kauffee
11-26-2004, 02:32 AM
Background
I was very happy with the Shure E3c. Having had the E2c, Sony EX-71, and Ety ER-4P, I felt the E3c was the best of the bunch. It's presentation is musical and forward. It renders vocals superbly and is genuinely fun to listen to. But it is nowhere near perfect. The low end of the E3c leaves a lot to be desired. Drums just don't sound realistic or have much power. Low end fullness is almost nonexistent. I realized that in order to get the sound I was looking for, I'd have to upgrade to a dual-driver phone. I knew that custom-IEMs existed, as a few people on head-fi.org were starting to buy them. Still, I never really considered them due to the price. I was basically deciding between the Shure E5c and the Westone UM2. Then someone suggested to me that I should just skip that upgrade and go right to custom, since I'd almost certainly end up there anyway. Knowing me, I thought about it and they were absolutely right. Within a few months of getting the E5c, I would be lusting after a custom IEM. Why not just skip the intermediate step and go right to the top?
So now the decision was between the Ultimate Ears UE5c, UE10Pro, and Sensaphonics 2X-S. This was the hard part. Certainly, my wallet wanted the UE5c at a scant $550. The $900 UE10Pro was just plain more than I was going to spend. Plus, from reading various reviews, I felt that I would be better served by the sound signature of the UE5c, anyway. Ety users seemed to prefer the additional detail of the UE10Pro, but I was after the more fun sound signature akin to the Shure line. So that meant it was between the UE5c and the 2X-S, which are $750. From the reviews I read, my gut feeling is that the sound on the Sensa is better. How much better? Impossible for me to say. I prefer the Grado sound signature to that of the Sennheiser, and from what I gathered, there were a lot of aspects of the UE5c signature that were similar to the Grado. I was pretty confident that the sound of the UE5c would be more than adequate. Everyone who had them agreed they were a big step up from the Shure E5c.
The big issue was the material. Ultimate Ears uses hard acrylic, while Sensaphonics uses soft silicone. Basically, I was worried about the durability of the Sensaphonics over the long haul. Stage musicians who use Sensas get new sets for every tour, but obviously that's not an option for me. The warranty on them is only 6 months, which is not exactly reassuring (not that UE's 1-year warranty is much better). There were two reports from head-fi'ers who had drivers cut out on their 2X-S's at randoml There are also a few people who had sound tubes that were pinched who needed the drivers remolded. It also seemed like there were more people who had fit issues with the initial pair. Though a number of UE users had the same problem so that really wasn't a factor. The Sensa cord is integrated into the earpiece, as well, meaning that any cord damage would require a new earpiece. The UE cord plugs into each earpiece, so it is easily replaceable. Basically, it just seemed that the UE was a more durable and consistent design.
The Ordering Process
I talked to UE on the phone and by email and they were great. All of my questions and concerns were answered, and we agreed that the UE5c is probably the best option for me. They gave me a list of audiologists nearby that they'd worked with before. Unfortunately, living in State College, PA, "nearby" meant at least an hour away. I decided to just call a local audiologist and see do it that way. There were two in my area that had "musicians earplugs" listed in their ads, so I just picked the one who was a PhD and went with that.
The process was pretty painless. She stuck a wad of cotton on a string down my ear canal, just past the second bend. Then, she mixed the silicone paste, put it in a syringe, and injected it. People have talked about how strange it feels, but for me, it felt exactly how I would expect it to feel if my ear were filled with silicone. Not very exciting.
I sent the molds off to UE and two weeks later, the phones arrived.
The Look
The first thing you notice is the awesome case these come in. Your name is engraved on the top. I think lindrone mentioned he saw the case in Fry's for around $20, but it's still a really nice touch. If you take out the foam, it's the perfect size to fit an iPod and the phones. I really like using it. Check out the pics below.
The cord on these is gorgeous. It's very lightweight and shimmers. The braided look is just very cool. I ordered the clear option because I really liked the look of all the gadgetry inside. It's cool seeing the wires running about. That being said, there are some weird bubbles in the phones when you examine them closely. The material is also not as glassy clear as I expected. Nevertheless, they still look great. Also, the initials and model/serial number are really cool. I also like how the cord plugs into the driver. Again, very techy/industrial.
