Reviews by jaker782
Intro:
Since the Xenon 6 and Neon 4 share the same DNA, I've decided to write a combined review for these iems with a brief comparison between the two. The Xenon is the flagship and the Neon is the baby in the Frontier Series line-up.
Rather than regurgitate the product info for the new Frontier Series from Fir Audio, I’ll provide the following links containing all this good information:
https://www.firaudio.com/store/xenon-6
https://www.firaudio.com/store/neon-4
The Fir Frontier Series iems can be purchase from MusicTeck here:
https://shop.musicteck.com/collections/fir-audio
Specs & Driver Technology:
Xe6 Driver Specs:
1x 10mm Kinetic Bass Dynamic Driver
1x OpenDriver Balanced Armature Driver for bass
2x OpenDriver Balanced Armature Driver for mids
1x OpenDriver Balanced Armature Driver for highs (with Sound Reflector)
1x OpenDriver Electrostatic Driver for ultra highs
Ne4 Driver Specs:
1x 10mm Kinetic Bass Dynamic Driver
1x OpenDriver Balanced Armature Driver for bass
1x OpenDriver Balanced Armature Driver for mids
1x OpenDriver Balanced Armature Driver for highs (with Sound Reflector)
Frontier Series Tech:
Build, Ergonomics & Accessories:
The build quality of the Frontier Series is exemplary. The stainless steel shells with tasteful gold plating and glass gold leaf infused faceplates on the Xe6 are absolutely stunning. The silver shells with marbled faceplates on the Ne4 are equally stunning, but my preference is the black on gold aesthetics of the Xe6. I do think these are probably the most beautiful iems I’ve had the pleasure of owning. The shells have a nice heft to them and appear to be very durable, but only time will tell how well the mirror finish holds up.
The shells are much smaller than expected, although a tad thick, with curved edges and ergonomic shape that fits in my ear canal perfectly with no discomfort. Despite two fewer drivers in the Ne4, both iems share the same shell size and shape. Fit is fantastic, even given the added weight over iems with resin shells. The shells do stick out from my ears a tad, but this is par for the course with a majority of multi-driver iems. Unfortunately, I was not able to get a good seal with the selection of stock tips. However, after going to my trusty Azla Sedna Light Short tips, I was able to get a comfortable, consistent seal with the shells flush against my inner ear to obtain the full benefit of the open port kinetic bass driver.
The included 8-core pure copper braided cable is of high quality, but on the thinner side compared to the boutique cables often included with flagship iems. I am not a huge fan of overly thick, heavy cables, so I can appreciate the cable selected for inclusion here. The cable is soft and supple with no microphonics, and includes angled 2-pin connectors and a right angle 4.4mm termination, which I greatly appreciate! I really wish more manufacturers would go with the angled connectors, both at the iem and source side since I really think it is more ergonomic than standard straight connectors. And in recent years, it seems 4.4mm has taken over as the standard termination, so it is nice to see Fir Audio recognizing this. Another small attention to detail that I really appreciate is the fact that the included cable contains 2-pin connectors for flush mounted sockets, which provides a much cleaner look that the recessed socket 2-pin cables that are all too often provided with iems without recessed sockets! Kudos to Fir Audio for getting this right!
As mentioned in the Fir Audio literature found on their website, both the Xenon 6 and neon 4 comes with 3 pairs of ATOM XS tuning modules, which can help tweak the house signature of the iem a bit to help dial in your preferred sound. The silver modules come pre-installed, which are middle ground between the gold modules, which provide an elevated bass response, and the black modules, which tone down the bass a bit and increase the treble response slightly.
How did I know what these modules do and what the differences are between them? Well, I unfortunately did not get this information with the iem packaging itself like you would expect, as it was not included! You get a card mentioning how to properly insert the iems into your ears but there is no mention whatsoever about the tuning modules! These iems include a rather unique ATOM (air transferring open module) pressure relief system to reduce ear fatigue and tweak the sound slightly, and yet no documentation describing the different modules or how to swap them out is included in the package, which is a bit frustrating. Luckily, Google got me my answer and the swap process is relatively straightforward… turn hex key left to loosen and right to tighten, but do so with a steady hand as these modules are tiny!
I completed my review exclsuively with the stock silver modules for two reasons. The first of which is that silver is the “balanced” tuning that I felt would appeal to me most, and the fact that the modules are so small and tedious to swap out that I did not want to risk losing one from multiple changes and was not super confident I could definitively hear changes in tonality between modules anyway due to the time it takes to exchange them.
SOUND
Xe6:
Overall, the Xenon 6 is an extremely dynamic iem with a HUGE 3-dimensional sound anchored by its impactful, kinetic bass driver and thick, euphoric tonality balanced by a shimmering, highly detailed, yet fatigue-free treble response. It is first and foremost a musical iem, but will surprise you with its technical prowess, layering, and imaging capabilities.
Ne4:
Overall, the Neon 4 is a more even-handed iem with a large 3-dimensional sound (just not a huge as Xe6) anchored by its impactful, kinetic bass driver and euphoric tonality with a forward, engaging midrange that excels with vocals. In the upper registers you get a smooth, yet detailed treble response that is a bit softer and not as attention grabbing as the Xe6. To me, the Ne4’s strength is its showcase of the midrange, coupled with the analog bass delivered by the open ported kinetic driver.
