A while ago our reviewers got together and listened extensively to several of the most popular IEMs on the market. Due to the quantity of the IEMs involved and for the sake of readibility, I won’t go in-depth about their packaging, cables and accessories, their synergy with certain portable amplifiers, etc. Rather, I’ll write general guidelines about their sound that should be useful for people wanting to purchase one of these IEMs.
The equipments used are:
Source: Ipod Touch 2nd Gen, Sansa Clip+, Amp3 Pro, Sony NWZ-A818
Amplifier: HeadAmp Pico, Corda3Move, Ray Samuels SR71a
Playing numerous music files of all genres, both 320kbps MP3s and Lossless files.
WESTONE UM3X
The Westone UM3X may have been designed for professional musicians, and yet it is winning everyone’s heart with its flat sound signature. For the majority of music listeners, some equalization can be the difference between boring to musical bliss. Though you may not actively use equalization on your DAP, most IEMs are designed and tuned by the manufacturers with some EQ curve in mind, primarily to boost its musicality or fun factor. The UM3X is different. It was built for professional musicians, and it has a flat sound without a frequency bump anywhere. How does a flat IEM like the UM3X manage to be so popular among music listeners? If I were to guess, perhaps the trend was started by hardcore reviewers with discerning ears, who set out to find the most neutral IEM there is, then it gets passed on to other people looking for recommendations.
Westone never marketed the UM3X for personal listening, and I agree to why they do this. To some people, the word neutral, may give a certain Hi-Fi appeal. But unless you have heard the UM3X sound personally, you will be surprised to find that the sound is, quite uninvolving, to put it politely. To most people, flat means a lack of soul, and this is why I wouldn’t recommend the UM3X to the general listener looking for an IEM. Even to the crowd who have bought the UM3X, I find that a lot of them try to make up for the flatness by adding a portable amplifier that has some color and some musicality to it.
The sound tends to be on the warm side, though not warm as in mellow. The UM3X has enough of everything, from bass, midrange to treble, and they are all presented fairly equally. The soundstage is nothing to boast about, but it’s also not claustrophobic. Being flat also doesn’t mean it’s an analytical IEM, or a dry sounding one. In fact, everything flows quite smoothly together, and the recording is presented as is. The UM3X somehow managed to be the quite a sibilance proof IEM. No matter what bad recording we play, the UM3X plays it free of any sibilance. Is that a case of un-accurate treble? Not really, as the treble is great and extends quite nicely. I would explain it better if I could, but for now I’ll just say that the UM3X is a sibilance-free IEM.
The UM3X is a great IEM, and though it’s the one I personally use, it wouldn’t be my first recommendation. If you are really really into a flat sound, then the UM3X is for you. Otherwise, look elsewhere.
WESTONE 3
The Westone 3 comes from the same people who created the UM3X, but it was clearly tuned for the personal listening crowd. As a result, the Westone 3 is much more musical than the UM3X and would be easier to appreciate by the majority of music listeners.
In contrast to the UM3X, the Westone 3 has a more exciting sound signature. The treble is much more alive, and it also has a nice upper bass bump that can be a lot of fun to listen to. However, with some music like Classical, the upper bass bump may sound unnatural, as it comes out like a small hump in the lower frequency range.
The W3 has a bigger soundstage than the UM3X, and all these goodness combined makes a recipe that works well with the majority of mainstream music. If you’re looking for something that’s easy to appreciate and enjoy, I would recommend the Westone 3.
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which one had best best build quality in cable? i’ve some problem with my shure’s cable lately, the cable’s feel really stiff compared to other earphone, and that’s make my cable broken
. oh btw i’m using se210.
which one would you choose over that 3 best all rounder IEMs? Shure, UE, or westone?
the triple fi 10 has replaceable cable, note the triple fi Vi (in line mic version) chord is very noisy compared to regular triple fi chord,, good news is these chords are interchangeable, i was able to swap cables with one of my older ultimate ears.
i would say the westone 3 while having a much more quiet chord, seems very delicate and i often worry about it braking,, it seems fragile.
i would go triple fi if you like good highs and punch,, or i would go westone 3 if you like a full rich sound,, they are two different signatures.
i hear the se530 have rich mids but lack bass,,, but i too am very curious how they sound,, some seem to love and some seem to hate.
you can get triples on ebay for super cheap
good luck
The Westone 3 cable does seem a little more delicate, but at the same time we found it to be more flexible than the TF10’s. The SE530 is also super nice, and again, different sound signature than the W3 and the TF10. Actually, all three IEMs are very musical IEMs, it’s just a matter of preferences to choose one that fits your liking.
Best cable for me is a tie between the CK100 and UM3X/W3.
Best all-rounder would be either the TF10Pro or SE530. The former has a brasher sound and the latter has a more relaxing one.
wich portable amp will you recommend for the UM3X?, thanks gon
Following my personal preference, I’d go for the ALO Rx to add some more sparkle at the top and enlarge the soundstage of the UM3X.
does that mean that the um3x lack sparkle in their highs?
