Customer Reviews

Ultimate Ears 700 Noise Isolating Earphones

5 star:		(50)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

The Ultimate Ears 700 Noise Isolating Earphones are a good quality premium set of in-ear monitors. After several weeks of thoroughly testing these earphones and comparing them to the army of others that I own, my impressions have improved. These earphones have many of the best qualities that those seeking compact in-ear monitors (IEMs) are looking for. In each individual category, however, they are mostly bested by alternatives. You will have to review the entire range of features and decide if these provide the right blend of strong points to meet your needs.

WHO SHOULD BUY THESE EARPHONES?

These might be the right head-phones for you if you:
1. Are demanding about sound and really want better low-end sound reproduction than most compact IEMs.
2. Need good sound isolation and have normal to small ear canals
3. Need a compact set of earphones that can be inserted deeply for wearing under a helmet (such as during motorcycle riding)
4. Need a high quality cable without any memory and with minimal wire feedback (this pair's best feature)
5. Need a comfortable fit with good quality tips.

WHO SHOULD CONSIDER ALTERNATIVES?

You may benefit from considering the alternatives if you have one or more of the following needs.
1. Those who want the very best sound are probably still better off stepping up to the UE TripleFi 10 Pros, which have three unique drivers which result in the best low-end sound production out of any IEMs I have tested. Please note that those sell for much more than these. Similarly, the Shure SE530s have an amazing sound and superior comfort, though those units are not only twice as expensive they also have some build issues. Still, for those looking for the best sound possible in IEMs, those units deserve a look.
2. Those who need the best sound isolation should consider the Etymotic ER6is, ER-4Ps, HF2s or the HF5s depending on whether they prefer compact (ER6is, ER4Ps) or larger (HF2s, HF5s) body shapes. The flanged design of the ER tips are simply unmatched at sound isolation. The tips with the UE 700s are good , but can be easy to install improperly. If your tip size is slightly too small and you install too deep, you will lose isolation and hear a pop. The ER tips are just much better designed to help avoid that possible mistake.
3. Similarly, the ER6is are very compact and can also be used for motorcycle riding. Because of the improved isolation, there is less risk of having the seal pop while you're riding, which is a very uncomfortable situation to be in. The trade off is sound quality. The ER6is are a good compromise, and sound good. The UE 700s sound better, and fuller, even if they are not as efficient. Both units should be handled with care since the build quality is only moderately good. But considering the ER6is are half the price, it's a serious consideration for those willing to sacrifice a little bit of sound quality. The ER4Ps are closer in price, and honestly may sound slightly better then these. I will need more time comparing them before forming an opinion on that.
4. Those who don't want a compact IEM that buries itself into your ear canal should probably consider the UE Superfi 5 Pros. They also have the same dual-driver technology that produces very nice sound, but they have the longer body of the classic UE IEMs. I also somewhat prefer the tips of those, having owned the Ultimate Ears SuperFi 3s and some re-branded UE phones made by other manufacturers. They come with the option of a wider dual flanged tip that is good for those with wider ear canals.

THE FEATURES

The sound quality of these is very good. They are based on Ultimate Ear's signature dual-driver configuration with separate high and low drivers. The sound isn't quite as full as other higher end units, and the efficiency isn't as high. That means you have to turn up your volume a little more with these to get the same sound level you would with the Superfi 5Pros or the like. But the clarity is very good. In tests with uncompressed and low compression formats this set performed very well in the sound department. Sound quality was good even before break-in and improved slightly after.

Included with the earphones is a plastic case that is held closed by one side, while the other side is just a plastic hinge. I am definitely dreading the day that breaks.

There is also a sound attenuator that will help to protect your phones and your hearing if you have to hook up to an unstable sound source, such as on an airplane. However, they don't include the double pronged jack you need to plug in on most airplanes. There isn't sufficient room to keep the attenuator or the extra tips in the case so you will have to store them elsewhere.

