Frederik S
11-14-2007, 06:23 PM
[page=Introduction & Specifications]
Introduction
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Ultimateears/Superfi_3_Studio/images/logo.gif
Ultimate Ears where one of the first companies to introduce quality in-ear-monitors (IEMs) in the sub $150 category. Today I will be taking a look at their budget IEM called the Super.fi 3 Studio which cost a little over $100 which is to be considered cheap compared to other midrange IEMs. Even they don't come cheap they are still substantially cheaper than the competition's similar offerings. What you have to appreciate about the Super.fi 3 Studios is that they are based around a single precision balanced armature sound drive. This type of technology has until recently been limited to IEMs that are located in the $200+ price range. All of this has changed with the Ultimate Ears Super.fi 3 Studio.
So what does this mean for the average consumer? For starters the balanced armature drive will deliver sound more precisely than most full sized headphones. This means that the definition of the music you are listening to will be better.
One of the most noticeable problems with IEMs is the fact that they need a tight seal against your ear in order to function as intended. Ultimate Ears have a slightly different method for getting a good seal compared to Shure or Etymotic headphones. Instead of making a complicated fitting, the Ultimate Ears are simply placed shallower in the ear allowing for better comfort and easier insertion into the ear.
There are several major advantages of using IEMs compared to traditional headphones and one of the most distinct is probably ambient noise attenuation. The Ultimate Ears that I am looking at today claim to attenuate about 26 dB which isn't as good as most Etymotic or Shure headphones, but what they lack in noise insulation they pack in the price performance category.
Specifications
These are the specifications listed on Ultimate Ears own homepage:
Input Sensitivity: 115dB/mW
Frequency Response: 20 to 13,000
Impedance: 13 ohms
Internal Speaker Configuration: Single full range precision balanced armature
Noise Isolation: -26dB
Input connector: 1/8" (3.5mm) gold plated
Weight With cable assembly: 0.5 oz.
As you can see the specifications for these monitors are nothing out of the ordinary compared to similar offerings from other IEM producing companies. When it comes to weight the Ultimate Ears Super.fi 3 Studios are really light, weighing in at only 0.5 oz. The internal speaker used is as mentioned earlier a single precision balanced armature.
Considering their price of around $100 they do deliver in the “bang for the buck” category even though they aren’t exactly cheap.
[page=The Package]
The Package
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Ultimateears/Superfi_3_Studio/images/the_package_1_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Ultimateears/Superfi_3_Studio/images/the_package_1.jpg)
The Ultimate Ears Super.fi 3 Studio IEMs I got for review arrived in a small plastic box. The box art is somewhat funky and it is clear that Ultimate Ears focuses on delivering a product that goes well with iPod and other flashy gadgets. The monitors that I will be reviewing today are held in a clean "iPod" white color which I have to say looks pretty damn good compared to normal headphones.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Ultimateears/Superfi_3_Studio/images/back_of_package_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Ultimateears/Superfi_3_Studio/images/back_of_package.jpg)
On the back of the package you can read a little about the specifications of the monitors and the technology applied in them. Another piece of important information on the back of the package is the recommended volume. This is important because you can seriously damage your hearing by listening at a high volume level over an extended period of time - this of course applies to all headphones.
According to the specs the cord length is 46" or approximately 117 cm which is a bit on the short side compared to other products in the same market segment.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Ultimateears/Superfi_3_Studio/images/the_bundle_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Ultimateears/Superfi_3_Studio/images/the_bundle.jpg)
The bundle that comes with the Super.fi 3 Studios is really neat. You get a lot of different sized ear fittings for the monitors and a little cleaning tool that you can use to remove ear wax from the ear conductor. Besides this you also got a small metal carrying case.
Even though you get an ear conductor cleaning tool it is still a good idea to clean your ears often while using these in-ear-monitors due to the fact that ear wax can enter more critical areas of the monitors if you have thin ear wax.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Ultimateears/Superfi_3_Studio/images/manual_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Ultimateears/Superfi_3_Studio/images/manual.jpg)
Since in-ear-monitors can be hard to mount properly and can seriously damage your hearing the user's manual is a good starting point if you have never tried in-ear-monitors before. One of the biggest problems with in-ear-monitors is that it can be difficult to get them to fit right. The entire concept is based around a tight seal between the monitor and your ear canal. This is largely because the audio drive inside the monitor is tweaked to reproduce music in a closed and small space.