Bass
Xe6:
The innovative open kinetic bass port is the star of the show here. The Xenon 6 exhibits an immersive bass experience that is extremely analog sounding and difficult to describe without experiencing it for yourself. The bass is huge, hard-hitting, and extremely dynamic with a natural decay that does not sound bloated, wooly, or too thick. The speed and impact is just right, with ample presence and authority without crossing the threshold into extreme bass-head territory that can dwarf the rest of the frequency response. Sub-bass extends deep, impactful, and visceral to the extent that if you close your eyes, it is like you are at a live show and can actually feel the rumbling. The mid-bass is quite thick, providing a full, meaty, romantic presentation that provides a seamless transition into the midrange.
Ne4:
Neon 4 exhibits a similar immersive bass experience thanks to the kinetic driver, although with a smidge less impact and rumble, likely due to the smaller open port on the back of the shells. The bass again is huge, hard-hitting, and very dynamic with a natural decay that does not sound bloated, wooly, or too thick. Sub-bass extends deep, but is a tad less visceral than the bigger brother Xe6. The mid-bass is still on the thicker side with a romantic presentation, but is not as elevated as the Xe6, which allows the mids to become more of the focus and be positioned more forward in the mix.
Mids
Xe6:
The mids exhibit a warm and euphoric tonality that provides excellent texture to vocals and guitars. Male vocals are weighty, musical, and are delivered with plenty of emotion to captivate you lose yourself in the music. The lower-mids transition into the upper-mids with a gentle dip from around 300 Hz down to 1K and subsequent rise to a peak at around 2.5K that is very linear in nature, despite the dip being unconventionally positioned closer to the upper-mid region. The transition is linear and smooth without abrupt dips or peaks, and although there is more emphasis on lower mids than upper mids with the Xenon 6, I do not hear any wonkiness or anything unnatural in this region. Male vocals sound natural, and are positioned neither too far back nor too forward in the mix. Upper mids are smooth and non-fatiguing, with female vocals sounding natural, although a bit laid back and a tad recessed from what I am used to. I found that female vocals were placed a bit too far back in the mix on some recordings, but the more I listened, the more natural it sounded, so it really was not bothersome. Overall, I would still prefer a bit more bite and presence for female vocals, but I’d definitely take this tuning over the overly forward, peaky, fatiguing upper mids you get with many other iems. There is zero harshness or fatigue with the Xenon 6. Overall, the entire midrange is smooth and natural sounding, despite the slightly unconventional tuning.
Ne4:
The midrange of the Neon 4 exhibits a warm and euphoric tonality that really shines with vocals and guitars. Male vocals are again weighty, musical, and are delivered with enough emotion to captivate you get you lost in the music. The lower-mids transition into the upper-mids also follows a gentle dip and subsequent rise, but seems to be positioned such that both male and female vocals carry equal weight to my ears. The transition again is linear and smooth without abrupt dips or peaks and sounds very natural for vocals. Upper mids are smooth and non-fatiguing, with female vocals sounding natural. Vocals are showcased rather nicely on the Ne4, as they are a touch forward sounding and often become the focus, along with that kinetic bass. Despite the forward vocal presentation, I do not detect any congestion in the mids, as everything still sounds well separated.
Treble
Xe6:
I feel the treble on the Xe6 is the secret sauce that makes it overall tuning work so well. This iem really is chameleon-like in the sense that you think you are getting a warm, dark tuning tilted towards the low end, then you realize the EST drivers are tuned so magnificently that you get this amazing treble extension that is extremely detailed, shimmery, and airy with zero fatigue. The treble quality is so good that it almost matches the quality of bass from the novel kinetic driver. This is quite a feat! The clarity is superb for being such a romantically tuned, euphoric iem. The crisp, present highs really help bring out details and provide an extremely well fleshed out, balanced sounding iem.
Ne4:
I hear the highs on the Ne4 as adequately present, with good treble extension that is detailed, shimmery, and non-fatiguing. To my ears, the BA drivers handling the treble on the Ne4 provides a softer presentation with more rounded notes than what you get with the sharper transients on the Xe6. The highs are a touch smoother with less air overall so details do not jump out at you and demand your attention like with the Xe6. While it seems the treble here does take a back seat to the bass and midrange presentation, this is by no means a dark iem, as there is enough high quality detail that comes out in the highs that maintains good balance in the overall tuning.
Soundstage, Imaging, and Dynamics
Xe6:
Xenon 6 exhibits a huge, enveloping stage with excellent extension in all directions. The soundstage has a holographic quality that is eerily three-dimensional sounding, like you are there, in person, with the music being performed around you in a massive hall. This has to be the largest stage I’ve experienced in an iem and is well within the realm of many full-sized headphones, which is a huge accomplishment.
Imaging is also the best I’ve heard in an iem. It is very accurate with laser-like precision in instrument placement to the extent that you can clearly hear each individual note with absolutely no hint of congestion to my ears, which is quite a feat for an iem touting a house signature that is thick and euphoric.
