FAudio Mezzo LE Review

Packaging & Accessories

The FAudio Mezzo LE comes in a rather large, premium rectangular box. The box is all black and on the top, you can see the Mezzo name in silver lettering surrounded by outline art of various instruments, also in silver color. On the side of the box, you can also see the “7th-anniversary Limited Edition” etchings. The design of the box and packaging feels very premium at first glance. The silver lettering around the box shimmers faintly against the black background.

As soon as we open the box, we are greeted by a note from the manufacturer in a letter enclosed in a black envelope. Underneath we see a compartment made of dense foam. This compartment consists of 2 foam layers in total. The first layer contains a sleek black card from FAudio and the in-ear monitors themselves. FAudio has thought about the packaging down to the last detail. They’ve placed a thin, coaster-like cardboard cover to hide the coiled cable of the monitors, which is a nice little detail.

On the second layer, we are welcomed by a very elegant leather booklet. Inside is a user guide to the Mezzo LE and a card detailing the custom tuning system. There is also a card that briefly explains the TBAC and TBT technologies. This layer contains not only the booklet but also the IEM’s round aluminum carrying case and a small box with other accessories.

The aluminum box comes in a matte black finish, matching the outer packaging of the product. On the top side of this round carrying case, the company’s logo and model name are printed in a stylish white font. The inside of the carrying case is suede, so your IEMs are safe from scratches during transportation. The inner volume is also spacious enough to comfortably hold 8-braid cables.

Earlier, I mentioned a small box containing the rest of the accessories. This good-looking box contains a warranty card with the serial number of the product, a cleaning cloth, a cable tie tool, a tuning switch tool, a small carrying pouch, and a small packet with 7 pairs of ear tips. All the accessories in this box have either the model name or the company name on them, so nothing is OEM.

In conclusion, we can easily say that FAudio has done an incredible job in packaging and accessories and has come up with a presentation worthy of a flagship product. I am very satisfied with their attention to detail and the material quality of the included accessories. Notice that I didn’t mention the most important accessory of the product, the cable. I believe it deserves a dedicated chapter.

Tone-Master Cable

At this point, we know that the Faudio Mezzo LE was inspired by the Stratocaster, and just as an electric guitar wouldn’t be without an amp, an in-ear monitor wouldn’t be without an equally great cable. So FAudio wanted to pair the Mezzo with a cable to match, and the Tone-Master cable was born. At first, I thought the name was a tribute to Fender’s Tone-Master amplifiers, but then I found out that Fender had such an interconnect cable.

The Tone-Master uses silver-plated UPOCC monocrystalline copper wires of various thicknesses and a pure-silver shield on the outer layer of each core for better electromagnetic shielding. The cable jacket is medical grade PVC, which offers a lighter and more flexible cable, even for a thick, 23-AWG 4-braid cable.

FAudio notes that they use high-quality solder for all wires, including the wires inside Mezzo LE, to eliminate conduction bottlenecks. Additionally, the Tone-Master uses a compact, five-pole balanced 4.4mm plug with the Tone-Master name on it. This plug feels really sturdy and although it is made of machined aluminum, it is surprisingly light. The Y-splitter and the housing of 2-pin connectors are also machined aluminum and feel just as durable.

Tone-Master’s color theme is designed to match the Mezzo LE. The black and green cable jacket perfectly complements the IEMs and looks aesthetically pleasing. The cable’s plug, y-splitter, and 2-pin connectors have a black finish and do not break the color uniformity.

Design, Build & Fit

Mezzo LE not only has a design that will impress you the first time you see it, but it also comes in a color combination that has not been used by manufacturers before. The shell, which houses various technologies inside, is not very compact, however, FAudio states that they worked day and night optimizing the sound and ergonomics. Even the color combination of the product, which resembles a certain energy drink, is a reference to the sleepless days they’ve spent working on the Mezzo LE.

Mezzo LE’s faceplates have a black and green brushstroke pattern and look very stylish. The paint they used has tiny glitters and they shimmer faintly under direct light. It is also worth noting that the shell is completely opaque, so there is no light transmission. The nozzles of Mezzo LE are made of aluminum and there are metal mesh filters inside. The nozzles of the Mezzo LE are wide and it is easy to find fitting aftermarket tips. JVC’s Spiral Dots fit well, and so do wide SpinFits.

When I look carefully inside the filter, I see a 3-way bore design, which is quite nice. The junction points connecting the filter to the acrylic shell are very clean. Along with this particular detail, another point where I find the craftsmanship very impressive is that the section where the tuning switch is located is incredibly clean.

After having the chance to experience many IEMs with tuning switches, I noticed that this is a problematic area in custom acrylic shells. I was happy to see FAudio’s attention to detail and remarkably good workmanship.

As for ergonomics, fit and isolation, of course, it would be unreasonable to expect custom in-ear monitor isolation, but the Mezzo LE is the most eartips-dependant of the flagships I experienced. It probably has something to do with the physical and acoustic properties of the piezo driver, but different tips with various bore widths considerably alter the sound signature for the good or bad, depending on the tips. The white tips that come with the Mezzo LE increase the amount of bass, while the gray and foam tips result in a more spacious presentation.

Based on my experience, I got the most satisfactory results with tips that minimize the distance from the earphone to your eardrum, which is why I decided on after-market double-flange tips. Anyhow, I believe the crowning touch to look for here is the bore width.

Other than that, the Mezzo LE is an ergonomically shaped earphone and was very comfortable for me during my time with it, no matter which tips I used it with. I’ve had days where I’ve used them for quite long and even unhealthy periods, like nine hours, and I didn’t feel any discomfort, itching, or stinging sensation. It’s also surprising that it’s one of the most comfortable in-ear monitors I’ve used, despite having a relatively large chassis.

Overall, I am very impressed with the Mezzo LE’s design and build quality. FAudio’s meticulous craftsmanship deserves praise. Well done!

 

The review continues on the next page. Click here or use the jump below.

Page 1: FAudio, Mezzo Limited Edition

Page 2: Packaging & Accessories, Tone-Master Cable, Design, Build & Fit

Page 3: Tuning Switches, Sound, Technical Capability, Source Selection, Comparison, Last Words

4.4/5 - (262 votes)
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Long time Tech Enthusiast, an ambitious petrol-head, Yagiz likes his gadgets and always finds new ways into the tinkerer's world. He tries to improve anything and everything he gets his hands onto. Loves an occasional shine on the rocks.

4 Comments

  • Reply November 1, 2022

    Samuel Williams

    Great read, thank you. I have a Monarch MK II and I plan to upgrade to this one.

  • Reply November 1, 2022

    Lincoln Asparagus

    Fantastic review thank you yagiz. I checked the Music teck website to purchase Mezzo but it is out of stock.

  • Reply November 14, 2022

    Jorge Costa

    How good is this set with prog rock, metal and alternative rock?

    • Reply December 22, 2022

      EM

      Fantastic, just listening to Procupine Tree (Athens 1995) and sound is like beeing live at the concert. I do not listen to metall so not able to judge on this.

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