In ear monitors

[Nasty1]

Judge,Thank you for my personal reply.

Yes I used an agent/audiologist for the ear moulds that were then sent in to UE for the monitors to be made, this was arranged by UE after speaking to them for the first time and after they recommended a suitable product, the air-tubes were not mentioned.

Whilst I accept that my monitors are still working I think that the option of and upgrade should be offered to customers, whilst I never said I would want this for free a considerable discount I would expect on the required work. The longer my monitors last, be it through care or luck the more difficult it will be to achieve a repair under warranty (should/when they go wrong) without the user being possibly accused for poor handling. In my experience, manufacturers that experience repeated reliability issues with a product would recall said products for repair/modification....an example is motorcycle industry we all use.

Having bought the UE monitors (top of he range jobbies) I do now find it quite amusing that UE specialise in Ear Protection and offer a product to motorcyclists that is reputed to have some of the best audiophile qualities available (they are excellent). Considering the product is used by bikers travelling the roads, trails, world even, in rain, storms, dust, I wonder why such musicality is considered a necessity or even considered at the design stage. I don't think any motorcyclist really needs 'music studio' quality monitors....do they? I suppose this was part of the reason for the development of the air-tube but this system does have its big downsides with sound being resonated through the tubes if not routed carefully.

An electrical product that provided average/good sound quality at half the price is all I and probably most really needed. This could/should be a future development that UE might consider? I may be alone in this but my expectations of a product that costs £100 is far less than one costing twice as much, should it fail early is also easier to forgive/forget.

Maybe/probably I am way off the mark with my comments above? I do think I will contact UE at some point and see what the cost/work is involved in getting the better cabling on my monitors.

Adie

OK the last reply was too general for you Adie so here's one just for you.

Should your monitors require repair they will be repaired to the latest standard of production. But right now your monitors are working perfectly and for all we know will continue to do so. In your use they have not failed and there is no certainty that will change.

You are in the majority of users who have not suffered a failure and long may that remain.

Its not Ultimate's belief that the rate of repair warrants a total recall so therefore I don't feel there is justification to fix what isn't broken, I reccomment you continue to enjoy your prodcut free of the paranoia that they will break, cos they might not, in four and a half years of pretty constant use mine never.

As to why you weren't offerd air-tubes, if you went to an Audiologist Agent for impression taking that is all they do, take the impression and you place an order for the product free of their involvement direct with Ultimate.

Airtube monitors have been 'on the counter' at every show stand in the last year, along with many other shooting, musician, sleeping, filtered, industrial specific products.

For that reason if you want an upgrade before your product has failed I am certain you can have that done and should you enquire with the sales office a price will be offered to you to have it done.

 

[Wapping]

The majority of users commented on above - is that the majority of general users or the majority of motorcycle specific users? Do you consider the majority of users to be those that you not had complaints from?

From reading this thread, it seems to me that the majority of people who have responded to this thread have had issues.

Maybe because those that have NOT had a problem have not bothered to say so, possibly?

This thread is rapidly becoming the same as Tim's, 'Please respond if you have had a fuel pump problem' and its basted cousin, 'Please respond if you have NOT had a fuel pump problem'.

But to enter into the spirit of meaningless consumer enquiry, I am happy to confirm that like Steptoe I have NOT had a problem. But I try to be careful, too.

Should I have a problem (they are out of warranty) I shall throw myself on the goodwill of UE and / or pay for a repair and / or look at the airtube version.

 

[Pukmeister]

Just got my UE monitors back and have to say a big thank you to judge for the personal touch.

The new heavily sheathed cabling looks very robust, the velcro tie very handy, and the unshielded section of cable is back to a supple rubber feeling cable rather than the hard vinyl feeling stuff that previously failed. The 3.5mm jack plug mounding is also robust and it is obvious that some thought has gone into improving the product.

I'm a little bit disappointed that no clear reinforcement has been used where the cable enters the monitor moulding as I had hoped for some inbuilt strain relief. This is the area where my monitors have failed twice previously despite being used with the respect due.

