The hand-built JH 13 Pro in-ear headphone.
(Credit: Steve Guttenberg)If you have ears, prepare to open them now.
I've just reviewed a bunch of contenders for the world's best full-size, over-the-ear headphone: Audio Technica ATH-W5000, Denon AH-D7000, Grado PS-1000, Sennheiser HD 800, Stax SR-007Mk2, and Ultrasone Edition 8 headphones--and all boast higher MSRPs than the JH Audio JH 13 Pro in-ear headphone.
Sure, full-size headphones can be used with iPods and MP3 players with varying degrees of success, but they're a lot more of a hassle to lug around than the JH 13 Pro. Honestly, I prefer the sound and comfort of over-the-ear models compared with in-ear headphones. Then again, the JH 13 Pro is a very different type of in-ear design, it uses six drivers--two woofers, two midranges, and two tweeters--to lower distortion compared with other in-ear designs. It's a difference I can hear.
The JH 13 Pro's resolution of fine detail is extraordinary, drums sound more realistic than I've heard from any other type of headphone. The JH 13 Pro is "fast," cymbals' shimmer and sparkle the way they do in real life, and when a drummer whacks his sticks against the drums' metal rims, the sound is more realistic. Dynamic oomph and slam are the best I've heard from an in-ear headphone.
The JH 13 Pro's bass goes deeper than any in-ear headphone to date, but it's the way these headphones decode palpable bass textures that's highly addictive. Electric, acoustic, and keyboard basses sound more different from each other with the JH 13 Pro. Switching over to Monster's excellent new Turbine Pro Gold in-ear headphone ($299) is startling, the Turbines sound mushy and muddled by comparison. The Monster has more mid-bass fullness, which some listeners may prefer. I do not.
The JH 13 Pro's midrange clarity is radically better than any in-ear 'phones I've used to date. Its bass, midrange, and treble are better balanced and accurate than what I'm used to from in-ear designs.
... Read moreUltimate Ears has been a familiar name to musicians and other audio professionals for a decade, but the company has gained quite a following with its consumer line as well. Earphones in its various lines range in affordability and scale nicely, from those geared toward casual but discerning listeners to sets for audiophiles. At the bottom end, you have the MetroFi line, which has recently enjoyed a refresh in the form of the 220 and 170 earphones, the former being the subject of this review.
The MetroFi 220 Noise Isolating Earphones are a step up from the bottom of the line in the Ultimate Ears family and come in two versions: a standard MP3 player model for $79.99 and the iPhone-friendly 220vi, which includes an in-line mic and sells for $20 more. Either set is a good buy for picky listeners who have a moderate amount of cash to spend on replacement headphones for their MP3 players, but buyers should be aware of potential fit and durability issues.
Ultimate Ears has been a familiar name to musicians and other audio professionals for a decade, but the company has gained quite a following with its consumer line as well. Earphones in its various lines range in affordability and scale nicely, from discerning listeners to audiophiles. At the bottom end, you have the MetroFi line, which has recently enjoyed a refresh in the form of the 220 and 170 earphones, the latter being the subject of this review.
The MetroFi 170 Noise Isolating Earphones are the cheapest set in the Ultimate Ears family and come in two versions: a standard MP3 player model for $49.99 and the iPhone-friendly 170vi, which includes an in-line mic and sells for $10 more. Either set is a great starting point for picky listeners who don't have a lot of cash to spend on replacement headphones for their MP3 players, but buyers should be aware of potential fit and durability issues.
The Ultimate Ears 700 Noise-Isolating Earphones are the latest upscale earbuds to hit the market for your listening pleasure. What sets the new headset apart from previous Ultimate Ears models is that each bud includes two separate channels--one for high and midrange frequencies, the other for lows. (By comparison, the almost twice as expensive and considerably larger Shure SE530s cram three drivers into each earbud.) Other niceties included are five extra pairs of ear tips, so you can customize the fit to the size of your ear canal (small, medium, or large), as well as an airline attenuator (to tap down those stridently loud pilot announcements), and a pocket case to carry everything.
The Ultimate Ears 700s are currently available; list price is $229, though early online pricing is running $20 to $30 higher. They'll compete with a long and growing list of great in-ear headphones, including models from Shure, Etymotic, Klipsch, Denon--and Ultimate Ears itself.
(Source: Logitech via Crunchgear)
On Sale Now: $186.02 - $252.02
View the latest prices for Logitech IF-P5PSM0001-02 Ultimate Ears 700 Noise-Isolating Earphones
The Ultimate Ears Triple.fi 10vi Noise Isolating Earphones are a slight variation on the UE Triple.fi 10 Pro. The 10vi headphones offer the same spectacular sound quality and gigantic earbuds found across the Triple.fi line, but come with the added bonus of an inline mic and call-answer button for use with your iPhone or other music-friendly cell phone.
