It used to be that (IEMs) were something reserved only for superstars. But – in case you haven’t caught much live music lately – a rising tide of musicians don’t go onstage without them. The only drawbacks have been their astronomical prices and getting custom ear molds to ensure a proper fit.
Ultimate Ears Pro has long established itself for making an impressively wide range of custom IEMs so sophisticated that many pro musicians and weekend warriors have made them their go-to brand. And in case you’re wondering, they’re fully aware of the obstacles that prevent musicians from taking the plunge toward IEMs, which is why their new affordable line of premium in-ear monitors – the UE 150, UE 250 and UE 350 – feature a universal fit that offers an exceptional trinity of sealed-in comfort, high fidelity and durability. Tackling a universal fit for all three of these IEM models is no small feat, which is why UE Pro employs their proprietary PerForm Fit (a unique, universal-fit design developed from their experience of gathering well over 175K ear scans) that, according to the company, “minimize ear fatigue and irritation while maximizing sound quality and sound isolation” and ensure a secure, comfortable fit that won’t fall out of your ears.
All three IEMs come with an assortment of foam and silicone tips in every size (XS, S, M and L). I’d suggest trying on each size to find the appropriate fit for your ear canal and testing the foam and silicone tips. In my experience, foam does a better job of noise isolation and a snugger fit; silicone feels smoother and gives the impression of a better fit.
As you might have guessed, these IEMs feature more drivers as you go up a model, with the UE 150 having a single driver, the UE 250 with two and the UE 350 with three, and with both the UE 250 and UE 350 including a two-way crossover that further enhances musical detail. All three models look slick; UE Pro’s signature triangular ear mold sits flush in your ear and sports cool faceplates in Solid Black (150), Black Galaxy (250) or Black Carbon (350). Finally, these IEMs come in a metal carry case and a 50-inch IPX T2 cable.
Testing out all three in several environments – monitoring music and backing tracks, as a guitar IEM for my and blending a separate monitor mix of instruments and vocals at rehearsal – I got a good read of the strengths of each model. Most importantly, these IEMs fit snugly in my ear and never fell out, which is surprisingly great for a universal fit. The UE 150 purportedly boasts an “even and natural sound,” and I agree; it’s a serviceable IEM at the most basic level.
It’s great for musicians who use an IEM in one ear and leave the other out in order to hear natural stage sound. You get exactly the monitor level you need in a no-frills, flat response. Popping in the UE 250 IEMs significantly ups the sound game with tuned-in detail.
The UE 250s have a more enhanced low-end and brighter frequency response, and for a guitar mix and instrument/vocal separation, they were my favorite. I expected the UE 350s to be the best with its trifecta of drivers, and while I won’t discount that they’re impressive, I honestly didn’t hear much difference between them and the 250s. They sound very similar, albeit the 350s do have a sharper clarity and are dynamically refined.
I find the UE 350s are better suited for cleaner instruments such as keyboards – or vocalists who need the utmost fidelity in musical separation between the rest of the band. I’ll be the first to tell you that using IEMs is an acquired taste, but in the long run, when you’re trying to save your hearing and are looking for a better monitoring alternative than stage wedges, IEMs are the future. That said, UE Pro’s 150, 250 and 350 IEMs are solid performers to start with here.
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