Super fi 5 pros (and cons) ;P

[smog_man]

Hi there

i heard about a problem with the super fi 5 pros build quality in a feww posts, in my last post a member said it was just a batch problem,
has this been verified or is it just a rumor.

If any of you have had a problem like this with your s.fi 5.pros
could you gu ve the info on what type you got.(colour) and where you got them.

Also will the output volume level of the x5 always decrease the battery life at the same rate for all types of headphones.? e.g will the battery usage be the same at vol. 14 for super fi 5 pros and senn hd 595's??

thanks
Smog MAn:jamming:

[nsjong]

The Super fi.5 pro new batches now have metal housing instead plastic. Now they won't crack. You can get the new batches at www.earphonesolutions.com and it's on sale until end of Saturday.

The HD595's will be harder to drive. So it would be kinda pointless to have them at volume 14 if you liked that volume on the IEM's. More ohms = more resistance. More resistance = more power to drive.

There's also a mod to wear them comfortably. It is where you change the R and L cords, allowing you to wear the IEM's backwards, which provide better comfort.

[Getwired]

Look, I've had the super.fi 5 Pro's for a while now, and have had to RMA them twice. Ultimate Ears Customer Service ROCKS. UE takes it seriously when you have a problem, and I had mine returned to me in a matter of several days the first time. The second time took considerably longer as they were in the process of obtaining and shipping the new version.

The first time I RMA'd, they gave me extra ear tips. I got back a brand new set of the old (original) version. Over the next few months, I noticed the exact same issue -- hairline cracks along the bottom of the driver body that developed into fissures.

The second time, it took several weeks, but UE Customer Service apologized profusely, and sent me more ear tips, a T-shirt, and a leather case because I was patient and friendly with them. It was my choice to wait for the black ones, and they offered to send me the new pearl-white or new clear version instead. I've stuck with black.

The new design looks great, feels great, and will hopefully eliminate the cracked driver body issue. I absolutely love the sound of these puppies, and as much as I love my Sennheiser CX 300's that got me through these "tough times", I still very much missed my super.fi 5 Pro's while they were being replaced.

My only design complaint with the old version (other than the cracked driver bodies) was the way they stuck outta my ears a bit, which made it hard to lie down and rest my head with them in. Using Zephyron's accidental backwards method (http://www.iaudiophile.net/forums/showpost.php?p=90849&postcount=80) and my swapped-cord idea (http://www.iaudiophile.net/forums/showpost.php?p=91943&postcount=89) to undo the reverse stereo imaging, I now wear them in this "alternate style", which makes them quite comfortable to wear even while sleeping.

Of the new version, I really like the look of the new driver body with the smooth metallic black coating. I don't think that the driver bodies are actually metal, but they feel a bit more substantial than the old version. The only thing with the new version that I don't care for is the clear cord. I never had cord issues with the original thin black cord, and I'd rather have that black cord instead of the new clear cord. UE said they felt the clear cord was more professional looking and was more in line with their UE 5/7/10 Pro (etc). Perhaps they will offer a new black cord in the future, in which case I'll definitely get one.

Bottom line: My super.fi 5 Pro's are kick-a$$, and I love 'em despite the problems I had with the old version. In the [hopefully] off chance that I have another issue with these, I'll probably ask UE to give me full credit towards some UE-5c/7/10 Pro and go custom.

If you're on the fence about these, relax and take the plunge. You won't be sorry (I'm NOT). Just try to make sure you get the new version. BUT, you've still got a two year warranty even if you order them from somewhere besides www.earphonesolutions.com (http://www.earphonesolutions.com/uleasuea.html) and somehow get stuck with the old version.

[Getwired]

Also will the output volume level of the x5 always decrease the battery life at the same rate for all types of headphones.? e.g will the battery usage be the same at vol. 14 for super fi 5 pros and senn hd 595's??

thanks
Smog MAn:jamming: Yes, battery drain on the X5 would be the same, but the perceived volume will be way less on the HD-595's at 14 than on the super.fi 5 Pro's at 14 due to the higher impedance and power requirements of large cans like the HD-595's.

I have a pair of 250-Ohm Beyerdynamic DT 880's and I drive them with a Robert Gehrke PenguinAmp (http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZheadphoniaQQhtZ-1) running my X5 at volume 30, and I do notice less battery life than with my Sennheiser CX 300s or UE super.fi 5 Pro's at say 15 on the X5.

My X5 will be one year old in November, and it's already time for a new battery. No more 10-12 hours for me. I'm lucky to get 5-6. This is not a problem unique to me (http://www.iaudiophile.net/forums/showthread.php?t=8719) though.

[Getwired]

The only thing with the new version that I don't care for is the clear cord. I never had cord issues with the original thin black cord, and I'd rather have that black cord instead of the new clear cord. UE said they felt the clear cord was more professional looking and was more in line with their UE 5/7/10 Pro (etc). Perhaps they will offer a new black cord in the future, in which case I'll definitely get one.

Got my new black 2.0 cable -- looks MUCH better than the clear cable UE sends with the new 2.0 black super.fi 5 Pro's, and the folks at Earphone Solutions (http://www.earphonesolutions.com) got it to me in three days (and for cheaper than UE would be able to).

In the case of "RMA upgrades" it would probably be good for UE to inform people of all of the cosmetic and accessory changes with the 2.0 version vs the original super.fi 5 Pro's, especially the black version, before they get complaints about things like cables. Yes, I AM that picky. [rolleyes] Also, UE even sent me a nice T-shirt and some ear-tips to compensate me for my original version issues, and I'm now a totally happy camper. UE ROCKS!

I love the earphones and recommend them to everyone, and for work, these are my choice. For home, I still geek out in my Beyerdynamic DT-880's with the PenguinAmp.

[Getwired]

They look pretty sweet to me. Check 'em out here (http://www.ultimateears.com/superfi/triple.fi-10Pro-BlueMetallic.htm). Now if only I knew how sweet they sound! At $399US list, they're a bit too pricey for me -- I'd likely spend some more $$$ and go custom if I were gonna blow that much coin...

[smog_man]

I almost messed my pants up when i saw the link .

DROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL , damn i wish i wasn't a student .(and so feckin tight)
oh well the super fi 5 pro's will have to do me .. i'm waitin for a pair to reappear on amazon in the uk that were goin at £ 109 compared to the Exorbitant(who knows how it's spelt) £249 that one firm and £199 that advancedmp3players are chargin .............oooooh my blood boils[devil]

thanks for the link by the way

Smog_man:jamming: