FatFreq Grand Maestro

This is a funny hobby. We have different types of collectors, some have massive collections and other collectors have smaller collections or just one set they use until it breaks. I recently decided to have fewer iems in my collection and strive to have things that I love and can enjoy. When and if I walk away from the hobby, I want it to be because I’m happy with my purchases.

This is a personal product and I am fully happy with my purchase. I really enjoy this iem. I was able to demo it at Can Jam 2023. I would never recommend buying any iem past say 200 dollars if you haven’t demoed it first. Maybe your limit is higher, but that’s my default recommendation to all. This is about what iems can be bought on Amazon or what the Apple air pods pro 2 are.

I’m going to share my music that I use to test tracks below. I try to use a variety of music that I love and enjoy. At the end of this video I’m going to share a Youtube video with an unboxing. I have small children at home and it’s hard to sometimes record a long video. Written thoughts are sometimes easier to share with people


Song Choice: Tidal list here:
I listen to a wide variety of music. I pick the songs because of various reasons. But I picture myself locked away like Andy Dufresne from Shawshank blasting music and shut off from the world. It’s a blissful image.
The Marriage of Figaro -The opera song from Shawshank Redemption, terrible recording but fun and gets me in the mood to listen to music.
O mio Babino caro -This is a modern less operatic version but a song with great female vocals.
Video Rigoletto - “La donna e mobile” Sung by one of the three Tenors, great song for high-performing male vocals. Pavarotti is the greatest classic singer maybe ever. Fight me!
Iron man - The sound at the beginning is hard to make sound great, great drums, and cymbals, and if done right it feels like an old-school band.
I Will Survive (1981 recording, I like her voice, and the old vocals, the drums, and various natural instruments really make this a favorite for me.
There is a light That never goes out - Smiths ( A classic, I just love it. It’s mellow, and I can tell a lot of the tuning if this song is done right.)
Jump (I like how the sound effects are in this!)
Star Child Someone recommended this song to me, and I like how funky it sounds and has nice vocals and a mix of music and things going on.
Dicke Titten Ramstein The beginning is amazing and the bass hits hard. Great song. I love rock and metal. The German language fascinates me
Master of Puppets: Very fast song. Helps me determine if the driver can keep up.


This is a newer version of my 10 favorite songs that also work for audiofile music.

This is a copy of a bunch of good audiofile music. Some are on my favorites, but all are great to test headphone tracks. (70+)

This is my favorite overall music. 300+ songs (needs to be edited a bit)




Bass (20-60 Sub Bass, 60-250 Hz Mid Bass)

The details of the bass is strong and everything sounds right on it. The bass seems well-controlled and fun, but beyond that is deep and rich. I love this iem so much because its base just feels wonderful. I have no idea why this is but it sounds great to me. Call it magic by Ben the main tuner of Fat Freq (That I know of). I find the quality of the bass is correct. The bass is easily adjustable in the Noah modules. We’ll talk more about them later. The iem is clean and lush even in the bass. It has this fantastic chewy viscerale timber that just sounds amazing, and I love every second of it.


Midrange (250 HZ to 800 HZ Low Mids, 600-200 Hz Mids, 2000-5000Hz Upper Mids)

The timber and tone is great on this iem, people have described it as near perfect or class leading and they aren’t joking. This is my favorite sounding overall iem I’ve ever heard. It is basically perfect for what I want out of an iem. . It has nothing that will often plague other iems. No weird plastic feeling, voices sound right with no plastic feeling. Things feel organic and speaker like.
Overall this iem is fresh, non fatiguing and just an easy clear listen. Vocals sound detailed and lifelike. The resolution is life-like, and it’s almost daunting compared to my average speakers and car audio setup!


Treble (5000- 10000 Trebble/Highs, 10000 ++ HZ Upper Trebble & Air)

The treble is a good part of this set and this iem has great detail and sparkle for me. The stuff beyond the graph is perfect as it isn’t fatiguing sonically and I can wear it for days. No issues here. I’m able to game, listen to music, and a podcast all at once with this iem. It has incredible details that come across in the treble. I love the upper mid-spike at around 3k. All the music that I listen to sounds great and I feel that it has a wide beautiful soundstage.

Gaming

Gaming is great on this iem, it’s cozy and has a world-class feeling of fit to me. But due to it’s larget shell I wouldnt’ recommend it. It’s also expensive so I would recommend maybe a cheaper set for those looking for an iem for gaming only. It has a beautiful open and clean sound. The stage isn’t too wide, but just right. Detail retrieval during fights is immaculate, and the imaging vertically and horizontally is fantastic. It has great imaging and a good sense of where I am. Imaging is great on this iem and would work amazing for gaming.


Shell -
The shell is pretty, it fits great for me. I do think it is very large shell. I typically use it as my bench mark iem for size being on the large end. The outside of the shell is large but it has a nozzle that is easier to fit in ear. So there is a slight weight issue, but the comfort is amazing.

