Ultimate ears, a well known manufacturer of fine in-ear monitors is currently the top choice with over 75% of the world’s top musicians and artists as their clients. Found in 1994 by Jerry Harvey and Mindy Harvey as the result of the Jerry raftng his very first pair of custom in-ear monitor for his close friend, Alex Van Halen. Alex was suffering from hearing lost due to the immensively large sound pressure level outputs of on stage wedge speakers. Today we know Ultimate Ears as the largest manufacturer of custom and universal monitors range from a mere Metro.Fi 170 a $49.99 to a wallet emptying $1350 for the UE-18 Pro. Today we have the second oldest of the line, the UE11 Pro with us today.


Specifications
Variation: Any colour, Any Artwork. Low profile socket or recessed socket options
Transducers: Four Balanced Armature Drivers
Configuration: Passive 3-Way crossover (Single High, Single Mid, Dual Low)
Frequency Range: 10 Hz-16.5 kHz
Impedance: 18 ohm
Sensitivity (1mW): 119 dB SPL
Accessories: Replaceable braided cable, Engraved large aluminum carrying case, crush-proof small aluminum carrying case, Cleaning Tool
Price: $1150 plus shipping, and impressions


Packaging and Accessories (9/10)

Ultimate ears since 1994 has always put the top quality audio material and flawless craftsmanship into their products. But one thing that stands above all for Ultimate Ears are their relationships between with customers. Knowing that customers would like to keep their personalized in-ear monitors the way they received and expected them the very first day, accessories and packaging don’t fall short. The UE11 Pro being a part of the Ultimate Ears family has definitely inherited this very aspect.



Upon arrival, the UE11’s are presented in one of the most beautiful, sturdy packaging on the market today--that is of course after you open the Fedex shipping box…Ultimate Ears carefully packages the container that the monitors arrive in with a more than “safe” amount of bubble wrap to insure that the packaging is safe during travel.

As we remove the laminate and satin black sleeve that keeps the intimidating cardboard box dry, clean, and shut we are presented with the extremely high quality, and heavy personalized aluminum case that Ultimate Ears offers with their customized line of in-ear monitors (exception to UE-4 Pro). On the covering of the case is our very own name, along with Ultimate Ears “UE” logo embossed onto the cover of the glittering silver surface—stylish and high class. Within the case, we are given precisely cut foam inserts to hold the accessories that arrive with the UE11, and another smaller, crush-proof aluminum case. Unlike many other manufacturers, Ultimate Ears is the only company to offer two cases, which is a thoughtful addition to the party tray. Looking at the small case, coupled within the foam inserts, I can only resist so much to stop myself from opening the case. As the little lid pops-open, they are presented with their very own, exclusive custom fit in-ear monitors attached to their very own replaceable twist braided cable; however lets hold off of that for little bit. The inside of the case is soft and “fuzzy” to prevent any scratches and shock from arriving at the monitors for damage, once again a flawless addition and design.



The remains within the case are: a cleaning tool consisting of a wax loop and a brush to keep the top-tier custom monitors sparkling clean. Ultimate Ears stresses on keeping the monitors as clean as possible, which requires a process of wiping, brushing, scraping etc…which is all thoroughly explained and instructed within the manual that arrives with the UE11’s. The manuals that arrive with the UE11 goes through steps for support, warranty periods (60 days guaranteed fit, 1 year parts and labour), and other respective information.



Build Quality (10/10)

Ultimate Ears, being one of very first company to build custom monitors has improved it’s technique in the assembly and making of their custom monitors over the years—it really shows. Among many monitors that I have come across, the UE11’s are one of the best built monitors in terms of quality and aesthetics wise. Ultimate Ears has switched from their former soft vinyl material, to a much more durable, hypoallergenic, and user friendly hard acrylic material over the past 5 or 6 years. The material takes experienced technique and skill to produce a high quality, flawless in build and aesthetics outer shell for the monitors. After long inspection with the UE11’s, Ultimate Ears has without surprise has met the highest standard in the industry today.



