Symphonium Crimson VS Unique Melody MEST Jet Black
IEM Comparison: Expert & Community Scores Side-by-Side
Symphonium Crimson and Unique Melody MEST Jet Black are in-ear monitors. Symphonium Crimson costs $1,500 while Unique Melody MEST Jet Black costs $2,000. Unique Melody MEST Jet Black is $500 more expensive. Symphonium Crimson holds a clear 0.6-point edge in reviewer scores (8.4 vs 7.8). Symphonium Crimson has better bass with a 0.6-point edge, Symphonium Crimson has better mids with a 0.7-point edge, Unique Melody MEST Jet Black has better dynamics with a 0.8-point edge and Symphonium Crimson has significantly better soundstage with a 1.3-point edge.
Insights
| Metric | Symphonium Crimson | Unique Melody MEST Jet Black |
|---|---|---|
| Bass | 8.6 | 8 |
| Mids | 7.7 | 7 |
| Treble | 7.5 | 7.5 |
| Details | 8.1 | 8 |
| Soundstage | 8.3 | 7 |
| Imaging | 8.5 | 8.5 |
| Dynamics | 7 | 7.8 |
| Tonality | 8.1 | 7.4 |
| Technicalities | 8.3 | 7.7 |
Symphonium Crimson Aggregated Review Score
Average Reviewer Scores
Average Reviewer Score:
8.4Very Positive
Unique Melody MEST Jet Black Aggregated Review Score
Average Reviewer Scores
Average Reviewer Score:
7.8Strongly Favorable
Reviews Comparison
Symphonium Crimson reviewed by Smirk Audio
7.9
Reviewer Score
Unique Melody MEST Jet Black reviewed by Smirk Audio
8.2
Reviewer Score
Symphonium Crimson reviewed by Jaytiss
7.8
Reviewer Score
Jaytiss Youtube Channel
Unique Melody MEST Jet Black reviewed by Jaytiss
7.8
Reviewer Score
Youtube Video Summary
The MEST Jet Black oozes premium flair: a jet-black shell with gold nozzle and screws, slightly recessed 2-pin sockets, and jewelry-like fit and finish. The accessories are playful and practical—think a “mushroom” case with IEM booties—and the bundled Dreamer/Dreamy cable feels well-made, if a bit dry/papery in hand and oddly marked for L/R behind the ear hooks. Pricing hovers around $2,000 with the cable (less without), positioning this as a luxury set where build quality clearly pulls weight.
Sonically, the Jet Black leans neutral, safe, and clean. A tasteful dip around 4 kHz tamps down sibilance, yielding treble that’s well-mannered with good air and clarity, while mids stay tidy rather than punchy. Resolution is high, imaging is confident, note weight is convincing, and the overall presentation feels laid-back and inoffensive—great across genres and an excellent EQ canvas for those who like to tailor. The trade-off: it doesn’t try to wow with big dynamics or spice; it’s more about polished refinement than fireworks.
Comparisons paint the picture: AFUL Performer 7 offers lively treble at a far lower price and could be the smarter pick for excitement per dollar. Stardust tracks a similar FR but feels less premium; Dusks (≈$350) sound flatter and similarly agreeable yet look/feel budget by comparison. Against peers, Apostle pushes a bit more upper-mid energy and vocal presence, while Chronicle can come off more engaging. For listeners chasing a neutral, resolute, and impeccably built IEM that plays everything gracefully—and who value aesthetic luxury as much as sonics—the MEST Jet Black is a compelling, if costly, choice.
Jaytiss Youtube Channel
Symphonium Crimson reviewed by Head-Fi.org
8.3
* score rescaled + normalized
Unique Melody MEST Jet Black reviewed by Head-Fi.org
8.3
* score rescaled + normalized
Symphonium Crimson (more reviews)
Symphonium Crimson reviewed by Z-Reviews
9.5
* score rescaled + normalized
Youtube Video Summary
Symphonium Crimson lands with a bang: a four–BA, four-way crossover design that somehow delivers epic energy without a dynamic driver. Tonality reads neutral-bright with thunderous sub-bass—not a basshead hump, but a slab of solid, deep extension that stays clean. Mids stay clear for vocals and strings, treble rises for sparkle and excitement, and the presentation spreads out like pulled-apart audio “shreds” across a big canvas. The effect is clarity, detail, and slam that feel bigger than the driver count suggests, making music and film scores straight-up addictive.
Technical notes matter here. Nominal impedance is a weirdly low ~6Ω, so source pairing can swing results; the set scales and sounds happiest on robust gear that can keep low-impedance loads stable. Despite the armature array, coherency stays intact, dynamics hit harder than expected, and volume headroom invites goosebumps. It’s not a “bass monster,” yet the sub-bass authority and lively treble make it exciting rather than polite, with imaging that feels wide and tactile.
