Westone Signature W-series W50 & W60

[ronnel0918]

   
Mine came straight from Westone Colorado actually as a review sample for which I have to say many thanks to the team there for their kind generosity.

Wow! That's great! So I'll be seeing a shootout of UE900, UM3X, and W50, eh? 

 

[marcusd]

  Thanks for sharing your thoughts marcusd, you're pretty much the first to share info regarding the W50. Hope you can do a review once you've burn in your W50. 
Anyway how is the bass in comparison with the UM3X's? Is the quality and quantity great? Do you feel that it has bass slam? What about the soundstage?

It has been a very long time since I listened to the UM3X but from what I remember this was a very nice triple BA with great mids, fast and articulate response but a bit bass light.
 
The W50 I am currently testing is on the DX90 compared to the UE900 so anyone with a UE900 can maybe relate to this but the UE900 is wonderfully smooth 4-way BA with a superior bass response and extension than the old TF10 but nothing overwhelming or incoherent. Far more linear than the old TF10 and less exciteable than the mid-bass hump of the TF10. Articulation and clarity was excellent all the way to the top end though becoming just a bit more recessed at the top end but nothing major. 
 
That was my take on the UE900 a few weeks ago now for the W50 against the UE900:
 
Much lighter and smaller than the UE900 and the fit a bit simpler and isolation roughly the same as the UE900 with both using silicon tips.
 
The bass is much thicker and far more dominant using the DX90 and EDM - my example track is usually Deadmau5 "The Veldt" due to the whispery type male vocals that can easily get sibilant with lesser cans or earphones. No sibilance on the W50.
 
The W50 is darker than the UE900 and going to your question for the UM3X undoubtedly more bass and slam.
 
I tested both also with Lord of the Rings "Fellowship of the Ring" OST as well for a bit of soundstage comaprisons.
 
I cant comment on sound stage compared to the UM3X since it is such a long time ago but I preferred the more balanced UE900 for soundstage. Both are neither that huge or expansive but the cleaner detail and articulation from the UE900's slightly more forward presentation and less bass dominant lower end just felt more natural. I dont think I am going to be using the W50 anytime sound with orchestral works, it just hammers too hard on the bass to allow me to focus on anything else.
 
I wish I could listen to the W60 to compare but everyone is telling me the W4r is neutral and bass lean and to some extent I was expecting just that. 
 
Update
*********
 
Eq'ed the bass down to  30(3), 180 (-5) and threw up midrange progressively from -2 to 4 with the treble from 4k-16k to 10, 6 and 10 on the DX90. Feels a bit clearer at the top end and vocals a bit more forward but still bass heavy. 

 

[marcusd]

  Wow! That's great! So I'll be seeing a shootout of UE900, UM3X, and W50, eh? 

Have not had my hands on a UM3X in 2 years hehe so not likely but UE900, Merlins, Minerva and possibly, if time permitting, the 1964ears V8.

 

[shadow_shooter]

Wow I'm actually amazed by the lack of reception of these. I mean look at shhure se846 and their 100 something fan topic on the forum. Why is there no one buying w50-60s? I was also waiting for w50s. 
 
marcus, is that to say bass is overpowering other frequencies? I just wanna know what you call bassy. Have you listened to vmoda m100 before? If I can find a in ear phones that can replicate those cans, I'll be sold. I'm between se846-w50-w60. But of course there's no one else who tried those either. I'm very versatile  listening to edm and house one day and classical the other. so i want someone overall stellar phones that can handle everything you throw at them. usually those which are touted for such versatility are too bright and lack bass so i'm all over the place, confused.

 

[javahut]

  Wow I'm actually amazed by the lack of reception of these. I mean look at shhure se846 and their 100 something fan topic on the forum. Why is there no one buying w50-60s?

 
Probably at least partly because anyone interested in the SE846 is more interested in the W60 than the W50... so they can compare flagship universal to flagship universal (Shure has yet to make customs). And there are no W60s out, yet. Hopefully, this week will change that! (fingers crossed

 )

 

[jlbrach]

i am told that retailers will have the product as of 5/17,we shall see

 

[javahut]

  i am told that retailers will have the product as of 5/17,we shall see

 
5/17 is a Saturday. So I don't think that's quite right. I'm told it's possibly before that by a bit (I'm hoping anyway... by enough to get 'em out to customers by 5/17

 ).

