This replaces my UM 1 that gave me years of faithful service. I kept fiddling with the Comply tips (medium and "cut shorter" longs), triple flange (also cut shorter) and the Shure yellow foam. None gave the right level of comfort and bass seal. Finally, I gave the Shure PA758's a shot. Yes! Perfect seal and reasonable comfort for my canals (a little bit of pressure due to the tight seal). Remember..... better seal = better bass. And the headphones are definitely a step up from the UM 1's.

I tried several of the Sure in-ear-earphones at the $100 and $200 price points and they were pretty good but none had the bass range I enjoy. The UM2's are very warm and I finally hear the bass... I was looking for a pair of earphones for running and on planes, since this is where I spend most of my time listening. They are very light and comfortable... While running you still get the slight thump, thump sound caused by feet hitting the ground and the pressure of the earphone on your ear canal, but I don't think any earphone that blocks outside noise is going to avoid that... At $300 they are pricey, but I haven't found anything at $200 that comes close to the base range I enjoy.

I had UE 5 Pros and they sounded really good but were to say the least uncomfortable to wear . The UM2's are not only very comfortable but sound fantastic, great bass, without the shrill highs of the Pros. Thank-you ,Westone.

Having left my UM1's in my work trousers and having my mum wash them. I needed a new set of earphones. Having some spare cash I decided to upgrade to these instead of replacing them.

First, I want to commend Earphone solutions for their excellent service! I wasn't sure to go for these or another set so I dropped them a e-mail, expecting a e-mail a couple of days later but infact they responded within hours telling me the difference between the two in language I can understand, i placed my order and they were shipped a couple of hours later! I was really impressed!

Now for the headphones. They arrived sealed in plastic like promised, they come with a nice carry case which really comes in handy, two sets of 2 sizes of foam eartips so you should be able to get a nice fit. The wire makes it easy to untangle unlike other sets was really impressed at the appearance.

Now for the important part, The sound! I whacked em straight in my iPhone and put on some Chase & Status and my jaw literally dropped. They sound incredible, a big step up from the um1's tried them on other genres of music and I really can't fault em. They cancel out all noise either. You can clap your hands as loud as you can and can't hear it, My dogs started barking whilst I was on my laptop and I didn't notice until the track changed. I'm really pleased with my purchase.

I took them to work and they though i was mad paying so much money for them! It's a shame you can't let other people listen to them due to hygiene. People just don't know what they're missing.

Now for some cons. If you're ordering from outside from the US this is really important. Although you could get free shipping it's not insured so i paid $30 for the 4-8 days shipping to be on the safe side. Sadly they arrived at Parcelforce UK nearly 2 weeks later so I was a bit disappointed. Plus I had to pay 28 GBP for import tax and customs fees. So if you think about it. You're really paying an extra $50 for these to get them to you. Something to think about if you're ordering from outside the US

Overall though, really satisfied with the product and the great service I received from ES. Will be back if I ever need anything else!

I have been looking at and trying everything from earbuds to full blown headphones.
Everything always had a bit missing. I use it for live application, playing bass in contemporary church praise and worship band. The earPLUGS always ear my ear when trying different brands. Plus, after a short period of time, the would loosen up in my earand the bottom end sound would be lost (not good for a bass player !! LOL). The only good sounding headphones got to heavy on my head after a while. Then came I heard about Westone. I read and read and read up on the UM2 and decided to give 'em a try. I have been happy ever since. They are so comfortable, don't loosen up, and sound great while blocking out our already too loud stage volume. I am so happy with them...and they are worth the price !! I find myself checking my ears periodically, thinking they must have fallen out because they are so comfortable.. At this time I don't even see the need for going to custom ear molding for them.

Having owned and loved my old pair of Shure E4 I went for this when the old ones got destroyed by my own carelessness. They do not disappoint .

The sound is deep and immense, initially I thought a little bass heavy, but that sentiment faded quickly.
Still for all the genres I have tested it at so far, classical music still sounds a little dull to my ears after E4. It needs a little action, perhaps some heavy rock, avant-garde, psychedelic trance, stuff like that. It could also be that I just need to get some higher quality recordings for classical.

