3-Way Earphones - $1150

[sdclc126]

I came across an article about these in the current issue of Popular Science -

http://www.popsci.com/gear-gadgets/article/2008-03/how-it-works-littlest-subwoofer

There is a link to the manufacturer on the page, but here is a direct link to the particular product:

http://www.ultimateears.com/_ultimateears/products/custom/ue11pro_description.php

This is just an FYI of what's out there - I have not seen anything like this before, and I have no idea what they sound like. There is not much technical detail about how the tiny individual drivers work or how clean they really are; the only thing I'd say is that for the money one could certainly build a very nice set of traditional loudspeakers, which is my preferred way of listening to music.

But I suppose these have their place, say at the gym, the office, studio etc. - as long as you're fairly affluent, or an audiophile, or both.

P.S. - does anybody have any idea how the crossovers in something like this work? Are they electronic?

 

[JCoffey]

Those are actually more for musicians while playing live I believe. I have a friend who is a semi pro singer songwriter and she has a set of the lower models. I havent heard them myself but she seems to love them.

 

[footemps]

I'd recommend jumping over to head-fi.org and firing off a few questions or doing a search there. I remember seeing a thread or two with multiple armature IEMs opened up to show the various parts. That may help answer a few questions.

 

[nunayafb]

My dads business partner sold a product called t.v. ears, they have a model that is either 2 way or 3 way I don't remember.

He was also a musician and he liked them- for a lot less money too if i remember correctly.

 

[Andersonix]

16.5 kHz top end? Lame.
$1150? Hella lame. There a fantastic headphones for a third of this price.
Three (or four?) drivers? Supremely lame: The lack of crossovers is a headphone advantage.
Sounds like an answer to a question nobody asked.

 

[sdclc126]

16.5 kHz top end? Lame.
$1150? Hella lame. There a fantastic headphones for a third of this price.
Three (or four?) drivers? Supremely lame: The lack of crossovers is a headphone advantage.
Sounds like an answer to a question nobody asked.

I would tend to agree with this. Yes a 3-way speaker of any kind that only goes to 16.5k is, well, yeah lame. Remember though that these are essentially earbuds rather than headphones so these should only be compared to other earbuds.

That said, however, in placing the post I was really just curious about the design of the drivers and crossovers - everything must be extremely miniaturized in something like this.

 

[despotic931]

I purchased a pair of the lower end ones and never got to hear them in stereo, one earbud was dead right out of the package, the one that I could hear sounded like crap and was bested by even my cheap 50 dollar sony earbuds. I'll stick with a set of shure dual driver earbuds thank you...

 

[phase_accurate]

One of the biggest advantage of these thingies is that they can be fitted to our ear canal. This is quite important if you use them on stage for monitoring. Even more if you are a singer.

Some of the Shure models can be fitted that way as well (and they are way cheaper). I don't know how this fittings are called in English. In German it is called "Otoplastik" and has to be made by those guys who fit hearing aids.

Regards

Charles

 

[nunayafb]

You just reminded me, you can go down to your local Audiologist and have them make molds of your ears and then universal "in the canal" headphone receptacles. They allow you to insert any standard size "ear bud" headphones into them. Depending on where you go, they cost between $100 and $300.

 

[ginalyn]

for gym music and workout music, I recommend european dance music.......

it's ALWAYS the best motivational tool for me...

.....and you don't have to tell anyone at the office if u just listen to it on the mp3 player at the gym ....

.... here's a compilation series on itunes that I recommend -- "the Euro Club hits" series:

http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/...edSearchResults?albumTerm=Euro+Club+Hits+Vol+

 

[Cal Weldon]

Uh, ginalyn,

Did you mean to post that here? If not, tell me where to move it.