I have owned quite a few higher end earphones, including Shures, Sennheisers and a set of Beats by Dre. Most of them sounded good, a couple were excellent, but none of them had what I would call a truly balanced sound. Each of them had either an over-emphasis on highs, mids or lows. The ones that had over-emphasized lows had plenty of bass, but it was sloppy and boomy... Extended highs become fatiguing and are generally unpleasant to listen to and too much midrange tends to leave the lows and highs sounding recessed and distant.

The UM3X's are a revelation to me after searching for so long for exactly the right sound. The highs are spot-on.. plenty of extension and sparkle, yet smooth and not fatiguing. The mids are full and precise; the voicing is perfect, without any of the recessed effect of some other 'phones, yet not too forward. The bass is where I think the UM3X's shine; let me explain: Once you get the correct fit, the bass is deep, tight and accurate.. it brings a new sense of life to some music I thought I really knew well, it makes the bass sound musical and lets you hear the notes, as opposed to just being a series of impressively deep muffled thuds.

You HAVE to get the right tips and they HAVE to fit your ear correctly... it's worth taking the time to go through every set of tips to see how they fit you. Experiment a bit and take some time to see how they work over a period of time.. don't just stick them in and wait 10 seconds then pull them out again. Do some critical listening and see which ones sound best. If necessary, get out a pair of scissors and make them fit your ears.

I found that the two best tips for me, were: The medium sized clear rubber tips and the triple flange tips, BUT!!! I had to cut off most of the stalk of the triple flange tips, because they were too long for my ear and also, they sounded muffled (probably because they ended up with a bit of a bend in them due to me shoving them into my ear and them being too long). Once I had cut the stalk off the triple flange tips, they were by far the best sounding and really helped the UM3X's shine.

These are truly one of the most neutral and balanced sounding earphones I have ever heard. I have a custom made set of Tyler Acoustics speakers for my Home Theater setup that are astounding and detailed, yet I am hearing nuances in my music on the UM3X's that I never heard through my $30K plus speaker setup. The UM3X's are very revealing and definitely expose limitations in your source material..

I ended up re-importing every CD I have on my iPod in lossless format due to hearing some really unpleasant stuff in a few tracks on my iPod encoded in 320KB format. After re-importing in lossless, all was well and some of the really extended bass in tracks like Massive Attack's "Angel" and Crystal Method's "Cherry Twist" as well as the Organ music in "Toccata in D minor" was on full attack again.

Overall, I am really happy with these earphones and can't say enough good things about them... If you are searching for an accurate, balanced studio quality monitor type earphone with no discernible flaws throughout it's entire frequency range, I really recommend the UM3X's. If you are looking for something to add more dynamism, give you pumped up bass or overly bright treble, look elsewhere.

I recently purchased these as an upgrade from my UM2's which are marvelous to listen to. I was on the fence trying to justify the cost yet I found myself wanting a little nicer sound stage and separation of low/mid/highs. I knew a tripple driver was needed. While I loved my UM2's, I can't do without my UM3X's. The cost is easily justified as the experience is beautiful listening to music on my iphone. Now listening to CD's simply make you melt with the accuracy and sound quality... but generally I am limited to music on my iphone.

I am not a professional musician, but I love that these have a little flatter sound as I can use an eq to adjust settings and my ears never, NEVER get fatigued. I can listen to them all day long with no discomfort at all. My UM2's now have become my gym earbuds, and while wearing them I miss my UM3X's.

Fit makes all the difference in the world. I had previously always used the standard comply tip with a nice experience, however once I used the large/long tip I couldn't go back.

I couldn't ask for a more balanced and efficient headphone. In my opinion, these can handle any genre with ease.

I am not an audiophile but I enjoyed the comfort of the earphones and the beauty of their sound.

I bought these the same time I bought the W4s. As I mentioned in that review applies heere as well. I've been a long time Shure user and so, the first thing I noticed was the light weight and the cable system. I thought the sound from the UM3X was cleaner than the W4; not as "colorful". Regardless, I'm no expert, but I find that I pull these out from my collection more often than any of my other earphones. They remind me more of my high-end Shures (500, 530, 535) as far as clarity goes, with the added convenience of the light weight and easy to use cables. Very happy with my Westones and can thank Earphone Solutions for introducing me to them.