Having said that, the new monitors do not protrude outside my ears like the former version did so hopefully the cable should stay flat against my face and not rub inside my crash helmet (which I believe is the reason for previous failures).

Now where's my Mp3 player ??

 

[E. Buygum]

Ordered mine at the bike show for delivery mid Jan. Still nothing back and no reply to my emails. Less than impressed.

 

[E. Buygum]

Sod's Law

Whilst moaning about lack of response to my emails, Ultimate were replying:

"We are hoping to despatch all outstanding orders in the next 10 days if
not before.
We apologise for the delay and apreciate your patience".


Hang fire for a few more days then.

Judge, many thanks for your offer of help: it looks like we can just let things take their course. Cheers.

 

[Andy_E]

Got my UE monitors today, thanks to Judge for sorting out a delivery date. Yet to give them a roadtest but the fit is fine and sound quality is good from an iPod.

 

[sidpick]

Got my plugs last week and thought I'd test prior to adding to the thread again.
Well, what can I say, a totally different experience, awsome change to the 'road noises' I am so used to. Comms is a totally different kettle of fish too, so clear I just can't believe the difference.
I have also ventured onto the public transport system too with them, although I like to be able to hear whats going on around me it is soooo nice not to have to listen to the ignorant twat playing loud music, the MD who's going to be late, the bliss!
So a short big thumbs up so far from me, there well made and I think, in the long run worth every penny.

Thanks Judge for investigating my case!

Sid

 

[Annette]

An update on the ongoing issue I have with my Ultimate Ear monitors. I returned them for the third time on 10.02.09 and they were signed for at Ultimate Ear on 11.02.09.

That was over 2 weeks ago, and to date..................absolutely nothing. No phone, no email, and definitely no repaired ear monitors. I have tried telephoning today but there is no answer. I have sent yet another polite request using their online enquiry form asking that someone contact me to advise when they will be returned to me.

Here's hoping Monday will bring some good news.

 

[cherokee]

Well guys and gals got my monitors yesterday,tried them with the ipod,fantastic,sound quality is awesome,and the cables look strong and im well pleased.So soon as i get a chance il test them on the bike but im sure there going to be all i hoped.......

 

[Bryn]

Sorry if this has been covered already....

We've got Autocom speakers and mic's in System V helmets.... we require Rider/passenger vox, Ipod and GPS.

got Ultimate Ear plain plugs, and Green leopard plain plugs (no monitors )... for comfort I find the ultimate ear ones softer....

thing is, my Ipod is turned right up to listen to the thing at a comfortable volume to my ears....due to wearing the plain plugs

1) does this cause more degradation to your hearing than a set of in ear monitors would? and am I causing damage I'm not aware of , despite the fact that the music is not uncomfortably loud?

2) How will the connector on a set of In ear monitors interface with the Autocom to give me everything I need to talk to SWMBO, listen to the music and take directions from the GPS?

 

[THE DOCTOR]

...does this cause more degradation to your hearing than a set of in ear monitors would? and am I causing damage I'm not aware of , despite the fact that the music is not uncomfortably loud?

Bryn, don't you get annual health checks at work? I would've assumed in your line of work you would.

I recently had my annual check & could see my hearing results printed out for every check I've had since 1990. My left ear is degrading, which worried me a bit.

 

[Bryn]

Bryn, don't you get annual health checks at work? I would've assumed in your line of work you would.

I recently had my annual check & could see my hearing results printed out for every check I've had since 1990. My left ear is degrading, which worried me a bit.

Yes, nowt wrong with my ears (holding their own compared to previous tests.. but I was just wondering if there's something I'm missing...

Also considering in ear monitors so they can double in use with the I pod when not on the bike

 

[E. Buygum]

Ear plugs arrived a week or so ago....whilst I can't be too positive about the whole experience with Ultimate Ear (having waited since the NEC bike show), the product is excellent. The standard ear plugs are comfortable (being fairly soft) and do what they should do well. The pair (I bought both) with miniature speakers fitted give excellent sound quality. Great to avoid having to listen to the "I'm on the train"conversations.

