About Dita Audio
DITA is a high-end in-ear monitor brand based in Singapore. The brand has established a reputation for its meticulous attention to detail in both build quality and aesthetics. DITA is known for being highly innovative, putting significant effort into research and development before launching each model. This dedication contributes to their relatively small product lineup, each of which is an apposite reflection of Dita's tuning philosophy and what each model is intended to offer.
The company also takes considerable time between releasing each flagship product. Their last flagship model, the DITA Perpetua, was launched in 2021 and has been sold out since its release. Currently, DITA is working on a new flagship model, which has already generated quite the buzz at recent CanJam events. I can tell you this. I tried the prototypes and they will be game-changers in tonal and technical performance even at summit-fi price tiers!
It is also worth noting that DITA has also forayed and with success in the budget and midrange segment. Last year's “Project M” became a massive hit and was also the first hybrid IEM made by DITA Audio. Following the success of Project M, DITA has since released the MECHA, which is their latest fully released model. Priced competitively at just $899, the MECHA offers strong competition against other high-end single dynamic driver IEMs and to my mind surpassing everything else out there when you take into account the complete package: tonality; technical performance; and some damn fine build, aesthetics and construction.
Let’s take a closer look!
Specifications:
- 10mm Lithium Magnesium composite diaphragm dynamic driver with carbide surrounds
- Impedance: 32 Ohms
- Sensitivity: 113 dB
- Frequency response: 20 – 20,000 Hz
Unboxing, Build Quality, Features:
The DITA MECHA comes in a neon green flat box, closely resembling the packaging of Project M. The unboxing experience is both simple and elegant. Opening the outer flap and the first layer of foam reveals the MECHA earpieces snugly positioned in foam cutouts, along with a set of Final Audio E-type tips that even glow in the dark! MECHA boasts a sleek, CNC-machined two-piece titanium earpiece design that combines durability with a premium feel. It features a 2-pin flush-mounted connection, therefore compatible with most aftermarket cables. Included is a 1.2-meter cable named Churro, made from mono filament single-crystal high-purity copper with silver plating. This cable has a noise-rejecting twisted quad design and is wrapped in a PE-based internal jacket with a TPE outer layer. It is a nice cable that is quite easy to mange and never tangles.
The cable is equipped with the Awesome Plug Version 2, a patented system that incorporates a DSD-capable mini DAC and connection modules for 3.5mm and 4.4mm balanced. This patented system is designed to accommodate cables up to 4.6mm in diameter and features a robust AL 6061 anodized locking barrel with metal-to-metal threads. Inside, the MECHA utilizes a dynamic driver configuration with a matched pair of 10mm lithium magnesium composite diaphragms bolstered by carbide composite surrounds. This driver setup has a 32-ohm impedance, 113 dB sensitivity, and a frequency response ranging from 20Hz to 20kHz. Earpiece venting is managed by an advanced two-way aperiodic system with internal acoustic suspension to ensure controlled airflow.
All components are neatly packaged in a heavy-duty German-made ABS storage case featuring a modular Systainer format, soft silicone inserts, and a patented T-Loc system for easy stacking and transport. The case is a bit small for comfortably storing the IEM, but it is a nice one nonetheless.
Sonic Performance:
Tonal Performance
The MECHA has a warm, slightly V-shaped tonality. It emphasizes the low end alongside a slight lift in the upper midrange while maintaining a coherent and balanced sound. Balance is the core foundation of all DITA IEMs, as evident from my previous experience with the Project M and the Perpetua, and the MECHA does not stray from that path, but in fact, builds on previous successes.
Tonally, this may be among the most balanced IEMs I have ever heard, across any price spectrum. You just lose yourself in the music!
Bass is easily the most impressive aspect of the MECHA, alongside its superb tonal balance. It is tight and versatile enough to handle everything I throw at it, be it hip hop, moody jazz, or some serious heavy metal. The sub-bass reaches deep, delivering a clean rumble that adds some extra tactility to the bass without muddying the rest of the mix. The mid-bass delivers a nice guttural punch, thick and impactful, while still allowing the mids to remain clear and unaffected. Depending on the ear tips or source I used, the mid-bass could sometimes lean a bit heavier, but it consistently felt controlled and intentionally emphasized. What I particularly appreciated was the speed and texture of the bass. It has enough weight to be satisfying, but the decay is quick, ensuring nothing lingers for more than the optimum or becomes messy or bloomy. When comparing it to other IEMs I've liked in the similar price range for their DD bass, like the Sony IER-Z1R or the Sennheiser IE900, the Mecha surprisingly holds its own, perhaps even surpassing them in terms of refinement and how naturally the bass integrates with the rest of the sound.
As for the midrange, I was genuinely impressed by how it was presented. The midrange feels rich, emotional, and easy to get immersed in. It is one of the main reasons the Mecha is such a joy to listen to. Vocals sound clear and full, with a slightly warm and rich tone that makes them enjoyable to listen to for hours.
It is, in its midrange performance, very reminiscent of my all-time favorite vocals king and queen, the Sennheiser HD600 and the Sennheiser HD650!
Female vocals, in particular, have a pleasant touch of extra glimmer thanks to that upper midrange lift that adds emotion and excitement, while male vocals are equally impressive and lifelike. Instruments in the midrange have a thick, flowy vibe which really melds well with the clean yet weighty vocals.
The clarity and sense of space in the midrange is exceptional, allowing everything to breathe naturally, even during busy tracks. I loved how the vocals are slightly forward in the mix, although the upper mids can occasionally become sharper, but never shouty.
