stuck the W3's in my ears and while not bad at all, perhaps the first thing I noticed was that the treble DOES sound a bit artificial compared to W4....and of course, that mid-bass hump is more apparent.
Great IEM!!
Well, I have just become a convert and W4 has just unseated W3 as my favorite Westone and universal for that matter.
I originally purchased the W4 a year ago April just after they came out and about 2 months BEFORE I got my Ibasso T3 amp. For whatever reason, I did not like them...at least unamped. I sent them back after only a couple days. Not sure if giving them more time would have mattered but an amp definitely help. The perfect analogy is when driving a mid-sized sedan (Camry, Accord, etc). The 4 cylinder is fine but the 6 takes it to another level.
Well, now I see what I was missing. Paired up with the T3 with the Ipod Classic on "treble booster" EQ setting and large P-series comply tips with top cut off flush to where stem starts (so it looks like an Ety foam tip) and I'm pretty floored. It's jaw-dropping. Bass is plentiful, detail retrieval is fabulous, depth and expansiveness of the presentation is like a great headphone. Doesn't sound muffled or veiled much at all. Not how I remember hearing it 1st time around. Just buttery smooth and totally non-fatiguing as so many seem to say. I quickly stuck the W3's in my ears and while not bad at all, perhaps the first thing I noticed was that the treble DOES sound a bit artificial compared to W4....and of course, that mid-bass hump is more apparent.
Great IEM!!