Delivingfurther into the package, the included load-out of tips and cable is a nice touch. The Mk2 comes with Comply foam tips, some own-brand UM silicone tips in various sizes and a three-pack of Xelastec tips, made from sort of sticky translucent rubber. This is significant as apart from costing the best part of $30 for a pack (yes, $30), they are the after-market tips that were most commonly suggested on various internet forums for pairing with the original MEST. It definitely feels like someone at UM has been paying close attention to the internet suggestions from happy end-users here, and their inclusion definitely takes the usability of the package up a notch straight out of the box, and saves you having to try and track down a set from one of the Asian retailers that sell them.
The remainder of the accessories consist of a credit-card sized warranty card, a magnetic shirt clip and some associated bits and pieces. Overall, I think UM have done a pretty good job of packing in some high quality gear alongside the IEMs, giving a good impression of quality throughout, and certainly befitting the price tier the MEST finds itself in.
In summary, the treble is technically excellent, with a smooth and solid tone that sits roughly in line with the other two frequency ranges in terms of overall emphasis. It has all the resolution, speed and definition you will ever need, and the only thing you could say it lacks is a little bit of extra presence. I would hasten to add that FOR ME, this treble is tuned pretty much perfectly in line for my own listening preferences, but if you are a dyed-in-the-wool treble head, you may want to try before you buy if an ultra energetic upper end presentation is what you are after.
Detail in the midrange is a lot closer than I would expect, but just edged by the MEST, with the additional air on the stage allowing for the more subtle details of a track to be more readily noticeable.
Treble follows a similar pattern, with the Elysium giving a thicker and darker sound to the treble than either the Elan or the MEST. Notes are weightier, carrying some of the more effortless feel of the MEST (probably due to the planar driver), but not feeling quite as refined as the EST-driven UM model as you climb into the higher end of the tuning range. Again, this is as much a tuning choice as a technical capability, with the darker and more analogue tuning across the board for the Elysium (with my particular filter choice, obviously) contrasting with the airier and more delicate MEST. If you are a treble-head, the MEST would be the logical choice here, unless you really prefer a darker, more rolled off sounding treble tuning.
This one is an easier recommendation; the Elysium is tuned for a specific type of sound, so unless a wide soundstage and classic analogue tonality are your two key requirements, the MEST provides a sharper, cleaner sound at a similar price. These two IEMs are definitely more complementary rather than competing in my eyes (or ears).
The MAD24 is a crossover less design, employing 24 armatures in a uniquely designed interior shell that employs different porting and sound bore designs to mechanically control the different frequencies rather than using a traditional electronic crossover. Given the nature of the design, the MAD24 is actually surprisingly coherent, going for a rich and ultra-thick tuning that is definitely more musical than reference.
The unboxing experience of Indigo is very similar to MKII, plus a few additional updates. It still features the same giftbox quality storage box with UM logo on top. Once a magnetic top cover is lifted, you are presented with a deep blue leather case, also labeled with UM logo. In the original Mest you had to remove the case to get to the bottom of the box so you can access the remaining accessories. With Indigo, just like MKII, Unique Melody added a drawer at the bottom which slides out from the side to give you an easier access to the rest of the included goodies.
You should also expect similar accessories as MKII, though a few have changed. For example, you will still find Dignis storage case with a zipper top, roomy enough for your IEMs, cable, and other extra accessories. Inside, it has a flexible velcro partition so you can separate shells and the cable. This is a premium brand name product, not some filler. The color of the case is deep blue to match Indigo color theme, and the top cover has the same design as their Fabled Sound/FuSang flagship iems, with a layered velour corner insert, making it more premium and unique.
Just like with original MKII, you will find a lot of brand name popular accessories here, Dignis custom leather case, PWA copper cable, AZLA Xelastec eartips, etc. When it comes to accessories, UM likes to spoil, and we are not talking about the overall quantity, but the actual quality and usability.
Furthermore, the cable hardware has been completely redesigned and updated. Now, it features bronze metal alloy finish, the same as the faceplate frame of Indigo. The plug, which could be selected in 2.5mm, 3.5mm, or 4.4mm termination (Musicteck lists 2.5mm and 4.4mm, have to ask separately about 3.5mm) features an all-new hexagon shaped housing with a round shaped notched end, custom square y-split with an oval-shaped end and matching oval-shaped retractable chin-slider, and a matching bronze metal 2pin connector housing with UM logo facing outside. You will also find a pre-shaped heat-shrink earhook.
There is a very good reason why UM decided to call this new limited edition release MEST Indigo. It has a lot in common with the original and MKII releases of MEST. And at the same time, it has so many changes that take it to a whole new level.
