Unique Melody - MEST MKII

I own Monarch MK2 and UM Mest MK2. Ive owned $100-$200 IEMs as well..I did notice a difference when I first got the Monarchs but to say mind blowing not really. The Mest on the other hand are kinda mind blowing to me because of the Imaging and Soundstage, which I personally love since I listen to so many Instrumentals.

+1 I prefer it over my annihilator and mest mk2

I like 64audio solo, probably endgame for vocals. I prefer those over mest mk2

Mest mk2 for me :D

Mest Mk2 has the perfect balanced bass for me. Not too much boomy but feel tactile and high quality

Having originally got into the hobby to improve my audio cues in Hunt Showdown; objectively changing the source of the audio in relation your ears/eardrums has an advantage. I looked over the recommendations and originally landed on the Tea Pros and could easily get better positional awareness from my DT990s on the same DAC/Amp. My new favorite for music is the MEST Mk2, cannot game with them in the same way because of unique tuning but if you want to FEEL in the game there is no replacement. While I will use the MEST almost for everything other than games . The Tea Pros have a very accurate representation of direction and distance in relation to the sound source which is great for gameplay.

mest mk2 now that it got permanently discounted to 999

Oh yeah, it's from https://shop.musicteck.com/products/um-universal-mest-mkii and has been that price for a long while now.

i personally prefer the mest's shell size and comfort over almost all of thieaudio's offerings. can't speak for the tuning aspect but i did prefer mest over monarch mk2 and mk3 with the right tips for BC drivers to work well. the one offering i'm really interested in from thieaudio is the origin since it has both rave reviews and includes BC drivers.

I have tried the mid and high range of headphones, personally owned some mid range ones, then a jaw injury made headphones painful to wear, but I needed something for FPS, Cyberpunk at the time and general music/media. So I got some cheap moondrop starfields, enjoyed, got some Fiio FD5 second hand because they were recommended for gaming, enjoyed, but they werent that big a step up. Then I used the money I saved for a high end set of headphones on IEMs, got the UM Mest MK2, kept trying headphones again but it always ended up painful, so never going back. The MEST MK2 blew my mind, and they changed sound a little with tips, so I didnt have to chase a dozen sets of IEMs I could just change tips and get a little more bass, or smooth out the treble, or just more comfort. The way I explained it to someone recently. Headphones are like watching a movie in a home cinema, great experience, some will say best way to watch a movie, you get enough detail and contrast, blacks (bass) arent perfect but great experience, immersive. Then IEMs its more like watching a movie with a 4K OLED TV, its not the expansive cinema lite experience, BUT, you get inky ass blacks, tons of detail and texture you may have missed before, and all the image is before you in one blob rather than having to sort of reach out and find those details you want. Neither is a wrong way to watch a movie, or, listen to music. Neither is "better" than the other, they just both have their charms and sometimes one suits a person more than the other.

1. Focal Clear OG: very transparent and thumpy in a good way. I didn't like it at first but it grew on me. 2. Sennheiser HD560s: the daily driver. Comfortable, good for all day long calls. I can recommend this one for everyone. 3. Sennheiser HD6xx: sounds very natural but I always get sad when I change to Focal and notice how veiled everything are. 4. Sennheiser HD800s: just not my jam. Trying to trade in some Hifiman 1. Unique Melody MEST MKII: detailed, crazy amount of sub-bass. I just can't use IEMs for too long. 2. Moondrop Blessing 2: a good reference to go back.

Blessing 3? Mest Mk2? Give em a try and see if you still think this.

If any "audiophile" here says that a 100 dollar iem doesn't sound better than a 20 dollar Iem, they are completely deaf. It is true that higher price points have diminishing returns, but they still give you returns. Sweet spot is somewhere between 100-400 dollars for sound quality per dollar. Especially around the 100 dollar price point. But, for anyone saying you don't get more quality when you spend more is likely trying to convince themselves that what they can afford is good enough. And fair enough. My first pair of Etymotics blew away anything I had heard before. People need to try good values at higher price points to really go "ohhhh so this is different"

Glad you have your endgame 🙂 UM Mest Mk2 was worth it for me. Blessing 3 is also lovely. Both better than like a Hype 2 detail wise. Been an Ety head for years. Edit: But I still find it hard to believe that $2.50 iems sounded better than a $1000 flagship fiio 😂 even though I find Fiio IEMs a bit bloated for my liking. There's just no way that could be true. Actually Impossible. Like laughable lol

