REVIEW: Unique Melody Merlin - hybrid dynamic/balanced armature custom IEM - Page 12

Are they flooded with orders or something?

With all the group buys coming in from all over? Of course!

Let's hope the QC doesn't suffer due to the mad rush.

I'd say that they're not perfect. I did have my SE530 upgraded to 8xBAs of which they completed and sent back around 20th Sept but I had some distortion/freq cutout issues so back they went on 3rd Oct (spent 2 weeks to be sure it wasn't just me, my music, etc.). They had it for about 5 weeks and sent it back to me that they couldn't find my problem and to them everything sounded fine.

Although the problem is not immediately apparent, upon receiving it back earlier this month I was able to find it again within 5-10 mins. Spent another extended weekend testing and actually recording the distortion via my iPhone's recorder, I sent that recording to Stephen/custom-iem who confirmed it was an issue. So the IEM went back to UM again. This leads me to speculate that they're probably busy with all the promo and group buys that their post production support gets prioritised lower and probably spent less than 5 mins in the 5 weeks to test my distorted IEM.

In 2 months, I've sent my SE530x8 back to UM twice, and have had it in my possession less than 3xweeks out of the 2 months (this excludes the original 1 month waiting for the initial order). All up though, I've still not lost faith in UM as they're (should be!!) making a pair of Merlins for me from the Japan Promo & I'm a patient guy. However I would say that my 1st UM experience isn't as smooth as some.

want

:(

My Merlins were shipped yesterday and I should get them soon  The turnaround time for me from when UM received my impressions to sending them out was 20 days, so I'm pretty impressed, especially with all these promos around the world. I didn't order on a promo or special deal, it seems like the turnaround time for people who ordered during a promo is longer.

Thanks for the great write up! I believe these will be my first custom once I can afford them.

So, Merlin or Miracle? This is what I'm looking for: powerful bass response, but with the best possible definition (unlike the muddy SM3's bass), forward/upfront mids, especially vocals ala UM3X/SM3 and the most possible realistic highs. Best possible definition/clarity/details (however I'm a bass-head. But I'm a treble-head too).

P.S. Will these benefit from a Silver Dragon cable, or the stock cable is good enough?

Miracle for that even all round presentation has bass IF it is in the music, however Merlin has that deep subwoofer type bass but a fraction less treble sparkle, tad laid back mids.

I think Silver cable is quite a good idea as I will be getting it for my Merlin.

Never heard the SM3 sorry, but I have owned iE8, & Merlin is way better, Bass is not flabby or bloated just rattles your head

Quote:

Originally Posted by maguire 

Never heard the SM3 sorry, but I have owned iE8, & Merlin is way better, Bass is not flabby or bloated just rattles your head

Couldn't help noticing the Sony Z in your signature... That wouldn't be the new NW-Z1070, would it?

 Hi Sorensiim, no I dont have that player, mine is the NWZ-S739F.

Anyone  receive their Merlins yet?

Quote:

Originally Posted by maguire 

 Hi Sorensiim, no I dont have that player, mine is the NWZ-S739F.

Anyone  receive their Merlins yet?

I've been eyeing that DAP and I'm currently selling off my desktop rig (which gets no use) and plan on ordering Merlins at the beginning of January. When did you order your Merlins?