 

[judge]

Sorry if this has been covered already....

We've got Autocom speakers and mic's in System V helmets.... we require Rider/passenger vox, Ipod and GPS.

got Ultimate Ear plain plugs, and Green leopard plain plugs (no monitors )... for comfort I find the ultimate ear ones softer....

thing is, my Ipod is turned right up to listen to the thing at a comfortable volume to my ears....due to wearing the plain plugs

1) does this cause more degradation to your hearing than a set of in ear monitors would? and am I causing damage I'm not aware of , despite the fact that the music is not uncomfortably loud?

2) How will the connector on a set of In ear monitors interface with the Autocom to give me everything I need to talk to SWMBO, listen to the music and take directions from the GPS?

Hi Bryn,

Your existing Ultimate plugs are rated to 34.5dB of noise attenuation when used thats the SNR across the entire frequency range (the sounds you can hear and the sounds you cannot) both cause the damage to our hearing.

Of course when you have helmet speakers that is the first 'noise' they protect you from. You're comensating for it increasing the input volumes on your devices so you're wearing ear plugs to protect your ears and to listen to your devices you are exposing your ears to more 'noise' to be able to hear them.

With monitors you overcome this problem as the sounds you want to listen to are delivered into the ear canal and the rest of the plug continues to do the job of blocking noise. The net result is because noise is filtered you listen at much lower safer levels.

My iPod's volume control is never above 25% even when wearing my noisy helmets (Caberg or Arai) and less when wearing either of my Schuberths (S1 & C3).

The monitors interface with the Autocom by either replacing your headset lead with a dedicated Autocom part (1187 or 1188) which the monitors plug in to, using this the mike and the loom stay in the helmet and the speakers come out.

The alternative is the new part Autocom have just launched which is a replacement headset loom. You retain your existing headset lead and the new loom incorporates a 3.5mm stereo jack socket and your monitors plug into this.

I have the coiled replacement headset lead but will look to get the new loom to replace this as I think it looks neater and the monitor cable will be able to stay under wraps better than it does not (though not a problem for those with the new armoured cabling). Just as soon as an order is placed for them and Autocom can supply them.

As an (important) aside, the new loom is cheaper than either the replacement headset leads.

 

[Bryn]

Thanks for the reply Andy

The new Autocom lead sounds good I think before my trip to Croatia in July I'd better get us kitted out

 

[Coolcarbon]

That was over 2 weeks ago

Two weeks, is that all..... Where would you like me to start.....

 

[Andy_E]

The alternative is the new part Autocom have just launched which is a replacement headset loom. You retain your existing headset lead and the new loom incorporates a 3.5mm stereo jack socket and your monitors plug into this.

I have the coiled replacement headset lead but will look to get the new loom to replace this as I think it looks neater and the monitor cable will be able to stay under wraps better than it does not (though not a problem for those with the new armoured cabling). Just as soon as an order is placed for them and Autocom can supply them.

As an (important) aside, the new loom is cheaper than either the replacement headset leads.

Given my plugs a good workout over the last few days and very impressed

Do you know the part number for the new autocom harness?

 

[judge]

Given my plugs a good workout over the last few days and very impressed

Do you know the part number for the new autocom harness?

Glad you're enjoying your plugs.

The Autocom part no is 2091 and is the item being discussed in this thread here

 

[Annette]

Must be providence. I got an email a little earlier saying that they had been repaired and posted. So, fingers crossed, they will now be repaired and working properly.

 

[chad]

after over 700miles on the bike yesterday using the Sennhiesers i'm thinking these UE monitors might make sence.

but its a fooking big chunk of money to lay out for something a lot of peeps have had serious issues with...hey we all ride BMWs so we must have an inbuilt ability to pay a fortune for something and worry about the problems later time to twist the other halfs arm




judge ! where would i go for a fitting in the Essex area ??