[Music v2 Review] v1 vs v2 vs Suno v5.5 — 9-Song Head-to-Head Comparison

"Eleven Music v2 is here... but does it actually move the needle?"
We put identical lyrics and two specific genres into Eleven Music v1, v2, and Suno v5.5 under controlled conditions to see how they stack up side-by-side.

Hi everyone, welcome to the Sonetho. ⚡

In our last post, we broke down the new features of ElevenLabs' Music v2. Today, as promised, we're sharing the results of our head-to-head stress test. We ran the same lyrics, modes, and prompts through v1, v2, and the current industry benchmark for AI music generation, Suno v5.5.

To jump straight to the verdict: The evolution from v1 to v2 is a clear step forward, but there is still a noticeable gap compared to Suno v5.5.
Let’s dive into the tracks and break down exactly where they differ.

🧪 Test Setup

🔍 Observation Note: Eleven Music's 'Custom' mode has a mind of its own

Since we utilized Custom mode, we expected the track length to be dictated by the lyric count. However, every ElevenLabs Music track resulted in a consistent 3:30 duration.
Taking a closer look at the ElevenLabs project window, we realized the model was automatically repeating Verse 1 to pad the track length.

👍 The Pro: Even with sparse lyrics, you get a "song-ready" output. A single chorus is enough to generate a finished-sounding composition.

👎 The Con: "Custom" doesn't mean *fully manual control*. The model enforces a rigid song structure, which can lead to repetitive verses you didn't necessarily request.

🎸 Genre 1: Alternative Rock / Indie Rock

First up is rock. The way a model handles the interplay between drums, guitars, and bass is the ultimate benchmark.

① Eleven Music v1

The musicality feels unfinished. The noise floor is high, and the vocals sound more like a dry reading than a "rock performance."
Most distracting is the guitar riff, which suffers from digital artifacts that make it sound thin and fuzzy.
We used prompts like driving electric guitars and gritty melodic bass, but the output struggled to deliver that raw energy.

② Eleven Music v2

This is where things change. The instrumentation is far better balanced, and the vocals have a distinct rock edge. The background noise has been significantly suppressed.
It’s hard to believe these are from the same model family; the leap from v1 to v2 is substantial.
The "improved quality and better adherence to your prompt" mentioned in the release notes is no marketing fluff.

③ Suno v5.5

When you put it next to Suno, however, the gap is clear.
The vocal breath control, the dynamic range of the guitar, the punch of the drums—it sounds like a studio-ready demo.
To be straight with you, we have to call it as we see it: In this genre, Suno is still firmly in the lead.

🎹 Genre 2: Synthwave / Electro-pop

Next, we move to synth-based electronic. Vocal polish and the "depth" of the synth textures are the key comparison points here.

① Eleven Music v1

The synth sounds are quite flat. It aimed for an 80s retro electro-pop vibe but ended up sounding more like a basic digital keyboard.
The vocals sit on top of the mix rather than being integrated into it, so the mix balance still needs work.

② Eleven Music v2

The richness of the synth patches, the punch of the drum machine, and the vocal polish have all been elevated to a new level.
Compared to v1, this finally feels like a "song." The blend between the vocals and the synths is much more natural.

However, it still lacks that final bit of professional studio-grade polish.

③ Suno v5.5

Suno remains a step ahead. "Early draft" vs. "finished track" is a fair way to describe the difference between v2 and Suno in this test. Honestly, it’s a bit humbling to see the same conclusion across both genres—Suno is still outperforming us in this specific space.

This is a bonus section for our international readers. I wanted to take a track from my personal project, AIVE MUSIC, called "Chaotic Chaos"—originally created in Suno—and test it by inputting the original style prompts and lyrics into Eleven Music v1 and v2.
It’s the perfect benchmark to see how three different models handle the same complex prompt.

Style prompt used:
Hi-Fi, pristine audio, well-mixed, Indie pop band, warm acoustic funk, male and female vocal duet,
groove rhythm, relaxed mood. Alternating male and female lead vocals.
Harmonized male and female dual vocals in chorus, rich M/F vocal harmony, synchronized chorus,
gentle airy female vocal tone, smooth male vocal tone, conversational vocal interplay,
funky acoustic guitar, groovy bass, crisp drums. 

① Eleven Music v1

② Eleven Music v2

③ Suno (Original)

To be completely honest—the v1 and v2 versions aren't quite at release-ready polish yet in this test.
The complex structure, genre-blending, and specific vocal character of the original (Suno) didn't translate well.

This isn't just a critique of v2, but a testament to how difficult it is to recreate the intricate details of an existing track using a different AI model. There are levels of detail that simple genre prompts can't capture yet.

🎧 Check out the mastered versions & more AIVE MUSIC

The SoundCloud embeds above are raw outputs from Suno. The officially released versions are mastered, EQ-adjusted, and available on Spotify and Apple Music. Check them out here.

▶️ Listen to "Chaotic Chaos" on Spotify →

🎵 AIVE MUSIC Artist Page →

💿 Want to release your own AI music on Spotify & Apple Music?

I use DistroKid to distribute my AIVE MUSIC tracks to Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music. They are very friendly toward AI-generated content, and their flat-fee annual subscription allows for unlimited uploads—perfect for testing your demos.

▶️ Get 7% off DistroKid (My referral link) →

* By using this link, you get a 7% discount on your first year, and I receive a small commission that helps support Sonetho.
Thanks for your support! 🙏

📊 Summary — Our Honest Verdict

✅ v1 → v2: A Clear Leap Forward

Vocal tone, instrument matching, and noise reduction have all seen major improvements. The "improved quality and better adherence to your prompt" promise is backed by real, tangible results.

⚠️ vs Suno v5.5: The Gap Remains

Suno remains the king of standalone music generation. ElevenLabs Music needs a bit more time to close this gap. That’s the honest assessment from our team.

💡 ElevenLabs' True Superpower lies in the Ecosystem

From TTS, Voice Cloning, and SFX to Studio (for audiobooks) and now Music—having an integrated workflow where you can handle narration, sound effects, BGM, and vocals in one place is a value proposition Suno simply doesn't offer. For video creators, podcasters, and audiobook producers, this integration is often more valuable than raw musical quality. We’ll be showcasing these integrated workflows in future posts.

🎵 Done comparing all 9 tracks? Now it's your turn to create

Whichever model won you over, the only way to really know ElevenLabs Music v2 is to try it yourself. New sign-ups get 50% off their first month — run the same lyrics through it with your own hands.

Start ElevenLabs Music free — no credit card →

🔮 Next Up: Genre Switching vs. Suno

Music v2’s other headline feature—the ability to naturally transition between genres in a single track—is next on the chopping block.

We’ll be throwing a "Gothic Opera to Heavy Metal" challenge at both v2 and Suno v5.5 using the same lyrics to see who handles the "natural genre transition" task more smoothly. This was arguably the most exciting part of the v2 announcement, so stay tuned for the results.

See you in the next one! 🎬

📚 Recommended Reading

• ElevenLabs Music v2: What’s Actually New?

• Suno vs. Udio vs. ElevenMusic: 3 Years of AI Music (7 Tracks Released)

• Making Real Money with AI Music: A 5-Step Guide from Suno to DistroKid

• Why You Shouldn't Subscribe to ElevenMusic Just Yet

Give those tracks a listen and let us know your thoughts in the comments! Which model did you prefer? 🎵
Sonetho ⚡