Product Description

Super.fi 5Vi Liquid Silver

Product Details

• Brand: Ultimate Ears
• Model: IF-P5VSM0001-02
• Format: CD
• Dimensions: 5.50" h x 2.50" w x 6.50" l, .35 pounds

Features

• Exclusive top fire armature speaker, which produces powerful & extended high definition sound
• Miniature high performance microphone for hands free phone calls
• In-line multi-function button answers & ends calls & controls music/video on iPhone (not included)In-line microphone Sensitivity - -40dBV/Pa, 1 kHz
• Speaker Input Sensitivity - 115 dB SPL/mW at 1 kHz
• Frequency Response - 15 Hz - 15 kHz

From the Manufacturer
From the Manufacturer

The Choice of 75% of the World's Top Touring Musicians*

The world's top performing artists choose Ultimate Ears custom in-ear monitors for one reason—they are made to deliver the best fit and sound reproduction available. Ultimate Ears represents the culmination of years of experience designing, testing and refining professional in-ear monitors. Ultimate Ears brings this experience to every pair of earphones that they make. The unique sound signature of Ultimate Ears earphones has been tuned to be sonically accurate, yet musically impressive. The earphone designs and ear cushions create a soft, snug seal for long wearing comfort and noise isolation. And Ultimate Ears' sleek, refined designs complement your personal style—instead of overwhelming it.

Ultimate Ears SuperFi 5vi earphones with voice capability – Fit, form and frequency. The unique top fire balanced armature speaker design gives you the flexibility to fit any situation the moment you plug in. Wear them down to listen casually or on calls and over the ear while you're exercising. Plus, you can easily switch between calls and music or video with a push of a button. Either way, you're hearing just the sound of your highs and your lows and everything in between. Nothing but full, clean and clear, well-rounded sound.

		Voice Capability Built-in High Performance Microphone and Control Button: Easily switch between making calls and enjoying music and video on your iPhone or BlackBerry (with a 3.5 mm jack). Answer or end a call with the push of a button, or double-click the control button to advance between tracks. Premium Quality Sound Single Top Fire Balanced Armature Speaker Design: Custom tuned top fire balanced armature speaker design gives you a snug and secure fit while producing a more extended high-frequency response and a full sound stage. Immersion Sound Signature: Exclusive Immersion sound signature is tuned to provide a 3-D sound stage that makes you feel as though you are experiencing the quality, energy and emotion of a live performance. Noise Isolation: Armature speaker design allows the earphones to fit naturally and comfortably inside your ear to create a more secure seal to block outside noise by up to 26 dB. Frequency Range: Broader frequency range of 15Hz – 20kHz delivers cleaner, clearer mid and high tones.
		Personal Style Finish: Liquid silver earphone color with black cord provides an extra hit of style. Improved Comfort Better Fit for Active Listening: Ergonomically designed earphone housing can be worn down for casual listening or over the ear while exercising. Perfect for the gym, jogging or running. Comply Foam Ear Cushions: Comply foam ear cushions provide maximum comfort and noise isolation. Available only on Ultimate Ears premium earphone models. Soft Silicone Ear Cushions: Includes small, medium and large silicone ear cushions to comfortably fit all ear sizes.

Convenient Features Flexible Listening: Can be worn comfortably down for casual listening situations such as sitting or walking, or can be worn over the ear to keep the earphones securely in place during running or exercising. Tangle-Resistant Cord: Durable cord is strong and does not tangle as easily as thinner ear bud cords. Cord length of 46” is specifically designed to prevent earphone fallout. Pocket-Ready Hard Case: Black flip-top pocket-ready hard case safely stores your earphones and slips easily into a pocket or bag.

Compatibility Audio Players* iPod and other MP3 players iPhone and Blackberry (audio only) Home audio Gaming consoles Video/portable DVD players Computers/laptops *with 3.5mm jacks

Mobile Phones* iPhone Blackberry Music Phones *with 3.5mm jacks

What's in the Box Ultimate Ears SuperFi 5vi earphones with voice capability Pocket-ready hard case Soft, silicone ear-cushions (S, M, L) In-line phone microphone with control button Two sets of Comply foam ear cushions Cleaning tool Instruction manual 1-year limited hardware warranty.

