Review: Unique Melody Aero custom triple driver IEM - Page 4

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jonnyblazexxxx 

Thank you every for all the great reading - a lot of good information. The introductory review was stellar - absolutely, wonderfully thorough.

 

I was originally on the fence between going with a reshell of my TripleFi 10's or a reshell +1 mid driver. Now, after reading this review, I am considering the Aero, even though it would be even more of a reach in terms of price, as they are currently on sale for $420.

 

Some background: I do consider myself an audio file - i only listen to flac music, I have a DAC and amp at my PC for use with some HD650's. However, with going back to "school" and much more commuting my listening has shifted heavily back to using IEMs (TF10's). Depending on my mood and the music I am listening to, I do consider myself more of a basshead than not. I.e. I find the TF10's to produce adequate bass depending on the song (as often as not, I am dissapoitned with the bass output). 

 

The reviews (not just of the Aero, but all of UM) seem to point to a subjective "lacking" of bass. Can anyone comment as to whether or not they think the bass of the Aero would appease this bass head? I just don't want to get the Aero's and find the bass quantity (I already understand the quality is great) to be lacking! I don't want it to be less than the TF10's... If the bass can be said to be comparable (albeit different) or better in quantity, I think I'm going to go with the Aero's. 

 

Any advice or direction would be greatly appreciated!

 

Jonathan

Quote:

Originally Posted by project86 

As much as I hate to talk someone out of the wonderful UM Aero, in your case I don't think they would be the best match. The bass quantity is probably going to be an issue for you. It is not as prominent as the TF10 and would probably bug you with some songs.

 

On the other hand, if you use a player with a quality EQ function, then you would be quite happy with the results. Example: the stock Sansa Fuze/Clip/Clip+ doesn't cut it for EQ, but running Rockbox works perfectly to bring out the bass. Many other players have a nice EQ too. The Aero does respond very well to bass boost.

The Mage might have enough bass for you as customs seem to do better in the bass than most universal BA IEMs, but the bass is not often all that enhanced.  However I have not heard the Mage, so I can't comment on it.

Of the customs I have heard so far, the Kozee Infinity X3 seems like a basshead custom (but not lacking in the mids and treble), however it does cost more and isn't perfect, so that is a thought.  Also, I hope to get the Thousand Sound TS842 sometime in the near future, but my ear impressions have not arrived after almost a month.  I may have to send another set, this time with tracking.  Anyways, the TS842 is a dynamic/BA custom for $500 that supposedly sounds like the HD650 and could be good for the price.

Thanks for the input gentlemen!
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by average_joe 

 

 

The Mage might have enough bass for you as customs seem to do better in the bass than most universal BA IEMs, but the bass is not often all that enhanced.  However I have not heard the Mage, so I can't comment on it.

 

Of the customs I have heard so far, the Kozee Infinity X3 seems like a basshead custom (but not lacking in the mids and treble), however it does cost more and isn't perfect, so that is a thought.  Also, I hope to get the Thousand Sound TS842 sometime in the near future, but my ear impressions have not arrived after almost a month.  I may have to send another set, this time with tracking.  Anyways, the TS842 is a dynamic/BA custom for $500 that supposedly sounds like the HD650 and could be good for the price.

Average_Joe: Thank you for your input.  I just can't justify (as much as I would like to be able to) extending my budget out past the Aero's. The only real reason I am considering them is because with the temporary price reduction they fall near to being in the realm of what to me is "reasonable." I really was originally just going to do the TF10's, then I kept reading more and was considering the +1 driver upgrade, and then I see the Aero's and a few positive reviews about them. Without knowing more about the TS842 I would be hesitant to go that way as well, but that does sound quite interesting. I am a pretty huge fan of the HD650's (as long as the environment is dead quiet). I'll definitely be interested to your input about the TS842's down the road!

Thanks again!

Quote:

Originally Posted by project86 

As much as I hate to talk someone out of the wonderful UM Aero, in your case I don't think they would be the best match. The bass quantity is probably going to be an issue for you. It is not as prominent as the TF10 and would probably bug you with some songs.

 

On the other hand, if you use a player with a quality EQ function, then you would be quite happy with the results. Example: the stock Sansa Fuze/Clip/Clip+ doesn't cut it for EQ, but running Rockbox works perfectly to bring out the bass. Many other players have a nice EQ too. The Aero does respond very well to bass boost.

