Topic: Am I the only one who finds the W4 to be disappointing? (Read 8835 times)

x · « **Reply #20 on:** September 02, 2013, 05:37:39 AM »

I remember when they first came out and shigz from head-fi said it was more of a side grade and nothing groundbreaking, despite being one of the few four driver universal IEMs at the time. I was automatically put off by the thought of a four driver IEM newly arriving on the scene, not doing anything lesser driver IEMs could do, that and I now shun most IEMs with a mid-bass bump.

planx · « **Reply #21 on:** September 02, 2013, 05:41:50 AM »

Shigzeo was right. It's foolish to think of the W4 as an upgrade from any of their previous models. 4-drivers doesn't mean shit. Implementation is everything nowadays.

A good example is the Resonessence Concero DAC. For $600, it can easily compete with $1000+ DACs

AstralStorm · « **Reply #22 on:** September 02, 2013, 07:24:52 AM »

Side grade, ha. That's an euphemism for "it's shit".
There are no side grades in high fidelity. There are only tastes in low fidelity, which is what most IEMs, headphones and speakers are.

And this is how FOTM is born, while GR07 and RE-400 are still the highest fidelity IEMs out there (maybe a few others I haven't heard), with expensive things like UE900 and UERM trailing behind, only having slightly less linear error in FR - which is easy to correct by equalization - while trading in uncorrectable harmonic distortion and a bit of ringing.
I haven't found a BA driver that's linear enough yet, even the best combinations are worse. Dynamic drivers can be fast enough. Nobody makes planar or electrostatic IEMs really. (and no, those Stax "IEMs" are not good enough. Also in small size and low excursion a dynamic driver can approach a planar one.)
And BA IEMs tend to be unable to extend to 20k. Which some people happen to be able to hear.

The interesting part is that some indeed like low quality harmonic-distorted bass; or slow bass.

Kunlun · « **Reply #23 on:** September 03, 2013, 12:04:35 AM »

The re-400 is the highest fidelity iem out there?

For real and serious, AS?

How would an equalized ie800 stack up to the re-400 for you?
Or the ex-1000 vs the re-400?

Anaxilus. · « **Reply #24 on:** September 03, 2013, 01:27:48 AM »

Re400 is too low-rez for me. If I want RE400 'fidelity' I can just dust off my old $60 Sunrise Xcapes v.1.

I'm w/ the cat, I'd take en eq'd EX1000 or ie800 anyday. Though the 800's treble might just be too thin for me, not sure if that can be 'fixed'. I'd probably take the Sony 7550 over the 400 as well. That's just for dynamics. I'd get the armatured UERM, UE4 and DBA/B2 over the 400 as well.

munch · « **Reply #25 on:** September 03, 2013, 01:34:17 AM »

I don't know if I find the RE-400 to be *that* low in resolution... it's very pleasant to listen to and does vocals well!
I haven't really tried the EX1000, but the EX800ST is definitely a good one. more treble for sure.

either way, W4 was indeed a bit of a letdown.

(btw since you guys are from Vancouver right, do you know if store owner has any impedance adapters to try the W4 with? heard it helps a lot?)

Anaxilus. · « **Reply #26 on:** September 03, 2013, 01:53:56 AM »

Low rez compared to EX1000 and UERM. So it's no giant killer IMO.

Myself, AS, Kunlun are not at all from Vancouver.

burnspbesq · « **Reply #27 on:** September 03, 2013, 02:11:04 AM »

Quote from: AstralStorm on September 02, 2013, 07:24:52 AM

Side grade, ha. That's an euphemism for "it's shit".
There are no side grades in high fidelity. There are only tastes in low fidelity, which is what most IEMs, headphones and speakers are.

And this is how FOTM is born, while GR07 and RE-400 are still the highest fidelity IEMs out there (maybe a few others I haven't heard), with expensive things like UE900 and UERM trailing behind, only having slightly less linear error in FR - which is easy to correct by equalization - while trading in uncorrectable harmonic distortion and a bit of ringing.
I haven't found a BA driver that's linear enough yet, even the best combinations are worse. Dynamic drivers can be fast enough. Nobody makes planar or electrostatic IEMs really. (and no, those Stax "IEMs" are not good enough. Also in small size and low excursion a dynamic driver can approach a planar one.)
And BA IEMs tend to be unable to extend to 20k. Which some people happen to be able to hear.

The interesting part is that some indeed like low quality harmonic-distorted bass; or slow bass.

With all due respect, you've overplayed your hand here by a fair bit.

"Sidegrade" is not a euphemism for "it's shit." It's a euphemism for "it's no better than what you already have, so put your damn wallet away, fool."

"There are no sidegrades in high fidelity" is, simply put, gibberish. I have absolutely no idea what you wish to communicate by that statement.

You're welcome to have your own opinions about the relative quality of various IEMs, and there's no need for you to walk those opinions back simply because they are minority opinions. You know your own ears better than anybody. That said, I'm reasonably certain that your opinion about the relative merits of the RE-400 and UERM is distinctly a minority opinion, and I wish you'd explain why you think that. And never forget that opinions are like noses: everybody has one, and none is inherently better than any other.

M3NTAL · « **Reply #28 on:** September 03, 2013, 02:30:13 AM »

I'd be curious to hear a top dynamic IEM, but don't know where to look. That Sony has weird ergonomics and no isolation which pretty much rule them out for me. I had such displeasure owning the IE-8 from Sennheiser and one of their "top" ear buds that I've not really wanted another small driver headphone from them - kind of eliminating the IE-800 from my list too.

munch · « **Reply #29 on:** September 03, 2013, 02:36:47 AM »

Quote from: Analixus on September 03, 2013, 01:53:56 AM

Low rez compared to EX1000 and UERM. So it's no giant killer IMO.

Myself, AS, Kunlun are not at all from Vancouver.

yeah no that's getting into unfair comparison territory going by MSRP...

I meant thread maker and umm Girls Generation as I've seen them post on head-fi too.
sorry about that

Author Topic: Am I the only one who finds the W4 to be disappointing? (Read 8835 times)

x

Re: Am I the only one who finds the W4 to be disappointing?

planx

Re: Am I the only one who finds the W4 to be disappointing?

AstralStorm

Re: Am I the only one who finds the W4 to be disappointing?

Kunlun

Re: Am I the only one who finds the W4 to be disappointing?

Anaxilus.

Re: Am I the only one who finds the W4 to be disappointing?

munch

Re: Am I the only one who finds the W4 to be disappointing?

Anaxilus.

Re: Am I the only one who finds the W4 to be disappointing?

burnspbesq

Re: Am I the only one who finds the W4 to be disappointing?

M3NTAL

Re: Am I the only one who finds the W4 to be disappointing?

munch

Re: Am I the only one who finds the W4 to be disappointing?

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Author Topic: Am I the only one who finds the W4 to be disappointing? (Read 8835 times)