Ultimate Ears Super.fi 3 Studio Headphones

I am an audiophile. And in an unfortunate turn of events, I’m also unable to throw several hundred dollars at a set of headphones that I would expect would give me the kind of sound quality I live on. While it sounds like a heartbreaking story (right), it does have a happy ending: the Ultimate Ears Super.fi 3 Studio earphones. These little headphones offer some of the best sound quality I’ve ever heard from earbuds, and they come at a price that would make me think less of them if I didn’t know how good they sound. These are a top recommendation for those audio geeks who, like me, find themselves a little short of cash for a $400 pair of Sennheisers.

The Good. Though there are ultimately more important things in a good set of headphones, foremost on this list of the good stuff is the price. This is a truly incredible set of earbuds, with flat response, perfect fit, and a few style points, for what is a pittance when compared with what they should cost.

You’ll be pleased with the Ultimate Ears Super.fi 3 Studio earbuds from the get-go. UE has supplied a number of accessories aimed largely at a comfortable listening experience. Several sets of ear tips (of various sizes) come included, and can easily be slipped on to the earbuds to increase or decrease their size depending on the size of your ear canal. They have also included a cleaning tool to help you keep them nice and shiny, you waxy thing, you. All of this accessorizing ultimately leads to a more enjoyable experience through earbuds that sit and stay in your ears without constant readjusting.

Now to the meaty stuff (at least for you audiophiles). The Ultimate Ears Super.fi 3 Studio monitors have a killer sound. Period. What does that mean? For one, it means flat response: the lows, mids, and highs will each come across at about the same level. This might initially be disappointing to those consumers looking for a little more bass when listening to hip-hop or techno, but the 3’s have more than enough low end for the electronica I play, and the added bonus comes when I hear the seemingly more clear mids and highs. Even better, everything else I play sounds a thousand times better. Whether I’m listening to rock, jazz, or folk, everything comes through loud and clear because of the flat-response design.

The Not-So-Good. The only major gripe I can come up with is the length of the cord. I’m a guy who likes his music on the go: I’m usually walking, running, or something akin to movement when I’m listening to music. Needless to say, I usually prefer a longer cable to help free up my movement, but I have to watch myself just a little bit when using the 3’s to make sure I don’t rip them out of my ears. Incidentally, the cable can be sent in and lengthened by the company for a fee, so the situation isn’t hopeless, but it can add some extra cost to the price tag.

The Bottom Line. Don’t let the cable problem stop you from buying these headphones. If you’re looking for killer sound on a budget, the Ultimate Ears Super.fi 3 Studio earbuds are the closest you’re going to get to heaven this side of $300.

These little earbuds have saved my life, at least audio-wise. With a manageable price and sound quality I’d expect out of a bulky set of studio phones, the Super.fi 3 earphones have allowed me to appreciate stellar sound even when I’m on the go. It’s not often I can mollify both my ears and my wallet, but Ultimate Ears has done both with panache.