With the added bass, it’s of course easy to say this monitor isn’t tuned in a flat and neutral way. It simply isn’t intended for being the most precise and extended monitor. This is a pro monitor for artists where the extra bass impact, cleanness and clarity are top priorities. That means that there is a really good amount of body in bass and mids with a subtle presence of warmth, but I actually still find it perfectly within the limits. Especially when compared to some audiophile tuned monitors on the market. I expected a bass heavy and super full sounding IEM, but this isn’t the case as the UE 11 PRO still has a refined and clear presentation.
UE recommends the UE 11 PRO for high-energy rock, pop, metal and hip-hop musicians but I think it’s capable of a whole lot more. Even with the focus on the bass and mid impact. The UE 11 PRO is a very clean sounding monitor with a top clarity level, as required by the performers. The UE 11 PRO isn’t the most refined when it comes to precision, positioning, detail retrieval, layering and (note) extension, but it has a good pace and excellent rhythm. The UE 11 Pro isn’t the most technically strong monitor in UE’s line up, and this isn’t needed for its use case, but the overall timbre is very musical and enjoyable. Even when you’re not performing, this is a monitor that will present your favourite tunes in a musical and enjoyable way.
As said, it’s not the most revealing monitoring and soundstage wise it isn’t the widest and extended sounding. On stage and in the studio if for this type of performer, it’s not something that it needs to be/do either. The amount of space and air is on the lower side and you get a more intimate, inside your head presentation. Don’t forget that the purpose if the UE 11 PRO is to feel the music, and that’s exactly why it was tuned in this exact way.
The key characteristics for the UE 11 PRO for me are the following: Tightness, impact, clarity and pace. From the description above and by UE, it might look like the UE 11 PRO is a very particular monitor, and while that is the case, I do feel it’s important to point out that it actually is very enjoyable and engaging. I have been using it a lot right before going to bed, so far away from the stage, but it’s simply an enormous please to listen to this monitor. It’s fluid, musical and does everything in such an effortless and natural way. Even though it’s not the most refined or high-end monitor (which it isn’t pretending to be), it’s engaging, musical to listen to, and it’s highly addictive.
Bass – Mids – Treble
As you know by now, the bass in the UE 11 PRO has some extra presence and body. It however, at least for me, is still perfectly acceptable and within the “normal” limits and it never overpowers anything or runs in the mids. Bass is tight, fast and comes in with good impact. Bass reaches deep but it isn’t the most refined and precise bass. The amount of detail isn’t the highest and technicalities such as layering and extension aren’t the strongest point. But again, they don’t need to be. Bass is enjoyable and you can feel it. Actually, in order to “feel” the UE 11 PRO, Ultimate Ears could perhaps experiment with a bone conduction driver like in the UM MEST. I have a feeling this would work very well here.
The UE 11 PRO’s mids and especially the lower mids connect perfectly to the bass section and they show the same characteristics when it comes to body, impact and enjoyability. The upper mids are a bit less present but they still sound coherent. As explained earlier, the mids aren’t the most spacious, refined and layered and you get a more intimate yet very engaging presentation with a natural, lively timbre and musical delivery. It just works, even if it isn’t the most refined.
The treble section of this monitor is soft but it carries enough energy. The treble section is very inoffensive, and it has just enough presence to deliver the whole package. In regard to precision, depth and extension this isn’t the most spectacular treble
Comparisons – UE Family
The source for this comparison also was the SP2000 by AK, and all monitors are using the SuperBax cable from EU/Linum.
The UE18+PRO has 6 BA drivers with a 4-way passive crossover, it also is UE’s 2nd highest model in their lineup. The 18 is not as clear and energetic sounding than the UE 11 PRO, and it’s slower and more relaxed, soft and smooth in its presentation. The UE 18+PRO is more balanced and linear in tuning and it doesn’t share the elevated bass and lower mid impact. The UE18+PRO is a lighter sounding monitor but it is wider, more spacious and airy sounding. In the UE 11 PRO you feel the music more, where the UE 18+PRO is more natural. The inside your head experience here is better, but it’s still more intimate.
