Best for teens (Super.fi.5Pro/EB £140/$260) |
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 If you have teenagers or if you are a teenager – you know they like their music loud and their bass “heavy.” The UE Super.fi. 5 series is simply the best at being loud, bass “heavy” and provides amazing quality for all types of music. |
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 These earphones were certainly contenders for the “ultimate” category as well. Ultimate Ears is one of the companies (like Westone) that makes earphones for professional musicians and consumers like you and me. |
Design |
 The Super.fi 5 Pros are in-the-ear headphones – similar to many in-ear type earphones.
The Super.fi 5 Pros are made of a very durable-feeling plastic (mine came in black – white and gray are available as well) and are quite sturdy and secure. There were silicon tips as well as foam inserts.
What distinguishes the Ultimate Ear’s from any of the competitors is the use of Dual Driver technology. When you look at the graphic, you can see that there are actually separate low and high frequency drivers in this little technological wonder. |
Comfort |
 The Ultimate Ears Super.fi 5 Pro’s are a mixed bag when it comes to comfort. Initially, I had a bit of trouble getting these Earphones into my ears. They did not slip in nearly as easily as others did. Then, being the wise man that I am, I decided to read the directions and visit the web site again. I found that I was putting them in incorrectly and they were really supposed to protrude straight out. While this felt a little weird at first, eventually it became comfortable The good news is that these Earphones are not designed to go in nearly as far into the ear canal as other in-ear models do.
Once inserted, there is plastic coating on the wire closest to the actual earphones which guides the wire easily behind the ears. I found that prolonged listening with the Ultimate Ears Super.fi 5 Pro’s was actually easier on my ears than other styles.
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Sound Quality |
For many readers, this is the be all and end all of any headphone review. Well, as my 16-year-old son said so aptly, “These blow the doors off of everything else.” He was right. In side by side comparisons (using a Monster Cable Splitter in my ipod Video) the Super.fi 5’s just blew away the competition.
The Bass was unbelievable (in a good way.) it was the first time I could actually “feel” the bass in a canal-type Earphone. The highs were beyond crisp – they were as clear as the Altec’s. Separation was amazing – it sounded like the music was coming from inside my brain. Vocals were realistic and detailed as well. Musical solos sounded like they were meant to sound. In short, these earphones actually sounded better than my very expensive Home Theatre System.
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What the Critics Say |
| iLounge gave the UE Super.fi.5 Pros their coveted “Highly Reccomended” rating. PC Magazine gave them 4.5 stars and said: “These aren't cheap, but they sound very good—especially the bass—and we found them quite comfortable.” |
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Overall Conclusions |
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| The Ultimate Ears Super.fi 5 Pro Earphones are simply amazing to behold. Their slightly bigger size might make them uncomfortable in your ears. If you have a chance to debut them somewhere to make sure they fit – do it. Incredible bass, detailed high’s, dual drivers in a little earpiece – these things are the standard by which any earphone should be judged. They retail for $249.00 and I found them for under $200 at a few web sites – at that price there is nothing that can compare. |
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