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Ultimate Ears Super.Fi 4 Sound Isolating Earphones
Introduction
One of the first lessons I learned when I procured my first mp3 player was that the headphones included with the player are most likely not your best bet for getting the most out of your music. I ventured from one pair to another, always discovering an endearing characteristic in each. It's not too different from dating, really. So far in life, I haven't found the right woman. I also haven't found the right set of 'phones. I have some Shure phones that sound amazing, but just don't fit my ears right. I love the iPhone standard buds for exercising because they are comfortable and lightweight, but the sound leaves a lot to be desired. If you could blend these two things together, you'd probably come out the other end with my dream phones. Ultimate Ears is a company that has provided reference quality In Ear Monitors (IEMs) to the professional music scene since the mid 90's. They know sound, and tons of folks know them because of it. Over the last few years they have expanded their product line to include several universal fit pairs at price points that are feasible for the average consumer. The super.fi 4's, priced at $129.99, are the newest set of headphones from Ultimate Ears and a great place to start in their lineup. With offerings from the likes of Shure and Etymotic coming in right around this price, they face some stiff, established competition. How do they handle the task at hand? Read on to find out.     First Impressions The first thing that you will notice when you see the super.fi 4 on the shelf is the beautifully designed packaging. Inside the package is beautiful as well; the contents are sealed in a snap-together blister pack that requires no tools to open. I'm a big fan of functional and aesthetically pleasing product presentation, and Ultimate Ears didn't disappoint. You don't have to destroy a bit of the packaging to get at the goods. Once you scatter the package contents onto your living room floor, you notice that you're getting a few nice accessories with your purchase. There are 5 sets of silicon ear tips included: small, medium, large, dual flange, and an additional medium set that are already installed. There's also an airplane sound level attenuator for the traveling lot, and a Zippo-like hard case to hold your 'phones.         As far as style goes, the super.fi 4 headphones utilize a simple yet effective design. Each earpiece is built of a gunmetal-blue aluminum, with white silicon ear tips on the barrel end. The little touches are key; the backs of the earpieces and the sides of each ear tip are marked with the Ultimate Ears "ue" logo. In my opinion, they are great looking, minimalist phones. The black cabling is a neutral stylistic choice, but it's some of the best cabling I have experienced in recent years for this type of headphone. I own some Shure SE210's that have a stiff, thick cable with large hunks of rubber at the connection points. Everything below the earpieces is way too heavy. The super.fi 4's, on the other hand, are so light that I almost don't notice them. I went running with them a couple of times, and they have officially replaced the standard iPhone headphones as a result. The weight is a gift, but it's not the most important component of a good set of IEMs.
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