The foam tips included with this set are better than other foam tips that come with my Etymotics. The silicone tips are made from good quality silicone. The problem with them, alluded to above, is that their rounded shape means they feel like the perfect size, but may break the seal if you push them at the wrong depth or angle. So those who normally use a medium tip will have to size up to the large, and push it in past the point of comfort. I have sensitive ears and it took me about two weeks to adjust to these.

The product picture and box suggests you should wrap these around your ears for active use, such as while running. Actually, you should do it for any use. By limiting the pulling of wearing these straight down, it limits the wire sound that all IEMs have to some degree. The cable is such good quality I didn't hear any wire-movement sounds when these were properly installed.

There is a red plastic on one side so you can tell left from right, another UE trait that is a very useful feature. The body of these is a light plastic, but with that always comes possible durability concerns. I will only be able to update my findings about durability after 6 months of extended use. Needless to say, I would not be using these for running as they suggest on the box.

CONCLUSION

These are great IEMs, and may be one of the better quality compact earphones out there. However, if you don't mind slightly larger units, there are other alternatives that may be better overall. I am still glad I got these. Some of the features are very good, and the quality is noticeable. Depending on your budget and your needs, you should review your alternatives.

Enjoy.

I have been using my new Logitech "Ultimate Ears" 700 Noise-Isolating Earphones for most of the past weekend non-stop on my IPod. Most important, I am one of those people who like deep throbbing base! As I write this review, I am listening to Tom Petty's "You Wreck Me Baby," having recently listened to my collection of Petty, Steely Dan, and Lynyrd Skynyrd. Given the physical limitation of ear pieces, I understand that there are practical constraints. Yet the base is strong, clear, and comes across distinctly from the other components of each track. (You like soft rock? Listen to your Carpenters music on these earphones. You can hear what a perfectionist Richard Carpenter really was. They make Brian Wilson's vocal arrangements sound even better.)

To backup a bit and for context, up to this point I had been dealing with the headphones that came from Apple with the IPod. Not only are they low fidelity, but they never fit snugly into both ears! I excercise with my I-pod, and I had resorted to wearing light headphones, which are no real solution. Now I use one of the medium silicon ear pieces (right ear) and one of the large (left ear). When I loop the wire above both ears, running doesn't dislodge the earphones.

The literature describes Logitech's goal to minimize outside noise, and this is accomplished so well that I have to be careful when running because I can't rely on my hearing anymore to determine if traffic is coming up behind me. Also, my wife has been a little irritated now and then when I don't respond as quickly as I have in the past when she is trying to get my attention.

I am also a big fan of movie soundtracks and in particular, Thomas Newman. On my collection from "Meet Joe Black," in particular, the strings and soft orchestral backgrounds sound fantastic with the "Ultimate Ears." I am picking up electronic sounds I hadn't previously noticed in my Natalie Imbruglia and Imogen Heap collections. The mid-ranges are nice as well, and the split between right and left is great. What a blessing it is to hear silence from moment to moment in a song, when there is supposed to be silence!

Note: Sometimes I like to play some of the tracks a little louder than I should. The first few tracks I played this way (within minutes of opening the package), seemed to have a little distortion associated with some of the vocals, which concerned me. I went to the "settings" on my IPod and changed the "EQ" setting to "Loudness." This setting works great for me because I've had difficulty trying to re-create any distortion on this setting, even with the volume turned way up.

"Ultimate Ears 700" make all the difference in the world in the quality of the sounds coming from my IPod, as well as the places and activities where I can use it. I will update the text of my review over the next several months as my learnings increase. I have had good luck changing the EQ settings for different type of music at different volumes. ("Loudness" seems to work best for me.) And I'm still on the lookout for distortion. I'll let you know how that goes.

UPDATE (8/16/09): I have damaged the connection where the wire attaches to the plug-in. Perhaps this was the complaint of the earlier negative reviewer. In between uses, instead of disconnnecting the "Ultimate Ears," rolling them up, and carefully storing them in their case, I left the plug in and wrapped the cord around my I-Pod before stuffing everything into my pocket. One week of this, and now they only work when I move the cord around (like driving with a stick shift) until I get a momentary connection. Aware that I didn't treat them well, potential buyers should treat their "Ultimate Ears" better than I did. However, they should also know that the engineering of the wire connection falls way short of the great engineering of the sound fidelity. I am going to call Logitech to get their input.

