Short answer: the Ultimate Ears UE7, though neither ranks well in its class. It ranks #1086 of 1291 in-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 2.6/5, at $999; the Audio-Technica ATH-IEX1 ranks #1106, rated 2.4/5, and costs $1,200, so there is little reason to consider the other one. 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.
What the Ultimate Ears UE7 does well: Its tonal tilt of -0.21 sits close to the target, so the overall balance is neither dark nor bright. The tradeoff: A Harman score of 56 places it in the lower part of the in-ear rankings.
What the Audio-Technica ATH-IEX1 does well: A hybrid design pairing two dynamic drivers with two balanced armatures, and its 102 dB/mW sensitivity makes it easy to drive from a phone. The catch: A preference score of 54 in crinacle’s measurement places its tuning far from what most listeners prefer, a weak result for a flagship in ear.
Buy the Ultimate Ears UE7. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Audio-Technica ATH-IEX1 and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Headphones rankings.
Its tonal tilt of -0.21 sits close to the target, so the overall balance is neither dark nor bright.
Ultimate Ears $999.00 eBay
A hybrid design pairing two dynamic drivers with two balanced armatures, and its 102 dB/mW sensitivity makes it easy to drive from a phone.
B&H Photo Video $1,200.00 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.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
Specifications Side By Side
| Ultimate Ears UE7 | Audio-Technica ATH-IEX1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $999.00 | $1,200.00 |
| Ranked | #1086 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones | #1106 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Balanced armature | Hybrid (2 dynamic + 2 balanced armature) |
| Drivers | 3 x balanced armature | 1 x 9.8mm dynamic + 1 x 8.8mm dynamic + 2 x balanced armature |
| Impedance | 17.5 ohms | 5 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 124 dB/mW | 102 dB/mW |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 22kHz | 5Hz - 50kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 56 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) | 54 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 3.46 dB standard deviation | 3.30 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.21 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.55 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Back | - | Closed |
| Built-in Microphone | - | No |
Related Headphone Comparisons
How Ultimate Ears UE7 compares with other leading options: