[elfary]

For these purposes, the only chance i give to an aftermarket cable to change the sound is by raising the cable impedance which (in my book) is bad because it skews the frequency response and might even raise phase issues. I have never come across an objective set of measurements of stock cable and an aftermarket one. And i can not help wondering why is that...
 
Anyway i respect that Westone includes an esoteric cable into the retail box cause in the end it's whatever floats your boat.
 
Back to the sound, it seems to me that Westone is getting closer to the Harman target response curve and getting away from their laid back signature. Right ?

 

[twister6]

  For these purposes, the only chance i give to an aftermarket cable to change the sound is by raising the cable impedance which (in my book) is bad because it skews the frequency response and might even raise phase issues. I have never come across an objective set of measurements of stock cable and an aftermarket one. And i can not help wondering why is that...
 
Anyway i respect that Westone includes an esoteric cable into the retail box cause in the end it's whatever floats your boat.
 
Back to the sound, it seems to me that Westone is getting closer to the Harman target response curve and getting away from their laid back signature. Right ?

 
Driver wars, cable wars, we all good

  True, I can't measure a difference using my Veritas setup (besides a shift in the level), but I do hear it, even when it's subtle (my ears are more trained because I used to produce and mix tracks).  Let's just leave it at that

 
And you are absolutely correct!  W80 is getting away from their laid back signature, bridging W60 and ES60 performance in their new flagship.  That makes me wonder which direction ES80 will be going and if it will be a custom version of W80 or yet another sound sig update similar to W60->ES60.

 

[chef8489]

 
Driver wars, cable wars, we all good

  True, I can't measure a difference using my Veritas setup (besides a shift in the level), but I do hear it, even when it's subtle (my ears are more trained because I used to produce and mix tracks).  Let's just leave it at that

 
And you are absolutely correct!  W80 is getting away from their laid back signature, bridging W60 and ES60 performance in their new flagship.  That makes me wonder which direction ES80 will be going and if it will be a custom version of W80 or yet another sound sig update similar to W60->ES60.

 


I am not quite what you are referencing when you say w60->Es60 as the w60 and es60 sound nothing alike. I also wonder how the es80 will sound and i am quite excited as i have my custom color already chosen.

 

[tienbasse]

  For these purposes, the only chance i give to an aftermarket cable to change the sound is by raising the cable impedance which (in my book) is bad because it skews the frequency response and might even raise phase issues.

I tend to believe that the impedance change can be detrimental or beneficial.
After all, you have to consider that the manufacturer doesn't always make the "best" choice in terms of cable, given the low priority it must have in many places.
 
With some IEMs, any cable I've thrown had little to no effect, or did alter the spectrum in a way that felt "bad".
With some others, I stumble on one or 2 cables that gave "good" alteration (= to my taste, it is not an absolute comment).

 

[twister6]

 

   
Driver wars, cable wars, we all good <img alt="

" src="http://files.head-fi.org/images/smilies/biggrin.gif" > ="" true,="" i="" can't="" measure="" a="" difference="" using="" my="" veritas="" setup="" (besides="" shift="" in="" the="" level),="" but="" do="" hear="" it,="" even="" when="" it's="" subtle="" (my="" ears="" are="" more="" trained="" because="" used="" to="" produce="" and="" mix="" tracks). ="" let's="" just="" leave="" it="" at="" that=""
 
And you are absolutely correct!  W80 is getting away from their laid back signature, bridging W60 and ES60 performance in their new flagship.  That makes me wonder which direction ES80 will be going and if it will be a custom version of W80 or yet another sound sig update similar to W60->ES60.

 


I am not quite what you are referencing when you say w60->Es60 as the w60 and es60 sound nothing alike. I also wonder how the es80 will sound and i am quite excited as i have my custom color already chosen.

 
Didn't mean W60 > ES60, but "->" as in "to" meaning when they introduced ES60 many assumed that ES60 will be a custom version of W60.  But they were differently tuned, and now I find W80 to bridge their performance.  So I'm wondering if ES80 going to be custom version of W80 or is it going to have a different tuning, similar to transition of W60 to ES60 (W60 -> ES60) 

 

[chef8489]

   
Didn't mean W60 > ES60, but "->" as in "to" meaning when they introduced ES60 many assumed that ES60 will be a custom version of W60.  But they were differently tuned, and now I find W80 to bridge their performance.  So I'm wondering if ES80 going to be custom version of W80 or is it going to have a different tuning, similar to transition of W60 to ES60 (W60 -> ES60) 

I know you were not saying the w60 was better. I was saying the w60 to the es60 was not the upgrade path as they do not sound anything a like. But now I see you are saying that the they are different and you are wondering if the es80 will be different than the w80, and I hope it is as I think the es80 would be too close to the es60 if it were just the same as the w80 wouldn't you think, or a slight downgrade in sound if the w80 is just now bridging the gap between the w60 and the es60? unfortunately I still have not had a chance with the w80, so I am still in the dark. Maybe it will be an es60 with a bit more bass extension and power. Take two of the es50 low end drivers and add two highs and then tune it a bit. Make it sound amazing with great highs yet powerful deep deep bass.