At any rate, the sound is a fantastic experience. I now sit regularly on the bus with goosebumps, something I have not done much since the early days of my E4's. I hope it lasts. : )

These things will blow your ears out if you are not careful. My ipod can't run them at much more than 50% without the sound becoming too much - think this is a consequence of the strong bass - this is certainly loud enough on all the other parts of the spectrum as well though.

I am an average listner, mostly Jazz, some Rock and Classical. I have owned at least 6 different types of earphones from cheap to $200+ and these are hands down the best I have ever owned. I have been using them for about 3 weeks now and it is like I am listning to a whole new collection of songs. I hear sounds I never heard before. I listen to alot of live Jazz recordings and unless I was playing them on my home audio system, I was only hearing half of what was recorded. Even in the noisy environment of a small turbo prop airplain, I hear people coughing in the audience on some live recordings. If you are particular about your music, you need to get these earphones. They handle highs very acurately and the lows send shivers up your spine with very very little distortion if any.

I read all the reviews for these headphones but I was nervous about spending this kind of money. After using them for the past month with an ipod touch, cowon D2 and an Archos 605. I found an amazing difference and now listen to music much more than I ever did. It was money well spent. Everytime I listen to music I am amazed that I keep hearing new instruments.

I searched many hours for in ear headphones which have a good sound and most of all suit my ears, without paying for a tailermade set.
The UM2 fulfills all my desires. Living in The Netherlands / Holland I surfed a lot on the Internet and finally I came in contact with the side of Westone. The delivery was perfect and fast. Only the customs in my country took the time to let the set pass. Probably the would like to test them by theirselves and would like to share their positive feeling with their family.

Wow!

I've had these for almost two years and I've used them pretty much every day. The sound is very smooth and of high quality. sometimes I borrow others earphones/headsets to compare, and my UM2's are always. The UM2's sit like a glove, they can be worn under a hat or snowboard helmet if you like.

The cable is the best I've seen. Just the right length, and it doesn't intertwine like most cables. Also, they've made a minor adjustment to separate the right and left part of the cable a bit more, so even people with a really big necks can wear them with no problems.
Another thing that has to be mentioned is the FANTASTIC customer service Westone provides. Sadly enough, my earphone got defect, but I shipped them to Westone, and they sent me a new one FOR FREE all the way to Norway. I'm so impressed! And also, they answer on e-mails really fast.

ADD TO CART!

I use my earphones for up to 8 hours a day, so comfort is essential. Thankfully the UM2s don't disappoint here. It's easy to forget these are even in. The light and flexible cables loop easily and comfortably over the ear. The earphones sit flush and don't budge - no need to fiddle with them throughout the day to maintain a good seal.

Sound is excellent. When listening through the UM2s I can't help but feel like I'm hearing the music as it was intended to be heard. Bass response packs enough punch to satisfy most without getting boomy or taking anything away from the rest of the mix. Definition is impressive to say the least. You can hear every nuance; fingers sliding over strings, a sharp intake of breath, etc.

Superb comfort, sound and quality. This is without-a-doubt the best $300 USD I've spent!

I take overseas trips often. I love my UM2's for the clean music and sound isolation during the trips. Returning from one trip I messed up and left my UM2's in the seat pocket and never got them back. Too spoiled to cope without, I put up the money for a second pair. Thats how I learned (again) about the break in period. I was really disappointed when I first tried my second pair as the sound was not as good. Muddled is what I'd say. I then realized the "break in" bit and worked em hard for several days and they just got better and better. Back in business. Well worth the price - twice.

It's taken me a while to realize just how good these earphones are and they really are terrific. With digital music these days, some of what I listen to is simply muddy and it's not the headphones fault it doesn't sound very good, but find a piece that offers something more and these earphones will serve up unbelievable clarity. Fingers moving across guitar strings, hammers striking piano keys and voices in any octave. These are very clear and musical in-ear headphones that I appreciate even more the more others I try.

I can't say anything that hasn't already been said but I just wanted to say that these are worth every penny.

Bought a pair of UM2s after going through a couple of pairs of UE Super 5 Pros. The UM2s are far and away better for comfort, fit, and especially a usable cord. The UM2s fit snugly and comfortably in the ear, and the cord is hardly noticeable.