Macrodynamics are off the charts on this one. The Xenon 6 delivers such a huge, grand sound thanks to the open kinetic bass port that really puts you there with the music. The insane dynamic range is extremely engaging and demands attention. Despite the overall warm tuning, this is not a laid back iem at all… in fact it is hard to not focus on the music when listening to the Xenon 6 since the highly dynamic nature of this iem grabs your attention and doesn't let go.
Ne4:
Neon 4 also exhibits a large, enveloping stage due to the open ported driver, but the slight forwardness of the mids gives the impression of a more compact presentation that is not as expansive as I hear with the Xenon 6. The soundstage is still well above average, with the same holographic, 3-D quality, just not to the same extent as the Xe6.
The Ne4 also images quite well with accurate and clear instrument placement without congestion, though it is more difficult to pick out individual notes on the Ne4, again due to the less airy, more laid back presentation.
While macrodynamics are still well above average here with a grandiose sound thanks to the kinetic bass port, the Neon 4 is a bit softer and not as energetic compared to the attention seeking Xe6. There is still a very good level of engagement here that I really enjoy, and can really appreciate the slightly laid-back dynamics as this presentation strikes a nice balance between being sleepy and too energetic.
Comparison
Below are a few notes on my comparison between these two iems:
Summary
Xe6:
This is my first experience with a true flagship quality, kilobuck iem and I have to say that I am quite impressed! I have not heard such a huge sounding, dynamic iem with this level of analog bass quality, thick, euphoric mids, and highly detailed, shimmering treble with virtually zero fatigue. Fir Audio have rewritten the script on how bass heavy iems should sound by taking their new kinetic bass port technology and injecting it with EST treble goodness to arrive at an extremely well-implemented, blend of euphoric warmth and high-resolution details that provides a unique tuning that should appeal to most. While I admit, the thicker presentation in the bass and low mids combined with the perceived slight recess in the upper mids may not make the Xenon 6 the perfect all rounder, but as a niche flagship iem, it hits the spot!
Ne4:
It seems like I am bashing the lowly Neon 4, but at almost half the cost of the flagship Xenon 6, I do think the Neon is a terrific way to experience the kinetic bass driver technology and do feel it can compete favorably and even come out ahead compared to similarly priced iems. Many of the same characteristics mentioned above for the Xenon 6 also apply to the Neon 4, just to a lesser extent and not to the supercharged levels you get with the flagship. In fact, I can certainly see some people preferring the Neon 4, as it provides a more laid back, easy listening quality that does a great job of showcasing vocals along with that kinetic bass. Despite not being as showy with its technical prowess, the Neon 4 is quite impressive and worthy enough to stand out on its own merits in the $2k price range for it’s well-rounded tuning anchored by the incredible low-end performance supplied by the new kinetic bass vented driver.
**Edit**
After spending more time with the Neon 4 and swapping to the black Fir modules from the stock silver modules, I have to say that the gap in stage, air, and instrument separation between these and the Xenon 6 has closed a bit, while not really affecting the kinetic bass. Xe6 is still the better set overall, but if you aren't looking for the absolute best in technicalities and prefer a more laid back, relaxed sound, the Ne4 might be your ticket!
Since the Xenon 6 and Neon 4 share the same DNA, I've decided to write a combined review for these iems with a brief comparison between the two. The Xenon is the flagship and the Neon is the baby in the Frontier Series line-up.
Rather than regurgitate the product info for the new Frontier Series from Fir Audio, I’ll provide the following links containing all this good information:
https://www.firaudio.com/store/xenon-6
https://www.firaudio.com/store/neon-4
The Fir Frontier Series iems can be purchase from MusicTeck here:
https://shop.musicteck.com/collections/fir-audio
Specs & Driver Technology:
Xe6 Driver Specs:
1x 10mm Kinetic Bass Dynamic Driver
1x OpenDriver Balanced Armature Driver for bass
2x OpenDriver Balanced Armature Driver for mids
1x OpenDriver Balanced Armature Driver for highs (with Sound Reflector)
1x OpenDriver Electrostatic Driver for ultra highs
Ne4 Driver Specs:
1x 10mm Kinetic Bass Dynamic Driver
1x OpenDriver Balanced Armature Driver for bass
1x OpenDriver Balanced Armature Driver for mids
1x OpenDriver Balanced Armature Driver for highs (with Sound Reflector)
Frontier Series Tech:
Build, Ergonomics & Accessories:
The build quality of the Frontier Series is exemplary. The stainless steel shells with tasteful gold plating and glass gold leaf infused faceplates on the Xe6 are absolutely stunning. The silver shells with marbled faceplates on the Ne4 are equally stunning, but my preference is the black on gold aesthetics of the Xe6. I do think these are probably the most beautiful iems I’ve had the pleasure of owning. The shells have a nice heft to them and appear to be very durable, but only time will tell how well the mirror finish holds up.
The shells are much smaller than expected, although a tad thick, with curved edges and ergonomic shape that fits in my ear canal perfectly with no discomfort. Despite two fewer drivers in the Ne4, both iems share the same shell size and shape. Fit is fantastic, even given the added weight over iems with resin shells. The shells do stick out from my ears a tad, but this is par for the course with a majority of multi-driver iems. Unfortunately, I was not able to get a good seal with the selection of stock tips. However, after going to my trusty Azla Sedna Light Short tips, I was able to get a comfortable, consistent seal with the shells flush against my inner ear to obtain the full benefit of the open port kinetic bass driver.
