Short answer: the Shure SE535, though neither ranks well in its class. It ranks #1107 of 1291 in-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 2.4/5, at $499; the Ultimate Ears UE5 ranks #1150, rated 2.1/5, and costs $549, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 1291 in-ear headphones, and the Truthear Nova, ranked #2 at $169.99, is a better place to start if sound quality matters.
The case for the Shure SE535: Its very high 119 dB/mW sensitivity means it gets loud from any phone or laptop with little effort. The catch: In oratory1990’s measurement presence runs about 8.6 dB low and air about 8 dB low, with a 12.6 dB dip near 11.7 kHz, so detail and sparkle are subdued and the sound turns dark.
Why pick the Ultimate Ears UE5: Its tonal tilt of -0.65 sits close to the target, so the overall balance is neither dark nor bright. The tradeoff: A Harman score of 50 places it in the lower part of the in-ear rankings.
Buy the Shure SE535. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Ultimate Ears UE5 and costs less, which makes it the one to get unless you need something the other one does better.
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Its very high 119 dB/mW sensitivity means it gets loud from any phone or laptop with little effort.
B&H Photo Video $499.00 eBay
Its tonal tilt of -0.65 sits close to the target, so the overall balance is neither dark nor bright.
Ultimate Ears $549.00 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
| Shure SE535 | Ultimate Ears UE5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $499.00 | $549.00 |
| Ranked | #1107 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones | #1150 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Back | Closed | - |
| Harman Preference Score | 54 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 50 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 3.86 dB standard deviation | 3.85 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.02 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.65 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 60 Hz (-8.4 dB at 30 Hz) | - |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Balanced armature | Balanced armature |
| Drivers | 3 x balanced armature (2 woofers + 1 tweeter) | 2 x balanced armature |
| Impedance | 36 ohms | 21 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 119 dB SPL/mW | 119 dB/mW |
| Frequency Response | 18Hz - 19kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 5Hz - 22kHz |
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