The Sound
It's clear the minute you put these in that a dual driver phone is head and shoulders above anything a single driver can produce. The first thing you notice, coming from the other canalphones is that these things have bass. I mean, real bass... they thump. And not only is there bass slam, but there's a general warmth to the sound created by the low end. At first, I was a little concerned because I thought it might be too much. I'm used to the Grado and Shure signatures, and neither renders bass so strongly. I decided to resist the temptation to hit the Bass Reducer EQ and get acclimated to the sound. This was the right move. After only about 2 days, the bass was no longer a dominating force. It began to sound exactly the way it should sound. Now, two weeks later, the sound feels remarkably balanced. The highs are better than the E3c and somehow don't get drowned out by the bass. They're not quite as forward as the E3c or the Grado, but pretty close. It's hard to go into specifics. These things are just flat-out amazing. You don't want to stop listening. They are so accurate and alive, you just have to concentrate on every note.
That brings me to the most important characteristic of these phones. They are extremely sensitive to the way the music is mastered. Throw on some hip-hop and you'll feel like you're in an Escalade with four subs in the trunk. Listen to some Sarah Brightman and the highs will simply sparkle. You'll hear every breath she takes. Occasionally, though, a record will not be mastered so well and what I tend to notice is either an overly warm sound or a slight lack of bass. I first noticed it on Bob Seger's "The Fire Inside." His voice just sounded like it was veiled behind a layer of warmth. It's not necessarily bad, but it doesn't have the bright and forward presentation I expect from vocals. By contrast, listning to "Float On" by Modest Mouse, I hear the bass line... but I don't feel it like I should. Nevertheless, it's hard to blame the phones since they're just reproducing what's on the CD.
These do rock amazingly well. Pearl Jam and Nirvana, for example, sound absolutely incredible. The UE5c's really give them a live feel. The guitars scream, the vocals are right up front, and the bass just drives the music forward. It's pretty remarkable. The bass has amazing texture, too. When the pedal hits the kick drum, you can almost visualize it. That's how accurate it's reproduced. If you listen to a recording of live music, it really feels like you're right there. It doesn't sound like a recording at all.
There are only two issues I have with the phones. The first is that they are extremely volume-sensitive. Even with sound check, I have to make slight volume adjustments every 2 or 3 songs. The second issue is that they pick up hiss from a number of devices. Basically, you need an extremely clean source (or a good amp to clean it up). The iPod is perfect, so if that's going to be your primary listening device, it's no problem. But one of my old portable CD players exhibits a hiss, and both computers I have exhibit it, too. Granted, as long as there's a decent amount of music playing, you really won't hear it. But it's there. The Shure E3 picks up the hissing, too, but not quite as much as the UE5c. I've read that the Shure E5 is as or more sensitive than the UE5c, so I guess it's just a product of the sensitivity and the design.
Other Stuff
I was sure I'd have to send these back for fit adjustments, since it's relatively common. But fortunately, they fit perfectly. No amount of jaw movement will break the seal. And they're so much more comfortable than universal fit. I can't emphasize that enough. There's no itchiness, no movement within the ear canal. You still feel them in your ears, but the improvement in comfort is really dramatic. Isolation with the music off is below that of the Shures with triple flanges or foamies. It seems about on par with E3c clear flex sleeves. That's good, because it's easy to carry on a conversation if you hit the pause button.
Isolation with music on, though, is actually better than the triple flanges. I think this is, in part, due to the more complete low end. The low end also makes for a better experience when you're walking around. Occlusion effect is a low frequency sound, so these tend to mask iyour footsteps a lot better than the E3c or the ER-4P.
Putting them in is so much easier than with universal fit canalphones. They only fit one way, so basically you can just use one hand and press them to your ear. It takes less than a second. Getting them out takes about 2 or 3 seconds, as you have to give a little twist to break the seal and then yank them out.
Summary
In short, I'm pretty much blown away by these phones. They are incredibly detailed and fun to listen to. I can't say how they compare to the UE10Pro or Sensa 2X-S, but for the reasons I stated above, they are perfect for me. If you have a single driver canalphone and are considering the upgrade, I can highly recommend the UE5c. The company is wonderful to deal with and the product is fantastic at a (somewhat) reasonable price point.
