Westone UM3X vs Shure SE530

[Arctic_Techy]

Hi guys,

Need a bit of advice, im in the market for some new in ear headphones! I want the best of the best

I was looking at a few reviews and websites, both of these caught my eye (although i couldnt find much on the westones).

I listen to mainly electro, hiphop, drum and bass, hard rock, and some softer stuff, stings ect. So mostly bass and beats really.

Im open to other options aswell, but was someone has experience with both or either of these! I want to order some asap.

Any help much apprciated

[Arctic_Techy]

*bump*

Any help?

[Drubbing]

unfortunately, it looks like google will have to be your friend, and you'll need to go with whatever reviews are out there to get an idea of how they sound.

At that end, you'd be hard pushed to find someone who's heard both and can compare. Although the Westones have been designed specifically for musicians for monitoring, so that suggests they have a flat response - meaning they'll more accurately deliver what you give them, as opposed to having a sound sig.

With these, you will likely need a top quality player and/or high bit rate music - I certainly wouldn't be playing 128kbps files through them.

Keep in mind, just because something is expensive, doesn't mean it's the best, or most enjoyable. Consider how you like to listen and what you like, and see if any review descriptions match what you want.

[tredders]

I had the Westone UM2s and replaced them with the Shure 530SEs... I used to love the UM2s but borrowed a set of 530SEs from a friend, and ended up ordering myself some off the back of it.

Can't comment on the UM3s (which are supposed to be fantastic) but the 530SEs were significantly better (to my ears) than the UM2s. Of course, it's all subjective, and dependent on your own ears and the choice of music you listen to.

There used to be a chap on eBay who took a deposit and sent you 2 or 3 different headphones for you to try, which is how I bought my UM2s in the first place. Be worth doing a search to see if he's still around. I think his ID was AudioCafe.

Cheers

Mark.

[LFC_SL]

I believe the problem is that whilst you can find US postings, they are not available in the UK yet. If that has changed since I checked last week, then it will be the first batch of UM3X in the UK

I myself would be interested in the price point as against the Westone 3 and Sennheiser IE8 as a UM2 owner

[r@mside]

Originally Posted by LFC_SL

I myself would be interested in the price point as against the Westone 3 and Sennheiser IE8 as a UM2 owner

iHeadphones are advertising UM3X for £300, IE8 go for around £200 I believe.

[Arctic_Techy]

Thanks alot for all yours guys help and advice so far!

Ive decided not to got for the westones and instead choose between the senhiser ie8's or the se530's!

Im leaning quite towards the ie8's atm because of the bass they produce is supposed to be very very good, and with the type of music i listen to ( electro, drum and bass, hip hop ect) it seems like a good option.

Dose anyone know what the bass is like on the se530's?

I really wana order them today if i can, however i wana get all the facts before i blow all my money!

[Drubbing]

I'm sure you can find reviews on the 530 that give n indication of bass.

But at the quality end of the market you won't be buying the 'world's best bass'' you'll be paying for clear and balanced sound.

[psikey]

I had Shure SE530's. Fantastic sound quality but if your really into thumping bass you may be dissapointed. They do have bass, well controlled, but if your used to Sony earphone like bass then the others you mentioned would be better.

[LFC_SL]

Originally Posted by Arctic_Techy

Im leaning quite towards the ie8's atm because of the bass they produce is supposed to be very very good, and with the type of music i listen to ( electro, drum and bass, hip hop ect) it seems like a good option.

Quality and quantity divide when talking about sound, as they are not one and the same

Make no mistake about it, the bass quantity of the IE8 is very artificial. That it has a "bass setting" on the earphone should say its own story. I am a purist so am against that anyway, but it colours the sound in a huge way. I took the kit on my profile to the Bristol Show and still recall vividly the IE8... and when I say it colours, I had it on the lowest setting. I remember checking

Each to their own of course. My thoughts on sound are influenced by my experiences and past and present headphones in my collection. If this is a first time IEM purchase, tbh you would most likely find the jump in SQ worth it regardless of the model... and then worry about sound signature afterwards - therein lies the upgrade bug waiting to bite

[Drubbing]

Originally Posted by LFC_SL

Quality and quantity divide when talking about sound, as they are not one and the same

That it has a "bass setting" on the earphone should say its own story. I am a purist so am against that anyway, but it colours the sound in a huge way.

I'm probably far from being a purist, but I like good clean sound, well presented, with good Quality bass - and just wanted to agree with the above.

Anything that comes with a booster or EQ is something extra that you're paying for, that is more likely to degrade sound than improve it.

These cheap signal widgets produce awful sound IMO. Fat, slow, muddy, woolly bass that bleeds over everything else. For some people though, this is exactly what they want.

I can only caution against reviews that throw superlatives around - including first hand opinions from well-meaning forumsters; one persons 'clarity' is another's 'sterile'.

Often the only way to know what you like is by trying a few things. Canals are always difficult as you can't try beforehand.

[Arctic_Techy]

Welll!

Thanks for all the advice, i however bought the ie8s 2 days ago and they arrived this morn. Im loving them already and i feel they fit perfectly to my music collection. I read a few reviews that the trebble ect wasnt with the umx3's or the 530s, but it is defintly good enough for me, i even had to turn the trebble down a wee bit, my ears probably are prepared for it yet lol.

I see what you guys are saying about sound quality and the artaficallyness cause of the bass adjustment ect ect...but i seem to be liking them so far. All the reviews and vids ive seen of these say they are better in the bass depo compared to umx3's and 530's.

Ive also been told/read they require 50-100hrs burn in! The bass adjustment is just lush! Perfect warm toned bass for me and my music! Maybe i will change my mind after ive had them for a bit and try thr shures or westones, but no doubt better than my bose and other senhissers and im loving them for now.

Like you said, each to thier own, i think its all about what your looking for, sq, bass ect. Ill be using them 3-4 hours a day while traveling on the tube ect. Guna be great!

Thanks for all your help and advice guys, plesae feel free to keep commenting

[haggisman]

Custom earmoulds render the best bass performance - without it think all IEMs don’t deliver their full potential. IMHO the SE530s are fantastic when used with custom moulds.

[LFC_SL]

Originally Posted by Arctic_Techy

Like you said, each to thier own, i think its all about what your looking for, sq, bass ect. Ill be using them 3-4 hours a day while traveling on the tube ect. Guna be great!

Bass is of course one aspect of the spectrum. IE8 I remember has the traits of expansive sparkling sound... was very enjoyable, apart from the odd overdone bass

Depends on the individual. Excessive bass quantity might be OK listening to "Prodigy - Smack My Bitch Up", but it might not be suitable when changing the genre. You have to find your own accepted middle ground, as most people cannot render the argument null + void by buying everything

[Drubbing]

Originally Posted by haggisman

Custom earmoulds render the best bass performance - without it think all IEMs don’t deliver their full potential. IMHO the SE530s are fantastic when used with custom moulds.

This may be your experience and that's great, but other's need to be aware that's your experience, and isn't a guarantee everyone will get the same result. And also depends on what performance you want from your bass.

Customs can get very expensive, without any guarantee they will produce any better sound, or fit.

Some IEMs aren't easy to make moulds for, and a bad job will make them sound even worse than stock tips, where you can at least get a decent seal.