I have been a little surprised that so far the sound seems to be equal to, but not better, than my Super 5 Pros. If anything, the UM2s seem a little muffled compared to the UE2s. Neither can compare to my wife's pair of Shure 530s. I like them, but next time I'll try a pair of 530s. Now there is an amazing sound!!!

Incredibly clear sound,especially noticeable after upgrading from another pair of earphones.Excellent highs and bass.Fit is not as good as expected.Needed to borrow a pair of small tips from my wife's Shure earphones to improve fit. Cheap of Westone not to include a complete set of tips on a 300 dollar earphone!!

I bought the UM2's for motorcycle riding. I wear a full-face helmet. I think most riders would agree that the level of wind and road noise is such that the sound source must be in the ears. I have experimented with ear buds but they are extremely uncomfortable and they pull out of the ears when the helmet is pulled on. I purchased the UM2's to team-up with a new Garmin Zumo for a round trip from Las Vegas to Portland. The replaceable foam tips are very nice quality, soft, and pliable. They are much like my regular ear plugs in that you roll and compress the foam between your thumbs, insert into the ears, and the foam expands to make a perfect fit that is all-day comfortable (14 hours on the final day of my ride). The UM2's are wonderful in that I still get to basically wear ear plugs for a more quiet and relaxed ride and as a bonus I get to enjoy incredible sound directly in my ears. I listened to XM radio four days in a row all day long... loved them. The units fit inside the ears very nicely... they fit the anatomy of the ear. The braided wires lead up and over the ears for a very stable and secure fit. You still have to be careful putting the helmet on but I never once had one pull out. Last day of the ride, 80mph through Nevada, listening to Obama's health care speech to the AMA, every word crystal clear. These are terrific ear phones!

I'm not a religious man, but oh my sweet jesus, buddah, allah, zeus, gaia, and all other deities....I'm hearing sounds from the same songs I've listened to 100's of times that I've never heard before. I'm welling up with tears with a giant grin on my face...seriously. Glorious. And these are the most comfortable in-ear headphones that ever worn. (Shure E2s and Klipsch Custom 2).

Sound great - a big upgrade over standard iPod phones.

Lack bass and fall out of ears

This is a two part review, one for Earphone Solutions and one for the noted product Westone UM2 earphones.
First, the phones are the best I have ever owned. I have used Ety's and Ultimate Ears. While I feel UE does do bass with a bit more low-end, the clarity of the UM2's is beyond compare. I can hear portions of the audio track that I have simply never heard before. They are superior to anything else I have owned. The build quality and fit is superb as well. They fit in the ear, do not protrude and loop easily around the ear for a secure fit. I use them almost exclusively while exercising; biking, running and lifting and they are incredibly comfortable and secure.

As for Earphone Solutions, I have bought many products from them and their service is second to none. I received my phones in two days without paying extra for shipping. They are responsive and a truly professional company.

These are so easy to use, comfortable and they just sound great. I hear notes I've never heard before. Super clean sounding. These replaced a cheap pair and there is no comparison. These are not cheap but worth it. and sometimes a little too much band noise I never heard before

I had the opportunity to listen to the UM1 and the UM2 before purchasing. Prior to that, I had sold myself on the UM1 more for price than anything else. I listened to U2, Norah Jones, Seal, Shawn Colvin, and Joe Bonamassa on the UM1's first and thought they sounded great. I didn't think I'd be able to note an almost $200 difference between the UM1 and UM2, but I listened anyway. On the first bass note, the difference in audio quality between the two was immediately noticeable. The sound is incredible as is the fit, sound isolation, and comfort. Thus, although the UM1's are a great choice, the UM2's are certainly worth the extra cost.

Holy Toledo! I switched over to these from the Shure E2C and I gotta tell you, while I loved the Shure's, the Westone's blew my sox away. The depth in the bass was what was most amazing for me. I mostly use these for the gym and same as the E2C's and the difference was remarkable. The fit in my ear is almost perfect. I had to switch the flanges to the medium to get the best fit for my ear. The sound quality is phenomenal, the highs and mids are pretty good, but the bass is awesome, especially for buds in this price range and capabilities. Highly, highly recommended!!!!

the best earphones I´ve ever proved. thanks

Bought these to replace my Vibes, well worth the money, sound great, comfortable enough to sleep in.