Find Your Ultimate Ears

Good

Better

Best

Model

Speaker Design

Noise Isolation

Comfort Features

Compatibility

		TripleFi 10	Triple Armature Speaker Full 3D Sound Stage, Closest Experience to Our Custom In-Ear Monitors	26 dB	Comply Foam & Silicone Ear Cushions Shapeable Cord for a Secure Custom Fit	Audio: iPod, iPhone, & MP3 Voice & Audio: (vi Version): iPhone, Blackberry and other Smart Phones
		Ultimate Ears 700	Dual Armature Speaker Optimized Frequency Response for More Precise Audio Reproduction & Punchy Bass	26 dB	Comply Foam & Tapered Silicone Ear Cushions Micro Design for Long Wearing Comfort	Audio: iPod, iPhone & MP3
		SuperFi 5	Single Top Fire Armature Speaker Extended High Frequency Response	26 dB	Comply Foam & Silicone Ear Cushions	Audio: iPod, iPhone, & MP3 Voice & Audio: (vi Version): iPhone, Blackberry and other Smart Phones
		SuperFi 4	Single Armature Speaker Crisp Full Sound & Improved Noise Isolation	26 dB	Comply Foam & Silicone Ear Cushions	Audio: iPod, iPhone & MP3
		MetroFi 220	Single Titanium Coated Diaphragm Speaker Authentic Sound with Improved Clarity	16 dB	Silicone Ear Cushions	Audio: iPod, iPhone, & MP3 Voice & Audio: (vi Version): iPhone, Blackberry and other Smart Phones
		MetroFi 170	Single Diaphragm Speaker Tuned for Authentic Sound Quality	16 dB	Silicone Ear Cushions	Audio: iPod, iPhone, & MP3 Voice & Audio: (vi Version): iPhone, Blackberry and other Smart Phones

*Pollstar Top 100 Touring Artists.

Customer Reviews

Poor Build Quality
First let me start with the good by saying that the top firing micro driver in these ear buds are fantastic. As far as sound goes they provide a very lively, rich and balanced sound. I listen to a wide variety of music and they did everything justice...Jazz, Rock, Classical and Electronica all sounded great. They are not reference monitors by any stretch but for casual listening bang for the buck they really deliver. As for comfort I was satisfied with these buds although the foam ear tips don't last very long. You will find yourself ordering replacements before long.

The headset function though is where the problems start. First, if you are not using these over the ears there is a tremendous amount of cable noise. If you can get a good fit over the ears this defeats some of the cable noise. The problem is once over the ear the microphone is now not placed optimally for talking. Finally ear canal phones (any I would imagine) produce a weird experience while talking hands free. Hold you ears shut and then talk...you will get an idea of what I am talking about.

The nail in the coffin though is the build quality. The junction from the cable to the 3.5 mm jack ends up failing after prolonged use. It took mine about eight months. Sadly I have heard other UE owners complain about the same thing with various models. I have owned three pairs of Shure earphones (E3c, E4c and 310s) before these and never had an issue with a frayed cable after years of use. Now I sadly have to deal with Logitech for a warranty repair.

If you really like the sound of the SuperFi 5's I would just buy it without the integrated headset feature and save yourself a few bucks. Just be aware of the issues with durability if you plan on using them often.

Great set of earphones and great customer experience
About 6 months ago, I purchased the Ultimate Ears Super.fi 4vi and found them to be great for airplane travel and the morning commute. They block out noise pretty well (considering I'm using them on the loud DC metro) and come with a variety of ear buds in different shapes so that I found a good fit. These fit very snugly into my ear. The only problem I would have with these are the cable noise (when you touch the cable) and the sub-par microphone (I am using it primarily for my iPhone) quality.

Fast forward to about a month ago - I lost sound in the right side of the headphones. I called UE customer support (really Logitech customer support, since they own UE now) and had them sent in for repair since they were still under warranty. After about a a week or so they told me that they would ship me replacements and would let me know the tracking number for these. A week later and I still didn't get my replacements or a tracking number. Sounds like a bad customer service experience waiting to happen right?

