Ultimate Ears In-Ear Reference Monitors Review - Page 5

The Leckerton amps sure are amazing, they know their stuff. 

I think you also mentioned the JH13? What specific attributes did you like about the UERMs better that made you decide? What didn't you like about the JH13? Just curious because both are on my list.

Great comparison. Thanks.

The UERMs do scale incredibly well. Give them an excellent source and an amp - and they are quite stunning - almost as good (more linear, but still less clear, detailed, and relaxed) as a modestly powered SR009. I would say the bass moves up from a 4 to a 5 on your scale when properly powered.

nice stuff, sorry I missed this thread until today. I was surprised to see some of the comments about the bass and its accuracy - as someone who used to play upright bass (classical and jazz) and electric bass (misc) as well as cello (orchestra and string quartet) a whole lot for many years, I know what sound I'm looking for in classical music, in jazz, and in other genres - and the UERM never disappoints. by comparison, if I use the 11pro, I am often surprised (occasionally even taken aback) at how fat (should that be phat?) things can become down below - sometimes that's great fun (phun?), sometimes a bit much. good to have choices!

Quote:

Originally Posted by melomaniac 

nice stuff, sorry I missed this thread until today. I was surprised to see some of the comments about the bass and its accuracy - as someone who used to play upright bass (classical and jazz) and electric bass (misc) as well as cello (orchestra and string quartet) a whole lot for many years, I know what sound I'm looking for in classical music, in jazz, and in other genres - and the UERM never disappoints. by comparison, if I use the 11pro, I am often surprised (occasionally even taken aback) at how fat (should that be phat?) things can become down below - sometimes that's great fun (phun?), sometimes a bit much. good to have choices!

I hope you aren't saying the bass is perfect because it's not.  If you mean nicely sufficient and musically adequate I could buy that.  

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maxvla 


After my experience with the JH13, the head-fi standard, apparently, of neutrality, I question any comment on these forums about bass quantity. The 13s were slightly above my bass threshold, much less 16s. Jerry's wife says she listens to the JH3a with the bass fully cranked, which to me was completely unlistenable. Some strange stuff out there.

Well, my comments have to do w/ accurate instrument representation not Jerry Harvey's sound.  Everyone seems to cling to him as some sort of reference when it is well known the treble and bass is tipped up even in the 13.  JHA is into 'enjoyment' not monitoring accuracy.

That makes a whole lot of sense. From what I've been reading it seems the JH5 is actually the most balanced JH custom and even that is said to be colored. 

JH5 is still a big and robust sound.  Not what I would consider balanced and neutral (but fun).

JH13 is very balanced and neutral but there is an intrusion of lower bass at times.  It sounds odd because there is very lean mid-bass.  I understand this lower bass was added in to add in some fun and to keep it from being overly neutral.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spyro 

 

JH13 is very balanced and neutral but there is an intrusion of lower bass at times.  It sounds odd because there is very lean mid-bass.  I understand this lower bass was added in to add in some fun and to keep it from being overly neutral.

I actually know exactly what you mean.  That sounds like some of the microdriver IEMs I'm able to coax substantial lower bass from while the mid bass remains rather neutral.

Quote:

Originally Posted by average_joe 

Bass does tend to be overdone many times.  I have A/Bed so many custom IEMs, and I thought one had more bass enhancement than another, but some songs have more bass in one than the other and then the next bass heavy song that flip-flops.   That seems to be about where the enhancement lies, movement of the driver(s), and ultimate capability of the driver(s).  I do think the UERM is very good at having power and reverb but not being "enhanced."  However, the weakness of the UERM bass beside the depth is the capability as it gets left behind with electronic, something like a pipe organ, or the foot tapping at the beginning of Layla from Clapton unplugged.  However, I can see where with the genres you listed the UERM bass would seem very good.

exactly, we agree. and there's nothing "neutral" about playing an instrument - for instance, I used to have three basses, one tuned and strung for classical music and folk, one tuned and strung for jazz (softer strings, longer decay, softer attack, less need for the higher register than in other genres, etc), and the electric one which sounds like neither. I still have two cellos in the house, because they sound differently. - of course, if you're listening to an organ (or synthesizer, or drums, or movie sound tracks) then maybe the UE reference monitor is not your best choice - I might reach for the 11pro on some tunes, or for beyers on some, or just go for a speaker rig, ideally... but before we give people who haven't heard a UERM for themselves the idea that it's bass-shy, let's beware: I maintain that on too many recordings there is too much equalization going on already (and in some entire genres, for instance I love reggae but pu-leeze - that's not bass, that's oomph shaking the house, and nobody is going to expect "accuracy" or "neutrality" or "faithful rendering" of timbre or attack and decay).