Bass
The UE5 has a moderate bass which is delivered in the mid-bass mostly, as usual from BA monitors. Lows are well-controlled, and nicely executed and they have a good texture. They’re also fast, and the decay is good.
This is not a heavily impressive bass that has great punch and rumble, it’s instead like a studio experience where you have a very controlled and somewhat subdued bass response. UE focuses on the bass but the “feeling” of it, but it at the same time is not overly present either.
But the best result is a good foundation for a clean presentation overall, over the whole spectrum. The great texture, as well as great control, makes the mids sound very crisp and clean, separated from the bass notes very well. I liked the UE 5 simply because it doesn’t try to overdo the bass based on its driver and design limitations. If we had a dynamic driver here, things might’ve been different, but from a small BA driver, this much control and correctness in the bass are to be appreciated.
Midrange
UE 5 has very clean mids as I mentioned above, and the best part is the tonality. No instrument or vocal sound artificial, unrealistic or ”off”. Every element is on point in terms of timbre. The midrange presentation is not congested at all, despite just two BA drivers.
UE 5 PRO’s main features are clarity and separation here. This is so you can hear every detail of the mix and feel the impact of every hit. Indeed, the midrange has a very good pace and rhythm. The mids connect nicely to the bass section and they show the same characteristics as the bass presentation when it comes to body, impact and quickness. The upper mids are a bit less present but they still sound coherent.
The mids aren’t the most spacious, refined and layered and you get a bit more intimate yet very engaging presentation with a natural, lively timbre and musical delivery. Even if it isn’t the most refined monitor out there, it’s possibly one of the most cohesive. Even though it’s not the most spacious or high-end monitor (which it isn’t pretending to be), it’s engaging, musical to listen to, and it’s highly addictive to my surprise.
Treble
The treble section of this monitor is not too sharp but it carries a good amount of energy. The treble section is relatively inoffensive, but it might get a bit bright depending on the source. Regarding precision, depth and extension this isn’t the most spectacular treble, but it surely is realistic, well-focused and nicely defined.
The lower treble section is a bit boosted though. That can result in a hot treble response depending on the recording. The UE 5 Pro is persistent about being true to the recording. It will present that brightness to your face. It’s not too aggressive at all, but if the source and the recording have that sharpness and definitive treble, you’ll hear it, and sometimes with small peaks here and there.
Page 1: Ultimate Ears, Switch, UE 5 PRO, Specs
Page 2: Personalization, Cable, Price & Accessories, Sound
Page 4: Technical Performance, Comparisons, Conclusion