The shells do not possess any sort of air bubbles, bumps, rough edges or debris that can degrade the quality and durability. The hands-on assembly of the UE11 is at the best to match. Closing of the monitor along the faceplate (flat face of the monitor) with liquid acrylic and UV light curing is done so well that to the visible eye, the faceplate where as though it was molded in one piece with the body of the shell. It would look as though the components had just magically appeared within the shell if anyone were to look without the knowledge of how the monitors are assembled—they are that superb.



Furthermore, as the UE11’s are custom monitors in terms of fit, they’ve got to be matched with custom artwork as well right? Ultimate Ears owns the most sophisticated machines and technology in their labs to achieve nearly any look, any texture, in any colour. From carbon fibre weaving patterns to titanium surfaces paired with a fire breathing dragon, Ultimate Ears is able to do it all. For my monitors I went with a simple design. “MaoDi”, my username and nickname on the left monitor, along with the “UE” logo on the right monitor. Looking at the detail and resolution the artwork is made, it is by far the finest on any monitor that I have come across. Ultimate Ear first applies the design to the shells through laser engraving, and then later applies the silver filling. The smoothness of the smallest lines and tips in the artwork is so fine. If one were to purchase monitors where artwork is a large part in decision, the first company that I suggest is Ultimate Ears. All the designs and artwork applied can be had for just $50 USD. If $50 is not an option, a change in shell colour is a nice touch at the price of nought.






Cables (9.5/10)



The twist braided cable used by Ultimate Ears for the UE-11 is extremely similar to that of Westone, one of the pioneers of in-ear monitors and JH Audio, which is in fact the current custom monitor company that Jerry Harvey founded and owns after his leave at Ultimate Ears. The differences that lie between the cables are the prongs of the connectors, shape of the connectors, and the length of memory wire (1 inch on JH Audio and Westone, 2 inch on Ultimate Ears). In terms of material, sound, flexibility, and ease of use all are identical to each other.

“The cables included with the Westone Elite Series monitors are a twisted type cable that is flexible yet durable. The cable has a memory wire in the first two inches of the monitor plugs, with a clear tubing surrounded to protect the wire, there’s strain reliefs that have been properly shrunk and glued at the right angle 3.5mm plug and the hard plastic y-split in the middle that utter mostly prolong the cables life and reliefs the joints from tight bends. Microphonics on the Elite Series cable is near to nothing, and there’s close to 0% noise when you touch the cables or rub them against your clothing. Material used on the outer coating of the ES cable is the big beneficial part of this fabulous sound-proof attribute. The material isn’t necessarily the most tangle-free material, but it’s definitely doing its job of durability and flexibility."

-Westone ES3X Review by Felix Yau

The prongs of the connectors by Ultimate Ears are slightly shorter in comparison that is due to the exclusive socket used within UE’s monitors. Unlike other manufactures sockets which have the connectors flush with the side of the monitor, Ultimate Ears socket puts the connection in a recessed position within the monitor. The recession allows not only the prongs to be within the monitor, but also the plastic part of the connectors to allow a large increase in stability of the connector. The recession prevents any sort of movement horizontally that could bend, and damage the connecting prongs rendering the cable unusable. However, the exclusive socket is extremely long compared to the more standard socket. Fortunately, UE also offers the more common and smaller flush socket for clients that have smaller ears that are unable to accommodate for the size of the exclusive socket.

Ultimate Ears offers two lengths of cable to choose from. There is a standard and shorter 48” along with an optional 64” for no extra charge. Luckily, if you never liked the black cables that you see around all the time, Ultimate Ears has once again taken this into their thoughts for their customers and offers a total of 4 additional colours: White, Clear, Beige, and Brown.



Fit (9/10)

Ultimate Ears uses two kinds of methods to create the outer shells needed for the custom monitors line. The first is the more traditional method. Ultimate Ears receives the impression of the client, first creating a full negative mold of the impressions with silicone which it will then be archived and saved for any future purchase from Ultimate ears. The impression then goes through a series of detailing, tapering, and shaping to create a comfortable fit for the client. The finished impressions are then dipped in wax, and a negative solid colloid mold is made to hold the acrylic resin where it will then be UV light cured to harden the acrylic. Ultimate Ears has a second method, which is the more advanced SLA process, or stereo lithography. This option is usually used when clients send in a pair of their currently owned custom monitors, where Ultimate Ears then puts this pair of custom monitor through the 3D laser scanner creating a ultra high resolution 3D digital impression. The SLA machine is then able to cure acrylic resin to the exact shape of the scanned monitor, to allow a absolute perfect fit. Unfortunately though, the SLA process will only cure and create clear shells. Meaning to use this the SLA machine to create colour, the scanned digital 3D impression is used to create a negative mold, where the traditional method could then be applied.


