Anyone here listened to the Sennheiser IE8, Westone 3 or Westone UM3X?

[aphex]

Looking at getting back into IEM's again for work. We literally sit and work at our computers alone for 9-11 hours a day, headphones are pretty much expected.

Poked around on head-fi a bit as usual, but curious if anyone here has had a chance to listen to any of them aforementioned models and wanted to know your thoughts.

 

[darkswordsman17]

I haven't heard any of them yet, but I think I'm going to try the Westone 3s here shortly.

From what I've gathered, the IE8s strengths are in amount of bass (good but not exceptional quality), good soundstage (at the expense of isolation they're partly open), and good midrange. The Westones are somewhat close (to each other, not the IE8), with the 3s being more aggressive with more bass (thats supposed to be very good quality), and you sit back a couple of rows presentation wise. The UM3X are similar but more balanced and smoother and a more upfront presentation with a fairly closed in soundstage.

I can definitely understand, I've been trying to decide what to move to from my Phonaks. I'm going for the 3s because I think a more aggressive sound is what I'm looking for. My guess is that the IE8s would be similar to your ESW9s, so that might help in deciding (do you want that similar sound or something different), although I can't be totally sure on that as I've also saw them compared to the UM3X (I think for the smoothness of sound more than anything).

Head-Fi is practically useless to me now, its all conflicting reports and most people who really trumpet any specific model seem to only have really heard them extensively (in other words they might have briefly heard some of the others but they buy one model and are happy and so laud it). It doesn't help that half the people want to be known for finding the next giant-killer, so every new $100 one gets a cult following and half the people harp that it can hang with the high end ones.

 

[moonboy403]

The IEM subforum does seem like it's flooded with new blood who just got their feet wet in good quality IEMs. Moreover, tons of trolls in that subforum as well. That's why you should move over to the more helpful fullsize subforum.

 

[ivan2]

u might also want to explore the new UE4. or the other 2 cheaper customs (fidelity customs and freqs?) Universal fit always gives me some sort of itch because of the pressure present.

 

[Tiamat]

All I know is the highest end Westone is supposed to be more comfortable and comparable in sound quality to the UE10.

 

[cheesehead]

I have some Triple-Fis. Not as good as the DT880s, but not bad.

I'd go with some middle-of-the-road IEMs and wait until the next generation. Current-gen IEM tech is okay, but it has a long way to go.