New and Improved Ultimate Ears Super.Fi 5 v2.0 - Huge Sound in a Tiny Package. - Page 17 - Head-Fi: Covering Headphones, Earphones and Portable Audio

dfkt · #**241** (**permalink**) 04-29-2009, 12:59 PM

The S.F5v2 do hiss with almost anything due to their way too low impedance and high sensitivity, the PFE and RE0 don't hiss.

active · #**242** (**permalink**) 04-29-2009, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dfkt

The S.F5v2 do hiss with almost anything due to their way too low impedance and high sensitivity, the PFE and RE0 don't hiss.

Actually PFE do hiss, just checked on few PC's and a laptop before sending it back (because of a defect) to the shop.

Bought HD RE0's, but returned on the next day because of the poor, AWFUL design / stiff, cheapish, heavy cable and a fit issue (sharp edge of the wide sound tube's base painfully "cutting" into ears, any tips). And RE0 does hiss too, but less than phonaks (higher impedance / DC resistance).

dfkt · #**243** (**permalink**) 04-29-2009, 02:36 PM

I see... never used them on any output like that. But the PFE perform admirably noiseless and "black" on even my noisiest portable sources (Cowon D2, Nintendo DS).

calmn · #**244** (**permalink**) 05-11-2009, 01:54 AM

hey,

i love my SF5s but i also have a HISS problem when i plug it in my laptop... i know the dowin cable was suggested earlier in the thread but i can't seem to find them in the UK... tried amazon, ebay and handheld audio...

any idea where i can get them?

if not, should i just settle for the attenuator sold by UE? i've heard that the SQ might be affected with them...

i'm using the Fiio E3 if it makes any difference

thanks in advance!

dfkt · #**245** (**permalink**) 05-11-2009, 02:02 AM

The UE attenuator is 250 Ohm, way too high for normal use. Better to get one from Awwan on eBay, he makes good quality adapters: eBay Store - AW Audio accessory: Portable Audio accessory

Something around 40-80 Ohm should do it for the hissy SF5.

tstarn06 · #**246** (**permalink**) 05-11-2009, 02:13 AM

Dowin cables at head-direct.com.

Quote:

Originally Posted by calmn

hey,

i love my SF5s but i also have a HISS problem when i plug it in my laptop... i know the dowin cable was suggested earlier in the thread but i can't seem to find them in the UK... tried amazon, ebay and handheld audio...

any idea where i can get them?

if not, should i just settle for the attenuator sold by UE? i've heard that the SQ might be affected with them...

i'm using the Fiio E3 if it makes any difference

thanks in advance!

G-Ray · #**247** (**permalink**) 05-24-2009, 02:47 AM

Hi all, first time poster.

I bought these 'phones just yesterday and..., my initial impression is that I may have made a bad decision.

I am hoping that someone can prove me wrong.

I am good at doing things hastily. I should really have read more than just the 3rd page of this hread. I am currently listening to them now whilst reading that the UE Super Fi 5's bass is lacking. Thus far I must concur.

So, a few questions;

- Should I not be jumping to such a hasty conclusion before they burn in?

- I really do need bass impact. I listen to a lot of trance a la Armin van Buuren/Markus Schulz and techno a la Adam Beyer/Ben Sims, therefore punchy bass impact is hugely important.

I used to own a pair of Future Sonics Atrios which had huge, imposing bass impact. Unfortunately I sold them owing to the fact that I could not find replacement foam tips large enough for my ear canals (which are so large you could fit an Airbus A380 in them...) - I should point out that FS no longer ship accessories to countries outside the US. Another hasty decision gone wrong I guess, because I really do miss their immensely good sound!!

But I digress, will buying an amp help improve said non-existent bass impact and if so, how much should I be looking to spend? The Meier Audio xxs is what I am looking at.

Btw I am using them with my iPhone.

ABI said in their review that the bass was indeed lacking but I didn't think it would be so bright and non-imposin, they also said that an amp might help but nonetheless some more indepth advice would be greatly appreciated.

LCfiner · #**248** (**permalink**) 05-24-2009, 05:52 AM

G-Ray,

I tried out a set of super.fi 5s at macworld and the bass was pretty good. they were, of course, amped. I did not know the type of amp, though. The sound definitely id not seem lacking.

now, i can say from my experience with triple.fi 10s that there is very little bass unless amped. if you're interested in only bass impact, i found that a super cheap FiiO E3 has a big impact on the 10s. it might be similar on the 5s.

it's certainly cheap enough to try out and see. you can get that amp for around 10 bucks.

I'll let others comment on the effect of more midrange and high end amps with your specific phones.

good luck

G-Ray · #**249** (**permalink**) 05-24-2009, 06:17 AM

^ Thanks LCFiner.

Headphonic here in Perth (Australia) have the FiiO F2 for $15 and the F5 for $50 so I'll pop into the shop next payday. Hopefully I can test both of them.

In the meantime, methinks I'll be listening to a lot of Pink Floyd and the Stones over the next week or so. Methinks I should have written to FS....

I don't want to sacrifice too much mid nor high end detail, however if possible I would like it tamed/darkened.

G-Ray · #**250** (**permalink**) 06-08-2009, 11:37 AM

Update:

I have not purchased an amp after doing some extensive homework. Oddly enough, the sound of these 'phones sound absolutely fantastic, what I had expected and more, when played through Mum's iPod nano (3rd gen) but they still sound limp and lifeless (particularly in terms of bass and sub-bass) when played through my iPhone (the very device the vi's were bought for).

So, the conundrum that I face is....., do I sell my iPhone and get another media player??

dogears · #**251** (**permalink**) 09-03-2009, 08:15 AM

^Try Sansa Fuze

STxza · #**252** (**permalink**) 09-22-2009, 06:49 PM

So any ideas for Super.Fi 5 v2.0 VS Head-Direct RE0? for genres such as Rock, Metal, Electronic, Hip-Hop, some Jazz, Classical. Non-amped and going with the Cowon D2+.

The RE0 seems quite popular on here where as I haven't seen the UE SF (non-pro) mentioned much at all except this thread. And other than bass the RE0 has been compared to the TF10 and such so I guess it must better than SF5 v2 in those areas.

I can also get the SF5 with a resistance adaptor to avoid the hissing and I heard the bass is overall better on them than RE0. Is it worth it to do that over getting the RE0??? which I can for about $60 cheaper here. So overall im leaning towards the RE0.

Jodiuh · #**253** (**permalink**) 10-17-2009, 02:51 PM

I currently have a pair of Etymotic ER6i's and have been looking @ the these, the RE0's, and the Klipsch S4's. Has anyone had a chance to compare all 4?

Jodiuh · #**254** (**permalink**) 10-18-2009, 06:53 AM

Ok, I just got back from Fry's w/ these. They were only $100 bucks, so I couldn't resist. It's been a long time (2 yrs) since I've made a headphone purchase I must say I forgot the golden rule of upgrade speaker 1st, source 2nd. I've been going through DAP trial after DAP, but listening through these out of my old Sony S616 sounds better than the Sony X + Ety ER6i combo by a long shot. Also, the comply's fit amazingly well for me. They're very comfy too!

The soundstage and low end increase does wonders for sucking me into my music. In light of this I think I'm going to hold off on upgrading the DAP and perhaps research a better IEM such as the UE 700 instead. Perhaps by then Sony would have released an S Master DAP wo/ the WiFi and NC nonsense w/ more buttons.