The included 8-core pure copper braided cable is of high quality, but on the thinner side compared to the boutique cables often included with flagship iems. I am not a huge fan of overly thick, heavy cables, so I can appreciate the cable selected for inclusion here. The cable is soft and supple with no microphonics, and includes angled 2-pin connectors and a right angle 4.4mm termination, which I greatly appreciate! I really wish more manufacturers would go with the angled connectors, both at the iem and source side since I really think it is more ergonomic than standard straight connectors. And in recent years, it seems 4.4mm has taken over as the standard termination, so it is nice to see Fir Audio recognizing this. Another small attention to detail that I really appreciate is the fact that the included cable contains 2-pin connectors for flush mounted sockets, which provides a much cleaner look that the recessed socket 2-pin cables that are all too often provided with iems without recessed sockets! Kudos to Fir Audio for getting this right!
As mentioned in the Fir Audio literature found on their website, both the Xenon 6 and neon 4 comes with 3 pairs of ATOM XS tuning modules, which can help tweak the house signature of the iem a bit to help dial in your preferred sound. The silver modules come pre-installed, which are middle ground between the gold modules, which provide an elevated bass response, and the black modules, which tone down the bass a bit and increase the treble response slightly.
How did I know what these modules do and what the differences are between them? Well, I unfortunately did not get this information with the iem packaging itself like you would expect, as it was not included! You get a card mentioning how to properly insert the iems into your ears but there is no mention whatsoever about the tuning modules! These iems include a rather unique ATOM (air transferring open module) pressure relief system to reduce ear fatigue and tweak the sound slightly, and yet no documentation describing the different modules or how to swap them out is included in the package, which is a bit frustrating. Luckily, Google got me my answer and the swap process is relatively straightforward… turn hex key left to loosen and right to tighten, but do so with a steady hand as these modules are tiny!
I completed my review exclsuively with the stock silver modules for two reasons. The first of which is that silver is the “balanced” tuning that I felt would appeal to me most, and the fact that the modules are so small and tedious to swap out that I did not want to risk losing one from multiple changes and was not super confident I could definitively hear changes in tonality between modules anyway due to the time it takes to exchange them.
SOUND
Xe6:
Overall, the Xenon 6 is an extremely dynamic iem with a HUGE 3-dimensional sound anchored by its impactful, kinetic bass driver and thick, euphoric tonality balanced by a shimmering, highly detailed, yet fatigue-free treble response. It is first and foremost a musical iem, but will surprise you with its technical prowess, layering, and imaging capabilities.
Ne4:
Overall, the Neon 4 is a more even-handed iem with a large 3-dimensional sound (just not a huge as Xe6) anchored by its impactful, kinetic bass driver and euphoric tonality with a forward, engaging midrange that excels with vocals. In the upper registers you get a smooth, yet detailed treble response that is a bit softer and not as attention grabbing as the Xe6. To me, the Ne4’s strength is its showcase of the midrange, coupled with the analog bass delivered by the open ported kinetic driver.
Bass
Xe6:
The innovative open kinetic bass port is the star of the show here. The Xenon 6 exhibits an immersive bass experience that is extremely analog sounding and difficult to describe without experiencing it for yourself. The bass is huge, hard-hitting, and extremely dynamic with a natural decay that does not sound bloated, wooly, or too thick. The speed and impact is just right, with ample presence and authority without crossing the threshold into extreme bass-head territory that can dwarf the rest of the frequency response. Sub-bass extends deep, impactful, and visceral to the extent that if you close your eyes, it is like you are at a live show and can actually feel the rumbling. The mid-bass is quite thick, providing a full, meaty, romantic presentation that provides a seamless transition into the midrange.
Ne4:
Neon 4 exhibits a similar immersive bass experience thanks to the kinetic driver, although with a smidge less impact and rumble, likely due to the smaller open port on the back of the shells. The bass again is huge, hard-hitting, and very dynamic with a natural decay that does not sound bloated, wooly, or too thick. Sub-bass extends deep, but is a tad less visceral than the bigger brother Xe6. The mid-bass is still on the thicker side with a romantic presentation, but is not as elevated as the Xe6, which allows the mids to become more of the focus and be positioned more forward in the mix.
Mids
Xe6:
The mids exhibit a warm and euphoric tonality that provides excellent texture to vocals and guitars. Male vocals are weighty, musical, and are delivered with plenty of emotion to captivate you lose yourself in the music. The lower-mids transition into the upper-mids with a gentle dip from around 300 Hz down to 1K and subsequent rise to a peak at around 2.5K that is very linear in nature, despite the dip being unconventionally positioned closer to the upper-mid region. The transition is linear and smooth without abrupt dips or peaks, and although there is more emphasis on lower mids than upper mids with the Xenon 6, I do not hear any wonkiness or anything unnatural in this region. Male vocals sound natural, and are positioned neither too far back nor too forward in the mix. Upper mids are smooth and non-fatiguing, with female vocals sounding natural, although a bit laid back and a tad recessed from what I am used to. I found that female vocals were placed a bit too far back in the mix on some recordings, but the more I listened, the more natural it sounded, so it really was not bothersome. Overall, I would still prefer a bit more bite and presence for female vocals, but I’d definitely take this tuning over the overly forward, peaky, fatiguing upper mids you get with many other iems. There is zero harshness or fatigue with the Xenon 6. Overall, the entire midrange is smooth and natural sounding, despite the slightly unconventional tuning.
