I hope I wasn't biased by reading others' reviews, because my experience had some similarities.

I mainly bought these because they were supposed to be so comfortable, discomfort having been my chief complaint with other earphones, and on that count they were as advertised - the most comfortable I've ever had. I can wear them for a 2 hour walk without that growing urge to rip them out and give my cartilage a break.

On the other hand, I've also noticed, as have some others, a distinct lack of bass response. The music almost sounds distant. At first I thought I wasn't getting a good seal - and the seal DOES make a huge difference - but even when they're fitting perfectly, there's just not a lot of bass there. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they will 'open up', as some people have said happens with other Westone phones. Mid and upper ranges sound good.

My earphones also arrived without all of the extra ear pieces & wax loop that they're supposed to, but Westone's customer service was amazing and I got them the very day after I called them.

I have a pair of Westone 3s and I can definately tell the difference. These are a pretty good quality pair of headphones but I guess I was expecting more for $250. It seems to me that these are all highs and lows, with little balance but perhaps that is what they claim to be. I would spend the extra $150 and get the Westone 3s which are excellent.

I recently purchased these earphones and am very satisfied with the quality both the workmanship as well as their sound quality. They definitely met my expectations. I am basically a run-of-the mill audiophile though have a long background in amateur choral experience and enjoy recorded classical music.

I've had a long history of infatuation with IEMs and earphones, and while I am happy with the high-end universal and custom IEM that I currently own, I am always interested in new models that come out and with trying out new gear. For over a year I have had an infatuation with my Westone 3 with UM56 custom tips as my favorite universal IEM, and I also like the UM3X when I tested them at CanJam and RMAF. But since I have the Westone ES3X custom IEM I didn't feel like I needed that same flavor in a universal IEM too.

After the W3 and UM3X, Westone introduced the W1 which I enjoyed a good amount as a relatively neutral to warm single balanced armature IEM, beating my Phonak Audeo PFE in overall balance but not in detail or low/hi extension. The W1's biggest fault was the lack of deep bass below 30Hz and slightly soft muted highs and details; but they are a very musical and enjoyable earphone to me, especially when amped. In their price range they became one of my favorites. With the introduction of the W2, Westone has addressed all my concerns with the W1, and more. The difference between the W1 and W2 is actually a bit bigger than the upgrade from W2 to W3.

GEAR: I have been listening most with portable DAC/amps like Headamp Pico, RSA Predator, iBasso D4 or Nuforce uDAC via my Macbook Pro. I also used my 3G Nano and iPhone 3GS. And, I listened to them on my higher end desktop rig with PS Audio Digital Link III DAC feeding Woo WA6 and Single Power Square Wave XL. I listened to a wide variety of jazz, classical, electronic, acoustic folk, and rock music, all in Apple Lossless Codec, with one brief stint testing how they handled low quality 128K MP3. I also compared the W2 to a wide variety of other IEM, as mentioned below. If I didn't mention an IEM in my lists further in the review, then I don't have it in hand to compare to the W2.

PACKAGING: The pack-in list of accessories with the W2 is better than most other companies, and you get a nice firm but pocketable zipper case, a Westone volume attenuator to tame loud sources or to cut hiss, an airline volume attenuator (not in photo), a 1/8" to 1/4" adapter, a wax cleaning tool; and you get a wide assortment of silicone, vinyl and Complys foam tips for a proper fit and sound. It makes spending $249 on the W2 hurt less when you feel like royalty, even if the pack-ins probably don't cost Westone that much. (UM3X don't come with all the extras and you only save $20). To me, the extras are worth it, just for the extra tips and volume attenuator.

