155 of 161 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Entry level price with top end sound!!!, August 24, 2006
This review is from: Ultimate Ears Super.fi 3 Studio Earphones (White) (Electronics)
I am a hi-fi fan and enjoy listening to classical music through my Senn HD-600 headphones and Grado HP-1000 headphones and, in the day time, through my JBL 4311 studio monitor speakers which is backed up by my McIntosh stereo system. I own about a dozen other headphones which are considered by many to be among the best. I even own Ultimate Ears UE-10 custom in ear monitors (IEM's).
I recently heard the super.fi 3 Studio at a local hi-fi meet. Coming from rather high end sources I wasn't expecting much from the super.fi 3 Studio since the source was only an iPod with lossless files. I doubted the super.fi 3 Studio could even come close to the Shure E3c. I couldn't be any further from the truth. Not only did the super.fi 3 Studio blow away the more expensive Shure E3c, it blew away many other in ear monitors which I heard that day. What is even more impressive is that the price is extremely affordable.
If that isn't enough, this little IEM can handle sound like few others can. It sounds great with almost everything you can throw at it, classical, hip-hop, rock, pop, electronica, etc. The only area where I find this little IEM lacking is clarity and detail but that is only because I am used to the UE-10. However, keep in mind that the UE-10 is a $1,000.00 IEM.
Given the price and considering the high quality sound output this thing has, it is a must have for anyone looking for a hi-fi alternative to their horrible sounding iBuds. Now add in the fantastic customer service that the folks over at Ultimate Ears are known for and you simply can't lose with this purchase. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
If you are looking for more information, feel free to check out www.headfi.org.
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79 of 80 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Ultimate Ears - The Ultimate Music Experience!, February 21, 2006
My music just got better - thanks to the pair of Ultimate Ears earphones that I got as one of the Christmas gifts this year from my wife. These were not the first earbuds that I've tried with my portable mp3 player. Prior to getting Ultimate's, I've also owned/tried a pair of Shure's E2C, and Sony Fontopia 81LP. So, my review will not only be a review of Ultimate Ears super.fi 3 earphones, but more of a comparison between them and the other two brands. This way I think a lot more people will benefit from my review and hopefully will make an educated purchasing decision. So, here it goes...
PROS:
Sound Quality - Outstanding!!! Crisp and clear! It does take a bit of an adjustment to get the right fit, but once you do, you can hear details that you've never heard before when listening to the same music using different headphones. So, how does it compare to Shure's and Sony's? Much, much better. I thought Shure's were lacking a bit on bass. Sony's sound quality was surprisingly good. Not quite as good as Ultimate's, but still good. The reason I didn't like Sony's is because they were literally hurting my ears, but we'll get back to that later.
Noise Isolation - "What?!" Yes, that's what I kept saying when I was wearing these headphones, and people were asking me something. It's blocking virtually all the noise around you. Perfect for when you want some piece and quiet. Driving in the car, studying at the library, whatever it is that you are doing, it's perfect for every occasion. Now, the Shure's and the Sony's - Shure's are probably just as good as Ultimate's. Sony's, however, are not even close. With Sony's on, I could hear surrounding noise just as well as without them.
Extras - It comes with 3 different sizes of ear tips. Experiment with each and see which one fits the best, and you are ready to go. For those of us with extremely sensitive ears, these earphones also come with foam tips, which provide an even a better fit, noise isolation, and sound. In addition, there is a very cool looking leather carrying case, and a small antistatic cleaning brush. What does Shure and Sony have to offer? Pretty much the same thing, but Ultimate's product quality is much better. Shure's are pretty comfortable as well. Sony's, on the other hand, hurt like hell. The stupid over the ear hook is also very uncomfortable and takes a long time to get used to.
CONS:
Cord Length - This is one thing that I wish could be different. It is just a few inches shorter than I want it to be. When I'm in the car, or at home, I don't have any complaints. But when I'm at work, I usually plug those in directly to my desktop PC. And, unfortunately, it's not long enough! I have to be very close to it, which is fine when I'm actually typing something, but if I'm just sitting in my chair, relaxing, the cord length is barely making it.
Price - They are certainly not the cheapest pair of earphones on the market. $100 is a lot of money for a lot of people, and if you want to save yourself a few bucks, I'd suggest you look some place else. Shure's, however, are in the same price range, so you're not going to win anything here. Sony's are a lot less expensive, although I can't really recommend them because of practically zero noise isolation, and, of course, for the fact that they were giving me a headache.
Summary:
Besides a few minor things, I think these headphones make a great choice. Once again, yes, they are expensive. But if you are serious about your music, and want to experience the Ultimate sound, they are very well worth the price. Recommended!
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