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Unique Melody Remold Appreciation and Impressions Thread

#871
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1/18/10 at 11:13pm
  • Joined: June 2009
  • Location: Oklahoma City
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MaoDi View Post
The mages are fantastic earphone, even more fantastic for the price. But it's not the kind of signature that everyone can take. I myself, love the sound signature.
Oh yeah for sure im not saying i dont love the sound signature, just if i had to do it over i might go a different route. I really do love the detail and signature. The only thing i think would make them perfect for my ears is just a tiny bit more bass impact and a bit more quantity not much though and i would be 100% happy.

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#872
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1/19/10 at 4:25am
  • Joined: July 2009
  • Post Count: 126
Quote:
Originally Posted by MaoDi View Post
The mages are fantastic earphone, even more fantastic for the price. But it's not the kind of signature that everyone can take. I myself, love the sound signature.
Thanks Maodi. I have just paid for a pair of Mages, and your review has convinced me I made a good choice.

That aside, I would like to know, based on your experience with the new 6driver IEMs from UM, how different both (TF18 and SE530-6driver) sound vs the UM Mages.

I have the UM3X and I like the separation; however I find that the highs are not sparkly enough unlike the PFEs. Soundstage is also lacking. Understand from Bakthir that the Mages sound pretty much like UM3X+PFE with a wide soundstage, so that kinda fits my needs. Not sure what you think vis-a-vis the new 6-driver IEMs. Thks
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#873
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1/19/10 at 5:05am
  • Joined: March 2008
  • Location: UK
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Quote:
Originally Posted by royhendo View Post
More questions (sorry if they're answered earlier - I'll proceed to read back now)...

Do they send you an email when they receive your package?
?

iPhone 3G/Ipod Classic 160GB; ACS T1 (1st generation); ACS T1 (2nd Generation)

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#874
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1/19/10 at 5:48am
  • Joined: May 2008
  • Location: Vancouver, Canada
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Usually they send you an email, sorry for not getting to your question.

@supern0va, the sound of the TF18 and SE6X3 are significantly different to the Mage. If you know what the TF10 and the Se530 sound like, well their6 driver counterparts sound like them but everything is much better. That's probably th best way to explain it.
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#875
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1/19/10 at 7:56am
  • Joined: March 2008
  • Location: UK
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That's alright mate - there are loads of people on the thread

I've emailed to ask. I lost my wallet (or possibly it's been stolen) and it looks like I've lost my package tracking details as a result.

iPhone 3G/Ipod Classic 160GB; ACS T1 (1st generation); ACS T1 (2nd Generation)

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#876
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1/19/10 at 9:08am
  • Joined: March 2008
  • Location: UK
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And they've confirmed they have it. Beautiful!

iPhone 3G/Ipod Classic 160GB; ACS T1 (1st generation); ACS T1 (2nd Generation)

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#877
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1/19/10 at 11:21am
  • Joined: July 2009
  • Post Count: 126
Quote:
Originally Posted by MaoDi View Post
@supern0va, the sound of the TF18 and SE6X3 are significantly different to the Mage. If you know what the TF10 and the Se530 sound like, well their6 driver counterparts sound like them but everything is much better. That's probably th best way to explain it.
hmmm not sure if you can compare them in greater detail. i've heard the se530 but not the tf10. i quote u from the other thread:

Quote:
Originally Posted by MaoDi View Post
Ok so to start off. Both monitors are really really fast. They easily outclass all my monitors in terms of speed. Running them with a high-end source, the soundstage for both is wide wide wide and tall tall. It just sounds like you're sitting in a reference room with speakers surrounding you.

The TF18 first. Using the UE700 driver as the highs (i'm sure the TWFK will sound just as nice), the highs are crystal clear, with a fantastic tone to it. It's no longer the irritating high frequencies that many people find in UE, really crisp, clean high frequency response with lots of detail. The decay is just perfect as cymbals fade out absolutely perfectly. Mid-range...yup you probably guessed it that giant chunk is finally filled in. All i can say is, basically the mids are what the JH10X3 has, but more refined, quicker, with better accuracy. Wonder if this is what the JH13 sounds like? Lows are deep (deeper than the UE11), quick and punchy. The signature is still like the TF10, but it's much quicker, with a quicker and more powerful impact.

