Top deals on CNET here
Ultimate Ears Super.fi 3 Studio (black)
Manufacturer: Logitech Part number: IP-P3SSB0002-02
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Product series
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- Ultimate Ears' no-frills Super.fi 3 Studio in-ear headphones deliver a clear, balanced audio response. This set should be your top choice in the $100 price range.
Read more
Where to buy
| store | customer rating | inventory | tax & shipping | price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |  | In stock Try Free Amazon Prime for one Month | Enter zip code to get total price: Price +Tax +Shipping =Total price | as of 11/07/2009 |
| Amazon.com Marketplace | | In stock | as of 11/07/2009 |
CNET editors' review
Ultimate Ears Super.fi 3 Studio (black) price range: $98.95 - $108.87
- Reviewed by: Tim Gideon
- Edited by: Jasmine France
- Reviewed on: 02/23/2006
The good: The Ultimate Ears Super.fi 3 Studio in-ear-style headphones deliver accurate sound for a reasonable price, and they offer a comfortable, secure fit.
The bad: The Ultimate Ears Super.fi 3 Studio earphones' cable is too short for tall users.
The bottom line: Ultimate Ears' no-frills Super.fi 3 Studio in-ear headphones deliver a clear, balanced audio response. This set should be your top choice in the $100 price range.
The design of the Ultimate Ears Super.fi earphone series is based in comfort and simplicity, though you do get a choice of three colors: white, black, or clear (the last is available exclusively at Guitar Center retail stores). The earpieces, after a bit of twisting, sit firmly and comfortably in the ear canal, and the different sizes of earpiece covers not only aid this process but also effectively block out most room noise, making them ideal for noisier environments, such as airplanes or subway trains. Like other Ultimate Ears 'buds, these have the flexible plastic ear loop that wraps over the top of your ear for a secure fit. These are helpful for active use but can be a pain when you're trying to put on the headphones in a hurry. Our common gripe about the Super.fi series holds true for the Super.fi 3 Studios: At 46 inches, the cable is simply too short for anyone above average height. If your sound source is not in your lap or your pocket, your head movement is quite limited.
Most of the Ultimate Ears Super.fi 3 Studio's features reside in the design of the headphones, though the company also includes a decent smattering of accessories. Along with five sets of ear fittings, you get a soft leather case and a cleaner pick. One of the niftiest features of these earphones--and all the other Ultimate Ears sets we've tested--is the user-replaceable cable. The earpieces easily snap off so that if the cable wears out, you can easily swap in a new one. (Note that you'll be responsible for replacing the cable--only the earpieces are covered by the two-year warranty.) Inside each earpiece, there's a precision-balanced speaker and an audio filter that shapes the sound. Basically, what this equates to is excellent performance.
The great news about a speaker or a headphone set with relatively flat response--meaning none of the frequency ranges seem to be louder than others--such as the Super.fi 3 Studio, is that almost anything will sound good. While rap or electronic music may seem to lack a bit of the thump that some listeners easily grow accustomed to in today's bass-heavy market, the low end is still quite present. As for rock, jazz, classical, or folk, all seem ideal for this Ultimate Ears earphone set. The delicate guitar picking and bucolic baritone of Bill Callahan (a.k.a. Smog) on his latest LP, A River Ain't Too Much to Love, comes through crystal clear, with just enough subtle low end for hearing the resonance in his vocals. Switching to the heavier, often sludgy textures of art rockers Deerhoof on its latest album, The Runners Four, proves that often the greatest sounds an electric bass makes lie in the midfrequencies, not the low end, and the Super.fi 3s highlight them beautifully.
There are plenty of in-ear sets out there in the $100 price range that sound excellent--and Shure certainly makes a worthy contender--but the Ultimate Ears Super.fi 3 Studio headphones are probably the best.
User reviews
-
-
These are Excellent IEMs
by Glorybox3737 on February 24, 2006
Pros: Great sound, Replaceable cord, Comfortable, Two Year Warrenty
Cons: The foam adapter don't last that long.