As inear monitor for onstage-use they work absolutely great for me. Astonishing that I could buy them cheaper here at earphonesolutions.com than in my homecountry Holland!
Great!!

I've owned Etymotic ER6i, Shure E4c and Shure SE310 headphones.

The UM2's have the best bass BY FAR and mids/highs that are on the same general level as the other three headphones.

They are comfortable in the ear, though a bit harder to seat than the shure headphones.

On the whole, the UM2s are well worth the extra $50 over the SE310s. They are the best sounding headphones I've ever owned.

These are the best in ear earphones I have ever had!

this is my first pairs of in-ears, I must say I'm really impressed by the sound quality, deep bass, clear sound.
They are also very comfortable, after 5minutes, I forget about them, you just have music directly plugged in your head :)

I have owned the clear version of the UM2 for a couple years now and thought they have been good, not great.

I do like the design in that they don't stick out of my ear and I can lie my head down (e.g., sleeping on a plane) with no interference.

Audio quality is about an 8.5/10.

They are not the most durable and i've damaged my a couple times by going for runs in the rain with them (The Shures perform much better for this).

Overall, they are a nice sounding set but feel that the Shure and Entymonics have better sound quality.

When I bought my shure e3cs, I thought it was the best money I'd ever spent on a gadget.

When their cords wore out and I had to replace them, I decided to try the UM2s -- and the UM2s are even much better.

Comfortable, good sound isolation (too good, I need to get some sort of talk switch) and excellent sound. If all my electronics were stolen and my budget to replace them was only $300/year I would still buy these first. No other gadget brings me as much pleasure.

I use my earphones EVERY night to listen to new age music to relax and go to sleep so comfort while laying on a pillow was paramount. And these are perfect.
They block out ambient noise, are incredibly comfortable and have great sound.
I am not an audiophile and cannot debate whether these have a high end that surpasses the Shure XXX or whether the bass is muddy or not, they just sound better than any earphones I have ever owned before.

You get what you pay for. Never thought I would spend $300.00 for earphones. I've had decent $150.00 earphones before, but these are la creme.I'm now hearing sounds and tones from my my IPOD I had previously not heard.

I should start by saying my overall personal preference in speakers and headphones are electrostatics. But these are really for home use. I’m sure Stax’s portable unit (the SR-001MK2) likely will not provide sufficient sound isolation for mobile use. Plus it’s battery-driven which can present problems.

High-end ear-canal phones can sound very different when amplified at home using your system amp or a headphone amp, and when NOT amplified—walking around outdoors or on the subway (a New York City problem) which is the way most of us use an iPod or similar device.

Most of my listening is classical, opera, and film soundtracks; also 50s-60s-70s rock, and some popular singers (i.e., Sinatra, Torme, etc.) and… “doo-wop.” (It’s an “age” thing!)

As a record collector for far too long, I have recordings that span the decades from early acoustic transfers (operatic vocals), then early electrics, on up through the Golden Age of recorded classical music (late 40s through the 70s), and on to the digital era.

When transferring music to my iPod, I do not use compression, but use Apple’s AIFF (i.e., WAV) format.

With recordings, of course, whatever you PUT THROUGH your speakers/headphones and other electronics is what will COME OUT. You’re listening first to recordings, then to any artifacts your electronics might add (hopefully few), and then to the music itself. The idea, of course, is for the reproduction to be as transparent as possible…said the “fool on the hill.”

Unlike speakers, unfortunately you can’t simply go into a store and audition ear-canal headphones. You have to depend on a lot of reading and research in the quest for the Holy Grail.

So this praise for the Westone UM2s is from someone who owns, or has owned, the following:

Etymotic 6i, sold to buy the Etymotic 4P (still have them; very good in their day)
Shure E3C (still have them too)
Shure E4C, sold to buy UE (“Now a Logitech Company!”) Super.fi 5, sold to buy the UE Triple.fi’s
And finally, I also own the Shure SE420s.

The Westone UM2s trump everything, in my opinion, for unamplified use on an iPod. They’re the most musical and provide superb sound isolation. They’re also the most comfortable for prolonged periods. Almost forget I’m wearing them!

Bass is present, but it’s tight and unintrusive. The UM2s’ highs are as clear and detailed as the Triple.fi’s are when using the UEs in my home system.

