Earbuds & In-Ear Headphones

Podcast: Can Westone Reclaim Dominance in the IEM Market?

Westone Audio has new lines of custom and universal fit IEMs for musicians and audiophiles. Find out which models are right for you.

Mitch Anderson

Published

October 16, 2023

Listen to "Can Westone Audio Reclaim Dominance in the IEM Market?" on Spreaker.

In this episode, eCoustics Senior Headphone Editor, W. Jennings speaks with Tal Kocen (Vice President, Consumer Product) and Dave Friesema (Technical Director/General Manager) of Westone Audio about the company’s wide range of custom and universal fit IEM products.

Sponsor: Thank you to the sponsor of this episode, Marantz. You’ll want to check out their new Stereo 70s Slimline Receiver.

Westone has always been a low key brand focused on musicians so you won’t see a lot of big ads or flashy booths at shows. Because of that, many outside of the pro audio world may not be familiar with their products.

Even without an aggressive global marketing approach, it is still a brand that generates a lot of respect.

Westone Audio was one of the creators of the in-ear monitor market as we know it today; the company focused on OEM and parts in their early days and helped develop Shure’s original 215, as well as marketing their own line of products.

This episode covers the new AM Pro X series in-ear monitors with Westone’s patented ambient listening technology as well as the evolution of the Mach and ES series IEMs. Those who think the Mach series is simply a repackaged ‘W’ series will want to be aware of some of the differences. The Mach have less in common with the ‘W’ series than many believe.

The discussion also covers the lineage of Westone’s models and how the brand aims to serve musicians and performers, as well as audiophiles in the future.

This episode was recorded on Thursday, August 24, 2023.

Where to listen:

About Westone

Westone Laboratories, Inc. was founded in 1959, and was purchased by the private equity firm HealthEdge Investment Partners in 2017. Just a few years later, Westone was sold to Lucid Audio (now known as Lucid Hearing) in 2020. Lucid had previously purchased another earphone maker, Etymotic Research in 2018, and now Etymotic, Westone and Lucid Audio operate under Lucid Hearing Holding Company, LLC.