One may find this difficult to believe, but it’s been three decades that the ever-young Jann Klose released an album titled “Enough Said” and, thus, started a career that would bring forth and a few more remarkable records. None of … Continue reading
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Westone Audio has been in the ear game longer than most of us have been alive. Founded in the 1950s by Dr. John B. West—an audiologist who got frustrated with how poorly conventional hearing aids worked—the company started by hand-crafting custom ear molds. From there, they evolved into the professional audio world, eventually becoming one of the most respected names in in-ear monitor technology.
In 2020, Westone was acquired by Lucid Audio, the same parent company that picked up Etymotic Research. That acquisition kicked off a restructuring period, and the result of that work was the MACH series—eight models launched in 2022, ranging from the single-driver Mach 10 at $300 up to the flagship Mach 80 at $1,599. The model number tells you the driver count. Simple, right? Today we're diving into the Mach 60: six balanced armature drivers, $1,099, and a "Premium Reference" tuning philosophy that's all about accuracy over excitement.
The Mach 60 sits in what Westone calls the "Premium Reference" sub-series of the Mach lineup—that's the even-numbered models (20, 40, 60, 80), which are tuned for accuracy and detail rather than bass emphasis. It's positioned just below the Mach 80 in the Reference line, meaning it trades two of the flagship's tweeter drivers for a slightly more relaxed high-frequency presentation, while keeping the same dual-woofer, dual-midrange configuration. The result is a six-driver, three-way crossover design that Westone engineered as both a stage monitor and an audiophile-grade listening IEM.
The Mach 60's shell is made of molded polycarbonate plastic, and it is—for all practical purposes, visually identical to every other IEM in the Mach lineup, from the $300 Mach 10 all the way up to the Mach 80 (which we’ve also tested). The only physical differences are the model number printed on the left faceplate and a metal faceplate on the outside with Westone's logo on the right. These certainly aren’t a flashy pair of headphones, but the look is clean and simple, letting the audio quality be the focus, instead of looks.
That said, Westone knows what they're doing with fit and function. The space-gray polycarbonate housing is compact, ergonomic, and light—just 3 grams per side. The shells sit naturally in the concha area of your ear, and the nozzle diameter is a narrow 2mm, which is a trademark Westone design choice that makes insertion easier and tends to work better for people with smaller ear canals.
Inside the Pelican case (which, to their credit, is legitimately solid), you get the IEMs, the Linum ESTRON SuperBaX T2 cable, five pairs of silicone tips in varying sizes, five pairs of Westone's True-Fit foam tips, and a cleaning tool. The SuperBaX cable is excellent—168 strands of silver-plated copper with a listed impedance of just 0.75 ohms, meaning it adds minimal coloration to the signal chain. It's thin, lightweight, and barely noticeable when worn. The T2 connector system is more secure than MMCX, but it does mean that any MMCX aftermarket cables won't work without an adapter.
The Mach 60 is a natural, smooth, and well-balanced IEM that prioritizes accuracy over flair. This is not a V-shaped, bass-boosted, or hyped-up listen. What you get is a clean window into your music—warm enough to be musical, detailed enough to be revealing, and tuned so that listening fatigue is rarely a concern. It's a sound signature built for long sessions, critical listening, and stage monitoring—and it excels in all three contexts.
The low end on the Mach 60 won't satisfy bassheads, and that's by design. What's here is tight, defined, and accurate—the dual bass drivers deliver a controlled punch with warmth and texture in the upper bass and lower midrange region. Sub-bass extension is where things get a bit more polite; the Mach 60 rolls off more gently than some competitors at the same price point, meaning genres that rely heavily on deep rumble (EDM, hip-hop, modern pop) may leave you wanting more. That said, for rock, jazz, acoustic, and classical listening, the bass here is clean, well-textured, and never bloated or muddy. There's a satisfying dynamic response when the track calls for it, it just doesn't overdo it.
This is where Westone always excels. The midrange is open, detailed, and strikingly natural. Vocals sit at the right balance—present and clear without being forward or shouty. The lower mids add a bit of warmth and body to instruments, which makes guitars, piano, and strings feel lifelike rather than sterile. The upper mids are where some of Westone's signature character shows up. There's a beautiful, almost holographic quality to how guitar notes bloom and decay, something longtime Westone fans will recognize as part of the brand's "house sound." For acoustic music and anything with real instruments front and center, the midrange performance here is exceptional.
