"IN SUMMARY: In direct comparisons to other IEM that I have on hand, the W2 beat the head-direct RE2, RE3 and RE252, Nuforce NE-6 NE-7M and NE-8, Maximo iP-5HS, depodded Altec Lansing IM716, and Denon AH-C700. They beat their W1 sibling by extending the bass and treble and raising those levels to be more even with the mids. So far I enjoy the W2 slightly more than the Triple.fi 10 Pro that I have here, but it is more of a different kind of sound and dependent on what one's preferences are. Some will prefer one, and others will like the other. The Triple.fi are a little smoother or more refined sounding, and have deeper bass than W2; but the W2 have better clarity/transparency, and present a bigger soundstage to seat you in. The W2 seem to sound good with most of my sources and amps, while the TF 10vi Pro are more sensitive to the amp I choose and can be too forward sometimes with the wrong one. My TF 10vi Pro have the advantage of being an iPhone headset, but Griffin makes a microphone headset adapter that allows you to make phone calls with the W2 on the iPhone.
Just a week or two ago I'd have put the W2 and Triple.fi 10 Pro on a similar level of performance, without these two IEM actually sounding anything like each other - but after a couple more weeks of dedicated listening I currently give the nod to the W2 as the one that I enjoy more. I find myself drawn into the music better, and having more fun listening. I think they are very good IEM, and belong in the company of other well regarded IEM like TF 10vi Pro, Image X10, or SE530, where the W3 and UM3X could be considered the pinnacle (or ACME). If you can't afford the UM3X or Westone 3, you wont be losing much if you choose the Westone 2, and I think most people could be happy with them for a long time."
"IN SUMMARY: In direct comparisons to other IEM that I have on hand, the W2 beat the head-direct RE2, RE3 and RE252, Nuforce NE-6 NE-7M and NE-8, Maximo iP-5HS, depodded Altec Lansing IM716, and Denon AH-C700. They beat their W1 sibling by extending the bass and treble and raising those levels to be more even with the mids. So far I enjoy the W2 slightly more than the Triple.fi 10 Pro that I have here, but it is more of a different kind of sound and dependent on what one's preferences are. Some will prefer one, and others will like the other. The Triple.fi are a little smoother or more refined sounding, and have deeper bass than W2; but the W2 have better clarity/transparency, and present a bigger soundstage to seat you in. The W2 seem to sound good with most of my sources and amps, while the TF 10vi Pro are more sensitive to the amp I choose and can be too forward sometimes with the wrong one. My TF 10vi Pro have the advantage of being an iPhone headset, but Griffin makes a microphone headset adapter that allows you to make phone calls with the W2 on the iPhone.
Just a week or two ago I'd have put the W2 and Triple.fi 10 Pro on a similar level of performance, without these two IEM actually sounding anything like each other - but after a couple more weeks of dedicated listening I currently give the nod to the W2 as the one that I enjoy more. I find myself drawn into the music better, and having more fun listening. I think they are very good IEM, and belong in the company of other well regarded IEM like TF 10vi Pro, Image X10, or SE530, where the W3 and UM3X could be considered the pinnacle (or ACME). If you can't afford the UM3X or Westone 3, you wont be losing much if you choose the Westone 2, and I think most people could be happy with them for a long time."