Summary: I picked up some UE super.fi 3s. Going from apple ear bud to these is a huge differance. With the iems in my ear I can hardly hear the ...
Summary: I picked up some UE super.fi 3s. Going from apple ear bud to these is a huge differance. With the iems in my ear I can hardly hear the outside world, that's before i cut on the music. Once I press play on my nano I can't hear a thing, that's at 20 percent volume. So I'd recommend these right away for the noise isolation. That's not why I love them though.
The sound is great on these. I feel that my $100 was justified. I listen to a little bit of everything but my heart lies in alternative metal and beats and breaks (electronic). I'm also known to get into some R&B when the mood hit's me. These iems perform well over all the genres I love.
With R&B i feel they sound the best.The bass doesn't take over the music, it's just represented well. The highs hit you harder than anything. The mids fill everything out. Also you pick up on more things in the music I can hear the singer taking in breaths like it's a natural part of the music.
With electronic music these excel. The bass again is represented well. What makes these excel is hearing more in the music. So fans of the crystal method, cirrus, fat boy slim, moby...you get the picture will love these. If you're into deep house and hardcore trance avoid these. The bass is represented well but not overpowering like you'd need in deep house or hardcore trance.
Now with my favorite genre, alternative metal, i fell in love with the UEs. Where cheaper earbuds put tons of bass in, these iems keep it nice and level. The highs hit hard and that's what I love, to hear the guitars wailing. So lover's Tool, Deftones, Incubus and etc... rejoice!
I've also listened to adult alternative, pop and acid jazz. I was very happy with the sound. I just love that the bass doesn't take everything over. I love that the highs are prominate and the mids fill things out. Right now I'm listening to Celine Dion "My heart will go on" and it's just beautiful. Now when people ask me why I cry when I listen to this song I can tell them cause my UEs are so good, not cause I'm a sissy...
So anyway just to let you know I don't claim to be an audiophile. I just know the differance between crappy and good. Apple ear bud are crappy. All the other headphones I've gotten, mostly Sony's, are crappy. These UEs are good. I recommend these to people who listen to the genres I've stated. For people who prefer highs and accurate bass. Most of all I recommend these to people who don't want thier music interrupted by the outside world. Oh yea by the way they are pretty comfortable. The most comfortable Iems I've tried. If it weren't for the awesome sound I'd forget they were in my ears.19 out of 19 users found this user opinion helpful.
-
Started Great. Now...not so much
by kubasic on February 9, 2006
Pros: Sound quality
Cons: Design, durability
Summary: Here's the skinny on these. They are indeed well made for sound quality and passive noise cancelling. In these respects, these are great. However, my biggest gripe with these ...
Summary: Here's the skinny on these. They are indeed well made for sound quality and passive noise cancelling. In these respects, these are great. However, my biggest gripe with these is the design. They are not easy to insert in your ear and get the perfect seal. Also, if you intend to use these while wearing any type of hat or garment that covers the ear...forget it. This will drive the bud into your ear and make things VERY uncomfortable. Additionally, my pair have started to fray at the top of the ear piece the flexes around the back of the ear, exposing the internal wiring. So, in this respect, these are not very durable.
So, my final recommendation on these is to treat them very gently and don't plan on wearing them outdoors in cold weather. Let's not forget that these are quite expensive and one would expect more from them.16 out of 20 users found this user opinion helpful.