The treble is crisp and sparkly enough to keep things lively, but it never becomes harsh or fatiguing, which I really appreciate. There is a slight sharpness in tracks that are already prone to sibilance, but for the most part, the treble remains smooth and controlled. It way doesn’t extend way too up in the air region, though, as it rolls off a bit at the very top, so you will not get that super airy, analytical feel. However, I think that was the intention in the first place. It’s tuned to sound more relaxed and musical rather than trying to be a show-off. Cymbals sounded natural and fun, without that annoying splashiness that otherwise plagues many BA and EST-based implementations. Instruments like strings, violins and pianos had a refined, controlled sparkle that I really enjoyed. The treble is detailed enough to highlight minute nuances yet smooth enough so that I can listen for hours without feeling worn out from fatigue.
Technical Performance
Technical Performance constitutes a set of attributes for which I always find it easiest to talk about in terms of comparisons. But even on an absolute level, after hours of listening to my Aurender N20 > Mola Mola Tambaqui > Riviera Labs AIC-10 > Raal 1995 Immanis, which I consider to be the pinnacle of technical performance among everything else I have heard, putting the Dita Mecha in my ears off a humble BTR7 dongle, left absolutely nothing to be desired.
The Mecha is very detailed but is very Susvara-like in how it presents its resolution. The details are presented in a fluid, effortless manner which has the ability of surprising you when all of a sudden you hear a certain reverb in the mix or a lower-level signal that you may not have heard earlier. The LiMa Carbide DD driver revealed enough minute nuances in a natural, effortless manner. I could hear subtle textures of the vocals, instruments, and background elements without feeling artificially force-fed.
What is even more impressive is the customary Dita spaciousness. The soundstage offers a spacious and open vibe, allowing instruments to breathe, though it is more intimate compared to the Perpetua. The Mecha excels in soundstage width while holding its own in front to back staging which is always difficult to do. The imaging is exceptionally precise, which is expected from a DITA product. I could easily discern the placement of instruments in the mix, with vocals, guitars, and background effects having distinct and accurate positioning. This precision also made watching movies and playing games a joy. Imaging is also rather tall, and this is usually one aspect of transducers that contribute considerably to my listening pleasure.
Timbre is a forte of Dita Audio. The Perpetua had better timbre than any transducer I have heard, IEM or headphone, and their upcoming flagship, the Ventura, is likely going to surpass this. However, you still get more than sprinkling of the magic dust that Dita conjures up with respect to timbre. It sounds shockingly real - from voices to guitars to percussive instruments.
Last but not the least, Dita gets dynamics right each time with all their IEMs but the Mecha is particularly dynamic and hard-hitting with kickdrums sounding emphatic, tactile, well-seperated in their notes, but giving you the excitement you seek if you are a closet-basshead (or shall we say "audiophile basshead") like me. The leading edge of the snare drum is particularly satisfying which tends to be a litmus test for me in bass.
Technically, the Mecha is near-perfect, really. Yes, there are IEMs out there that will force-feed you resolution by lifting the upper treble, which then requiring careful cable-matching and source-matching, and therefore, thousands of dollars more, but the Dita does all this for $899 while also giving a type-C dongle so you don't even have to shell out for a source!
Comparisons
DUNU Zen 2: The MECHA has a more balanced and more refined tuning, with a tighter and way more tactile bass. Mids are more lifelike and detailed, especially vocals, and there's a nice coherence to the whole sound, which I found missing while listening to the ZEN 2. The Zen 2 is no slouch when it comes to bass slam and excitement, but the MECHA sounds more versatile and polished across genres, with less shouty vocals and a wider soundstage.
Sennheiser IE900: The IE900 is quite technical and detailed, featuring an impressive single DD. It sports a tight, tactile bass response, although it doesn’t have the powerful impact of the Mecha, nor does it sound as natural. The highs are airy but can also be shimmery and fatiguing during long listening sessions. Additionally, the sound signature of the IE900 is quite V-shaped, which causes the vocals to be somewhat pushed back in the mix. In contrast, the Mecha offers forward vocals and a noticeably better tonal balance.
Nightjar Acoustics Singularity: The singularity has a beautifully natural and musical sound. The bass digs deep with impressive rumble, but the midbass is not as prominent as the MECHA. Technical performance is about equal on both, but the MECHA sounds a lot more articulate and engaging, while the Singularity lacks that last bit of engagement factor, at least to my ears.
Symphonium Helios: Helios is super clean, lean, and detail-focused. It has a mild V-shaped tuning with an overdone emphasis on the subbass region, so you will get solid bass and sparkly highs, but the mids are a bit thin and recessed, especially if not paired with a beefy source. It’s insanely good at separating instruments and portraying minute nuances in the mix, especially considering its price. Compared to the Mecha, it is definitely more analytical and colder, while the Mecha feels warmer, more engaging, and more visceral.
Sony IER-Z1R: Z1R is a cult classic known for its deep, slow, and voluminous bass response, which is also insanely fun. It also has a huge soundstage comparable to the DITA Perpetua. The mecha has a more controlled, refined approach to bass, which is different from the animalistic, sort of crude bass response of the Z1R. The midrange is way more forward and lush than the Z1R as well, and the treble is less fatiguing and in your face. The Z1R is a nice IEM for occasional fun sessions, but I would see myself reaching for the MECHA in most instances.
So that's for the review of the Dita Audio Mecha. It is a special IEM in a highly competitive market and an even more competitive price point. Somehow, despite all these IEM manufacturers cramming in more and more drivers into their shells, and more and more driver typologies, Dita simply chooses to eschew the competition and blaze their own trail. The Mecha is testimony to that at its price class and I recommend it without hesitation.