Astell&Kern x Empire Ears NOVUS VS Unique Melody Mason FS Soleil Tomb

Very engaging IEM. Bass extends deep and hits hard and fast, mids are clear and lush with very good weight and tactility. Treble is clear without fatigue. It's a pretty warm IEM but has clarity that you don't usually find with this sort of tuning. Instrument separation is pretty standout. Very expensive. Very large IEMs. And they have driver flex, which is not what you'd expect from something that costs this much. Nonetheless, a very fun IEM. Tour Unit

---

Audionotions original ranking

Website (Audionotions)

Excellent bass dynamics and texture. Cold timbre and driver flex. Otherwise excellent technicalities and solid tuning. Cons: Driver flex, cold timbre.

---

Smirk Audio original ranking

Smirk Audio Head-Fi Profile

Highly resolving, technical, and balanced across the frequency spectrum. Is shouty/edgy in the upper mids/lower treble. Cons: Price, treble peak.

---

Smirk Audio original ranking

Smirk Audio Head-Fi Profile

The Unique Melody Mason FS Soleil Tombé delivers a neutrally balanced sound signature characterized by a smooth, analog-like tonality across lows and mids, paired with naturally resolving treble. Its bass presentation stands out with deep extension and textured rumble, leaning toward mid-bass emphasis for a fuller, warmer impact that defies typical BA limitations—thanks partly to the innovative BC-Turbo Micro Booster enhancing the FreqShift bone conduction driver. This results in cohesive bass-to-mids integration without bloat, while upper mids maintain clarity and vocal forwardness.

Technically, the IEM excels with an expansive soundstage that stretches proportionally in width, depth, and height, though layering and separation prioritize blend over surgical precision. Its imaging remains accurate, placing instruments and vocals holographically—a trait amplified by the included First Times Shielding Pro cable, which deepens background blackness and enhances spatial cues. Source pairing is critical: warmer DAPs like the Cayin N30LE (Classic Tube/Class A) elevate its organic texture, while leaner sources may skew treble energy.

Tonally, the Soleil Tombé shines with natural timbre and richness, particularly in acoustic genres like jazz or classical, where its textured bass and organic mids convey instruments authentically. However, its laidback decay and subdued treble air make it less suited for EDM or highly synthetic tracks demanding razor-sharp transient speed. While tip selection can fine-tune bass weight (Symbio W tips heighten detail retrieval), the IEM’s coherence and non-fatiguing profile cater to extended listening—despite its steep price.

---