Most importantly to me, the UM2s’ mid-range is focused, clear and warm. When Westone issue their triple armature system, I’ll be first in line.

Amplified, they’re simply marvelous too requiring far less power, incidentally, than do either the Triple.fi’s or the SE420s.

As a two-way speaker system, and at nearly $200 less than the Shure SE530s, the UM2s are a remarkable find indeed.

UE Triple.fi: I’d gotten a great open-box price on these from a reputable dealer. I like their sound enormously, particularly when amplified at home. Unfortunately, they don’t fit me well. My ear canals are just too small to accommodate the fat UE nozzles. Consequently, I don’t get a good seal and there isn’t enough sound isolation for portable use.

Another customer wrote in a review on this site that if you carefully remove the plastic center piece from Westone’s ComplyTips you can get those sleeves to fit the UEs. That’s true, and they make a better seal for me than do UE’s sleeves, but still not tight enough because of the fatter nozzle. Consequently, I only use the Triple.fi’s at home.

However, they do sound terrific in my system. Ah, but so do the UM2s as mentioned above!

Westone will make a molded sleeve for the size nozzle UE and other manufacturers use. An audiologist must take ear molds to send to Westone. Don’t know how much this all is ultimately so it might be more cost effective simply to have Westone make you a pair of their custom fit phones: the ES2 or ES1s if you can afford them.

Westone will also make molded ear sleeves for the UM2s and UM1s. (Those sleeves would likely fit the Shure SE series since the ComplyTips do! Have to try these with the Ety 4Ps, just to see how the sound is affected.)

Shure SE420: They’re very good. They’ve a tight, but not intrusive bass, excellent midrange, and perhaps slightly over-bright highs. Sound better with the iPod than when amplified, in my opinion. I find the flex sleeves very comfortable.

Before I ever bought either the Triple.fi’s or the SE420s, I was able to audition a friend’s E500s—precursor to the SE530—for an extended period. The idea that these are “identical” really isn’t true, by the way. Shure apparently did some extensive redesign for the 530s. However, after spending quite some time with the 500s, I was going to buy them principally because of the truly remarkable soundstaging!

However, after prolonged listening both at home and while mobile, I found the midrange (the most important area of recorded sound, in my opinion) somewhat enveloped by the bass. Each time I’d listen I’d find myself feeling the mids just weren’t prominent enough. It was as if they “receded” and I’d always be conscious of too much bass. Bass is a tricky thing to balance, particularly for classical music reproduction.

Then there was the price! So when the Triple.fi’s became available at a great price, I obviously went there. Because of the fit issues with these, I then decided to try Shure’s SE420s instead of the 530s because…they were cheaper…by a lot, and I always liked the Shure sound signature.

I want a balanced sound that perhaps offers the SE530s’ outstanding soundstaging but with tighter, less-intrusive bass, plus most importantly a clearer, fuller, more prominent midrange, and the “airy” extension on the highs that probably only electrostatic sound can provide.

Well…and if I could afford them, I’d own the Stax SRS-007 Mark IIs, along with a pair of MartinLogan Spires too! (I live in an apartment)…sigh.

Meantime…I love my Westone UM2s and eagerly await the UM3!

Not only the best earphones I ever had; they sound way better than my stereo as well.

I've owned UM2s for two years. There's nothing to match them. Example: You can hear an orchestral conductor inhaling before the downbeat. That's the kind of detail they deliver. If it's in the recorded signal, you'll hear it, plain and simple, "no additives".

Westone UM2: Beautiful Sound, Comfortable Fit.
These are a very serious "sweet spot" in today's market for earphones. In terms of sound, they have an uncanny naturalness to them. They remind me of classic British speakers like Spendor or Harbeth in that respect. They are probably the most comfortable earphones out there - especially when you get the Shure "Black Foamie" ear inserts to replace the stock yellow ones from Westone (which are not bad, but many UM2 fans prefer the "Black Foamies" from Shure, which fit UM2's perfectly.)

I am very much an audiophile and I've tried earphones by Shure (entire line, from 210 to 530) and Ultimate Ears, etc. I admire most earphones starting at around $150, but overall I prefer the Westone UM2. (BTW the $100 Westone UM1's are a nice "sweet spot" as well and great value per dollar.)

