[chef8489]

Actually, the upgrade from the W30 would be the W50. The W60 is for those who enjoy the relatively balanced W40 sound. The 30 and 50 both embody warm and smooth characteristics.



That said, I am selling my W50 to fund some CIEMs. If interested, I'd be willing to give you a very good deal on a pair of practically new W50s with warranty.

 

Except westone only honors warranty for original buyer.

 

[Gosod]

Friends, you can sell me your W60 - for a more detailed comparison with other models? write me a PM.

 

[Kepller]

https://www.facebook.com/westoneaudio/posts/10153805184422056

 The newest member of the Westone W Series has arrived. #IEM#headphones #westone #ALO #W80 http://story.cd/AAFZL_

 
From the single image it seems no changes to the exterior shell.

 

[twister6]

Impressions to follow soon... (if FedEx delivery is on time today)

 

[blazer78]

  https://www.facebook.com/westoneaudio/posts/10153805184422056
 
From the single image it seems no changes to the exterior shell.

 
The faceplates look different. For the price, they better be made of aluminium or magnesium lol.

 

[Voyageur]

With all due respect this is a pretty dull announcement. Just the usual Westone driver-count race. At this pace, you could expect a W100 soon.

 

[blazer78]

  With all due respect this is a pretty dull announcement. Just the usual Westone driver-count race. At this pace, you could expect a W100 soon.

 
Quad high drivers for that "holographic" laser sound though

 

[Voyageur]

  https://www.facebook.com/westoneaudio/posts/10153805184422056
 
From the single image it seems no changes to the exterior shell.

 

 
The exterior shell looks slightly bigger though. I hope it's made out of ceramic, carbon fiber or aluminium at this price point. The W60's plastic feels way too cheap for a $1000 product.

 

[chef8489]

Hopefully Michelle will be back soon and will send out a pair. She was away last week and said we would talk this week. I am also looking forward to it reaching the es line.

 

[TCD1975]

  I hope it's made out of ceramic, carbon fiber or aluminium at this price point. The W60's plastic feels way too cheap for a $1000 product.

Just looks like the same plastic to me.
 
 

  I am also looking forward to it reaching the es line.

Surprised it wasn't introduced to the ES line first, seeing as the ES line is presumably the company's flagship line.
 
The W80 looks to me like:
 

1. A slightly altered body (longer) and faceplate (smaller)
2. ALO cables with a largish gap between the male and female cable connectors ... like that hasn't caused issues for Westone in the past !!!!
3. Two additional high drivers

As a previous Westone fanboy of 10 years, sorry to be negative, but I won't be rushing to buy these.

 

[HiFiGuy528]

I love my W60 so I am really excited to try these.

 

[twister6]

In my opinion, it makes more sense to introduce universal W-line first.  This is going to be a new 8-driver config with all new tuning.  Universal version will reach more people since it's less risky than a Custom commitment, and it becomes handy as a demo at trade shows, like upcoming RMAF.  ES80 will be introduced, but later.  I'm actually more curious how W80 and ES80 will compare in sound since W60 and ES60 were tuned very different.
 
Hard to speculate now about the size or the material, until it's in my hands.  Also, considering nature of the premium cable (just speculation, but looks from the picture like Ken came up with 8-braided hybrid design) for a final sound analysis it will need at least 100hrs of burn in.  Curiously enough, I see from the picture a little gap in the connector, assuming Ken's cable will have a standard universal mmcx connector while W80 will still have a typical Westone connector with a slightly shorter profile.  Looks like removable/replaceable faceplate is still on, but redesigned.  Also, perhaps with 2 more high drivers, these are tuned with a more open upper frequencies, closer to ES60 performance vs a more lush and warm/smooth W60 performance.

 

[cuiter23]

Did April 1st come too quick this year or what?

 

[twister6]

  Did April 1st come too quick this year or what?

 
Care to explain?

 

[Oldfella]

Looking forward to Twisters review of the W80. I hope its as good a fit as the W60,and hopefully, not much larger.