Estan bastante bien ,comodos y definicion de sonido

I have just purchased the UM3X and I am very impressed with the quality of sound as well as the way that it cuts out a lot of ambient sound from the drums.

I'm starting this review by saying that I love my music but I'm no expert.

I think that the first time I tried a pair of "quality" earbuds I was so blown away by the clarity and quality of the sound that the experience has coloured my perception of the subsequent earbuds I have purchased to date.

What this means to me is that the gains I have achieved in listening pleasure through successive earbuds have been incrementally small compared to my first experience and I have struggled to rationalise this.

My first quality earbuds were the UE superfi.5 pro's. Fantastic; I loved them despite their bulk and their not being particularly comfortable.

But eventually they broke and I decided to try something else. I bought some UM2's.

But the UM2's despite being more comfortable and seemingly indestructible (my wife has put them through the washing machine twice ..) never seemed to live up to (the bass of?) the Superfi.5 pros.

Maybe I would have felt differently had I tried the UM2's before the superfi's, or if I still had the superfi's working so I could compare them to the UM2's sound ...

So I had some custom earbud sleeves made to see if it would make a big difference. It made a difference, certainly a worthwhile difference, but not the huge difference i was hoping for.

Eventually, in an attempt to recapture the "essence" of the superfi.5 pros, I gave the UM2's to my wife and purchased the UM3x's - partly because of what I had read on the internet - but also because it meant i could still use my custom sleeves (the UM2 and UM3x shells are the same size and shape).

The UM3x's are just about broken in now; I still don't believe that they deliver quite the same bass as the superfi's but I also believe that part of this belief is nostalgic.

I believe I'm hearing more of the mid's that I've read about.

... but i'm not sure .....

I can, however, tell you this with certainty.

.... they make me smile alot.

PS.. All of my buds have been purchased from www.earphonesolutions.com. This is because they have provided nothing but exemplary prices and exemplary service and I would recommend them in an instant to UK purchasers who are worried about purchasing from the USA.

I have purchased both version of the UM3X (with and without removable cables) to loan to other band members (I typically use UE-10 custom ears myself). I purchased the non-removable cable design secondly because the removable cable design was less comfortable (the stiff plastic tubing at the plug-in can be abrasive over the back of the ear sometimes). However, both versions are well liked by the players; and especially our bass players who need to hear low frequencies clearly onstage. At least one player (a guitarist) mentioned that he would probably prefer a brighter sound with more highs. But for the most part, everyone in the band is very pleased with the sound accuracy and understands the rather “flat”/”uncolored” frequency response is meant to reduce fatigue and enhance definition of all instruments in the band. So as pro-audio gear, I think that Westone hit the mark. However, players need to be aware that these ears are not designed for casual listening and will not reproduce the coloration that they might be used to say, for example, compared to their iPod buds.

Was always wondering about the UM3X, when my Westone 2's were swiped from me I went ahead and took the plunge and purchased the UM3X triple driver in ear monitors. The UM3X's dynamic range is amazingly, in a class all by it's self. What I hear now is all of the nuances of the music that others cannot reproduce. Would I recommend this, with out a doubt, On another point, when my Westone 2's developed a short in them,, Earphone Solutions replaced them with no question asked, and shipped the replacements without hesitation. World class customer service. Will I purchase from Earphone Solutions in the future? No question! Yes.

First of all, to all those worried about IEM's being high risk to your hearing this is far from the truth. I never realized how loud my stage was until I got my IRM system and my band is not loud at all compared to the others I've heard.

Now down to business, the UM3X is by far the best sounding ear phones I've ever used. In my opinion, better then the Shure and Sennheiser models in that price range and even higher. Something I noticed right away was how comfortable and loud they were. Then I tested for sound quality using the George Benson/Al Jarreau "Give it up" album. I've never heard ear phones sound so defined. It was clear even at very load levels, the whole frequency spectrum sounded awesome, the bass response was surprisingly well defined.

The true test was when my 4 piece band performed on a 20' moving trailer with 16 21" subs and matching full range speakers to go with it. You can imagine how loud the ambiance was. We performed for more than 8 hrs straight for 2 days. All I can say is "WOW". Ear fatigue or discomfort was never an issue and isolation was out of this world. Just imagine being 6' from the drum kit and hardly hearing a thing while the band was performing and as I said earlier we do not play loud.

Accurate reproduction. Great fit, superb sound. What I really want is a set from the ES series. The UM3Xs' sound great so those ES's must be heaven.

