Ultimate Ears Super.fi 5 Pro Sound Isolating Earphones

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Cameron Baker
Brian
Ultimate Ears
Mar. 11, 2009

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Sound Impressions

Remember when I said the Etymotic ER-4P were the most accurate headphones I had ever experienced? That's still the case. And I still love those phones. But I think I found their perfect foil. In the few places that the Etymotics fall short, the Ultimate Ears super.fi 5 pros shine. I revisited the ER-4Ps while reviewing the 5 pros, and the results were exactly as I would have expected: less detail, more oomph.

There's a logical conclusion that follows from adding a dedicated low-end driver to a set of higher end earphones.

That is to say that bass is superb when experienced through the 5 pros. It took a while to take in the full extent of the 5 pro sound, and when I got it, I got it. Where the ER-4Ps shine with detail, they definitely offer a more stiff-legged presentation of your audio. The 5 pros are downright exciting to listen to, especially if you find yourself listening to rock or hip-hop more often than not.

Driving the 5 pros from a mobile source is super easy; I rarely had to crank my iPhone volume past half mast. When I did, I made sure the equalizer wasn't set to boost the low end at all. At higher volumes, bass-heavy tracks held up very well on a flat EQ but fuzzed up quite a bit if a bass-boost setting was enabled. This shouldn't be a problem for any except the most discerning of bass-heads, because the bass levels on a flat EQ are more than adequate. They're extremely fun.

Percussion takes on a whole new feeling with these earphones. It's as close to actually "feeling" low-end with an IEM as I've ever come. The extension is so sweet, and it didn't ever seem to overpower the rest of the range. Swap the silicon tips out for the Complys, and you'll get a little warmer low-end experience and markedly better comfort, as far as I experienced. These foams are the first ones that I've enjoyed so much that I don't want to use the silicon tips. And they're available for lots of models through the Comply website, so you should check that out if you already have a fav' pair of phones.

The 5 pros lack some of the detailed presentation found in the Etymotics, but they definitely make up for it with a more substantial low end. I actually ended up EQ-ing the ER-4Ps a little heavier on the low end after using the 5 pros for a week or so. I got used to having gobs of bass, and that experience made the Etymotics seem a little bit anemic, by comparison.

Conclusion

From top to bottom, this is an equally as impressive package as the Etymotics I have known and loved for a few months now. When I said this is the perfect partner for the ER-4Ps, I meant it. When you're looking for a bit more vivacity in your listening experience, UEs have you covered. Of course, if you own both pairs, you're moving in on the custom-molded IEM price range, and in some cases, passing it. It's up to you if that makes sense or not.

Those of you more oriented toward rock or other low-end emphasizing tunes should really think about giving these a listen. Retailing at 250 bones but available closer to the 190-dollar price point online, you're definitely going to spend a bit, but they're worth it. The sound quality, package features, and stable comfort of these IEMs impressed. The one year warranty might be a little worrisome, especially considering the problems I ran into, but after looking around the tubes for a bit, most people have not had significant problems.

I guess it comes down to a matter of personal preference with the 5 pros. Those looking for deadly accurate sound might want to consider the equivalently priced ER-4Ps. If you want a little more bang and bump, the 5 pros are probably more your speed. Either way, I totally dig these headphones. I have no desire or talent when it comes to dancing, yet I have found myself stomping along to the beat with my favorite music much more often lately. I think the 5 pros have quite a bit to do with that.

The Good

Sweet accessories bundled, especially the Comply tips and hard case

Low-end makes you want to rock out

All-around sound quality is excellent, if slightly less detailed than some others

Memory cable keeps the earpieces securely in ear

Tips are super comfy

The Bad

Broken housing gave me pause

Warranty cut in half from previous generation

Bass EQ at higher volume has to be kept under control, so as to not fuzz your audio up

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2 User Comments

1 - Posted by Jon Tseng on March 13, 2009 - 5:37 am

I think the pictures are all Super.fi 4s - which is a bit confusing as the 4s have a great robust metal casing wheres the 5s don't.

2 - Posted by Kurtis on March 13, 2009 - 11:45 am

Jon: Thanks for noticing that... it looks like I didn't take photos of the Super.Fi 5 Pros for some reason... not sure why we put the Super.Fi 4 photos in there, but I will fix it. :)

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