Unique Melody Maven Pro Review

Unique Melody Maven Pro

Sound – Vs UM series

 

The two monitors I’ll be comparing the Maven Pro to in this section are the MEST MKII and the MEXT, two of UM’s latest monitors. I also have the new Mentor Multiverse here, but that comparison wouldn’t be fair. Expect the Multiverse review soon. For this comparison I used the SP3000, streaming from Tidal. All monitors are connected using UM’s balanced 4.4mm cable.

UM MEST MKII

The MEST MKII still is one of my favorite monitors and it’s the one you can find on my nightstand, together with the SP3000. It was launched around June 2021 and the selling price was $1,799 USD.

Full review here:

The MEST MKII doesn’t use titanium, but carbon fibre which UM calls the Dreamweaver fibre shell. In theory it’s not as durable as the Maven Pro’s Titanium, but it does mean it’s a whole lot light than the Maven Pro (of which the weight doesn’t bother me at all). Both units come with the proprietary UM2 cable nowadays.

The MEST MKII is an overal fuller sounding monitor with more (mid) bass presence and an overall higher technical performance. It’s deeper, better layered, more spacious, more refined, etc. The sound stage here is also wider and you get a softer delivery. Of course, the MEST MKII uses bone conduction and Dynamic Drivers in its configuration, and that’s an experience the Maven Pro doesn’t have to offer. As a result, the MEST MKII is a vented design, where the Maven pro is fully “closed”. The vocal tuning is similar but it’s softer with a warmer feel to it on the Maven Pro. MEST MKII’s vocals are more refined and detailed but a bit more aggressive . The Maven Pro is the faster- and most clear sounding monitor of both. The sub bass activity of the Maven Pro is more present than in the MEST MKII.

Unique Melody Maven Pro

UM MEXT

The MEXT is a more recent UM product. It was launched early last year and it’s going for about $1,399 USD. I must admit that the MEXT doesn’t get a lot of play time when I’m not reviewing.

Full MEXT review here:

The MEXT also has a different driver configuration (6), and it mixes up OBC (bone conduction), Dynamic and Balanced Armature drivers. The config here is: 10mm dynamic driver with 4 balanced armatures, and a 4-way crossover. Size wise the MEXT is quite a bit bigger than the Maven Pro. I am using the UM2 cable with the MEXT as well (as my UM1 cable connector broke). The MEXT has a regular acrylic shell, and you feel that difference right away, it’s just softer, and comfier to your ears.

Here we again have a very different sound signature, which is normal as the Dynamic bass is so typical. The DD are somewhat slower and that’s very noticeable. Like with the MEST MKII, the sub bass presence is stronger in the Maven Pro, but the upper bass and mid bass are stronger in the MEXT (and MEST MKII), giving them a fuller and warmer signature. The Maven Pro sounds livelier and more energetic, where the MEXT has a softer and warmer presentation, vocals included. Maven Pro’s vocals are more forward positioned as well. I do feel the extension of the MEXT is better, while the sound stage is similar.

Unique Melody Maven Pro

Sources

With its 112dB sensitivity and 30Ω impedance, the Maven Pro on paper isn’t the hardest to drive. 

With the Cayin N7, the Maven Pro sounds clean, fast, and very energetic. The vocal, upper mids and higher treble section really shine here. Bass body and overall weight are on the lighter side here, but they are clear, precise, and lively. It’s quality over quantity here. The combo is good if you like dynamics, speed, and energy. It’s a balanced signature. If you like body, bass impact and a warmer or more lush sound, this combo probably isn’t the best for you.  

With the AK SP3000 the Maven Pro, you lose a bit of the balance, and you get more weight at the bottom and extension/energy on top. So, with the SP3000 you get more bass presence, and bass reaches down lower to sub levels. The mids section doesn’t share the bodily presence with the Cayin N7, and here it’s lighter. The vocal presentation of course still is more forward but not as much as with the Cayin NT, it blends in better. The top frequencies here carry more energy, and they extend even further. While treble here is never harsh or sharp, I can see why it would be too much for some of you. For me the SP3K and Maven Pro combo is more V-shaped, but I still like it.  

Straight from my laptop, the Maven Pro doesn’t sound as clean as with the high-end DAPs we used in this review. The bass and treble presentation is more like that on the SP3000, but the bass isn’t as controlled. The overall note extension and detail retrieval from the laptop is less pronounced and the liveliness is at a lower level. The Maven Pro still sounds musical and engaging, but the laptop is clearly holding the performance back. While the Maven Pro is easy to drive, I do recommend using a good, audiophile source with it. 

Unique Melody Maven Pro

Conclusion

The Unique Melody Maven Pro is unique. Not only because of the different driver configuration compared to UM’s other models, but also because of the use of Titanium for strength and tuning.

The Maven Pro is an energetic, highly dynamic, lively, and musical monitor focusing on impact and presence rather than pure technical excellence. That said, the balance between fun and precision sits just right, and that’s always a positive in my book.

I personally do feel the custom version’s price is a bit too elevated. The universal version’s price/quality experience probably is a lot better, though I have not had the pleasure yet to listen to the UIEM.

The next UM monitor we’ll be reviewing is the super high-end (and expensive) Mentor Multiverse. I can share already that it’s one of the best monitors in my collection, so keep your eyes out for that review.

 

Pro’s

  • Engaging & Lively
  • Dynamic
  • Vocal forwardness
  • Titanium strength

Cons

  • Special bass presentation focused on lower bass
  • Lighter in body, spotlight on vocals and upper treble
  • Technical level (sound stage, precision, extension)

 

Page 1: Intro, Unique Melody, Maven Pro, Specifications, Material & Building

Page 2: Build quality, Comfort & Isolation, Design & Personalization, Cable, Price & Accessories, Sound intro, Sound general, Sound classics

Page 3: Comparisons, Sources, Conclusion 

4.4/5 - (156 votes)
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Lieven is living in Europe and he's the leader of the gang. He's running Headfonia as a side project next to his full time day job in Digital Marketing & Consultancy. He's a big fan of tube amps and custom inear monitors and has published hundreds of product reviews over the years.

1 Comment

  • Reply April 11, 2023

    Kevin Lee

    Today we review the Unique Melody Maven Pro IEM which is selling for $1.799 USD in custom version and 2.999 USD in universal version.

    The price ?

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