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Fender IEMs?

P

pglaser01

Mar 19, 2013
1,612
2,694
St. Louis, MO
www.dudeabidesstl.com
Disclosures
If only I were that good....
#1
hey all,

Sent my Westone UM20-s back to get fixed at GC....took 3 weeks to say we can't fix them, here's a gift card (oh well)....was looking on their website as I'm thinking of going to Shure as I wasn't sure I like the Westone.

So I saw that Fender now has their own IEM line??? How long has this been out? Anyone have experience? I thought I saw their single driver was going for $299-$399???
 
#2
I believe Fender is a relative newcomer to the IEM market and I've heard/read little about them.
However, my prior experience(s) with Westone has been excellent, so I'm surprised you had issues with them.
You can ask @Geri O to weigh in on his UM30 experiences.. he'll likely concur with mine.

If I didn't use customs (1964 A8's) I'd not hesitate to go back to Westone's.
I wonder if you just got a dud set?
 
#3
pglaser01 said:
hey all,

Sent my Westone UM20-s back to get fixed at GC....took 3 weeks to say we can't fix them, here's a gift card (oh well)....was looking on their website as I'm thinking of going to Shure as I wasn't sure I like the Westone.

So I saw that Fender now has their own IEM line??? How long has this been out? Anyone have experience? I thought I saw their single driver was going for $299-$399???
Click to expand...

I concur with SC, I believe you'll love the triple-driver UM30s, as opposed to the dual-driver UM20s, and they are definitely worth the extra money over the UM20s. Westone is a first-rate company with a great reputation. I've tried several generic IEMs and I like the UM30s so much, I bought a set as spares in case something happens to my 1964 Quads (again! Broke the Quads' cable, used the UM30s while I waited for the new cable, was very impressed with them). I sometimes loan out the UM30s for folks who want to try IEMs for the first time (with a fresh set of generic molds, of course, which go in the garbage afterwards!). I will stay with 1964 (or 64 Audio, I believe is their name now) for my custom IEM needs, but I can't dent that Westone is a great company, too.

I haven't heard of anyone using the Fenders and they seem rather pricey for what they offer. But I don't qualify to comment as I haven't personally experienced them.

And if you have issues, it's best to go to the manufacturer on something like IEMs. They are wayyyy more willing to please the customer directly. Not knocking GC's customer service, but it is an extra, complicated, and un-necessary step.

Good luck.
 
#4
s0c9 said:
I believe Fender is a relative newcomer to the IEM market and I've heard/read little about them.
However, my prior experience(s) with Westone has been excellent, so I'm surprised you had issues with them.
You can ask @Geri O to weigh in on his UM30 experiences.. he'll likely concur with mine.

If I didn't use customs (1964 A8's) I'd not hesitate to go back to Westone's.
I wonder if you just got a dud set?
Click to expand...


Should re-phrase....I didn't have an issue really with the Westone. The frequency was a little "warm" for my tastes I guess....they were accidentally broken and I'm trying to decide if I'll be getting Westone replacements, Shure 535s, 846's, or saving up for customs.....possibly 1964 A3's. Depending on how my wife is feeling that day I decide to tell her my thoughts....
 
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#5
Geri O said:
I concur with SC, I believe you'll love the triple-driver UM30s, as opposed to the dual-driver UM20s, and they are definitely worth the extra money over the UM20s. Westone is a first-rate company with a great reputation. I've tried several generic IEMs and I like the UM30s so much, I bought a set as spares in case something happens to my 1964 Quads (again! Broke the Quads' cable, used the UM30s while I waited for the new cable, was very impressed with them). I sometimes loan out the UM30s for folks who want to try IEMs for the first time (with a fresh set of generic molds, of course, which go in the garbage afterwards!). I will stay with 1964 (or 64 Audio, I believe is their name now) for my custom IEM needs, but I can't dent that Westone is a great company, too.

I haven't heard of anyone using the Fenders and they seem rather pricey for what they offer. But I don't qualify to comment as I haven't personally experienced them.

And if you have issues, it's best to go to the manufacturer on something like IEMs. They are wayyyy more willing to please the customer directly. Not knocking GC's customer service, but it is an extra, complicated, and un-necessary step.

