Ultimate Ears 700 Noise Isolating Earphones
From Ultimate Ears
Designed with a micro dual-armature layout to give you a cleaner, more precise audio reproduction. This is the closest you may get to the same professional-grade stage monitors used by 75% of the world's touring professional artists and sound engineers. With sound so clear and authentic, you'll think you were listening to your favorite artist performing live in your living room. Such a small device produces such a magnitude of sound, you'll wonder how we got all the parts in there.
Brand: Ultimate Ears Model: IF-P5PSM0001-02 Dimensions: 1.00 pounds
Awards and Accolades CES 2010 Innovations Award Honoree in Headphones Category November 2009 iLounge 2009 Best Of The Year Award iPod/iPhone Headphone of the Year November 2009 The Choice of 75% of the World's Top Touring Musicians* The world's top performing artists choose Ultimate Ears custom in-ear monitors for one reason—they are made to deliver the best fit and sound reproduction available. Ultimate Ears represents the culmination of years of experience designing, testing and refining professional in-ear monitors. Ultimate Ears brings this experience to every pair of earphones that they make. The unique sound signature of Ultimate Ears earphones has been tuned to be sonically accurate, yet musically impressive. The earphone designs and ear cushions create a soft, snug seal for long wearing comfort and noise isolation. And Ultimate Ears' sleek, refined designs complement your personal style—instead of overwhelming it. Ultimate Ears 700–With pro-quality hidden inside. Ultimate Ears 700 delivers pro-quality sound in a sleek, micro design. Fitting flush to your ear, you barely know you're wearing them—until you hear the precise, immersive 3-D soundstage delivered through the custom tuned dual armature speakers. Ultimate Ears uses the same speaker technology in their Ultimate Ears 700 earphones as they use in their custom in-ear monitors created for the world's top performing artists. Artists like Seal, Kenny Chesney, The Killers, Rise Against, Fall Out Boy, System of a Down, Sugar Ray and many more. Personal Style Sleek Design: Micro design earphones virtually disappear when inserted into your ear. All you see is a sleek small silver housing. Finish: Liquid silver earphone color with black cord. Pro-Audio Sound Quality Dual Armature Speaker Design with Passive Crossover: Two custom tuned armature speakers in each ear deliver clean, precise audio reproduction. One speaker produces rich and punchy bass, while the second speaker produces clean, clear mid and high notes. Immersion Sound Signature: Exclusive Immersion sound signature is tuned to provide a 3-D sound stage that makes you feel as though you are experiencing the quality, energy and emotion of a live performance. Noise Isolation: Micro design fits flush to the ear for a tighter sound seal and greater noise isolation. Earphones naturally and comfortably block outside noise by up to 26 dB. Frequency Range: Super broad frequency range of 10Hz – 20kHz delivers cleaner, clearer mid and high tones. Long Wearing Comfort Micro Design: Smaller size means longer wearing comfort, even for small ears. Extremely lightweight (only 11.6 grams per earphone) means you can wear them for extended periods without experiencing fatigue. Comply Foam Ear Cushions: Comply foam ear cushions provide maximum comfort and noise isolation. Available only on Ultimate Ears premium earphone models. Tapered Silicone Ear Cushions: Unique tapered ear cushions fit more naturally in your ear canal for a better, more comfortable seal than traditional “square” ear cushions. Includes small, medium and large silicone ear cushions to comfortably fit all ear sizes. Convenient Features Flexible Listening: Can be worn comfortably down for casual listening situations such as sitting or walking. Can be worn over the ear to keep the earphones securely in place during running or exercising. Tangle-resistant Cord: Durable cord is strong and does not tangle as easily as thinner ear bud cords. Cord length of 46” is specifically designed to prevent earphone fallout. Pocket-ready Hard Case: Black flip-top pocket-ready hard case safely stores your earphones and slips easily into a pocket or bag. Compatibility Audio Players* iPod and other MP3 players iPhone and Blackberry (audio only) Home audio Gaming consoles Video/portable DVD players Computers/laptops *with 3.5mm jacks What's in the Box Ultimate Ears 700 earphones Pocket-ready hard case Soft, silicone ear cushions (S, M, L) Two sets of Comply foam ear cushions Airline attenuator for hearing protection Instruction manual 1-year limited hardware warranty Find Your Ultimate Ears Good Better Best Model Speaker Design Noise Isolation Comfort Features Compatibility TripleFi 10 Triple Armature Speaker Full 3D Sound Stage, Closest Experience to Our Custom In-Ear Monitors 26 dB Comply Foam & Silicone Ear Cushions Shapeable Cord for a Secure Custom Fit Audio: iPod, iPhone, & MP3 Voice & Audio: (viVersion): iPhone, Blackberry and other Smart Phones Ultimate Ears 700 Dual Armature Speaker Optimized Frequency Response for More Precise Audio Reproduction & Punchy Bass 26 dB Comply Foam & Tapered Silicone Ear Cushions Micro Design for Long Wearing Audio: iPod, iPhone & MP3 SuperFi 5 Single Top Fire Armature Speaker Extended High Frequency Response 26 dB Comply Foam & Silicone Ear Cushions Audio: iPod, iPhone, & MP3 Voice & Audio: (viVersion): iPhone, Blackberry and other Smart Phones SuperFi 4 Single Armature Speaker Crisp Full Sound & Improved Noise Isolation 26 dB Comply Foam & Silicone Ear Cushions Audio: iPod, iPhone & MP3 MetroFi 220 Single Titanium Coated Diaphram Speaker Authentic Sound with Improved Clarity 16 dB Silicone Ear Cushions Audio: iPod, iPhone, & MP3 Voice & Audio: (viVersion): iPhone, Blackberry and other Smart Phones MetroFi 170 Single Diaphram Speaker Tuned for Authentic Sound Quality 16 dB Silicone Ear Cushions Audio: iPod, iPhone, & MP3 Voice & Audio: (viVersion): iPhone, Blackberry and other Smart Phones *Pollstar Top 100 Touring Artists.
Excellent Fidelity, but Wire to Plug Connection is Fragile 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. Ultimate Ears 700 - A Very Good Feature Mix For Upper-Mid-Range Earphones 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. Excellent IEMs - Handle With Care 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. Note that 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. 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.