Flat response across the band, nice tightly controlled bass. What was recorded by the artists is what you're going to hear. Extremely comfortable, I wear them on the job (UPS Driver) for at least 10 hours a day and I always forget I have them in. They double as good ear plugs when the music's off.

I listen to all kinds of music but I was really surprised to hear Dr. Dre's, "The Chronic". The production and recording of that album was the best I've ever seen. You'd think it would be all bass and distortion, but the mids and highs come through crystal clear. On one track "Deeez Nuuuts" the background T.V. conversation, a Perry Mason rerun, can clearly be heard...That's never been possible for me before.

These earphones bring out the best in all music. A terrific product.

I'm going to have to break down and buy a pair of Westone 4s'

Bought some klipsch image s4s, really really enjoyed them but they broke within the first week and i got a full refund.
i decided to get a 'proper' pair of earphones so i went for these. 15 months down the line, still doing great. despite the fact that they aren't the most attractive earphone and don't have that 'polished' look that large scale production earphones have, they are incredibly durable and its the best sounding earphone i have ever listened to.
they really shine through when listening to FLAC files too. I wouldn't say that I have particularly good ears or am as an experienced listener as many of the audiophiles out there, but you can certainly hear the difference between mp3s and FLAC with these. currently using klipsch medium oval ear tips which fit well and are extremely comfortable whilst providing a good seal.
have quite a neutral sound and represent frequencies very evenly, so they respond very well when using an equalizer because they reflect the equalizer pretty much perfectly.

What a difference from my old ones

I own UM2 and UM3, both with custom adaptor which fits into my ear canal.
Without the custom adaptor, you're only unleash the earphone's performance about 40%.

The custom adaptor is capable to block almost 100% of ambient sound and avoid the bass leaking.
Seeing is believing... get one custom adaptor, hear the different and you would probably make another pair for spare. Cheers.

OK - I will start out with the one thing I wish for..... a built in mic setup to use with my iPhone. Seriously, if it wouldn't hurt the sound, it would be the ultimate.

Without it it still is the best, most transparent earphone I have tried. Folks may chafe at the perceived lack of bass, but I say that it actually is better. Many recordings (IMHO) sadly boost bass and with a high quality earphone, that becomes rather annoying. The UM3X does not suffer from a bloated bass.

Comfort is exemplary, I also picked up some third party foam plugs that feel fantastic. I am happy indeed with these!

I sing in a top tier cover/original band in the Tampa Bay area. First let me say that I have put these things through the ringer so a little about the durability of these things. My band plays both indoor and outdoor venues and with either one thing is true...I sweat. These things are abused by my sweating in air conditioning or when we play on the beach. No matter what I've put them through I've had NO problems with them at all. The only thing I need to do is replace the earpieces that are made to wear out with extended use. (kind of like tires on a car). My band plays from 5 to 8 times per month and our normal set is about 4 hours. I've used them for about a year now.

Second, I stand directly in front of a drummer who doesn't know how to drum lightly. His DW kit would have made me deaf by now but the noise cancellation of these things makes it SO much better to stand out front and sing on key since they block out what I don't want to hear yet give me what I do ... my vocals.

Last the sound is just amazing. I mix in just what I want to hear and I get what I want. The sound these things produce is just wonderful. On stage they give me exactly what I want. When I listen to my MP3 Player I really do hear things in the music I've never heard. It's almost like being in the studio and hearing each track that was laid down.

If you're SERIOUS about ear monitors or even a badass set of earphones....these are well worth it.

www.blistered-band.com

Finally!
After going through top of the line models from companies such as UE, Shure, I think I finally found an Earphone that I can live with.

In one word, these IEMs are outstanding. Even at 56 ohms, they are easily driven by portable music players, such as my Sansa Clip+ and overall they sound fantastic, at least for the music that I listen to: Acoustic to Soft Rock to Alternative. I cannot comment on other types of music such as classical, jazz, or metal because I have not tried them.

The first thing I noticed about these is that they are not truly a neutral set of earphone, they emphasize vocals. And to me, this is not a negative, but a positive. There is a clear separation between the vocals and the rest of the music which sounds awesome, however there is a mediocre, at best, soundstage for the other instruments as they seem blend together.

