- Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 18 reviews Back to product review
- My rating: 0 stars
Full user review
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3 out of 3 people found this review helpful
4.5 stars
"Outstanding Value!"
Pros: Excellent sound, noise isolation, and comfort
Cons: Nothing significant.
Summary: The UM1s were a purchase to replace my Sony MDR-EX71SL earbuds. I went to earphonesolutions.com and decided on the UM1s versus all competing brands (Shure, Etymotic, Ultimate Ears) from consistenly high praise. I paid ~$100 with 2-Day shipping.
The build quality of the UM1s is fantastic. This combied with the firm carrying case made me feel at ease.
For me, the small foam tips provide the best seal and comfort. It took a few tries to learn how to put them in, but now it's easy. Versus the Sonys and traditional cans, I forget that I'm wearing my UM1s. They fit flat in your ears, also, so they're less noticable than others.
Contrary to CNet, I've found the fit to be secure once properly inserted - but using the larger set did give me troubles. That was their only complaint and I certainly haven't experienced the problem.
The sound quality is neither muddy nor overly bright. I'm no audiophile, but most describe it as slightly warm - I say it's excellent. I don't find myself fatigued listening to the UM1s. The bass, while not exaggerated, is remarkably pronounced for such a small driver. Not only that, but the isolation and sensitivity is so substantial that I've learned to turn my music down. Often, I have my Ipod set at minimum volume - like listening to a home stereo in the evening. This put in perspective how loud the world is and now I listen to music from all sources at a lower volume.
I could not be happier with the UM1s. I'm a "bang for the buck" consumer and I don't hesitate to recommend them.
