Unique Melody The Multiverse Mentor Review

Price & Accessories

The Unique Melody Multiverse Mentor is a super high-end IEM, and pricing starts at $4,499 USD for the UIEM and $4,999 for the custom version. There are even more expensive units in UM’s lineup such as the Mason Fabled Sound, the FS Le Jardin or the Red Halo FE, so we can’t name this their flagship product. This is an IEM for the lucky few.

For that money you get a very complete package, and we wouldn’t accept anything less:

• 1 Multiverse Mentor IEM
• 1 Deep of universe custom cable with clip
• 1Case: UM “ESP” double drawer blue gift box
• 1 Carrying case: Dignis navy blue leather case
• 1 Warranty card
• 1 Premium bag
• 1 Grey cleaning cloth
• 1 Oval wire clamp (Vegan leather)
• Care Instructions
• UIEM: selection of silicone and silicone rubber tips

Sound – Intro 

I have been using the Unique Melody Multiverse Mentor as my main IEMs for months now. I have used it with many portable and desktop sources, but mostly on the go, directly from a DAP.

Unique Melody’s marketing department ha the following to say about the Multiverse Mentor:

“With its 4 hand trimmed BA bass drivers, the Multiverse Mentor has a more impactful bass than ever before. The dynamics and resolution of the Multiverse Mentor are greatly enhanced by the Piezoelectric bone conduction driver and frequency shift technology. The sound of the MM is cleaner, stronger, and more focused.”

Let’s find out if any of that is true!

Sound

I will kick the door in right away: the Unique Melody Multiverse Mentor is an incredibly good IEM. Of course, some will say that I feel this way because it’s expensive and new, but that’s being a bit short-sighted. If they had given this monitor a $1K price tag, I would feel the same about it.

I will even go a step further: this just might be the best custom IEM I have ever had the pleasure to listen to. The Multiverse Mentor is a top performer when it comes to technicalities, and it mixes that with a dynamic performance, a musical delivery, and an energetic presentation. The MM does everything perfectly and the technical level simply is incredible. The stereo imaging, left-right balance, 3-dimensionality, and positioning is impressive and spot on.  Detail wise, the MM impresses with the best possible resolution, precision, note extension and tonal decay. Soundstage wise the Multiverse mentor excels both in width as in depth, and it from top to bottom shows precise layering and separation.

Because of the spaciousness, airiness and realistic vocal presentation, everything sounds natural and realistic. Body wise, the MM is on the fuller side, with higher than neutral bass presence and impact, as well as lower mid body. The MM always sounds full and weighty, there’s no denying that, and I can see that if for some might be a little bit much for a high-end IEM. It however strongly depends on the source you’re listening to, as well on the type of music you’re listening to.

Bass is full and omnipresent, just as Unique Melody promises. It however is perfectly controlled and separated from the mids. If the music calls for deep, rumbling bass or extra body, the MM will deliver just that. It can do both quality as well as quantity, and it will always be controlled, precise and layered. The MM isn’t all about, or only about bass though. It’s a very complete and coherent IEM.

The lower mids share the same character in regard to body and presence, connecting them perfectly to the bass. The mids are spacious and airy with excellent separation, depth, and layering. The mids feel natural and realistic, and the mid timbre is simply impressive. I really like the note extension and decay here. The vocal presentation is not too forward, and it is blending in more, making it all natural and easy to listen to. The top end is extended, energetic and it shares the excellent spaciousness, precision and note decay of the mids. I really like the top end sparkle and energy. The MM does it effortlessly without ever sounding sharp or harsh. Again, the MM is perfectly in control.

Overall, I would describe the presentation as being slightly soft, with just a hint of warmth for the musicality. It’s a very coherent tuning with a compelling and addictive tuning. The Multiverse Mentor can do anything without any effort, and it will always sound easy and natural to the ear.

Last thing I want to mention here is about the bass and bone conduction. I really like the typical feel and presentation this gives the bass and if you go from the MM to a regular monitor, you will feel something is missing. I know that some people don’t like the bone conducing experience, but I personally enjoy it. However, I listened to the new Raven from Empire Ears last weekend at Canjam London, and there the bone conduction is a whole different experience. It didn’t leave me with the same pleasing feeling as with the Multiverse Mentor, so if you can do try out the MM or any monitor using bone conduction, it just might not be for you.

Sound – Vs Maven Pro

The source used for this comparison is the Astell & Kern SP3000 DAP, in balanced mode, streaming music from Tidal. To be honest I found it quite hard selecting any (C)IEMs for comparison, as I have none other in this price range.

Of course, I had to include the UM Maven Pro. It’s selling for $2,999USD and it features no less than 12 drivers on each side, with a 4-way crossover and a 4-tuning tunnel design. This setup was first used in the Mentor series.

The Maven Pro’s 12 drivers are the following: 4 Bass Drivers + 2 Mids Drivers + 4 Treble Drivers + 2 Ultra-High Drivers. 10 of these drivers are Balanced Armatures and the 2 remaining are Electrostatic (EST) drivers for ultra-high frequency extension. There is no bone conduction driver in this design.

The Maven Pro has a very different tuning, with lighter overall body, mid thickness, less bass impact/power and more vocal forwardness. It is a much lighter IEM to listen to. While it performs at a good technical level, the MM is a step up in all possible ways. Bass also feels differently because of the absence of bone conduction, so you get the more classical way of bass.

These are very differently tuned monitors, making them more complimentary than competitive. If you like an over lighter and cleaner presentation with a focus on vocals the Maven Pro will be your thing. If you prefer more body, bass impact and e=an ever higher technical performance, the MM will be more to your liking.

The article continues on the third page with more comparisons and source matching. Click here or use the buttons below.

Page 1: Unique Melody, Multiverse Mentor, Specifications, Design, Build quality, Comfort and Isolation, Cable

Page 2: Price & Accessories, Sound Intro, Sound, Comparison Pt. 1

Page 3: Comparison Pt. 2, Source Matching, Conclusion, Summary