<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>
  <periodOfReport>2004-01-05</periodOfReport>
    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000911626</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ULTIMATE ELECTRONICS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ULTE</issuerTradingSymbol>
  </issuer>
  <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001275559</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PEARSE WILLIAM J III</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O ULTIMATE ELECTRONICS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>321 WEST 84TH AVENUE, SUITE A</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>THORNTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CO</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>80260</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
      <isDirector>0</isDirector>
      <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
      <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
      <isOther>0</isOther>
      <officerTitle>Sr VP Mktg &amp; Merchandising</officerTitle>
    </reportingOwnerRelationship>
  </reportingOwner>
  <nonDerivativeTable>
    <nonDerivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
        <value>Common Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
        <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
          <value>18930.16</value>
        </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
        <directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <value>I</value>
        </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        <natureOfOwnership>
          <value>See Footnote</value>
          <footnoteId id="F1"/>
        </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeHolding>
    <nonDerivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
        <value>Common Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
        <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
          <value>3334.00</value>
        </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
        <directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <value>D</value>
        </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeHolding>
  </nonDerivativeTable>
  <derivativeTable>
    <derivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
        <value>Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <value>15.1250</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <exerciseDate>
        <footnoteId id="F2"/>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
        <value>2009-08-03</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
        <underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock</value>
        </underlyingSecurityTitle>
        <underlyingSecurityShares>
          <value>7500</value>
        </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <ownershipNature>
        <directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <value>D</value>
        </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeHolding>
    <derivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
        <value>Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <value>31.0000</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <exerciseDate>
        <footnoteId id="F3"/>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
        <value>2011-02-05</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
        <underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock</value>
        </underlyingSecurityTitle>
        <underlyingSecurityShares>
          <value>5000</value>
        </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <ownershipNature>
        <directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <value>D</value>
        </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeHolding>
    <derivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
        <value>Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <value>27.8200</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <exerciseDate>
        <footnoteId id="F4"/>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
        <value>2012-02-05</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
        <underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock</value>
        </underlyingSecurityTitle>
        <underlyingSecurityShares>
          <value>1120</value>
        </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <ownershipNature>
        <directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <value>D</value>
        </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeHolding>
    <derivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
        <value>Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <value>30.6000</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <exerciseDate>
        <footnoteId id="F5"/>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
        <value>2012-02-05</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
        <underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock</value>
        </underlyingSecurityTitle>
        <underlyingSecurityShares>
          <value>3880</value>
        </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <ownershipNature>
        <directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <value>D</value>
        </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeHolding>
    <derivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
        <value>Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <value>9.4600</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <exerciseDate>
        <footnoteId id="F6"/>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
        <value>2013-02-14</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
        <underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock</value>
        </underlyingSecurityTitle>
        <underlyingSecurityShares>
          <value>4105</value>
        </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <ownershipNature>
        <directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <value>D</value>
        </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeHolding>
    <derivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
        <value>Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <value>8.6000</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <exerciseDate>
        <footnoteId id="F7"/>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
        <value>2013-02-14</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
        <underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock</value>
        </underlyingSecurityTitle>
        <underlyingSecurityShares>
          <value>895</value>
        </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <ownershipNature>
        <directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <value>D</value>
        </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeHolding>
    <derivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
        <value>Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <value>9.1300</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <exerciseDate>
        <footnoteId id="F8"/>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
        <value>2013-05-16</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
        <underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock</value>
        </underlyingSecurityTitle>
        <underlyingSecurityShares>
          <value>4897</value>
        </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <ownershipNature>
        <directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <value>D</value>
        </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeHolding>
    <derivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
        <value>Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <value>10.0400</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <exerciseDate>
        <footnoteId id="F9"/>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
        <value>2013-05-16</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
        <underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock</value>
        </underlyingSecurityTitle>
        <underlyingSecurityShares>
          <value>8903</value>
        </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <ownershipNature>
        <directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <value>D</value>
        </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeHolding>
  </derivativeTable>
  <footnotes>
    <footnote id="F1">As of February 5, 2003, the reporting person held 18,930.16 shares of Ultimate Electronics, Inc.'s (the "Company") common stock under the Company's 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan.</footnote>
    <footnote id="F2">Option granted pursuant to the Company's  1997 Equity Incentive Plan.  This option was granted  on August 3, 1999 and became exercisable as to 3,333 shares on August 3, 2000; 3,333 shares on August 3, 2001; and 3,334 shares on August 3, 2002.</footnote>
    <footnote id="F3">Option granted pursuant to the Company's 2000 Equity Incentive Plan.  This option was granted on February 5, 2001 and became exercisable as to 1,666 shares on February 5, 2002 and 1,667 shares on February 5, 2003 and becomes exercisable as to the remaining 1,667 shares on February 5, 2004.</footnote>
    <footnote id="F4">Option granted pursuant to the Company's 2000 Equity Incentive Plan.  This option was granted on February 5, 2002 and became exercisable as to all 1,120 shares on February 5, 2003.</footnote>
    <footnote id="F5">Option granted pursuant to the Company's 2000 Equity Incentive Plan.  This option was granted on February 5, 2002 and became exercisable as to 546 shares on February 5, 2003 and becomes exercisable as to 1,667 shares on February 5, 2004 and 1,667 shares on February 5, 2005.</footnote>
    <footnote id="F6">Option granted pursuant to the Company's 2000 Equity Incentive Plan.  This option was granted on February 14, 2003 and becomes exercisable as to 771 on February 14, 2004; 1,667 on February 14, 2005; and 1,667 on February 14, 2006.</footnote>
    <footnote id="F7">Option granted pursuant to the Company's 2000 Equity Incentive Plan.  This option was granted on February 14, 2003 and becomes exercisable as to 298 shares on February 14, 2004; as to 298 shares on February 14, 2005; and as to 299 shares on February 14, 2006.</footnote>
    <footnote id="F8">Option granted pursuant to the Company's 2000 Equity Incentive Plan.  This option was granted on May 16, 2003 and becomes exercisable as to 4,599 shares on May 16, 2004 and 298 shares on May 16, 2005.</footnote>
    <footnote id="F9">Option granted pursuant to the Company's 2000 Equity Incentive Plan.  The option was granted on May 16, 2003 and becomes exercisable as to 4,303 shares on May 16, 2005 and 4,600 shares on May 16, 2006.</footnote>
  </footnotes>
  <ownerSignature>
    <signatureName>/s/ John Bauer-Martinez on behalf of William J. Pearse, III</signatureName>
    <signatureDate>2004-01-15</signatureDate>
  </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