-
You don't need to look any further for <$100 in-ear headphones
by matt87109 on February 27, 2007
Pros: Flat Response gives you accurate musical response, nice design, shipped with nice items
Cons: Like all in-ear earphones, you have to figure out how to wear them
Summary: Topics:
1. About all speakers and all in-ear headphones
2. Super.fi 3 Studio Review
About All Speakers and all in-ear headphones:
Flat speaker response is a good thing. Flat ...Summary: Topics:
1. About all speakers and all in-ear headphones
2. Super.fi 3 Studio Review
About All Speakers and all in-ear headphones:
Flat speaker response is a good thing. Flat response ultimately lets your hear what was intended. Some people say ?these speakers base hard? or ?the tweets are really high??.what this typically means is the speakers have a ?gain? in those frequencies. This is BAD as you are not really listening to what your music player is playing. What you are listening to is what your music player is playing plus extra inaccurate base and extra inaccurate treble. When a speaker has a flat response across the frequency range it means you are going to hear exactly what your player is playing. Add a little EQ to taste to flat response speakers and you have music just like you want that has detail and clarity. Adding EQ to speakers that do not have a flat response really does not work as you lose clarity and detail. Making a speaker with a flat response is more difficult than making a base box that is not accurate. Many people mistake hard hitting base and over crisp highs as ?good speakers? and while they might sound good with a particular style of music, they don?t sound well overall. Don?t get me wrong, I like solid base and clean treble, but if it?s at the expense of accurate reproduction of the other ranges it simply is not a good speaker.
2. In-ear ear phone require at least 30 minutes to an hour experimenting getting a proper fit. When you first put In-ear headphones in your ear you will say ?these sound like they are in a tin can and have no base.? This is a complaint you will hear over and over again. I guarantee you any quality set of in-ear headphones will play base, so don?t give up after two minutes. It takes time. Once you figure it out you will be amazed at what you can hear from a tiny speaker.
Super.fi 3 Studio Review:
This is the third set of in-ear ear phones I have owned in the last six weeks. If you are looking for a solid upgrade over your OEM ear phones in the "entry level" of quality head phones, I strongly recommend these.
My general opinion of the Super.fi 3 studio?s is they are well made, comfortable, have a flat and accurate response, and are an excellent value from online retailers (I paid 73 dollars with 3 day shipping). Compare this price to the E2c?s and you will notice these are less expensive. The lower price is really nice if you are a closet audiophile and don?t really want to fork over more money for your phones than you did your player. I bought my head phones by going to ultimateears.com, retail partners, earphonesolutions.com (I think you may get a lower price by going thru UE?s site. Earphonesolutions.com had the clear wires cheaper than black or white and they look cool in my opinion.
I previously owned Shure's E2c and Sennheiser's CX 300s. While the E2c's are solid headphones as well, I prefer how the Super.fi 3's fit in my ears and are less massive. In addition the Super.fi?s are less expensive than the E2c?s. The CX 300s honestly are not even in the same league even though I rated them an eight previously. The CX 300?s do not have flat response?. They pump up the base and treble and the mid range is very dull and inaccurate. Musical instruments lost their depth with the CX 300?s. After a few days with the CX 300?s my ears hurt as the excessive high and low end response became irritating. Even with turning the lows and highs way down with my players EQ I still ended up with a less than desirable sound because the CX 300?s were hard to balance for each type of music that I was playing. Flat response is very important for a speaker in my opinion. I like the shape, size, and cost of the Super.fi?s over the E2c?s and the flat response and stiff ear wires that reduce thumping wires over the CX 300?s
I don?t get what others are saying about weak wires?. Doesn?t make sense to me. Mine appear as thick as I?d want them?.. any thicker and it would just be difficult to manipulate. The connections do not seem to be week either. I guess if you jam them in your pocket they will damage. The Super.fi?s have a stiff memory wire that is a couple inches long in the wire near the earphone. This wire is used to wrap over the top of your ear. My first impression is ?oh great I have to deal with this stupid wire?, but honestly what it does is keep the wires close to my head and where I want them. In addition it keeps the wires from transmitting ?thump thump thump? into my ear as I exercise (this was a hugh problem with the CX 300?s?. I mean really bad just walking). So maybe this wire makes them a little higher maintenance than the type you can just wrap around your player and stick in your pocket. I guess if you constantly reshape the wire it will strain harden and break like a paper clip, but for me I like the advantages the wire offers and take good enough care of my stuff that I?m not worried in the slightest. The clam shell case that comes with the super.fi is easy to get them in and out of? just use the case! Otherwise they have headphones at your Mega-Lo Mart for 4.99.