 

[marcusd]

Wow I'm actually amazed by the lack of reception of these. I mean look at shhure se846 and their 100 something fan topic on the forum. Why is there no one buying w50-60s? I was also waiting for w50s. 


 


marcus, is that to say bass is overpowering other frequencies? I just wanna know what you call bassy. Have you listened to vmoda m100 before? If I can find a in ear phones that can replicate those cans, I'll be sold. I'm between se846-w50-w60. But of course there's no one else who tried those either. I'm very versatile  listening to edm and house one day and classical the other. so i want someone overall stellar phones that can handle everything you throw at them. usually those which are touted for such versatility are too bright and lack bass so i'm all over the place, confused.

 


Well my initial analysis of the W50 leads me to believe its more of an attenuation or lack of sparkle in the treble than the bass overpowering the rest of the spectrum. Certainly the lower range is more predominant but vocal staging is kind of nice and smooth when bass is not required. Acoustics have decent control in the mid range and everything is quite smooth. Just compared to the uE900 I feel the upper mids and lower treble seem very flat and lacking in headroom and dynamics.


Yup I hear the v-moda and yeah the bass is as slammin' as those so gone are the day when BA drivers are akin to a nut cutlet dining experience, its a full on steak with sauce meatfest nowadays.


I do not think this is the most versatile earphone is you want to throw everything at it. That dominant and more forward bass signature will make it challenging to focus on passages of audio that require articulation and focus in the upper mids and lower treble. I eq'ed it heavily to get a sound signature that has more treble emphasis and toned down the bass a bit but it still hits very hard compared to the UE900.


My next comparison check is the UM Merlin which up until now I consider to be a really a mini LCD-2 L

 

[Kepller]

 

  Wow I'm actually amazed by the lack of reception of these. I mean look at shhure se846 and their 100 something fan topic on the forum. Why is there no one buying w50-60s? I was also waiting for w50s. 
   
  marcus, is that to say bass is overpowering other frequencies? I just wanna know what you call bassy. Have you listened to vmoda m100 before? If I can find a in ear phones that can replicate those cans, I'll be sold. I'm between se846-w50-w60. But of course there's no one else who tried those either. I'm very versatile  listening to edm and house one day and classical the other. so i want someone overall stellar phones that can handle everything you throw at them. usually those which are touted for such versatility are too bright and lack bass so i'm all over the place, confused.

 
  Well my initial analysis of the W50 leads me to believe its more of an attenuation or lack of sparkle in the treble than the bass overpowering the rest of the spectrum. Certainly the lower range is more predominant but vocal staging is kind of nice and smooth when bass is not required. Acoustics have decent control in the mid range and everything is quite smooth. Just compared to the uE900 I feel the upper mids and lower treble seem very flat and lacking in headroom and dynamics.
  Yup I hear the v-moda and yeah the bass is as slammin' as those so gone are the day when BA drivers are akin to a nut cutlet dining experience, its a full on steak with sauce meatfest nowadays.
  I do not think this is the most versatile earphone is you want to throw everything at it. That dominant and more forward bass signature will make it challenging to focus on passages of audio that require articulation and focus in the upper mids and lower treble. I eq'ed it heavily to get a sound signature that has more treble emphasis and toned down the bass a bit but it still hits very hard compared to the UE900.
  My next comparison check is the UM Merlin which up until now I consider to be a really a mini LCD-2 L

Hey Marcusd, have you had a chance to audition the Sennheisser IE 80s? The IE80s are probably for bassheads, would you think the bass in the W50 has similar amount of bass which a basshead phone such as the IE80s have? As long as the mids and highs doesn't suffer from a midbass hump and the bass quality is well textured, fast and clean (like the um 30 pro) i'm game!

 

[marcusd]

Hey Marcusd, have you had a chance to audition the Sennheisser IE 80s? The IE80s are probably for bassheads, would you think the bass in the W50 has similar amount of bass which a basshead phone such as the IE80s have? As long as the mids and highs doesn't suffer from a midbass hump and the bass quality is well textured, fast and clean (like the um 30 pro) i'm game!