(Note 1: I want to emphasize that I consider these 5-star IEMs when used with Comply foam tips. Using foam tips both increased the bass slightly and cut down on the high end sizzle. The highs are too hot when using the the supplied silicon tips - I suspect that some negative reviews about the UE 700s treble are based on using them with silicon tips.)

The Ultimate Ears 700 Noise Isolating Earphones are an excellent set of inner ear monitors (IEMs) that have some amazing features and qualities. I have one issue with their durability, but despite that I am happy to give the UE 700s a high recommendation.

During listening sessions with the 700s I compared them with a set of Denon AHC751K In-ear Headphones and a set of full sized Sennheiser HD-595 Premier Headphones. When appropriate below I will note comparisons to the Denons and Senns.

Build and fit - OK. These are by far the smallest IEMs I've owned, and smaller than any armature driver IEMs Ultimate Ears has put out before; these are the first earphones I can wear while laying on my side (if I wished to). Sound is produced by dual balanced armature drivers, which generally produce higher quality results than dynamic speakers found on less expensive earphones. The 700s come with a 45" symmetrical cord, a sound level attenuator, and a plastic carrying case. UE also supplies multiple tip options (S, M, L silicone tips, standard size Comply foam tips) to help users get a good seal with the 700s, which is essential for optimal performance. I used the large silicon tips and large Comply foam tips (That I purchased) for listening; unfortunately the supplied medium Comply tips were a bit too small for my ears.

My issue with the durability of the UE 700s is that after using these for several lawn mowing sessions, which tend to be sweaty endeavors, I found that the "liquid metal" finish began flaking off. Other than sweat from the noted outside activities, I've not abused the UEs and always stored them properly, so I'm a bit disappointed that the finish is this fragile. So note that the "liquid metal" finish is just a very thin film over plastic, and should be treated gently; save your heavy physical activity for some el-cheapo IEMs.

(Note 2: in a few emails with UE they suggested that perhaps some gasoline got on the finish and caused the damage noted above. Though I tried to be careful this is certainly possible. So let me amend my caution to say avoid letting any gasoline or other solvents come in contact with these earphones. UE did send me a replacement set of UE 700s and after almost a year they still look and sound great.)

Sound - excellent. The bass is comparable to my Senn 595s - accurate and analytical. At first, using the silicone tips, I felt that on some material (NIN "Closer", Steely Dan "Aja") I wished there was a bit more oomph in the lowest frequencies. But after swapping out the silicon tips with the Comply foam tips I found that the bass increased significantly and was no longer an issue. The mids are forward but well balanced and the treble is clear. With the silicone tips there seems to be a boost in the 6 KHz to 10 KHz range that adds a bit too much sparkle to the treble, but the Comply tips help here as well. The overall sound of the 700s is great, and I have been enthralled with how well vocals are handled. Compared to all my previous headphones / IEMs, the UE 700s seem to lift a veil that was previously placed between the singer and me. Guitar, piano, and other instruments also have a clarity and immediacy that I have not experienced before.

Other stuff - Microphonics were present but no worse than for other IEMs I own, and wearing the cord around the ear reduced the problem considerably. Sound isolation was also typical for IEMs; the foam tips blocked out a bit more sound than the silicone tips.

Conclusion - highly recommended. I love the small size, wonderful clarity, and fine handling of vocals and instruments of these IEMs. With the Comply tips I am also satisfied with the bass performance and overall tonal balance. Other than committed "bass-heads" who demand that their skulls be bashed about by subsonic thunder, I can't think of too many people that would not be happy with the UE 700s. Just treat them gently and enjoy.

