UE 5 Pro Sound Signature Deep Dive
Take a deep dive into the unique design of UE 5 to discover what makes it ideal for creating and enjoying music
The UE 5 sound signature is a dependable, everyday solution for those that want a high quality audio experience. Whether you’re a musician ready to make the leap from wedge monitors to IEMs, an audiophile looking to upgrade from bulky over-the-ear headphones or earbuds that just weren’t faithfully reproducing your music, or a business traveler wanting to escape with the best sound quality and noise isolation you can get—UE 5 will get you there. “UE 5 is our original in-ear monitor,” says UE Channel Manager John Talley. “If someone is new to the game and jumping ship from universal IEMs and they want to invest in solid in-ear monitors, I point them towards UE 5.” In this article, we’ll dive deep into the unique design of the UE 5—the sound signature that started it all—to discover what makes them ideal for creating and enjoying music.
The UE 5 Story
On Van Halen’s 1995 Balance tour, drummer Alex Van Halen was frustrated. To hear himself and his bandmates above screaming crowds, Alex asks his monitor engineer to turn up the mix, but the volume becomes overwhelming—and painful. On the bus after a tough gig in Irvine, California, Van Halen’s sound engineer had an idea: what if instead of using loud wedge speakers, Alex wore fitted earpieces? They could be custom molded to fit the exact shape of his ear, so they block out ambient noise, and with a two-way crossover, they’d pack enough low-frequency oomph to make the bass drum really slam. That’s how Ultimate Ears was born. UE 5 was the first commercially-available sound signature offered by Ultimate Ears, and it was a huge hit. Soon, artists around the world were embracing the benefits of in-ear monitors on the biggest stages. But what exactly does UE 5 sound like?
Balanced Sound for Any Application
The key to the UE 5 sound signature’s balanced sound is its dual-driver design and two-way crossover. Unlike headphones and earbuds built around a single speaker, the UE 5 signature splits treble and bass frequencies between two precision-tuned drivers for clear and accurate audio reproduction across all frequencies. “Their sound signature is pretty flat, with some enhancement on the high and low frequencies,” says Talley. Compared to single-driver designs, the UE 5 sound signature delivers a tighter and punchier (but not exaggerated) bass response as low as 5Hz, more detailed midrange and transparent treble clarity all the way up to 22kHz—well beyond the limits of human hearing, which sits between 20Hz-20kHz. With two precision-tuned drivers dividing the audio duties, each driver can focus on reproducing only the frequencies it was designed for, instead of being a “jack of all trades, master of none,” like headphones with a single dynamic driver. As a result, each driver works at its optimal efficiency for the most transparent audio reproduction available. It’s a powerful and accurate personal listening experience that rivals the recording studio control room.
Superior Acoustic Isolation
All UE sound signatures are designed to block up to -26dB of ambient noise. When you’re in the studio or listening at home, you can focus on what’s important—your music. All UE earphones and IEMs block noise using passive noise isolation, which is preferred over active noise cancellation, or ANC by audiophiles and musicians alike. What’s the difference between passive noise isolation and ANC? Passive noise isolation blocks sound naturally, whereas ANC is known to cause ear fatigue and distorted sound quality. Worried about feeling too isolated on stage? UE PRO models have an ambient port option that allows ambiance to reach your eardrum through a -12dB filter. When the ports are closed, you’ll experience the full -26dB of noise isolation.
On-Stage or Off
Though Ultimate Ears started with musicians in mind, UE 5 is far from a stage-only tool. From making long-haul flights more bearable via our Bluetooth cable to mixing and mastering in the studio, UE 5 is a great sound signature for both work and play and is ideal for a wide range of genres and applications. For stage use, select the PRO cable to connect to your beltpack of choice. For casual listening at home or on-the-go, select the Bluetooth cable to connect your UE 5 to your mobile device. In the studio, the UE 5’s balanced audio reproduction makes it a perfect companion to traditional studio monitors.