Westone W80: eight components of good sound
At the end of 2016, Westone pleased the audience with W80 headphones . The manufacturer does not skimp on assurances of quality and uniqueness of the novelty due to the integration of several decades of experience in a small plastic case. No doubt - Westone makes good and high-quality headphones, this has been proven more than once or twice. But is there a limit to perfection? I propose to get acquainted with the flagship closer.
The cardboard box is stern and beautiful:
Under the two black lids you can see the inner box made of orange cardboard with the wishes and autograph of Karl Cartwright, the company’s designer:
Inside, there is a foam insert that gives the packaging strength. All useful content is packed in a small hard case with a zipper:
Its dimensions are small (210 x 140 x 70 mm), the workmanship is good.
Inside there are several compartments for storing the headphones, wires, nozzles and care products themselves:
All the little things fit easily on a microfiber rectangle. These are three pairs of removable decorative parts on the W80 body, a tool for replacement and cleaning, ten pairs of soft nozzles of various shapes, sizes and materials. Half are made of Comply foam with a high viscosity memory effect (True-Fit), and the rest are made of silicone (see first photo).
To some, such diversity may seem unnecessary, but do not make premature judgments. As practice has shown, the nozzles should be selected not only according to the size of the ear canal, but also according to the desired shade of sound.
For carrying in the pocket inside the large case there is another smaller one with a mesh bag for the wire. In any case, it was stored there at the time of unpacking.
Nothing prevents shuffling the contents to your liking.
The W80 is equipped with two cords - one so-called ALO Audio Reference 8, braided with translucent rigid insulation and a three-pin (TRS) 3.5 mm jack for connecting to an audio signal source: The
conductors in it are made of highly purified silver-plated copper, which should have a positive effect on sound quality.
The second is plain black, with a four-pin (TRRS) 3.5mm jack. The fourth contact is needed for the operation of the remote control and microphone buttons when connected to a smartphone. It does not stand out for anything remarkable, the performance quality is “ordinary”, without frills.
The cable is connected to the emitters
using proprietary small-sized connectors: Due to the well-thought-out design, they hold perfectly in the socket and at the same time allow you to quickly replace the cable if necessary. Given the frequent damage to the cord of wired headphones in the field, as well as the considerable price of the W80 itself , this concern for the user is more than appropriate.
Headphones and cables fit into one case without any problems:
By the way, the covers, like the cable, have their own names: Premium Small and Premium Deluxe. The first, judging by the size, is intended only for the headphones themselves, and the second for the joint transfer of the entire portable audio complex: a player, amplifier, headphones and a hiking kit to care for them.
W80 - reinforcing channel headphones with eight (!) Drivers. Using a crossover, tasks are distributed between the emitters: two work out low frequencies, two work out the middle ones and four are responsible for reproducing high frequencies.
The manufacturer also claims a noise reduction system that can reduce their level by 35 dB. I didn’t measure noise reduction, but extraneous sounds are much better in public transport compared to conventional headphones - “gags” in the middle price range. A significant role in this is played by the correct selection of nozzles for the ear canal - in the case of the W80 they are very soft and elastic. This allows you to reliably fix the headphones in the ear and achieve a snug fit of the nozzle to the skin of the passage, sealing the connection.
The W80 sounds good and always different. Much depends on the sound source and the applied “seals”. So, in a calm environment, with proper selection of music with an abundance of detailed instruments, you can catch the difference between silicone nozzles of different diameters, and the foam material due to its elasticity makes the sound a little deaf. On the go, these nuances, of course, are not noticeable, and only one thing is important - how tightly the headphones are in contact with the ear canal and if the tightness will not be broken by a sharp turn of the head. With this, the complete order when using the complete "audiophile" cable, equipped with reinforcing sections of a transparent tube for each of the plugs. It helps to lay the cord behind the auricle and fix the W80 in the aisle.
Regarding playback quality. The sound is detailed and clear, accents in instrumental compositions are well given, aggressive music (rock, industrial, alternative) goes well. The bass is deep, but not always - it is important to choose the right source. With Astell & Kern AK70 there was a lack of low frequencies, with the FiiO X3 II this was not observed (especially after a slight adjustment with the equalizer).
Summarizing all of the above, the W80 can be reacted very positively: a comprehensively developed product with a rich and thoughtful package. Every detail, whether it is a carrying box or a fabric case, is convenient to use. Very out of place cord ALO Audio Reference 8; It is not only good in electrical parameters, but also practical. The only minus of the headphones is the price, but it is unlikely to scare away real connoisseurs of quality.
