The American brand Westone has more than half a century of experience in the production of professional headphones. The company was founded in 1959, immediately beginning the production of individual custom-fit headphones. The company’s first models, created specifically for musicians, appeared in 1987. Moreover, at the suggestion of that same Etymotic. Of course, headphones for monitoring on stage are an important matter, and at that time no one questioned their quality from Etymotic, but there was one “but”: no one at that time made more accurate in-ear molded inserts. Except for one company from Colorado. Thus was the beginning of an alliance that eventually grew into the modern Westone business. True, at that time, besides these same casts, Westone was not assigned any other tasks.
The choice of direction was not accidental: in the mid-eighties of the last century, the music market was experiencing another stage of rebirth, many cult bands emerged (not only at that time, but also at the current moment), which, instead of semi-basement hardcore punk, degenerated into demonstratively careless, but verified in little things grunge and similar styles. Well, after record companies took notice of what was happening, musical groups needed to hone their skills at concerts while maintaining an outwardly carefree aesthetic. And here it was no longer possible to do without monitoring during the game. But let’s return for a moment to technology in general. What exactly are armature headphones? They are based on a U-shaped armature plate with a coil located on its axis. This plate is suspended in a magnetic field in such a way that it can rotate in it. Then everything is simple: a sound signal is supplied to the coil, a magnetic field arises, and the armature deviates from its normal position. Through the connection, the movement of the armature is transmitted to the membrane, which produces sound.
In 1990, an important step in the production of headphones for musicians took place: Westone became the first to use armature drivers in monitors. The peculiarity of headphones with a balanced armature is that the effect on the radiating membrane occurs using a movable armature. In 1995, Alex Van Halen had a problem: he couldn’t hear what the other members of his band were singing and playing behind the drum kit. Louder monitors didn’t help. Jerry Harvey, the band’s sound engineer, found a solution: he assembled dual-driver headphones that could block noise and produce fairly high-quality sound. At first, other band members became interested in the development, then Skid Row, who were touring with Van Halen at the time, got involved – they sold six pairs for three thousand bucks. After pop singer Engelbert Humperdinck also wanted one, Harvey decided to found Ultimate Ears. And the Westone company helped refine these headphones and began producing them. In 1998, UE’s clients already included The Rolling Stones, Enrique Iglesias and Red Hot Chili Peppers. In 1996, together with Shure, universal in-ear monitors were developed, which came with a set of attachments. It’s not as convenient as using a cast, but you can choose the best option. The photo shows the E1 soundproofing monitor. All Westone headphones are with a balanced armature, or armature. These simply don’t happen in the lower price segment.
Westone’s credo is the development and production of headphones that absolutely uncompromisingly convey all the nuances of sound. The company’s long history provides invaluable experience in this field, which means that when you choose Westone, you get the very best in comfort, ergonomics and acoustic performance. The Westone company offers its customers not only universal armature headphones, but also custom (personal) headphones made from a cast of the inner ear. In addition to headphones, Westone has been involved in hearing care and hearing protection for decades, allowing the company to bring advanced medical technology to the professional headphone industry. The company creates custom hearing tips that provide comfortable wearing and effective sound transmission. In addition to its line of custom monitors and custom hearing instruments, Westone provides a variety of professional hearing care and hearing aid services, offering its customers a broad line of accessories ranging from hearing care products to clinical medical equipment. Interestingly, Westone also produces products for military applications. Military service and noise exposure are two sides of the same coin. You can hardly imagine how destructive noise can be. Long-term exposure to noise above 90 dB can cause permanent hearing loss. A blast wave with a noise level of up to 120 dB can give the same result. This is where Westone custom products, which are used by members of the US Army, also come to the rescue.
We treat people the way we would like to be treated. If you have a problem, we will help you solve it. If we make a mistake, we will correct it. Our goal is the complete satisfaction of our customers. The company currently produces five product lines – headphones and monitors for musicians. The first is Universal Series monitors. It includes models UM Pro 10, UM Pro 20, UM Pro 30, UM Pro 50. The next line is W Series. Elite Series monitors are made from a mold of the musician’s ear. And the fifth “family” is universal adapters for headphones and monitors UM56.
