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"Impressive, albeit fickle in-ear monitor" on by poikkeus
Pros: Impressive bass and characteristic "creamy" sound makes for a rich sound experience. Size has never been a bother.
Cons: Aggressive bass gives the UM2 a "bass boost" feel that can drown out detail
Summary: Westone's best-selling in-ear monitor is popular for a tonal richness that complements many styles of pop music, including soul, reggae, rap, and rock. Its bass punch is a contrast to its thin-sounding competitors, and the braided cable is light and flexible.
As is often the case, a product's assets can be a liability for some, and the deep bass can soak up treble detail, making for a less-than-articulate sound. It is, then, not the ideal IEM for classical or jazz. Although the enclosed Comply foam tipss are a user's best option for comfort, some have experimented with earpieces from other manufacturers to tone down the bass, and in many cases it has worked.
You won't, then, find the detail of Shure's E4C or the evenness of tone found in the Ety 4 series. On the other hand, the UM2 surpasses both with its rich musical presentation, and prospective buyers are advised to evaluate their listening preferences before committing to a purchase.
The UM2 isn't perfect, and cannot approach the sound of similarly priced circumaural headphones. But many, including this listener, has found that this IEM can performs admirably under the right conditions. -
"Good earphones for high quality output devices" on by krugorg
Pros: warm sound quality/bass, isolation, comfort
Cons: Buzzing sound...
Summary: I picked up these headphoes to replace a lost pair of Etymotic ER4Ps. First off, I was extremely pleased with the sound quality, bass warmth, and comfort. That said, I noticed a low level buzz/hum when using these earphones on my ipod at low volume levels. When I switched to my laptop (divx), the buzz was much louder and totally distracting. Okay, probably the wrong application for these "audiophile" phones, but pretty typical use for a traveler. I exchanged these for the Ultimate Ears Super.Fi 5 Pros, with which I am very happy.
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"Amazing..." on by hallion.aaron
Pros: Sound is mind blowing.
Cons: Price is too high, but you DO get what pay for.
Summary: I cannot explain why these earphones are so dear to me, just accept it. They are fantastic. All I know is when I have them on, I don't want to take them off. I didn't listen to earphones at home before. Now, my girlfriend is getting annoyed about it. Buy these. Now.
Updated
Okay, I have the benefit of hindsight. I appreciate the price is silly (the product of an end of term bonus), but let me say I do no regret spending the money on the phones.
Let me be realistic. I have to admit, i hear recordings such as The Stooges' Funhouse and The Velvet Underground and Nico wonderful with the UMs, though not life changing. That said, for me, when i listen (almost a year after buy, so it's not novelty) to Queens of the Stone Age's Rated R, these "in-ear monitors" (I hate that term) still blow me away.
I've been listening to Rated R since it was released and only now do I hear the full glory of this music.
In adittion, I'm not a norrow minded rock fan. I've listened to folk (The Dubliners. Johnny Cash etc), hip hip, techno (real techno :P), punk, spoken word and everything else in between.
Truly, until something better comes along, which it will, these phones are the best for those people that (like me) are foolish enough to spend this amount on mere earphones.
I am a music fanatic. So, in that respect I can justify it. These things are in my ears every chance I can get.
Oh yeah, I should also mention this. I use the UM2s with my iriver H320. Out of date a little, but it still sounds amazing. I am curious to hear an i-pod with these phones, although from what I've heard, I doubt they have the power to drive them. Not a ****** comment, just my opinion. -
"Better than the E4c" on by Mtnmna
Pros: comfort, full rich sound
Cons: accessories
Summary: The UM2 is one of the better earphones on the market. The comfort is second to none. The sound is full and warm. In the dual driver catagory, it is tops. It does lack a little in the mids, but nothing a little EQ or a bi-flange tip cannot correct. I do wish it has a "fit kit" like some other brands do. A must for an audiophiles collection !
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"Expensive but worth it" on by bob.mcclenahan
Pros: Comfy, great sound
Cons: Relatively expensive, build quality
Summary: I've tried lots of earphones, and these are my favorite. They are very comfortable and sound great. I would describe them as warm. The highs are detailed but not harsh. The bass is defined but not overbearing. Unfortunately, after daily use for over a year, the right bud quit working and the connector wire is fraying. I've sent them back for repair.
Sent these back to Westone for repair. There were out of warranty, but they still sent me back a brand-new pair at their cost. Great customer service.
Updated on Oct 22, 2008
Westone UM2 user reviews (Clear)
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