 


Sadly not the IE80, but the IE8 three years ago and it more like that than the UM3X but I cant remember how the top end of the IE series performs so don't quote me on that. It is far comfier than the IE8 and Tf10 and even the UE900 and much lighter also.

 

[milford30]

  Wow I'm actually amazed by the lack of reception of these. I mean look at shhure se846 and their 100 something fan topic on the forum. Why is there no one buying w50-60s? I was also waiting for w50s. 
 
marcus, is that to say bass is overpowering other frequencies? I just wanna know what you call bassy. Have you listened to vmoda m100 before? If I can find a in ear phones that can replicate those cans, I'll be sold. I'm between se846-w50-w60. But of course there's no one else who tried those either. I'm very versatile  listening to edm and house one day and classical the other. so i want someone overall stellar phones that can handle everything you throw at them. usually those which are touted for such versatility are too bright and lack bass so i'm all over the place, confused.

 
Take a look at the reviews on earphone solutions on w60 vs se846, there are 2 of them and another comparison on w50/60. Unfortunately the site estimates the w60 to be shipped may30th.
 
I went out to a store to test out the w50, they are too dark for my liking, so I didn't spend a lot of time with them, maybe because they are not run in yet if you believe in burn in, in my experience the most significant change occurs before the 50 hour mark. Reading reviews here suggests that many people are disappointed with them.
 
Comparing my se 846 to the m100, the bass of the se846 has more punch/impact, sounding cleaner, the m100 has more texture to the bass. Take it as a general feeling because I didn't like the m100, it sounds a bit veiled overall compared to the momentums.
 
From the reviews if you want to an everything iem, go for 846 if you want a more exciting signature, w60 if you want something more balanced.

 

[marcusd]

   
Take a look at the reviews on earphone solutions on w60 vs se846, there are 2 of them and another comparison on w50/60. Unfortunately the site estimates the w60 to be shipped may30th.
 
I went out to a store to test out the w50, they are too dark for my liking, so I didn't spend a lot of time with them, maybe because they are not run in yet if you believe in burn in, in my experience the most significant change occurs before the 50 hour mark. Reading reviews here suggests that many people are disappointed with them.
 
Comparing my se 846 to the m100, the bass of the se846 has more punch/impact, sounding cleaner, the m100 has more texture to the bass. Take it as a general feeling because I didn't like the m100, it sounds a bit veiled overall compared to the momentums.
 
From the reviews if you want to an everything iem, go for 846 if you want a more exciting signature, w60 if you want something more balanced.

 
Going to have to agree with you on the darkness of the W50. Not reached the 50 hour mark yet but I am not sure that treble will magically sparkle and extend with burn in. 

 

[milford30]

   
Going to have to agree with you on the darkness of the W50. Not reached the 50 hour mark yet but I am not sure that treble will magically sparkle and extend with burn in. 

On my se846, the treble didn't really exist till I left it to run in for 10ish hours, where it stopped sounding like beats headphones. I remember testing them at the store, making sure they work and having them sound like beats with less bass.
 
From the reviews it should get a bit better, but don't expect top tier treble.
 
As for IE8, I still have them, tried a wide selection of silicon tips on them, bass is there, but only electric guitars sounds decent on the bass department, mainly due to the not so good impact. 

 

[Seamaster]

  Wow I'm actually amazed by the lack of reception of these. I mean look at shhure se846 and their 100 something fan topic on the forum. Why is there no one buying w50-60s? I was also waiting for w50s. 
 
 

The recent reports about lack workmanship quality of Westone products put people off I would think. People hesitate to drop a grand some thing they are not sure about.
 

   
Probably at least partly because anyone interested in the SE846 is more interested in the W60 than the W50... 

That is very true.

 

[milford30]

  The recent reports about lack workmanship quality of Westone products put people off I would think. People hesitate to drop a grand some thing they are not sure about.
 
That is very true.

 
Yes a number of problems for me, the 20 degree opening problem with the w40, what feels to be less durable plastic than the w4r and the relatively short nozzle length drove me to get the 846 instead of waiting for the w60, se846 are just well built and lack issue 1 and 3 which causes possible problems with isolation.
 
The delays are a pain, problem with the printing on the box causing a month delay? I've seen quiet a few people on the forums cancel their pre-orders that would have gotten the w60 if this delay didn't occur.
 
I also prefer a more exciting signature at the moment.