By the way, UM2's are fairly bass heavy, especially while they are breaking in (first 100 hours or so). The treble detail is very refined and natural - not overpowering like some other earphones.

To me these are an obvious first choice.

Caveat: There are some earphones in the $1000 range, with custom fit, that I have never tried. I'm perfectly happy with UM2.

Oh yeah, the cord is thin and flexible with a slider to adjust tension. Best to wear these with the cord draping over the top of your ear, and down your back. It is comfortable, it seems to be how they were designed to be worn, and it looks cool (can't see the cord from the front).

Wonderful with iPods! No external amp necessary.

I'm in the military...and I travel to some dirty, nasty places. I've used them for over a year and not only do they sound amazing...they're durable too.

There's just no way of getting around this new revolution of "ear canal" earphones. You can read a million reviews to convince yourself they are right for you but until you take the plunge and by a pair you'll never know. I got mine about two weeks ago and it took about a week to break them in. They are are just very musical and COMFORTABLE. I only stress the comfortable because you can literally almost forget your wearing them with the foam tips.They also have the best cable design out of any pair out on the market. They don't get crinkled up like other earphones do cause they have a braided design. I haven't even gotten into how great they sound yet. For all of you who are considering buying this as your first pair of "ear canal" earphones your in for a real treat. These earphones are unbelievable because they block so much outside noise and just simply let you get lost in the music. I mean these bad boys might be a little on the pricey side but take the plunge at least to see what their like and let the people at earphonesolutions help you every chance you get because these people are the only people on the web I've dealt with that are truly dedicated to Customer Service in all as aspects of the game so much so because they want you to feel comfortable about your purchase despite the price range which is truly unique. Lastley, these little things pack superior techinology from and indusrty leader iin music technology (Westone). If you don't believe it go to their website and see who else is following this new ear canal earphone and buy their products also their products are backed by a rock solid warranty so there's just no reason you shouldn't give them a shout they make life more enjoyable for me and I'm sure they will for you too.

This rating is coming from a person who has owned many of todays top IEMS...Shure se530, se420, se310, UE Triple.Fi, UE Super.Fi 5, Denon CK700, Etymotic ER-4P, and Livewires.

The Westone UM2 are very good at what they do, especially if you appreciate a quality low frequency reproduction (aka Bass). UM2's provide a very deep, yet clear and detailed presentation.

Comfort wise, they are the best I have tried. With the Comphy Tips and light weight of the monitors, it does not even feel like you are wearing them. Additonally, they are designed to sit within your ear canal, which makes it perfect for sleeping with them in. The Comphy Tips provide wonderful isolation from the outside world.

If you want more of a neutral sound throughout the frequency spectrum, you may be better off with the Shure se310, Etymotic ER-4P or the UE Triple.Fi's. All three of these were excellent.

Regardless of which IEM you choose, buy them from Earphone Solutions. This company has provided good prices, excellent customer service and accurate reviews (descriptions) of the products they sell.

I can attest to their accurate product reviews, because I have owned many of these IEMS myself...and Earphone Solutions is right on target

I own the UM2 and Shure SE530 headphones and both have their own pros and cons.

The UM2 headphones sound great! Mids and highs are very good for this price range. Everything sounds just the way it should. Bass is very good too, however not as tight and refined as the SE530 headphones. To my ear, the UM2 headphones sound a bit boomy where the SE530 headphones sound more controlled and pleasant.

Comfort and fit for both are the best you can get. Though, I must give the advantage to the UM2s. Honestly, I can’t even feel that they’re in my ears when I’m wearing them. That’s not to say the SE530 headphones aren’t great because they are. It’s just that the UM2s are lighter and more flexible than the SE530 headphones.

For $300 you can’t go wrong. However, if you have the extra cash to spend buy the SE530 headphones. You won’t regret it.

The words have all been said. If clear, crisp, deep sound is what you want, you'll find the 300 bucks.

If you have ever listened to a tune 20 time on your old $100 phones, the UM2's are like hearing it anew for the first time, and it is crystalline. I can see why they are the editor's choice! Be prepared for the high freq.s..The UM2's do split the sound in two drives very well. The Mids seem to fall-in on there own. I also noticed that I get much better audio listening on my Rhapsody player (SanDisk E280R) than on my computer. Not sure why that is but it does.