I bought into the hype. Among them, the Mest Mk2, Blessing 3, and Etymotic lineup sound far better than anything that costs 100 dollars by a long shot. They both sound far better than the Theiaudio Hype 2, for example, at 300 usd. Far better than the Hexa at nearly 100usd. I'm not sure what you're listening to. If it's mainly just vocals in music, that is understandable. But to say that they don't sound better than a 100 dollar IEM is just flat out ridiculous. I mean, that is just massively fatal levels of copium. Is the 'blessing 3' 4 times better than the Hexa? Of course not. Is it worth it for detial oriented audiophiles? By a long shot. Does the Mest Mk2 sound worth it for me? Absolutely. I agree with you on diminishing returns. It's real. But you're overexaggerating to a degree that is unbelievable. You do point out something good, though - your enjoyment of the IEM is what matters most. For me? I nerd out on detail, imaging, and sounstage. I listen to music with many layers and tracks happening at once and want to isolate those tiny constituents parts. It's exciting for me. I get it. Not everyone trains their ears obsessively for years. But for those who do, where their music has a lot going on, having everything well defined and separated and excellently textured and presented is really important. I find many in the audiophile community to be a bit obnoxious. So I also agree with you there that it can be grating. But seriously - for 100 bucks? A Hexa or SE215 or whatever isn't even close to a Blessing 3 or Mest Mk2. Not even remotely close. I mean, saying a 1000 dollar IEM (again, not a huge fan of fiio IEMs myself) is worse than a 3 dollar Chinese IEM is trolling or being deliberately provocative. Sibilance? The FA19 is known for its lack of sibilance. What are you talking about? Is it financial spite? A bad fit?

Review speak has little to do with my IEM choices. Glad you like the IE600 even though its V shaped and vocal recessed. You must not like neutral IEMs very much? My preference is a very mild u shape / neutral. So maybe the Blessing 3 (neutral/mid forward) and the Mest Mk2 (Mild U shape) work better for me and my preferences. I've compared them back to back with IEMs from 100 to 300 dollars and they're definitely more detailed and better imaged. I really like Radiohead, and have a ton of bootlegs, and their music is really good for testing IEMs. I'm with you about diminishing returns. Sweetspot for value is 100-300. But I do find both the Blessing 3 and Mest Mk2 more detailed and engaging than anything in the 100-300 dollar range by a long shot. So that's why I think it's absolutely crazy to say a 3 dollar IEM is better than a 1000 dollar one, even if I agree with not personally being a fan of Fiio IEMs. I think it's a huge exaggeration. I really do get your sentiment. I do. The Hype 2 underwhelmed me being a bit bloated sounding compared to Blessing 3 or Mest Mk2 - even if the sound is more engaging. I prioritize detail about all things and nothing around 100 dollars comes remotely close to Blessing 3 or Mest Mk2 to my ears. I share your frustration with reviewers. And I have similar annoyances with the pretense and obnoxiousness of audiophiles - but from a technical performance standpoint. There's no comparison between a detail monster value in the Blessing 3 or a flagship like the Mest Mk2 vs anything 300 dollars or less. Maybe an Etymotic? But you trade off any sense of depth or dynamism with Etys. It's a very closed and flat stage.

Mest Mk2 for $899 was worth the price for me. But I'm a little bit of an obsessive perfectionist wanting to inch ever closer to the sun .. To add, is it more than twice as good as a Blessing 3 at 360 bucks? No. It's more like the Blessing 3 is 80% of the Mest Mk2 for less than half of the money. (Quite different IEMs, though, btw). Sort of like, if you're into cars, getting a 911 Carrera S vs. a 911 GT3RS. Both are amazing to drive , but for the obsessed enthusiast, the difference is quite noticeable. I am a detail snob, and for me, the Mest builds on the Blessing 3 Microdetail while adding a much larger soundstage and a tactile sensation with the bone conduction driver which, for me, makes the price totally worth it. Ramble ramble.

The Mest is a great iem with plenty of details and amazing soundstage. I've owned simillarly priced headphones (Hd600), and they don’t even compare to the Mests detail retrieval, and soundstage is barely wider. Stick with the Mest, I heavily regret selling it.

Nice iem I do have it. Although I am struggling to find eq app or daps.

I posted above but I did this, I went Supermix 4 -> Tea Pro then started experimenting back to more budget models with different tuning (dark, treblehead, meta, etc). Ultimately, I would die on a hill that if done correctly more drivers is absolutely an advantage when it comes to clarity and separation. If you enjoy those specific attributes once you hit that $300-$600 range there is no going back. Moving up from the Tea Pro took me like 7 months, but I just got a MEST MK2 last week and it is unreal amounts of detail with a unique soundstage that you would just need to experience. Tea Pros will stay for gaming and laid back music listening, everything else will be collecting dust now which means dead money.

