[chrisfromalbany]

Well if you want portable HD600s, then have spend the money for UE-10s ro 2Xs. They really don’t need an amp. Either do the 2xs.

I got UM2s for my uncle. Who has some hearing lose actually preferred the boomy bass of the old sony's he has. Sony’s are junk, but good quality junk at that.

Anyways.. What tips are most people using with UM2s? I didn't find the seal to good when I tried them first with the shorter yellow tips(come with UM2s). I then went with the ety's Trifla's. Again the stem on the Trifl's was too short. (Not sure where I got the longer stem TriFl's from, it was awhile ago). But the ones that came with the stem current 4Ps weren’t long enough. So as long attempt, I used the extended yellow foamies that came with UM2s. I found these to be the best but not as good as the TriFl's with extended Stem.

I am sure I have lost a few of you here. Sorry about that…

As for the sound of the UM2s. Well I think I prefer the e5s to the UM2s. Again it is a preference thing, I just found there to be more fun. Not Neutral at all, but I liked it.

Again both of these models I tried amped and they both has noticeable improvement. Where as my UE-10s there is a very small improvement, so I rarely use the amp on the go. Just not worth the added 5% in sound quality.

I give the UM2s or e5s with a good amp like SMv3, maybe 20% increase in sound quality. I am talking about detail and attack in the bass. Doesn't really add bass just makes it tighter and quicker.

 

[MrYman]

it's kinda hard to admit, but i achieved perfect seal only a month after using um2 LOL at first i thought my ear canals are too small and somehow long tips worked better, now i know why, because with long ones the top of tips sticked into canal and somwhat well sealed the canal, but "accidently" i pushed the plastic from bottom to top and small tips "fall" into canal totally, with achieving perfect seal -- they are both totally inserted, and feels comfortable to use them for few hours... an additional info: by using h2o2 it's easy to clean tips and reuse them many, many times....

 

[illwafer]

This is an argument for the ages, but here goes.

In MY opinion, speakers/headphones should aim for ACCURATELY representing the source. This means they SHOULD NOT have their own curves, and should be as flat as possible. This is where most people have a problem comparing the UM2 to other canalphones.

If you are a musician, you use monitors in your studio to have as flat as possible representation of your music. Will your music sound better on hi-fi speakers? That is a matter of opinion, but most people would say yes.

Now Westone created a headphone that's fairly flat when it comes to curves. Again, in my opinion this is great (being a musician). If you want it to sound like other phones, you could try bumping up the mids, or bumping the treble. As you should know, any eqing you do has a negative effect on the sound (even if it sounds better - if that makes sense).

Also, studio engineers generally do not boost when using an EQ. They lower the parts they do not want. That is something else you could try.

I use my UM2s unamped and unEQ'd.

 

[arielext]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJ Jester No offense as far as the way they look. I think they're ugly out of ear, but as I said, looks have absolutely zero to do with audio quality. Besides, I have never seen them in ear, so I really do not know. Also, if you are gonna go for ES2 instead of UE10, then why not get ES3? Does anyone on here have, or have listened to, the ES3's? How much better do you think the dual ports make the ES2 over the UM2? I, also, would be very interested to see how everyone prefers to EQ their UM2's.........ESPECIALLY if they are using an iAudio X5, which I have in transit right now. Jester

The only reason I got ES2's is because of the "bump" in the mid. frequencies that the ES3's has. My hearing specialist told me to get the ES2, those are the "listening" IEM's westone makes while the ES3 are the "artist" IEM's.

Every day still I'm glad that I have spent the money on the ES2's but I shouldn't have bothered for the E3's, E2's and EX71 which intorduced me on the journey called head-fi

 

[rotorwash]

I have and use a set of E3s. I want to upgrade since the E3s leave a bit to be desired, detail-wise... although on a sunny day, with the right atmospherics the E3s can be pleasant to me from an umamped ipod. I am waffling between UM2s and E5s. Since I am used to the 'Shure sound' from using the E3s and am by no means an audio 'purist' but can discern differences in timbre, recession, and when the sound is 'muddy', I am tending to go for the E5s but I like what I have read on head-fi about the UM2s also. I can tell you what I do not want from my new IEM purchase... exaggerated mids (where vocals are so far out front that the rest of the music suffers), veiled highs (I want to hear the cymbal shimmer), boomy bass ( want punchy, visceral bass but also want to hear the individual notes), and a heavy (weight-wise) unit. I use the foamies with the E3s. But with its heavy cord it does not stay behind my ears when I use them in the behind the ear configuration. I assume the cord for the E5 is the same. This gives me some pause on going for them but then, I've never listened to a Westone product. I am looking for high detail with a bottom (visceral bass). Which can will deliver? The UM2 or the E5? My musical taste runs from jazz to R/B to Rock to Blues to Acoustic to serious vocals. Augh, I can't seem to decide. What a pity... I use my senn px200s for working out (great can for the price) and also have some grado sr-60s but I haven't listened to them for a while (in storage while I am in a temporary living arrangement) so I cannot recall their sound... I did like their sound though. I know you all cannot make the decision for me but, please convince me one way or another. I guess I could take the advice of my sig and buy both, but that is way out of my budget

*edit*
I got my hands on a set of E5Cs (cheaply) and the jury is still out on whether I like them or not. They have more bass than the E3s, a touch more high end detail than the E3s, but are still missing something... I guess the mids are more in my face than I desire and the bass is too prominent, but I love the memory wire and the more I listen to them the better they sound. I keep doing A/B comparisons between the E5c and the E3, and to me (uh oh, here come the critics) the E3's mids have more clarity or spaciousness although they lack the dynamic range and bass extension of the E5C. I am still searching for the perfect canal phone and will probably get a set of Westones... as soon as I get some income (translate: a job). I am listening through an unamped 3G Ipod. Hopefully, the E5cs will come up to my expectations after more listening. If not... I will have to go to work to afford my next experiment

