UltraFit 2000

by George Peck, January 5, 2012

Strengths:

-great behind-the-ear design for excercise -plenty of included ear pad options -phone microphone works well -phone and playback controls work great with iPhone 4 -very good sounding for workout headphones

Weaknesses:

-single length cable is too long for armband use or clipping player to shirt collar -phone and playback controls on right earpiece, adjusting controls requires user to press the earpiece into the ear causing some discomfort.

Review:

Polk Audio UltraFit 2000 Sports Headphone - Disclaimer: I did not buy these headphones, but am reviewing them as part of an informal demo program through the Club Polk forums. The headphones were provided to me free of charge to demo, and I will pass them on to other forum members after this review. I am not being compensated for this review. Polk Audio?s UltraFit Sports Headphones are marketed as ideal headphones for sports and exercise. They are designed to fit well, and stay in place through strenuous physical activity. 3 of the 4 models are in-ear headphones with hooks on them and special ear inserts to hold them in place. The UltraFit 2000 Sports Headphone which I am reviewing is a behind-the-head style. It uses a band that rests behind the ears, like eyeglass temples. I?ve used other behind-the-ear headphones before, and find the UltraFit 2000 to be the most comfortable of this type that I have used, because they don?t put excessive pressure on my head either in front of or behind my ears. The band is a little thick, so it doesn?t work super well with glasses. The UltraFit 2000 comes with a nice complement of ear pads, including foam, silicone, and shearling ear pads for cold weather. A nice zippered carrying case, and a Nokia smart phone adapter are also included. I exclusively used the silicone ear pads, and they were very nice for exercising. I also own the Polk UltraFit 1000s, which are an in-ear versions of the UltraFit headphones. These have varying lengths of cable included, so that the headphones can be used with music players in several locations, such as clipped to a shirt collar, on an armband, or attached to a waistband, or in a pants pocket. In contrast, the UltraFit 2000, has a single length 46? cable, which is attached only to the left-earpiece. This type of cable design is nice for a fitness headphone, as it is less cumbersome, than the typical y cable arrangement where the cable is attached to both earpieces. The cable is also flat. This is said to reduce microphonics (extra noise from the sound of the cable hitting you while you run). I wish that Polk would have included multiple cable lengths with the UltraFit 2000, like they did with the other UltraFit models. I feel that the UltraFit 2000 cable is too long to be used with a music player on an armband or clipped to a shirt collar. I typically use a player in an armband, but found that the UltraFit 2000, really only worked well with a player clipped to a waistband or in the pocket of my running shorts. One nice touch is that the a spring clip is included so that the cable can be clipped to a shirt to minimize cable movement while exercising. The UltraFit 2000 has playback controls, and a microphone, and is designed to be used with smart phones. It specifically has the ?made for iPod, made for iPhone, made for iPad? designation. I used the headphones with my iPhone 4, and the controls worked well. The microphone is inline with the cable, and hangs very close to the mouth. I used the UltraFit 2000 for phone calls, and the microphone seemed to be good. It doesn?t do any noise cancellation, but also doesn?t pick up every last bit of background noise. The controls are on the right earpiece, which seems like a more durable location, than inline on the cable. However, when operating the controls, they do push the earpiece into the ear, which isn?t super comfortable. I really enjoy the sound of the UltraFit 2000s. They have a pretty wide frequency response, which also seems very balanced. No area of the frequency range is emphasized, and they are very clean sounding. The bass is tight and well-controlled. It is a little lean for my taste, but it is definitely not boomy and sounds very nice. Music sounds very balanced, and even when there is a lot going on in a song, the clarity is good. and they don?t sound congested. Compared with the UltraFit 1000s, I prefer the sound of the UltraFit 2000s, as the UltraFit 1000s, seem to create a very pronounced mid-range, which is a little out of balance. However, The UltraFit 1000s, are fantastic running headphones, as they fit perfectly, and have a short cable so I can use my armband. They also work well with my sunglasses. I also compared the sound of they UltraFit 2000s to some Koss KSC-35s, and liked the UltraFit 2000s a little better. The KSC-35s have a little fuller bass, but are not as balanced in the midrange and treble. Finally, I compared the UltraFit 2000s to Alessandro MS-1s. The MS-1s are one of my favorite headphones, and sounded quite a bit better than the UltraFits. I especially noticed that there was a lot more ?space? between instruments and voices, in busy musical passages. The MS-1s also have more extension in the frequency range, and just sound more musical. However, they are not portable, and cost a bit more than the UltraFit 2000s. In conclusion, the Polk Audio UltraFit 2000 Sport Headphones, are a very nice headphone for exercise and portable use, especially if you like the behind-the-head style of headphone. They are durable, comfortable, and sound really nice. They?re designed to be optimal exercise and sports headphones, and I believe that they succeed at that goal. They are a good value for the price, and I recommend them.

by Roland David, November 22, 2011

Strengths:

Great sound quality on both my laptop and iphone... controls for my iphone 4 works great.

Weaknesses:

Rubber piece to make it a snugfit for the ears snap off place... lost it without realizing the other day... looked for it when I notice a loose fit.

Review:

Have been using for a few days now and am very happy.

by Sarah Thorne, January 9, 2013

Strengths:

Good sound and resists sweat.

Weaknesses:

Too big for small to average size women's heads. No ability to adjust to fit and therefore falls off when working out.

Review:

Unfortunately I only found out after I spent $90 that these headphones are not made for women. The strap is too big and not adjustable and does not stay on when working out.

"If you’re a serious runner or just love to workout outside definitely make sure you look hard at these headphones, as they offer some great features at an amazing price...Another small feature that Polk Audio has done a great job with is style.  All of their UltraFit Sports Headphones come in a variety of different colors.  So whether you prefer the traditional black or want to add a little bit of flare with a bright orange and white, the UltraFit 2000 has you covered."

[ Open Review ]