Project86: First, thanks for the reminder to get Rockbox. I've never really read into it all that much; I figured it would be much more of a process to get started. I have three mobile sources: a sony NWZ-A818 8GB, a 4GB Sansa Clip and a Sansa Clip+ 4GB with an 8GB MicroSD chip. Upon reading your comment I immediately went to find out what it would take to get my Clip+ "Rockboxed" - WOW how easy! and WOW what an upgrade! I have only done some exploring but it already blows away the standard Sansa userinterface and I haven't even gotten to the EQ part.

I am still on the fence about the Aero; as much as I would love to go this route, I have no experience with EQing other than just goofing around in Foobar2000 for maybe 10 minutes one evening. I wouldn't have the faintest idea in how to EQ for bass properly (other than I would think that frequencies between ~30 and ~250hz would need to be accentuated?!) The end result is that the bass would still be an issue for me if it is indeed lighter. But if I understand you properly, it isn't inherently the low end driver of the Aero? It's that it just isn't tuned to be heavier on the bass and that it is fully capable of producing more bass, it just needs some EQing to do so?

I've also used the Sony NWZ-A818's super-basic Eqing to up the bottom end with bass boost, and I do notice a marked increase in bass with the TF10's, but, depending on the song i just find it to be too muddy. 

Anyways, thanks for the input! I appreciate it!

Jonathan
 

I apologize for resurrecting this thread but I was hoping that someone might offer me some guidance. I'm on the hunt for my first IEM and have narrowed it down to either the UM Mage or Aero, I understand the driver differences between the two, and that the Mage has a slightly wider soundstage, but would anyone kindly point out any other major differences?

I enjoy an extremely neutral sound signature, with a preference for good treble over lack of bass, so I'm not sure if I'm willing to stretch for the extra $150 Mage. I would appreciate any help, thanks.

The Aero leans ever so slightly more towards fun and away from smooth, whilst the Mage, its strength in mids, is smooth and relaxing.  

The Mage is the superior IEM in terms of separation, space, accuracy, but has a more refined bottom end.  It is layered and has good extension, but has less presence than the Aero, which is has a bit more oomph to it but much less refinement.

If you appreciate a beautiful treble/mids, and like clear yet not overpowering bass, the Mage is the way to go.  Well worth the price bump if you can afford it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Synergy Sound 

I apologize for resurrecting this thread but I was hoping that someone might offer me some guidance. I'm on the hunt for my first IEM and have narrowed it down to either the UM Mage or Aero, I understand the driver differences between the two, and that the Mage has a slightly wider soundstage, but would anyone kindly point out any other major differences?

 

I enjoy an extremely neutral sound signature, with a preference for good treble over lack of bass, so I'm not sure if I'm willing to stretch for the extra $150 Mage. I would appreciate any help, thanks.

I would expect the Mage to be the superior IEM given it's price, but because this is my first ever custom IEM I think I'll go with the Aero, especially after Project86's comments. I can't justify spending that much money on something I have no experience with. So depending on how much I enjoy the Aero, I can keep it the way it is or add a driver(s) in the future.

Thanks for the feedback both of you.

I have (almost) decided that I will be ordering some UM Aero's. After getting in contact with UM, I was told the Areo is currently selling for $450. This seems like a good price as I get free impressions (I live in Beijing and UM directed me to an audiologist) and the postage is cheap. My IEM's at the moment are ER-4P's and I'm looking for an upgrade that will have a similar focus on the higher end of the sound spectrum.

I am really keen, however, to Eq them occasionally ( using EQu on an Iphone) for Hip Hop/Rap/House although most of my listening is indie rock/folk/alternative/jazz and this is where my question is focused. Is the quality, not just the amount/volume, of bass improved compared to the ER4's? So basically, if I Eq them, will the bass be comparable (in quality) to that coming from a JH-5?

I would also like to know if anyone has seen/heard a comparison between the UM Aero and the JH-5.

Thanks

Phil

Thanks for the info. If the bass is better than the ER4's (not that there is anything wrong with it IMO) I think I will like these.

Are you able to compare these to the UM Mage? I can get a decent deal on the Aero atm, $450 compared with $668 for the Mage so I'm wondering if its worth saving for a while longer.

Thanks for the help project86. Just got my impressions done for the Aero's. The process of getting them done, while not painful, is a bit uncomfortable. This might have been the case since the bite block was my fingers, I druelled on myself and communication was pretty limited (my Chinese is so-so). Others that have ordered from China have had a turnaround of about 10 days so I'm hoping to have them back pretty soon. I will post some pics and impressions when I get/try them.