I don?t think you are going to find better head phone for less than 100 bucks (remember you can get these to the door in the low to mid 70?s which is the same cost of the far inferior CX 300?s and much less than the comparable E2c?s. I did not try the Etymotic ER-6?s which are a bit more expensive, but worth a comparison.
I love my Super.fi 3?s for 65.99 plus shipping!4 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
-
Best bang for the buck
by larpup on August 7, 2006
Pros: sound quality, product quality, warranty & fit
Cons: None that I can find
Summary: Been listening and playing music for 45+ years. I am extremely discerning regarding accurate sound. I use the buds with a Samsung Z5 and listen to all styles of music ...
Summary: Been listening and playing music for 45+ years. I am extremely discerning regarding accurate sound. I use the buds with a Samsung Z5 and listen to all styles of music but mostly acoustic fingerstyle guitar, jazz and classical.
The sound produced by these buds are excellent. I paid $65.00 which I think is extremely reasonable for a product of this quality. Lastly, UE did a few things that separate these buds from others.
1. They provide a cleaning tools which I find is a necessity for in-ear buds.
2. Wires can be replaced if broken.
3. Their foam pads have plastic inserts where the Shure EC2's don't.) I tried the EC2's and found their sound to be equivalent, but when replacing the foam pads a little foam was left (stuck) on the post.
4. UE didn't skimp on any parts.
5. They are very to insert and take out.
In conclusion, this is a high quality product. I rated this a 9 because; the sound exceeded my expections. Every accessorial piece as well as the buds are of excellent quality and lastly, the price. $99.00 retail is extremely reasonable for the product.
Larpup3 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
-
Great with Lawn Tractor (be careful !! - stay alert !!)
by billpgear on July 25, 2006
Pros: Excellent sound and good sound blocking
Cons: I'll probably need to get used to the feeling of these in my ears
Summary: I got these in the mail yesterday... just in time to try them while mowing with my lawn tractor. They blocked enough of the lawn tractor sound out to be ...
Summary: I got these in the mail yesterday... just in time to try them while mowing with my lawn tractor. They blocked enough of the lawn tractor sound out to be able to clearly hear the music at moderate volume(which was my hope). My iPod had enough power to provide plenty of bass with volume at about halfway up.
I had previously tried a cheaper pair of Phillips sound cancelling (over the ear type) headphones which did not compare with the amount of sound blocked with the Ultimate Ears. When I shut off the mower while using the Phillips, I was a little alarmed over how loud I had the volume to hear over the tractor even with the sound cancelling circuit on.
With the Ultimate Ears I feel much safer knowing that I am not blowing out my eardrums trying to compete with the tractor noise. I also was able to combine these with some large rather dorky ear muffs to completely block out the sound. With this combination I was amazed at how much detail these in ear monitors gave - all while sitting on a very loud lawn tractor. I could hear subtleties in my music that I hadn't noticed before. I was even listening to some quiet jazz and could hear articulations and the ambiance of the room, and unbelievable detail in the cymbals (Yes the tractor was running).
I have seen reviews of the Ultimate Ears that say these headphones are are tinny. They are not, when properly fitted. I experimented with them in a more quiet environment and if you break the seal they are very tinny, but as long as they are fitted properly with a good seal, they provide accurate but not boomy bass.
While mowing, you don't need to use ear muffs with these like I did in order to get a quiet enough environment to hear your music. It was probably overkill, because you can't even hear the tractor enough to tell if it's running properly. If you use these on a tractor make sure you have a large lot with no kids around like I do and stay very alert of your surrondings!! - Especially when backing up or turning!! By the way, I bought these for the tractor, but they sound so amazing I'll be tempted to use them instead of my home stereo.3 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
-
Great Starters, Get them unless you are willing to upgrade to the 5
by DR.Bod on May 20, 2008
Pros: Sound great, a lot of earpiece options, replaceable cable, attenuator (see my notes)
Cons: A little bass weak, not too stylish or sleak (see my notes)
Summary: These are great starter headphones with the exception that they are a little awkward, but there is another way to wear them, you simply switch the cables to the earpieces ...