Secondly, the detail is amazing. I can hear things in the music that I have never heard before, like the ever so slight slide of fingers up the neck of a guitar. Some other reviews have stated that the detail is too much, making the listening experience too analytical, and less enjoyable. I can see this point of view, but I love all the detail and after listening with these its hard to listen on less sophisticated speakers/headphones. I miss the detail. This probably comes from the fact that the IEMs were built for musicians to monitor themselves on stage.

The 3 drivers make the highs, lows, and mids all great. I think the highs shine the most and I do not notice any significant roll off that other IEMs experience. Listening to songs like the Mars Volta's Tetragrammaton is a great experience with great highs. The mid range, especially vocals are emphasized the most, complimenting both the lows and highs very well. The bass is not as prominent as could be, but with a good fit the earphones produce a strong, tight bass. The kick drums sound very precise and Flea's bass in songs like Throw Away Your Television sound great.

NOTE: I use the Shure Olive and Tri-Flange Modded to Bi-Flange Tips. The included comply tips don't sound as good as these. The Olives are more comfortable than the Bi-Flanges but take some of the high away and the Bi-Flanges sound the best but can be uncomfortable after long use.

Finally!
After going through top of the line models from companies such as UE, Shure, Etymotic, I think I finally found an IEM that I can live with.

Prior to the UM3X, I had used the Etymotic ER-4P for the longest time. Although I loved the clarity of this headphone, I missed the bass and had occasional problems with an overall thin sound.

The UM3X basically is the other side of the coin. Good bass, never bright or edgy, yet still very detailed. The supplied Comply ear tips are extremely comfortable and I can leave the phones in for hours without discomfort.

The UM3X also sounds fine straight out of an iPod. Some phones like the Etymotic benefit greatly from using the line out from an iPod into an outboard headphone amp. The UM3X also sounds better with an amp (I use the RSA Predator) but I don't feel it's absolutely necessary.

Complaints? The UM3X can sound a bit "dull" on some recordings. Because of this I decided to give the Westone W3 a try since it was reported to have increased highs and bass compared to the UM3X.
Well, the pendulum swung too far the other way with the W3. Highs were boosted way too much and the mid bass bump was very obvious and got in the way of much of the music.

Putting the UM3X back in was one of those "Ahhh" moments. For the times when I feel I need a bit more clarity, I have substituted the Shure "Black Olive" ear tips (also sold at Earphone Solutions). Those open up the sound somewhat but aren't nearly as comfortable as the Comply tips.

- Bought with coupon and received within 3 bus. days! Still pricey, though!
- The included foam sleeves do NOT fit and I had to use Shure's newer black foam sleeves, esp. large size, for proper fit in order to get sound isolation and good music playback.
- I used earphones on iPod Nano and iTouch and Sony Ericsson W995 Walkman phone. The music quality on Nano stinks but is very good on iTouch and W995 (Very strange considering it's the same files so it could be the lousy circuitry/music chip in the Nano)!
- I have a slight case of tinnitus so I like to hear whatever sounds I still can and prefer sound isolation IEMs. Most IEMs should be used without using the EQ on the music device as music should be heard as it's recorded, unadulterated and pure!
- There's not much bass but it is present!
- These are very good that I barely have the volume up to LESS than 5% and it still seems a bit loud! I listen with the EQ turned OFF and prefer the natural sounds as I listen to a range of music from classical to jazz to pop to light rock!
- I'm not an audiophile so I can't tell you about any technical stuff but the earphones work pretty well. Just try on different foam sleeves until you get it properly fitted for the best sound quality.
- I do question the cable since it's short and is very thin so I'm worried about tearing it!
- The earpieces themselves aren't bad in that they're not as bulky as the Shure SE530 (which I also own) but it's still bulky enough that I have to adjust it accordingly to fit!
- I miss my old Shure SCL-4 as those earphones provided a terrific fit with Shure's newer black foam sleeves which I now use on my UM3X and Shure SE530 models. But it was time to move on from the SCL-4 (and probably the Shure models), hence the reason for buying the Westone UM3X, which many reviewers gave good reviews on various online websites/forums!
- I read that the UM3 is the commercial brand but emphasizes bass (Bass-heads would buy this model) but I bought the UM3X instead as it's meant for music professionals and their monitoring systems but still can be used for listening to music. It just doesn't have the bass emphasis and is meant for listening to music as it naturally sounds!

