Bose vs. Etymotics vs. Ultimate Ears

BY: HENRYC

So the worst thing about MP3 Player's/D.A.P.'s (Digital Audio Player) are the stock earphones that are supplied with the main unit right? Fortunately there are firms out there that cater to the hi-fidelity crowd and offer some amazing options. I've taken some time and money on my expense and have gone the length to offer this review. Hopefully the general masses will find this enlightening as seeing how the next step in the portable audio evolution is the realization that sound quality should not be compromised and thus, two steps are presented for the public to awaken the potential that lies within their Apple, Sony, Samsung, Sandisk, and etc. The first step is the realization toward storing uncompressed streams of audio dat: wav's, wma pro, aiff, etc (which is not the focus of this review), while the second is the more tangible option; buying the comfort-focused and hi-fi dedicated in-earphone.
Bose In-Ear Headphones
MSRP $99.95

I purchased these about a month ago. The contents of the package were:

1. Bose In-Ear Headphones
2. Black Magnetically Closing Headphone Carrying Case
3. Three Pairs of Rubber Tips for the "Perfect" Fit (s, m, l)

First off, this is a headphone that combines one driver for all three ranges. A range is the spatial distance between the highest and lowest note in the piece of music you are happening to listen to. The three ranges that are important to any headphone are: high, mid, and low. Now the Bose IE's combine one driver for all three ranges, and as such offers a superb low-end due to their "Tri-Port Acoustic Headphone Structure" which utilize some sort of open-air/ wave-like innovations, but with sacrifice to the high's and mid-range. The result is a muddied and somewhat muffled sound akin to laying a bedsheet over a speaker. In fact, whether it was due to the fit of the earpiece, all of which I had tried, the volume of the earphone could not satisfy my listening pleasure. I had the volume on my Sandisk Sansa e260 at about 80% of the max, and I still heard the Spanish girl across from me on the subway comment to her girlfriend about I handsome I was. Believe you me, when you're listening to some Lee Burridge or Robin Thicke, you don't want to be distracted (especially if the girl isn't all that attractive). Not to mention, but the rubber tips fall off very easily of the earphone. I spent several occasions not intending to but ending up scouring the concrete jungle of NYC in order to locate the damn pieces. I nearly lost one of them to the local 6 train after I pulled out my earphones on the subway platform to see the right tip nearly fall onto the tracks. Needless to say, I didn't put it back in my ear until I washed it off at work.

Pros: A friend told me her earphone were going to get replaced after owning them for about a month which dictates their excellence to customer service... but what does that say about their product?? Cool case: black and leather

Cons: bad fit, muddled sound, eartips keep falling off, no noise cancellation, needs a lot of gain from the D.A.P.
Etymotic Research Inc.: ER4-14
MSRP $299.00

I got the chance to obtain these at work from a most generous audiophile. The contents of the package are:

1. ER-4P's Earphones with 3-Flange Microtips
2. Black Foam Eartips
3. Shirt Clip
4. Stereo Phone Adapter Plug
5. Filter Changing Tool
6. Filters
7. Foam-Filled Carrying Case

Whilst sampling them for a period of 4 days, I ultimately came to one conclusion. Like the Bose, the Etys utilize one driver for all three ranges, however unlike the Bose, the concentration is towards the high and mid-range with literally no bass. The sound is extremely well-articulated with no -oomph. One other co-worker literally put it as "listening to music in mono, and not stereo sound". The sound in my opinion is extremely tinny, with mediocre noise-canceling properties not justifiable of the noise-canceling claims made on Etymotic's website. On the other hand, the fit of the earphones were phenomenal which only befuddles the fact why their famous noise-canceling claims would not convince.

Pros: Excellent fit, crisp highs along with the mid-range

Cons: Pricey, not enough bass, not enough noise cancellation
Ultimate Ears Super.Fi 5 Pro
MSRP $249.95

I also got the chance to obtain these at work from a most generous audiophile. The contents of the package are:

1. Super.Fi 5 pro Black Earphones with Clear Wire
2. Several Sizes of the Double-Flange and Single-Flange Eartips
3. Aluminum Carrying Case
4. Stereo Phone Adapter Plug
5. Airplane Sound-Leveling Phone Adapter Plug
6. Earphone Cleaning-Stick

I tried these earphones immediately right after purchasing the Bose one afternoon. When I tried them, it was love at first note. The beauty of this earphone is that is consists of not one, but two drivers as opposed to both the Bose and Etys. The result is a crystal-like high and mid-range similar to that of the Etys, with the bass and "oomph" of the Bose. When I requested to sample them out again, after trying the Etys I was only reinforced in my initial impression. No growing pains whatsoever. Adding to the sound is the fit of the single-flange eartips which provide an amazing seal against the outside world (no more Spanish girls commenting on my looks, or subway screeches that I have to contend with) and are not likely to separate from the driver unit like the Bose tend to do. Also, one of the painful curses one can endure in the life of the D.A.P. is the one ear unit that has a shakily connected wire due to numerous drops, tugs, and pulls, that result in a pulsing sound that is the strobe light to the ear (not a pleasurable experience). The Utimate Ears' earphone wire is totally replaceable for an amazing low price of $20. The only aspect of the earphone which is not replaceable would be the driver units themselves. A very value-added option allows for both the Ultimate Ears and Ety's to be outfitted with custom-molded eartips contoured to the listener's ear. In order to do this, they pay a visit to an audiologist and receive a pair of custom moldings which are superior for sealability and comfort; costing as much as $1000.00. Last but not least, the gain needed on the Ultimate Ears are nearly non-existent as compared to the Bose. All I do is put the volume to 50-60% of the max and the sound is twice as loud and ten times clearer than the Bose.

When the kind audiologist who provided the two out of three earphones I have reviewed here mentioned a "sound stage" I knew nothing of it before the Super.Fi 5's. Now, that "sound stage" will be the end-all and be-all for me when choosing earphones.

Pros: Replaceable wire to the driver units, superior fit, copper/metal wiring that allows for a customizable behind the ear mold, excellent high and mid-range along with perfect bass, not much gain needed to hear the music, excellent noise cancellation properties, cool colors and see-through scheme

Cons: A little pricey, earwax can accumulate fast depending on the eartip used