It’s very difficult to describe such a personal experience using IEM, The reasoning fit is critical.
First these are pretty large IEM so be prepared to tip roll I found the the stock tips acceptable and found the fit very good and had no problem listening for long sessions without discomfort.
Starting from the bass 30hz to 300Hz is near perfect the sub bass is clean and when it calls for punch it delivers.
From 100-300Hz again very clean nice cross over’s definitely providing good details and dynamics, it is a little recessed but not by much.
Moving up to what I call the sweet spot 500-5k this is where mixes shine, so how does it perform definitely has the details no honk, and does a very good with dynamics.
Now to the air and overtones 8k and above, this is where it’s a bit challenging it’s not bad but in my opinion a little disappointing it feels like they held back the tuning a tad to avoid sibilance. Again I want to emphasize it isn’t bad, but it could’ve taken the IEM to the next level.
In the end the set is extremely enjoyable to listen to especially if you enjoy bass.
If you’re one of the rare few that’ll catch the sale it’s definitely worth the value.
UM MEXT
Barring fit issues (the shells are somewhat on the large side), MEXT presents a warm sound with healthy amounts of mid & sub-bass, perfect for your commute. Though not as technically proficient as its MEST brethren, the MEXT instead offers a fun tuning vs the drier sound signatures of the MEST MKI & MKII. MEXT was never meant to compete technically with the MEST series, but was developed as a more ‘fun’ alternative and to showcase the bone conduction driver. MEXT offers a bolder bass. Where the MEST series offers a more sub-bass oriented bass with deeper reach, MEXT has more mid-bass and offers an overall warmer & smoother sound with smoother treble for a fatigue free listen. Outside of the aggressively preformed earloops the PWA cable feels well made with solid hardware.
This review is not technical in nature or very detailed. I will be posting a more detailed review on Head-Fi within the coming week. This review and the one I will be posting on Head-Fi took longer as my experience with the UM MEXT took a dramatic turn after changing from narrow bore to wide bore eartips.
TLDR; The UM MEXT are wonderful. The sound is full, like Floor-standing speaker, full size cans full. Not muddy, or congested. Not shouty or sibilant. Not for bass-heads, or treble-heads, but everyone who wants to truly experience the full spectrum of their music in a whole being kind of way.
PROS: Everything.
CONS: The shells are large. I thankfully have never had to worry about the size of most IEMs and can comfortably wear ones that are deemed too big for others. With the MEXT however, they push against the top of my ears, especially on the left side and so I find them uncomfortable after a couple of hours of listening, which is a shame, as their sound profile is not fatiguing in any way and I could listen for unlimited hours of sonic pleasure.
I've often said that there is a difference between hearing a thing and experiencing it. Between being aware of a thing and feeling it; knowing it deep inside you.
The UM MEXT is not the most technical, revealing, airy, pinpoint-accurate sounding IEM I have ever experienced. The Mext has been described by some as smooth, soft, and warm. I cannot disagree with these observations. Some have stated that the Mext is bass heavy, or bass forward. Again I can see where some might describe them as that.
For me, the UM MEXT is like a gorgeous bottle of red wine, that after having been allowed to breathe, presents it's tannins in a softer, rounder way. Much like the supple mouthfeel and silky smooth body of the wine, the Mext feels full, dense, and chewy, but never muddy or bloated.
The MEXT encourages me not to simply hear or 'taste' the music, but rather go beyond the awareness of what they are presenting, to the feeling; the emotional connection with the music. The MEXT creates an experience.
BASS
The UM MEXT has substantial bass. Its low end is quite noticeable but in a cohesive and unified way. The bass never feels as if it is its own character on stage, but rather an integral part of the whole. It feels large and encompassing, yet never overwhelming, or 'bassy'. Some IEMs present bass in a way that sounds as if the bass is separate, like a subwoofer in the corner. The MEXT however, sound as if they are large floor-standing speakers presenting a wall of sound that envelopes the listener.
MIDS
UM MEXT presents mids that are warm and full. To me, they don't feel recessed all that much, but I wouldn't describe them as forward necessarily. This to me showcases the brilliance of the tuning with the MEXT, as I don't feel that any frequency stands out as being a solo artist in the mix, but rather a vital contributing member of a team that's primary goal is accurately present the music in an engaging and emotional way. I have heard some reviews state that these excel at male vocals and would not be recommended for female vocals. I disagree. I found that female vocals appear silky and full-bodied, rather than thin as some IEMs can present.
HIGHS
Here is where the UM MEXT show their dependency on eartips.
I'll be honest; when I first started my listening after a burn-in of 100+ hours I had a very distinct impression; soft, smooth, and almost veiled in the mid-upper region. Turns out all the tips I was using were medium/narrow bore. The blue core UM tips are a wide bore. With the wide bore and short core tips, the audio opened up in the upper mid and highs to such an extent that I had to throw away my opinions, relisten to all my tracks to make sure I wasn't imagining things and was very pleasantly surprised.
