Ultimate Ears launched a line of Hi-End headphones printed on a 3D printer
Ultimate Ears is well-known among professional musicians thanks to its ergonomic Hi-End class headphones, which are exclusively made to order for specific users. Such headphones cost from $ 400 to $ 2000, being beyond the reach of the average consumer, but taking advantage of great success with wealthy music lovers. The UE Pro looks very original, besides, they sit comfortably in the ear and provide excellent sound quality, completely isolating the ear canal from extraneous noise.
Until now, the process of producing these individual “miracle ears” was a rather dreary procedure. First, the client had to appear in person to the nearest audiologist, and not to anyone, but only to the authorized person, who has special equipment in his arsenal. The audiologist carefully cleaned the client's ears from the accumulated dirt and earwax, then blocked the ear canal with a special cotton ball.
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After that, the specialist took a small device in his hands, remotely resembling an applicator for liquid nails, and gently poured the ear canal and the client's auricle with a special pasty filler. After about 5 minutes, the filler was frozen, and the resulting casts from both ears were sent to production. On the production of a template used for the manufacture of plastic clichés, which, in turn, served as a mold for casting the headphones themselves. In total, the process of making a pair of such "ears" took up to one and a half months.
Thanks to the introduction of 3D printing technology, the headphone manufacturing speed was increased several times. Now, the initial impressions are not sent to production, but digital copies are taken from them using a 3D scanner. Files are brought to mind in the CAD editor and are sent over the web to 3D printing. As a result, after 5-7 days, the user has at their disposal first-class UE headphones, ideally sitting in their ears.
According to reviews of Kristen Costa from Gadgets Review, the new model UE11, created using 3D printing, is not inferior in quality to the traditional UE18, made by hand. The tester claims that 3D headphones have deeper bass and are felt more comfortable in their ears than their predecessors. Manufacturers, in turn, admit that the new technology allows them to save not only time, but also material for cliches.
By the way, in addition to the individual form, adapted for a specific ear, on the Ultimate Eears website, you can choose the color of the headphones, as well as the material and design picture.
PS: Those who have free $ 1,300 to order this miracle of technology can consider this post as an advertisement :)