Summary: These are great starter headphones with the exception that they are a little awkward, but there is another way to wear them, you simply switch the cables to the earpieces and bend the wired the opposite way, so that now instead of bending out, away from your ear it bends inward slightly, I highly recommend trying it.
Also, just a tip, if you buy these, you put them in your ears ans say "wow" but then you wonder "I wonder how good audio I could have if I spent the extra $ and got the 5ves, well I dont know, but these did come with a little remorse that I had not upgraded
Also, with headphones of this sensitivity, you will find that not only are they fairly loud compared to your old headphones at the same volume level, you will probably be able to hear a little static/white noise generated by your ipod, however, these come with an attenuator which lowers the volume levels, and eliminates the static, (meant for use on airplanes where the outputs are extremely high volume)
overall, get them, unless you are willing to upgrade to the next model up, the 52 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
-
Good Budget Hi-end In Ear Heaphones
by Mosephus on March 14, 2008
Pros: Good sound for the price.
Cons: Ear fit issues, Build quality/Quality Control questionable.
Summary: For the price ($70 at earphones.com) this a good set of in-canal earphones. The single armature drivers can fire with excellent clarity, and and with proper seal can deliver ...
Summary: For the price ($70 at earphones.com) this a good set of in-canal earphones. The single armature drivers can fire with excellent clarity, and and with proper seal can deliver decent bass.
I say the armatures "can fire with excellent clarity" because the right armature of my set performs weakly compared to the left. It continues to deteriorate over the course of a year's ownership. This leads me to question the build quality and quality control on this model at Ultimate Ears.
I say "with proper seal can deliver decent bass" because the seal can be tricky. While a good seal is not difficult to obtain, it is very difficult to maintain. With moderate activity even the properly sized ear piece comes loose and with it the bass response. I find myself constantly adjusting the earpieces during simple hiking. Jogging? Forget about it. You might as well just hold your hand on the ear piece.
I cannot fully recommend the Ultimate Ears Super.fi3, but at the price I cannot fully reject the product either.1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
-
Great isolation, great sound, if you can take a wet wily you can use these!
by coquiboricua16 on November 28, 2007
Pros: For the price these headphones beat any other within price range. Awesome looks.
Cons: Bulky, instrussive deep into the ear for bass to be heard. Have to listen at very low volume. Very stiff and short cable.
Summary: Practicaly said it all on the pros and cons. The sound quality is great but at the cost of limiting your listening time by alot. The volume must be kept ...
Summary: Practicaly said it all on the pros and cons. The sound quality is great but at the cost of limiting your listening time by alot. The volume must be kept at less than half what your player provides because of severe risks and incredibly easy hearing loss. After listening to these headphones, you wont be able to listen to some frequencies for a while so please take a rest in a quiet place.
Sound Quality:
Everything is clear, no overpowering, but at low volumes you cannot hear the details that complete the listening experience. These headphones will really produce the best bass if locked in right, non muddy. Mids balanced and highs are annoying since they bother so much you just have to lower the volume some more and then the rest of the sounds are affected. So if your lows and mids are prefered these headphones will do nicely.
Comfort:
If you can take a wet wily you can take these headphones. They must be inserted deep into the ear canal so bass works, if you dont lock it in bass cannot be heard at all. As the manual practically hides this vital info, these headphones have high SPL, more than 30 minutes of listening will cause hearing damage. Cable will rip out your ears since its short and its stiff, so dont move out of the cable's lenght with the ear pieces still on. They are a bit light.
Durability:
Prolly can outlast your MP3 player. But the foam and some silicone eartips will not.
Looks:
I bought the Radioshack special edition metal red, they look awesome and look less uncomfortable than they really are.
Isolation and bottom line:
Blocks 70% noise properly making this an awesome sound experience if it wasnt for the discomforts and omited dangers.