WHAT I HEAR:

BASS: The W2's bass is good and plays deeper and harder than the W1's. It's probably close to what I remember from the pair of UM3X that I last heard 4 months ago, but certainly there is less bass presence and impact than the W3. Still, most people who would call these IEM bass-lite either don't have a good fit, they are using the wrong tips/amp, or they're a bass-head. The W2 play down deeper than W1 and are clearly stronger at 25Hz than W1, but it does become hard to hear 20Hz test tones without adjusting the volume (unlike my TF 10vi pro and W3 which are still strong at 16Hz). Still, the very deep bass notes in Bella Sonus "Enamored" are not missing, which is an improvement over the W1. The bass impact with W2 on my un-amped iPhone 3GS is good and will not disappoint, and it will not disappoint those who don't like too much bass either. And it's even stronger with some amps. As a bonus, it's not as easy to over-drive the bass with an amp as with the W1 or competing RE252. Bass impact and depth is slightly less than my Triple.fi 10vi Pro. In compensation for that, I thought the W2 bass was slightly faster, and the W2 don't have the TF 10vi Pro's mid/upper bass coloration/bump.

MIDS: The mids are nice, clear and present, and while not recessed they are not too forward. They remind me a little of how I remember the UM3X mids sounding, although not quite as refined sounding as I recall the UM3X sounded. The W2 mids are more forward and present sounding in comparison to the W3, and bring the action to the foreground just a little more than W3; but the W2 are not nearly as mid-centric as the W1 due to the lows and highs keeping up with the mids better. The W2 mids are probably also on a similar level as the Triple.fi 10vi Pro that I have here, but often the W2 mids actually seem a little more revealing or look deeper into the music than the TF 10vi Pro. The improved detail can be a blessing and a curse, as I will discuss later.

Treble: The highs are similar to the W3 and are nice and crisp, with good detail. I'd say that the W2 mids/treble combined actually border on offering the same great detail that the Phonak Audeo PFE offered; but without any of the sibilance that came with the Phonak, or having the mids at a higher level than the bass. The Phonak's sibilance could be tamed by changing the grey sound-tube filters to black ones, but then they would not be as detailed and vibrant as the W2. With the wrong amp and/or wrong tips on the W3 it was possible to accentuate sibilance (but also easy to fix with tips and/or amp). To me the W2 can behave similarly with the wrong tip/amp choice, but in no way do they accentuate sibilance on their own; at least not any more than the UM3X or any other IEM that reveals what is in the recording. So, I think that detractors of the W3 treble will be more satisfied with the W2 or UM3X. It's still possible to change the W2 sound a lot by changes of position/depth in the ear canal or changes in tips, as discussed below.

SOUNDSTAGE: The W2 soundstage is very respectable vs other IEM, and I think it puts you in a slightly bigger venue than Triple.fi 10 Pro, but a smaller one than with the W3 (or IE8 which was similar to W3 in that arena). The W2 tend to back-out of the way and their sound usually does not appear to be coming from little speakers inside the ear canal. If I had to guess, I would say the W2 falls between the UM3X soundstage and the W3, which is not small nor huge - but I hate to do that without being to directly compare them.

EAR TIPS: There are some times when the W2 or W3 sound better with my custom UM56 tips, and other times where I prefer the silicone single flange tips or modded triple-flange tips, depending on source or amp. The Complys foam tips are not bad, and there are times when they are useful. With my Westone 1 I always use a modded triple flange, which strikes the best balance for me (this was before I replaced my UM56 tips that I lost with the W3 last summer). Like the W3, I can find some combinations of ear tips and amp that don't suit the W2. For instance, W2 with single flange silicone tip on a Nuforce uDAC was sometimes too bright/thin and enhanced sibilance in certain female vocals known for that issue (Diana krall, Eva Cassidy), but with other music that was not an issue at all. With the sibilant recordings I can switch to the UM56 tips and it's a great combo. But then just the opposite occurs with the iBasso D4 with upgraded opamps, and if I used the W2 with UM56 tips on the D4 amp it became a little thick sounding and lost some of the crispness. A simple witch to the single flange silicone tips brought the sound to be much more balanced and more open. And here is the crazy part, if I use the W3 with those two amps, then I have to use the opposite tips as the W2 to correct those very same issues. Where the W2 sound good with single flange silicone tips the W3 required me to switch to the UM56, and visa versa.

