The Best Pair of Universal-Fit Earbuds, Period

Ultimate Ears, the company behind the in-ear audio monitors that nearly every professional musician from Aerosmith and John Legend to Liza Minnelli and ZZ Top, have just introduced the triple.fi 10 Pro earbuds. Unlike the company's $900 custom-made in-ear UE10 Pro (for which you actually have to go to an audio specialist to get fitted), the $400 triple.fi is universal-fit, so it will fit in anyone's ears. (Of course, not all ear canals are created equal, so you can choose from five differently-sized buds that are included.)The triple.fi has three drivers per earbud (two for the lower mids and bass, and one for higher ranges), which is a first for this type of headset.

I had breakfast with Mindy Harvey, the company's president, last week and I got a chance to listen to the new model. The triple.fi fits and feels the same as the lower-priced, $200 super.fi that came out last year, but instead sports a shiny, metallic finish that's more stylish than the original black and gray colors of the super.fi. Sound-wise, I could hear (compared to the super.fi) sharper detail and a tighter, distortion-free bass on the Beasties Boys and M.I.A. tracks I listened to.

I have always preferred the lower-tech, noise-isolating, in-earbud headsets over the noise-reduction, over-the-ear models from the likes of Bose, Koss, Brookstone, and other companies. For one, they take up less space, but I think they also do a better job of eliminating outside sounds and are more comfortable. (I don't know about you, but my earlobes get mighty irritated when something is on them for three or four hours). And, they don't need batteries. (Chris reviewed three of his favorite earbuds in the recent post.)

I think the super.fi is the best pair of earbuds available for less than $200. I have taken the pair I got last year with me on thousands of long-haul flights and hundreds of gym workouts. (My only complaint? I had to replace the first pair because the earpiece broke in half—I suggest keeping these in the included metallic carrying case when you're not using them.) The triple.fi ups the ante for those with dog ears (a.k.a. audiophiles), if they're willing to shell out the extra cash. (Note: Ultimate Ears earbuds may also be found under the M-Audio brand.)

Frequent-travelers: Do you prefer noise-isolating earbuds or noise-reducing headphones?