Other handy features include a nice, hard-sided metal carrying case; several varieties of eartips, including the super-comfy foam variety; an extender cable; a quarter-inch adapter; and an airplane adapter cable. Be forewarned, though: the ear pieces are truly huge and will not fit all users. For more information, check out our review of the Triple.fi 10 Pro.
The $59.99 UE MetroFi 170vi are smartphone compatible.
(Credit: Ultimate Ears)In what can only be considered a wise move in the current economic climate, Ultimate Ears is expanding its line of noise-isolating earphones to include a $49.99 pair, the MetroFi 170, and a $79.99 pair, the MetroFi 220. The new earbuds will replace the MetroFi 2, which were previously UE's cheapest set at $80. The company is also offering smartphone-compatible models with microphones built into the cables. These versions, the MetroFi 170vi and the MetroFi220vi, will sell for $59.99 and $89.99, respectively. I'd say that 10-buck increase for call-answering capability is as easy to swallow as the new, more-affordable entry price point.
The new MetroFi earphones come with a variety of silicone ear tips that reportedly offer 16 decibels of noise isolation. The earbud enclosures offer a metallic sheen, with the right ear piece featuring a slight red tone to distinguish it from the left. Inside each piece is a titanium-coated speaker driver tuned to deliver a crisp sound signature. Ultimate Ears also includes a hard plastic case--much like the one packaged with the Loud Enough earphones. All models are expected to be available in February.
The company also announced an iPhone-compatible version of its Triple.fi 10 earphones, the Triple.fi 10vi. All major details are the same, except that the new model includes an inline mic. It retails for $419.99 and is available now.
Logitech on Thursday announced that it will be acquiring headphone-manufacturer Ultimate Ears for $34 million. The all-cash deal is expected to close later this month, but signs of the impending integration are already apparent on the Web sites of both companies (Logitech.com and Ultimateears.com).
Ultimate Ears specializes in in-ear "canal phones" for portable audio devices such as the iPod. While the company's flagship UE-10 Pro model--a set of headphones that are custom-molded to the listener's ears--cost upwards of $900, the product line includes plenty of other headphone products in the more mainstream $40-$250 range.
Prior to the Ultimate Ears acquisition, Logitech's only headphone products were PC and Bluetooth headsets. Going forward, the Ultimate Ears products--which have generally scored high marks from professional reviewers, CNET included--will gain access to Logitech's massive marketing and retail distribution resources. It's a formula that's worked for Logitech in the past: through acquisitions such as Intrigue Technologies and Slim Devices, Logitech has supersized products such as the once-obscure Harmony universal remotes and Squeezebox network audio streamers into mainstream consumer electronics success stories.
(Credit:
Ultimate Ears)
Ultimate Ears has been a familiar name to musicians and other audio professionals for a decade, but in the past few years, the company has churned out a variety of headphones for several consumer lines that range in affordability. Earphones in its Metro.fi, Super.fi, and Triple.fi lines have gained a reasonable following with mainstream listeners, who have plenty of nice things to say about the company's products (see: Amazon.com).
The earbuds that have gained perhaps the most glowing praise are the Triple.fi 10s, a $400 pair that features three balanced armatures in each ear piece. As one might expect, this leads to exceptional audio response; unfortunately, it also means that the ear pieces are huge and will not fit all users comfortably. Read the full review.
(Credit:
Ultimate Ears)
Ultimate Ears has been a familiar name to musicians and other audio professionals for a decade, but the company has gained quite a following with its consumer line as well. Earphones in its Metro.fi, Super.fi, and Triple.fi lines range in affordability and scale nicely, from those perfect for discerning listeners to those only audiophiles require.
Falling in at the bottom is the $79 Metro.fi 2, a rather standard-looking set that offers nicely balanced audio to go with its affordable price tag. Unfortunately, getting a secure and comfortable fit may be a challenge for some people. Read the full review.
(Credit:
Ultimate Ears)
Ultimate Ears has been a familiar name to musicians and other audio professionals for a decade, but the company has gained quite a following with its consumer line as well. Earphones in its Metro.fi, Super.fi, and Triple.fi lines range in affordability and scale nicely from discerning listeners to audiophiles. Falling in toward the middle of the bottom is the $129 Super.fi 4, a stylish, low-profile set that comes with a reasonable array of accessories. The earphones offer some of the clearest audio we've come across, but getting a secure and comfortable fit is a challenge for some users. Read the full review.