The high frequencies on the Mach 60 are controlled, smooth, and well-extended without ever turning harsh or fatiguing. The two tweeter drivers handle the upper register with a refined touch. There's enough air and sparkle to keep things interesting and detailed, but the overall character leans toward smooth rather than bright. If you're treble-sensitive or have spent time with brighter-tuned IEMs like the Mach 80 or certain Campfire Audio models, the Mach 60 will feel more relaxed up top. Cymbal strikes, hi-hats, and string overtones are all rendered with good clarity and natural decay. What's missing is that last bit of ultra-high frequency "sparkle" that the Mach 80's quad tweeter configuration can pull off.
The Mach 60's biggest strength might be timbre. Instruments sound very organic not processed, not artificially enhanced, just accurate. The way acoustic guitar strings resonate, the way a snare shell sounds, or the way a vocalist's breathiness comes through in a quiet passage—these things all come through with a lifelike quality that speaks to Westone's decades of engineering experience. The soundstage is respectable for a ventless, sealed all-BA IEM—it's not the widest you'll hear at this price, but it has solid depth and a natural sense of space. Imaging is precise and consistent, placing instruments in defined positions across the mix. It's not the most expansive stage you've ever heard, but what's there is credible and musical rather than artificial or exaggerated.
In all Westone products I’ve tested, comfort has always been excellent and The Mach 60 is no exception. The compact shells and lightweight build make these disappear in your ears, extended listening sessions of three, four, even five hours aren't uncomfortable. The narrow 2mm nozzle aids insertion without requiring a painful deep fit, and the ergonomic shell shape naturally fills the concha area for a stable, low-profile seal.
Isolation is seriously impressive. Thanks to the fully ventless design, these IEMs block ambient noise at a level that rivals many custom molded monitors. With the True-Fit foam tips installed, the passive noise isolation is incredible. Strong enough for live stage monitoring use, commuting in noisy environments, or just blocking out your surroundings at home. The silicone tips offer a slightly brighter and more balanced sound with a tighter bass response; the foam tips add a bit more low-end weight and deeper isolation. It's worth experimenting to find what works for your ears.
The most natural comparison in the lineup. The Mach 80 steps things up to eight balanced armature drivers — adding two more tweeters to the high-frequency section—which results in a notably more detailed and airy upper register. The Mach 80 also has a more dynamic presentation overall, with a more articulate bass (thanks to a faster response from its driver configuration) and a crisper, more energetic treble. However, that extra high-frequency energy makes the Mach 80 a brighter, potentially more fatiguing listen for extended sessions. The Mach 60 is warmer, smoother, and arguably a more relaxing long-term listen. The $500 price difference is real—and unless you specifically want that extra treble detail and energy the Mach 80 brings, the Mach 60 makes a very strong case for itself with a very similar level of detail and accuracy for a much more affordable price.
The SE846 is Shure's long-running flagship universal IEM and one of the most recognized names at this price tier. Shure's design uses four balanced armature drivers with a proprietary low-pass filter system that allows you to swap nozzle filters to tune the bass response from lean to full. The SE846 has a warmer, slightly more bass-forward presentation compared to the more neutral Mach 60, and its replaceable nozzle system gives it a versatility the Mach 60 doesn't have. Where the Mach 60 edges ahead is in midrange transparency and overall naturalness of timbre. Soundstage on the Mach 60 is also slightly more airy and open. At roughly $200 less than the Mach 60's MSRP, the SE846 offers meaningful competition— especially for listeners who prefer a warmer, more bass-present signature and appreciate the customizable tuning system, though the Mach 60 has a more accurate overall sound.