Left and Right Ear Fit

For this specific pair of UE11’s, I decided to send in one of m currently owned pair of custom monitors for the SLA scanning process, as I know then I will not be requiring a fit. Ultimate Ears can managed to not just create a perfect fit for me, but has also managed to make the monitors slightly more flush and comfortable while still retaining that necessary seal for deep, rich lows and crisp clear highs. Overall, the fit of the UE11 is fairly close to fantastic. I prefer, and think that a slightly tighter fit for both sides would be easier to use, as then you don’t have to get the monitors in that exact spot to have a perfect seal. Despite my opinions though, the monitors seal well and feel comfortable. That is all that matters in the end.



Sound (8/10)

Ultimate Ears has been crafting some of the finest monitors on the market today in 1994. Being professionals of absolute sound quality for 12 years, Ultimate Ears has spend countless hours designing a superior design when the UE11’s were first released in 2007. The UE11 was to be crowned the new flagship model replacing the UE10. At the time, it was to be the first monitor housing quadruple drivers, along with the first three-way crossover in a custom monitor. However, even till this day the sound of the two-year old UE11 housing exclusive proprietary drivers doesn’t disappoint, and still stands as one of the best custom monitors on the market today.


High frequencies (7/10)
Ultimate Ears has placed a single proprietary driver in the high frequency range to offer an accurate, detailed and crisp sound. Unlike the former UE10, the UE11 is tuned to offer a more “fun” feel throughout the whole frequency. The high frequencies response of the UE11 is actually rather laid back, and easy to handle considering it was design more for the audiophile listener rather than the recording studio engineers (that would be the UE10s). The presentation is not as bright as other monitors offered by Ultimate Ears; the sound is smooth and slightly warm. There’s a fair amount of detail, accuracy, and crispness however due to its slightly recessed presentation, and a strong low end from the dual woofers you lose critical amounts of micro-detail like breathing, or the striking of a triangle. The sound of the high frequencies is neither the most natural nor extended as some close competitors offer. Listening to simple violin notes, in the higher octaves the violins start to sound although they were made from plastic, and the notes sound “struggled” and “limited”. The most worth praising in the high frequency presentation of the UE11 is the decay. It’s a smooth, but quick transition so there’s no excessive ringing from a triangle or smaller cymbals. Overall, the high frequencies are only presented to a satisfying standard. The Unique Melody Mage would be a far more appropriate monitor if crystal clear high frequencies are what you are seeking for.


Mid-range frequencies (9/10)
As the UE11’s like mentioned are designed to be one of the most engaging monitors towards audiophiles on the market today. The mid-range frequencies of the UE11 receive a “bump” or emphasis to put all vocals more forward. This emphasis on the mid-range usually keeps the listener’s captured within the music, and the UE11’s do just that. The mid-range is buttery smooth, with a shocking amount of detail. On top, theirs is a great sense of realism. Singers and some instruments sound so real, so natural, so detailed…every pluck of the guitar is heard as long it’s recorded, every breath is heard, and every syllable is heard flawlessly. After a short listening period, I was convinced the band was literally playing right in front of me. Every genre that I had come across, the UE11 reproduces the mid-range in a heartwarming and glowing sense that packs the soul of music straight into your ears. The only little irritation that I have found after long periods of listening is the speed and tone performance drops a bit when the UE11 encounters deep, thick voices that sound vividly rich. Otherwise, the mid-range presentation for this set of grand custom monitors is near to absolute perfect. To listeners that are more familiar with brighter sound signatures, or reference/studio recording headphones, the sound signature of the UE11 may sound too dark, too warm, and too “coloured” for an enjoyable experience.


