The Bottom Line
Overall, the UE-4 Pro custom monitors really shine. Don't let the price tag fool you: these are professional quality all the way. They're built by hand in Orange County, California, and are comfortably custom-fit to your individual ear canal.
Isolation is top-notch, and sound quality is on par with the much more expensive UE-10 Pro, with only slightly less headroom noticed during testing. Sound quality is lush and accurate, with solid low-end, silky mid-range, and sparkly highs. For the price, it'll be hard to find better, especially custom-fit options.
Isolation is top-notch, and sound quality is on par with the much more expensive UE-10 Pro, with only slightly less headroom noticed during testing. Sound quality is lush and accurate, with solid low-end, silky mid-range, and sparkly highs. For the price, it'll be hard to find better, especially custom-fit options.
Pros
- Custom-fit; excellent comfort level (depedent on ear impression quality)
- Fantastic frequency response. Broad response across the spectrum.
- Clear, powerful reproduction.
- Affordable, $399.
Cons
- Requires extra fee for ear impressions under most circumstances.
- Custom-fit means you can't resell them if they're not for you.
- Slightly less head room; not as appropriate for bass-heavy mixes (Try the UE-5 Pro).
Description
- Custom-fit in-ear monitors, with a flat 20Hz to 15kHz frequency response. Superior mid and high clarity, perfect for stage.
- Very comfortable to wear; review unit arrived flawlessly built and with no fit issues.
- Great value at $399; sound signature reminiscent of much more expensive UE-10 Pro.
Guide Review - Review: Ultimate Ears UE-4 Pro
Custom-fit monitors are one of the hottest items on the market right now. They're extremely popular among my readers, too -- performing musicians, sound engineers, and audiophiles looking for studio-reference performance. Custom monitors offer exceptional performance and comfort, allowing those with a need for high-fidelity audio reproduction to get everything they need in one small, portable package. Home studio owners especially love them -- they can pack up a good set of in-ear monitors and their computer, and work on a mix anywhere with great isolation and studio-like frequency response.
When Ultimate Ears called to ask if I'd like to review their new offering, the UE-4 Pro, I immediately jumped on the chance. Ultimate Ears has a great thing going with the UE-4 Pro -- it's a dual-driver custom monitor, manufactured under the same strict guidelines as their high-end custom products. The only difference? The UE-4 Pro come at a price of only $399. Never before has a major player in the custom monitor game have offered a value-priced, performance rich monitor for those on a budget.
After a painless ear impression session (you have to sit still for a few minutes while a trained audiologist pours silicone casting material in your ear canals), my monitors were hand-manufactured at Ultimate Ears' California facility. Upon arriving, I was immediately impressed. The build quality was just as beautiful as the UE-4's big brother, the UE-10 Pro. My fit was perfect the first time, but be forewarned, good fit only comes from good impressions. Your experience may differ; Ultimate Ears will work with you to correct any fit issues in the first thirty days.
So, how does it sound? Surprisingly, the UE-4 Pro reminds me quite a bit of the UE-10 Pro. It offers a very unique sound signature: accurate, with massive depth and character. It's got the sparkle and shine of the UE-10, while offering a very firm and fluid low-end response. Mids shine, and highs are sparkly.
The biggest difference that I noticed is the relatively low distortion threshold. Compared to the triple-driver UE-10 Pro, the UE-4 Pro has marginally less headroom in the low-end response, as is to be expected when stepping down to a dual-driver configuration.
Overall? The UE-4 Pro really surprises me. You don't get all the packaging bells-and-whistles -- your UE-4 Pro ship in a simple cardboard box with a small, custom-engraved carrying case. You're also limited to only a clear monitor with clear cable, a decision made in part to simplify ordering and help the price stay low. But what you do get is stellar frequency response, a fantastic custom fit, and exceptional customer service. Compared head-to-head against the flagship UE-10 Pro, the UE-4 Pro is a healthy contender -- and when you consider the price difference between the two, it's a no-brainer.
The UE-4 Pro is available now, directly from Ultimate Ears.
When Ultimate Ears called to ask if I'd like to review their new offering, the UE-4 Pro, I immediately jumped on the chance. Ultimate Ears has a great thing going with the UE-4 Pro -- it's a dual-driver custom monitor, manufactured under the same strict guidelines as their high-end custom products. The only difference? The UE-4 Pro come at a price of only $399. Never before has a major player in the custom monitor game have offered a value-priced, performance rich monitor for those on a budget.
After a painless ear impression session (you have to sit still for a few minutes while a trained audiologist pours silicone casting material in your ear canals), my monitors were hand-manufactured at Ultimate Ears' California facility. Upon arriving, I was immediately impressed. The build quality was just as beautiful as the UE-4's big brother, the UE-10 Pro. My fit was perfect the first time, but be forewarned, good fit only comes from good impressions. Your experience may differ; Ultimate Ears will work with you to correct any fit issues in the first thirty days.
So, how does it sound? Surprisingly, the UE-4 Pro reminds me quite a bit of the UE-10 Pro. It offers a very unique sound signature: accurate, with massive depth and character. It's got the sparkle and shine of the UE-10, while offering a very firm and fluid low-end response. Mids shine, and highs are sparkly.
The biggest difference that I noticed is the relatively low distortion threshold. Compared to the triple-driver UE-10 Pro, the UE-4 Pro has marginally less headroom in the low-end response, as is to be expected when stepping down to a dual-driver configuration.
Overall? The UE-4 Pro really surprises me. You don't get all the packaging bells-and-whistles -- your UE-4 Pro ship in a simple cardboard box with a small, custom-engraved carrying case. You're also limited to only a clear monitor with clear cable, a decision made in part to simplify ordering and help the price stay low. But what you do get is stellar frequency response, a fantastic custom fit, and exceptional customer service. Compared head-to-head against the flagship UE-10 Pro, the UE-4 Pro is a healthy contender -- and when you consider the price difference between the two, it's a no-brainer.
The UE-4 Pro is available now, directly from Ultimate Ears.