So I call up UE again to ask them what's going on. Apparently they no longer make the 4vis (it's gone from their product site as well) and thus it is backordered. Without me asking or complaining about this, the customer service rep asked me if I would like to upgrade to the 5vi. Well, hell, of course I would!

I got my 5vis recently and I have to say that they are a vast improvement on the 4vi. First off, they just look very cool and sleek compared to the 4vi. Next, they can be worn over-the-ear or regularly. Wearing them over-the-ear works very well, and you can still access the mic. Sound quality has improved slightly, the bass is deeper.

Also, the new "memory foam" ear tips make a HUGE difference. These are what I primarily use now and they should solve any problems people have with the fit of this headset. If you've ever used those earplugs you can get at the drugstore, you know the concept of these already... just squeeze them and put them in your ear!

The cons would still be the cable noise. This has not been fixed. However, I would have to say that the cable itself is greatly improved. I think the problem I had with the 4vi was that the cable was too flimsy and just felt cheap (like $10 headphone cheap). The cable on the 5vi is a vast improvement in quality. It feels sturdier and is less likely to end up in a tangled mess just from sitting in your pocket.

Overall - a fine product! And more importantly - great customer service.

The closest thing to the perfect iPhone stereo headset.
Having recently moved on from iPods to the iPhone 3GS, I needed a new set of earphones, ones with built-in phone and music controls + an in-line mic. Adapters that provide this functionality with standard headphones are too bulky and cumbersome. I also find the
near-ear-canal design of earphone to be best for my needs. Sadly, quality headphones with full iPhone functionality are still very hard to find, especially in the $100-$200 range (my target). Thus my choices were narrowed down to the Ultimate Ears SuperFi 5vi's and Etymotic Research hf2; given my past experience with Ety's (ER6i's with an older iPod; I quickly returned them for their flimsy construction, difficult and uncomfortable fit, and totally lacking bass), I quickly dismissed the hf2's. And forget V-Moda, unless you want all of your music and video to sound like James Earl Jones speaking through a wooden box.

I gambled on the SuperFi 5vi's as I never used an Ultimate Ears product before. One week on, I'm convinced this is the closest I'm going to get to the perfect iPhone stereo headset. With no EQ, the sound quality is near-perfect: rich and full, fairly even with definite warmth. The bass is there, clean and not overpowering; this mids are very strong; and the highs are clear and present, though I would like a bit more. (The specs show 15kHz as the upper end of the freq. range; I think 16kHz would've been perfect.) Though if more bass or treble are needed, these earphones respond to the EQ extremely well. These are also quite LOUD; I'm using 2/3 the volume setting on the iPhone vs. past headphones of this design. The fit, seal, and comfort are all very good with the included silicone tips. (I'll reiterate what others have said, a proper fit and seal are CRITICAL for good bass response!) My only nit here is my desire for 2 extra pair of eartips in intermediate sizes, but I'm good with what's included. The construction is solid - all plastic parts are high-quality, the driver units are right-sized and look good, and the cables are stiff and thick. Furthermore, the call/music button is the right size and offers excellent tactile feedback. Finally, the in-line mic is outstanding; none of my callers can even tell I'm on a headset.

So where's the 5th star? The cable is one of the reasons for that. It's about 6" too long; the Y-split and button are too low; and the split needs an adjustable slider. (Even the free Apple earbuds provide this.) Also, the cable microphonics can be a bit much; a shirt clip would help this somewhat. I recycled the one from my old Sennheiser CX400s and it makes a difference with both the microphonics and the cable slack. Which leads me to my other point: UE really skimped on the included accessories. Besides a shirt clip, I would also like to see some spare eartips and an airline adapter at a minimum. Etymotics offer a lot more here for the same list price. The included carrying case is OK but needs work: (1) the plastic is a little cheap (2) the outside size & shape are too big & bulky for a pants pocket (3) the earphones don't fit easily inside.

In all, this is a fantastic set of earphones for the iPhone. In the $100-$200 price range, I feel the only choices for balanced, high-quality sound are these or the Ety hf2s. I'd recommend the latter only for clinical listening; otherwise, for their warm sound, easy and comfortable fit, and flawless iPhone compatibility, the UE SuperFi 5vi are the clear winners here.