Nothing technical to add, just that I enjoy these posts. Again this is something that a laymen like me can "feely"craft but understanding the mechanics around it is interesting. This feels 100% accurate in my experience as a casual observer, some other common IEMs for gaming that are recommended would be Simgot SuperMix 4 and Mangird Tea Pro (I owned both of these at one point). When playing Hunt: Showdown to my ears it was objectively easy to tell that the SuperMix 4 had less overall bass AND it was also a lot slower to recover to spikes in volume (say a barrel or explosive detonating nearby). Once I had purchased the Tea Pros, the tightness of the bass was extremely noticeable and this seemed to help clean up some of the mids and low treble to make it easier to discern the separation in chaotic environments. Another interesting thought as you had mentioned the Arrti T10, I used the Letshuoer S08s which was a full planar set for a few weeks as well when I had just gotten into the hobby. The difference in the spactial "feeling" not the actual precision itself is another concept that I would love to understand. To me it feels like there is a difference between the precision and how distance plays out on the stage created. For example, I believe with all the sets I have mentioned I could get a good sense of direction based on a sound cue; however, all three sets have a very different resolution of 3D space. I attempted to test as best I could the difference between the MEST Mk2 and Tea Pros to see if I would like one or the other more over the last few days. The Tea Pro's space resolution feels less detailed but more accurate to relative distance, the MEST provides absolutely unparalleled detail but because of the recessed pinna mids messes with the distance some. Both could absolutely be used but one does a better job at creating space "around you" rather than "in front" of you. Is there any way to objectively analyze the perception of that 3D space that is being created?

So I have though a little bit about this the first night I used the MEST for a long period of music listening. For gaming, there is an objective and easy to follow feedback loop where you get confirmation. So it was easy to choose the Tea Pro’s space resolution over the MEST. For music, the way that my brain is drawing the scene as a visual learner/thinker the Tea Pro’s “around me” sensation feels wrong. If I am observing music being played it shouldn’t be around me it should be in front of me as someone who isn’t creating the sound. The MEST’s holography and “in front of” auditory experience is so much more enjoyable. It is so immersive for my brain that when my eyes are closed I can actually feel my body trying to react to the sounds like they are physically present. Using an orchestral example, my brain tries to SEE where sections of instruments are sitting, or where soloists chairs are in room, it feels like I am standing right above a percussion pit looking at the orchestra as a conductor. With the MEST it feels like I experience the music and with the Tea Pros the feeling is that of listening to precise playback by it isn’t as immersive.

Specifically on vocal centric things, as long as the frequency of the singer is in the recessed area on the MEST’s graph it feels correct. The vocals appear out in front as if you were observing a band playing. The acoustics of the room set the ”stage”. The more reverberation the larger the visualization ultimately becomes, the less distortion the closer and more intimate it feels and then by proxy the visualization is smaller in 3D space to place things in. One note on the MEST that I believe is due to the use of Bone Conduction is that you get both the bass audio as well as the bass sensation. I think some IEMs overcome this sensation issue by increasing the bass “weight” but after feeling it through bone conduction it really lifts that experience to a much more natural “live” and speaker sound waves hitting you feeling.

MEST MK2…so far but taking a little break to enjoy them for a bit. Love the soundstage the unique tuning creates, feels very holographic.

So I just got the MEST MK2s last week, and they have become my favorite musical set almost instantly. It’s just so pleasing and unique it’s hard to describe. I have also messed with Letshuoer S08s, Simgot SM4, Ziigaat Odyssey, Kiwi Ears Canta (least favorite so far), Letshuoer DX4. Tea Pros are where it’s at for value/performance for me. Odyssey might be better value overall but its lack of stage/space makes me appreciate the MEST/Tea Pro more.

BCD changed the game for me, 100% recommended. The tactile nature is just unmatched, I have the MEST Mk2 and it was insane how much more fun music got. I could easy go back and listen my whole library like it was new. I’m not certain of more budget options that get the same level of WOW as the MEST but I highly recommend BCD. Frankly I’m not sure I can go back now.

I’ll say for beginners I think the lists are great to get started, the more I have explored and tried I think the lists are pretty good for safe enjoyment. You can also look at reviews on sites just like any other e-commerce platforms and see sets that are enjoyed that aren’t on the list. Perfect example would be the MEST Mk2, absolutely lights out reviews on Musictek and there is a reason it has the “cult” that it does. Just like most sets on the community list they punch above their weight.

Bone conduction for me a is a point of no return on my journey, it would be hard for me to consider an upgrade/sidegrade for the MEST Mk2 without BCD. It is one of those sets that brings a sense of joy almost every time I put them in and as others have mentioned the detail/wideness feeling is hard to describe from an IEM perspective. I can tell from these comments without trying more of the budget sets that implementation/design does matter. I am going to CanJam SoCal in a few weeks to see if an upgrade even feels like something I would consider because that price tag to move past the MEST might not be justifiable. Many of the sets mentioned already are ones I would considered trying if I knew the MEST Mk2 didn't have the reputation that it had when I was purchasing. EBC80, BGVP DMA, and Origin are all sets where the BCD appears to be well implemented (people can tell it is working and not a gimmick). My suggestion would be check out the tuning on those sets as that is where the variance comes into play. With the MEST if I elevate the mids/vocal ranges even halfway to "normal" ranges from the base tuning it throws off the magic. Edit: For anyone who might be considering BCD, it is vitally important that you find a set of tips that allows the shell to make contact with you ear cartilage. BCD are a haptic technology so if you aren't feeling it working you will need make sure that the fit is deep, secure, and touching otherwise it will not work.

