The Watercooler-- Impressions, philosophical discussion and general banter. Index on first

Interesting IEM, the Ultimate Ears UE Live.

Some folks who heard it at Chicago have been praising it so had to come by Mungkong to check it out.

Impressions:

First of all, it doesn’t sound flat, contrary to one or two reviews I have come across.

I don’t have a target curve. I think target curves help more with OCD than enjoyment of music. I kid of course. However, my recent favorable trysts with the Trifecta do give the lie to curve adherence as a good thing, especially, if you, like me, like flavors.

That said, the UE Live is certainly a flavored IEM.

Firstly, the cons:

- Mud. There is mud in this IEM. No other way to say it. Midbass is thick and present and lavish.

- Source-picky. I actually liked it more on the humble Gryphon than on higher-end DAPs.

Pros:

- Good technicalities for the price especially left to right staging and resolution

- Bass is formidable. Dominates the show.

- Midrange is thick and inviting has a good sense of stage I reckon owing to the scoop around 1K

- Notes sound sharp. Given the mud it was important to have the peaks in mid and upper treble so the presentation doesn’t drown in mud. The sharpness can be a con if you are treble sensitive.

I am not gonna buy it. But it was interesting to check it out and understand its tuning.

Sources: Sony DMP-Z1 | Sony WM1ZM2 | Brise Tsuranagi Transducers: Campfire Trifecta + Effect Audio Centurion | Dita Perpetua + Dita Celeste | Aroma Fei Wan (Incoming) + PW Audio Orpheus YT Channel: Amplify Audio Show