Low frequencies (7.5/10)
The low frequencies, the most important frequency band to the average listener. As the most common phrase of “It’s got good bass” is mentioned every time a consumer is planning to purchase headphones. Well the UE11 impressively houses dual low frequency drivers, meaning there are two speakers or subwoofers if anyone else would call them producing those straight on punches to the heart. Now, looking into the UE11, we wonder what those two little tiny drivers that don’t even add up to the size of the mid-range driver could produce…oh but we would be in for such a big surprise. These proprietary drivers to begin with will go as low as 10Hz, where the average balanced armature driver will only make it to around 20Hz and dramatically drop. I have also been told will do in excess of 120dB in the 200Hz-500Hz.(@1mW) That may not sound like anything to the average listener, however a 200Hz-500Hz is where all the punches in your music typically are. How much is 120dB you may ask…a jack hammer heard at 1m has the sound pressure level of 110dB. In fact, 120dB is so loud that a short period of 30-50 seconds could do permanent damage to any set of ears. These are impressive drivers to begin with as we can see.

As there are two speakers taking the low frequency spectrum, it greatly reduces any chance of distortion and increases the potential speed of the impact and response by a significant margin contrasting to a single driver design. Ultimate Ears has definitely taken their drivers to their fullest potential…possibly just a little too much. The low frequency presentation is impressive and enjoyable for any music listener. However for any vocalist, sound engineer, and studio monitoring the bad news comes. Tone, speed, and impact are all bang on, one of the best I have heard. When it comes to decay, and accuracy, the same story can’t be said. The decay is so slow at times, that it rides over into the other frequencies and sort of lays there without a use. That is why, mentioned earlier the high frequencies can be covered at times by the lows frequencies. It’s almost as if the low frequencies sound overly boomy, and muddy. What about accuracy? …sometimes listening to the UE11, the hopes that everything below 1Hz doesn’t hit so hard, a lot of the times a floor tom beat hits and sounds the same as a kick drum’s. Overall in the end though, the low end of the UE11 is immersive, and can take many hard genres like heavy metal, pop, rock, and trance without a problem.


Soundstage (8/10)
Ultimate Ears has kept its unique tuning of the soundstage on the UE11. The UE11 like the rest of the family has a more enclosed soundstage rather than the ultra-wide, airy sound that other monitors achieve. As the soundstage of the UE11 isn’t that wide, everything seems to be played right at the face without hesitation. Vocals are so close it’s that if we were to take a step forward while listening to music, we would swear that we bumped into the singer. Instruments are fairly close, but very well placed. The instruments sound like they are coming from an assembled band, rather than being just a guitar note or just a drum beat. The placement is precise, and realistic. A fill in on the drums would sound as if the drummer struck the drums from one side to the other, or each distinctive tom drum could be heard in their exact positions. This unique soundstage that the UE11 houses is perfect for several things, because the vocals are so close. Like mentioned earlier, it keeps the heads nodding and the hearts racing while music comes and for any drummer, and bass guitarist, these would be the perfect on-stage monitors for you.


Detailed Score Breakdown:
Stereo Imaging - 8.5
Frequency Extension - 9
Transparency - 8
Decay - 8
Impact - 9
Speed - 8
Clarity - 8




Conclusion ( 8 /10)


Priced at $1150, the UE11 is currently the second most expensive monitor that Ultimate Ears makes. Housing a quadruple balanced armature drivers divided with a 3-way crossover design, the UE11’s offers crisp highs, potent mid-ranges, and quaking lows with the feature of a closer soundstage. The UE11, housing one of the best sound reproduction on the market today, also owns one of the most impressive and beautiful builds on the market today. Bubble and debris free shells, assembled with the highest standards in craftsmanship makes not just the UE11, but any Ultimate Ears custom monitor as durable as it could be. Included are two, crush-proof protective cases that are very well designed. With a super emphasized sound signature, along with the free of charge 64” cable option makes the UE11’s the first of choice for drummers, bassists, and the audiophile music listeners. Despite all the impressive specifications, performance, and awesome build quality of the UE11, it’s hard to justify the $300 match up to leading competitors flagship models that perform as well. In the end, the UE11 loses some points due to its price mainly.


This article was written by Felix Yau.
Special thanks to Lauren Kamm, Alpaytac and the whole UE team for making this review possible!