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Westone ES80

Sound impressions

Presentation
Paying $1900 for a custom in-ear monitor comes with certain expectations, especially if it’s the first time. The high cost should yield a certain reward in terms of improvement, an upgrade over previous equipment. When it comes to high-fidelity sound, this doesn’t just translate to tone, but performance: a precise image, resulting from high definition. The ES80 was built for resolution. It doesn’t just provide that sense of improvement over sub-par gear, but in certain aspects, even over top-tier equipment. This emanates from its excellent extension on both ends, and fairly linear signature. The deeper origin: its custom-built BA drivers, specifically designed for this purpose. Accordingly, the ES80 provides an exceptionally highly resolved sound, while maintaining a neutral, yet smooth signature.

Similarly, the ES80’s presentation is neutral in terms of stage positioning. Neither overly forward, nor laidback. Its stage is wider than average. But again, it’s its technical proficiency that stands out; the quality within the stage. Not only is its imaging precise, but its notes are set against a stable black background. The result is a remarkably clean and focused image, despite a lightly warm tone. It’s a presentation that allows detail to stand out, by means of the stability of the image – its separation is excellent. For even though its stage isn’t overly deep, its layering is precise, and the ES80 never tends to congestion; the ES80 takes full advantage of its high resolution, and leaner instrument size.


Bass
The quality of its top-end extension has far-reaching effects, returning throughout the signature. Starting from its role in shaping the bass: the mid-bass is highly resolved, with precise contours marking its form – a well-defined mid-bass, with excellent separation between the sub- and mid-bass. A controlled bass, and a fast one. Even so, it’s not a lean bass, which leaves one wanting. Despite remaining close to neutral in quantity, its mid-bass provides sufficient impact, and a rhythmic dynamic to the sound.

But it’s especially its bottom-end extension that provides a sense of power to the sub-bass: a tight, but hard-hitting impact, especially enjoyable for electronic beats. Overall, it’s a bass tuning in line with its technical approach. Importantly, this doesn’t mean it lacks engagement by any means; especially the depth to which its sub-bass hits is addictive. Rather, its technical proficiency contributes to the sense of enjoyment, by constructing a complete bass on many fronts: definition, detail, and low-end impact, rather than mere quantity.


Midrange
But the advantages of its highly resolved bass transcend the definition of bass notes – the control of the mid-bass creates a particularly airy stage. In addition, a clever dip in the upper-bass helps to construct a rather clean-sounding midrange. The midrange is lightly warm in tone, and rather smooth. Its instruments are slightly leaner in size, ensuing from the upper-bass dip; especially heavier rock guitars or cellos might come across as a bit leaner. But altogether, the ES80’s note size is close to neutral. And importantly, it’s a presentation that sufficiently fills the headspace – an engaging sound.

Similarly, vocals are commonly awarded a certain forwardness, giving them an advantage in size over their fellow instruments. The ES80 won’t have anything of it, following a more egalitarian principle. Its vocals are clearly defined and smooth, though somewhat compact. It’s a presentation that aids in creating the abundance of space on the stage. Even so, it’s not a thin vocal presentation. Vocals might be smaller in size, but they’re still sufficiently dense; it’s a well-rounded vocal presentation, providing enough depth to a singer’s voice. Compact, yet powerful, and highly enjoyable as well. And because of its neutral tone, one that doesn’t discriminate between male and female vocals.


Treble
The ES80’s signature is fairly linear, save a lower treble peak. Lifting the lower treble provides more articulation in its note, while bringing a touch of clarity to a piano or violin. Even so, the ES80 doesn’t come across as bright by any means, or sparkly for that matter; it simply brings its tone closer to neutral, by balancing the bass. On occasion, the lower treble peak can act up with poorly mastered tracks; but overall, the ES80 can be considered a smooth monitor.

In line with the rest of the signature, the treble tone is neutral. This isn’t a treble that either sparkles, or feels emphatically natural. But make no mistake; the treble delivers an outstanding, above average, performance. Just like its bass, the treble shines by means of its technical prowess. Besides being well-defined, it’s exceptionally fast: quick on the draw, but natural in its decay. It ensures a complete presentation of the treble note, with even the fastest of notes. And as a result of its excellent and very linear top-end extension, the ES80 delivers a full display of the overtones, in all their glory. In sum, a technically outstanding treble performance.

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ABOUT AUTHOR

flinkenick

flinkenick

Nic is currently in pursuit of a PhD degree in social neuropsychology, while trying not to get too distracted by this hobby. In pursuit of theoretical knowledge by day, and audiophile excellence at night. Luckily for him, both activities are not mutually exclusive which helps to lighten the workload. Always on the go, Nic's enthusiasm for hi-fi is focused on all chains of the portable system: iems, cables and daps.

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8 Responses

  1. The only thing with the ES80 is that the lower treble can be a bit sharp with poorly mastered recordings, like certain hip hop tracks or EDM remixes. I wouldn’t say it gets diffuse or anything, and overall its separation is quite good. I personally have very limited experience with the W80, but you could see it is a more bodied, thicker sound with a pleasant tone that is slightly warmer. But I only heard it for a couple of mins at a show.

  2. Hi flinkenick, I have one more question for you. How do the ES80 treat poorly mastered music?

    For context, I own the MrSpeakers Aeon Flow Closed and ER4XR, and while they’re fantastic in their own right, their sheer transparency and accuracy often leave bad recordings sounding slightly out of focus, poorly separated, and too light. In comparison, the Westone W20 are balanced but colored in a way that leaves poor recordings sounding better than they really are -more solid and in focus, dynamic and separated- without coming across as too smooth or dark.

    I’d ideally like an upgrade that is similar to that with a better presentation, so I wonder if I’m actually veering more towards the W80…

  3. Hi Jason, I have never heard the W20 myself. Personally, I wouldn’t consider the ES80 bright, although it certainly isn’t predominantly warm like the traditional Westone house sound of the W models. The ES80 for me comes very close to neutral, with just the slightest touch of warmth when using the copper cable. With the ALO cable it is indeed a bit brighter. So if you’re looking for something close to neutral it would indeed be a natural upgrade. Its main strengths are its very high resolution, and great extension on both ends.

  4. I really like the Westone W20 for its brighter take on the Westone house sound. Given that, would you consider the ES80 a natural upgrade from them?

  5. Hi Albert, that’s an excellent question. In terms of true resolution, as in high definition, the ES80 is simply one of the, if not the, best of all the BA iems I know. Still, Flamenco equally offers high resolution, so I would base the decision on the differences in signature. Flamenco offers a little bit more body in its midrange, but is also brighter in tone. ES80 is a bit leaner but smoother and close to neutral.

  6. Hi Jim, I seem to have completely missed your comment. Please forgive me. In case it is still relevant, I prefer the ES80 over the UE18+ for pop music and electronica, where I would take the UE18+ for more instrument-based music like easy-listening or rock.

  7. Which one is more suitable for pop music (especially for rap, like Kanye and Drake) among UE18+PRO, ES60, ES80? Thank you.

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