Anyway, I just had to find out what $300 dollar earphones where like ? Not cheap for sure, but I gottstta know! There crystalline, no flaws, extreme comfort, and that my friend is very important ! What's the point of high-end phones if there not comfortable to wear a lot, and long. I would like to make a suggestion on ear foams, try different sizes and shapes if your the least bit uncomfortable. These are super comfort earphones! The UM2s should hardly feel there at all, seriously. I ordered the black foams with the black phones, very cool...
Hey, What's that black thing in your arrr.

I would also recommend wearing them for a while before passing judgment. You get 30 days, but you won't need it. I noticed that these phones play loader than my others at the same volume ?

So, if comfort and sound are paramount in your choice for high-end earphones, I know you won't be disappointed in the UM2's... Thanks for listening

These are the ones you want. Perfect comfort. Thick, rich, defined, fluid, crystal clear, powerful sound is waiting for you here. I felt like listening to everything I owned again once I got these. They sound perfect with an iPod -- don't worry about people saying there is a hiss -- that is nonsense. If you are the type of person who feels that the money that great musicians earn is well deserved because of all the joy they have added to your life, then you will think these are worth every penny. Thank you Westone -- I hope whoever designed these becomes a rich man (or woman)!

This is an amazing experience. I am a big music fan and as many others tried to find the ultimate earpphone with my iPod. I tried the UM2 from my husband and just had to have my own pair. These are without any doubt the best earphones I ever worn. Amazing sound and excelent fit. You can wear them for hours, they never fall out. I use them for running also. Only have to be carefull they don't get wet from the sweating, because then the sound falls out for a while.

Had a pair of Shure scl2,mediocre sound,terrible fit
trade them for the UM-1, excellent fit,sound much better but there was something missing,mids could get a little cloudy and there a lack of good bottom bass,decided to purchased the UM-2, there is no point of comparison with the others, bass is rich and tight, mids very neutral and highs refreshing and clear, there no worst sound than a cracky tweeter(remenber those piezo tweeters?)
In my opinion they are expensive but you pay for the quality and performance, they require very little energy to move them. YOU GO WESTONE, terrific product, now if I could only take them off and go to work...I guess that's my complaint

I'm back with my follow up opinion after listening to the Um2's for a couple of days now. The comfort is so awesome and yes better than any other that I've tried. Now on to the correction of previous thoughts I had. I just recently switched the tips to the standard ones and not the small ones. And I have to admit that I didn't think that this would make that big of a difference since I was already getting a perfect seal with the short ones but soon after I switched them it pushed me to another level. The highs were higher and the bass was a little richer and most of all the sound stage seemed more natural than before. I was thinking that the bigger ones would make things worst but in turns out that it made them better. So now in light of the new level of details I would now place them over the UE 5 pro's in sound ( comfort was already a given) now and thus completing the overtake of my #1 earphones. Welcome Westone Um2's to the top spot.

Respect goes to Um2's. I'm a very big fan of music and even spin house and trance, but will have everything in my zune from Metal to Celtic. To this point I have the UE 5pro's and now the UM2. Right now I'm not sure I can rate them better than the UE 5 pro's as far as sound but for sure comfort yes. I love they way they fit in your ear. I've never had a better fitting in-ear earset. The sound like I said isn't better than the 5 pro's but close to being on par if anything. Now keep in mind I've only been listening to them for 3 hours so that may change, I don't know. But let Westone and UE tell you there is no burn in for their sets. So if this is the case the sound I'm hearing is the best it's going to get. And this is not to say the sound isn't superb because it is but just not as fun sounding as the UE's. But when the dust goes away I have nothing but respect for them and their company. Well done!

Let me just begin by saying I am not a audiophile by any stretch of the imagination. The only earphones I have ever owned have been the ones that came with the ipod and a $30.00 pair of sonys. I did alot of research before buying, I searched forums and read many reviews, with so many opinions out there it made it hard to make a chioce. I decieded on the UM2's, and like the title all I can say is WOW!!!! These are the best earphones for sound and comfort that I have ever wore. Worth every penny I spent on them.