Ne4:
The midrange of the Neon 4 exhibits a warm and euphoric tonality that really shines with vocals and guitars. Male vocals are again weighty, musical, and are delivered with enough emotion to captivate you get you lost in the music. The lower-mids transition into the upper-mids also follows a gentle dip and subsequent rise, but seems to be positioned such that both male and female vocals carry equal weight to my ears. The transition again is linear and smooth without abrupt dips or peaks and sounds very natural for vocals. Upper mids are smooth and non-fatiguing, with female vocals sounding natural. Vocals are showcased rather nicely on the Ne4, as they are a touch forward sounding and often become the focus, along with that kinetic bass. Despite the forward vocal presentation, I do not detect any congestion in the mids, as everything still sounds well separated.
Treble
Xe6:
I feel the treble on the Xe6 is the secret sauce that makes it overall tuning work so well. This iem really is chameleon-like in the sense that you think you are getting a warm, dark tuning tilted towards the low end, then you realize the EST drivers are tuned so magnificently that you get this amazing treble extension that is extremely detailed, shimmery, and airy with zero fatigue. The treble quality is so good that it almost matches the quality of bass from the novel kinetic driver. This is quite a feat! The clarity is superb for being such a romantically tuned, euphoric iem. The crisp, present highs really help bring out details and provide an extremely well fleshed out, balanced sounding iem.
Ne4:
I hear the highs on the Ne4 as adequately present, with good treble extension that is detailed, shimmery, and non-fatiguing. To my ears, the BA drivers handling the treble on the Ne4 provides a softer presentation with more rounded notes than what you get with the sharper transients on the Xe6. The highs are a touch smoother with less air overall so details do not jump out at you and demand your attention like with the Xe6. While it seems the treble here does take a back seat to the bass and midrange presentation, this is by no means a dark iem, as there is enough high quality detail that comes out in the highs that maintains good balance in the overall tuning.
Soundstage, Imaging, and Dynamics
Xe6:
Xenon 6 exhibits a huge, enveloping stage with excellent extension in all directions. The soundstage has a holographic quality that is eerily three-dimensional sounding, like you are there, in person, with the music being performed around you in a massive hall. This has to be the largest stage I’ve experienced in an iem and is well within the realm of many full-sized headphones, which is a huge accomplishment.
Imaging is also the best I’ve heard in an iem. It is very accurate with laser-like precision in instrument placement to the extent that you can clearly hear each individual note with absolutely no hint of congestion to my ears, which is quite a feat for an iem touting a house signature that is thick and euphoric.
Macrodynamics are off the charts on this one. The Xenon 6 delivers such a huge, grand sound thanks to the open kinetic bass port that really puts you there with the music. The insane dynamic range is extremely engaging and demands attention. Despite the overall warm tuning, this is not a laid back iem at all… in fact it is hard to not focus on the music when listening to the Xenon 6 since the highly dynamic nature of this iem grabs your attention and doesn't let go.
Ne4:
Neon 4 also exhibits a large, enveloping stage due to the open ported driver, but the slight forwardness of the mids gives the impression of a more compact presentation that is not as expansive as I hear with the Xenon 6. The soundstage is still well above average, with the same holographic, 3-D quality, just not to the same extent as the Xe6.
The Ne4 also images quite well with accurate and clear instrument placement without congestion, though it is more difficult to pick out individual notes on the Ne4, again due to the less airy, more laid back presentation.
While macrodynamics are still well above average here with a grandiose sound thanks to the kinetic bass port, the Neon 4 is a bit softer and not as energetic compared to the attention seeking Xe6. There is still a very good level of engagement here that I really enjoy, and can really appreciate the slightly laid-back dynamics as this presentation strikes a nice balance between being sleepy and too energetic.
Comparison
Below are a few notes on my comparison between these two iems:
- Xenon 6 is more analog and noticeably bigger sounding, with a more holographic, 3-D soundscape.
- Vocals, especially female, are pushed back slightly in the mix compared to the more up front, intimate vocal presentation on the Neon 4. Overall, Neon 4 has a more forward midrange that, while still very engaging and musical, is not quite as thick and euphoric as the Xenon 6.
- Xenon 6 has far superior dynamics with better resolution, imaging, and instrument separation. Neon 4 is no slouch in any of these areas, it is just that Xe6 really stands out and is frankly the best I’ve heard when it comes to dynamics in an iem.
- Neon 4 treble does not have as much sparkle and shimmer as Xenon 6 and is not as well extended, but still not lacking in detail. Ne4 is smoother sounding with less air and sparkle, while the EST treble of the Xe6 gives it a tinge of an analytical nature to balance out the warmth.
