Amazing customer service. Amazing sounding in ear monitor. Worth the wait.
When I first got my MEST, I was really excited. Then I noticed the 2.5 mm plug didn't fit anything I had, including adapters. I ordered a 2.5 to 4.4 adapter as suggested but the 4.4 didn't fit anything, either. So I finally ordered a 2.5 to 3.5 and that worked. This is partially my error, of course, because I did not know there were so many size options for the plug. But this could have been made clear by the website and it wasn't.
The first time I tried the MEST, I was unimpressed. They were OK, but not great. But the longer I wore them, the more my hearing adapted and like a light going on, they became incredible. The sounds were rich and clear and I had little trouble understanding language (I wear hearing aids because of failing hearing). I became very impressed. So my advice is to give them a couple of days and you will notice how good the sound is!
The ear molds are large and totally fill the ear. I cannot hear anything outside of the MEST when they are inserted. This is good because no distracting ambient sounds can take away from the full experience. MUCH better than "over the ear" headphones!
Having worn hearing aids for more than 15 years, I was very disappointed to see that the MEST does not have cleaning options like my hearing aids. Wax build up in the ears can plug the holes and there is no easy way to clean them. I would suggest that this would be a major improvement for future development for two reasons: 1) wax build up can block and affect the sound received and 2) without cleaning, moisture build up can destroy inside components. Inside the ear moisture is salty and detrimental to electronics - I know from hearing aid experience.
One of the wires becomes detached from the ear mold frequently. It has a 2-prong plug and I can easily reconnect it, but this is not something that should happen. The prongs can go in either direction and it took a while to determine exactly how the mold should be oriented.
I do not like that these are made in China. I would much prefer to not buy anything from China but that is my personal preference.
It took 8 weeks from my order until the MEST arrived. That is a long time and part of that is because they were made in China and shipping was slow.
Overall, I can't rate these really high even though the sound is remarkable. Sound is a 5 star but all the other factors listed above is why I dropped it to a 3. There is much room for improvement in the design and buying experience.
I normally only like open back headphones.. but today that has changed… one word about the Valhalla, super..
Personally, considering the driver configuration and the product's release timing, I had a preconceived notion that this product would be a replica of Canpur 752B, so I had no intention of purchasing this product. However, the evaluations of people who purchased and experienced this product made me think that my guess might be wrong. In conclusion, this product is the IEM that I currently use most frequently on a daily basis. As a bonus, you can get great design elements that other IEMs cannot match and a perfect fit. Thank you to Musicteck for opening the opportunity to purchase such a great product identical to this new one.
Set is absolutely gorgeous and it’s brighter tuning compliment very well already acquired Multiverse Mentor. Thanks to MusicTeck for handling both orders.
Highly recommended.
I am writing this feedback to express my absolute delight with the MASS-KOBO Model 475. After spending quality time with this amplifier, it has completely blown my expectations away and proven to be a phenomenal investment.
As an audiophile who deeply loves the organic, majestic, and rich sound of legendary analog reel-to-reel systems—specifically the iconic Telefunken M10 tube tape machine—I never imagined a battery-powered solid-state amp could evoke that same emotional response.
The Model 475 behaves less like a modern portable device and more like a high-end tube masterpiece. The pure Class A topology delivers a phenomenally holographic and spacious presentation. The midrange possesses that exact "fleshy," liquid, and soul-stirring warmth reminiscent of the classic Telefunken tube sound. It wraps around vocals and acoustic instruments like cello, violin, and piano with an effortless, lifelike weight, while the background remains pitch-black and dead silent. The current delivery and control over transducers are nothing short of masterful.
The MASS-KOBO Model 475 has genuinely elevated my portable listening experience to an elite level. For anyone seeking true desktop-grade fidelity on the go without sacrificing that magical, analog musicality, this amplifier is a masterpiece. 10/10!
So, I’m going to start this review with a fundamental disclaimer. I am 67 years young, and was privileged to live through the golden years of our hobby. Names like Saul Marantz, Avery Fisher, John Dahlquist, and James B. Lansing were not corporate abbreviations, they were the foundational cornerstones of hi-fi.
Over the years, I have worked in some of my locale’s last high-end brick and mortar stores.
That being said, I am not one to use flowery language that continually falls back on the false topics of “soundstage, imaging, width, depth, height, blah, blah, blah. Most of us listen to multi-track recordings that have none of the above listed attributes included in the recording, producing, or mastering processes.
Okay, so what about the Palavox? Simply put, the Palavox are complete game changers.
They’re incredibly comfortable. The included cable is supple and doesn’t tug on my ears. This transducer is as close to having a pair of Dahlquist DQ-10s strapped to the side of my head and ears as I’ve ever experienced!
By the way, Andrew and his staff at MusicTeck have made the lack of a physical store to visit almost meaningless. It is always such a pleasure to interact with him.
Very highly recommended!!!