This earphones are great. The sound quality is amazing, and they won't hurt your ears if you listen to your music playlist for hours. The price is worth it if you care abut comfort and amazing sound quality. I have tried multiple earphones. I have tried earphones made by etymotic research, shure, klipsch, and sony; and they do not compare to the Ultimate Ears 700.

This review has to be updated because this headphones' construction and durability is the worst I have ever seen on a product. This is the last time I buy from Ultimate Ears because the firs pair of headphones were defective, so Amazon replace them (Amazon replaced them in no time, so I'm very satisfied with Amazon's return policy.) I really can recommend this headphones to anyone because I don't know if the headphones will last al least six months. I'm very disappointed with Ultimate Ears.

I love headphones - and as a daily New York commuter I love in ear monitors. The Ultimate Ears 700 are my seventh pair of in ear monitor headphones. My first were the Sony EX71, then Etymotic ER-6, then Sennheiser CX-300, then Q-Jays, then Beyerdynamic DTX 50, then Denon AH-C452K and now the UE 700. For reference home listening I use Beyerdynamic DT-880 which are amazing.

When I look to in-ear monitors, I am looking for a lot of things. Comfort, value, balanced sound, sound quality, imaging, durability, minimal cord microphonics, efficiency and size. I tend to like balanced headphones over bass boosting headphones. Because of my preference for small but great sounding IEMs, I purchased a pair of Q-Jays 2 years ago. They are fantastic headphones, lacking only a little in bass at low volumes. I had a cord issue several weeks ago and while waiting for them to be fixed by Jays in Sweden, I found a great deal on the UE700 that was too good to pass up.

The Ultimate Ears 700 are very similar to the Q-Jays being a super small dual driver balanced IEM. There are several comparisons out there on the internet that make the two models seem almost interchangeable. I wanted to post a review to point out the differences.

1. The Ultimate Ears have better bass at lower volumes. I have never been completely satisfied with the Q-Jays bass because I listen at lower volumes. When cranked up a bit, the Q-Jays perform really well. But overall, the UE700 handle bass at the volume I listen at better.
2. The Ultimate Ears have more treble at all volumes, but at high volumes, the treble can get out of control and grating. I genuinely do not like listening to the Ultimate Ears 700 at a higher volume. The treble just causes "listener fatigue" really quickly. If you are the type to really crank up the volume, I would advise you look elsewhere.
3. The Ultimate Ears have slightly better imaging and detail. I believe this is due to the additional treble.
4. The Ultimate Ears cord is a full 4ft length, softer, and has a less durable feel than the Q-Jays. Many people do not like the 2ft length of the Q-Jays cable. I guess I have grown to like it... the UE700 cable just feels too long and soft. I have durability concerns, though have had no issues.
5. The Ultimate Ears are more efficient than the Q-Jays... this isn't a good thing. Plugged into an iPod Shuffle or iPhone, you hear the hiss. An accessory provided with the UE700 is a resistor for use on planes to avoid having your eardrums blown out by the announcers, but you aren't going to use that with your iPod.

While when these came out, the prices between the Q-Jays and UE700 were similar, but recently the Q-Jays have gone up in price, and the UE700 have gone down in price. If the price were exactly the same, I think it would pretty much be a toss up depending on the user's preferences. With my preferences, I would lean slightly towards the Q-Jays. At the current pricing levels, I think the UE700 are a great choice for people want a small IEM that is balanced (slightly favoring the treble) who do not listen to their music at high volumes and would probably advise more people in this direction than toward the Q-Jays.

I bought this pair of earphones after owning the Ultimate Ears SuperFi 5 Pro Noise Isolating Earphones (Black) for about 2 years. I had been very happy with the SuperFi 5 earphones until the wiring finally gave out and I lost all sound in the left ear. This was disappointing, but they definitely didn't owe me anything as they had provided me with thousands of hours of incredible listening enjoyment.