- Bass quality is actually pretty similar between the two, with a very analog sounding powerful bass, but Ne4 is not quite as authoritative or textured as Xe6.
- Compared to Xe6, Ne4 is laid back with a more relaxing presentation due to its subdued treble and more intimate midrange presentation. In contrast, Xe6 brings more excitement with it’s huge dynamics and attention grabbing presentation.
- Neon 4 is a terrific all rounder that I feel offers good value in the line-up, while Xenon 6 is the exotic, more niche set, that for me, really excels with rock music.
Summary
Xe6:
This is my first experience with a true flagship quality, kilobuck iem and I have to say that I am quite impressed! I have not heard such a huge sounding, dynamic iem with this level of analog bass quality, thick, euphoric mids, and highly detailed, shimmering treble with virtually zero fatigue. Fir Audio have rewritten the script on how bass heavy iems should sound by taking their new kinetic bass port technology and injecting it with EST treble goodness to arrive at an extremely well-implemented, blend of euphoric warmth and high-resolution details that provides a unique tuning that should appeal to most. While I admit, the thicker presentation in the bass and low mids combined with the perceived slight recess in the upper mids may not make the Xenon 6 the perfect all rounder, but as a niche flagship iem, it hits the spot!
Ne4:
It seems like I am bashing the lowly Neon 4, but at almost half the cost of the flagship Xenon 6, I do think the Neon is a terrific way to experience the kinetic bass driver technology and do feel it can compete favorably and even come out ahead compared to similarly priced iems. Many of the same characteristics mentioned above for the Xenon 6 also apply to the Neon 4, just to a lesser extent and not to the supercharged levels you get with the flagship. In fact, I can certainly see some people preferring the Neon 4, as it provides a more laid back, easy listening quality that does a great job of showcasing vocals along with that kinetic bass. Despite not being as showy with its technical prowess, the Neon 4 is quite impressive and worthy enough to stand out on its own merits in the $2k price range for it’s well-rounded tuning anchored by the incredible low-end performance supplied by the new kinetic bass vented driver.
**Edit**
After spending more time with the Neon 4 and swapping to the black Fir modules from the stock silver modules, I have to say that the gap in stage, air, and instrument separation between these and the Xenon 6 has closed a bit, while not really affecting the kinetic bass. Xe6 is still the better set overall, but if you aren't looking for the absolute best in technicalities and prefer a more laid back, relaxed sound, the Ne4 might be your ticket!
fabio19
Thank you
jaker782
After spending more time with the Neon 4 and swapping to the black Fir modules from the stock silver modules, I have to say that the gap in stage, air, and instrument separation between these and the Xenon 6 has closed a bit., while not really affecting the kinetic bass. Xe6 is still the better set overall, but if you aren't looking for the absolute best in technicalities and prefer a more laid back, relaxed sound, the Ne4 might be your ticket!
fabio19
with which musical genres could XE6 NOT excel, as you remember in the preface of the "Cons" of XE6?
Intro:
Rather than regurgitate the driver technology and description here, I’ll provide the following link containing all this good info:
https://www.uniquemelody.org/products/um-mext
I’ve been wanting to try a Unique Melody Iem with bone conduction drivers and almost purchased a Mest MKII, but decided to take a chance and pre-order a MEXT from MusicTeck instead. Check here for US stock:
https://shop.musicteck.com/collecti...ucts/um-universal-mext?variant=39664533078078
Specs & Packaging Contents:
Build, Ergonomics & Accessories:
The build quality of the Mext is of extremely high quality. The black resin shells look fantastic and the gold colored UM logo and emblem are classy and unique, without being blingy or drawing too much attention. I wear my iems at work and really don’t want them to stick out of my ears like a sore thumb or be super bland either… these strike a pretty good balance. The shells are relatively small with curved edges that loosely follow the shape of the concha and feel very smooth without any sharp or weird edges that can lead to unwanted discomfort.
While the shells are smallish, they are a bit thicker than I would prefer as they do stick out a bit beyond my pinna, but are not too bad. Luckily, I always seem to get a great seal with this style of rounded, resin shelled iems and the MEXT is no exception. I will say that the inclusion of the Azla Sedna Xelastic tips is really a nice touch as they are quite pricey and do an excellent job of maintaining a good seal. The size mediums that came preinstalled fit like a glove! However I am not a huge fan of the tackiness of these tips, so I went with regular Azla Sedna Short tips from my personal stash, which are my go-to eartips for most iems.
The included PW Audio copper cable is of very high quality and impressive to be included as the stock cable. When ordering, you get to select a 2.5mm, 3.5mm, or 4.4mm termination, which IMO should be offered as stock with all IEMs. The cable is soft, supple, and the black braid really marries well with the aesthetics of the MEXT shells. My only complaint here is the 2-pin connectors are long and made for iems with recessed sockets. The MEXT shells have flush sockets, not recessed sockets! This is sort of a pet peeve of mine since a lot of iems contain flush sockets and yet, they ship with a cable made for recessed 2-pin sockets. I do not understand this, but I’d really like to see this issue addressed on future releases by either providing shells with recessed sockets or a cable with shorter connectors made for flush sockets.