The UE LIVE is the TOTL monitor in the UE product range and it features 6 balanced armatures, 1 True Tone Plus driver & 1 6mm neodymium dynamic speaker. UE is using a 5-way crossover in this monitor. The LIVE is a very unique IEM. It has good detail retrieval and extension and it’s probably the most open and wide sounding monitor. At the same time the clarity and cleanness levels are a bit lower and the monitor sounds big and bold. The presentation has big presence and impact and you at all times and everywhere get great fullness. For some this monitor is a bit too thick and slow sounding, and with lesser sources it can give you a veiled and darker impression. What I like most in the LIVE are the vocals, as they are very natural and musical. With the LIVE you absolutely need to use a clear, tight and fast source, that’s a given fact. Get your setup wrong and the LIVE might sound like it underperforms. Get it right however and you will love its typical full signature with its very musical timbre and impressive note extension. The UE 11PRO and LIVE are very different monitors for different applications.
If you have any specific comparison in mind with one of the monitors in my collection, then let me know in the comments section and I’ll see if I can make that comparison happen for you.
Conclusion
It has been a while since I last reviewed a custom IEM, but I have really enjoyed my time with the Ultimate Ears UE 11 PRO. It for sure isn’t the best technical achiever on the market but it never pretends to be either.
The UE 11 PRO is a monitor designed for a very specific use and it does that very well. In fact, I find it to perform well not only for the percussion pros but also for us audiophiles who like great clarity with a bit of power in the lows and mids.
The UE 11 PRO is an engaging, powerful and musical IEM and with the Switch system it allows you to personalize your monitors in more ways possible than ever before.
Page 1: Ultimate Ears, Switch, UE 11 PRO, Specs
Page 2: Build Quality & comfort, Perso, Cable, Price & accessories, Sound pt1
Page 3: Sound Pt2, Comparisons, Conclusion
MhtLion
Great review! I wish UE will start to offer balanced cables. It has nothing to do with the topology of the balanced circuit, etc. It’s because otherwise the return paths are physicalled shorted when using a singled ended headphone socket. There is absolutely no reason what-so-ever to short two wires – never. Some people spend over 3,000 USD for premium wires then unknowingly short the wires together by using a SE headphone socket. That’s not a very smart thing to do in my humble opinion. The SE headphone socket was plain lazy engineering from the get-go. It needs to go away.
Ryan Jordan
Great review! How would you compare this to the 64 audio u6t that your reviewed? I am a singer in a rock and roll band and I’m looking for a good CIEM for that usage. I’ll use them for causal listening as well but i slinky need them for the performing. I have a set of the UE11s ordered but I have been told that they may not be the best choice. I ordered them because of the “feel” and “high energy rock” terms that they use in the marketing but I am a bit concerned about the sound and bass as a singer. My next choice would be the A6t because I have read and been told they’re great for singers and all musicians for stage use and casual use. It’s been challenging trying to figure out what to buy blindly and any advice would be awesome. Thank you!!
the Colonel MC
Fantastic review. I’m a jungle MC, and fight to hear my voice against a wall of the most manic, bass-heavy dance music on Earth. At the same time, the energy is in the bass, so I need to feel it. Based on your review and other input, I’m awaiting a set of UE11s right now, I can’t wait to try them out.
Michael
My experience was just the opposite of this review. I had terrible customer service from the jump (UE’s representative David Gutierrez should be avoided at all costs), when I finally got the monitors they didn’t fit, it was an enormous hassle to try and get them fixed, and, ultimately, the sound in the left monitor was distorted. When I tried to return them under the 30-day guarantee, I was told there was a $300 “customization fee”–e.g., they would not return my full purchase price.
A total scam. I’m glad you had a good experience, but I would advise people to avoid at all costs.