[page=Closer Examination]
Closer Examination
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Ultimateears/Superfi_3_Studio/images/front_of_monitor_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Ultimateears/Superfi_3_Studio/images/front_of_monitor.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Ultimateears/Superfi_3_Studio/images/back_of_monitor_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Ultimateears/Superfi_3_Studio/images/back_of_monitor.jpg)
The monitors look a bit more bulky than most in-ear-monitors due to the fact that they become wider the near the ear conductor section. As you might have noticed these in ears are meant to have the cord run over the ear and then down along side your neck. This surprised me a bit, but it makes good sense because of the way the monitor's case is designed. Another noteworthy design feature is the fact that you can replace the cord. This is really neat because the cord is one of the things that easily break because it is easy to hook your cord when you are, i.e. closing a zipper.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Ultimateears/Superfi_3_Studio/images/protective_carrying_case_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Ultimateears/Superfi_3_Studio/images/protective_carrying_case.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Ultimateears/Superfi_3_Studio/images/protective_carrying_case_2_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Ultimateears/Superfi_3_Studio/images/protective_carrying_case_2.jpg)
The protective case looks quite stylish and will undoubtedly shield your earphones from being damaged. The carrying case has only one major fault and that is the lack of a winding kit, this would have made it much easier to use. Because it doesn't have a kit you need to roll up the cord in your hands and then stuff it in the case. A winding kit would certainly have been a good idea both from an ease of use point of view, but also in the sense that it would stop the monitors from bouncing around inside the case.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Ultimateears/Superfi_3_Studio/images/connector_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Ultimateears/Superfi_3_Studio/images/connector.jpg)
The cord and connector that is used in the Super.fi 3 Studio kit is well designed. The connector is a 90 degrees bend design that makes it perfect for use with portable audio players. To my surprise the cord used was actually quite thick and with a very durable soft rubber coating. The cable itself is a standard balanced Y-split cable with an adjuster that lets you decide how long the split will be. Because the cable is so thick and with soft rubber isolation this will keep microphonic noise at a minimum which is nice if you want to use these headphones on the move.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Ultimateears/Superfi_3_Studio/images/tip_lineup_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Ultimateears/Superfi_3_Studio/images/tip_lineup.jpg)
Getting the perfect seal between your ears and the monitors shouldn't be that much of a problem with the Ultimate Ears Super.fi 3 Studios because they deliver a total of five different tips in various forms and sizes. In the box we find three single flange tips in small, medium, and large variants. Besides these tips you also get a medium sized double flange tip and a foam insert. Even though I have a quite large head I found that the small single flange tip suited me the best. To begin with the only tip I could get to fit and feel comfortable with was the foam inserts, but after a little fiddling around with the small rubber ones I got the all important perfect seal.
