The other UE-11 thread is starting to get long so I thought I'd post my own with some thoughts and pics.
Out of the box the fit was perfect! Nice going audiologist and UE for nailing it first time around. I have to say after reading some of the issues headfiers are having I was nervous. And yes they totally nailed my color request!
I'm getting used to the comfort/fit as they do feel different from my ES2's, which have the softer tips. The UE's feel like they are lighter yet very solid. My ears are adjusting to the feel and are a tad irritated but nothing worth expanding on. I'm going to swap the cable for a thin one as this one bothers the top of my ears a bit.
On to the sound! I'd like to preface with the fact that I have about 4-5 hours on these right now so my impressions are very initial. Most listening so far as been done with my iPod and Lisa III XP, although I am listening directly out of my PC right now just for some contrast.
The UE-11's really bring it! The first thing I noticed about them as many here have said is the fullness of their sound. They really have weight in the sound and the music does not feel as if it is being squeezed through an IEM as it often can. Much more of a full sized can feel and better in many respects. I think the thing that I am finding myself the most impressed with is the combination of accuracy and musicality. Many headphones to my ears usually end up having one or the other. Take the PS-1 for instance; a very fun and musical headphone but I would not call it accurate in a neutral sense. The UE-11's seemed to have nailed the hybrid of accuracy and musicality. What I mean is that there is not enough color in the sound to call them musical and engaging at the cost of accuracy and neutrality. They present the music the way I imagine it was in the studio or at the show. Cymbals splash and you can really hear the decay bleed off into the background, strings and brass sound lively and percussion is just amazing. Supper tight bass response with plenty of impact and this goes for the rest of the percussion family as well. Reminds me of my old SP Slam in a sense because percussion is so hard to get right and that was one thing that stood out to me about that amp. Same thing here, the UE-11's really keep the tight snap and true sound of percussion instruments you here if someone was playing unamped in front of you. The level of detail is unlike any headphone I've owned, even listening unamped right now I am very impressed with how much I am hearing and at how little effort I have to exert to pick out the different things going on in the music. The top end is very crisp with lots of sparkle and absolutely zero sibilance.
The midrange and or vocal department I'm still deciding about. I think the case is the same here in that the UE11's present it the way it is supposed to be. If the vocals are forward that's how you hear them if they are a bit distant same case. I like my vocals to be very forward like in the chair next to me. This is the main reason I love the PS-1 so much and what drove me towards the ES2. I may end up picking up a Hornet to use with these since it is known for a somewhat forward vocal presentation. Anyways, the vocals are silky smooth and again, here the exceptional clarity is nothing if not impressive. Mids overall are lush and full sounding... maybe even a little warm but far from dark. Another thing I am noticing is how great they sound with all music. All the headphones I've owned seem to shine brighter in certain areas but these seem to be very consistent and so far do not appear to favor gener's or instruments which is a very refreshing trait IMO.
This all probably sounds somewhat random but that's how it is right now as I form my opinions about these. The PS-1 is still my favorite headphone but if I had to own only one pair right now I'd probably chose these. Based on what I have heard so far I would say these were a worthy purchase and a worthy upgrade from the ES2. I don't see myself reaching much for the D5000 or ES2 much in the future. I may even sell the Lisa and Denon's... yes I see myself being very happy with the UE11's. If I had to sum it up in a word I'd say "goosebumps" and that says a lot since the only other headphone that can claim goosebump credit is my beloved PS-1.
I'll try to add to or modify this after I have had these for a month or two and have had some time to listen to them with a couple different amps.
Out of the box the fit was perfect! Nice going audiologist and UE for nailing it first time around. I have to say after reading some of the issues headfiers are having I was nervous. And yes they totally nailed my color request!
I'm getting used to the comfort/fit as they do feel different from my ES2's, which have the softer tips. The UE's feel like they are lighter yet very solid. My ears are adjusting to the feel and are a tad irritated but nothing worth expanding on. I'm going to swap the cable for a thin one as this one bothers the top of my ears a bit.
On to the sound! I'd like to preface with the fact that I have about 4-5 hours on these right now so my impressions are very initial. Most listening so far as been done with my iPod and Lisa III XP, although I am listening directly out of my PC right now just for some contrast.
The UE-11's really bring it! The first thing I noticed about them as many here have said is the fullness of their sound. They really have weight in the sound and the music does not feel as if it is being squeezed through an IEM as it often can. Much more of a full sized can feel and better in many respects. I think the thing that I am finding myself the most impressed with is the combination of accuracy and musicality. Many headphones to my ears usually end up having one or the other. Take the PS-1 for instance; a very fun and musical headphone but I would not call it accurate in a neutral sense. The UE-11's seemed to have nailed the hybrid of accuracy and musicality. What I mean is that there is not enough color in the sound to call them musical and engaging at the cost of accuracy and neutrality. They present the music the way I imagine it was in the studio or at the show. Cymbals splash and you can really hear the decay bleed off into the background, strings and brass sound lively and percussion is just amazing. Supper tight bass response with plenty of impact and this goes for the rest of the percussion family as well. Reminds me of my old SP Slam in a sense because percussion is so hard to get right and that was one thing that stood out to me about that amp. Same thing here, the UE-11's really keep the tight snap and true sound of percussion instruments you here if someone was playing unamped in front of you. The level of detail is unlike any headphone I've owned, even listening unamped right now I am very impressed with how much I am hearing and at how little effort I have to exert to pick out the different things going on in the music. The top end is very crisp with lots of sparkle and absolutely zero sibilance.
The midrange and or vocal department I'm still deciding about. I think the case is the same here in that the UE11's present it the way it is supposed to be. If the vocals are forward that's how you hear them if they are a bit distant same case. I like my vocals to be very forward like in the chair next to me. This is the main reason I love the PS-1 so much and what drove me towards the ES2. I may end up picking up a Hornet to use with these since it is known for a somewhat forward vocal presentation. Anyways, the vocals are silky smooth and again, here the exceptional clarity is nothing if not impressive. Mids overall are lush and full sounding... maybe even a little warm but far from dark. Another thing I am noticing is how great they sound with all music. All the headphones I've owned seem to shine brighter in certain areas but these seem to be very consistent and so far do not appear to favor gener's or instruments which is a very refreshing trait IMO.
This all probably sounds somewhat random but that's how it is right now as I form my opinions about these. The PS-1 is still my favorite headphone but if I had to own only one pair right now I'd probably chose these. Based on what I have heard so far I would say these were a worthy purchase and a worthy upgrade from the ES2. I don't see myself reaching much for the D5000 or ES2 much in the future. I may even sell the Lisa and Denon's... yes I see myself being very happy with the UE11's. If I had to sum it up in a word I'd say "goosebumps" and that says a lot since the only other headphone that can claim goosebump credit is my beloved PS-1.
I'll try to add to or modify this after I have had these for a month or two and have had some time to listen to them with a couple different amps.
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