GianlucaM
Occasional Lounger
I had the chance to test two popular earphones to decide which one I like better: the UE Triple-Fi or the Westone 3.
High frequencies
Triple-Fi: Clear sound. I hear sounds I can’t hear with W3. Highs are clear and don’t make my ears tired, not even with loud pop music.
W3: Highs start falling around 14k (my guess) so they sound muffled. My ears get tired after listening to pop for a few minutes because the highs are tinny and metallic
Loudness
W3: Definitely louder at same volume level, so the bass seems more powerful.
Bass
Triple-Fi: Not as loud as the W3, which makes me appreciate deeper bass more.
W3: Louder and bit boomy, which makes lower bass (like orchestral timpani) disappear.
Music Test: Pines of Rome: opening – buccine trumpets, noise makers, high bells
Triple-Fi : Clear and present
W3: Muffled and disappointing
Music test: Union Station (country)
Triple-Fi: Guitars and voice are much clearer. Can notice fingernails on guitars cords
W3: Louder. More bass but still muffled and disappointing
Music Test: Pop: Kylie Minogue – 2 Hearts
Triple-Fi: Highs are clear and present but not excessive. Bass is a little more subtle and nicer to my ears.
W3: Again: muffled highs. Louder. More Bass (maybe just because it’s louder?). My ears get tired soon.
Music Test: Guitar concerto
W3: Because of the absence of higher frequencies and the generally higher volume, the mids tends to stand out more, so it sounds better, but once I lower the volume to produce the similar dB level to the Triple-Fi, then the Triple-Fi’s win hands down.
Construction
Triple-Fi: Solid. Electric blue color stands out more than I would like
W3: Solid. Black understated color, which is nicer.
Size
Triple-Fi: They’re big and don’t look nice in my ears. I wear them reversed, so that they have a smaller profile and stick out my ears less.
W3: Nice size. They fit right in my ears so they don’t stick out at all.
Earphone cord
Triple-Fi: Better quality. Slightly thicker rubbery finish. Does not tangle as easily. Has small in-line microphone and control button for iPhone. Straight jack. Replaceable in case it breaks so you don’t have to ship back the whole earphones (if they’re under warranty) and you can keep a spare around.
W3: Double twisted. No in-line microphone nor control button for iPhones. L shaped jack. Fixed (non replaceable if the cable breaks).
Comfort
Triple-Fi: Comfortable
W3: More comfortable than Triple-Fi. because of their smaller size.
My Conclusion
Triple-Fi: I care about true sound quality and earphone features so I prefer these.
W3: If were more interested in looks, size, bass in pop music then I would like these. Their sound is NOT bad if I listen to them without comparison, but having the Triple-Fi in my hands at the same time makes me choose the triple-fis because of clarity, cleanliness of bass and ear stress (sound-wise).
High frequencies
Triple-Fi: Clear sound. I hear sounds I can’t hear with W3. Highs are clear and don’t make my ears tired, not even with loud pop music.
W3: Highs start falling around 14k (my guess) so they sound muffled. My ears get tired after listening to pop for a few minutes because the highs are tinny and metallic
Loudness
W3: Definitely louder at same volume level, so the bass seems more powerful.
Bass
Triple-Fi: Not as loud as the W3, which makes me appreciate deeper bass more.
W3: Louder and bit boomy, which makes lower bass (like orchestral timpani) disappear.
Music Test: Pines of Rome: opening – buccine trumpets, noise makers, high bells
Triple-Fi : Clear and present
W3: Muffled and disappointing
Music test: Union Station (country)
Triple-Fi: Guitars and voice are much clearer. Can notice fingernails on guitars cords
W3: Louder. More bass but still muffled and disappointing
Music Test: Pop: Kylie Minogue – 2 Hearts
Triple-Fi: Highs are clear and present but not excessive. Bass is a little more subtle and nicer to my ears.
W3: Again: muffled highs. Louder. More Bass (maybe just because it’s louder?). My ears get tired soon.
Music Test: Guitar concerto
W3: Because of the absence of higher frequencies and the generally higher volume, the mids tends to stand out more, so it sounds better, but once I lower the volume to produce the similar dB level to the Triple-Fi, then the Triple-Fi’s win hands down.
Construction
Triple-Fi: Solid. Electric blue color stands out more than I would like
W3: Solid. Black understated color, which is nicer.
Size
Triple-Fi: They’re big and don’t look nice in my ears. I wear them reversed, so that they have a smaller profile and stick out my ears less.
W3: Nice size. They fit right in my ears so they don’t stick out at all.
Earphone cord
Triple-Fi: Better quality. Slightly thicker rubbery finish. Does not tangle as easily. Has small in-line microphone and control button for iPhone. Straight jack. Replaceable in case it breaks so you don’t have to ship back the whole earphones (if they’re under warranty) and you can keep a spare around.
W3: Double twisted. No in-line microphone nor control button for iPhones. L shaped jack. Fixed (non replaceable if the cable breaks).
Comfort
Triple-Fi: Comfortable
W3: More comfortable than Triple-Fi. because of their smaller size.
My Conclusion
Triple-Fi: I care about true sound quality and earphone features so I prefer these.
W3: If were more interested in looks, size, bass in pop music then I would like these. Their sound is NOT bad if I listen to them without comparison, but having the Triple-Fi in my hands at the same time makes me choose the triple-fis because of clarity, cleanliness of bass and ear stress (sound-wise).