The difference between a good seal and a bad is easily noticeable. When the seal is bad the bass response and noise attenuation properties of the earphones will suffer greatly. Besides that the sound of the monitors tends to be "hollow" when the seal is bad because the monitor isn't balanced for use outside a closed space. Once you find the tips that suit you the best you are ready to reap the full potential of your in-ear-monitors. I spent about half an hour just going through all of the tips because I wanted to find the most comfortable one that delivered the best seal. I can definitely recommend any one with in ears to do the same since sometimes the most obvious choice isn't the best.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Ultimateears/Superfi_3_Studio/images/single_flange_tip_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Ultimateears/Superfi_3_Studio/images/single_flange_tip.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Ultimateears/Superfi_3_Studio/images/dual_flange_tip_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Ultimateears/Superfi_3_Studio/images/dual_flange_tip.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Ultimateears/Superfi_3_Studio/images/foam_tip_2_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Ultimateears/Superfi_3_Studio/images/foam_tip_2.jpg)
Above you can see the difference between the three different types of tips. The foam tips look really large compared to the others, but that is just because they are fully expanded. Before inserting them into your ear you compress them and let them decompress as you insert them into your ear. This means that the seal will be custom molded to your ear. The only downside is that the foam doesn’t muffle outside noise as well as the rubber. Of course there are exceptions if you can't get a good fit with the rubber ones using the foam ones will increase the isolating capabilities of the seal.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Ultimateears/Superfi_3_Studio/images/front_of_monitor_2_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Ultimateears/Superfi_3_Studio/images/front_of_monitor_2.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Ultimateears/Superfi_3_Studio/images/back_of_monitor_2_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Ultimateears/Superfi_3_Studio/images/back_of_monitor_2.jpg)
On the pictures above you can see how the monitor looks with a medium sized single flange tip installed on it. I found that the small single flange tip suited my type of ear the best.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Ultimateears/Superfi_3_Studio/images/monitor_from_the_ear_2_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Ultimateears/Superfi_3_Studio/images/monitor_from_the_ear_2.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Ultimateears/Superfi_3_Studio/images/monitor_from_the_ear_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Ultimateears/Superfi_3_Studio/images/monitor_from_the_ear.jpg)
Since the monitors are mounted with the cord going over the ear the cord has some extra material near the earphone which is easy to shape so that the curve fits your ear.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Ultimateears/Superfi_3_Studio/images/y_split_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Ultimateears/Superfi_3_Studio/images/y_split.jpg)
In order to reduce unwanted microphonic noise from the cord it's recommended that you run the cord behind your head and then use the split length adjuster to trim away unnecessary cable. This method should reduce the amount of cable noise being transmitted to the ear piece further improving fidelity.
[page=Performance]
Performance
The performance of an audio device will always be hard to judge objectively because there are so many variables that are hard to compensate for. What I always try to do is put the headphones through a series of different types of music at different intensities to check how they perform under various circumstances.
In-ear-monitors like the Ultimate Ears Super.fi 3 Studios are based around a single balanced armature which basically means that you have a single diaphragm that is making all of the tones. This should give you a balanced sound with a decent response across the line, however, since you are forcing one drive to do all the work there are certain aspects of its performance that might not be as good as a dual or triple driver headphone. For example many IEMs tend to have a bass that is precise but doesn't have quite the oomph, e.g. that many R&B listeners want.
To test the Super.fi 3 Studios I will be using two very different audio sources. My Creative X-Fi Xtrememusic (with ASIO driver) and my Cowon iAudio i7. When it comes to source files I will be listening to some of my records ripped in high-quality FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec) on both devices. Normally I only listen to rock, but just to test the deep end on the Super.fi 3 Studios I will put it through its paces with some R&B and a little house music.
When it comes to music I generally listen to a lot of old school rock like Bruce Springsteen, Dire Straits, Jimi Hendrix and the likes. So I started off by listening to a couple of my favorite tunes that I must have heard a thousand times over the last couple of years. Right from the beginning the performance of the Ultimate Ears blew me away. My personal preference when it comes to listening is a normal flat response and the Ultimate Ears Super.fi 3 Studio delivered just that. The responsiveness of the single balanced armature was perfect for getting a good rock listening experience.
The clear yet understated bass and smooth mids helped to accentuate the rock tunes in a very unique way. Another aspect of the Super.fi's performance that really blew me away was how precise the highs where and how far they extended. I think these in-ear-monitors are perfectly balanced for most rock listeners, however, if I could change one thing it would probably be the highs as they had a tendency to be overpowered by the a bit too accentuated mids.
When it comes to more bass intensive types of music these in-ear-monitors begin to show signs of weakness even though the bass is responsive it just doesn't pack enough punch to make house and some R&B tunes worth listening too. This just shows the downsides to single armature. The bass is responsive and extends nicely, but it lacks a bit power.
The bass performance of these headphones was a bit better when hooked up to either my PC or my home stereo system. So I think it's safe to say that you need either a kick ass portable player or a decent audio system at home to maximize the performance of these in-ears. My Cowon iAudio i7 did a remarkable job at driving the headphones, but it's clear that a dedicated headphone amp would increase the performance a lot, especially in terms of bass response.