Ergonomics are the gripe list: the short nozzle can challenge seal and the premium cable lacks a formed ear hook, encouraging twist and loosening—tip rolling (even reversed-orientation tricks) helps. Build is flashy—carbon-fiber shell, red inlays, metal case that’s too hefty for travel. Pricing sits around $1,500 (or $1,700 with 8-wire cable); for sheer fun, impact, and best-in-brand performance, the value argument holds. For all-day softness, something like Twilight stays comfier; for movies, big scores, and “wow” sessions, Crimson feels like a must-grab and arguably the best Symphonium to date.
Z-Reviews Youtube Channel
Symphonium Crimson reviewed by Jays Audio
9
Reviewer Score
Symphonium Crimson reviewed by Yifang
8.5
Reviewer Score
Symphonium Crimson reviewed by Nymz
8.5
Reviewer Score
Symphonium Crimson reviewed by Shuwa-T
8.4
Reviewer Score
Symphonium Crimson reviewed by Precogvision
8
Reviewer Score
Precogvision Youtube Channel
Unique Melody MEST Jet Black (more reviews)
Unique Melody MEST Jet Black reviewed by Super* Review
7*
* score rescaled + normalized
Youtube Video Summary
MEST Jet Black takes the series’ quirky tuning and doubles down on the excitement: a bright, incisive top end, tight bass with real sub-bass reach, and that trademark holographic imaging that spreads voices and instruments across a wide stage. The FR is unusual—think a rise starting near ~300 Hz with relaxed upper mids—so it doesn’t read neutral or warm; instead it plays lively and intense, sometimes sibilant without the right tips. Ceramic shells look killer but are heavy, the stock cable is a thin 4.4 mm affair that feels mismatched, and there’s pronounced driver flex that can be distracting, especially when lying on a pillow.
Tip choice is pivotal: narrow-bore options (e.g., AS400-style or Dunu Candy) tame treble while preserving space, whereas Final E smooths things but blunts the “special” imaging. Get the fit deep and stable and the set rewards with crisp separation, energetic treble sparkle, and punchy—if not chest-thumping—mid-bass. It’s an engaging specialist rather than an all-day cruiser, and the $1,700 tag means those ergonomics matter.
Against peers, Fiio’s FX17 comes off warmer and more balanced with nicer bass texture but less image “wow.” AüR Audio’s Prestige Limited hits harder down low and stays contrasty, yet can sound a touch smoothed in timbre. DUNU’s Glacier follows a bigger-bass, Harman-leaning path that’s smoother and more natural overall while conceding some of the MEST’s lateral stage trickery. Net: stunning look, standout imaging, significant caveats; a solid 3/5 for those chasing spectacle over softness.
Super* Review original ranking
Super* Review Youtube ChannelSymphonium Crimson Details
Driver Configuration: 4BA
Tuning Type: U-Shaped
Brand: Symphonium Top Symphonium IEMs
Price (Msrp): $1,500
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Unique Melody MEST Jet Black Details
Driver Configuration: n/a
Tuning Type: W-Shaped
Brand: Unique Melody Top Unique Melody IEMs
Price (Msrp): $2,000
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Symphonium Crimson User Review Score
Average User Scores
Average User Score: n/a
Based on 0 user reviews
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Unique Melody MEST Jet Black User Review Score
Average User Scores
Average User Score: n/a
Based on 0 user reviews
No user reviews yet. Be the first one who writes a review!
Symphonium Crimson Gaming Score
Gaming Score & Grade
- The gaming score is prioritizing technical capabilities of the IEM (Separation, Layering, Soundstage) and good value.
Gaming Score
7.2Gaming Grade
A-Unique Melody MEST Jet Black Gaming Score
Gaming Score & Grade
- The gaming score is prioritizing technical capabilities of the IEM (Separation, Layering, Soundstage) and good value.
Gaming Score
6.1Gaming Grade
BSymphonium Crimson Scorings
Average Technical & Tuning Grades
Average Tunign Grade
A+- Tuning feels refined, blending frequencies with convincing realism and engagement. Transitions between registers feel effortless.
Average Technical Grade
A+- It sounds refined and controlled, keeping instruments neatly separated with immersive staging. Busy arrangements remain neatly organized.
Unique Melody MEST Jet Black Scorings
Average Technical & Tuning Grades
Average Tunign Grade
A-- It balances warmth and clarity well, showing only minor quirks along the way. Timbre feels believable with most instruments.
Average Technical Grade
A- Technical performance is solid, offering clear separation and consistent detail retrieval. There's enough space for instruments to breathe.
Symphonium Crimson User Reviews
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