Short answer: the Nightjar Singularity, though neither ranks well in its class. It ranks #1146 of 1291 in-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 2.1/5, at $1,675; the Ultimate Ears Live ranks #1220, rated 1.4/5, and costs $2,299, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 1291 in-ear headphones, and the ThieAudio Monarch MKIII, ranked #1 at $999, is a better place to start if sound quality matters.
The Nightjar Singularity is the better-sounding option. About 5 dB more bass than the Harman target below 150 Hz, for listeners who want a fuller low end. Watch for: Treble about 3 dB below target from 3 to 10 kHz, which can sound dull or veiled next to brighter headphones.
What the Ultimate Ears Live does well: It uses 1 x 6mm dynamic + 6 x balanced armature + 1 x True Tone Plus with an easy 10 ohm load. Watch for: Its 4.40 dB spread from the target means a noticeably uneven response.
Buy the Nightjar Singularity. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Ultimate Ears Live and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Headphones rankings.
About 5 dB more bass than the Harman target below 150 Hz, for listeners who want a fuller low end.
Nightjar Acoustics $1,675 eBay
It uses 1 x 6mm dynamic + 6 x balanced armature + 1 x True Tone Plus with an easy 10 ohm load.
Ultimate Ears $2,299.00 eBayPrices on this page were last checked October 16, 2026 at 5:46 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Nightjar Singularity | Ultimate Ears Live | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,675 | $2,299.00 |
| Ranked | #1146 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones | #1220 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Back | Closed | - |
| Harman Preference Score | 51 (median of 10 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) | 42 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 3.31 dB standard deviation | 4.40 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -1.72 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -1.14 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+5.6 dB at 30 Hz) | - |
| Connection | Wired (3.5mm / 4.4mm) | Wired |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Hybrid |
| Drivers | 1 Dynamic (10mm bespoke) | 1 x 6mm dynamic + 6 x balanced armature + 1 x True Tone Plus |
| Impedance | - | 10 ohms |
| Sensitivity | - | 105 dB/mW |
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