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.
Sound is very solid and clear. High freq range is little pronounced but not as much as it would bother. The unit itself is absolutely gorgeous. It almost looks like crystal. For the price, this monster is a bargain!
And the customer service from MusicTeck is a 5 star too. Andrew helped me from ordering to receiving the unit.
Love the unit, love the seller, 5 star all-the-way!
At its current discounted price the Mest MkII seriously can't be beat!
Nothing at around the kilobuck mark even comes close to providing the combination of quality stock cable & accessories, crazy imaging/soundstage, build quality, compact size (relative to the other TOTLs), and addictive sound that the Mest MkII does - 10/10
However, tip-rolling is an absolute must
I purchased the Navigator from Musicteck after Chang from Nightjar recommended it in advance of CanJam NYC 24. I have experience with USB DAC/Amp dongles from Cayin, Lotoo, and L & P and have owned a number of DAPs from Sony, Cayin, and iBasso. I record and produce music and have a healthy curiosity for HIFI gear so acquiring a Navigator was an easy choice.
After a week with it connected to my MBP, running Audirvana and driving the the SIngularity and Mezzo LE IEMs, I expect to keep it around for a while. Aesthetically it is a simple, sturdy device with a cool look. There is no display. There is no way to know where you are at with respect to volume throw and no indicator to display the current sample rate. What you get (and pay for) is a rather large audio presentation with weight, strong lower frequency presence, and smooth treble reproduction. It resolves nicely and the stage is wide enough, but this is not a device for analytical listening. The Navigator is tuned to sound big and fun and it appears to have power in reserve to drive most IEMs without compromise. It is well matched to most of my music collection, benefitting rock music from the 70's and 80's. It might not be my first choice for techno or electronic dub if using a warm of neutral tuned IEM, but I don't mind a slightly dark and heavy presentation and that's what I got pairing the Singularity with Navigator... and I found myself listening for hours.
An easy recommendation and one of the most enjoyable sounding USB DAC/Amp dongles I have owned yet.
An amazing IEM that looks and feels premium in execution.
A tad sibilant for my ears but with amazing bass and mids. A sparkly treat with gorgeous vocal capabilities and wide soundstage