The Andromeda is one of the most beloved balanced armature IEMs in the audiophile world at this price range, and it's an interesting contrast to the Mach 60. Where the Mach 60 prioritizes smooth neutrality and reference-grade accuracy, the Andromeda goes for a more lush, energetic, and spacious presentation. It has a notably wider and more expansive soundstage, more present and extended treble, and a warmer low-end emphasis. The Mach 60 counters with better isolation, more accurate timbre, and a tuning that's more appropriate for professional stage monitoring. The Andromeda is a fantastic musical listen that many prefer for pure enjoyment; the Mach 60 is a more accurate reference tool that can also be thoroughly enjoyed as a music listener. Both are strong at the $1,100 price point—it really comes down to whether you want a reference monitor or a more immersive, musical experience.
The Westone Mach 60 is a well-tuned, comfortable, and genuinely capable IEM that delivers on its promise of accurate, natural sound. Westone's decades of professional audio expertise show up clearly in the midrange quality, timbral accuracy, and long-session comfort these offer. If you're a musician needing stage monitors, a studio engineer wanting in-ear reference tools, or an audiophile who prefers accuracy over excitement, the Mach 60 will likely impress you.
With that being said, The plastic housing, the identical shell across the entire Mach lineup, and a $1,099 price tag in a market full of strong competition make it hard to call this an effortless recommendation at full price. It competes well on sound, and as a professional monitor but is definitely on the expensive side of the market. If you can find it at a discount—which happens quite often—this is an excellent buy. At full price, go in knowing what you're buying: a precision reference IEM with a no-frills exterior, not a luxury accessory.
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REVOCATION will commemorate their 20th anniversary with a special month-long North American headlining trek this Fall! The 20 Years Of Torment tour runs from September 10th through October 10th and will find the band performing tracks from across their entire catalog.
Support will be provided by Defeated Sanity, Fuming Mouth, and Weeping. The journey follows the band’s European tour this August which includes festival performances, headlining shows, and more.
Comments vocalist/guitarist Dave Davidson, “20 Years Of Torment… and we’re bringing some truly sick bands with us to celebrate. We’ll be playing material that spans every record on this one, reaching back into the REVO Repository plus new material from our latest album live for the first time. See you in the pit!”
Tickets are on sale now at revocationband.com/tour. See all confirmed dates below.
REVOCATION European Tour:
8/07/2026 Alcatraz Festival – Antwerp, BE
8/08/2026 Brutal Assault – Jaroměř, CZ
8/10/2026 Béi Chéz Heinz – Hannover, DE w/ Sanguisugabogg, Internal Bleeding
8/11/2026 Baroeg – Rotterdam, NL w/ Sanguisugabogg, Internal Bleeding
8/12/2026 The Forum – Trier, DE w/ Cryptopsy, Internal Bleeding
8/14/2026 Dynamo Metalfest – Eindhoven, NL
8/15/2026 Rock The Lakes – Aarau, CH
8/17/2026 Damage Inc – Verona, IT * REVOCATION Headlining
8/19/2026 Menza Pri Koritu – Ljubljana, SI * REVOCATION Headlining
8/21/2026 Kaltenbach Open Air – Spital am Semmering, AT
8/22/2026 Deathfeast Open Air – Trier, DE
REVOCATION: 20 Years Of Torment North American Tour w/ Defeated Sanity, Fuming Mouth, Weeping:
9/10/2026 The Palladium – Worcester, MA
9/11/2026 Fou Founes – Montreal, QC
9/12/2026 Lee’s Palace – Toronto, ON
9/13/2026 Sanctuary – Detroit, MI
9/15/2026 Amsterdam Bar – St. Paul, MN
9/16/2026 Park Theatre – Winnipeg, MB
9/17/2026 The Exchange – Regina, SK
9/18/2026 Starlite Room – Edmonton, AB
9/19/2026 Dickens – Calgary, AB
9/20/2026 The Revelry – Kelowna, BC
9/22/2026 Rickshaw – Vancouver, BC
9/23/2026 El Corazon – Seattle, WA
9/24/2026 Dante’s – Portland, OR
9/25/2026 The Ritz – San Jose, CA
9/26/2026 1720 – Los Angeles, CA
9/27/2026 Nile Underground – Mesa, AZ
9/28/2026 Backstage Bar – Las Vegas, NV
9/30/2026 HQ – Denver, CO
10/01/2026 The Waiting Room – Omaha, NE
10/02/2026 Reggies – Chicago, IL
10/03/2026 Ace of Cups – Columbus, OH
10/04/2026 Preserving Underground – Pittsburgh, PA
10/06/2026 Exit/In – Nashville, TN
10/07/2026 Eulogy – Asheville, NC
10/8/2026 The Canal Club – Richmond, VA
10/9/2026 Music Hall Of Williamsburg – Brooklyn, NY
10/10/2026 Underground Arts – Philadelphia, PA
REVOCATION released their acclaimed New Gods, New Masters full-length last year via Metal Blade Records.