No notes, agreed. The DD/BCD marriage on that set is fantastic, I just haven't seen it done that well on other sets *so far*,

No, to some point its just preference. I recently got UM MEST MK2, Im liking it of course. But compared to my Ziigaat Odyssey? Only slightly better, why? Because I like the Odyssey overall tonality.

Nice.. very informative.. the 622b is bit out of reach for me.. even the omega to be honest. Haha.. I do have the tea pro which I love and is very warm and thick.. but my baby is my Mest mkII.. have you heard the mest mkII..? If so how does it stack against the omega..?”

Never been too curious for the monarch series tho I would love to try the prestige ltd one day.. my UM Mest MKII is absolutely amazing.. best soundstage I’ve ever heard.. the bone conduction doesn’t impact the low end like my penon fan 3 BC does but it definitely widens the soundstage and instrument separation.. I’m really digging bone conduction so my next iem would definitely be the thieaudio origin.. I’ve heard its like the tea pro on steroids.. which my tea pros are amazing and give the mest mkII a run for their money.. so a more immersive tea pro would be mind blowing to me..

[mest mkII](https://shop.musicteck.com/products/um-universal-mest-mkii)

That store looks insane..! So yer sayin the mest mkII is slightly better..?

Fortunately I got mine for less than you can buy the origin right now.. so that makes me happy to hear.. but I’m pretty sure they’ve lowered the price of the mest mkII quite significantly.. right now you can buy both for 850$.. but that makes me wonder if I need to get the origin if the mest mkII is better..

Yeah I was surprised at how small the mest mkII actually is.. well this has been super helpful.. thank you..!

I also have the mest mk2 and haven’t had any desire to purchase anything else since hearing them.. it was one hell of a rabbit hole but pretty sure I’m done searching.. very content with the mest mkII..

Unique Melody Mest MKII..

I also use spinfit on my mest mk2 but the cp100, the w1 seem to slip out of my ear vs the cp100..

Unique Melody Mest MKII..

I love my tea pros and thought the same.. I then stumbled upon the Mest mk2 for a deal I couldn’t pass up, and I’ve fallen in love.. but if it wasn’t for the mest mk2 the tea pros could’ve definitely been my end game.. 1k$ sound for a 350$ price tag..

It’s hard to say.. canpur 622b.. fatfreq grand Maestro, alpha omega omega.. Macbeth.. all would be amazing to hear let alone own.. I own the Mest MKII, and that could be my end game and I’d be happy with that.. but this hobby does something to ya that always makes you wonder what’s next..

I have three that immediately come to mind. The first I bought on sale for $20, the Seeaudio x Tangzu Shimin Li Encounter Edition. It's an all metal shell IEM that has a Vee shaped tuning, just a really good set especially for the price. The second is the TOTL Simgot, the EM10, it's a 10 driver set that has a Harman tuning, with excellent bass quality, and great details and instrument separation. The third is the Ziigaat Estrella, which is ok out of the box, but if tuned with the Shortbus Audio tape mod becomes a top tier set. This is one of my favorite IEMs along with the Dunu Glacier, Thieaudio Monarch mk3, MEST mk2 and Canpur CP622B.

The Ziigaat Estrella with Shortbus Audio YouTube reviews tape mod. For me it competes with some of the best endgame IEMs that I own including the MEST mk2, Dunu Glacier, Thieaudio Origin, and Canpur CP622B.

I own the Arya SE, Focal Clear OG/MG and Mest MK2. I listen to the Mest MK2 probably 80% of the time since I find the headphones I own to be sibilant and ruin some of the songs I enjoy with my Mest MK2.

yeah hahaha I had the UM MEST mk2 as well but after several months, I bought a planar and got blown away by the transparency and kept buying more IEMs to beat them

Those are my new daily driver IEMs after I upgraded my UM MEST MK2. The change is noticeable - handling of complex songs with lots of instruments playing is insane only time I had this experience is when I demoed a $4k Canpur IEM! Though, I think the OG Timeless is still the best one

I had already the honor to grab Unique Melody Mest MkII and Thieaudio Monarch MkIII. I'd die to grab Elysian Annihilator 2023 one day. Great collection you got!

i had the ier z1r. sold it for the mest mk2. both fantastic. sold the mest for a project. maybe the 64 trio. something fine resoluting. i need instrument separation and a fast impactfull bass. a fun and audiophile tuning. still not there... but no worries. i love my ety er4xr and the ca vega og for travelling (vietnam right now)

I listen to the same genre but more of everything. Mest mk2 has a very nice and big soundstage, prob one of the widest.

