Unique Melody MEXT Review

Design & Personalization

For those not familiar yet with UM’s personalisation options, the company has set up a clear overview of the options for the MEXT’s shell and faceplate. You can find that here.

Perso of course comes with a small price. The colors I have selected were 22 (Wine Red) and P1 (Pojo Coralito). I never had anything like this before, so I tried something different for a change and I quite like how it turned out.

Even though the above files don’t speak of face plate perso, I am sure UM can do them as they have done so before for me with the Mason/Maestro series.

Cable

The Unique Melody MEXT is comes delivered with UM’s Copper M1 custom cable manufactured by PW Audio. The M1 is a 26AWG gauge OFHC copper 4-wire cable, and plugs are available in 2.5mm, 3.5mm and 4.4mm. My version is the 4.4 one. With the MEST series, UM and PWAudio are using the M2 cable.

The M1 cable is nicely finished with UM logos on the 2-pin connectors, a UM M1 branded Y-splitter and a UM branded, qualitative 4.4 Pentaconn connector. The matte black finish is elegant and pretty. It’s not the most flexible cable on the market. It’s light enough in weight so it won’t pull down your earpieces continuously.

Cable-wise I never felt the need to upgrade. If you do insist on using a nice boutique cable with this IEM, I suggest using one with a good clarity and lower amount of body, as the MEXT has plenty of the latter already.

Price & Accessories

The price of the custom MEST starts at $1.399 USD and the universal version goes for $1.099 USD.

For this price you get the following:

– MEXT Inears

– UM/PWAudio Copper M1 Cable

– UM “ESP” Double Drawer Black Gift Box

– Dignis UM Leather case (blue)

– Warranty card

– Premium Cleaning Pad

– Eartips (UIEM version): AZLA SednaEarfit Xelastec SS/MS/M + Silicone S/M/L

– Storage Clip (Black)

It’s a complete package even though a cleaning tool would have been nice, especially if this your first set of higher end IEMs. I do love how their packaging says: Audiophile Choice.

Sound – Bone Conduction

Where I with the original MEST MKI still had to get used to the bone conduction experience, it now has become something familiar after having reviewed the Mini MEST and MEST MKII. The bone conduction feeling still is complicated to describe and it really is something you must experience yourself. You can really notice that there’s something vibrating and you feel it on your eardrum, but not in the same way you feel it when you’re standing in front of a big speaker pumping out bass at a way too high volume.

It’s a more intense and deep feeling, it’s not overpowering but it has just enough force to tingle your senses. It really gives an extra dimension to listening to music and it really offers something extra to the sound overall. As said earlier other brands have started adapting the same kind of technology. It’s not something UM is happy with, but it’s hard to stop this evolution.

Comparing the effect of the bone conduction of the universal version to the custom version is not something I can do for this specific model. But if I look at how the universal Mini MEST performs, I can only conclude that even though effect in a universal shell is alright, it is much more spectacular with the custom version. It’s only normal as the custom version is fully inside your ear and it’s perfectly touching your skin, where this isn’t the case for a universal IEM with silicon tips.

Sound – Intro

I have listened to the Unique Melody MEXT with a whole lot of sources as I recently have been doing a lot of USB Dongle reviews.

Think: AudioQuest DragonFly Cobalt, Luxury & Precision W2, EarMen Colibri, xDuoo Link2 Bal, Cayin RU6 and the EarMen Sparrow. I also used it with a multitude of DAPs such as the Fiio M17, Astell&Kern SP2000, AK SP2000T and Cayin N8ii. Desktop sources and amps were the Musician Audio Aquarius & Ferrum OOR (Hypsos) combo and the EarMen Tradutto & CH-AMP combo. I have used a balanced connection where available.

I have found the UM MEXT to work perfectly with all sources and amps, no matter the power output. After all, with a 16Ohm impedance and 108dB Sensitivity, the MEXT is an easy to drive monitor. I do recommend using a clean, more neutral source with the MEXT, to make sure it doesn’t become too full or warm.

Sound – General

The Unique Melody MEXT is not neutrally tuned, but it’s more to the warmer and softer side of the spectrum. It’s not overly smooth/warm either, but it combined with the full presence form top to bottom, makes it a very “easy on the ears” kind of IEM, with a soft presentation.

The MEXT is weighty and fuller in presence/body in bass, mids and treble. The bass presentation has a strong presence at all times, and it can’t be neglected. The treble section is easy on the ears with a smooth and soft presentation. It will never offend but it does carry enough energy to keep things engaging and exciting. This is also helped by the more energetic and slightly more forward upper mids and vocals. I find the MEXT to be a very musical, dynamic and engaging monitor. Easy on the ears but good enough in the technical department.

The level of precision, the detail retrieval and note extension/decay are good and completely on par with the market in this price range, but it is a level down from MEST series. The MEXT series sound lusher or more liquid as some like to call it. It’s more rounded where the MEXT is more precise in micro details.

Soundstage wise the MEXT performs well in both width and depth with nice lower end and mid layering. The MEXT has a good amount of air and it sounds spacious. You get a very good taste of the MEST richness with lovely mid timber and vibrations, especially in the mid section. The level of separation is also good in the MEXT but like for everything, the MEST is just that bit better in everything.

If you listen to the MEXT for the first time you will be seriously impressed. If you’re used to the MEST series already, you might find the MEXT to be a limited version of the MEST. That being said, this latest version of the OBC driver is impressive and I am sure UM will be using it in their upcoming bone conduction models.

Sound – Classics

As previously mentioned, the lower regions of the MEXT are impressive and always present. At the same time, they are not overly present, and they stay within the “normal” boundaries. Bass is weighty and comes delivered with a good punch and impact.

Bass reaches down low (subbass presence) and with the OBC driver it makes the bass rendering really special and impressive. Bass layering and detail also are good. Bass speed is not the very best on the market, but it is nice on the ear and musical. The bone conduction is the best UM has delivered so far, and it’s very impressive in the MEXT.

The upper mids and vocals have more presence than the lower mids, but they don’t feel lacking. The adder vocal and upper mid energy works really great with the bass presentation of the MEST. It’s not too forward but it delivers the contrast making it exciting. You don’t really get a U or V shaped presentations here. Mids overall are smoother and also to the warmer side, but they’re really pleasing to (and soft on) the ear.

The MEXT’s upper end is less energetic compared to MEST’s upper regions. The MEST uses the EST drivers, and that energy, liveliness, precision and extension is missing here somewhat. The MEXT is also lower down the product line, so that’s ok/normal. With the MEXT you get a rounder presentation, with less extension, energy, and air. At the same time, it perfectly matches with the typical bass and smooth mid timbre.

All-in-all the MEXT is a relaxed, dynamic, and musical earphone to listen to, with an excellent bass presentation and great vocals.

The part on sound continues on page three, just click here to go there.