HOW DO I LIKE THEM: On a more emotional level, the W2 are as good as everyone else on Head-Fi forums says they are. I can spend a whole evening listening to the W2 with stock silicone single flange tips, and not feel that creeping urge to grab my Westone ES3X or JH Audio 13 Pro. Overall the W2 seem to be a fairly dynamic sounding IEM, whether used with an amp or right out of my iPhone 3GS headphone out. They don't require an amplifier to sound good, and I may listen to them at anywhere from 40% to 80% on the 3G Nano or iPhone 3GS volume control, with 90% being pretty loud. With my upgraded iBasso D4 amp the W2 can play extremely loud without distorting, and with Anthony Wilson "Jacks of Hearts" jazz CD the W2 don't distort until the amp volume knob is past 3 o'clock at earsplitting volumes; which I'm guessing were in the 115-120 dB neighborhood (don't worry, I didn't do this for even half a minute). Their high sensitivity does predispose them to revealing background hiss in some noisier sources or amps, but using the included volume attenuator and rolling back it's volume knob by 2-4 mm will cut the hiss out. This is an issue with many other very sensitive IEM as well. I do think they reveal the hiss a little less than the ES3X, and closer to the amount that the W3 will pick up. Since I wear the cable over my ears, cable micro-phonics are not a problem for me.

Knowing that the W2 fell just below my W3 in terms of total immersion in the music, soundstage, presence and bass impact, I spent a lot of time comparing the W2 to the TF 10vi Pro which were my next best universal IEM (better than the IE8 that I got rid of after 500-600 hours of use). I owned the TF 10vi Pro for a short period in early 2008 and preferred my Livewires T1 custom IEM, so I didn't keep them. But this last Christmas I acquired another pair of the iPhone model for my daughter, but she didn't like the fit. I ended up with them for my iPhone, since I had previously returned the Phonak Audeo PFE iPhone headset. I still say the TF 10vi Pro are not neutral nor uncolored, and with some of my amps like uDAC or iBasso T3 I found that the TF 10vi Pro are a little too forward in the mids for my tastes. Yet that extra bit of midrange presence doesn't seem to increase their clarity. Compared to the W2, I feel that the TF 10vi Pro are slightly less revealing; but in return they do a better job of smoothing out sibilant program material or making 128K MP3 listenable. I think the W2 are more crisp, detailed and fairly accurate in representing what is on the recording. The neutrality and transparency of the W2 is refreshing after switching from listening to the TF10vi Pro; and although the TF have plenty of detail it just doesn't seem quite as apparent. And as I said before, the W2 bass is also almost as good as the TF 10vi Pro with a dedicated bass driver, and a lot better than the W1 without being too much; but the TF does extend deeper and hits slightly harder.

So, I feel the W2 is less colored than many other universal IEM, while still retaining a sense of warmth, and I would take them over most universal IEM except for the W3 or UM3X (maybe over UM3X but I have to compare them 1st). The W2 is probably less colored or more balanced sounding than the W3 where the extra bass power and impact are hard to miss, but without losing the fun side that I like. When I compared the W3 to the UM3X at the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest in October '08, after loosing my first pair of W3, I enjoyed the W3 just a little more and went home with another W3. The UM3X might actually be technically better, but there is something about the W3 that draws me in every time. In that sense, the W2 do a similar thing for me when comparing them to the TF 10vi Pro, and the W2 just draw me into the performance a little better. I'll be listening to the "Dark Knight" with the W2 and forget to change IEM to another for comparisons until after the album is done playing. How can you get any work done when that happens?