Besides listening to music from a number of different sources I also decided to do a small games test. Since I'm a big first-person-shooter (FPS) game fan I fired up Counter-Strike:Source which is a fast paced first person shooter game. In this game the audio plays a major role due to the fact that you can track enemies by their sound without actually seeing them. I found that the Super.fis did a reasonably good job largely because of their brilliant mids and highs. When it came to reproduce the explosions and other intense stuff that happens in game the lack of bass made the explosions get a less forceful expression which makes it sound less real, but nonetheless the Ultimate Ears did a remarkable good job in game when it came to tracking enemies.
In my movie tests the impression was the same. The soft yet clear mids and highs made you feel right in the center of things, but yet again the bass couldn't deliver enough punch for the explosions and stuff like that to get the right powerful expression which is a shame.
Overall the Ultimate Ears Super.fi 3 Studios blew me away and I can definitely recommend them to anyone who likes to listen to a lot of rock or pop for that matter. The only thing that worries me a bit is that you need to have a quite powerful source in order to get them to sound the way they should.
[page=Comfort & Durability]
Comfort
The Ultimate Ears was at first a bit hard getting used to, but after using them for a couple of hours in a row I started to feel comfortable. The Ultimate Ears Super.fi 3 Studio is by far one of the most comfortable in-ear-monitors I have ever tried because there is no need to insert them as far into the ear canal as with most conventional in-ear-monitors. This means less irritation and an easier fit. Another positive aspect of the in-ears is that they only weigh about .5 oz which is so light that you barely feel them in your ear.
Durability
I have to admit that in-ear-monitors aren't the most durable audio devices around, however, the Ultimate Ears feel quite sturdy and the fact that you can change the cable without having to dismantle the earphones is a nice touch. The monitors themselves are made from two pieces of high quality plastic. Even if you squeeze them firmly together the plastic doesn't give way so the basic construction is quite well made. The only obvious durability problem with them besides the breaking of the cord and then ruining the housing is shock. I don't think that the armature insides will last very long if they are subject to strong G-forces, but again that goes for all headphones on the market today. Of course this does not mean that using them while jogging will break them, any normal usage scenario I can think of will not harm those monitors.
[page=Value & Conclusion]
Value & Conclusion
<table width="100%" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" id="result">
<tr><th>http://www.techpowerup.com/images/dollar.gif</th>
<td>
The Ultimate Ears Super.fi 3 Studio are available at Ulitimate Ears website (http://www.ultimateears.com/) for $129.99.
</td>
</tr><tr>
<th>http://www.techpowerup.com/images/thumbup.gif</th>
<td>
High fidelity
Super noise attenuation (-26 dB)
Shallow insertion into the ear
Comfort
Build quality
Bundle
Durability
Price
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>http://www.techpowerup.com/images/thumbdown.gif</th>
<td>
Cord length
Requires a good audio player in order to reach its full potential
</td></tr>
<tr><th>9.5</th>
<td>
The Ultimate Ears Super.fi 3 Studio is a very remarkable product offering performance that previously was only available to people willing to spend well in excess of $200.
During the past week I have spent a lot of time listening to the Super.fi 3 Studios and I must say that they really do deliver an awesome sound quality considering their price. Even when I compare them to my far more expensive Sennheiser HD595 the Ultimate Ears still have a far more balanced and precise sound which is nice for a rock freak like me.
The only downside to the Ultimate Ears Super.fi 3 Studios is the bass, even though it’s precise and can reproduce even the deepest tones it lacks some punch compared to a pair of fullsize headphones. So if you like to listen to a lot of bass intensive music I would definitely think twice before going with the Super.fi 3 Studios.
Even though the Super.fi 3 Studios have a remarkable sound quality with a good powerful portable player you still need a more powerful source or a dedicated headphone amp to maximize the performance of these headphones. The intensity of the bass is way better when running these headphones connected to a powerful output. My Cowon iAudio i7 did a good job at keeping up with these headphones, but there was still a noticeable difference between the sound on the iAudio and when I ran them with my Marantz amplifier or even the X-Fi card on my PC.
