Unique Melody MEXT Review

Unique Melody MEXT

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Sound – Vs MEST series

This part on sound was done with the EarMen Tradutto/CH-AMP/PSU-3 setup, all in balanced mode.

The Unique Melody MEST MKI is a custom version and we reviewed it 2 years ago. It’s not available anymore as far as I know, but I am sure they can still be found.

The original MEST is an 8-driver hybrid IEM with a 5-way crossover. It combines Balanced Armature drivers with a Dynamic Driver, but also with EST and Bone Conduction drivers. The full driver configuration is as follows: 1 dynamic driver for the lows, 2 Balanced Armatures for the high mids, 2 BA for the highs, 2 Electrostat drivers for the ultra highs and the bone conduction driver. Compared to this version, the new MEXT uses the new OBC driver, and it is placed closer to the “ear bone”.

Sound-wise the MEST MKI has the more balanced, audiophile, neutral presentation. It sounds a lot cleaner and lighter from top to bottom. The MEXT is more engaging, full and just more “fun”. MEXT has a stronger bass presence as well as warmth and mid smoothness. This can’t be said of the MKI at all. The bone conduction is more present in the MEXT design, but that is a positive point for me.

Sound stage wise, the MEST MKI is more extended on the top side. In depth and layering the MEXT is stronger, however. MEST MKI’s top end is clearer, but lighter and sharper, especially compared to the soft, rounded treble on the MEXT. If you like your treble soft, you will prefer the MEXT. IF you like the typical EST energy and extension, the MEST MK8 will be the one for you?

After the MEST MKI, we reviewed UM’s Mini MEST. It is a universal IEM and it is still available for around $600 USD. The Mini MEST features a 4-driver configuration: 1 Bass + 1 Mid + 1 Treble + 1 Bone Conduction driver. The Mini MEST is quite big smaller in size.

The overall clarity and energy levels of the Mini MEST are impressive, even without the EST drivers its big brothers have. The downsides are that the experience and feel of the bone conduction driver is limited, especially compared to the (bigger) custom MESTS, where the faceplate and the contact area with the skin and bones is more important. The other downside is the Mini MEST picks up a slight bit of noise which is audible during silent passages and at very low volumes.

The Mini MEST is fuller sounding than the MKI but not as full as the MEXT, by far even. The Mini MEST is also a lot more focused on the upper mids and treble. They are more energetic, extended and even sharper. The extension is nice though. So the Mini MEST is lighter in body and it from top to bottom is more clean sounding, then the softer, warmer MEXT. MEXT is also rounder, thicker and warmer, where the Mini MEST is energetic, spicy and extended (especially on top). The Mini MEST does have excellent mid timbre. Both of these IEMs sound quite different.

After the Mini MEST, the MEST MKII arrived on our doorstep, and it easily is one of my all-time favorite monitors. The MEST MKII is still available and the price ranges between $1,499 USD and $1,799 USD depending if you go universal or custom.

The MEST MKII is a 4-way quadbrid inear monitor and it features a combo of Dynamic drivers, Balanced Armatures, Electrostat (EST) and dBC-S (Dual Side Bone Conduction) drivers. In total we have 7+1 drivers in the following combination: 1 Dynamic Bass Driver + 2 BA Mid Drivers+ 2 BA treble Drivers + 2 EST Ultra-High Drivers + 1 Full Range B2 Bone Conduction Driver.

The new MEXT uses the OBC bone conduction tech with its n52 magnet and vibrating steel layer. The MEST MKII sports UM’s dBC-s dual-sided Bone Conduction System. The position of the MEST MKII bone conduction is like that of the V1, sitting below the plate. Size-wise the MEXT is quite a bit bulkier than the MKII.

The MEST MKII is a monitor that many of you like and once you have heard it, it’s easy to understand why. The MKII to me is the most complete monitor of the MEST series. It has a good amount of body, but not too much (less than MEXT) and has the extension, timbre and smoothness of the MEXT. The MEST MKII takes the best of the MEXT and Mini MEST/MEST MKI and this way it becomes a technically strong, musical, smooth IEM, with exciting bone conduction, sweet mids, energetic vocals, and a sparkling top end. You could also say that the MEXT is a baby MEST MKII. The MEXT will please you, but if you can stretch your budget just a little more, I recommend going for the MKII.

Conclusion

Reviewing Unique Melody monitors is something I love to do and the MEXT certainly did not disappoint me.

The UM MEXT is a really nice IEM with a more fun approach, but it also has a good technical level. MEXT is always full bodied from top to bottom and the bass plays an important role in MEXT’s tuning.

The overall presentation is smooth and to the warmer side, and the top region is more rounded and softer. The MEXT will never sound offensive, but it always is musical, dynamic, and engaging. The dynamics, depth and layering are exception and the bone conduction with the new OBC is simply incredible.

The MEXT is a good all-rounder with a nice mix of technicalities and musical enjoyment. It doesn’t play at the technical level of the MEST series, but it will probably please the general crowd more. If you like the way we described the MESXT’s sound, you will absolutely love it. If, however, you prefer a more neutral, balanced and even better technically performing IEM, the MEST MKII is still the one to go for.

What I would love to see next from Unique Melody is a MEST MKIII, featuring the new OBC driver from the MEXT. Now that should be close to perfection.

4.3/5 - (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.

2 Comments

  • Reply July 5, 2022

    Steven

    The treble on my MEXT is too brash sounding. And that is with a $1K cable and the Shanling M8.

  • Reply July 20, 2022

    Headfonia

    testcomment voor Lieven.

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