Basically, with W2 you get the clarity of the Phonak without too much mids or sibilance. You wont be wishing for more bass like with the Phonak, RE252 or ER6i. You wont hear a slightly boosted mid/upper bass like with TF 10vi Pro or Image X10, wont feel the bass slightly intrudes into the mids like X10, and you wont feel the treble is slightly rolled off like in the SE530 or X10. I can tune the W2's sound easily to match my source or amp just by changing the various ear tips or adjusting how deeply I insert them. Due to the smaller shell of the W2 they tuck in tighter and are more comfortable, and they don't rub the wrong way if I fall asleep wearing them.

IN SUMMARY: In direct comparisons to other IEM that I have on hand, the W2 beat the head-direct RE2, RE3 and RE252, Nuforce NE-6 NE-7M and NE-8, Maximo iP-5HS, depodded Altec Lansing IM716, and Denon AH-C700. They beat their W1 sibling by extending the bass and treble and raising those levels to be more even with the mids. So far I enjoy the W2 slightly more than the Triple.fi 10 Pro that I have here, but it is more of a different kind of sound and dependent on what one's preferences are. Some will prefer one, and others will like the other. The Triple.fi are a little smoother or more refined sounding, and have deeper bass than W2; but the W2 have better clarity/transparency, and present a bigger soundstage to seat you in. The W2 seem to sound good with most of my sources and amps, while the TF 10vi Pro are more sensitive to the amp I choose and can be too forward sometimes with the wrong one. My TF 10vi Pro have the advantage of being an iPhone headset, but Griffin makes a microphone headset adapter that allows you to make phone calls with the W2 on the iPhone.

Just a week or two ago I'd have put the W2 and Triple.fi 10 Pro on a similar level of performance, without these two IEM actually sounding anything like each other - but after a couple more weeks of dedicated listening I currently give the nod to the W2 as the one that I enjoy more. I find myself drawn into the music better, and having more fun listening. I think they are very good IEM, and belong in the company of other well regarded IEM like TF 10vi Pro, Image X10, or SE530, where the W3 and UM3X could be considered the pinnacle (or ACME). If you can't afford the UM3X or Westone 3, you wont be losing much if you choose the Westone 2, and I think most people could be happy with them for a long time.

First of all, i'd like to say that this is my first high end ear/headphone, so I have nothing to compare this to.

With that said, first thing i'd like to mention is how they stay in my ears (without feeling uncomfortable). i like wearing hats, so being able to wear them without my earphones coming off every 10 seconds is amazing in itself. I also love the fact that it doesn't really stick out of my ear. It feels like it's ergonomically fitten in/on my ear.

The sound is amazing! i hate cliches but i must say this: i can hear aspects of my music that i've never heard before. i can hear riffs that i haven't noticed until using these. The base is nice and tight, not boomy and muddy that it covers up other instrumentals. everything's just so CLEAR. it's like clouds parting to see the open sky.

It also isolates external noises really well! I was in the library early this afternoon when i had them on. I decided to take a nap. a few minutes later, someone slapped me on the head. When I asked why they hit me, they told me that they've been yelling my name and clapping to get my attention. I love these babies!! Oh, and my music volume was low. As in on my itunes, it was only one bar!!

More depth and soundtage than single driver Shure and Etymotics 6i.Twice the cost but much closer to th full size experience

A bit more elaborate to install/insert than others, but cables more substantial

Rt lft hard to read

Ok, so i have owned shure ec2's, v-moda vibes, UE Super fi 5 pros, and a short time with shure 530's... I am a bass head at heart but it's worthless if you don't have clear clean mids and highs. That being said the Westone 2's have great mids and trebles, not piercing as some others and they are more detailed than my super fi 5's.

When i had bought these I asked earphone solutions what the big differences are between the UM2's and the new 2's are. They replied with it's in a smaller case, which are super comfortable btw, and there is more bass presence. When i first received these in the mail i tried them on and was not impressed. The bass was muddy and not really there. Much less than my Super fi. 5's that i was using previously. So i decided to burn them in for about 30 hours or so... and to my surprise they have definitely opened up! Where the bass was falling apart before, now it was tight and crisp with a nice low end thump.

