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My Westone UM1

Wow, I have been away for quite some time. My day time job is quite intensive these days, so well…

Recently, I have the opportunity to spend some money due to the last year end bonus and I bought myself some expensive stuff and the Westone UM1 True Fit Single Driver Earphones is one of them.

Actually, in the audiophiles (I am just a wannabe!) world, they are called In Ear Monitors.  Since the 1990s, Westone have been custom-making in ear monitors for musician to help them monitor what they are singing so that they self correct their singing.

I got my Westone UM1 from Stereo Electronics at Causeway Point. In Singapore. Stereo Electronics is one of very few shops in Singapore that allows you to test drive their earphones before you make the decision to buy.

The package is a very nice black translucent box that house the UM1 monitors, two sets of Comply tips (long and short) and a small carrier for your monitors. Oh yeah, there is also a short stick that I didn’t know what it is, until I read some reviews that it is a ear wax removal stick for your UM1 canal.

To tell the truth, the first time I see the UM1, my first impression is "What is this ugly piece of sh*t?" If you are coming from well designed Sony or Audio-Technica earphones, this might be your first impression too. The UM1 look like a smaller version of a hearing aid.

You have to get used to wearing the UM1 too. It is using the over the ear design and you have to hold it the right way to insert it properly. But one you insert it properly, WOW, they are the most comfortable earphones I have wore. The reasons could be the light weight of the monitors and the Comply tips.

And to properly enjoy your UM1, you need to wear or insert them properly. The first time I wear them, the angle of the monitors are wrong, and the sounds that came out was flat. Oh, a side note about the orientation of UM1. It does not comes with the normal L and R to denote Left and Right ear. The Blue dot is for the left ear and the Red dot is for the right ear. 

Once they are inserted properly, the sounds that came out of my 5G Ipod is different. The first thing you notice is the silence. Both external and internal silence. Most of the noise like people walking around are cut off and your music will seems louder because of that. That’s why it is advised in the manual (yes, I like reading the manual of electronics) to keep your volume low, so that you don’t hurt your ear. It really enhance your music experience.

I am not going into the bass definition, midrange accuracy or treble response and other technical stuff as I don’t pretend to know these stuff. The first song I listen to is my current favorite "God Knows" from The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. For those who had heard the song, you will know there are a wonderful mess of electric guitar inside. With the original Ipod earphones, the sounds are kinda lump together, but with the UM1 the guitar sounds are well defined. it really gives me a WOW experience that I cannot forget. In Eason Chan’s "Shall we Talk", the background piano sounds stronger and there are also some sounds (like the triangle) that I didn’t hear before.

I am really impressed with the UM1 and I don’t think I can go back to the normal earphones anymore. Up is the way to go. If you think spending $100 for your $200+ Ipod is too much, don’t be. The experience is really great and I don’t regret it a bit.

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