MacDirectory Magazine

Summer-Fall 2009 (#42)

MacDirectory magazine is the premiere creative lifestyle magazine for Apple enthusiasts featuring interviews, in-depth tech reviews, Apple news, insights, latest Apple patents, apps, market analysis, entertainment and more.

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122 MacDirectory COMPANY PROFILE WESTONE > HEADPHONES FOR THE DISCERNING EAR Not satisfied with just any type of headphones? You should consider using custom earpieces from Westone. In business since 1959, the company is celebrating its 50 th anniversary this year. Westone offers a variety of custom and universal-fit products for musicians and music lovers alike around the world. "We started out doing custom earpieces for the hearing health industry (hearing protection and molds for hearing aids) and now along with that, we work with the military (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines) doing earpieces for communications systems, pilots, ground forces, and so on," says Doug Leavy, the media/ communications specialist at Westone. "We have been involved with the music industry making in-ear musicians' monitors and hearing protection for some of the top acts over the past 20 years," continues Leavy. Some of the musical acts that use Westone products include Third Day, Switchfoot, Flyleaf, and Nine Inch Nails. The company is also committed to providing excellent customer service and hires in-the-know customer service representatives. Moreover, there are audiologists on staff and experienced musicians on the development team. Westone prides itself in making products that are so ergonomically fit for the ear that they provide exceptional comfort and sound quality. Some new and popular items in the Westone line are the Westone 3 (universal-fit personal listening) Westone UM3X (universal-fit pro audio) and the Westone ES3X (custom-fit pro audio/personal listening) Westone 3 The Westone 3 is the consumer market's first three-way universal-fit earphone for personal listening. It provides a rich listening experience for users, offering a rich low-end response, detailed midrange sounds and articulate high notes. Moreover, the unique design of the Westone 3 is ergonomically designed to provide the optimal fit. Each product includes 10 universal eartip options called a "fit kit". Also included with the Westone 3 are an inline volume control, a secure carrying pouch, and 1/8" to 1/4" plug adapter. The Westone 3 retails for $399. "In January of this year, we followed the Westone 3 up with the Westone ES3X, a custom-fit true three-way earphone for the pro-audio and audiophile community," says Leavy. Westone ES3X The Westone ES3X is an excellent three- way custom in-ear musician's monitor. While this monitor provides an extremely balanced and smooth response that is perfect for performing musicians, the ES3X is also great for iPod or other media users who wish to listen with a high-end custom earphone. The ES3X features separate low, mid, and high frequency drivers that allow for a smooth response across all frequencies. Further, this item provides 25 dB of noise reduction, and separate low, midrange and high frequency drivers for smooth response across all frequencies. The Westone ES3X retails for $850. Westone UM3X In April 2009, Westone introduced the Westone UM3X -- a universal fit true three- way earphone for the pro audio market. The Westone UM3X is a high-quality monitor that is compatible with just about any personal monitoring system on the market today. Due to the fact that this unit has separate low, mid, and high frequency drivers, you can be assured that there will be amazingly smooth responses across all these frequencies. Each item comes with a user guide, a secure carrying pouch, and four pair of Comply foam tips in both standard and small sizes. Specifically, these foamtips form to the ear and can provide up to twenty-five dB of ambient noise reduction. The Westone UM3X is available in black/clear and this product retails for $379. Company's Future Westone plans on continuing to be a leader in the market, provide excellent customer service, and to grow their consumer and pro audio product lines. Overall, Westone strives to provide quality technology for professional musicians and music lovers alike. Visit for more information. WORDS BY LARISA REDINS

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