Overall i am now happy with my purchase. I think they will open up even further with a hundred or so hours on them. I can tell you that the same thing happened with my super fi 5's. So give them time and they will sound better with each and every time you put them on. -Matt

I've had the Westone 2 earphones for almost a couple weeks now. It has taken me most of that time experimenting with the different tips to find the right combination of comfort and sound, and I'm ready to offer my opinion.

Before commenting on the audio, I would first like to say that these are the most comfortable earphones I have ever used. I can keep these in my ears for hours without any discomfort. Also, if you take the time to get a proper seal, these will stay in your ears regardless of the activity. I live in a cold climate and often wear a hat that covers my ears. It's nice to have earphones that don't stick out, and need to be reseated all the time because they are rubbing on my hat and falling out of my ears. I can pop these in my ears, pull my hat on, and never have trouble with them moving around or falling out -- a HUGE plus for me.

As for the audio: I am pleased with the sound quality with the small exception of the bass. I am an admitted basshead, and enjoy a strong low end when listening to music. To my ear, it really does seem the mids and highs are more emphasized with these earphones. Of course, I don't mean to say there is no low end. Bass is present (as long as you have a good seal), and as I would expect with high end earphones, is tight and controlled; which is a nice change from the muddy (uncontrolled and boomy) low end on some of the cheaper earphones I've used. I did expect a bit more bass response from these, but it's not a deal-breaker. The sound signature of these is perhaps a bit different than I expected, but that's okay. The good news is these do respond well to the EQ, so it's possible to tweak the audio to your liking.

The mids and highs absolutely shine on the Westone 2s. It's probably cliche by now to say this, but I am hearing elements of audio that have been inaudible using other earphones. Vocals are crisp and clear, and I'm almost able to visualize the different elements of the sound stage. I can hear the picking of guitars, and drums and cymbals have never been more defined and clear. All of this happens without any harshness -- just beautifully clear, controlled, and well-defined music and vocals.

The isolation is also very good with Westone 2. Put these in your ears and the world just seems to fade away. It's amazing how well these attenuate ambient noise. I can see myself using these without music when I feel the need for some peace and quiet, e.g. - plane, bus, etc. They can bring down even a high noise floor to a tolerable level.

Although I would like a bit more low end, overall these are very good earphones that offer much better audio quality than low-end earphones, and can be worn comfortably for hours.

I'm happy, and wouldn't hesitate to recommend these.

I'll close with a big thanks to Earphone Solutions. My earphones were shipped quickly, and arrived via Priority mail even though I had chosen the free shipping option. I also asked a couple of questions using Twitter, and received friendly and prompt responses. It adds up to great customer service, and is very much appreciated. I'll definitely not hesitate to recommend Earphone Solutions to any of my friends and family.

I love them!! These are the best in-ear earphones I've ever own.I can practically hear some details I have never heard from any inexpensive IEMs before.Not only that the bass is excellent and deep (but not as much as the Sony EX300LP) but they also deliver a lot of details at Mid and High.I like their soundstage and their separation of instruments.For better results , I recommend you use them with amps and you will experience a wider soundstage.

Having had a pair of UM2s for the past few years I was disappointed when they gave up the ghost a month ago. The Westone 2s are proving to be a worthy replacement. As expected the sound quality is excellent although I do find I need to use the standard Comply tips to get proper isolation. All in all a good match of excellent sound quality and isolation.

After playing live...LOUD...music, I learned that I had some hearing loss. So, at the advice of an audiologist, I researched high-quality in-ear monitors. I finally settled on the Westone UM2s...and I'm glad I did!! Not only do they block out potentially damaging ambient sound, but they deliver clear, crisp sound quality acorss the spectrum--especially low-end bass (which is important to me as a bassist). Plus, the folks at Earphone Solutions were very helpful sorting out my options and helping me decide the best solution for my situation (and my budget)...then, they shipped my purchase quickly!