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.