I’ll save you the time, money, and endless hours of watching and reading reviews; just get the MEST MK2 and be done with it. I’ve gone through countless IEMs this past year, both under and over $1K, and ended up selling everything except the MEST MK2. It’s easily the best value around $1K and still competes with sets twice the price. It originally sold for around $1.5–2K, but MusicTeck has them for about $900 now.

IEMs photographed left to right in first two photos: Unique Melody Mest MkII, Moondrop Variations, Moondrop x Crinacle DUSK, TSMR Halo, Thieaudio Monarch MkIII, Elysian Annihilator 2023, Elysian Diva 2023. I’ve also put a close-up photo of each IEM in the order they appear in photo one. Photography is not my skill so the photos are awful; whoops! This is just update post for my collection. Again, the post is mostly for me to look back on myself in the future (for example, I said in my last post I was looking for Diva 2023 and I finally got it courtesy of a Head-Fi seller). I’m not expecting anyone to care or be interested. But on the off-chance someone cares I’ll list a few rankings off here. You can also see the driver configurations of each IEM in photo three, listed top to bottom in the order I acquired the sets. My rankings are coming from the point of view of someone who values detail and treble extension primarily, with bass a secondary concern. Sound (most important of course): 1. Elysian Annihilator 2023 2. Elysian Diva 2023 3. Unique Melody Mest MkII 4. Thieaudio Monarch MkIII 5. TSMR Halo 6. Moondrop Variations 7. Moondrop x Crinacle DUSK Comfort/Fit (essential for long listening sessions): 1. Unique Melody Mest MkII 2. Elysian Diva 2023 3. TSMR Halo 4. Elysian Annihilator 2023 5. Moondrop Variations 6. Thieaudio Monarch MkIII 7. Moondrop x Crinacle DUSK Stock Cable (maybe interesting, maybe not): 1. Unique Melody Mest MkII 2. Elysian Diva 2023 3. Thieaudio Monarch MkIII 4. Elysian Annihilator 2023 5. Moondrop Variations 6. TSMR Halo 7. Moondrop x Crinacle DUSK (both cables) Finally, not photographed except for the boxes are my two DAPs. The iBasso DX340 is clearly the better of the two but I hesitate to say it’s ‘worth it’ as an upgrade to the R4. They’re both fantastic but as a value proposition I think the R4 is great. To conclude, clearly the IEM hobby is something of a chase for perfection which you will never achieve. There are tradeoffs to every IEM, DAC, DAP, cable and eartips. If you’re seeing this post and thinking about things like diminishing returns and these sets being nowhere near ‘worth’ their price – I’d say I agree. Diminishing returns (not a phrase I like much because everything has diminishing returns but I digress) set in quite early imho. For an all-rounder that you can use with practically any device the DUSK (as an example from my sets) could easily be the pinnacle of what you’re looking for and there’s really no need to chase the latest releases or constantly be looking to upgrade. Then again, I also disagree with people who look down on someone for owning more than one set – do we limit ourselves to one pair of shoes just because we only have two feet? (Bad example but maybe you get my point.) At the end of the day, yes, the IEM hobby is rife with consumerism, as are all similar tech products, but I think the craftsmanship and the various different designs, sound signatures and so on make it a fascinating hobby to be involved in. And on second-hand sites like Head-Fi (where I got my Mest, Diva & Halo from) or even r/AVexchange you can sometimes snag yourself a bargain, or at least meet more people to talk about this great hobby with. I’d be happy to discuss anything photographed if anyone has any questions (and made it all the way to reading this)! Take care and all the best, Rob

Thank you! I think the Mest’s bass is exceptional. I wanted it for its fantastic staging and technicalities but I’m surprised by how good its bass is to be honest. Also, I think you can get great deals on this set nowadays if you’re willing to go second hand. Or occasionally you can even find it for a great price new in sales. I picked mine up for €700 EUR but depending on where you are I’ve seen it on Head-Fi in mind condition for ~$650 USD.

actually having listened to both at the buying session 3 yrs ago, I'd say LCD-X is an unique experience, but maybe after the wow factor finally settles, you might not like it that much if your preference is the MEST MkII. What do you plan to drive the LCD-X with by the way?

you're welcome. LCD-X got holographic staging but in my experience it's not that easy to drive, with some weird distortion at some part that may differ from the sound that you like from Mest MKII