I just received these earlier today and all I can say is WOW. They are WELL WORTH the money. The fit is amazing and the mids and highs are incredible. The bass is well controlled but could be just a tad deeper for my taste. There earphones bring out backing vocals that I didn't even know existed in some of my music! These are a must for those who love all genres of music.
I had a pair of the Shure SE310 and these blow them away!!! I am a Westone customer for life!!!!

I have both the W3s and the UM3Xs and I love them both. my call is that the UM3Xs sound amazing amped, unamped out of an iPod they are kind of boring. The W3s on the other hand are my choice for listening unamped. So there you have it, amped the UM3Xs are the best IEMs I have listened to and unamped the W3s have the edge.

First of all, the look and the fit is excellent.
The cable seems to be weak but it is very flexible, thing that it is a plus.
We'll see how long the cable lasts. Length just perfect.
THE SOUND:
Clear and deep sound, too bright for my taste I have to use an equalizer to cut the highest frequencies and boost the midrange ( 1Khz to 3 Hkz).
I use the UMX3 for live performing, I play bass and I sing 6 nights a week, I must say that my ears don't get tired, nothing to compare to the Shure E3 that I used before.
I need a week to get used to them.

Overall, UM3X is a fantastic product, especially so if you are not bothered by rough exterior. Sound is AMAZING: beats any universal-fit IEM I've heard so far, including more expensive SE530. The only minor complain I have is notchless nozzle design: Comply tips slip off easily, but most likely would not be a problem with tighter fitting silicone tips. Conclusion: if you are after a great-sounding universal-fit IEM, look no further!

These are the best IEM out on the market right now. They aren't muddy nor to they distort when there is alot of lows. Vocals and the midrange sound extremely full and rich. They are comfortable and do not fatigue your ears. I would have liked to see more tips come with them but that's the only thing I don't like. If you can afford them then I recommend you pick these up asap. You won't want to use anything else in your ears.

Westone Review W3 vs. UM3x

Bottom Line: I find the W3 and the UM3x both extraordinary in terms of sound quality and fit. They do sound very different though, and in this review I offer an overview of the differences. As for my preference, I HAD been planning to keep one pair and sell the other, but, well, I'm probably going to keep both and use them for different purposes.

Background: I use these earphones with my iPods and only with my iPods: shuffle 2nd generation, classic 80, and Nano 4th generation. I rip my music from cds, using lossless on the 80 gig Classic, and 256 bit rate compression for the nano and shuffle.

I have listened to virtually all the major brands of earphones under $500, and prefer Westone's sound signature and fit by a substantial margin. They just seem to have the most natural sound of the major brands to MY ear, and by happy coincidence, the best fit as well. I have owned the UM1 and continue to own the UM2 in addition to W3 and UM3x.

I know that a LOT of folks are fans of Westones like I am, but some probably do prefer the sound signature or fit of other brands. YMMV. For me, naturalness of sound is an extremely high priority. Shure comes in second - a definite second - on both naturalness of sound and quality of fit in my experience. Other brands were behind further on both sound and fit.

Caveats:
(1) Tightness of seal is essential for deep bass, and comfort is essential for extended listening. I have found that I get the best fit out of the Shure black foam tips on my Westones, and I use them exclusively. ($15 or $20 for a box of five pair.)
(2) I break-in every new pair of earphones for around 40 hours before trying them.

Tonal balance: W3 has slightly deeper bass and slightly more extended highs than the UM3x. However, the UM3x has PLENTY of deep bass and it is better controlled than on the W3, which sometimes seems loose and boomy by comparison. UM3x highs are plenty extended as well. Midrange is more prominent on the UM3x, whereas it seems a bit recessed on the W3.

I am tempted to say that the UM3x has a more natural tonal balance, but these two earphones simply emphasize different aspects of the music. For example, using the UM3x is like you are sitting closer to the singer or the sax or the piano. With W3 you feel like you are sitting closer to the drums or the violin.

UM3x has an overall slightly lighter tonal balance in direct comparison to the richer sounding W3. The richer balance of the W3 is slightly more pleasing but there is a price to pay in terms of loss of upper midrange presence and detail.

Refinement versus detail: W3 has a refined sound, more refined than the UM3x; that is. However, to my ear the UM3x is plenty refined, and also more revealing of detail and nuance, top to bottom. I think it simply gives you more detail of the recording, for better or worse. That is, W3's extra dollop of "refinement" might just be that it is designed to be more forgiving of potentially unpleasant sonic characteristics of MP3 and AAC compressed sound. If I am correct, this means that UM3x would be better on great recordings, but less forgiving on harsh recordings.

