After enjoying listening to the UM1s for a while Westone was kind enough to send me a set of UM2s to enjoy. I was really curious to see if two drivers made that much of a difference, I would soon find out.

The UM2s came with the same stock accessories as the UM1. I did however request some additional eartips, which they gladly provided. The things I really liked about the UM1s remained unchanged in the UM2s. The weight, braided cord and zippered storage case all there. The major difference was a slight increase in the UM2’s size due to the addition of a second driver to carry out the low-end audio production. This made somewhat a difference to the weight and fit but not too drastic as they were still very comfortable over long periods of listening.

Similar to the UM1s the UM2s had a very nice extended bass frequency response. What I did not expect was the increased detail that having two drivers provided. After a concert in my hotel room I wanted to do a test in the quietest of conditions.

I used the opening music for the soundtrack to Emma, which has some gorgeous strings and delicate arrangements. Listening first to the UM1s and then switching to the UM2s I really heard it. There was an unusual detail that came into focus especially when listening to the violas. I could hear more of the body of the instruments and could really pick out more precise detail. The bow noise, breaths, etc. were coming through more. It was so interesting to make the discovery and to come to the realization of what you are not hearing when listening to just some off the shelf in-ear phones or ones that accompanied the media player of your choice.

As always you must be the judge of what in-ear monitor suits you. Our hearing is just as diverse as our fingerprints and carry their own unique signature. I am just giving you my viewpoint based on my own signature. The best way is to approach in-ear monitors the way you would approach buying clothes or shoes, you have to try them on for size and see how they fit your own personal signature and style.

In-Ear monitors not only provide the best sound for your personal listening experience, they can actually be beneficial to protecting your hearing in the long run. It is worth taking the time to make the right choice, as you will most likely use your selection for the life of your media player most cases probably a lot longer.
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