Overall the Ultimate Ears Super.fi 3 Studio delivers an outstanding price / performance ratio and is definitely one of the most comfortable in-ear solutions on the market today.
</td></tr><tr><th></th><td>http://www.techpowerup.com/images/editorschoice.gif</td></tr>
</table>
Introduction
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Ultimateears/Superfi_3_Studio/images/logo.gif
Ultimate Ears where one of the first companies to introduce quality in-ear-monitors (IEMs) in the sub $150 category. Today I will be taking a look at their budget IEM called the Super.fi 3 Studio which cost a little over $100 which is to be considered cheap compared to other midrange IEMs. Even they don't come cheap they are still substantially cheaper than the competition's similar offerings. What you have to appreciate about the Super.fi 3 Studios is that they are based around a single precision balanced armature sound drive. This type of technology has until recently been limited to IEMs that are located in the $200+ price range. All of this has changed with the Ultimate Ears Super.fi 3 Studio.
So what does this mean for the average consumer? For starters the balanced armature drive will deliver sound more precisely than most full sized headphones. This means that the definition of the music you are listening to will be better.
One of the most noticeable problems with IEMs is the fact that they need a tight seal against your ear in order to function as intended. Ultimate Ears have a slightly different method for getting a good seal compared to Shure or Etymotic headphones. Instead of making a complicated fitting, the Ultimate Ears are simply placed shallower in the ear allowing for better comfort and easier insertion into the ear.
There are several major advantages of using IEMs compared to traditional headphones and one of the most distinct is probably ambient noise attenuation. The Ultimate Ears that I am looking at today claim to attenuate about 26 dB which isn't as good as most Etymotic or Shure headphones, but what they lack in noise insulation they pack in the price performance category.
Specifications
These are the specifications listed on Ultimate Ears own homepage:
Input Sensitivity: 115dB/mW
Frequency Response: 20 to 13,000
Impedance: 13 ohms
Internal Speaker Configuration: Single full range precision balanced armature
Noise Isolation: -26dB
Input connector: 1/8" (3.5mm) gold plated
Weight With cable assembly: 0.5 oz.
As you can see the specifications for these monitors are nothing out of the ordinary compared to similar offerings from other IEM producing companies. When it comes to weight the Ultimate Ears Super.fi 3 Studios are really light, weighing in at only 0.5 oz. The internal speaker used is as mentioned earlier a single precision balanced armature.
Considering their price of around $100 they do deliver in the “bang for the buck” category even though they aren’t exactly cheap.
[page=The Package]
The Package
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Ultimateears/Superfi_3_Studio/images/the_package_1_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Ultimateears/Superfi_3_Studio/images/the_package_1.jpg)
The Ultimate Ears Super.fi 3 Studio IEMs I got for review arrived in a small plastic box. The box art is somewhat funky and it is clear that Ultimate Ears focuses on delivering a product that goes well with iPod and other flashy gadgets. The monitors that I will be reviewing today are held in a clean "iPod" white color which I have to say looks pretty damn good compared to normal headphones.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Ultimateears/Superfi_3_Studio/images/back_of_package_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Ultimateears/Superfi_3_Studio/images/back_of_package.jpg)
On the back of the package you can read a little about the specifications of the monitors and the technology applied in them. Another piece of important information on the back of the package is the recommended volume. This is important because you can seriously damage your hearing by listening at a high volume level over an extended period of time - this of course applies to all headphones.
According to the specs the cord length is 46" or approximately 117 cm which is a bit on the short side compared to other products in the same market segment.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Ultimateears/Superfi_3_Studio/images/the_bundle_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Ultimateears/Superfi_3_Studio/images/the_bundle.jpg)
The bundle that comes with the Super.fi 3 Studios is really neat. You get a lot of different sized ear fittings for the monitors and a little cleaning tool that you can use to remove ear wax from the ear conductor. Besides this you also got a small metal carrying case.
