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 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 $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.
(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.
(Credit:
Ultimate Ears)
There seems to be a headphone for every purpose nowadays. You have headphones for the gym, headphones for the plane, and even earbuds that work underwater. There are also headphones made especially for the little ones in your life, although the choices are limited. Given the concerns over audio volume and hearing damage, it's not terribly surprising that headphone sets for children are few and far between. Luckily, more and more headphone manufacturers are taking advantage of volume-limiting technology to offer child-friendly models. One such company is Ultimate Ears, which has released the Loud Enough Earphones, a $40 pair that comes in a variety of colors. Read the full review.
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