 

[MacedonianHero]

Really impressed with the W80s so far. I'm amazed that they squeezed in 2 more drivers over the W60s into each earpiece and still were able to get the overall size of the housing even smaller than the W60. They have that magic Westone sound but they come off a bit more neutral and the imaging has improved substantially over the W60s. I love the new ALO cable as well. Very impressive sound quality this evening from my Chord Mojo and some Macy Gray (Stripped - 128kps).

 

[twister6]

 

   
Didn't mean W60 > ES60, but "->" as in "to" meaning when they introduced ES60 many assumed that ES60 will be a custom version of W60.  But they were differently tuned, and now I find W80 to bridge their performance.  So I'm wondering if ES80 going to be custom version of W80 or is it going to have a different tuning, similar to transition of W60 to ES60 (W60 -> ES60) 

I know you were not saying the w60 was better. I was saying the w60 to the es60 was not the upgrade path as they do not sound anything a like. But now I see you are saying that the they are different and you are wondering if the es80 will be different than the w80, and I hope it is as I think the es80 would be too close to the es60 if it were just the same as the w80 wouldn't you think, or a slight downgrade in sound if the w80 is just now bridging the gap between the w60 and the es60? unfortunately I still have not had a chance with the w80, so I am still in the dark. Maybe it will be an es60 with a bit more bass extension and power. Take two of the es50 low end drivers and add two highs and then tune it a bit. Make it sound amazing with great highs yet powerful deep deep bass.

 
Since we are on a subject of ES60, just saw this Japanese website where they have a pictorial walk-through (I think they visited Westone) of making ES60: http://www.e-earphone.jp/blog/?p=60534 - perfect example of the pictures worth a thousand words since it's all in Japanese

 

[HarlanDraka]

Hi Twister, can you compare the W80 to the Earsonic S-EM9? 
From your listening, which one would you prefer?

 

[twister6]

  Hi Twister, can you compare the W80 to the Earsonic S-EM9? 
From your listening, which one would you prefer?

 
Preference is very subjective, and since I get a chance to review a lot of different IEMs/CIEMs I often switch between different pairs instead of settling on one.  But I do have a few flavors of the month, and typically my sig reflects them in order of preference

 
Regarding W80 vs S-EM9, there are actually more similarities than differences.  To level the ground, S-EM9 with it's stock cheap ofc cable doesn't sound at its best, and I'm using it with EA Thor II+ pure silver cable (that's already bumps the price).  Also, ergonomics of W80 design is ahead of S-EM9 where, as you can read in my S-EM9 review, I had to mod the eartip/nozzle.  Again, not a fair comparison because ergonomics of W80, or any Westone bean shape shells, is ahead of most of the other universal IEMs I have tested (even some CIEMs).  I think you can even consider this as objective rather than subjective opinion.
 
Now regarding the sound. S-EM9 has a little more holographic soundstage with more width/depth, not significantly, but noticeable.  S-EM9 also has a little more sub-bass quantity, while mid-bass punch is very similar, but I still hear an overall bass to be tigther and more articulate in W80 w/Ref8 cable vs S-EM9 w/ThorII+.  Lower mids are a little leaner and closer to neutral in S-EM9 while W80 has a little more body.  Upper mids are a little more forward and more revealing in S-EM9, while W80 is a little smoother and more organic in comparison.  Treble sounds similar in both.

 

[HarlanDraka]

Thanks Twister, very accurate description
 
I'm looking forward for your review of the W80 

 

[Malevolent]

Tried the W80 yesterday, and boy, was I blown away by these little gems. Whilst I found the W60s great, it was a little too laid back for my tastes. The W80 on the other hand, sounds more engaging, whilst still retaining that smooth, lush Westone house sound. I didn't spend a lot of time with them, but it was enough to warrant a more thorough audition at a later date. Plus, they are really.. small. It's amazing how Westone managed to fit 8 BA drivers in such a small housing.
 
Would definitely give these a try again soon! 

 

[MacedonianHero]

As I'm listening to these tiny IEMs...they have to be some of the BIGGEST sounding monitors I've heard...they cast an impressively expansive soundstage! Very impressive indeed!

 

[Spyro]

Great input about these W80's.  The one thing...if someone could help clarify....
 
...the general consensus seems that the W80 is less laid back (than W60) and more aggressive, a bit more forward with more attack in upper midrange.....which to ME....would sort of close things in a bit more like a Pro50 studio presentation.  But most are also saying it is a larger more holographic and soundstage than W60.   That seems kinda contradictory. Can anyone clarify?  Maybe I have missinterpreted something.
 
Not meaning to be funny here but if you crank up the volume on W60 and notch up a bit of treble EQ....would this help do similar to what they have done with W80?  I'm just trying to gauge the $800 versus $1500 pricepoints.  Thanks.

 

[Spyro]

Ialso saw that W80 is louder at same input as W60 so I assume more efficient?
 
Does this mean W80 does NOT require am amp to realize full potential?  Any moreso or less-so than W60?
 
Thanks again.   I have been enjoying my Pro50 for almost 20 months now with no upgrades.  I have the itch for a bit brighter detail and larger soundstage.   Wondering if W60 is good enough or I must spend almost double and go with W80?  Thanks.