As I was looking for a pair to replace my first UE purchase, I decided to buy the 700 series for 2 reasons:
1) I wanted the same kind of sound quality that I was accustomed to from the SuperFi 5
2) I wanted something that would fit futher into my ear so I could listen to music while laying my head on a pillow (this was not possible with the SuperFi 5 Pro)

After using for several weeks, I concluded that the fit was definitely better, and the sound quality was almost identical to the SuperFi 5 earphones. Overall, it's a great set of earphones and I would highly recommend them to any serious musician or audiophile.

Pros:

- Excellent sound and VERY impressive bass/low end.
- Very comfortable fit, stays in when running, comfortable while sleeping, etc.
- Ultimate Ears provides outstanding customer service. Any issues with the product will be fixed quickly & free of charge (see below).


My only complaints are:

- Considering the price tag on these earphones, they have surprisingly cheap wiring. You need to be very careful not to put ANY undue stress on any of the cords, or it will very likely damage the unit. I owned these earphones for about 5 weeks when the plugin jack almost broke off. What was I doing to cause such damage to the jack? Did I drop it off a cliff? Did I drive over it with my car? No. I was holding it in my hand with the jack pressed firmly against my palm for about 2 minutes. I simply HELD it. I don't know why a $200 set of earphones would have such cheaply designed wiring, but it's something you should be aware of BEFORE you purchase these. That being said, Logitech was extremely accomodating and provided unsurpassed customer service. They gave me an entirely new set of earphones in less than 2 weeks (and they paid for all postage). Given this, it's hard to stay mad about the incident.

- When these earphones are referred to as "noise isolating", that is only a half-truth. They do a great job of isolating noise for the listener, but if you have your volume turned up to 50% of higher on an ipod, anybody who is sitting next to you will hear everything that is being played. I never had this problem with the SuperFi 5 Pro earphones (which didn't fit quite as well), but it seems to be an issue with these. When I'm laying in bed at night, I literally have to have my volume at 25% of lower because if it's any higher, it will wake up my wife. Is this a huge problem? Not really, and it probably wouldn't affect my decision to purchase again. It was just a slight annoyance when I was expected to have TRUE noise isolation from both ends.

My initial response to these headphones were a little mixed. Very small physically, but so was the bass and low mid response. (Compared to UE superfi 5 pros who's left side went out on me)

I went ahead and let it burn in/stress them by putting them on my iphone and playing a loop of music louder than I would be comfortable in my ears, but not full blast for a couple hours looping Kanye West's Late Registration (iPhone EQ is OFF)

AMAZING difference. I've burned in my fair amount of high end headphones in my time, but this is the first time there has been such a noticeable difference.

Low end penetration is much much better than before. Overall the sound is more refined, and they compare much more favorably to the superfi 5 pros, and my M-Audio Studiophile AV 40 desktop "monitors". Compared to the Klipsch S4's I purchased to directly compare to these, the S4's have more low end, but seem muddy when directly compared to these. (vocals and higher instruments/cymbals leave you with a slight underwater effect) That said, the S4's offer pretty good performance for their price (1/2 the UE700s)

**Amazon categories:
*Comfort:
Very small, first headphones. Can lay head on pillow without discomfort found with most/all other headphones tried.

*Sound Quality:
Very good, even when compared to larger and/or pricier options. I listen to a wide variety of music, one of the reasons I find low performance so important is that I find these frequencies die off fastest when listening on very low volumes such as while working or studying. I wouldn't say these are perfectly accurate, nor the best sounding headphones ever, but for the portability the sound quality is top notch.

*Features:
Tiny, dual driver smaller than even "small" single driver models such as the Etymotic ER6i's that I still have.

*Packaging:
Well the retail box is relatively small, but still lots of wasted space. But the real joy is the small hard plastic carrying box. I think it is the perfect balance between being small for portability and being large for easy of storage (meaning if it were any smaller it would be hard to physically put the headphones in it). The Klipsch S4 storage box is the opposite, the aluminum tin is so big you have room for the additional tips AND there is padding in it! The case is small enough that I can put it inside the travel case for my Audiotechnica ANC7 headphones.

