UAndy
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Aug 11, 2004
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So the ES3 finally arrived from Variphone/Belgium who is the authorized manufacturer for Westone in Europe. They needed only one week to produce them after the impressions arrived. After unpacking I was rather impressed about the quality of the box which is sealed tight and has a disiccant container built in, to prevent moisture from reaching the drivers. Compared to the UE10 the ES3 are beautifully built: no loose wires, everything in perfect order (doesn´t affect the sound however, just the looks).
What I listen to is mainly Rock (J.Mellencamp, E.John, P.Maffay, Groenemeyer, Elton John, Rolling Stones, Billy Idol ...).
Just to recall: I use the UE10 since one year (very satisfied) and some Etys (4s and p) for more than 12 years.
Fit:
They fit perfectly from the beginning. Strange enough they sit quite loose (or so it seems) but maintain the seal perfectly - even when chewing a little.
First impression:
After connecting the ES3 to the Meier-Prehead I recognized some hiss (is not there with the UE10). On the headphone-amp of a Kenwood-preamp (class-A discrete-FET) there was a bit more. So it is not a mismatch with the amp. They are a bit more sensitive than the UE10.
Listening to the first tracks revealed a completely different sound-philosophy compared to the UE10. The ES3 are very bright with a strong emphasis on vocals, guitars, saxophones ... Bass is rather lean and hard - a bit thin. It is a little bit like comparing a Grado RS1 to the AKG K1000 in this respect. (I use these as well and I like them both). Loud volume levels proved to be uncomfortable. So after the first 10 minutes I was a little disappointed.
What came next:
I tryed the 120 Ohm output of the Prehead and this was the absolute breakthrough. The aggressiveness in the treble is gone, bass is perfectly tight and lean, guitars are produced with a sense of air around them where evry tiny little bit of resolution is hearable. Voices are shockingly lifelike as if someone would sing there personally.
I used then an external 120 Ohm adapter from Meier Porta-Corda on this and on Creative Zen Touch. Similar balanced sound with however an some loss due to portable device´s simpler electronics.
ES3 characteristics:
All further listening is with the 120 Ohm output on the stationary system with CDs. What the ES3 does perfectly is reproducing the entire musical spectrum with a tremendous speed and lifelikeness. Bass is well controlled and lacks the overemphasizing of the 300 - 400 Hetz region that other devices sometimes show to simulate bass - where the real low bass is absent.
In my HiFi period I had quite a number of headphones but this is the most perfect bass I ever heard. Every fault during the recording is however equally displayed. That is the reason why I like the sound engineer from J. Mellencamp. He uses only few microphones and keeps a tight bass and a neutral balance. As said in the website there is a little emphasis on vocals and guitars but that makes the music more exciting.
Compared to the UE10:
Both play on a very high level. I would say it is a matter of taste. Musically the UE10 has a stronger (not deeper) bass which in connection with recordings that have an emphasis in the 300 Hertz area becomes too strong at times. ES3´s bass is more on the tight and lean side with a lot of pressure. Hights on the UE10 are there but not so very present as the ES3. That makes the UE10 more forgiving. The ES3 is a bit more exciting because every tiny detail is revealed. Altogether I prefer the ES3 because I like to kreep into the music while listening to all nuances. You might think now that I would not use the UE10 any more - wrong. One area where the UE10 excells is when listening to loud rock music. That is not tiring with them. The ES3 can become nasty after 20min or so. There is simply too much energy in the upper region. Vocals are reproduced a little cooler on the ES3 without coloration. UE10 sounds a little warmer.
Conclusion:
I am very satisfied with both - the UE10 and the ES3. Both will be used - when I want to hear everything on the recording at exceptional speed and lifelikeness I take the ES3. When listening to loud rock and I want to enjoy the music very relaxing I grab the UE10.
So for all those of you thinking about buying UE10 and/or ES3 I hope to have shed some light on their characteristics. All impressions are based on my personal taste - it could be that others feel differently.
Greetings from Germany
What I listen to is mainly Rock (J.Mellencamp, E.John, P.Maffay, Groenemeyer, Elton John, Rolling Stones, Billy Idol ...).
Just to recall: I use the UE10 since one year (very satisfied) and some Etys (4s and p) for more than 12 years.
Fit:
They fit perfectly from the beginning. Strange enough they sit quite loose (or so it seems) but maintain the seal perfectly - even when chewing a little.
First impression:
After connecting the ES3 to the Meier-Prehead I recognized some hiss (is not there with the UE10). On the headphone-amp of a Kenwood-preamp (class-A discrete-FET) there was a bit more. So it is not a mismatch with the amp. They are a bit more sensitive than the UE10.
Listening to the first tracks revealed a completely different sound-philosophy compared to the UE10. The ES3 are very bright with a strong emphasis on vocals, guitars, saxophones ... Bass is rather lean and hard - a bit thin. It is a little bit like comparing a Grado RS1 to the AKG K1000 in this respect. (I use these as well and I like them both). Loud volume levels proved to be uncomfortable. So after the first 10 minutes I was a little disappointed.
What came next:
I tryed the 120 Ohm output of the Prehead and this was the absolute breakthrough. The aggressiveness in the treble is gone, bass is perfectly tight and lean, guitars are produced with a sense of air around them where evry tiny little bit of resolution is hearable. Voices are shockingly lifelike as if someone would sing there personally.
I used then an external 120 Ohm adapter from Meier Porta-Corda on this and on Creative Zen Touch. Similar balanced sound with however an some loss due to portable device´s simpler electronics.
ES3 characteristics:
All further listening is with the 120 Ohm output on the stationary system with CDs. What the ES3 does perfectly is reproducing the entire musical spectrum with a tremendous speed and lifelikeness. Bass is well controlled and lacks the overemphasizing of the 300 - 400 Hetz region that other devices sometimes show to simulate bass - where the real low bass is absent.
In my HiFi period I had quite a number of headphones but this is the most perfect bass I ever heard. Every fault during the recording is however equally displayed. That is the reason why I like the sound engineer from J. Mellencamp. He uses only few microphones and keeps a tight bass and a neutral balance. As said in the website there is a little emphasis on vocals and guitars but that makes the music more exciting.
Compared to the UE10:
Both play on a very high level. I would say it is a matter of taste. Musically the UE10 has a stronger (not deeper) bass which in connection with recordings that have an emphasis in the 300 Hertz area becomes too strong at times. ES3´s bass is more on the tight and lean side with a lot of pressure. Hights on the UE10 are there but not so very present as the ES3. That makes the UE10 more forgiving. The ES3 is a bit more exciting because every tiny detail is revealed. Altogether I prefer the ES3 because I like to kreep into the music while listening to all nuances. You might think now that I would not use the UE10 any more - wrong. One area where the UE10 excells is when listening to loud rock music. That is not tiring with them. The ES3 can become nasty after 20min or so. There is simply too much energy in the upper region. Vocals are reproduced a little cooler on the ES3 without coloration. UE10 sounds a little warmer.
Conclusion:
I am very satisfied with both - the UE10 and the ES3. Both will be used - when I want to hear everything on the recording at exceptional speed and lifelikeness I take the ES3. When listening to loud rock and I want to enjoy the music very relaxing I grab the UE10.
So for all those of you thinking about buying UE10 and/or ES3 I hope to have shed some light on their characteristics. All impressions are based on my personal taste - it could be that others feel differently.
Greetings from Germany
