Update: it looks as if that IS the Westone 4! In other words, Westone did it, bringing the world's first 4-driver universal-fit earphone to market. Press release below.

Not sure why there's been a thin veil over this, but as Earphone Solutions mentions, maybe the 'cat is out of the bag'. The Westone 3, a great earphone by anyone's count, was released to mad fanfare, but if indeed the Westone 4 was outted properly by Westone's Twitter account, then this is one of the slyest releases ever.

I'll try to get a comparative image with the Westone 3 and a shoddy iPod touch 4G camera shot.

If indeed this is the Westone 4, it wouldn't be mad to assume that it will be priced above the current 399$ Westone 3. Alternatively, Westone could muster support for a higher price because the 4 will be the first 4-driver universal earphone on the market.

What this means to audiophiles? Well, if it is true, we can look forward to possibly cleaner sound. Jerry Harvey certainly proved with the excellent JH13Pro, that an earphone with 6 drivers can sound heavenly.

I thought that Jays would be first to market with a four-driver earphone with their x-Jays, but if this IS the Westone 4 (as Earphone Solutions hints), and the 4 really designates 4 drivers, this is BIG news. I'd say this is a realistic assumption and that Westone, though late for Christmas shopping, have a big ACE up their sleeves.



Colorado Springs, CO., December 14, 2010 – Westone Laboratories, Inc. introduces the Westone 4, the worldʼs first four driver balanced armature universal fit earphone designed specifically for the serious audiophile and music enthusiast.

“The earphone market has become quite crowded in the last several years with lots of ʻme tooʼ types of products. Westone was an early pioneer back in the early 90ʼs working with bands like Def Leppard and Rush to develop an in-ear monitoring solution to combat excessive stage noise,” explains Lynn Kehler, President & CEO, Westone. “Developing the first universal four driver product is a statement of our commitment to leading the market with products that are superior in both sound and quality.”

Pushing the limits of both technology and ergonomics, the Westone 4 uses a four driver balanced armature design with 3-way crossover to achieve breathtaking clarity and realism. The EPIC Cable (Earphone Precision Interconnect Cable) is both durable and guards against microphonics. Westoneʼs exclusive True-Fit technology, based on over 50 years of experience with in-ear applications, results in an earphone that is extremely comfortable, lightweight and compact.

“A Westone customer expects a truly engaging music experience. Not only does the Westone 4 take the experience to the next level, but these earphones can lend themselves to so many applications due to their compact size and sound signature,” describes David Slepak, Manager of Marketing. “For the audiophile itʼs pure heaven, gamers will feel like the action is surrounding them, weʼve even had exceptional feedback from the home and field recording community as an alternative to bulky over-the-ear headphones and difficult to use near field monitors.”

The Westone 4 will be revealed to the world in Westoneʼs exhibit located within the iLounge Pavillion at the Consumer Electronics Show January 6th in Las Vegas. The worldʼs first four driver universal fit earphone will carry a suggested retail price of $449 and start shipping early in the first quarter of 2011.

Westone, The In-Ear Experts since 1959, has been at the forefront of in-ear monitoring technology since the early 1990's. Offering a wide range of custom and universal-fit products for music lovers and musicians the world over, Westone musiciansʼ monitors are used by acts ranging from Third Day and Playing for Change to Flyleaf and Nine Inch Nails. Westone is committed to superior customer service, with musicians on the development team, experienced audiologists on staff and knowledgeable technical support personnel available to answer any questions.