Today we have an aural treat, if you will, as we delve deeper still into our discerning foray of Logitech’s new UE line of premium audio products (that’s “Ultimate Ear” for those not in the know). Under the GR microscope is the Logitech UE 900 Noise-Isolating Earphones. These are earbud-style iOS-friendly earphones for music lovers who care less about cha-ching and more about BLING. This could make them the best headphones for iPhone, and they might be a great wireless headphone pair. You may also check our list of the best over-ear headphones and make comparison.
Who doesn’t love a stylish head-banging session(?)–as long as the performance compels one’s head to bang in rhythmic bliss, right? First, let’s cut through the hefty package bundle. A hearty cardboard box is just beyond the retail packaging. Flip open the magnet-sealed lid to find a rather sharp-looking glossy hard plastic box. This protective case is a beauty, with a padded interior and all. You also get 5 additional soft silicone ear cushions, 3 pairs of Comply Foam tips, 1/4-inch stereo adapter, an airline adapter, a cloth carrying pouch, the main UE 900 earbud set, and two different audio cables. It’s quite the package!
Multiple audio cables are something usually seen with on- or over-ear headphones. But the Logitech UE 900 set features two different cables that can be detached from the earpieces, which makes them semi-wireless earbuds. There is an in-line mic on the blue cord. This can handle calls and music control very simply. The buttons are easy to assess, with nice feedback and responsiveness. However, when you want to ignore the world, the black cord is included minus the in-line mic. With that said, if you don’t want to fully shut out the world, you need to check out our Logitech UE 4000 on-ear headphones review.
Related: In case you also want to shop for an on-ear headphone, have a look at the JBL Tempo On-Ear Headphones review
The detachable earbuds make color-coded cable swapping possible. It’s a nice feature. But the earbuds came unattached easily the first few times I tried to fit the malleable sections of the cable over the back of my ears. There is a simple locking mechanic but it’s not all that sharp. After much trial and error, I found a simple way of managing the cable without disconnecting the earpieces. Eventually, this became a non-issue. Still, it was frustrating and I’m sure many others will wrestle with this.
Once these boys-in-blue get on your ears, you will be hard-pressed to remove them. The smooth even audio playback nearly permits that extravagant price tag to wash over you like the steady rhythm of Caribbean steel drum grooves. I could do with a tad more thump in lows. But smooth midrange and crisp highs in music playback get zero complaints from me. Adding thump to the bass can be achieved with some key equalizer tweaks or settings. So overall listening is quite good.
Related: Check out the Marshall Major Headphone Review Video
I ran through a variety of music styles. But nothing seemed to phase the UE 900. The noise isolation is stifling as good noise-cancelling should be. Ambient noise, while outside is sufficiently cut off. Yet with most earbuds that fit directly and deeply into your ear, extended use can leave the inner ear a bit achy. Still, all-around comfort is pretty solid for earbuds. The malleable plastic sheathes around the upper part of the cable are genius. It’s a simple and concise solution for canceling out the heft of the cable and in-line mic. It also adds support and makes the unit very lightweight and comfortable while walking, running, or riding a bike.
The UE 900 is all about the style while maintaining a fairly strict performance standard. The comfort is top-notch and there is an unusual amount of versatility in how you wear and/or use the Logitech UE 900 earbud set. I just don’t think the aural candy is sweet enough to offset the bitter-tasting price point.
Editor Rating:
[Rating: 4/5]
Great
Bottom Line: You can’t go wrong with the Logitech UE 900, provided your money tree is in season. They look sharp. Comfort, style performance…Virtually nothing is compromised.
Pros
- Impressively smooth audio
- Exceptional comfort
- Versatility
- Immaculate gloss carrying case
Cons
- Lows benefit from EQ tweaking
- $400(!)
You can preorder the Logitech UE 900 Noise-Isolating Earphone at Logitech for $399.99.