These earphones are nothing short of phenomenal. I don't say that lightly. Look at my history...I'm not above giving something a lousy review when it's warranted. In this case, though, these earphones are wonderful.

Acoustically, they're incredibly clear. I've spent the better half of a couple of days listening to all kids of music from both digital and analog sources. Old live jazz performances sound like you're there in the club. Voices come through with the utmost clarity. Pink Floyd sounds like, well, Pink Floyd. Right now I'm listening to Claude Bolling's Suite for Chamber Orch and Jazz Piano Trio...even classical music sounds like it should.

Physically, the Ultimate Ears 700 are quite comfortable. I personally prefer headphones to earphones, but these are very wearable (and you're certainly not going to go jogging wearing a pair of Dr. Dre's!). The silicone tips are very compliant and the standard size fit my ears. There are larger and smaller tips in the package, as well as two pair made out of a compressible compliant foam. You should find something to fit your ears among them. The driver assembly is small and lightweight...most of the weight you feel comes from the wires. I'd love to see how these are built, they must work using a microscope to get everything into that small of package.

The only downside? The same thing that's inherent in any small driver. You simply don't have the visceral presence that you get from a subwoofer. No matter how low these go in frequency response, they can't move enough air to feel it...at least not without simultaneously homogenizing your brain. (...hmmm...if I split the audio channels and also route them to my sub...)

To wrap up...If you're spending a couple of hundred dollars on a set of earphones, you should listen to a few before buying. Make sure that you put these on your short list. I certainly like them. I think you will too.

I always wondered if there was really that much a difference in the sound quality of the high end earphones. Now I know. Yes there is and it is dramatic. It was like I was hearing the music for the first time, marveling at every nuance I never knew was there.

I love the included Comply foam tips they are very cushy, comfortable and secure. With a good seal you are quite isolated so don't use these when you need to be aware of your surroundings because you will be in your own world! I couldn't even hear the phone ring.
I also found with these headphones the music was louder at a lower volume. I appreciate the heavier cord and subtle red band on the right ear bud makes it so much easier than looking for letters to determine what is right or left.
I have not had any durability issues but there is a 1 year warranty. If I were to nitpick the only complaint would be the case. It has a plastic hinge that doesn't look like it will last.

When I had purchased a pair of Ultimate Ears (UE) earphones in the past, I quickly returned them as the earpieces were huge and they would not stay in my ears. What a difference a new product line makes -- the earpieces are VERY small and stay in my ears great with the stock silicone eartips. And they are still comfortable after hours of use. Isolation is good, but not a good as my Sennheiser HD280s or HD25s (but definitely better than any "noise cancelling" 'phones). But the sound quality is similar to these other $100+ 'phones -- likely thanks to the dual, clear drivers on the UEs. Highs are a bit pronounced, but acceptable, and the bass is not too heavy (just right for me.) I've been upgrading all my tracks to 256Kbps, but your mileage may vary if you have a large library of 128Kbps AAC/MP3 files.

In short, these are much better than my Shure SE210s and thus the UEs are my new portable pair of choice. The triple flange eartips with those provided the best seal (a bit better noise reduction that the UEs) and sound quality, though after a couple hours of use, began to slip out of my ears (slightly) and even become a tad painful. The UEs truly shine in this regard being small and lightweight.

The cord on the UEs is a bit thinner than I'd like (I'm a bit worried about durability on $200+ headphones) -- and at times, too long. I still use my Shure MPA (music phone adapter) to hook these into my iPhone, and the microphone cord gets way too long with this adapter. But it's manageable for the better comfort and sound quality of the UEs.

The included plastic case is terrible (will probably break after a couple weeks of use), so I use a very small, fabric camera case instead. I've also found I need to use the included attenuator on certain devices (such as my MacBook Pro) otherwise I have to keep the volume at nearly the lowest level -- making it took hard to get the appropriate sound level not to deafen me. Just another piece to carry around (and possibly lose...)

If you've got a larger than average budget to spend on earphones, these should definitely be on your short list.