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On this function, we assessment the Distinctive Melody Maven Professional which is a customized titanium shell IEM that includes 10 BA and a twin electrostatic driver design. It’s priced at $2999.
Disclaimer: This pattern was despatched to us in trade for our sincere opinion. Headfonics is an impartial web site with no affiliate hyperlinks or standing. We thank Unique Melody and MusicTeck for this chance.
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Word, this function follows our newest scoring pointers which you’ll be able to learn up on here.
Distinctive Melody has been churning out some actually high-performance screens chock-full of tech for costs decrease than what you may assume they need to go for.
Examples such because the MEXT and MEST MKII full with bone conduction and EST drivers for nicely below $2k have confirmed to be widespread picks within the final 12 months or two. The Maven Professional guarantees to proceed that development with a multi-driver combo which, a minimum of in a common format, is pegged at an equally aggressive value.
The Maven Professional is a gen 2 creation, with the unique popping out in 2019 for $1999. The Gen 2 updates each the design and the internals in addition to lowers the common model value just a little over the unique to my shock.
The pattern we’ve got right here is the customized model so it appears to be like just a little bit totally different, priced rather a lot larger additionally at $2999, and may also have an adjusted ‘true’ tuning given it doesn’t depend on ear suggestions.
Tech Highlights
Driver Configuration
The Distinctive Melody Maven Professional is a customized hybrid in-ear monitor that’s full of a minimum of 10 non-vented balanced armature drivers per aspect. In a break from the unique Maven, these 10 drivers are additional complemented with an extra twin electrostatic driver module full with a transformer module.
The exact driver grouping inside is 4 bigger woofer armature drivers for the lows, two full-range drivers for the mids, and a quad pack of BA drivers for the highs as much as round 8-10k.
You then have the EST drivers which offer an extra response layer for the ultra-highs past 10k and a 4-way crossover adjusted from the unique to boost the bass response.
The Maven Professional has an impedance score of 30Ω and 112dB SPL @1KHz so ideally, it shouldn’t be too demanding although EST drivers could be surprisingly laborious to drive. I might presume if these are Sonion EST drivers then they’re technically gen 2 variations which have a extra environment friendly transformer than the primary gen.
Acoustical Design
Simply to hold on to that crossover level for a bit longer, one of many distinctive inside acoustical designs UM launched into the Maven Professional has been that of a tuning tunnel. The tuning tunnel has a wider scope than conventional timing in IEM tubes.
The target right here past part management is for correct isolation of the frequency bands from the 4-way with 4 steel tubes, (one for every driver group), inserted on the finish to make sure the ‘tunnel’ so the tubes don’t lose their form and consistency.
Design
Ending
Since this can be a customized design Distinctive Melody does have some choices on how your closing Maven Professional will look. I consider you get 3 colour selections, a inventory blue sapphire which retains the worth inside the realms of affordability, and for an extra $900 you possibly can select between the above image’s black end or a gold model.
The design itself is a big function. You get a sign that it isn’t your regular resin shell when you have got them in your hand. They really feel dense, tremendous strong, and really sturdy. Traits that resin shell designs comparatively lack.
That’s as a result of as a substitute of normal resin, the Maven Professional makes use of a 3D-printed medical-grade titanium steel alloy for each shell and plate supplies. As soon as printed, the steel design is then polished and completed with a PVD coating to offer it that closing colour look.
I need to admit, once I first dealt with it I knew the shell was totally different however the precise PVD feeling got here throughout as extra like resin than steel.
I did ask if was there a resin overmold on the titanium to get accuracy from my ear mould digital scan to the ultimate piece. The reply was no, it’s a real translation of a digital scan to an precise 3D steel reproduction of my ear canal.
It feels extremely clean in addition to splendidly correct by way of becoming, (see extra beneath). The grill motif on the highest plate does assist although by way of giving the general aesthetic a visible carry in an in any other case monotone block. Black appears to be like nice, however I believe the lighter blue inventory is likely to be even higher.
Type Issue
The Maven Professional shouldn’t be as huge as you assume it is likely to be or ought to be given it makes use of 3D-printed titanium. I might class this as a regular-sized monitor given the underside goes to be a precise match to my ear canal it’s in regards to the measurement I might anticipate it to be.
