Ultimate Ears goes mainstream

Once only used as ear monitors by music gods, the brand is now available to the masses

by Alvin Chong

Updated 05:51 PM Oct 18, 2012

SINGAPORE - Ultimate Ears (UE) are well known in audiophile circles as the makers of earphones and custom ear monitors used by top musicians such as U2 - but these instruments of music gods have come within grasp of mortals with the release of the Logitech UE 4000, 6000 and 9000.

To ease concerns of all audiophiles, all three UE headphone models come with the brand's renowned sound signature - an enjoyable sound with emphasis on warm bass and extended treble. But you do get what you pay for where sound definition is concerned.

The smallest of the trio is the UE 4000, which are compact on-ear headphones. Sound quality is good despite its small size, but comfort-wise, the ear cups feels tight on my rather large ears.

The larger UE 6000 is where the bells and whistles start coming in: The around-the-ear build of the UE 6000 definitely improves on the UE 4000's comfort, and the sound offers better detail and a richer bass. The UE 6000 is also foldable, fitting into a zippered travel case that makes it the most portable of the three.

And the UE 9000 features the best aural quality, providing the best detail and instrument separation while still delivering a cohesive feel to the music. The UE 9000 is also the most comfortable of the trio. Its weight and clamp force of the headband provides a snug and secure fit at all times. It also packs its own hardcase for travel - but road warriors might want to note that it will take up a chunk of your luggage space.

Both the UE 6000 and UE 9000 boast active amplification and noise cancelling at the flip of a switch. The active amplification enhances the bass, which may not work for all genres of music. The noise cancelling feature is subtle - I could still hear what was going on around me despite the muted ambient sounds. The UE 6000 requires two AAA batteries, while the UE 9000 uses in-built rechargeable batteries.

The UE 9000 is the only model that is bluetooth enabled, allowing you to go cordless.

In my opinion, if you are looking for a wireless headphones with impeccable aural quality, the UE 9000 is your choice. Otherwise, the foldable UE 6000 is a good balance between sound, portability and price. If you're on a budget, the UE 4000 offers great sound at a reasonable price.


The Logitech UE 4000 comes in black, purple and white, and retails for S$159. The Logitech UE 6000 comes in white or black and retails for S$319. The Logitech UE 9000 comes only in black, and retails for S$599.

Source:  www.todayonline.com