Logitech snaps up Ultimate Ears, chasing this "portable audio" market we've heard so much about

Logitech is getting into the earbuds game, announcing today that it's buying privately-held Ultimate Ears. Historically focusing on spendy in-ear monitors for live musicians, Ultimate Ears has recently hit the earbud game with full force, and Logitech seems to want a piece of that action. Plus the acquisition price of $34 million is like, what, profits from your last seven minutes of iPod dock sales, Logitech? Logitech and Ultimate Ears expect the deal to close in August.

[SneAKz @ Aug 14th 2008 11:53AM]

UE makes excellent earbuds. Definitely hope this doesn't affect quality.

[Kamokazi @ Aug 14th 2008 1:07PM]

Logitech makes excellent peripherals and speakers. I wouldn't be worried.

[zargon @ Aug 14th 2008 1:56PM]

If you think Logitech makes exellent speakers, I would be worried then. They may make good computer speakers, but their speaker sets that people seem to like to use for home theater are not good. Even when compared to other affordable options.

[JS Beckerist @ Aug 14th 2008 2:48PM]

So browsing through the first 10 comments, and 9 of them are "nooooo I hope this doesn't kill the quality!!!"

Well, honestly, my experience with Logitech includes:
A) The wireless original Xbox controller: The best controller I've ever used in a console EVER in my opinion, and I wish they'd do it again for the 360.
B) A wireless keyboard and mouse set: I've been using it now for close to 10 years and I'm only on my second set of rechargeable batteries. I love it to death and have no idea what I'd do without it.
C) My webcam: Admittedly I rarely use it but it serves its purpose well and I've never had any problems with it. I HAVE had problems with other webcams though.

So...while my experiences are extremely limited, the quality of Logitech products (in my opinion) seem to be in the upper echelon of what's out there...am I missing something?

[YpoCaramel @ Aug 14th 2008 2:54PM]

In the best case scenario, the addition resources will let them make something that tops the triple.fi.

[Richard @ Aug 14th 2008 3:16PM]

"am I missing something?"

Yes, you are missing the fact that Logitech does not make good headphones, while UE does. The hope is that they don't try to change what's already working well.

I love my UE's, so they'd better not go to shit.

[Roger @ Aug 14th 2008 3:28PM]

Exactly, its like saying Vauxhall taking over Boeing to make planes. They might be able to make planes but will it fly?

[nDee @ Aug 14th 2008 9:52PM]

The name will kill you
Logitech UE5P Revolution in-ear monitor for iPod
features:
Invisible Sound technology: Sounds better than ever before.
Nano plug : accessible to all 3.5m plugs



It sounds terrible to me.

[dennis @ Aug 15th 2008 10:51AM]

I had similar concerns when Logitech acquired Slim Devices (they make the SqueezeBox et al. and appeal to serious audiophiles because of their hardware components and FLAC compatibility). But there was so much concern about it that Logitech and Slim Devices made sure to explain that Slim Devices would have relative autonomy in designing their products, and Logitech would primarily be adding a larger marketing presence. And, in fact, Slim Devices has continued to produce older products with no changes in hardware components and to release newer products (like the Duo and I suppose the upcoming 'boom box' player) that are indistinguishable from their previous products in terms of design, hardware components, etc. And the Slim Devices' website and forums are completely unchanged and going strong. In fact, you can still place orders through the Slim Devices' website. Similarly, the prices of Slim Devices' products are completely unchanged, for better or worse.

I wouldn't expect much different from this acquisition of UE by Logitech, since it's a similar maneuver towards higher end audio hardware. They must know that the whole point is to keep the quality going on a product that they could not otherwise design and manufacture on their own.

[taco @ Aug 16th 2008 9:14AM]

their consumer ".fi" lines suck hard. uncomfortable and overpriced. I bought a pair a couple years back and had to return them because they sounded about as good as my ipod headphones. By all accounts, the custom phones they make are much better.

[Bryan @ Aug 14th 2008 11:57AM]

I hope this doesn't change anything about the quality of the IEMs.