Even though you get an ear conductor cleaning tool it is still a good idea to clean your ears often while using these in-ear-monitors due to the fact that ear wax can enter more critical areas of the monitors if you have thin ear wax.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Ultimateears/Superfi_3_Studio/images/manual_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Ultimateears/Superfi_3_Studio/images/manual.jpg)
Since in-ear-monitors can be hard to mount properly and can seriously damage your hearing the user's manual is a good starting point if you have never tried in-ear-monitors before. One of the biggest problems with in-ear-monitors is that it can be difficult to get them to fit right. The entire concept is based around a tight seal between the monitor and your ear canal. This is largely because the audio drive inside the monitor is tweaked to reproduce music in a closed and small space.
[page=Closer Examination]
Closer Examination
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Ultimateears/Superfi_3_Studio/images/front_of_monitor_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Ultimateears/Superfi_3_Studio/images/front_of_monitor.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Ultimateears/Superfi_3_Studio/images/back_of_monitor_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Ultimateears/Superfi_3_Studio/images/back_of_monitor.jpg)
The monitors look a bit more bulky than most in-ear-monitors due to the fact that they become wider the near the ear conductor section. As you might have noticed these in ears are meant to have the cord run over the ear and then down along side your neck. This surprised me a bit, but it makes good sense because of the way the monitor's case is designed. Another noteworthy design feature is the fact that you can replace the cord. This is really neat because the cord is one of the things that easily break because it is easy to hook your cord when you are, i.e. closing a zipper.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Ultimateears/Superfi_3_Studio/images/protective_carrying_case_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Ultimateears/Superfi_3_Studio/images/protective_carrying_case.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Ultimateears/Superfi_3_Studio/images/protective_carrying_case_2_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Ultimateears/Superfi_3_Studio/images/protective_carrying_case_2.jpg)
The protective case looks quite stylish and will undoubtedly shield your earphones from being damaged. The carrying case has only one major fault and that is the lack of a winding kit, this would have made it much easier to use. Because it doesn't have a kit you need to roll up the cord in your hands and then stuff it in the case. A winding kit would certainly have been a good idea both from an ease of use point of view, but also in the sense that it would stop the monitors from bouncing around inside the case.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Ultimateears/Superfi_3_Studio/images/connector_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Ultimateears/Superfi_3_Studio/images/connector.jpg)
The cord and connector that is used in the Super.fi 3 Studio kit is well designed. The connector is a 90 degrees bend design that makes it perfect for use with portable audio players. To my surprise the cord used was actually quite thick and with a very durable soft rubber coating. The cable itself is a standard balanced Y-split cable with an adjuster that lets you decide how long the split will be. Because the cable is so thick and with soft rubber isolation this will keep microphonic noise at a minimum which is nice if you want to use these headphones on the move.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Ultimateears/Superfi_3_Studio/images/tip_lineup_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Ultimateears/Superfi_3_Studio/images/tip_lineup.jpg)
Getting the perfect seal between your ears and the monitors shouldn't be that much of a problem with the Ultimate Ears Super.fi 3 Studios because they deliver a total of five different tips in various forms and sizes. In the box we find three single flange tips in small, medium, and large variants. Besides these tips you also get a medium sized double flange tip and a foam insert. Even though I have a quite large head I found that the small single flange tip suited me the best. To begin with the only tip I could get to fit and feel comfortable with was the foam inserts, but after a little fiddling around with the small rubber ones I got the all important perfect seal.
