Cingular Go Phone: Ultimate Ears 700 Noise Isolating Earphones Review

The Ultimate Ears 700 Noise Isolating Earphones are a good quality premium set of in-ear monitors.After several weeks of thoroughly testing these earphones and comparing them to the army of others that I own, my impressions have improved.These earphones have many of the best qualities that those seeking compact in-ear monitors (IEMs) are looking for.In each individual category, however, they are mostly bested by alternatives.You will have to review the entire range of features and decide if these provide the right blend of strong points to meet your needs.

WHO SHOULD BUY THESE EARPHONES?

These might be the right head-phones for you if you:
1.Are demanding about sound and really want better low-end sound reproduction than most compact IEMs.
2.Need good sound isolation and have normal to small ear canals
3.Need a compact set of earphones that can be inserted deeply for wearing under a helmet (such as during motorcycle riding)
4.Need a high quality cable without any memory and with minimal wire feedback (this pair's best feature)
5.Need a comfortable fit with good quality tips.

WHO SHOULD CONSIDER ALTERNATIVES?

You may benefit from considering the alternatives if you have one or more of the following needs.
1.Those who want the very best sound are probably still better off stepping up to the UE TripleFi 10 Pros, which have three unique drivers which result in the best low-end sound production out of any IEMs I have tested.Please note that those sell for much more than these. Similarly, the Shure SE530s have an amazing sound and superior comfort, though those units are not only twice as expensive they also have some build issues.Still, for those looking for the best sound possible in IEMs, those units deserve a look.
2.Those who need the best sound isolation should consider the Etymotic ER6is, ER-4Ps, HF2s or the HF5s depending on whether they prefer compact (ER6is, ER4Ps) or larger (HF2s, HF5s) body shapes.The flanged design of the ER tips are simply unmatched at sound isolation.The tips with the UE 700s are good , but can be easy to install improperly.If your tip size is slightly too small and you install too deep, you will lose isolation and hear a pop.The ER tips are just much better designed to help avoid that possible mistake.
3.Similarly, the ER6is are very compact and can also be used for motorcycle riding.Because of the improved isolation, there is less risk of having the seal pop while you're riding, which is a very uncomfortable situation to be in.The trade off is sound quality.The ER6is are a good compromise, and sound good.The UE 700s sound better, and fuller, even if they are not as efficient.Both units should be handled with care since the build quality is only moderately good.But considering the ER6is are half the price, it's a serious consideration for those willing to sacrifice a little bit of sound quality.The ER4Ps are closer in price, and honestly may sound slightly better then these.I will need more time comparing them before forming an opinion on that.
4.Those who don't want a compact IEM that buries itself into your ear canal should probably consider the UE Superfi 5 Pros.They also have the same dual-driver technology that produces very nice sound, but they have the longer body of the classic UE IEMs.I also somewhat prefer the tips of those, having owned the Ultimate Ears SuperFi 3s and some re-branded UE phones made by other manufacturers.They come with the option of a wider dual flanged tip that is good for those with wider ear canals.

THE FEATURES

The sound quality of these is very good.They are based on Ultimate Ear's signature dual-driver configuration with separate high and low drivers.The sound isn't quite as full as other higher end units, and the efficiency isn't as high.That means you have to turn up your volume a little more with these to get the same sound level you would with the Superfi 5Prosor the like.But the clarity is very good.In tests with uncompressed and low compression formats this set performed very well in the sound department.Sound quality was good even before break-in and improved slightly after.

Included with the earphones is a plastic case that is held closed by one side, while the other side is just a plastic hinge.I am definitely dreading the day that breaks.

There is also a sound attenuator that will help to protect your phones and your hearing if you have to hook up to an unstable sound source, such as on an airplane.However, they don't include the double pronged jack you need to plug in on most airplanes.There isn't sufficient room to keep the attenuator or the extra tips in the case so you will have tostore them elsewhere.

The foam tips included with this set are better than other foam tips that come with my Etymotics.The silicone tips are made from good quality silicone.The problem with them, alluded to above, is that their rounded shape means they feel like the perfect size, but may break the seal if you push them at the wrong depth or angle.So those who normally use a medium tip will have to size up to the large, and push it in past the point of comfort.I have sensitive ears and it took me about two weeks to adjust to these.

The product picture and box suggests you should wrap these around your ears for active use, such as while running.Actually, you should do it for any use.By limiting the pulling of wearing these straight down, it limits the wire sound that all IEMs have to some degree.The cable is such good quality I didn't hear any wire-movement sounds when these were properly installed.

There is a red plastic on one side so you can tell left from right, another UE trait that is a very useful feature.The body of these is a light plastic, but with that always comes possible durability concerns.I will only be able to update my findings about durability after 6 months of extended use.Needless to say, I would not be using these for running as they suggest on the box.

CONCLUSION

These are great IEMs, and may be one of the better quality compact earphones out there.However, if you don't mind slightly larger units, there are other alternatives that may be better overall.I am still glad I got these.Some of the features are very good, and the quality is noticeable.Depending on your budget and your needs, you should review your alternatives.

Enjoy.

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Product Description:
Designed with a micro dual-armature layout to give you a cleaner, more precise audio reproduction. This is the closest you may get to the same professional-grade stage monitors used by 75% of the world's touring professional artists and sound engineers. With sound so clear and authentic, you'll think you were listening to your favorite artist performing live in your living room. Such a small device produces such a magnitude of sound, you'll wonder how we got all the parts in there.

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