Overall, the TF18 is less than neutral, and offers a perfect sound for audiophile listeners, and touring artists.

The SE6X#, what can i say but it sounds like a Se530 on Steroids. To begin with, the really warm sound signature is slightly brightened up to offer a overall crisper and cleaner sound signature. Highs are now dominated with a TWFK driver (ok fine, i cheated i got a proprietary driver here as well. But like the UE700, this proprietary is also a TWFK alternate). So all the highs you want is now in the SE530, the highs aren't as dominant in the SE6X3 compared to the TF-18, but think of a Mage, turn down the brightness a little. That is what you are getting, plus more details, and more refinement. Mid-range is basically the SE530s but quicker, and cleaner. (on the frequency chart, the mid-range is actually put even closer than the stcok SE530, but because there's more highs and lows now, it evens it out) Lows...haha. Nope it's not that warm, messy stuff that many of you think the SE530 has anymore. The dual low drivers will brings the frequency response down to 10Hz (got them checked out at a local audio equipment store...but hey most of us can't hear it to 10Hz anyways. I can, but i only know that cause of a hearing test.) Impact, Punch, Decay, Tone are all very well defined in the lows of the SE6X3. It may not be as powerful as the TF18, but it's more controlled and has a faster decay so the punch is more like a ninja jumping out and punching you then running away rather than buff picking you up and punching you in the gut (ok that's probably one of the worst similes ever).

The SE6X3 if very fun to listen to, but this is a far more suitable monitor for studio recording, sound engineers, and on-stage monitorng for vocalists, and guitarist.
am i right to say:

soundstage: tf18 = se6x3 > mage
high: tf18 >mage > se6x3 (not too clear from your review)
mid: se6x3 > mage ? tf18
low: tf18 > se6x3 > mage

how abt siblance? does tf18 or se6x3 show any siblance? the mage sample i tried (well some1 else's iem), siblance was non-existent!

so relatively, what music suits mage, tf18 and se6x3 respectively?

thanks
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#878
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1/19/10 at 11:26am
  • Joined: August 2009
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mid should be se 6x3 > mage = tf18
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#879
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1/19/10 at 11:52am
  • Joined: May 2008
  • Location: Vancouver, Canada
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Soundstage: TF18=Se6X3 > Mage
High: TF18 = Se6X3 > Mage
High Mid: Se6X3 = Mage > TF18
Low Mids: L Se6X3 > TF18 >Mage
Upper Lows: TF18 = Se6X3 > Mage
Lows: TF18 = Se6X3 > Mage
Deep Lows: TF18 > Se6X3 > Mage
Decay: TF18 = Se6X3 = Mage
Speed: Se6X3 > TF18 > Mage
Clarity (in terms of clearness, not how crispy is sounds) : TF18 = Se6X3 > Mage
Crystal Clearness: Mage > Se6X3 > TF18 (just cause TF18 is warmer)
Instrumental separation: Se6X3 = Mage > TF18
Frequency extension: TF18 > Se6X3 > Mage
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#880
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1/19/10 at 12:09pm
  • Joined: July 2009
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MaoDi View Post
Soundstage: TF18=Se6X3 > Mage
High: TF18 = Se6X3 > Mage
High Mid: Se6X3 = Mage > TF18
Low Mids: L Se6X3 > TF18 >Mage
Upper Lows: TF18 = Se6X3 > Mage
Lows: TF18 = Se6X3 > Mage
Deep Lows: TF18 > Se6X3 > Mage
Decay: TF18 = Se6X3 = Mage
Speed: Se6X3 > TF18 > Mage
Clarity (in terms of clearness, not how crispy is sounds) : TF18 = Se6X3 > Mage
Crystal Clearness: Mage > Se6X3 > TF18 (just cause TF18 is warmer)
Instrumental separation: Se6X3 = Mage > TF18
Frequency extension: TF18 > Se6X3 > Mage
hey maodi, thanks for the analysis!
looks like maybe i could have been better off with the se6x3 (seems to beat mage in everything except crystal clearness), which i had the opportunity to but decided to pass 'cos im not sure how long the se530 drivers would last; at least the mage drivers would b all new...
we'll see how i feel in a few mths time... if i need an upgrade! :P
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#881
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1/19/10 at 12:48pm
  • Joined: November 2007
  • Location: Yonkers/NYC, NY
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Ok...I'm a little confused...what am I losing in translation here...maybe I have companies confused...which company can add the drivers to the SE530 during the remold? I have contacted UM and they informed me they do not.
Winter: Zen Vision 30GB -> Qables LOD -> RSA Tomahawk -> Shure SE530
Summer: Sony A818 SLV -> Custom EQed -> Shure SE530 -> Ears
On The Phone: iPhone 3GS 32GB -> Shure MPA -> Shure SE530
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#882
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1/19/10 at 5:46pm
  • Joined: January 2010
  • Post Count: 4
@JonnyIce, it is UM. For some reason, their communication seems to be a bit sketchy on this issue. I also asked them about the SE530 option and was initially told that it could not be done at all, then was told that there is only a six driver option, and finally told that I can either reshell, add one mid driver, or upgrade to six drivers. It seems that there might be multiple people who are monitoring a common e-mail address and this seems to result in some occasionally mixed up communication.

