New Ultimate Ears Super.Fi 5 Pro Review

[Canman]

trose49, please do not consider different opinions a personal attack on yourself. Just because I have a different opinion it does not mean you are wrong. There are many members on this board whose opinions I respect and often there are conflicting listening notes among them. We all hear differently and look for different qualities when listening to our tunes. That means that when it comes down to it, you have to listen for yourself to figure out if a headphone works for you. joelongwood is a very experienced head-fier and has a bigger headphone collection than most of us (you crazy dog

) and the Super.Fi works well for him. They just don't work for me. These are all just opinions, not facts. I have placed my opinion, I'm glad you placed yours.

 

[PFRfan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by trose49 This is not an opinion it is a fact! [size=x-large]NOT MUDDY![/size]

We all agree that sounds are subjective. Not only that, but our opinion of them is strongly influence by our exposure. I didn't think my UEs were muddy - in fact I thought that they were clearer than the E3Cs (which they are), with better seperation (which they have), and more detail in general (which is true). But that opinion was based entirely on my having owned E2Cs for a week and E3Cs for a couple of months. When I brought another canalphone (E4C) into the mix and worked back and forth, then my opinion changed. I wasn't missing any treble or high-midrange until I heard something that had it in spades. I also noticed how huge the bass was, since the E4C doesn't have anywhere near that kind of bass power.

You bring up the time needed to adjust to the phones. I agree with that generally. But to me the SF5P sounded great out of the box, because I think of it as a better E3C - more treble, more bass, less pronounced midrange. I was in love with it and listened a fair amount for about a week.

To say that you don't know how anyone could say that the UEs are muddy implied an absoluteness to the term. It's a comparative term, not an absolute one - and unfortunately, you haven't heard the competition. I'm not saying you'd like the Shures better, but I believe that you'd understand what people are talking about if you heard the same phones. Come to think of it, I think that term has been brought up exclusively by those who HAVE tried both.

The UEs are great phones, and so are the Shures. For that matter the ER4S might be even better for me (never heard them). But I'm willing to admit my lack of a well-rounded and fully experienced perspective.

 

[jagger333]

Quote:

Originally Posted by trose49 Maybe the UB's but not the pros. This is not an opinion it is a fact! [size=x-large]NOT MUDDY![/size]

i agree with most of you that say opinion is your own opinion and yes you can say whatever you want based on your opinion...but please remember you need to be responsible for them...there's also a lot of people browsing through head-fi lookin for comments on the phones they're interested in getting...what you say might influence someone to make/change their buyin decision...

if i had my E4s and i saw trose49's raving reviews about superfi's non rolled off high, no mud!!, great bass and everythin else he said...i'd be tempted to buy a set and i would have been ultimately disappointed (compared to the E4 in terms of the highs)

also trose49...if i remember you BRIEFLY auditioned your friend's E4C....such short time of audition isn't sufficient to do a comparison IMO....jmmmmm has both superfi and E4 to compare....i have E4Cs for a month now and i had the superfis for two weeks of listenin before i returned them...

 

[CaptainChet]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jagger333 .i have E4Cs for a month now and i had the superfis for two weeks of listenin before i returned them...

I;m curious, who accepted a return on the Super-Fi's? Guitar Center told me I cannot return them and that's put me off a bit. I have a pair of ER-4P that are about to run out of the 30 day trial (from Headroom) and would like to find something stronger in the base without giving up the clarity.

I'm on my way now to purchase a pair, perhaps this particular Guitar Center will accomodate returns. I'll find out.

 

[Jmmmmm]

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptainChet I;m curious, who accepted a return on the Super-Fi's? Guitar Center told me I cannot return them and that's put me off a bit. I have a pair of ER-4P that are about to run out of the 30 day trial (from Headroom) and would like to find something stronger in the base without giving up the clarity. I'm on my way now to purchase a pair, perhaps this particular Guitar Center will accomodate returns. I'll find out.

As far as I know, no other universal canalphone rivals the er4 in detail and clarity. However, I think the e4c is the closest to what you are looking for, imo. The sf5pros will be sacrificing a lot of detail (don't get me wrong, the 5pros are great, but their sound is not close to the ety sound).

 

[CaptainChet]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jmmmmm As far as I know, no other universal canalphone rivals the er4 in detail and clarity. However, I think the e4c is the closest to what you are looking for, imo. The sf5pros will be sacrificing a lot of detail (don't get me wrong, the 5pros are great, but their sound is not close to the ety sound).

Thank's for the suggestion!! I did not purchase the Super-Fi today and your post makes me think it would be a bad choice. At least I can order a pair of e4c's and try them. I appreciate it very much.

I'm actually thinking of going all the way to UE-10's or the Sensaphonics.

 

[Jmmmmm]

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptainChet I'm actually thinking of going all the way to UE-10's or the Sensaphonics.

