The Super.fi 5 (not Super.fi 5 Pro) is the new single driver earphone from Ultimate Ears and can be found in the UK at the HiFi Headphones store.
The new Ultimate Ears Super.fi 5 takes a fresh approach and uses what Ultimate Ears call a ‘top fire armature’ to cover the entire frequency range with a single driver. Other earphone brands call this new wider frequency driver technology ‘wideband’ or ‘full range’ drivers.
The previous model Ultimate Ears Super.fi 5 Pro earphone utilises dual drivers (sometimes called mini-speakers), with one driver concentrating on bass with the other working on mids and treble. Cross-over electronics inside the earphone splits the signal to feed each of these drivers.
Why a Single Driver?
One of the biggest advantages of using a single driver in the UE Super.fi 5 is that the earphone can be made smaller, which means the in-ear fit is easier and more comfortable for long term listening.
See the pictures below of the Super.fi 5 and possible fitting options with the wire running over and under the ear:
Other Single Driver Earphones
The single driver approach seems to be the way earphones technology is developing. See the links below for some more examples of miniature single driver earphones:
Sleek Audio SA6 with single wideband driver and custom porting
Klipsch Image X10 with single full range microdriver
More Information
Ultimate Ears have developed some of the best In Ear Monitor (IEM) earphones, with the Super.fi 5 Pro and Triple.fi 10 Pro earphones all setting news standards in quality of sound and fit. You can check out the full range of Ultimate Ears earphones at the HiFi Headphones store.