The highest aspect is fortunately stored in test so it isn’t as bulbous as older JH Audio fashions such because the Signature Layla Edition we reviewed again in 2018.
UM has gone to nice lengths to element how slim the Maven Professional ti panels are in comparison with common resin marking it down as as much as 1/6 thinner however over 4 occasions as dense and x 15 stronger so dropping it may not be the dramatic expertise that comes with resin customs.
Consolation & Isolation
The extent of passive isolation is excellent from the Maven Professional. I used to be type of anticipating it to not be given I all the time thought of steel molds for IEMs to be much less versatile for sealing in comparison with resin options.
How flawed am I? I can barely hear any side of my aircon’s rumble or prime whistle, which is uncommon, even for a customized match.
In fact, being a customized, the Maven Professional ought to precisely suit your ear and on this case, it clearly does. The ear canal strain steadiness is sweet, maybe a tiny bit on the agency aspect with a prolonged nozzle and elevated weight so it’s not what I might time period a ‘relaxed’ match.
That is nearer to a stage artist’s customized nozzle size that means the bore will exit a bit nearer to your canal’s second bend and keep fastened and agency in your ear.
Cornering on the Maven Professional’s shell outdoors the canal is a bit much less forgiving in comparison with resin molds although decidedly extra rounded than I used to be anticipating.
The corners really feel extra ‘there’ to the contact and one thing I presume is because of the inflexible body and enhanced density of the titanium materials. Nevertheless, the underlying shell may be very easily contoured and on par with resin prints so it has no impact on consolation ranges when in use.
Inventory Cable & Connectors
The Maven Professional makes use of the identical cable because the Mest MK II which is the UM Copper M2 customized in collaboration with PW Audio of Hong Kong.
Internally, this can be a 24AWG gauge OCC copper 4-wire geometry wrapped in a carbon fiber sleeve and utilized with a black PVC coating on the exterior floor. The wire is braided as much as a black steel lengthy barrel splitter after which twisted as much as the left and proper matching black 2-pin barrels.
The jack choices are available in TRS 3.5mm in addition to TRSS 2.5mm and pentaconn 4.4mm relying in your preferences. I do love the barrel on the M2. It completely matches the splitter and connector variations with its matte black end and minimalist branding in white. It additionally has a barely concaved form to permit your pinkies to raised grip the barrel.
The one caveat is the barrel measurement which is a bit on the fats measurement so simply pay attention to that if you’re utilizing sources with little or no area between output ports. The opposite noticeable end is a delicate reminiscence silicone wrap which appears to be the norm now on good aftermarket cables. It’s delicate springy and straightforward on the again of your ear.
By way of dealing with, the cable is barely firmer than some PVC designs I’ve beforehand used. In any other case, it doesn’t have a lot of a reminiscence retentive high quality to its design. It’s not that heavy both with tremendous low microphonics from the Maven Professional beneath the splitter, in addition to a pleasant steadiness, and no strain hotspots across the ears.
Packaging & Equipment
Distinctive Melody has modified their packaging for the Maven Professional. The retail field is just a little bit larger than the older extra compact bins and with a extra outstanding branding graphic on the entrance. It additionally opens and articulates nearer to the Empire Ears packaging with a carry lid and jewelry-style slide tray on the backside for any related equipment.
This explicit model is available in blue which I believe can be the right complement to the blue sapphire shell model of the Maven Professional and from the appears to be like of it, additionally the inventory case for the common model which is sapphire blue additionally. Maybe an identical black and gold model of the case can be nice for the opposite designs since they price an extra $900.
Equipment are a bit slim since this can be a customized design. You get no ear suggestions however you do get the guarantee card, cleansing material, and a perfectly refreshed carry case.
Carry Case
Just like the field, the brand new Maven Professional zipper case is larger and deeper than their older inventory circumstances. It additionally has a recent design that in some methods mimic’s the triangular lattice sample of the Maven Professional’s face plate.
The supplies additionally really feel like they’ve been given a little bit of a premium carry with barely softer, black-grained leather-based on the skin, and gray suede end on the within. The inner compartment is big, you possibly can simply match a number of IEMs and cables in there with room to spare.
It nonetheless has some dividers although to safe your Maven Professional models safely and forestall any unintended knocks from the cable plugs throughout transit. To additional shield the shells, the cable plugs have additionally been fitted with detachable delicate mesh shields.