Sound:
Overall, the MEXT is an extremely organic, rich sounding iem anchored by an accentuated, visceral, extremely well textured low end with an uncanny, realistic vocal presentation that is both euphoric and emotional, with a smooth yet detailed treble response.
Bass:
It seems fitting to start with the star of the show. Frankly, I don’t think I’ve had the pleasure of hearing an iem with this quality of bass performance. The MEXT exhibits amazing slam, solid impact, with a punchy, natural decay and extended subbass that really rumbles when called upon. Sub-bass is deep, visceral, and uber-realistic to the extent that if you close your eyes, it is like you are at a live show and can actually feel it. The mid-bass region is quite prominent and is what gives the low end and lower mids its full, meaty, and rich presentation. Note that the Coil Bone Conduction Driver contains a vibration sensitivity peak @400Hz, which places it in the mid-bass/lower mids region, which I feel really provides an added sense of textural realism here that IMO is missing from a lot of sets.
Midrange:
The MEXT mids are extremely natural in tone, surprisingly well-balanced and not at all overshadowed by the powerful low end. The mids exhibit a warm and musical tonality that really shines with vocals and guitars. As alluded to above, the addition of the bone conduction tech helps give the lower-midrange a surreal, realistic quality that is quite full and meaty with amazing vocal texture. Male vocals sound lush and euphoric with a jaw-dropping emotional presentation that is quite mesmerizing. The lower-mids transition into the upper-mids with a gentle rise that is very linear and tastefully executed with no strange peaks or dips leading to unnatural, midrange wonkiness. The transition is smooth and seamless here, and although the upper-midrange is more forward, it follows the natural pina gain and sounds right to me with no peakiness or artificial emphasis that leads to unnatural timber and detail retrieval that often leads to listener fatigue for me. With the MEXT, you get none of that upper-mid peaky, aggressiveness that draws attention to itself. As such, female vocals are equally emotional, natural, and euphoric with zero harshness or fatigue. From top to bottom, the entire midrange is smooth and natural sounding.
Treble:
Overall, the highs are detailed, yet smooth, with no audible peaks or harshness. While the treble does play third wheel to the fantastic bass and midrange response, it still maintains enough detail and presence to avoid being overshadowed too much and being pigeon-holed into the super dark iem category. Lower Treble actually contains a mild peak between 6-8K that I think provides just enough sparkle and emphasis to provide good balance with the rest of the frequency response. I don’t think these are super well extended in the upper treble, but there is enough air and sparkle here to not come away thinking the treble is missing or lacking in any way. Yes, the treble is definitely not the star of the show, but as long as you are not looking for sharpness, uber detail, and shimmer in your highs, I think there is enough here to satisfy most.
Soundstage and Imaging:
MEXT exhibits a grandiose, larger than life stage with excellent extension in all directions. The soundstage has a holographic quality that is quite three-dimensional sounding. I can’t say this has the largest stage I’ve experienced in an iem, but it definitely enters the realm of many full-sized headphones, which is really great for an iem.
Imaging overall is very accurate and instrument placement is above average. However, the fullness of the low end and midrange does give the impression of lack of space and separation between instruments, especially when compared to hyper detailed, analytically tuned iems with more air. Still, the MEXT does not really sound congested at all, as the details, instrument separation, and sense of space is there, it's just not the focus.
Summary:
Unique Melody has created something special here with the MEXT. They have created a richly tuned iem with an organic, emotionally driven midrange anchored by an impactful, visceral low end thanks to the novel bone conduction technology that injects a textural realism into the sound that I have not heard in an iem. MEXT places an emphasis on the organic, emotional side of music rather than throwing out all sorts of artificial details for you to analyze. The details are there, but the MEXT does not force you to focus on them as the tuning is just so engaging and musical. MEXT is the type of addicting iem that makes you smile, tap you toes, and enjoy the music rather than force you to focus on details, which is really what makes it special.
Rather than regurgitate the driver technology and description here, I’ll provide the following link containing all this good info:
https://www.uniquemelody.org/products/um-mext
I’ve been wanting to try a Unique Melody Iem with bone conduction drivers and almost purchased a Mest MKII, but decided to take a chance and pre-order a MEXT from MusicTeck instead. Check here for US stock:
https://shop.musicteck.com/collecti...ucts/um-universal-mext?variant=39664533078078
Specs & Packaging Contents:
Build, Ergonomics & Accessories:
The build quality of the Mext is of extremely high quality. The black resin shells look fantastic and the gold colored UM logo and emblem are classy and unique, without being blingy or drawing too much attention. I wear my iems at work and really don’t want them to stick out of my ears like a sore thumb or be super bland either… these strike a pretty good balance. The shells are relatively small with curved edges that loosely follow the shape of the concha and feel very smooth without any sharp or weird edges that can lead to unwanted discomfort.
While the shells are smallish, they are a bit thicker than I would prefer as they do stick out a bit beyond my pinna, but are not too bad. Luckily, I always seem to get a great seal with this style of rounded, resin shelled iems and the MEXT is no exception. I will say that the inclusion of the Azla Sedna Xelastic tips is really a nice touch as they are quite pricey and do an excellent job of maintaining a good seal. The size mediums that came preinstalled fit like a glove! However I am not a huge fan of the tackiness of these tips, so I went with regular Azla Sedna Short tips from my personal stash, which are my go-to eartips for most iems.
