Ultimate Ears UE-10 owners: Should I go for it?

[recstar24]

I have no experience whatsoever with canalphones, i had a very fun experience with the shures at the january chicago meet, and figured i might want to venture into custome IEM land and might as well start with the UE-10's.

Not too many people have the UE-10's, there aren't too many impressions at meets because its not like you can share them, and i can't really find anything through search.

UE-10 owners, convince or dissuade from purchasing these monsters - thanks!

 

[Wmcmanus]

They're pretty good, but they're expensive too. A lot of people prefer the sonics of full sized headphones that cost half as much, or less. HD650, for example, with an aftermarket power cord, will give you a more realistic sense of soundstage, better spacial cues, a more impactful bass response. Others may disagree with this, but my point is that a lot of UE (or Sensa) owners don't necessarily find them to be the last word in sonic performance, while still being quite happy with them overall and not finding any glaring faults with them. So you've got that problem - how well will they perform as against the rest of the universe of full sized headphones.

On top of that, you have to consider all of the other options for canal phones, both those offering custom fit IEMs and those that give a nice (although not perfect) universal fit, again, for much less money. And finally, what are your listening needs? If you are going to travel a lot or use them in your daily commute or while at work, then yes, the extra money is worth it, in my opinion at least. I'm glad that I got my UE10-Pros, but feel that I should be using them more than I do. In the long run they will pay off in the sense that unless I break them, I'll always have them. So at some point, my cost will be less than $1 per hour of use, but I'm nowhere near there yet!

 

[chrisfromalbany]

I think the UE-10s are a mid/high end headphone. Along with your rs-1s, SA5000s, DT 880s, HD 580, 600, 650. I think they provide you in that same level of sound quality. But each high end headphones has certain sound characteristics. My experiences with any high end headphones is I liked certain parts of there sound. So it is more which one do I enjoy more and what type of sound do want to hear.

Anyways the UE-10s have there own sound characteristics. For me it wasn't a discussion on whether I wanted high end IEM headphone but which one I wanted. Because of the time I spend in the gym, or running, or in the office not wanting people to look at me funny. So it was more which one did I want. There are three high end IEMs. Westone's, Sens, and UE. I read the reviews of them. I knew that I trade alittle bass for more detail. And I knew the voices were pulled to the front a bit in UE-10s. The Westones’s maybe sound interesting as a second IEM headphone.

Anyways after getting them I very happy. Sometimes at the gym, I prefer to put the bass on the SM so drown out some of the level of detail. At home or office I enjoy the detail but at the gym it is alittle much for me. Not sure maybe I will get use to it. If I had it to do over again, I would for sure. I use them on a daily basis. Two or three times a day. Maybe 1 or 2 hours in a day. So I get my moneys worth.

 

[Welly Wu]

I use my Ue-10 PROs exclusively nowadays. I only use my Grado SR-60s when a friend or family member wants to hear what all this fuss is that I have poured into my humble reference system. I listen a minimum of 1.5 hours on days that I get back home from work and at least 3.5 - 5 hours on my days off. I was the first one to own them and review them here -- that was 1 year and 4 months ago. I have had no problems with the custom fit and I have lost a very significant amount of weight -- 5' 11" tall @ 220lbs down to 184lbs and still aiming for my target BMI weight @ 170lbs. With the Ue-10 PROs, I can hear how well the music is recorded, mixed, and mastered along with gauging the strengths and weaknesses of any piece of gear that it is connected to so long as it has a headphone jack with precise accuracy. If you want a reference pair of custom IEMs to help you gain a more intimate perspective of the music and Hi-Fi reviewing business you're now neck deep in, then the Ue-10 PRO will fulfill that mission. The Ue-10 PRO scales well with all sorts of equipment both low-mid-and hi-fi. It has certainly trained my ears to become a more astute arbitrator of sound quality and forged a deeper music listening habit.

 

[The Monkey]

OT: Nice job on the weight loss Welly Wu. I need to do the same...

 

[mjg]

yep. it sure is hard to lose. I've burned off about 15 lbs of fat myself this summer. Congrats on burning all that off welly, definatley impressive.

Anyways, back in topic: Dood, you haven't ever even owned an IEM before and your already contemplating buying the most expensive, purchase once and never sell type iem?

Spending money is a cool thing, but i think it wouldn't be wise to splurge on these, especially if you haven't even defined your necessity for them, and you seem to be happy with hp1s.


I say, a more prudent way to get into IEM's (for portable/home) would be to grab some etys. Costs about a fourth as much, and if you end up not using them so much, no big deal. If you end up loving iem's, and want to take an upgrade path, this is it i suppose (the very top end of it).