We also bring to your attention an overview of the more affordable Westone AM headphones (all three models - AM10, AM20 and AM30) that started our blog:
Its dimensions are small (210 x 140 x 70 mm), the workmanship is good.
Inside there are several compartments for storing the headphones, wires, nozzles and care products themselves:
All the little things fit easily on a microfiber rectangle. These are three pairs of removable decorative parts on the W80 body, a tool for replacement and cleaning, ten pairs of soft nozzles of various shapes, sizes and materials. Half are made of Comply foam with a high viscosity memory effect (True-Fit), and the rest are made of silicone (see first photo).
To some, such diversity may seem unnecessary, but do not make premature judgments. As practice has shown, the nozzles should be selected not only according to the size of the ear canal, but also according to the desired shade of sound.
For carrying in the pocket inside the large case there is another smaller one with a mesh bag for the wire. In any case, it was stored there at the time of unpacking.
Nothing prevents shuffling the contents to your liking.
The W80 is equipped with two cords - one so-called ALO Audio Reference 8, braided with translucent rigid insulation and a three-pin (TRS) 3.5 mm jack for connecting to an audio signal source: The
conductors in it are made of highly purified silver-plated copper, which should have a positive effect on sound quality.
The second is plain black, with a four-pin (TRRS) 3.5mm jack. The fourth contact is needed for the operation of the remote control and microphone buttons when connected to a smartphone. It does not stand out for anything remarkable, the performance quality is “ordinary”, without frills.
The cable is connected to the emitters
using proprietary small-sized connectors: Due to the well-thought-out design, they hold perfectly in the socket and at the same time allow you to quickly replace the cable if necessary. Given the frequent damage to the cord of wired headphones in the field, as well as the considerable price of the W80 itself , this concern for the user is more than appropriate.
Headphones and cables fit into one case without any problems:
By the way, the covers, like the cable, have their own names: Premium Small and Premium Deluxe. The first, judging by the size, is intended only for the headphones themselves, and the second for the joint transfer of the entire portable audio complex: a player, amplifier, headphones and a hiking kit to care for them.
W80 - reinforcing channel headphones with eight (!) Drivers. Using a crossover, tasks are distributed between the emitters: two work out low frequencies, two work out the middle ones and four are responsible for reproducing high frequencies.
The manufacturer also claims a noise reduction system that can reduce their level by 35 dB. I didn’t measure noise reduction, but extraneous sounds are much better in public transport compared to conventional headphones - “gags” in the middle price range. A significant role in this is played by the correct selection of nozzles for the ear canal - in the case of the W80 they are very soft and elastic. This allows you to reliably fix the headphones in the ear and achieve a snug fit of the nozzle to the skin of the passage, sealing the connection.
The W80 sounds good and always different. Much depends on the sound source and the applied “seals”. So, in a calm environment, with proper selection of music with an abundance of detailed instruments, you can catch the difference between silicone nozzles of different diameters, and the foam material due to its elasticity makes the sound a little deaf. On the go, these nuances, of course, are not noticeable, and only one thing is important - how tightly the headphones are in contact with the ear canal and if the tightness will not be broken by a sharp turn of the head. With this, the complete order when using the complete "audiophile" cable, equipped with reinforcing sections of a transparent tube for each of the plugs. It helps to lay the cord behind the auricle and fix the W80 in the aisle.
Regarding playback quality. The sound is detailed and clear, accents in instrumental compositions are well given, aggressive music (rock, industrial, alternative) goes well. The bass is deep, but not always - it is important to choose the right source. With Astell & Kern AK70 there was a lack of low frequencies, with the FiiO X3 II this was not observed (especially after a slight adjustment with the equalizer).
Summarizing all of the above, the W80 can be reacted very positively: a comprehensively developed product with a rich and thoughtful package. Every detail, whether it is a carrying box or a fabric case, is convenient to use. Very out of place cord ALO Audio Reference 8; It is not only good in electrical parameters, but also practical. The only minus of the headphones is the price, but it is unlikely to scare away real connoisseurs of quality.
Technical specifications Westone W80
Headphones type: reinforcing
Drivers per channel: 8
Type of ear cushions: in- ear (monitor)
Frequency range: 5 - 22.000 Hz
Resistance at 1 kHz: 5 Ohms
Sensitivity: 111 dB / mW
Passive noise reduction: up to 35 dB
Cables: removable ALO Audio and MFI
Length cables: 128 cm
We also bring to your attention an overview of the more affordable Westone AM headphones (all three models - AM10, AM20 and AM30) that started our blog: