The line of custom IEMs from Ultimate Ears Pro has remained steady for a few years now, previously topping out at a triple bore, 4-way, 6 BA driver called the UE18+ Pro. While that is still a mouthful of information to lay out, today the company announced they will be producing two new options for consumers, one of which will stand atop the mountain of offerings at a weighty $2,199 retail.
The new direction comes in the form of two hybrid designs, the flagship Live and a revamped UE 6 Pro ($699) which has an emphasis for the drummer, bass player and DJ market. The former sporting 7 BA drivers and one dynamic and the latter with 1 BA and two dynamic 6mm neodymium drivers. The new 6 Pro utilizes an original “True Tone” balanced armature driver tech while the new flagship uses an upgraded design called “True Tone Plus”.
Much of UE’s intent over years has been aimed at the performance target, with several recent pieces having crossover appeal and a monitoring/board/recording direction that resulted in more balanced approach (next to its direct competition). The two new options are undeniably still geared towards the pro market, but audiophiles love their new toys and Live will now bring the line closer to the direction the rest of the IEM ecosystem has already reached – with products hitting the $3k and even $4k price tags. With the inclusion of UE into the fold it appears hybrid tech is the new hot thing for IEMs this year.
UE also saw fit to update their cabling system, even going so far as to give it a designated three letter acronym name (IPX) and partnering with and outside company called Estron during production. From the PR release:
“This new system, co-created with estron a/s, provides a lightweight, IP67 certified sweat-proof, durable connection between cable and connector, allowing for easy swapping between different cable types. The Ultimate Ears SuperBax is a road-worthy cable, strong enough to hold a 12-pound barbell, yet so lightweight and transparent that it becomes virtually invisible. With significant reliability improvement, this new system can handle thousands of cycles of connect-disconnects.The new UE IPX Connection System can be plugged into any audio interface with a ⅛” (3.5mm) headphone jack.”
Pre orders are available on the company site today, with shipping expected to start in early May of this year. More details and full press release after the jump.
“Ultimate Ears Introduces Most Advanced In-Ear Monitor to Date and Refreshes Entire Lineup with New Sweatproof Cables
IRVINE, Calif. — April 11, 2018 — Today, at Musikmesse, Ultimate Ears, announced Ultimate Ears LIVE, the brand’s new flagship custom in-ear monitor (CIEM), and Ultimate Ears 6 PRO, both using Ultimate Ears’ patented hybrid acoustic architecture. And, in a relentless pursuit to improve reliability, the entire Ultimate Ears CIEM lineup is now upgraded with the Ultimate Ears IPX Connection System, a durable new cable connection system that can withstand the rigours of music touring and minimize the need for service and maintenance.
“Our intention when designing our new flagship model was to create not only the best sound, but also the most reliable monitor possible,” said Philippe Depallens, vice president and general manager of Ultimate Ears. “With UE LIVE, you’re getting our best: pure, raw stage energy. We also needed a sweat-proof and tour-proof cable system, so we co-developed a solution from the ground up with a company that specializes in hearing aid and medical-grade cables. The UE IPX Connection System was designed to handle everything a musician deals with nightly — sweat, makeup, hairspray, humidity, set up, break down and travel.”
Ultimate Ears LIVE
UE LIVE is ideal for festivals, arenas and stadiums, and offers a perfect solution for touring musicians. Built with a hybrid acoustic architecture, these monitors incorporate the most complex and powerful acoustic systems Ultimate Ears has ever developed, including six balanced armatures, one dynamic driver and the True Tone Plus, an upgraded version of Ultimate Ears’ proprietary True Tone Drivers. Each driver is designed to handle its specific frequency range, giving UE LIVE the purest signal path Ultimate Ears has ever created.
Ultimate Ears 6 PRO
UE 6 PRO was designed as an introductory hybrid solution for drummers, bass players, DJs and hip-hop musicians. Taking advantage of the same hybrid acoustic architecture as UE LIVE, UE 6 PRO gives warm tonality, along with impactful bass and clear audio reproduction. This design includes two dynamic drivers for midrange and bass, along with Ultimate Ears’ original True Tone Drivers for high-frequency fidelity.
Ultimate Ears IPX Connection System
This new system, co-created with estron a/s, provides a lightweight, IP67 certified sweat-proof, durable connection between cable and connector, allowing for easy swapping between different cable types. The Ultimate Ears SuperBax is a road-worthy cable, strong enough to hold a 12-pound barbell, yet so lightweight and transparent that it becomes virtually invisible. With significant reliability improvement, this new system can handle thousands of cycles of connect-disconnects.The new UE IPX Connection System can be plugged into any audio interface with a ⅛” (3.5mm) headphone jack.
Pricing and Availability
UE LIVE and UE 6 PRO can be pre-ordered today and are expected to be available and ship worldwide in early May 2018 through Ultimate Ears and authorized dealers, for a suggested retail prices of $2,199 and $699, respectively. Numerous color and custom faceplate options are available. For more information, please visit pro.ultimateears.com/uelive and pro.ultimateears.com/ue6. The UE IPX Connection System is expected to be available worldwide on all custom in-ear monitors orders starting in April 2018 through pro.ultimateears.com and authorized dealers. The connection system will be incorporated into the full Ultimate Ears CIEM lineup. You can choose between a 50”, 64” or Bluetooth version of the system.
You can experience the new products and cable system at the Fischer Amps/Ultimate Ears booth at stand C43 in Hall 4.1 at Musikmesse. For more information on new products, please visit pro.ultimateears.com.
About Ultimate Ears Pro
Ultimate Ears Pro, a brand of Logitech, revolutionized the way artists perform music on stage with the creation of its custom fit professional earphones in 1995. Today, more touring artists use Ultimate Ears Pro products than any other brand. For more information, please visit pro.ultimateears.com.”