[Roger @ Aug 14th 2008 11:57AM]

Well if that happens I hope Logitech doesn't change anything except for the name. UE products are top notch and it'll be a shame if they start releasing below the usual high standards.

[UnixSystemsEngineer @ Aug 14th 2008 12:00PM]

In-ear monitors / canalphones / earphones != earbuds.

that is all.

[bjrcboy @ Aug 14th 2008 12:07PM]

In ear monitors = $$$$
Earbuds=1/2$-$$ haha

[Richard @ Aug 14th 2008 3:18PM]

In ear monitors may cost more, but the quality makes up for it if you listen to music a lot. I bought my UE's for around $180 (IIRC), and I don't regret it at all.

When these wear out, I'd buy a more expensive pair from them in a heartbeat.

[xValentine @ Aug 14th 2008 10:06PM]

I bought a $77 Sennheiser CX500 and it was the best in-ear that I have used, and it's really cheap as well!.

Very comfortable and the bass will blow your ears. :D

[Pat @ Aug 14th 2008 12:01PM]

I really hope they don't diminish the live musician market that UE had built up. At least where I'm from, a lot of musicians swear by them.

[Sneezy D @ Aug 14th 2008 2:40PM]

I thought they were cool, but you need to be playing with everyone mic'd. all i heard were the vocals/keys, and as a bassist, i felt disconnected from my drummer. i ended up playing with one in, one out, and then eventually back to nothing.

[Ruben @ Aug 14th 2008 12:06PM]

Nooooooo!!!!

The current system for UE RMA's is fantastic. I talk to one person, and i even know her by name (had to return UE Super.fi EB's a few times since the removable cables would seize in the pins and pull the jack right from the headphone, dangling wires and all).

Also, unbelievable ear buds. But boy are they brittle.

[AG @ Aug 14th 2008 1:14PM]

I have to say that the Super.fi 5EB are really great. But like you, Ruben, the earbud's casing have separated three times on three different occassion, the last time being last night. The first two times, I sent them back and the RMA process was fine. I think the woman's name is Jennifer. The second time, i was asked why I was asking for an exchange again, and had to explain that the same thing happened with a different pair.
Now it's happened again, and I am so disappointed that I'm not sure I want to even deal with UE. I am tempted instead to write them a letter. This is definitely a quality issue with the Super.Fi 5 EB series. I have the 3 and haven't had this problem at all.

Has anyone else had this problem?

[Ruben @ Aug 14th 2008 2:02PM]

What i did when i got the last set of mine was test them out by pulling slightly on the cable, but i was very careful not to pull very hard. I could tell they were seized again, so i pulled some more.

Obviously, it separated from the body, but the wires didnt detach from the solder points, so i took some epoxy and a tooth pick and coated the jack with it and set it back in place, holding it down (for some reason, it was fighting to stay in place). Now, i can go nuts pulling and tugging on the chord, and even replace the cable when i please, without having to worry about it coming loose again. These are hear to stay, thats for sure.

But oddly, it only happened to one side (same with the first set i had), and wouldn't you know it, it was my right side. The left side wouldn't come off regardless of how hard i tugged, because the cable would come apart from it (the way it should). Its odd.

I wasn't going to RMA these because, quite frankly, i cant listen to music anymore without these. All other headphones are pathetic compared to the sheer amount of sound that comes out of these. Even my Shures were no match for the quality and quantity of sound from the EB's. This is a good pickup for Logitech, that's for sure. It just better remain good for consumers, but considering all their acquisitions have remained strong post purchase, im not worried. But i do like the personal nature of UE's existing RMA department.

[Rick @ Aug 14th 2008 12:09PM]

This buds for you.

[byron @ Aug 14th 2008 12:21PM]

crap. i love my UE earphones. there goes a nice quality product down the drain. everything logitech buys, goes to garbage shortly thereafter.

[killermojo @ Aug 14th 2008 2:07PM]

Care to provide an example?

[byron.g.brewer @ Aug 14th 2008 2:20PM]

harmony remotes.

i've called logitech for support on my remotes and they didn't even know they had a remote control product line.

