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Author Topic: Ultimate Ears Personal Reference Monitors  (Read 2441 times)

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CEE TEE

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Re: Ultimate Ears Personal Reference Monitors
« Reply #10 on: June 05, 2013, 05:27:17 AM »
Last time that I was trying the tuning box, I finally knew that 50-50-50 is not supposed to be the UERM. (Dove is right.)  So I listened to it differently and also took into account reports of the bass having more quantity after the customs were made. 50 is a baseline of attenuation.  0 is no attenuation, 100 is more.

What I found that is interesting about the PRM is that I last ended up with 60-60-0 in the left channel and 60-60-20 in the right channel...a touch more attenuation in the lows and mids with less or no attenuation in the treble (0 attenuation on the left side).

I need to go look at my last hearing test but when I thought I had channel volume issues in the past, it might just have been some HF acuity loss in my left ear.  The difference of 0 and 20 brought much better imaging or coherence, I have to study the terms.  I also seem to like a bit more treble than than some of the crew... :)p8

My next test will be to see if the effects of amping before the tuning box tightens up the bass.  With the other demos, I use an amp and that makes it an unfair comparison.

I was wondering what kind of complement that I might want for my UERM.  The UE11 are actually growing on me for a more u-shaped response with more low bass.  The UE7 also have a "bigger", more full sound and are a good complement to the RM, IMO. The UE5 I am not a fan of, most of the demos get better than my initial impressions after more time with them and getting used to them but this one I just didn't want to spend time with.  I think it is available because it is the first pair that musicians really used and if the rest of the band is on them then the engineer can mix for them more easily if everyone has them. The UE4 are like "baby RM" in tonality to me (bit less extension/air though) and I think a killer way to get into customs or for a clean, clear work-out custom so we don't risk more expensive ones.  The UE18 have a nice presentation but are a little too light in the treble for me.  I like them better after spending more time getting used to them but I still want some more treble.  Not sure yet if I would prefer the UE7, UE11, or PRM as the compliment.  I have been waiting to get my Pico Power before solidifying my opinions on the line.

That's where I am at so far.  Will have to figure out if low bass is more important or treble corrected for my hearing.  If the bass tightens up after amping signal before the tuning box, I might be able to get both of those in the PRM.  It's been really cool to have the demos in-house, I feel guilty for not being able to share them more with the Bay Area.  Hopefully soon!

Is particleman14 here?  He had the tuning box for a week and a half plus he owns the UERM, haven't had time to get his impressions yet...
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shipsupt

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Re: Ultimate Ears Personal Reference Monitors
« Reply #11 on: June 05, 2013, 11:03:17 AM »
I spent a night with the tuning box and was never able to tune anything I liked better than my UERM or UE11. 

I love having both.  The 11 is better for commuting; it offers a fuller sound at reasonable volumes on noisy trains and tubes.  I find the 11's are much better with an amp as it seems to keep better control of the bottom end.

If I could only have one I'd probably pick the UERM to have the reference and do some EQ'ing when needed/wanted.

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M3NTAL

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Re: Ultimate Ears Personal Reference Monitors
« Reply #12 on: June 05, 2013, 09:17:45 PM »
Purrin - I played with your EQ settings last night. I had interesting results. I listen to mostly electronic music, so I noticed the hi-hats being pulled down mostly. It has its benefits and drawbacks.  While being less fatiguing and flatter, but it loses a bit of the "air" that helps out the spatial element of electronic music - making it sound like a more open space.

The boost in the low end is also a bit of a dilemma for me. Boosting the region doesn't actually add any impact that the driver is incapable of, just adds "more". Surprisingly the UERM did well with the slight boost and didn't really muck anything up in doing so.

I think the sound signature that I created is actually very nice, but with the monitors being completely sealed in my ears, it was just too stuffy. I think an open back full-size headphone would be a much better fit for me personally. I guess it makes the presentation just too stuffy for me? I don't know if that makes any sense to anyone else.

I'll continue to play with the EQ. I'm thinking of pulling less out from the 2k-6k range. I think I am pulling just about 1db max out in that range now.
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Re: Ultimate Ears Personal Reference Monitors
« Reply #13 on: June 05, 2013, 10:48:07 PM »
Mental, you mightneed to break the seal and go with a more superficial fit. Avoid a vacuum seal as this actually messes up the ear drum's function, so you get a congested sound. I often break seal and allow my various customs to sit more shallowly, there can be a new clarity and openness in the sound. Something to try, at any rate.
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