Me too. After I sell pretty much everything I own, I'll almost be able to afford them. It seems like this is the only option where you are not sacrificing (at least) one aspect of the sound.

 

[jyk]

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptainChet I;m curious, who accepted a return on the Super-Fi's? Guitar Center told me I cannot return them and that's put me off a bit. I have a pair of ER-4P that are about to run out of the 30 day trial (from Headroom) and would like to find something stronger in the base without giving up the clarity. I'm on my way now to purchase a pair, perhaps this particular Guitar Center will accomodate returns. I'll find out.

You already have a nice headset such as David-Clark H10-20. Also you may have Intercom(CD-com200).
Then you can mix the MP3s and ATC (!!!)

I own ER4P,E4C,Super.fi.
1) If you like the clarity of the ETY, E4C is not bad, but lesser clarity. Althogh E4C's bass is better than ETY.
2) Frequency spectrum of the Super.fi seems "bass shifted".
Very rich bass but lose the crality(IMO). In Piano trio, such as Oscer Peterson, Bill Evans, their (Piano)sounds recess. In Case of Miles Davis, his trumpet also recess from the stage. But again, mid-bass is rich as storm.
3) A couple of weeks, I am listening above 3 good cans. My favorite (now) is ER4P.E4c is sub. I am plannning to release super.fi.

 

[aluren]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jmmmmm Me too. After I sell pretty much everything I own, I'll almost be able to afford them. It seems like this is the only option where you are not sacrificing (at least) one aspect of the sound.

that's pretty much the same idea i've been getting after reading all the reviews for the UE10Pros. think of it as a lifetime investment. divide $1000 by the number of years you expect to live (i expect to live till 70 and i'm 22 right now). that comes out to about 20 bucks a year!! doesn't seem so expensive now does it?

 

[CaptainChet]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jyk You already have a nice headset such as David-Clark H10-20. Also you may have Intercom(CD-com200). Then you can mix the MP3s and ATC (!!!) I am plannning to release super.fi.

Well, the intercom I have is the one that's built into the EMB-145 DAP! I know some who made custom cables to interface the two. Interesting idea!! Would help on the long flights.

So by the term "release" I guess you mean get rid of?

Thanks!

 

[jyk]

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptainChet Well, the intercom I have is the one that's built into the EMB-145 DAP!

Not ERJ but EMB means mil. domain?!! Wao!
Quote:

So by the term "release" I guess you mean get rid of?

Yes it is.

 

[Imyourzero]

Quote:

Originally Posted by aluren that's pretty much the same idea i've been getting after reading all the reviews for the UE10Pros. think of it as a lifetime investment. divide $1000 by the number of years you expect to live (i expect to live till 70 and i'm 22 right now). that comes out to about 20 bucks a year!! doesn't seem so expensive now does it?

Except for the fact that the UE 10 Pros are only expected to last 2-3 years...doesn't seem to cheap now does it?

 

[rx7_fan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Imyourzero Except for the fact that the UE 10 Pros are only expected to last 2-3 years...doesn't seem to cheap now does it?

Uuuh no, Jerry Harvey told us that he still re-make UE-Pro 10 for people who had them for more than 3 years. Even the 'soft' version of UE customs are still being re-maked by UE. If there's anything that should go wrong, UE will re-make/fix it. In fact, this is one of the main point of the discussion of why UE choose to use arcylic rather than the soft material sennsaphonics uses. It's because they want the earphone to last for a very very long time.

If you want more info, ask JB or BRBJackson, I think those guys were paying very close attention, and they sat pretty close to Jerry.

 

[aluren]

Quote:

Originally Posted by rx7_fan Uuuh no, Jerry Harvey told us that he still re-make UE-Pro 10 for people who had them for more than 3 years. Even the 'soft' version of UE customs are still being re-maked by UE. If there's anything that should go wrong, UE will re-make/fix it. In fact, this is one of the main point of the discussion of why UE choose to use arcylic rather than the soft material sennsaphonics uses. It's because they want the earphone to last for a very very long time. If you want more info, ask JB or BRBJackson, I think those guys were paying version close attention, and they sat pretty close to Jerry.

yeah i forgot to include this into my post!

that's pretty cool, this might be the selling point for me in getting the UE 10 Pros, rather than constantly updating to newer and better phones throughout the years.

 

[DJGeorgeT]

okay, after reading this long thread, I can conclude that everyone still compares any in ear cans to Ety ER4's...you know why? Even if the bass is lacking, there is no universal-fit can out there that will give you the definition and clarity that the Ety's provide. If you don't like the piercing highs of the ER4S, get the ER4P which has more of a balanced high presentation with a bit more bass. I am going to get me a 6i now

Super.fi Pro out the window, E4C in the crapper. Shure should quit releasing loosers.