I wouldn't call the highs on the MEXT sparkly or shimmering. I wouldn't describe the MEXT as overly revealing. I also wouldn't describe them as sharp, sibilant, piercing, or fatiguing. The highs don't lack clarity, they also don't dominate the mix, they simply shine in a way that is both engaging and relaxed. I could listen to these for hours and never feel like I am being shouted at. Strings, horns, wind instruments, and hi-hats all appear clear, bright, alive, and at the same time smooth, silky, refined, and altogether pleasant. I am very picky about my highs, demanding that my sound be crisp, open, dynamic, and exciting. The MEXT meets all those requirements with ease.
My primary DAP is the HiBy R6 2020 and the MEXT sounds wonderful through this source. My experience buying from MusicTeck has been the best experience I have ever had from any audio company I have ever dealt with and I cannot recommend them enough.
Super product, good promotion.
First things first. Thank you Andrew and Grace for the awesome customer service, as always.
I previously tried the KR5 and very much enjoyed it, and based on that experience I stepped up to the XE6 and have no regrets.
I have waited a few months to post my thoughts because I found the XE6 was improving with age. I have 150ish hours on it now and it seems settled in.
The Atom modules are a pain to remove and install, only because of their tiny size. My experience was I cycled through them once over the first few days after I first received the IEM, and settled on the gold module to start.
As the XE6 aged I eventually changed to silver, then to black, and I’m pretty confident I’ll stay with this configuration now. Point being, most of us will find our preferred module and not have to mess with them further.
For an in ear, the XE6 bass is the closest I have experienced to sounding like true subwoofer bass. EE EVO has more mid bass impact, but XE6 has better deep down rumble.
Mids, vocals and highs are clear and detailed and synergize well with the bass presentation.
The stock cable is decent, not great. I have cable rolled a few different cables and find I have a preference for either PW Stormbreaker, or First Times with XE6.
From my perspective, there are three key criteria on which to judge a cable: tuning, technicalities and ergonomics. With respect to tuning, the First Times is perfect. I'd describe it as just a little bit warmer than neutral. It depends on what you're comparing it to, of course -- but in my case, using it on a Ragnar, it tames the treble; it adds just a bit of warmth to the mids; and it adds a bit more weight to the bass. There's no part of the spectrum that sounds wrong to me. From a technicalities perspective, it's solid, but there's certainly quite a meaningful gap between this cable and the First Times Shielding with respect to soundstage (not that the soundstage is bad by any stretch; it just doesn't compare to the FTS). I hear a little bit less detail as well. I'd also rank the Ode to Laura as also being a bit better than this cable for technicalities (but it has a very different and more colored tuning). Finally, for ergonomics, this is my favorite cable. It's not heavy or awkward, it doesn't tend to get tangled, the cable doesn't have a memory and remains pretty straight. Overall, the First Times Shielding is worth the premium if you want the utmost in technicalities, but putting that comparison aside, the First Times non-shielding is ideal as a high-quality, all-rounder, slightly warm (but relatively neutral) cable that's comfortable to wear.
For context, I also own a First Times and First Times Shielding. The Ode to Laura has exceptional technicalities (soundstage, detail, layering) -- perhaps better than the First Times non-shielded, in that regard (maybe not quite at the level of the First Times shielded? But not far off). But what really sets it apart is the texture and tuning.
This isn't a neutral cable. It does color the sound, but in a very pleasing way. It makes the bass very articulate and impactful (even better than the First Time Shielding). It makes the mids warmer, with a more analog feel. Slightly recessed, but not excessively so. It's got really great air on the top end, in a manner that makes the sound more open and alive, but without causing any harshness or excessive treble energy. It does all of this in a manner that's very coherent. I agree with everything in Tokparkolo's review on Head-Fi (which is a more extensive and articulate review than I'm capable of).
Overall, it adds warmth and musicality. It might not be ideal for a reference-tuned IEM like the Ragnar; it works, and works well, but overall, in that scenario, I'd prefer something that leans a little more neutral. I'd probably also lean more towards the First Times cables for genres that require more neutrality, regardless of IEM. But with a bassier IEM like the Odyssey, and for genres that benefit from the warmth (pop, EDM, hip-hop, trance, etc.) it really is something special and would be my top choice.
Andrew was a pleasure to work with, helping me find a dap that worked with my needs and met my budget. I am very happy with the Lotoo PAW 6000! It is quick and easy to use, and it sounds excellent. The build quality is top notch and it sounds much cleaner than my go blu I was using before and has a dead silent (black) background. The Eq is easy to use in my opinion and a lot of fun. The bluetooth has worked great for me the odd time I want to stream so no complaints there either. If you don't need streaming capabilities I think you would be hard pressed to find a better dap without paying 2 to 3 times the money. The paw 6000 is an easy 5 stars and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a standalone dap.
