Introducing the UE 18+ PRO | The Culmination Of More Than 20 Years Of Experience.

There is exciting news, and then there is EXCITING NEWS! This is the latter. Today, Ultimate Ears announced the arrival of the new UE 18+ PRO.

Ultimate Ears UE 18+ Pro

For more than 20 years, Ultimate Ears PRO has been the trusted custom in-ear monitor brand for musicians and professionals around the world. Music lovers have also been drawn to the full product lineup for its precise sound, and now, UE PRO's best-in-class flagship product is even better.

The UE 18 PRO was already the pinnacle of sound and design. Now UE has upped it’s game by adding the new True Tone Technology drivers and it’s proprietary precision tuned sound engine, which were originally introduced to rave reviews last year with the UE PRO Reference Remastered.

During this incredibly busy and exciting time we got a chance to sit down briefly with Philippe Depallens (General Manager), Mike Dias (Sales & Marketing Director), Vincent Liu (Product Development) and Joe Saggio (Engineer) from the Ultimate Ears team and ask some questions about the new Ultimate Ears flagship IEM.

Q: What is the UE 18+ PRO?

Philippe: The UE 18+ PRO is the brand’s new flagship model and the culmination of UE PRO’s 20 years of experience. This new monitor gives you the best of the previous flagship model, the UE 18 PRO, but adds UE PRO’s proprietary True Tone drivers to a redesigned acoustic system. This means you get more detail, air and spacing in your music, leaving a silky, smooth and clear sound.

Q: Why did Ultimate Ears Pro decide to create this product?

Vincent: The UE 18 PROs have been our flagship model for many years. However, in the past few years, UE PRO has pioneered great technical innovations, such as True Tone Drivers and our precision tuned sound engine. We wanted to apply our pioneering technology to our flagship model. Therefore, we created the UE 18+ PRO, our latest flagship model – a reimagined version of the UE 18 PRO.

Q: What are True Tone drivers?

Joe: True Tone drivers are proprietary balanced armatures that focus on the overtones and harmonics, so that you can hear and feel the emotional qualities of the music.

Q: Who was the UE 18+ PRO created for?

Vincent: The UE 18+ PRO was created for musicians of all kinds. Below are a few ways this flagship model can be experienced depending on musician type. Vocalists will notice a warmer and less “spikey” sound, guitarists will get a more natural, less crispy sound, bass players will experience a strong warm bass response, and Music lovers will experience more detail to their music than ever.

Q: How is the UE 18+ PRO different from the UE 18 PRO?

Mike: Thanks to UE's proprietary True Tone drivers and optimized sound engine in the UE 18+ PRO, the sound is more alive and open, working even better as a live tool. The new flagship continues to use a 4-way crossover, but adds a newly designed bandpass filter on midrange drivers and highly customized, extended frequency response tweeters.

Q: How did you test the UE 18+ PRO? Did you test it with any professional or touring musicians?

Philippe: The UE team tested with professional touring musicians and performers using drums, bass and guitar. It was then tested in the lab by listening to prerecorded music. However, we are unable, due to confidentiality, to share musician names.

Joe: For this product development, we also chose 25 key songs from various genres and time periods which we used as benchmarks. We’d A/B test each song against the full product line up and against the classic UE 18 to make sure that we were hearing what we were trying to achieve across all types of music and recordings.

Q: When will it be available and how much does the UE 18+ PRO cost?

Mike: The UE 18+ PRO will be available worldwide on December 15th through Ultimate Ears and authorized dealers, for a starting price of $1,499 USD. 

Q: Why should I get the UE 18+ PRO if I already have the original?*

Philippe: It’s the next generation. If your interest is to have the best tool to perform at your best, then the UE 18+ PRO is for you.  

Q: Will I still be able to buy the original UE 18 PRO?*

Mike: No, the product will no longer be available to purchase. However, Ultimate Ears will still service existing units and remake them for current owners.

 

To highlight some of the UE 18+ PRO’s next generation sonic clarity, Ultimate Ears has provided us with Joe’s reference cheat sheet. Check out these songs and listen for the sonic cues. Let your ears be the judge!


#

Song

Artist

Genre

Year

Sonic Cue

1

Do You Read Me

Rory Gallagher

Blues Rock

1976

Kick drum punch (low), snare, natural hats and guitar

2

On The Floor

J-Lo

Dance

2011

Synth bass

3

My Cherie Amour

Stevie Wonder

Pop

1969

Vocal reverb

4

Carnival

Natalie Merchant

Alternative

1995

Perfect female vocal

5

Mais Que Nada

Sergio Mendes / Brazil 66

Latin jazz

1966

Translation of old recordings

6

Squonk (Remastered)

Genesis

Rock

1976

Translation or remastered recordings

7

My Favorite Things

Tony Bennett

Vocal

1968

Warm vocal/clear brass/stand-up bass

8

Blah Blah Blah

Ke$ha

Dance

2010

Sub lows, chaotic but clear upper mids

9

Back In Black

AC/DC

Rock

1980

Accurate distorted guitar

10

Smooth Operator

Sade

Soul

1984

Cross stick snare, clear percussion, ample bass

11

Price You Pay

Punky Meadows

Metal

2016

Translation of maxed fader, modern mix

12

Witchita Lineman

Glen Cambell

Pop

1968

Natural strings; instrument isolation

13

Ventura Highway

America

Pop

1972

Natural warm acoustic guitars

14

Possum Kingdom

Toadies

Alternative

1994

Drum clarity and punch

15

American Boy

Estelle

Pop

2008

Male and female vocal in bass heavy mix

16

Lido Shuffle

Boz Scaggs

Pop

1970

Translation of "flat" master

17

Nuttville

Buddy Rich

Jazz

1974

Natural brass section and lead brass

18

Hocus Pocus

Focus

Rock

1970

Electric bass guitar; vocal "kitchen sink"

19

Somebody I used to Know

Gotye

Pop

2011

Intimate vocal, vocal range and depth

20

Spooky

Atlanta Rhthym

Rock

1979

Crisp hats / ride, electric organ, rubbery low end

21

Johnny Strikes Up The Band

Warren Zevon

Rock

1978

Vocal warmth, cowbell and pedal steel guitar

22

Josie

Steely Dan

Pop/Jazz

1977

Crisp mix

23

Past The Point Of Rescue

Hal Ketchum

Country

1991

Warm mix

24

Set Fire To The Rain

Adele

Pop

2011

Piano, sub low, vocal

25

Beginnings

Chicago

Pop

1969

Drum pans, horns

 

 

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