The overall shape and the size of Indigo shell is nearly the same as Mest MKII. But there are a few important changes. In order to maintain a solid look of the faceplate, the metal-plated venting port is no longer in the corner of faceplate, moved to the side, just a small pinhole vent at the top of the shell closer to the faceplate. One big change is removable and replaceable nozzle mesh filter. If that mesh screen gets clogged or broken in Mest/MKII, you have to send it for a repair, while in Indigo you just unscrew the top and replace it with included spares. This also opens a door to offer a different pattern mesh filters in the future, something that can alter the sound and act like a real sound filter, if UM ever considers that.
I mean, some reviewers out there said that the Annihilator 2021 makes other IEMs thus far a laughing stock because other IEMs have a poor EST implementation like having an upper treble roll-off, not having enough sparkle, too dark, etc.
Sorry, no plans to review Annihilator or X, Seems like this one is a mixed bag of impressions, people love how well it renders treble, but not the mids. It felt like FOTM. Btw, which review are you referring to? Can you provide a link? Curious about it.
Hi Twister6, would like to know if you can compare U18t to the UM Melody Indigo, my local dealer still have some spots left for pre order of the indigo. I am kind of interested but would like to know your take vs U18t. Thanks alot.
a very different tuning where U18t has flatter bass, more forward and brighter mids, and brighter treble, while Indigo has more elevated dynamic bass, less forward and smoother mids, and not as bright treble.
Thanks for your reply, I currently find U18t bass is lacking to my taste with M20 module (with M15 to me is like bass is not even there). I listen to alot of female vocals that get quite high in the treble, I am sensitive to treble and sibilance. I love the sound of my HD800s and Hifiman Arya Stealth. My Focal Stellia sounds weird with very shouty female vocals but I like the bass amount on the Stellia and the soundstage is quite nice.
For an iem with good depth, width, great bass, great details and biggest soundstage depth and wide. What do you recommend? Basically looking for a HD800s sound with more bass in an Iem. Thanks alot Twister6.
The Unique Melody MEXT is a unique sounding IEM with exceptional bass response. While not as technically impressive as its older brother, MEST, it is still a highly detailed IEM that is unmatched at providing an impactful, physical sound that is really fun to listen to. Having the $1099 price in mind, it is my absolute pleasure to highly recommend the Unique Melody MEXT for everybody looking for an exceptionally fun and unique sounding IEM.
It was a fun night of music and entertainment as the Saratoga Jazz Band performed in front of an audience at the Saratoga Art Festival. Each student played a different musical instrument that had a unique melody that brought you back to the classic days of music.
Paulson has been teaching music at Saratoga for 8 years. Before that, he had a long teaching career at Natrona County High School in Casper and intended to finish his career at Dean Morgan Middle School.
Visually, the work as a whole is a concatenation of inconsequential and mostly unpeopled incidents with a very British, or Irish, emphasis on the vagaries of the weather: a lone tree rustling in the wind, rain bouncing off a sidewalk, reflections in a rippling expanse of water, a close-up of a light pulsing on and off, a scattering of distant lights blinking across a bay at night. Its elevating grace is the sly humor of its score, which provides painstakingly customized accompaniment to each particular scene. A windblown tree isolated in a patch of parkland shakes its branches to the clangor of a mildly deranged piano composition, prompting the mind-bending thought that each individual branch might even have been provided with its own unique melody. The slow crescendo of an increasingly heavy downpour on a city street is sonically diverted and distorted into what becomes a vigorous artificial drum solo before being returned to an approximation of the gentler rhythms of nature. Three tiny lights wink on and off in the distance of a dark night, each to its own different beat, each accompanied by its own distinctive and manifestly unnatural percussive sound.blogherads.adq.push(function () blogherads.defineSlot( 'nativemini', 'gpt-dsk-tab-ros-gallerytile-uid0' ).setSubAdUnitPath("ros\/gallerytile").addSize([[110,110]]).enableAutoRefresh().setDefaultAutoRefreshTime(15););blogherads.adq.push(function () blogherads.defineSlot( 'nativemini', 'gpt-dsk-tab-ros-gallerytile-uid1' ).setSubAdUnitPath("ros\/gallerytile").addSize([[110,110]]).enableAutoRefresh().setDefaultAutoRefreshTime(15););blogherads.adq.push(function () blogherads.defineSlot( 'nativemini', 'gpt-dsk-tab-ros-gallerytile-uid2' ).setSubAdUnitPath("ros\/gallerytile").addSize([[110,110]]).enableAutoRefresh().setDefaultAutoRefreshTime(15););blogherads.adq.push(function () blogherads.defineSlot( 'nativemini', 'gpt-dsk-tab-ros-gallerytile-uid3' ).setSubAdUnitPath("ros\/gallerytile").addSize([[110,110]]).enableAutoRefresh().setDefaultAutoRefreshTime(15););blogherads.adq.push(function () blogherads.defineSlot( 'nativemini', 'gpt-dsk-tab-ros-gallerytile-uid4' ).setSubAdUnitPath("ros\/gallerytile").addSize([[110,110]]).enableAutoRefresh().setDefaultAutoRefreshTime(15););
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