Ultimate Ears Super.fi 4vi Mini-Review
The 4vis have an extremely simple and attractive design, with metal buds. The cord, while plastic, is better than other plastic cords I’ve used since it doesn’t easily get bent and doesn’t seem to knot up as easily. The unfortunate thing about the cord is that the microphone and remote are separate and the remote is below the split in a ridiculous spot. Very hard to find without looking for it.
Sound-wise, the 4vis are crisp and clear and have more bass than the previously-reviewed Etymotic hf2s, but not quite as much bass as I’d like. I did, however, start to get used to the sound. Well, at least, I would have, had it not been for the fact that I could not stand having the earbuds in my ears for more than a few minutes at a time. I tried all of the included rubber sleeves and foam and couldn’t get a single combination that was comfortable. I’ll put it plainly: After wearing these headphones for the last 15 minutes, it feels like someone raped my ears.
At $129, they’re roughly the same price as the V-Moda Vibe Duos, but they’re not nearly as comfortable and the reduced bass and awkward remote placement make them a no-go. Verdict? Returned.
Note: This was an ongoing series of mini-reviews in which I attempted to find a perfect pair of in-ear headphones to replace two broken pairs of V-Moda Vibe Duos (and succeeded!). If you’re interested, you should read all of the mini-reviews.