Here are some pictures of the case and the phones. Sorry the quality is so poor... not the best digital camera.
http://community.webshots.com/album/222571726odTCeS[B]
I was very happy with the Shure E3c. Having had the E2c, Sony EX-71, and Ety ER-4P, I felt the E3c was the best of the bunch. It's presentation is musical and forward. It renders vocals superbly and is genuinely fun to listen to. But it is nowhere near perfect. The low end of the E3c leaves a lot to be desired. Drums just don't sound realistic or have much power. Low end fullness is almost nonexistent. I realized that in order to get the sound I was looking for, I'd have to upgrade to a dual-driver phone. I knew that custom-IEMs existed, as a few people on head-fi.org were starting to buy them. Still, I never really considered them due to the price. I was basically deciding between the Shure E5c and the Westone UM2. Then someone suggested to me that I should just skip that upgrade and go right to custom, since I'd almost certainly end up there anyway. Knowing me, I thought about it and they were absolutely right. Within a few months of getting the E5c, I would be lusting after a custom IEM. Why not just skip the intermediate step and go right to the top?
So now the decision was between the Ultimate Ears UE5c, UE10Pro, and Sensaphonics 2X-S. This was the hard part. Certainly, my wallet wanted the UE5c at a scant $550. The $900 UE10Pro was just plain more than I was going to spend. Plus, from reading various reviews, I felt that I would be better served by the sound signature of the UE5c, anyway. Ety users seemed to prefer the additional detail of the UE10Pro, but I was after the more fun sound signature akin to the Shure line. So that meant it was between the UE5c and the 2X-S, which are $750. From the reviews I read, my gut feeling is that the sound on the Sensa is better. How much better? Impossible for me to say. I prefer the Grado sound signature to that of the Sennheiser, and from what I gathered, there were a lot of aspects of the UE5c signature that were similar to the Grado. I was pretty confident that the sound of the UE5c would be more than adequate. Everyone who had them agreed they were a big step up from the Shure E5c.
The big issue was the material. Ultimate Ears uses hard acrylic, while Sensaphonics uses soft silicone. Basically, I was worried about the durability of the Sensaphonics over the long haul. Stage musicians who use Sensas get new sets for every tour, but obviously that's not an option for me. The warranty on them is only 6 months, which is not exactly reassuring (not that UE's 1-year warranty is much better). There were two reports from head-fi'ers who had drivers cut out on their 2X-S's at randoml There are also a few people who had sound tubes that were pinched who needed the drivers remolded. It also seemed like there were more people who had fit issues with the initial pair. Though a number of UE users had the same problem so that really wasn't a factor. The Sensa cord is integrated into the earpiece, as well, meaning that any cord damage would require a new earpiece. The UE cord plugs into each earpiece, so it is easily replaceable. Basically, it just seemed that the UE was a more durable and consistent design.
The Ordering Process
I talked to UE on the phone and by email and they were great. All of my questions and concerns were answered, and we agreed that the UE5c is probably the best option for me. They gave me a list of audiologists nearby that they'd worked with before. Unfortunately, living in State College, PA, "nearby" meant at least an hour away. I decided to just call a local audiologist and see do it that way. There were two in my area that had "musicians earplugs" listed in their ads, so I just picked the one who was a PhD and went with that.
The process was pretty painless. She stuck a wad of cotton on a string down my ear canal, just past the second bend. Then, she mixed the silicone paste, put it in a syringe, and injected it. People have talked about how strange it feels, but for me, it felt exactly how I would expect it to feel if my ear were filled with silicone. Not very exciting.
I sent the molds off to UE and two weeks later, the phones arrived.
The Look
The first thing you notice is the awesome case these come in. Your name is engraved on the top. I think lindrone mentioned he saw the case in Fry's for around $20, but it's still a really nice touch. If you take out the foam, it's the perfect size to fit an iPod and the phones. I really like using it. Check out the pics below.
The cord on these is gorgeous. It's very lightweight and shimmers. The braided look is just very cool. I ordered the clear option because I really liked the look of all the gadgetry inside. It's cool seeing the wires running about. That being said, there are some weird bubbles in the phones when you examine them closely. The material is also not as glassy clear as I expected. Nevertheless, they still look great. Also, the initials and model/serial number are really cool. I also like how the cord plugs into the driver. Again, very techy/industrial.