If you want the best isolation for the price these are the ones for you.1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
-
Good for the price
by tellico7 on March 12, 2007
Pros: user replaceable cable, agree with previous reviews
Cons: cheap cable, can't wear with ski helmet
Summary: I've owned these for about 1 month. I generally agree with the other reviews except I find that the cable is of adequate length. I am 6 feet tall ...
Summary: I've owned these for about 1 month. I generally agree with the other reviews except I find that the cable is of adequate length. I am 6 feet tall and I can attach them to my palm T3 and put it in my back pocket. However, the cable itself is cheap. At the point where the cable splits, the plastic sheath has already come loose (partially my fault for applying traction here while trying to adjust the fit.) I haven't found if this is covered under warranty but luckily the cable is easily replaceable so no need to throw the whole thing out. I may have been more upset about that had I payed list price. I would also prefer that they were lower profile in the ear. Although I can wear it with a hat that covers my ears a ski helmet fits too snug and tends to dislodge the earbuds.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
-
Very happy with these 'phones
by iemuser on February 26, 2007
Pros: revealing sound, secure fit, comfortable (for this user)
Cons: bass heads won't like these 'phones
Summary: My first impression was that the sound was very revealing. By comparison, my stock ipod earbuds sounded like listening through a wall. My second impression was that the bass was ...
Summary: My first impression was that the sound was very revealing. By comparison, my stock ipod earbuds sounded like listening through a wall. My second impression was that the bass was missing. After a few more minutes of listening, I realized that the bass was NOT missing. In fact it was quite present, just not over-emphasized. If you're in the market for relatively inexpensive in-ear 'phones and you're a bass head, you probably won't like these, but if you're looking for a more balanced sound, I can't imagine how you would be disappointed with the super.fi 3s.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Logitech
- Part number: IP-P3SSB0002-02
- Description: Are you ready to hear the full range of music from your iPod, MP3 player or other personal audio device? The super.fi 3 Studio earphones give you studio quality sound in a unique in-ear design that incorporates pro-style ear loops to keep your earphones in place and a universal fit kit to maximize your comfort and minimize the noise around you. These earphones were specifically developed to offer you a full spectrum of sound to maximize your music experience, much better than the earphones that came with your personal audio player. Add in a stylish leather carrying case and you are ready to go. So toss your old earbuds and upgrade to the super.fi 3 Studio earphones - your ears will love you for it!
General
- Recommended Use The noise canceling feature blocks the din on buses and airplanes. Plus, they are portable for easy transport.
- Product Type Headphones
- Color Black
- Additional Features Gold-plated plug
Headphones
- Headphones Type Headphones - Binaural
- Headphones Form Factor In-ear canalphone
- Headphones Technology Balanced armature
- Connectivity Technology Wired
- Sound Output Mode Stereo
- Sensitivity 115 dB/mW
- Impedance 13 Ohm
- Headphones Ear Pads Included
Connections
- Connector Type 1 x Headphones ( Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm )
Miscellaneous
- Cables Included 1 x Headphones cable - 4 ft
Power
- Power Device None
Product series
-
Ultimate Ears Super.fi 3 Studio (black)
Manufacturer: Logitech
Specs: Headphones, In-ear canalphone, Black, Stereo, Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm, Gold-plated plug
-
Ultimate Ears Super.fi 3 Studio (white)
Manufacturer: Logitech
Specs: Headphones, In-ear canalphone, White, Stereo, Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm, Gold-plated plug
-
Ultimate Ears Super.fi 3 Studio (clear)
Manufacturer: Logitech
Specs: Headphones, In-ear canalphone, Stereo, Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm
Manufacturer info
- Logitech
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Logitech products on Shopper.com
-
- Website: http://www.logitech.com/
- Address:
6505 Kaiser Dr., Fremont, CA 94555
%20-%20Compare%20prices,%20reviews,%20user%20opinions%20-%20Shopper.com&srcUrl=http://shopper.cnet.com/headphones/ultimate-ears-super-fi/4014-7877_9-31491515.html){kind=small}