The included PW Audio copper cable is of very high quality and impressive to be included as the stock cable. When ordering, you get to select a 2.5mm, 3.5mm, or 4.4mm termination, which IMO should be offered as stock with all IEMs. The cable is soft, supple, and the black braid really marries well with the aesthetics of the MEXT shells. My only complaint here is the 2-pin connectors are long and made for iems with recessed sockets. The MEXT shells have flush sockets, not recessed sockets! This is sort of a pet peeve of mine since a lot of iems contain flush sockets and yet, they ship with a cable made for recessed 2-pin sockets. I do not understand this, but I’d really like to see this issue addressed on future releases by either providing shells with recessed sockets or a cable with shorter connectors made for flush sockets.
Sound:
Overall, the MEXT is an extremely organic, rich sounding iem anchored by an accentuated, visceral, extremely well textured low end with an uncanny, realistic vocal presentation that is both euphoric and emotional, with a smooth yet detailed treble response.
Bass:
It seems fitting to start with the star of the show. Frankly, I don’t think I’ve had the pleasure of hearing an iem with this quality of bass performance. The MEXT exhibits amazing slam, solid impact, with a punchy, natural decay and extended subbass that really rumbles when called upon. Sub-bass is deep, visceral, and uber-realistic to the extent that if you close your eyes, it is like you are at a live show and can actually feel it. The mid-bass region is quite prominent and is what gives the low end and lower mids its full, meaty, and rich presentation. Note that the Coil Bone Conduction Driver contains a vibration sensitivity peak @400Hz, which places it in the mid-bass/lower mids region, which I feel really provides an added sense of textural realism here that IMO is missing from a lot of sets.
Midrange:
The MEXT mids are extremely natural in tone, surprisingly well-balanced and not at all overshadowed by the powerful low end. The mids exhibit a warm and musical tonality that really shines with vocals and guitars. As alluded to above, the addition of the bone conduction tech helps give the lower-midrange a surreal, realistic quality that is quite full and meaty with amazing vocal texture. Male vocals sound lush and euphoric with a jaw-dropping emotional presentation that is quite mesmerizing. The lower-mids transition into the upper-mids with a gentle rise that is very linear and tastefully executed with no strange peaks or dips leading to unnatural, midrange wonkiness. The transition is smooth and seamless here, and although the upper-midrange is more forward, it follows the natural pina gain and sounds right to me with no peakiness or artificial emphasis that leads to unnatural timber and detail retrieval that often leads to listener fatigue for me. With the MEXT, you get none of that upper-mid peaky, aggressiveness that draws attention to itself. As such, female vocals are equally emotional, natural, and euphoric with zero harshness or fatigue. From top to bottom, the entire midrange is smooth and natural sounding.
Treble:
Overall, the highs are detailed, yet smooth, with no audible peaks or harshness. While the treble does play third wheel to the fantastic bass and midrange response, it still maintains enough detail and presence to avoid being overshadowed too much and being pigeon-holed into the super dark iem category. Lower Treble actually contains a mild peak between 6-8K that I think provides just enough sparkle and emphasis to provide good balance with the rest of the frequency response. I don’t think these are super well extended in the upper treble, but there is enough air and sparkle here to not come away thinking the treble is missing or lacking in any way. Yes, the treble is definitely not the star of the show, but as long as you are not looking for sharpness, uber detail, and shimmer in your highs, I think there is enough here to satisfy most.
Soundstage and Imaging:
MEXT exhibits a grandiose, larger than life stage with excellent extension in all directions. The soundstage has a holographic quality that is quite three-dimensional sounding. I can’t say this has the largest stage I’ve experienced in an iem, but it definitely enters the realm of many full-sized headphones, which is really great for an iem.
Imaging overall is very accurate and instrument placement is above average. However, the fullness of the low end and midrange does give the impression of lack of space and separation between instruments, especially when compared to hyper detailed, analytically tuned iems with more air. Still, the MEXT does not really sound congested at all, as the details, instrument separation, and sense of space is there, it's just not the focus.
Summary:
Unique Melody has created something special here with the MEXT. They have created a richly tuned iem with an organic, emotionally driven midrange anchored by an impactful, visceral low end thanks to the novel bone conduction technology that injects a textural realism into the sound that I have not heard in an iem. MEXT places an emphasis on the organic, emotional side of music rather than throwing out all sorts of artificial details for you to analyze. The details are there, but the MEXT does not force you to focus on them as the tuning is just so engaging and musical. MEXT is the type of addicting iem that makes you smile, tap you toes, and enjoy the music rather than force you to focus on details, which is really what makes it special.
jaker782
Sticking with BC drivers, a used Mest MKII comes to mind or as a single DD, I really like Dunu Zen Pro at under $1K new.
Gustavo1976
I own Mest mk2. But I dont know if Mext could be an updated Mk2 or really its a different iem.
Brynjar Odinson
Nice Review. Very interested in those IEM's. Hope i can test them ssoner or later