The Sound
It's clear the minute you put these in that a dual driver phone is head and shoulders above anything a single driver can produce. The first thing you notice, coming from the other canalphones is that these things have bass. I mean, real bass... they thump. And not only is there bass slam, but there's a general warmth to the sound created by the low end. At first, I was a little concerned because I thought it might be too much. I'm used to the Grado and Shure signatures, and neither renders bass so strongly. I decided to resist the temptation to hit the Bass Reducer EQ and get acclimated to the sound. This was the right move. After only about 2 days, the bass was no longer a dominating force. It began to sound exactly the way it should sound. Now, two weeks later, the sound feels remarkably balanced. The highs are better than the E3c and somehow don't get drowned out by the bass. They're not quite as forward as the E3c or the Grado, but pretty close. It's hard to go into specifics. These things are just flat-out amazing. You don't want to stop listening. They are so accurate and alive, you just have to concentrate on every note.
That brings me to the most important characteristic of these phones. They are extremely sensitive to the way the music is mastered. Throw on some hip-hop and you'll feel like you're in an Escalade with four subs in the trunk. Listen to some Sarah Brightman and the highs will simply sparkle. You'll hear every breath she takes. Occasionally, though, a record will not be mastered so well and what I tend to notice is either an overly warm sound or a slight lack of bass. I first noticed it on Bob Seger's "The Fire Inside." His voice just sounded like it was veiled behind a layer of warmth. It's not necessarily bad, but it doesn't have the bright and forward presentation I expect from vocals. By contrast, listning to "Float On" by Modest Mouse, I hear the bass line... but I don't feel it like I should. Nevertheless, it's hard to blame the phones since they're just reproducing what's on the CD.
These do rock amazingly well. Pearl Jam and Nirvana, for example, sound absolutely incredible. The UE5c's really give them a live feel. The guitars scream, the vocals are right up front, and the bass just drives the music forward. It's pretty remarkable. The bass has amazing texture, too. When the pedal hits the kick drum, you can almost visualize it. That's how accurate it's reproduced. If you listen to a recording of live music, it really feels like you're right there. It doesn't sound like a recording at all.
There are only two issues I have with the phones. The first is that they are extremely volume-sensitive. Even with sound check, I have to make slight volume adjustments every 2 or 3 songs. The second issue is that they pick up hiss from a number of devices. Basically, you need an extremely clean source (or a good amp to clean it up). The iPod is perfect, so if that's going to be your primary listening device, it's no problem. But one of my old portable CD players exhibits a hiss, and both computers I have exhibit it, too. Granted, as long as there's a decent amount of music playing, you really won't hear it. But it's there. The Shure E3 picks up the hissing, too, but not quite as much as the UE5c. I've read that the Shure E5 is as or more sensitive than the UE5c, so I guess it's just a product of the sensitivity and the design.
Other Stuff
I was sure I'd have to send these back for fit adjustments, since it's relatively common. But fortunately, they fit perfectly. No amount of jaw movement will break the seal. And they're so much more comfortable than universal fit. I can't emphasize that enough. There's no itchiness, no movement within the ear canal. You still feel them in your ears, but the improvement in comfort is really dramatic. Isolation with the music off is below that of the Shures with triple flanges or foamies. It seems about on par with E3c clear flex sleeves. That's good, because it's easy to carry on a conversation if you hit the pause button.
Isolation with music on, though, is actually better than the triple flanges. I think this is, in part, due to the more complete low end. The low end also makes for a better experience when you're walking around. Occlusion effect is a low frequency sound, so these tend to mask iyour footsteps a lot better than the E3c or the ER-4P.
Putting them in is so much easier than with universal fit canalphones. They only fit one way, so basically you can just use one hand and press them to your ear. It takes less than a second. Getting them out takes about 2 or 3 seconds, as you have to give a little twist to break the seal and then yank them out.
Summary
In short, I'm pretty much blown away by these phones. They are incredibly detailed and fun to listen to. I can't say how they compare to the UE10Pro or Sensa 2X-S, but for the reasons I stated above, they are perfect for me. If you have a single driver canalphone and are considering the upgrade, I can highly recommend the UE5c. The company is wonderful to deal with and the product is fantastic at a (somewhat) reasonable price point.
Here are some pictures of the case and the phones. Sorry the quality is so poor... not the best digital camera.
http://community.webshots.com/album/222571726odTCeS[B]