The difference between a good seal and a bad is easily noticeable. When the seal is bad the bass response and noise attenuation properties of the earphones will suffer greatly. Besides that the sound of the monitors tends to be "hollow" when the seal is bad because the monitor isn't balanced for use outside a closed space. Once you find the tips that suit you the best you are ready to reap the full potential of your in-ear-monitors. I spent about half an hour just going through all of the tips because I wanted to find the most comfortable one that delivered the best seal. I can definitely recommend any one with in ears to do the same since sometimes the most obvious choice isn't the best.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Ultimateears/Superfi_3_Studio/images/single_flange_tip_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Ultimateears/Superfi_3_Studio/images/single_flange_tip.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Ultimateears/Superfi_3_Studio/images/dual_flange_tip_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Ultimateears/Superfi_3_Studio/images/dual_flange_tip.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Ultimateears/Superfi_3_Studio/images/foam_tip_2_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Ultimateears/Superfi_3_Studio/images/foam_tip_2.jpg)
Above you can see the difference between the three different types of tips. The foam tips look really large compared to the others, but that is just because they are fully expanded. Before inserting them into your ear you compress them and let them decompress as you insert them into your ear. This means that the seal will be custom molded to your ear. The only downside is that the foam doesn’t muffle outside noise as well as the rubber. Of course there are exceptions if you can't get a good fit with the rubber ones using the foam ones will increase the isolating capabilities of the seal.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Ultimateears/Superfi_3_Studio/images/front_of_monitor_2_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Ultimateears/Superfi_3_Studio/images/front_of_monitor_2.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Ultimateears/Superfi_3_Studio/images/back_of_monitor_2_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Ultimateears/Superfi_3_Studio/images/back_of_monitor_2.jpg)
On the pictures above you can see how the monitor looks with a medium sized single flange tip installed on it. I found that the small single flange tip suited my type of ear the best.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Ultimateears/Superfi_3_Studio/images/monitor_from_the_ear_2_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Ultimateears/Superfi_3_Studio/images/monitor_from_the_ear_2.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Ultimateears/Superfi_3_Studio/images/monitor_from_the_ear_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Ultimateears/Superfi_3_Studio/images/monitor_from_the_ear.jpg)
Since the monitors are mounted with the cord going over the ear the cord has some extra material near the earphone which is easy to shape so that the curve fits your ear.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Ultimateears/Superfi_3_Studio/images/y_split_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Ultimateears/Superfi_3_Studio/images/y_split.jpg)
In order to reduce unwanted microphonic noise from the cord it's recommended that you run the cord behind your head and then use the split length adjuster to trim away unnecessary cable. This method should reduce the amount of cable noise being transmitted to the ear piece further improving fidelity.
[page=Performance]
Performance
The performance of an audio device will always be hard to judge objectively because there are so many variables that are hard to compensate for. What I always try to do is put the headphones through a series of different types of music at different intensities to check how they perform under various circumstances.
In-ear-monitors like the Ultimate Ears Super.fi 3 Studios are based around a single balanced armature which basically means that you have a single diaphragm that is making all of the tones. This should give you a balanced sound with a decent response across the line, however, since you are forcing one drive to do all the work there are certain aspects of its performance that might not be as good as a dual or triple driver headphone. For example many IEMs tend to have a bass that is precise but doesn't have quite the oomph, e.g. that many R&B listeners want.
To test the Super.fi 3 Studios I will be using two very different audio sources. My Creative X-Fi Xtrememusic (with ASIO driver) and my Cowon iAudio i7. When it comes to source files I will be listening to some of my records ripped in high-quality FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec) on both devices. Normally I only listen to rock, but just to test the deep end on the Super.fi 3 Studios I will put it through its paces with some R&B and a little house music.
When it comes to music I generally listen to a lot of old school rock like Bruce Springsteen, Dire Straits, Jimi Hendrix and the likes. So I started off by listening to a couple of my favorite tunes that I must have heard a thousand times over the last couple of years. Right from the beginning the performance of the Ultimate Ears blew me away. My personal preference when it comes to listening is a normal flat response and the Ultimate Ears Super.fi 3 Studio delivered just that. The responsiveness of the single balanced armature was perfect for getting a good rock listening experience.
The clear yet understated bass and smooth mids helped to accentuate the rock tunes in a very unique way. Another aspect of the Super.fi's performance that really blew me away was how precise the highs where and how far they extended. I think these in-ear-monitors are perfectly balanced for most rock listeners, however, if I could change one thing it would probably be the highs as they had a tendency to be overpowered by the a bit too accentuated mids.
When it comes to more bass intensive types of music these in-ear-monitors begin to show signs of weakness even though the bass is responsive it just doesn't pack enough punch to make house and some R&B tunes worth listening too. This just shows the downsides to single armature. The bass is responsive and extends nicely, but it lacks a bit power.
