Technology
New UE Fits true wireless earbuds will mold your ear to match perfectly.
Most of us stick to the silicone ear tips that come with our earbuds in the box; typically one of the small / medium / large sizes allows a strong enough seal to improve bass and maximize noise insulation. Stepping up from that, you get foam tips like those from Comply that extend to fill your ear canal with top-notch tone. But the apex of earbud listening is when you have a fully customizable, personalized ear tip that suits exactly to the contours of your ear.
Ultimate Ears aims to bring this alternative to more people — without having them head to their nearest ear mold audiologist. The company's latest $249 UE Fits have gel-filled tips that will instantly harden your ears by a 60-second phase triggered on your mobile.
This custom design offers wireless convenience free of strain, discomfort or annoyance, even after extended use, the company said in today's press release for the earbuds.
UE Suits also deliver superior passive noise insulation as the equipped tips create a natural seal that prevents ambient noise.
Here's how it all works: you're using the UE Fits software for either Android or iPhone to launch a process that uses "Lightform technology" that, when paired with embedded LEDs in your earbuds, can shape the tips to your specific ear contours in less than a minute. Until the tips are smooth, they remain the same way.
The UE Fits have a continuous battery life of up to eight hours (with a charge factor of "over 20"). Color choices will include gray, purple lilac, and navy as earbuds start arriving sometime this fall — and sadly only in the US. Ultimate Ears claims consumers have a 30-day "great fit" promise of fulfillment. The buds are sweat-proof and water-proof, and support SBC, AAC, and Apt-X Bluetooth codecs. Apart from designing your customized fit, the UE Fits app can also be used to configure earbud settings.
I'm really curious about this whole idea and how the mold process really works, so I can't wait to give the UE Fits a shot. As to how they actually sound, the company promises that the earbuds have 10 mm drivers and will produce a sound that's absolute, soft, and precise, with a rich, tight, punchy bass. Combine that with a custom fit that Ultimate Ears claims makes for all-day comfort, and the UE Fits could prove to be something special.