Good luck.
Click to expand...
Yep you are correct....but I went back to GC as I had the pro coverage and I was actually pondering if I wanted to get another set of UMs or try something else.
 
#6
Well, I highly recommend customs.. the experience is so much better than universals..
I recommend searching this sub-forum for IEM threads.. as there's plenty on the topic.

Don't CHEAP OUT on the buds tho'.. Get the best multiple drivers you can afford..
If you don't, it's like buying expensive audiophile stereo gear and listening thru cheap speakers. :)
 
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#7
Geri O said:
I've tried several generic IEMs and I like the UM30s so much, I bought a set as spares in case something happens to my 1964 Quads (again! Broke the Quads' cable, used the UM30s while I waited for the new cable, was very impressed with them...
Click to expand...
awesome!

glad to hear that, as i'm rocking the earlier version (UM-3X) and have never tried custom molds.
 
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#8
s0c9 said:
I believe Fender is a relative newcomer to the IEM market and I've heard/read little about them.
Click to expand...
fender just went and bought out a small IEM company and slapped their name on them (which is likely a good thing).

their gimmick is some kind of passive bass port thing which is supposed to improve low end.
 
#9
Fender took over the Aurisonics brand. Really awesome iems! Im considering the X7's with the dual drivers matched with the 9mm rare earth drivers. Im currentlu using Sony 14 mm dynamic and the bass response is unbelievable.... can only imagine adding crossed over dual armatures!
 
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#11
pglaser01 said:
Should re-phrase....I didn't have an issue really with the Westone. The frequency was a little "warm" for my tastes I guess....they were accidentally broken and I'm trying to decide if I'll be getting Westone replacements, Shure 535s, 846's, or saving up for customs.....possibly 1964 A3's. Depending on how my wife is feeling that day I decide to tell her my thoughts....
Click to expand...

Just ask her if she wants you to be able to hear her voice in 10 years. Better chance of that happening with custom monitors. If not, my best advice to people is to get custom plugs with a filter and just listen that way- poor fitting generics will be a lot louder and actually pose a greater danger to your hearing. Any generics will be less of a fit, even if generics "stay in." They don't fit my ears at all, but custom plugs and IEM'S are the best money I've ever spent on gear, and definitely has preserved my hearing so I can do sound as one of my other jobs.
 
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#14
Ulf_Hansson said:
OK, checked them out and it's another model from what I had. Might want to try them out instead of any of the multi drivers.
Click to expand...
being a bassist and using the iems with processor instaed of an amp on stage, I was directed by a guy who specializes in iem that dynamic would give me a far better experience for bass than any combo of aurmature drivers.... he was definitly right! Best of luck my man!
 
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#15
greggcowanom said:
being a bassist and using the iems with processor instaed of an amp on stage, I was directed by a guy who specializes in iem that dynamic would give me a far better experience for bass than any combo of aurmature drivers.... he was definitly right! Best of luck my man!
Click to expand...
That IS generally true based on my experience.. However, you can't get more than two drivers into such a small space, so you are limited with sound stage, instrument and frequency separation, definition and clarity.. and thereby overall experience IME.
Part of that goal of perfect audio (and BA limitations) is why we are now up to 12 to 16 BA's in TOTL custom IEM's covering the full spectrum of audio.
I'd bet my 8-driver BA's (4 LF's) sound much better than a single dynamic for LF.
That said.. do/get what works for you and your budget..
 
#17
s0c9 said:
That IS generally true based on my experience.. However, you can't get more than two drivers into such a small space, so you are limited with sound stage, instrument and frequency separation, definition and clarity.. and thereby overall experience IME.
Part of that goal of perfect audio (and BA limitations) is why we are now up to 12 to 16 BA's in TOTL custom IEM's covering the full spectrum of audio.
I'd bet my 8-driver BA's (4 LF's) sound much better than a single dynamic for LF.
That said.. do/get what works for you and your budget..
Click to expand...
oh absolutely! If youve got the money to spend on super high end iems... I certainly didnt mean to imply dedicated dynamic was the best option on the market. just within the mainstream "off the shelf" selection I would assume most day to day players are budgeting.
 
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