At the 2018 Prolight + Sound show, Ultimate Ears (hall 4.1, stand C43) has introduced Ultimate Ears LIVE, the brand’s new flagship custom in-ear monitor (CIEM), as well as Ultimate Ears 6 PRO, both using patented hybrid acoustic architecture.
In addition, the company’s entire CIEM lineup is now upgraded with the Ultimate Ears IPX Connection System, a durable new cable connection system designed to withstand the rigors of touring and minimize the need for service and maintenance.
“Our intention when designing our new flagship model was to create not only the best sound, but also the most reliable monitor possible,” says Philippe Depallens, vice president and general manager of Ultimate Ears. “With UE LIVE, you’re getting our best: pure, raw stage energy.
“We also needed a sweat-proof and tour-proof cable system, so we co-developed a solution from the ground up with a company that specializes in hearing aid and medical-grade cables. The UE IPX Connection System was designed to handle everything a musician deals with nightly — sweat, makeup, hairspray, humidity, set up, break down and travel.”
The new UE LIVE is built with a hybrid acoustic architecture and includes six balanced armatures, one dynamic driver and the True Tone Plus, an upgraded version of the company’s proprietary True Tone Drivers. Each driver is designed to handle its specific frequency range.
Meanwhile, the new UE 6 PRO was designed as an introductory hybrid monitor. It utilizes the same hybrid acoustic architecture as UE LIVE and is designed to deliver warm tonality, along with impactful bass and clear audio reproduction. There are two dynamic drivers for midrange and bass along with Ultimate Ears’ original True Tone Drivers for high-frequencies.
The new UE IPX Connection System, co-created with estron a/s, provides a lightweight, IP67 certified sweat-proof, durable connection between cable and connector, and it allows for easy swapping between different cable types. The SuperBax is a road-worthy cable, strong enough to hold a 12-pound barbell, yet is virtually invisible. The new system is stated to be able to handle thousands of cycles of connect-disconnects, and it can be plugged into any audio interface with a 1/8-inch (3.5-mm) headphone jack.
UE LIVE and UE 6 PRO can be pre-ordered now and are expected to be available and ship worldwide in early May 2018 through Ultimate Ears and authorized dealers, for a suggested retail prices of $2,199 and $699, respectively. Numerous color and custom faceplate options are available.
The UE IPX Connection System is expected to be available worldwide on all custom in-ear monitors orders starting in April 2018 via pro.ultimateears.com and authorized dealers. There’s a choice of a 50-inch, 64-inch, or Bluetooth version of the system.