The bass performance of these headphones was a bit better when hooked up to either my PC or my home stereo system. So I think it's safe to say that you need either a kick ass portable player or a decent audio system at home to maximize the performance of these in-ears. My Cowon iAudio i7 did a remarkable job at driving the headphones, but it's clear that a dedicated headphone amp would increase the performance a lot, especially in terms of bass response.
Besides listening to music from a number of different sources I also decided to do a small games test. Since I'm a big first-person-shooter (FPS) game fan I fired up Counter-Strike:Source which is a fast paced first person shooter game. In this game the audio plays a major role due to the fact that you can track enemies by their sound without actually seeing them. I found that the Super.fis did a reasonably good job largely because of their brilliant mids and highs. When it came to reproduce the explosions and other intense stuff that happens in game the lack of bass made the explosions get a less forceful expression which makes it sound less real, but nonetheless the Ultimate Ears did a remarkable good job in game when it came to tracking enemies.
In my movie tests the impression was the same. The soft yet clear mids and highs made you feel right in the center of things, but yet again the bass couldn't deliver enough punch for the explosions and stuff like that to get the right powerful expression which is a shame.
Overall the Ultimate Ears Super.fi 3 Studios blew me away and I can definitely recommend them to anyone who likes to listen to a lot of rock or pop for that matter. The only thing that worries me a bit is that you need to have a quite powerful source in order to get them to sound the way they should.
[page=Comfort & Durability]
Comfort
The Ultimate Ears was at first a bit hard getting used to, but after using them for a couple of hours in a row I started to feel comfortable. The Ultimate Ears Super.fi 3 Studio is by far one of the most comfortable in-ear-monitors I have ever tried because there is no need to insert them as far into the ear canal as with most conventional in-ear-monitors. This means less irritation and an easier fit. Another positive aspect of the in-ears is that they only weigh about .5 oz which is so light that you barely feel them in your ear.
Durability
I have to admit that in-ear-monitors aren't the most durable audio devices around, however, the Ultimate Ears feel quite sturdy and the fact that you can change the cable without having to dismantle the earphones is a nice touch. The monitors themselves are made from two pieces of high quality plastic. Even if you squeeze them firmly together the plastic doesn't give way so the basic construction is quite well made. The only obvious durability problem with them besides the breaking of the cord and then ruining the housing is shock. I don't think that the armature insides will last very long if they are subject to strong G-forces, but again that goes for all headphones on the market today. Of course this does not mean that using them while jogging will break them, any normal usage scenario I can think of will not harm those monitors.
[page=Value & Conclusion]
Value & Conclusion
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The Ultimate Ears Super.fi 3 Studio are available at Ulitimate Ears website (http://www.ultimateears.com/) for $129.99.
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High fidelity
Super noise attenuation (-26 dB)
Shallow insertion into the ear
Comfort
Build quality
Bundle
Durability
Price
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Cord length
Requires a good audio player in order to reach its full potential
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The Ultimate Ears Super.fi 3 Studio is a very remarkable product offering performance that previously was only available to people willing to spend well in excess of $200.
During the past week I have spent a lot of time listening to the Super.fi 3 Studios and I must say that they really do deliver an awesome sound quality considering their price. Even when I compare them to my far more expensive Sennheiser HD595 the Ultimate Ears still have a far more balanced and precise sound which is nice for a rock freak like me.
The only downside to the Ultimate Ears Super.fi 3 Studios is the bass, even though it’s precise and can reproduce even the deepest tones it lacks some punch compared to a pair of fullsize headphones. So if you like to listen to a lot of bass intensive music I would definitely think twice before going with the Super.fi 3 Studios.
Even though the Super.fi 3 Studios have a remarkable sound quality with a good powerful portable player you still need a more powerful source or a dedicated headphone amp to maximize the performance of these headphones. The intensity of the bass is way better when running these headphones connected to a powerful output. My Cowon iAudio i7 did a good job at keeping up with these headphones, but there was still a noticeable difference between the sound on the iAudio and when I ran them with my Marantz amplifier or even the X-Fi card on my PC.
Overall the Ultimate Ears Super.fi 3 Studio delivers an outstanding price / performance ratio and is definitely one of the most comfortable in-ear solutions on the market today.
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