Headphone Review: Logitech Ultimate Ears UE900

Logitech | In-Ear Monitor | $ 399.99

It feels like just yesterday, Logitech bought Ultimate Ears. Since then, many questioned whether or not Logitech could not only release a new successor flagship to the TF10, but also improve upon it. It’s been a long 8 years since the TF10 has been released, but Logitech has released the new UE900, the new flagship to the UE brand. Read more:

Specifications

Driver: Quad-Driver (2 bass, 1 mid, 1 high)
Frequency Response: 20 Hz – 20 kHz
Impedance: 30 ohms
Sensitivity: 105 dB

In the Box

Logitech UE UE900 IEMs
2 Cables (3-button mic’d cable, standard audio-only cable)
Silicone Tips (Single Flange: XXS/XS/S/M/L)
Comply Foam Tips (S/M/L)
Hard Case
Soft Carrying Pouch
¼” Adapter
Airline Attenuator

For a flagship model, I would expect this sort of accessory content; it’s a lot.

Design

Logitech has continued the flagship color scheme that was created nearly a decade ago. The now-classic blue and black color scheme continues to roam free with the UE brand. The faceplates on the 900s are a glossy black color with a single cut in them to create a more intricate look to it. The UE logo is beautifully placed on the housing in a contrasting silver color that is also used on the bezel of the faceplate. Flip it over and you are given a beautiful translucent blue coloring that allows you a short glimpse of the drivers within. The design is an art form in its own right and looks gorgeous.

The design of the 900s look like an ergonomic, modernized TF10 design; it’s very attractive.

Design: ★★★★★

Audio

Audio quality in the TF10 could only be described as a nice deep V-shape. I have yet to hear the TF10, so I can only base it on the 20+ people that have made this statement. It’s a fun signature, but the 900s take steps away from this aiming to be a lot closer to neutral. They aren’t neutral, but have a slight warmth to them. Their aim runs towards instrumentals and detailing overall.

Bass

A beautiful balanced bass sits a little more than a few dB over the neutral line providing a strong punch and impact overall. Speed-wise, it’s just about average, but well defined. Impacts add a nice strength past the punch. The punch itself isn’t the tightest I’ve heard, but it’s more than ample. Going into the deeper portions of the bass, it has good depth overall. Textures come off beautifully tending towards the more-solid-end of things with decent fluidity. I do wish, however, that the 900s dug just a tad bit deeper to really bring out the textures in a bit more detailed light. The presence is nice though; any less quantity and it wouldn’t be.

Bass: ★★★★½

Mids

The 900s, as I stated before are more focused on getting instrumentals around. It’s not to say that the vocals aren’t there, they most definitely are, but can use a bit of refining to create slightly better dynamic in the vocal timbre for male and female lushness. Sweetness is nicely rendered however though. Clarity takes a step up from many IEMs providing just about crystal clear sound while the detailing is enough to pick up most of the smaller things throughout the midrange spectrum. Timbre as would be inferred is very well defined as well throughout the spectrum, not just the mids. Separation in the midrange is absolutely beautiful with the layering used. Due to the closer-to-neutral sound signature though, the sound stage is sized averagely, but separation excels far.

Mids: ★★★★½

Highs

As we reach up to the high end, we find a more relaxed presentation. They highs aren’t relentless or staggering by any means. They are well detailed in the lower highs with great clarity and separation; something that you must be patient for. As you go high, you keep the strong clarity and separation characteristics of the highs, but do lose a bit in detailing. Sparkles are strong and convincing for sure. However, the lack of extension is the cause of the loss of detailing.

Highs: ★★★★½

Audio: ★★★★½

Build

I feel strongly about the build quality of the UE900s on just about every aspect… Just about. Logitech offers two cases for users to use while the IEMs aren’t in use. A beautiful hardcase that looks more like a jewel box than an actual IEM case as well as a small carrying pouch. Both will protect your IEM well while not in use.

A luxurious case is included with the UE900.

The housing on the IEMs really has very little problems overall. The plastics used feel very firm with a bit of strength behind them. The weight of the housings themselves gives a nice heft to make it not seem cheap. Yes it’s plastic, but I feel this plastic will last. A female contact for the cable connector is recessed and does go into the housing.

The housings are plastic, but do feel strong.

The cable is a braided cable, but different from the Westone or other standard braided cables. The braids are a little lower, and the Y-split has beasically been replaced with a plastic tube which the cables separate from each other. The connectors look strong with a good strain relief and a longer memory wire.

This is probably one of my favorite cables I’ve touched.

However, the one caveat I have with these is that the connectors still wiggle when connected with the IEM. I don’t mean swivel, they are meant to do this, they will wiggle left and right with a slight looseness. This makes them lose that firmness that I like. It doesn’t compromise any functionality of the IEM though.

It’s tough, but the connection could be a bit stiffer.

The headphone jack has a strain relief that is actually incorporated into the jack. The jack itself is rubber with a toughness to it that keeps it very stiff. It is angled with the UE logo embossed into it. The gold plating does seal the deal.

The headphone jack looks strong and is study.

Build: ★★★★½

Comfort

The UE900s are shaped to closer resemble the human ear. It isn’t as ergonomic as the PFE232, or even the Heir Audio universals (3.Ai and 4.Ai), but it’s very comfortable regardless. The housings are light in the ear and fit very securely. The memory wire is just stiff enough to keep their shape, but don’t make anything uncomfortable. The swiveling sockets give the cable a bit more freedom for a more secure fit. Logitech offers multiple tips (5 silicone and 3 comply) to ensure a proper fit.

UE offers a nice selection of tips to ensure a good seal.

Comfort: ★★★★★

Value

Being the flagship model, the UE900s match the original retail price of the TF10s, 400 dollars. At this price, I would say they are priced very competitively. This is a bit to spend on an IEM, and granted, there are IEMs in lower price points that will have similar sound quality, the overall package that UE offers with comfort, design and great audio quality does make these worth the price in comparison to others in a similar price range.

A 3 button remote and mic is available; a standard audio-only cable is also included.

Value: ★★★★½

Final Thoughts

I was very impressed overall with the UE900. Logitech showed that they still can produce great flagships under the UE name and the new ownership didn’t compromise quality. The sound signature does take a slight lean towards a warmer side (consumer-focused) which makes it very enjoyable, but still doesn’t give up the technical abilities that a great IEM should have.

I’d like to thank Logitech for the product sample.

Overall Score

Logitech Ultimate Ears UE900

† All prices are in US currency.
This review was written by the iFans.com Review Team. Cumulative scores are rounded to the nearest half or full star.
This accessory, product, or app was received as a sample. Thanks Logitech for the product sample.

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