I own the Mest Mk2 and the Monarch Mk3. I would say they're absolutely worth it. Some things to consider: You can get the Mest Mk2 new for about $850. https://shop.musicteck.com/products/um-universal-mest-mkii More expensive IEMs, like the Mest and Monarch have different kinds of drivers that you don't get in lower-priced IEMs. Like Electrostatic and Bone Conduction drivers. These add a lot of detail, imo. Most <$1000 IEMs only make use of balanced armature and dynamic drivers. You could find one secondhand r/avexchange and Head-fi The secondhand market for audio equipment is amazing. If you bought something and didn't enjoy it, someone may buy it from you at a minimal loss. For me, that peace of mind is enough. I bought both the Mest and Monarch having never tested them before. The Monarch I bought from a reputable online retailer that has a very generous return policy, in the event that they didn't fit. The Monarch Mk3's are notoriously large-shelled, and they barely fit, so I got lucky! The Mest I bought from a user on r/avexchange If you buy secondhand, always use PayPal G&S. I own IEMs from KZ, Moondrop, Campfire Audio, Mest, and Thieaudio (for reference).

Try to find a used mest mk2. I love my set. It's like a tea pro on steroids.

I agree and since falling in love with tea pro I tried mega5est, prestige Ltd, and um mest mk2 and the tea pro trades blows with those more expensive iems. I think my end game will be the mest unless I can find a glacier somewhere on sale. I'm not a fan of top pro though, the vocals were forward and thin for my liking.

Yes and I've tried a ton to find something better for the money and it don't think top pro, davinci, hype 4, mega5est or martilo best it. My step up from tea pro is um mest mk2 which was originally a kilobuck iem!

Beats my tsmr armor and mest mk2. I LOVE my s12.

Still evaluating. There aren’t any graphs of this so I’m taking longer to confirm my findings. But initial take is pretty good so far. Bass seems tighter but just as impactful as the mmk4 (rumble switch off). Mids are difficult to figure out, initial impressions are simply more realistic. Still evaluating the treble. If I boost the bass 3db in the 90 to 120hz range (peak, not shelf), it sounds like a tighter and cleaner mmk4 (w rumble switch on). Hard for me to talk about something without comparing to another iem. Definitely interested in the mest mk2 tho.

MEST MK2 is pretty good in terms of its unique sound signature. On sale all the time nowadays

On your IEM journey, this is the place to rest, after all they do say: MEST is best Still one of the best kilobuck sets out there even if its a bit older now.

Trust me, I've tried 😆 Different sources, pEQ on equalizer apo, gEQ on Sony DAP, Pentaconn coreir brass eartips, cable swap (yeah, I know it's snake-oil 😜) etc. I appreciate what the Pilgrim can do (beautiful mids and treble), but it just doesn't get as much use after the honeymoon period for me. It's still good value for the money imo, especially for someone who wants this sound signature. tbf my other sets are absolute bass monsters, so I am probably just conditioned for way too much bass (Empire Ears Legend X, FatFreq Scarlet Mini, Noble XM-1, Mest Mk2 - my least bassy set after the Pilgrim).

The differences are likely going to come down to tuning preferences and frequency response. I was blown away by the Mest2 when I first tried them a couple years ago and I still think it's a great IEM today. And I now own a Penon Archangel, which has become one of my favorite sets. I'm not sure if it's the BC but both Mest2 are very, very engaging and exciting IEMs with a lot of texture and punch.

Probably mest due to the recession in the mids But archangel is still pretty great imfor this. While sounding a bit more natural.

I had a less than a day with them so far. But I can say they have insane soundstage and imaging. So good that It almost ruins some songs I like. Fit and confort was great for me. So Far, a great experience, but at a great cost too. Worth It or not, time Will Tell, but Im satisfied as It is.

I'll be sure to play my games with them! And Yeah, the Mk2 is either the best sounding version of a song you like and has listened hundreds of times, or It will show you How bad It really IS hehe. Either way, its impressive. I have the same feeling as going from decent Closed Back headphones to Open back planar magnetic headphones. The Mest MKII sounds like there is no physical wall of drivers playing, everything comes from outside my Head. That can be amazing from time to time.

Ziigaat odessey and UM Mest mkii made me believe in IEMs again. Odessey is extremely fun while Mest is an experience.

People that say IEMs have inherently worse soundstage and imaging to headphones simply lack experience. I sold my HD800 after purchasing Unique Melody Mest MK2s. The Mests were superior in imaging, bass, and midrange. The HD800 had slightly wider soundstage but it sounded artificial, sharp, with strange imaging.

i tried these in canjam london, these were by far the best iems i've tried, even after monarch mk2, mk3, these blow them out the water imo. i found the monarchs to have slightly loud/screechy vocals. mest mk2s were great, no problems, had crazy seperation, detail, lots of fun value. really like to own them one day.