 

[MrYman]

I think it's not an argument for the ages, but: do what works for you dude

Anyway, I am not sure if you are aware why music is recorded as it is? It has to cover all sort of speakers... Music is played on excellent equipment, but also on good, decent and bad, it's played in discos, pubs, cars, home speakers, headphones, all sort of things, that's why it has to be flat -- flat music to me means like food without spice, while food without any spice is probably most healthy it certainly doesn't taste good

Allow yourself to put up a bit of bass and a bit more of trebles, then let me know how it sounds for you.... if it sounds better I see no reason why you'd stick to some logic like: "any eqing you do has a negative effect on the sound (even if it sounds better - if that makes sense)"... While I perfectly well understand it HAS to be FLAT in studio when recording (for the reason I mentioned above), it does not has to be flat once on 'YOUR PLATE'.... And in fact, I WANT it flat as a source, because the way I set EQ for UM2 sucks if I use same one for HD600, each hadphone is different "food", and each EQ setting is "spice" for exactly THAT food....

Quote:

Originally Posted by illwafer This is an argument for the ages, but here goes. In MY opinion, speakers/headphones should aim for ACCURATELY representing the source. This means they SHOULD NOT have their own curves, and should be as flat as possible. This is where most people have a problem comparing the UM2 to other canalphones. If you are a musician, you use monitors in your studio to have as flat as possible representation of your music. Will your music sound better on hi-fi speakers? That is a matter of opinion, but most people would say yes. Now Westone created a headphone that's fairly flat when it comes to curves. Again, in my opinion this is great (being a musician). If you want it to sound like other phones, you could try bumping up the mids, or bumping the treble. As you should know, any eqing you do has a negative effect on the sound (even if it sounds better - if that makes sense). Also, studio engineers generally do not boost when using an EQ. They lower the parts they do not want. That is something else you could try. I use my UM2s unamped and unEQ'd.

 

[tayano]

Some EQ for um2

Balanced sound :

50khz :-4
200hz:-4
1khz:0 to +2
3khz:+2
14khz:+4 to 6

If you want bass+treble and get a pretty balanced sound:
raise 50 khz to 0 and 200hz to -2.

I'm not going to write a bass EQ for since they are way too bassy.

For now I use this EQ,I like mids...
50: 0
200:-4
1K:+4
3K:+2
14K:+4

It give me tight but not boomy bass,more agressive vocals and enough treble.

*I'm using iriver h10

 

[acidtripwow]

So are these available on ebay anymore? They seem to be gone now.

 

[Imyourzero]

Quote:

Originally Posted by acidtripwow So are these available on ebay anymore? They seem to be gone now.

If you send Mike a message through eBay telling him that you'd like to purchase a set, he'll put some up for auction and email you the link. Of course this is assuming he has some in stock...

 

[solvexyz]

Quote:

Originally Posted by acidtripwow So are these available on ebay anymore? They seem to be gone now.

The guy is on vacation now. He will sell it when he is back.

 

[solvexyz]

Quote:

Originally Posted by zolton2 Mike at Freq City Sound here. My first time in - pretty cool. A lot of people have bought UM2's from me as a result of this site -Thanks! The Pellican case is leaving the UM2. It'll come with the little round case that a lot of buds show up in. I still have a few left with the Pellican. The guy that discussed the MAP pricing is a wise fella. Interesting - all the opinions pro and con. Just goes to show ya, we all hear different. I'm a singer and a PA guy. When I heard the UM2, I sold 12 sets of E5's on ebay that week. Someone mentioned the E5 being built better. Don't confuse heavier with better. The lighter UM2 AND lighter cable stays in your ear better if you're moving around. Any way, Thanks for all the support (pro and con). I can be reached through my site at www. freqcitysound. com and ebay ID is zolton2

LOL. I bought my UM2 from you just like you said. So what do you feel about getting the custom sleeves for UM2? How is the sound signature comparing to tri-flange?

Anyway, welcome to head-fi, and sorry about your wallet.

 

[rotorwash]

oops... wrong thread.

 

[MrYman]

Quote:

Originally Posted by solvexyz LOL. I bought my UM2 from you just like you said. So what do you feel about getting the custom sleeves for UM2? How is the sound signature comparing to tri-flange? Anyway, welcome to head-fi, and sorry about your wallet.

I don't think this applies in this specific case hehe He's the one who can say that to all of us who bought UM2 from him (and/or other stuff), though he has best price and is very flexible with customer needs

Thanks Mike! (Guy from Slovenia here.)

I like the above questions, it interests me as well..... custom sleeves and Shure's tri-flange in comparison to comply shorter and longer tips?

 

[zolton2]

Not an apples to apples comparison really. A mold fits perfectly to your ear where the tri-flange fits everyone’s ears "pretty good." A mold is total isolation. If another player walks over to you during the show and changes the next song, even with you looking right at his mouth, you won't hear him. With a mold you need to be pretty confident with your mix. That is; its best (my opinion) to have a dedicated monitor engineer. The foam tips let in other stuff which is cool too. You’re still in your own world but you can hear some of the other instruments. The mold and the foam tips have there place. Each has + and -.
RE the Westone's Comply Tips - I dig em because they're tapered. That just makes sense to me. A lot of players really like the triple flanges so it sounds like one of those personal preference things vs. a which is better.