 

[Welly Wu]

mjg has the right idea: try the new crop of lesser expensive canalphones first. That's what I did: Etymotic ER-4P/S -> Ue-10 PRO. For me, I got into canalphones and custom IEMs because of where I live: West Orange, NJ. I live in a semi-strip industrial zone and it gets loud as heck during the peak weekdays. I got 20 ton 10 wheel trucks zipping up and down my local streets and I got a noisy home theater system plus computers to deal with. No way. I am not losing my hearing. So, I need them for that reason and that reason only. The ER-4P/S seal better than the Ue-10 PRO only when you use the foam tips because they give you -31.5dB sound isolation. The Ue-10 PRO seal -26dB, but you can hear a slight amount of high frequency noise as hard acrylic can not block that. But, it's slight.

However, the sound quality difference can not be more insanely tipped toward the Ue-10 PRO. I found that the ER-4P/S sound neutral but not natural. They sound too neutral and clean even if the music was recorded hot and dirty. It altered the signal deliberately.

But, the Ue-10 PRO does not do any of that crap. If it sounds like crap, it will sound better through them, of course. If it is your most cherished and reference CD, then it will sound heavenly.

Just make sure you have at least two canalphones to write your next review. Do a SHURE E4c versus Ue-10 PRO review for 6moons and Head-Fi. Pity your wallet though...

 

[recstar24]

ach, you guys are no fun, i like to dive deep in, might as well go to the top on my 1st run, no? lol i try to do things with panache

Prudency? ach, its overrated, for others sure but im looking at top of the line without getting ridiculous, thought about the orpheus but held back, thankfully those slots filled up

 

[Welly Wu]

Well, then go call up Ultimate Ears and place your order for the Ue-10 PRO.

Or, better yet, go to HeadRoom and order there. Support the founding Head-Fi sponsor and go right to the top of the line custom IEMs.

 

[recstar24]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Welly Wu Well, then go call up Ultimate Ears and place your order for the Ue-10 PRO. Or, better yet, go to HeadRoom and order there. Support the founding Head-Fi sponsor and go right to the top of the line custom IEMs.

THanks! There you go, that's the spirit i like to hear around here! Will let you know what i ultimately decide

 

[John Reeves]

Hi,

Don't seem to write so much nowadays since getting my UE-10's, guess I'm so content with them that I feel no need to rush out and buy the latest rave 'phone.

You can waste an awfull lot of money trying other cheaper units out, but if you do, you will always have that nagging feeling about getting the UE's.

I'm not decrying others choices, simply saying that for me the UE's fulfil my listening needs.

My HPTC build has taken me much longer than I thought, so I've been mainly listening via a Rio Karma the last few months. The concept was originaly just for a jukebox based around an 0404, but then I kept deciding that whilst I was going this far I might as well add TV recording, music DVD playback, custom case etc.

Well it's all being plugged into my TV/Naim/Isobarik setup this week, so I'll be listening to my UE's via a Porta Corda linked to the above.

I'd still like to try some of the other high end custom canal 'phones, but in reality I'm better off looking for a DAC in the future.

I will probably try a set of the new (Non Custom) UE's shortly because I have promised my son a decent set of canal 'phones. He hated the feel of ER4's with silicon and foamies so I guess the UE's may fill the bill.

Incidentaly he's tried my UE10's and loved them although the fit was naturaly not exact, maybe ear shapes are heriditary since they did seem to fit fairly well.

Oh well, enogh rambling, bottom line is GO FOR IT. Get the UE10's you won't be disapointed.

Best regards
John

 

[gorman]

I've never once regretted buying them.

Considering how much they cost... I believe this is saying something!

Moreover, since acquiring DT- 880 I still rate them on the same scale. Different sound signature, just that.

As John stated, go for them!

 

[mjg]

Quote:

Originally Posted by recstar24 ach, you guys are no fun, i like to dive deep in, might as well go to the top on my 1st run, no? lol i try to do things with panache Prudency? ach, its overrated, for others sure but im looking at top of the line without getting ridiculous, thought about the orpheus but held back, thankfully those slots filled up

Now see, if you were going for the he90 i'd be praising you and not lecturing you like i am here.

UE10 can be had whenever, however, but just find out if you are into the whole iem thing first... That's all, i wouldn't even be all opinionated about this, but you asked us for our opinions here : ]

 

[recstar24]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mjg Now see, if you were going for the he90 i'd be praising you and not lecturing you like i am here. UE10 can be had whenever, however, but just find out if you are into the whole iem thing first... That's all, i wouldn't even be all opinionated about this, but you asked us for our opinions here : ]

I hear ya - i really did enjoy the shures at the chiacgo meet, i have really big ears and canals and getting a seal is very easy for me, and they felt very comfortable as well, so im not IEM averse, we'll see...

 

[EdipisReks]

yeah, just get the UE-10's. you'll end up with wither those or the Sensas anyway, right?