No unfortunately, I don’t think they were there, my personal top ones I tried were mest mk2, letshuoer cadenza 4, xenns tea pro, and a new budget-ish iem by hidisz called mk10, but these are to my own taste and preferences

Oh the MMK3 were far better for metal and anything that needed clarity. My MEST 2 edges it out though so that's why I sold the MMK3.

I own the MEST 2s and FATfreq Scarlet Mini and the MEST has very lean bass if you're a basshead. Scarlet Mini has just enough bass but nothing I've ever heard comes close to it without a bass shelf EQ

I would recommend avoiding shopping by driver configuration as the final tonality and sound is not directly determined by the quantity / variety of drivers present in the IEM, it's a little more complicated then that. As for direct suggestions, if you already like the sound of the FH5, which I have tried for a while and enjoyed a lot as well, I would recommend you the following ones: - Dunu SA6 Mk2 - - > probably my favorite Iem of all, the semi-custom shell design helps a lot with the isolation and the sound is extremely balanced and spacious I've been using them for about 2 years at this point, pretty much my default daily driver (aka the one I most easily pick from my collection when I don't know which one to chose for the day) - 64audio U4s - - > almost a direct upgrade of the SA6 mk2, with a lot of tuning options for the bass (64audio apex modules, which are interchangeable plugs that tune the amount of sub-bass and bass) I've used them for about a few months, but even tho they sounded better overall than the SA6 mk2, I payed for them over double and the comfort and isolation was inferior to them. Ended up selling them to make budget for other iems to try - Unique Melody MEST Mk2 - - > probably my endgame iem, the sound is pretty much perfect for me, the bass hits hard, the spacial presentation is amazing, the amount of detail is astonishing. The comfort is better than the u4s, but lesser than the sa6mk2 Still have them, I keep them as my office iems (so I get to use them often without needing to move them around) They're hella pricy tho... Quick relative recap: Dunu sa6 mk2: Sound 8,5/10 Comfort & isolation 9,9/10 Price 9/10 64audio u4s: Sound 9/10 Comfort & isolation: 6,5/10 Price 7/10 UM Mest mk2: Sound: 9,9/10 Conform & isolation: 8,5/10 Price: 5/10 Sound measurement of all the iems mentioned: https://squig.link/?share=Harman_Adjusted_Target,Super_22_Target,IEF_Comp_Target,Fiio_FH5,Dunu_SA6_mkII_(off),64_Audio_U4s_(m20),Unique_Melody_MEST_mkII (the sa6mk2 have a little bass switch that enhances slightly the bass quantity, the u4s has the apex modules which tune the bass, you can select them from the graphing tool) Final suggestion, which I have just thought of: Custom iems, such as the A-line from 64audio, which would give you the best possible fit, comfort and isolation by giving you an Iem made EXACTLY for your ear. The price goes way up and reselling them would be complicated.

Jesus, I just got the Mest MKII, haven’t finished figuring out tips yet, but my general impression is they are very good, but I find more enjoyment from my Timeless. Surprised that was the case, thought maybe I was crazy, but good seeing someone else with the same impression. The Timeless with Dunu S&S tips just have this level of separation and speed that is in its own class. The shocking thing is that so far the Mest does not match the separation, maybe I need the right tips. But the notes are thicker and mids are better. Slightly more rumble.

I have tried the mest mkII and the origin ( been lucky living in Tokyo close to the most amazing earphones so in Tokyo ) and I wouldn't pay 2 times more for the mest now the origin came out. Almost the same SQ with the same emphasis on the low and highs. Esthetically wise the mest feels less Chi-fi ish, but that's all subjective to people.

I would say it holds its title of one of the best iems in the world, but the origin is just behind for half the price...

\+1 for the Mest MKII. I prefer their sound over the Thieaudio offerings that I've heard (Monarch MK2, MK3, Origin, Oracle). It's not often mentioned but their build quality is also superior compared to Thieaudio, this is something that comes into play during long term ownership.

I literally got my pair of the mest mkii today as well, what a coincidence. Spent a couple hours after work just tip rolling and I ended up just using the Xelastec ones that came with it. Enjoy, I definitely had a blast listening to mine today. Hopefully no more IEM purchases for a while.

I wouldnt say any of the Trailli nor MEST have a neutral tuning…they got really bloated bass