The UM2 earphones are very good. Sometimes the hype is more than the product itself. In the beginning I wasn’t too sure but I was told to give it a day or two for adjustment purposes. I can truly say the UM2’s are great! The midrange and high fidelity are excellent. However, the low frequency or bass response are a little suspect. That’s only because I’m such a bass nut. I do like low rich bottoms. The problem is I expect the UM2, which is an inch or so in diameter to compete with a full range headphone. The bass response though is tight and full. I have to take a step back realize just how small the UM2 earphones are. I am very satisfied with them. One word of advice, if can convert your mp3 music bit rate from 128kbps standard CD quality to 160kbps or above, you’ll really hear the UM2’s worth. Finally, the cost ($299) of the UM2 has to come down. I’m trying to justify spending almost more for the UM2 then my Ipod ($350) 80gig. But I guess when you want to drive a BMW or Mercedes you can’t get behind the wheel of a Honda and expect the same performance. If you have to save up do so. It’s worth it.

I am an avid iPod fan and like most people am not entirely satisified with the earbuds that ship with the iPods. In my quest to find the best earphones, I have tried the Shure E2c, Etymotic 6i, Shure E3 and E4, the Ultimate Ears Super-fi 5Pro. Finally, I saw the Westone UM2 on this website long before any review was posted. Having spent so much already, I gave the Westone UM2’s a try. They are, without question, the best earphone on the market. Not only is the sound impeccably reproduced, but also the comfort of these earphones are beyond compare, also. I travel extensviely and the UM2’s are great for planes. I have worn mine for hours at a time and they never fall out or become uncomfortable. Also, they are the easiest to fit to your ear. I have heard things in them that surpass even the Bose Sound Isolating headphones. So, if you are in the market for the best earphones, you should definitely spend your money on the Westone UM2. Finally, you should not buy them from anyone other than EarphoneSolutions. The folks at EarphoneSolutions are extremely attentive to service. I won’t buy earphones or accessories anywhere but here. Not only will you find them professional, but also they are friendly as well. They want you to be satisified and after making multiple purchases from them, I can say without qualification that they are the best in the online merchant business. Yes, they are better than Amazon or any of the big, famous name online stores. So, in closing, you will make a good choice if you choose the Westone UM2 from Earphone Solutions.

UM2S WOW These are the best ear monitors ever the dual driver and built in cross over is wasy better then the e5 UM2s ROCK

Okay, first of all I don’t think I’ve ever written a product praise bit ever, but this is different. I just received my UM1 phones yesterday - THEY’RE GREAT!!! I’ve used headphones in my studio for years and learned to deal with the "bleed" problems. I’ve used "earbuds" for live performances, but have always hated the poor quality of sound and the level required to hear the mix. This has changed my world! These phones truely are comfortable to wear right out of the box. I didn’t have any trouble with fit either (even though the instructions claim it may take up to 10 days to get it right). The sound produced is incredibly even tempered and seems perfect for my listening requirements. I can hear the pages being turned in the orchestra (no fooling - really!) and the breathing of John Williams playing Classical Guitar. Oh ya, You can hear the definition of the bass drum track in Rock tunes that rivals some studio monitors, too. Unheard of (pun intended) in most everthing I’ve listened with before and my ears know the difference. I only made one mistake in buying a Westone product - that’s that I didn’t buy the UM2’s. I’ll fix that error in the near future. As for Earphone Solution - they’re what on-line companies sould be all about. Five Stars to both product and company...

Great product, the foam sleeves are far superior to those that come with similar Shure earphones. These give me better isolation than even the custom molded silicone sleeves I had for my Shure E3. I'm also quite hopeful that the more flexible twisted cord will be more durable under my fairly rough use than the Shure cord was. Another big benefit that should be mentioned is that these lay flat inside your ear, making them comfortable inside of helmets, or when laying down.

Unbelievable sound. No one mentions this but my ears are hard to fit with any sleeves. I went to a local audiologist who made custom sleeve for my ears. He set the molds and they sleeves were made by westone. The sound isolation is nearly 100% and the fits is like having the music in your head without knowing you are wearing anthing.

The custom sleeves were about $100 and it's like having the custom molded westone buds for about 1/3 of the price.

For the clarity of the high to mid-range frequency is better than E5C. The appearance look nice and the cable is flexible, however the cable is not replacable.