[H Butler @ Aug 14th 2008 12:50PM]

The beginning of the end for this once great company. While I can understand the concept of a small company and its members to take the $$$ and run, I doubt Logitech will maintain the excellence of the product. For those of you crazy enough to shell out the $$ for their triple.fi, I can promise you they are better than any earphone out there, including Shure. They are as close to a "high end" audio experience on an iPOD that there is. While the earphones are expensive, you get about 90% of the imaging, timbre and being there sensation you would with a 100K high end audio system. What a shame.

[Bennyboy @ Aug 14th 2008 1:32PM]

Im afraid I must disagree H Butler

I have tried both the triple fi and Shures se530 and the Shures are slightly better for sound quality and both the high end and the low end.

Ofcorse at the price bracket of these products the difference is barely noticeable.

Also the Shures are insaneley expensive.

Logitech has an excellent reputation for the quality of their speakers lets hope this will extend to their future earbud products.

[SuperQ @ Aug 14th 2008 1:13PM]

If the Logitech purchase of SlimDevices was any indicator, the product quality hasn't dipped at all, possibly gone up a bit. But the support is a tiny notch below where it used to be, mostly because of the larger user base and management overhead.

[Oliver @ Aug 14th 2008 1:25PM]

sweet! ue11's are the best earbuds of all time!

[yes @ Aug 14th 2008 1:38PM]

hmm, I dunno. $1000 on earphones seems like a lot to me. But I'll let you "audiophiles" do your thing.

[LeadfootGSR @ Aug 14th 2008 1:39PM]

Kinda concerns me. Going from a company that was completely devoted
to making excellent earbubs....to a product line for a company that
makes a lot of decent item, none of which are spectacular.

Kinda leave Shure, Eytomotics, Sleek Audio as the only companies really focused on ultrahigh end earbuds.

[Fred @ Aug 14th 2008 4:02PM]

And not to forget JAYS from Sweden. I wonder what the name of the earphones will be now?

[Wayne @ Aug 17th 2008 9:37AM]

While watching SportsCenter the other week, I noticed Terrell Owens wearing a hat that read www.earsound.com so I checked it out. They too sell custom fit earbuds at much, much cheaper prices then UE.

[zargon @ Aug 14th 2008 1:55PM]

I just bought a pair of the Super Fi 3 after doing research and their name keep getting brought up. I decided to pull the trigger a buy a pair.

I do not know where I stand on them yet, if they were worth it over a set half the price or less, I may never know. I do like that I can put them in at work and can hear nothing, which works great when co-workers go on hour long disertation about the new Batman (or any new movie a geek would like) or World of Warcraft.

[Brian Bock @ Aug 14th 2008 3:10PM]

Say goodbye to UE. Same thing happened to Cambridge Soundworks, which made excellent, but affordable speakers. They still do, but they were bought by Creative. I bought computer speakers and what came was more like Creative's crap quality rather than Cambridge Soundworks. They had just slapped the premium name on their schlock quality product.

Logitech makes some good stud and a lot of schlock. I'm not hopeful.

[MicHo @ Aug 14th 2008 3:58PM]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

[hfm @ Aug 14th 2008 5:14PM]

Maybe Logitech will be able to use their increased production capacity to make the custom fit ones cheaper. :)

[Chuckles McGee @ Aug 14th 2008 10:01PM]

"Portable audio"? Balderdash and ballyhoo! How will they ever build a cart large enough for an entire orchestra?

[Cassini @ Aug 14th 2008 11:41PM]

I hope they don't get rid of the custom earmold option and the high-end UE-11 pros.

[linuxamp @ Aug 15th 2008 12:40AM]

Logitech has huge production scale. I hope this move can bring down the prices on UE products.

[FSRGuy @ Aug 15th 2008 2:42PM]

I'm worried about the service as UE moves to Logitech. I have a pair of Super.Fi 5's and a pair of Triple.Fi's, and after resolving an issue with the Super.Fi's, I have to say that UE has excellent customer service. I don't think Logitech is a bad company, but I doubt you'll get the same level of service.