Pacing: The UM3x offers incredible pacing. This sound is punchy and lightning fast. This is great fun for music that moves your feet! W3 is no slouch in this area, not at all, but slower in a direct comparison to UM3x.

Build and fit: W3 seems to have better build quality of the ear piece, but the UM3x is fine in this regard. UM3x is more comfortable because it is a bit smaller. I think they use the same cords, which are thankfully very light and flexible.

My decision?

a. Continue to use the UM2 for the gym with my shuffle (YES it is worth pairing a $300 earphone to the shuffle provided you use at least 256 bit rate!). The UM2 has incredible bass and dynamic drive, very natural sound, and more than enough detail for the live rock concerts that I love to play while I work out.

b. Alternate the W3 and UM3x on my nano and the classic. I keep the nano in my briefcase for travel and coffee houses. The heavier Classic is kept home. Yeah maybe I'm nuts but I'm gonna keep both. These cans are different and have their own virtues. Audio is my hobby and passion, so why not?

If you held a gun to my head and made me pick one? I'd pick the UM3x for my purposes, but please bear in mind that I am a long time audiophile, and I love to hear the extra bit of detail that audiophile speakers offer - even that it makes poor or highly compressed recordings more difficult to enjoy. It makes the best recordings of great music sound all the better.

This is a VERY TOUGH CALL, comparing "apples versus oranges", because I would miss the strengths of the W3. For me, though, overall I value accuracy of reproduction, as long as the timber is very natural.

Also bear in mind that I never use 128 bit rate, which was the default until recently at the Apple iTunes store. The least I use is 256, and there are FAR fewer artifacts of compression at 256 than 128.

Finally, I find the UM3x is slightly more comfortable.

If I had an iPod filled with 128 bit rate recordings, or just wanted the most FUN sound - staggering bass and extended highs - or the smoothest and most relaxing sound over a wide range of quality of recordings - my choice might be different.

Art Altman
July 2009

It rings evenly, and the below puts it out to a low point as it is not possible to think especially from top to bottom with BA. Vocal is not buried, and the high pitched sound doesn't become cloudy in the high pitched sound, be misted, and be sounded because of the clear sound though is considerably amount of feeling of the bass. I think that dissatisfaction doesn't go out no matter what it listens.

The UM3X is a terrific product! First and foremost, what one likes or dislikes when listening to musical sounds is extremely personal. As for myself, I enjoy the following: very deep and strong bass frequencies. Midrange and high frequencies that are well defined, but not overwhelmed by the very deep and strong bass output. I have found the Westone UM3X's can extract sounds within the music that do not appear to be present when I use other brands of earphones. Lastly, when I wear my UM3X's I can say that my search for the sound that I enjoy has ended!

Hope you like what I had to say!

Sincerely,

Bill Webster

I have use with my iPod Video 5.5G, the sound is great. Treble is clear listen. Especially I like the Bass from UM3X, deep and soft. Soundstage is not too wide, best for long last listening. This is also great design for wearing comfort. I have use the Standard Comply Tips, much better than UE which have to fine tune & adjust until find the best fit.
The package is good material, better than paper box for long last keeping. The only concern is the accessories come along with have provide too little if compare to others. (only Comply Tips and Purse). No rubber tips or Triple flange and level attenuator.

If you liked the sound of UM2, UM3X does everything better. The sound is incredible and bass is controlled. The soundstage is wide and these are not fatiguing after long usage. I have used bi-flanges and the stock complys and sound seems better with complys. Overall i would say this is one the best sounding IEMs in the market

I own the Shure SE 310, SE 420, SE 530 and the Westone 3 and these are overall the best. Yes, they sounds better than the W3, they are a little louder in a positive way and the lows mids and highs are outstanding! But the most important thing for me between the W3 and the UM3X are the vocals and specially the background vocals, the vocals on the UM3x are more up in the front. The W3 's are more sparkling and the UM3X are more neutral so they are more easy to listen. So overall they are the best you can get.

And for Earphone Solutions thank you for the outstanding service! I got mine both earphones the UM3X and the W3 just in 3 days and I live in the Netherlands! I'm going to order more things in the future for sure.