Yes, sometimes they do seem to lack sparkle in the highs.
i personally prefer the triple fi and also like the westone 3, note: every time i compare the triple to w3, triple make the w3 highs sound a bit recessed, also makes the w3 long for more punch,,, in addition the highs on the triple fi are so delightful and sparkle with fast rock and pop without sibilance or hurting your ears, the triple does need more thickness if that means anything, but it is more defined and exciting, and come on, its no that bad a fit as long as you use the bi flange tips, but i would agree not as comfortable, in fact even thou i think they are better for monitoring tv, news, talk, etc. i find myself using the w3 because they are more comfortable. but the sheer addictive precision and sparkle and definition of the triple fi makes me pic it over the westone 3.. now having said all of this, i am getting some um3x:)
note: the triple fi responds remarkable well to eq and will surprise you how much bass you can add to it. fyi
thanks
i am curious how the se530 compared to triple and westone?
Hi Theo,
I think I agree with what you said about the TF10, but I wouldn’t say that the TF10 is absolutely better than the W3, since I can see how people with different preferences may like the W3 better.
We did compare the SE530 to the TF10 and the Westone. I think you can find a section on the SE530 on this article.
The bass on the IE8 is by NO MEANS heavy, it has a lot of mid-bass and that’s what you are hearing. I have read a few reviews on here and I know that it is all about personal opinion but what I have read is wrong IMO. The IE8 bass is only good when EQed A LOT!!!! The Hippo VB, Monster Turbine Pro Gold/MD’s KILL this IEM when it comes to the bass category. I do not know how old this thread is but I have found the MTP MD’s to be the best/tightest/layered bass out of any universal-fit IEM. The IE8 can not even compare, if you like mid-bass go for it, but if you want sub-bass (like a subwoofer) choose a more viable option. I also read a review on headfonia comparing “top-tier” PMPs/DACs and in it they claimed the S:Flo2 has weak bass….this is completely wrong, and many testimonials on head-fi can affirm this claim. The Westone 3 is a great IEM but somewhat fatigueing, I find that all of the MTP’s to be my favorite. The SE530 only has good mids with little to no bass, the upcoming SE535 is worth waiting for if this is your thing since it will have a replacable cable option. I did not like the TF10, just wasn’t my cup of tea. I sold both my Westone 3 & UM3X after I got my Monster Turbine Pro Golds/Coppers/MD’s (yes I bought them all lol). I would do more research than just relying on this site because the two reviews I have read provided incorrect information IMO. I am not trying to hate on this site because I think a lot of its reviews are spot on, but to say the IE8 is a “bassy” IEM is incorrect, they are a mid-bass heavy IEM.
Thanks, Sean. Your comments are appreciated.
I think that all of the other reviews were good as in the E4P/S, 3 and UM3X. However, I have not heard any of the others so I can not comment but I have heard newer IEMs that are outstanding such as JVC HA-FX700, TBP Miles Davis Tributes and the SM3’s which I thought should’ve been included/considered. Yet, they may not have been out when the review was performed.
Hi Sean, yes the article were written back in 2009.
I do acknowledge that we are a bit behind in IEMs. Some of the products are hard to get here in Indonesia. And being a fairly young website (we’re only 8 mths old!), most companies are still unwilling to loan us samplers.
Of course your comments are helpful in the sense that it helps us to see the areas that we’re still lacking. Keep ‘em coming!
I write a lot of reviews for head-fi and would be more than happy to provide some information for your website. At the moment I am working on a huge product in collaboration with a few amp companies (not too sure which one to tip right now) that will make amps become more mainstream for Apple PMP users. Sorry if I came off as rude but I am a huge proponent of the S:Flo2 and this site is the only place I have found that claims it lacks in the low-end, which I feel it does not at all. Of course I have it paired with a high-end custom LOD and a multitude of amps. But, even coming directly from the headphone jack on the S:Flo2 I have found it to be one of, if not, the best PMPs on the market. Aside from the HiFiMan-801 of course, but I feel it is overpriced and the internal amp is not what is supposed to be so I find more people bypassing this via it’s line out and pairing it with something like an RSA Protector which provides the balanced option.
Hi Sean. If you’re convinced that the S:Flo2 doesn’t lack low end, there is nothing I can do to convince you otherwise. As a review site it is in our best interest to to be accurate, and the Teclast T51 does have a polite bass. The Hifiman HM-801 is surprisingly the only DAP that can provide good sinergy and driving power with the HD800 straight from its headphone out. Is it expensive? Yes. But it does have the quality to back up the pricetag. I’m sure you know what I mean since you’ve read the review. But let’s agree to disagree there and not prolong this any further.
i am definitely poisoned with the APs ER4P after reading this…