Ultimate Ears 6000 headphones review
For
Stupidly comfortable, bass like you're never heard, reasonable price, cool looking, remote on cable
Against
Not the most realistic sound ever, noise cancelling isn't brilliant, battery hungry
If you're electronic music fan, then we believe the Ultimate Ears 6000s might be correct up your street. These noise-cancelling headphones are developed to give their owner sound that is cost-free of external interference from jet engines, trains or other sorts of noise.
Needless to say, the concept right here is usually to capture a little of that profitable headphone market that's been kicked up a notch with the likes of Monster Audio, Beats and also the other "fashion" brands. What Logitech, the business behind Ultimate Ears, is clearly hoping, is the fact that it may appeal to one or other segment, and sell a great deal of headphones.
To complete that although, it is going to must show that it is capable of impressing with these headphones.
Style
We rather just like the appear of these headphones. Ours are white with blue hints here and there. The audio cable, as well as the inside bit on the earpads are both finished in blue, in contrast for the black and white elsewhere. We like it, and we also like the angular look that these headphones have been offered. It is sharp, and cool, we feel, and we like it.
You get a soft case integrated, which we actually like. It's going to keep the headphones compact and secure if you travel with them, but it is light and can be squashed down when not in use. It's helpful.
The removable cable scores for us too. We've said it loads, but non-removable cables are a disgrace, simply because sooner or later your cable will break. When it does, you happen to be going to become annoyed in case you cannot just replace it for ?¨º2 rather of getting to get a whole new set of headphones. Additionally, it indicates, in the event you need to have a longer cable for Television viewing, it really is easy to switch out.
As is so typically the case now, there is also an iPod-compatible microphone, volume manage and multifuction button on the cable. Some functions - just like the microphone - will function on Android phones also, however the volume controls will greater than most likely not work.
Sound
We're honestly truly sold here. But before we tell you what's wonderful regarding the 6000s, let's possess a small look at what we do not like.
The worst issue, is if you listen to music that has an extremely overblown bassline. For probably the most portion, even electronic music tends to keep this under control, but once you discover a track with an intended mass of low-frequency sound, it could grow to be quite overwhelming. Certainly, listen to a bassy track for as well extended on these headphones, and it might feel a little like a torture strategy, and it's definitely quite wearing.
But with that gripe out on the way, we have to say that most tracks sound terrific. Pop sounds glorious, with sharp vocals ringing out with absolute clarity. We've had some enjoyable with Carly Rae Jepsen, Pink and Katy Perry. You are able to judge us for that if you'd like, but the female vocals in many of these tracks sound stunning on the UE 6000s, with that little bass kick, it is like a double-whammy of pleasure being driven into your ears.
In the high-end, there is an practically amazing level of power as well. We tested our "too-bright" test track, and in fact located that the UEs did an excellent enough job with it. Still a bit a lot of sibilance and high-end for us, but nevertheless one of many much more pleasing reproductions of a track that may be painful to listen to.
Time right after time even though, it's the glorious mid-range that may make you most pleased. The bass is entertaining, despite the fact that it may be a little significantly. but these cans surely seem to have got the basics proper. It makes us wonder what a slightly significantly less bass-heavy pair would sound like.
The noise cancellation switch
At the top of the correct earphone can be a switch. Flick it, plus a light illuminates and you're now listening to a noise-cancelled and seemingly far more amplified sound. It is quite a difference from the power-off mode. Volume jumps up, and to us it sounded just like the bass was a lot far more forceful.
The noise cancelling is not truly fantastic although. It really is a shame, because increasingly it seems you can have either genuinely strong noise cancellation, or amazing-sounding headphones, but seldom each inside the identical package. Still, the noise cancelling here does assist a little, and it really is almost certainly enough to take the edge off a long flight.
It does also bear mentioning that the batteries will not final all that extended - probably 24 hours of continual use - so do remember to switch them off when you are not utilizing them. We'd generally expect headphones to detect a lack of audio, and switch off, but these do not, and it means you are able to flatten the batteries really very easily.
Just about the loudest headphones we've ever heard
We ran our UEs by means of an Onkyo amp, and cranked up the volume to close to maximum. To our surprise, the UEs managed to not distort noticeably, and produced a volume of sound that would beat some portable speakers we've heard in our time.
With such amazing power comes awesome responsibility though. These headphones may be driven hard, but if you do so for any length of time, you will destroy your hearing. So regardless of their ability, do not be tempted to push them to their maximum, it's going to finish in tears, and they'll be yours.
Verdict
If you are seeking audio accuracy, these won't be the headphones for you. If, alternatively, you need skull-crushing bass with out losing out on the rest of the audio, then these headphones are probably to be ideal for you.
Don't nevertheless, get them for the noise cancellation, with which we weren't impressed. The button fills out the audio though, giving a much much more dynamic sound than you get in the headphones in their unpowered, pass-through mode. Even so, it is good that if your batteries do run out, you'll nevertheless be capable of listen to music.
The Ultimate Ears 6000s are also a bit leaky, so they are not excellent for use out and about. If the noise cancellation was much better, they'd be okay on planes simply because the leaking could be heard to hear more than the aircraft noise. Because it stands, be careful how loud you listen in public, or everybody will know you secretly enjoy that Taylor Swift track.