For years, my audio journey was anchored in the vibrant world of Chi-Fi IEMs—budget-friendly gems like the KZ ZS 10 pro, Moondrop Arias to Multi kilobuck killer - Monarch mk2/3, Mest, QDC VX. These in-ear monitors delivered thrilling soundscapes with their bold price to performance value, punchy bass, and sparkling treble. Yet, curiosity led me to the Westone Mach 80, a flagship renowned for its clinical precision and studio-grade neutrality. The transition wasn’t just an upgrade; it was a paradigm shift—a rediscovery of what music could be. Build and Comfort: From Plastic to PrecisionMy audio journey and experience, while impressive in sound, often felt utilitarian in build—oversized shells, hefty cables, and fit that demanded frequent adjustments. The Mach 80, by contrast, felt like a bespoke instrument. Its SUPER LIGHTWEIGHT (Yes in Caps), ergonomic design, molded from lightweight medical-grade resin, disappeared into my ears. The over-ear cabling and deep-seated fit provided a seal so secure and isolating like a Custom IEM that subway commutes became silent even without music playing. Westone’s decades of expertise in pro-audio ergonomics shone through; these were IEMs built for marathon listening sessions, not just casual use. Sound Signature: Chaos to ClarityThe first listen was… jarring. Gone was the bombastic bass slam or the polished midrange bloom. The Mach 80 greeted me with a stark, unapologetic neutrality. Bass was lean and taut, not thunderous. Treble was detailed but never sibilant. Mids? They weren’t “forward” or “recessed”—they just were, pristine and uncolored. It felt like swapping a neon-lit carnival for a sunlit art gallery. * Bass: The Mach 80’s 8 balanced armatures delivered bass with surgical control. Sub-bass rumble in electronic tracks like Jacques Greene’s “Feel Infinite” was textured and articulate, not bloated. Double kicks in metal tracks retained their speed but lacked the visceral “thump” I’d grown accustomed to. This wasn’t a deficiency—it was accuracy. The Mach 80 revealed how much of most of the iems was bass boosted. * Mids: Vocals and instruments emerged with startling realism. On Norah Jones’ “Don’t Know Why,” her voice floated with breathy intimacy, free of the midbass bleed that muddied my Chi-Fi sets. Acoustic guitars on John Mayer’s “Neon” showcased string plucks and finger slides I’d never noticed—a masterclass in microdetail, its surgically incredible! * Treble: Cymbals on TOOL’s “Pneuma” shimmered without piercing, and orchestral highs in Holst’s “The Planets” retained their airiness. The Mach 80’s treble wasn’t “exciting,” but it was ruthlessly honest, it’s very very smooth to listen. Soundstage and Imaging: From 2D to 3DThe Mach 80’s soundstage felt expansive and holographic, a stark contrast to the intimate, head-filling presentation of my Chi-Fi collection. Listening to Hans Zimmer’s “Blade Runner 2049” soundtrack, synths swirled around my head with pinpoint placement, while the decay of reverb tails in a jazz club recording felt almost tactile. Instruments weren’t layered—they occupied distinct spaces, like actors on a stage. The Adjustment Period: Learning to Listen AgainFor days, I mourned the loss of “fun.” Tracks that once felt anthemic now sounded restrained. But gradually, my ears acclimated. The Mach 80 didn’t impose its personality—it revealed the recording’s personality. Well-mixed tracks (think Daft Punk’s “Random Access Memories”) became transcendent, while poorly mastered songs laid bare their flaws. This wasn’t an IEM for mindless head-bobbing; it demanded engagement, rewarding critical listening with revelations. The Chi-Fi Rat raceNowadays everyone is chasing the best of the best while many companies are releasing new items week in and week out, and we often forget to slow down and appreciate music more. And often with massive waves of iems releasing we often overlooked some of the brands that do not come out new model very often. Conclusion: A New BenchmarkThe Westone Mach 80 isn’t for everyone. If you crave bass heft, WOW factor or euphonic coloration, it might underwhelm. But as a tool for understanding music—for dissecting mixes, savoring acoustic textures, or simply hearing your favorite albums anew—it’s peerless. The is the most resolving IEM I have ever heard in any price range and I have heard a lot; and it’s redefined what I expect from them—and from music itself.

I think my sony ier z1r sounds dynamic it adds reverb to songs making the sense of space a bit big compared to my latest um mest it's 3dish sound but don't have the added reverb of the sony makes sense? 😅

It really is. I’ve gone through about 15 IEMs over the past year and got completely caught up in the hobby, trying models from $400 to $2000. The MEST is still my favorite of them all. It’s crazy how, even five years after its release, it still sounds better than many newer and more expensive IEMs. Definitely a great deal for $900.

Tried a bunch and I like the stock tips - xlastic crystals. I do sometimes use wide bore divinus velvets

Can't say anything about other sets, but honestly, i would remove the Mest from that list.

Mest are great, just not what i would call a basshead set.

Glad you enjoying them! They're an excellent set and "endgame" for a lot of people. I want to mention this in case someone else is think of doing the same as you. Jumping straight to a kilobuck IEM is wild without knowing that your tuning preferences are. The MEST has a pretty unconventional tuning and I'd never recommend it to someone as their first IEM unless they had previously demoed it.

That certainly does sound like the MEST and I think you made a good choice if that’s what you were looking for. The MESTs lack of gain is unique and not for everyone, so I’m glad you knew what you were buying

The liquid silicone style works the best with the MEST, imo