UE Pro Reference Remastered (UERR/UERM v2)

higher volume aswell?

 

So is the UE Line Drive Pro a resistor network of sorts? If I'm understanding correctly.. it can be positioned between an amp (or a variable output DAC) and an IEM.. volume is still controlled on the DAC or amp (or PC)?

 

The UE Pro Line Drive from what I understand is a UE Sound Guard but without the hearing protection limiters.

It will have varying degrees of effect depending upon the way that the source or amp can drive your IEMs.

There is no volume control...you need to control that from the source or amp.

Here is a description that I pulled from UE University and cleaned up for ease of reading:

Audio Signal Buffering: Ensures that devices like multi-driver, low impedance IEMS do not interact poorly with the music player headphone output electronics and “distort” the originally designed audio frequency response. Provides an EASY TO DRIVE interface to the IEM for the music player.

Impedance matching is really an incorrect term in this case. UE Line Drive is actually an Impedance Transformer. In this way, UE Line Drive provides a very *low* source impedance that creates a *mismatch* with an IEM. Portable Solid-State devices such as iPods or Wireless Beltpack units seek to deliver voltage to a load and typically can have trouble sourcing relatively large currents into low impedance loads (IEMs).

If impedances are MATCHED, then that voltage is split between the source output impedance and the IEM impedance thus creating a loss of signal and ultimately sound to the listener.

By presenting a low source impedance to an IEM, the IEM retains a far greater magnitude of the intended audio voltage. The low source impedance provided minimizes interaction between the SOURCE and IEM and thus renders the designed and approved IEM frequency response.

There is a buffer that isolates the source device impedance from the IEM impedance; the buffer is followed by an output drive stage that can source relatively large currents into heavy (low impedance) loads.

 

Thanks Christian.. this seems like a great device for me.. both (custom) IEMs I have (UERM & Empire Ears Apollo-X) seem very sensitive to OI.. and my phone (Galaxy S4 w/~5 ohm OI, I think) is good.. but not great with such IEMs. So this solves that.

 

^No problem! Though, I did find it to benefit the UERR more than the UERM from my iPhone. So, if it doesn't make enough of an impact for you...resell it here to a UERR owner. I certainly vouch for you.

 

You are using it out of the Rag's balanced output, aren't you? The SE is a pretty bad match for my UERMs.

I have a Galaxy S4 variant too (i9506) and I believe its output impedance is more like 1.2ohms. What really ruins the sound is the shitty stock resampling - I use the neutron player with its higher quality resampling from 44.1 to 48khz.
The S4 also seems to have a problem with low impedance phones (<14ohm). In any case i find the Leckerton UHA-6s mkII to sound so much better that I hardly even use my UERMs straight out of my phone. With my phone I go either GeekOut 450 -> Leck -> UERM or I just use my B2 with my phone.

Do you think the UERR has an even more problematic impedance than the UERM? Looks like the XLR output from the Rag might be very good for both the UERR and the UERM.

 

I actually really liked this. My favorite pairing to date.

 

The SE output to the UERR?
I actually measured the FR difference between Leckerton (0.4ohm I believe) and the Rag SE (3.3ohm) and the difference was greater than 4db less at 8khz with the Rag. Also ~1db less bass or so.
Would be really interesting to see a UERR impedance graph.

EDIT: I also measured the long UE cable (which I have) to have a resistance of around 1.6ohm. I want to make a thicker cable ...

 

Where do we sign up?

 

I don't hear any issues with Ragnarok SE output to UERR or UERM. In fact, like drfindley, I think it's a great pairing for both IEMs.

@Serious we are using the buffer jack (supplied with every UE IEM) which changes the impedance to make the IEM less sensitive/more appropriate for desktop amps. I listen to UERR at close to 3/4 volume from Ragnarok SE with a 12ft Mogami 2549 extension cable and the buffer jack.

USA people is anyone willing to ship me a line drive via USPS? The only shipping option from UE to Canada is $70USD overnight UPS and to make it worse UPS screws us Canadian over bigtime with customs + extra fees. Not customer friendly...

 

I was just looking for the same thing last night. I found a review that says 55mm x 50mm x 20mm and .5kg (which seems impossibly heavy for something so small). Still, pretty small.

 

I think this is key to getting the UERM usable with any serious amp (and not quickly going deaf). I did this with my mjolnir2, kind of on a lark, and was pleasantly impressed with the result.

 

Oh okay, makes sense. I remember measuring the FR with and without the buffer jack on the Leckerton and the difference wasn't exactly 0 but it was pretty close(<1db IIRC). Obviously the Leckerton already has a very low ouput impedance so the buffer jack isn't needed. (I think I remember that it sounded worse when I listened to it on the Leckerton, so I forgot about it eventually.) I will have to try it with the Ragnarok.

I still think that Rag XLR -> UERM would sound better than Rag SE -> buffer jack -> UERM. The balanced sounds so much better with my HD800/HD600. Also on low (or even mid) gain there should be plently of room for volume control.

 

Completely agree; the balanced out of the Ragnarok is better then the SE. I'm planning to order the balanced UE cable + an adapter setup but haven't got around to it yet simply because the SE out + buffer jack sounds really good to me. Might be one of those things where you don't know what you are missing until you hear it.

I use medium gain for everything with Ragnarok as I find that the attack/decay characteristics of the amp are best there. High gain is a bit too aggressive, low gain a bit too soft.

 

My Galaxy S4 variant is the SCH-i545 (USA/Verizon)... which, I'm fairly certain, has a different audio chipset than the international S4 (like yours).. and a greater OI.

Leck to the UERM is badass.. I've had that amp a few times and still love it. It's an SBAF fav, of course.

 

You can use a freight forwarder (not sure if UE would ship to a freight forwarder's address though). Shipping on a pair of UERR's within the States is free for Next Day Air saver, then you just have to pay the forwarding price from there.

 

This is only for the limited edition osmium case version.


Anyone had a chance to listen to sine-wave-y type stuff to see how high up the uerr extends vs their hearing?

If anyone who can hear past 16k can hear the uerr to at least 16k I'd be interested!