New Gods, New Masters was produced by Dave Davidson and mixed and mastered by Jens Bogren (The Haunted, Spiritbox) with artwork by Paolo Girardi (Bell Witch, Mother Of Graves, Black Breath, Cryptopsy). The record includes guest appearances by Jonny Davy of Job For A Cowboy, Travis Ryan of Cattle Decapitation, Luc Lemay of Gorguts, and jazz guitarist Gilad Hekselman.
https://www.revocationband.com
https://www.facebook.com/revocation
https://www.youtube.com/officialrevocation
Source: EARSPLIT PR
“I was an unwilling participant, attacked and clothing removed at the direction of a band I paid to see…”
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Symphonic metal artist Talia Hoit has released a new single and accompanying music video for “All You Want.” The track blends cinematic orchestration with heavy metal instrumentation, exploring the thematic realization of trying to meet someone else’s impossible expectations while losing one’s own identity.
Building her songwriting on a core foundation of piano and voice, Hoit translates highly personal reflections into expansive symphonic metal arrangements. Her background in crafting confessional material allows her to explore vulnerable subjects like identity, grief, and emotional survival, framing these concepts against massive orchestral backdrops and heavy guitars.
“All You Want” serves as the first preview of the artist’s upcoming second full-length album, When The Skies Fall. The ten-track record is scheduled for release later this summer on August 28 via SAOL.
The post Talia Hoit Releases “All You Want” Single and Music Video first appeared on FemMetal – Goddesses of Metal.
Alternative metal duo ESOTERIK has released a new single titled “Cycles.” The track marks a significant stylistic evolution for the group, moving away from their traditional industrial roots to embrace a heavier, nu-metal and grunge-inspired direction. While incorporating heavy guitars and raw vocal deliveries, the song maintains the accessible hooks that have defined the band’s catalog.
Formed in 2013 by Allison Eckfeldt and Brady Bledsoe, the US-based duo has spent over a decade building a dedicated following in the alternative scene. ESOTERIK has established a strong international live presence, touring extensively across the United States and Europe alongside acts like Combichrist, Priest, and Grendel. Their recent material has also seen chart success, with their 2024 track “Trickster” reaching the Top 10 on the Deutsche Alternative Charts.
“Cycles” serves as the first preview of the band’s forthcoming full-length album, Nü Skin. The upcoming record leans heavily into nostalgic 1990s metal influences, signaling a full transition into their new sonic territory. The band plans to release several more singles leading up to the arrival of the new album.
The post ESOTERIK Releases “Cycles” Single Ahead of New Album ‘Nü Skin’ first appeared on FemMetal – Goddesses of Metal.
Detroit hard rock quintet Eva Under Fire has released a lyric video for their new song, “THE WORDS YOU SAY.” The mid-tempo, emotionally charged track deals with the complexities of toxic relationships, where words are twisted and reality becomes distorted.
Fronted by vocalist, songwriter, and licensed therapist Amanda Lyberg, the band blends emotional insight with heavy, hard rock songwriting. Eva Under Fire uses their music as a form of therapy, aiming to turn scars and demons into anthems of inner strength that connect deeply with their listeners.
“THE WORDS YOU SAY” serves as the latest preview of the band’s upcoming sophomore album, VILLAINOUS, which is scheduled to drop on July 10 via Better Noise Music. The new record follows their 2022 debut, Love, Drugs & Misery, and the band will be supporting the release with a summer-long tour alongside Five Finger Death Punch kicking off this July.
The post Eva Under Fire Shares Lyric Video for New Song “THE WORDS YOU SAY” first appeared on FemMetal – Goddesses of Metal.