@MaoDi, how would you compare the SE6X3 (and I guess the TF18) to other high end customs? I know you briefly mentioned that you think it would stand up to six driver offerings from UE and JHA, but I wonder how you might compare it to your JH10X3, ES3X, or a JH13?

Also, do you have any information regarding the option to add a single mid-driver to the SE530? I had seen it discussed in this thread a few months ago, but it seems no one decided to actually go through with it.

I was considering upgrading to an entry-level custom (UE4/5 or JH5) but if a similar expenditure could turn my SE530 into something much better, that seems to be a viable option to consider.

It is unfortunate that UM won't offer a warranty on their upgrades. I guess I can understand not having a warranty on a "simple" reshell, but the six driver upgrades cost a pretty penny and are effectively almost like purchasing a new custom IEM. Perhaps this is the benefit of going through Null or another dealer instead of going directly to UM...
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#883
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1/19/10 at 8:34pm
  • Joined: May 2008
  • Location: Vancouver, Canada
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I compared the TF18 to the JH10X3 last page, and i did a review of the JH10X3 and the ES3X. So for a more thorough understanding, i would suggest read te JH10X3 vs Westone ES3X review first, then read what i wrote back last page.

I will check to see if there is warranty for the 6 driver upgrade. But even if there wasn't, it's significant cheaper then any other 6 driver monitor out there, and if anything were to go wrong you'd have a lot more cash in your pocket to fix the monitors.
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#884
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1/19/10 at 8:57pm
  • Joined: January 2010
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@MaoDi, thanks , I did read your JH10X3 vs. ES3X review, and I also remember seeing your discussion of the TF18 vs. JH10X3. I think I got a little hung up since I was thinking of the SE6X3 instead of the TF18, but I think I can take your description above and get an idea of how it compares.

I did write to UM about a warranty on the six driver upgrade and was told that there's only the 30 day refit coverage. Although it seems like you've probably been instrumental in helping UM design their six driver upgrades, so if you want to put a word in and try to get them to implement some kind of warranty, I don't think anyone here would complain.

On a related note, does anyone have an idea of what kind of things could possibly go wrong with these kind of monitors? I've never owned a custom before, but the most common causes of trouble that I've run into with the universals (from Shure and UE) that I've owned are external shell problems, cable problems, and problems due to what I assume is sweat since I used to regularly have problems with my universals when I used them at the gym or when running. MaoDi, I thought I previously saw that you estimated that reshells might last for 2 or 3 years (correct me if I'm wrong), was this with respect to the shells or the internal components as well? I've seen wildly varying estimates on the longevity of custom IEMs.
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#885
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1/20/10 at 8:55am
  • Joined: October 2008
  • Location: Singapore
  • Post Count: 238
regarding the warranty on added drivers to an existing remolded universal, they only provide the 30day refit warranty and nothing else.


there's a loophole if you wanna exploit null audio, since they offer

Warranty:
1 month free re-fitting guarantee
1 Year labor and parts warranty

IEM Remolding + Modification Service (SF5Pro, TF10Pro, UM2) [CustomMod] - S$432.95 : Null Audio Studio, Where everything is purely handmade


located just below the accessories section


edit: the price in the link is in sgd, don't be afraid

iMod 4G / Clip + / iPod Touch 2G > Pico Amp/DAC > JH13 / MS1000i
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