Ultimate Ears has been making in-ear monitors for professional musicians for nearly 15 years. The company was founded by Alex Van Halen and Jerry Harvey, a sound engineer for the band--a couple of dudes who know what they’re talking about when it comes to audio. Musicians rely on UE’s monitors during performances, and now you can bring that pro-level tech home in the form of earbuds. Even if you’re just listening to “Panama” while you’re walking the dog, rather than pounding it out on the skins in a packed arena, Ultimate Ears can make your iPod rock that much harder.
Rock out with your Ultimate Ears out.
UE’s 700 earbuds are exceptionally light. Tipping the scales at a barely noticeable 11.6 grams, these ’buds are comfortable for extended wear by commuters and dedicated music fans alike. Inside the box, Ultimate Ears includes a plastic hard case (though we were hoping for the crush-proof metal case included with some other UE models), silicone eartips in three sizes, and two sizes of foam eartips. While the foam models offered a more complete seal of our ear canals (and consequently better noise isolation and acoustics), for ease of use we ended up favoring the silicone version.
The earbuds feature a dual armature design. Essentially, each channel contains two tiny speakers for more accurate sound reproduction. We listened to everything from podcasts to classic house tracks with the 700s and were impressed with their range. Acoustic music was smooth and clear, while straight-ahead rock tunes (“Panama” included) provided a pleasing punch. Sound quality was clean at different volume levels--without muddiness when cranked up or loss of bass response when playing quietly--and we like the included attenuator, an optional dongle that can lower volume spikes in your audio. Overall, we were pleased with the sound quality of the 700s, but we did feel that the sound was a bit on the bright side--a little too much treble that can fatigue your ears with extended use.
iPhone and late-model iPod users should note that the 700s do not include button controls or a mic, although they work fine for listening to music. You’ll just have to navigate your tunes the old-fashioned way.
Light and comfortable to wear. Includes attenuator, which can counteract dramatic volume spikes.
Sound tended to be a little too "bright." We would have preferred a metal carrying case.
