[tonyinosaka]

I did not specifically address the issue of overall balance between these two models, but I did say that "the UM2 Earphones are a solid step up from the Shure SE310 and clearly the best-sounding in this roundup." The UM2 puts out more in the lower end of the spectrum than does the Shure SE310.

I also agree with your comments comparing the UM2 and the UM3. I purchased a pair of Westone UM3 phones after writing the review.

[tonyinosaka]

I appreciate your comments about confusing amplifier clipping and speaker distortion. Though not part of the test, I did listen to many of the phones using original CDs, driven by a respectable amplifier. I wanted the reviews to reflect the performance of the phones in the environment in which they were most likely to be used, but I can confirm that the distortion I heard was not the result of amplifier clipping or AAC compression.

[pbooth99]

Its an interesting review. About five years ago I read every review I could see before trying the Westone UM1 in-canal earphone, this is the cheaper, single -driver sibling of the UM2 that the writer praised in this article. It shares the same twisted cord, which is a big design win. For some reason, pre-twisted cords don't seem to tangle or know the way that other earphone cords do.
I like the Bose external active noise reducing headphones that another poster mentioned. I think their sound quality is comparable to the Westone UM1.
I think that the Westone UM2 is clearly better.
Some people might ask, "why spend over $200 for earphones?"
For me its all about the music. I hear detail that I have never heard before in songs that I thought I knew.
The other positive is being able to listen to music with the volume turned down to "one", because the noise isolation is so good. The only negative is the risk that I get run over crossing a street because my bubble is so insulated.

[fredsmith]

Tough to get true headphones to stay on while exercising or to wear under a helmet while riding a motorcycle - and it looks just plain stupid when walking your dog or riding the bus.
I have a set of UM-2s and have used them for about 3 years. These days I use them with Shure's triple-flange tips - no perceptible impact on sound quality, but I'm able to get the device slightly further into the ear canal (I ride a motorcycle and wear them under my helmet). I use them in airplanes and take them when I travel . . .
At home it is a set of Stax headphones.


Bose is simply branded garbage . . .

[fredsmith]

My UM2s are marked in red and blue . . . are you perhaps colorblind yourself? or perhaps they've changed things.

[fredsmith]

You mean your ears sweat?


The foam tips that Westone uses are pretty good at holding the buds in place - and most of the higher end ear-canal headphones use the same diameter output tubes. Order up a set of one of Westone's tips and give those a try.

[fredsmith]

Your 128Kb MP3s have ALWAYS sounded terrible - even on cheap drivers.


And, that's something alluded to in the thread, but NOT in the review; The source material is very often less that optimum for the listening device. Some ipods models sound like crap too and no matter how nice a set of head/ear phones you use it won't help.

The good news is that the vast majority of iPod users have no idea whatsoever about what they're missing out on and even if you gave them quality source material and an absolutely accurate playback system they still wouldn't have a clue.

Witness the various comments about how marvelous $30 and 50 easrphones are.

[elroth]

I have to agree with a couple of other posters - in the summary, you refer to audiophiles, yet you tested these earphones with compressed music.
That doesn't give me any confidence as to your conclusions, especially since there are several Macworld writers who argue that compressed music sounds the same to them as uncompressed.

[georgeryder9]

This is a good earphone and comparable to the new sony ericsson bluetooth headset. Quality sound and softness is what I need.

This post has been edited by Chris Breen: 13 September 2009 - 07:14 AM

[macless]

cal_gecko, on 21 May 2009 - 02:33 PM, said:

I had never heard of 'canal buds' before, but after looking at the link posted referring to the Audio Technika's, and that you referred to them as 'canal buds'.. that is the style I was using.. maybe I'll take a look at the ones you guys reviewed... although, spending more than about $30 on a pair of headphones seems crazy to me.

The try sennheiser cx 300