Case- The case isn’t something that I personally would use. One case is for the noah modules is nice and small. The other case is larger and the most premium case I’ve ever seen in my life. Would I actually store my iems in either case, no but I like the look of the large case and the function of the smaller case and Noah modules. It’s premium, but cases are subjective. I typically use small boring plastic boxes.

Cable- The cable it comes with is pretty and simple. I enjoy cable swapping but with the recesses nature of the connection, I’m cautious to disconnect it. I have cable swapped a little but prefer the stock cable. I’m not a huge cable believer but I think it’s an extremely important part of your chain and it can go better.

Tip Selection - I was pleasantly surprised with the tip selection! I enjoyed them. I typically use Divinius Velvet tips on my iems, but I found the tips included to be a nice selection and enjoyable.

Comparisons:

Vs Anniliator 2023
It’s different than the Annilitator. Richer, deeper, better tonality. More natural and fun, less bright yet has that limitless extension. It’s darker but richer, and completely natural and sweet.


The size is much larger than the annihilator, and it’s a 2-pin which is nice. It’s a bit uncomfortable as well but still a lovely sound. After you adjust it is great and I love it. But I could see how others might be bothered by it. They trade blows. When I want a simple hassle free experience that is mind blowing I go with Anni, when I want to goof around with something more silly more fun and feel more adventurous I go with Anni. Both are fantastic sets that I love.



Sound - Final Impressions

This iem is near perfect for what I want in an iem. It’s a lovely choice if you are looking for a good iem.
Recommended EQ/Noah Modules:
I don’t feel this iem needs eq, I don’t say that about many iems. It does have switches that do different things. I encourage you to try different profiles if you do get to demo this. There are new Noah modules incoming. I’ll likely buy them when they come out, and do a quick review of them on my youtube channel, or answer questions as needed about them.




Gifting/who is it for: I think this is a nice hifi iem to gift to someone, but it’s expensive. That’s the only issue. If you have that level of cash. I want to be your friend. XD

Pairing: I used a Quidelix 5k for mobile, my dongle Dac iBasso DC04 for my laptop, and my JDS labs Element III MK2 Boosted for my Desktop PC. I also tried the iem briefly on the Apple dongle as well. This iem had no issues being driven. Typically I only find overears to really have a hard time being driven and maybe some planar iems.
Summary-

This is a fantastic iem. It’s not perfect but it’s a lovely experience. And easily one of my favorite iems. I recommend all to demo it, and give it a go when you are able to. It’s so much fun, so versatile, and so well packaged. I can’t see people not enjoying this product as it has the Noah modules and you can tune as you want. Maybe if you can’t fit it in ears, that could be a problem. But as is….just so nice.

GRAND MAESTRO (GM) by Fatfrequency (Fatfreq)



It’s been 3 weeks since CanJam NYC. My mission, try as many IEM’s I’d read about in the endgame category and maybe, just maybe, find something that I didn’t think had diminishing returns vs my Monarch MKIII. I’ve written reviews recently on both the Hisenior Mega5EST and MMKIII, owning both. The jump in performance between them to the MMKIII is not huge, considering the Mega5EST is half the price. The start of significant diminishing returns. So it was going to take something pretty spectacular to get me to make the leap to the next level.



IEM’s of note that I tried on the day were the 64 Audio Volur, AME Raven, Aroma Audio Fei Wan and the Canpur CP622B. All were very good, but would I spend $2-3k on them vs what I already had…No



I left the Grand Maestro until the end of the day, knowing just how highly HBB and others had spoken about it. I also knew it came with very high price tag, but was it up to the hype. First I tried the Scarlet Mini, with great bass. So many people had ordered this IEM and had to wait months to get it. At it’s price point, a very good IEM, but back to the GM. There it was, above the others at the booth, in all its glory, sitting on top of the most beautiful timber box, with a sign that said special show price. Then I looked to the left and another sign said 15% off for the show. So I asked, not expecting the answer to be yes, is the special show price a further 15% off “yes it is”. OK, game on! I grabbed my Divinus Velvet tips, plugged into my M17, hit play and my breath was taken away. What the hell just happened? I’m ruined for anything else. I hate you Fatfreq. Here’s my CCard.



Sound Impressions:



BASS: Thick, Fast and Deep. The GM has what they call NOAH modules that can be swapped out to change the Bass frequency response, without impacting the upper frequencies, bringing the mids and treble appear to be more forward, through less bass (blue module). This impacts the sub-bass most and leaves the slam of the mid bass region intact. The black module, which comes stock, gives the most sub-bass. This is what many reviewers consider a “Basshead” sound. Having listened to the Scarlet Mini in comparison, I would say the Mini is a “Basshead” set. The GM is, however, not…just a Basshead set. More to follow on that, but the bass, although very deep and precise, doesn’t overwhelm any other region when playing any genre of music. It’s simply adds to the experience. Beastie Boys, Prodigy, Massive Attack, Eric B. & Rakim. 9.5/10



MIDS: I found midrange to be very well balanced, with both female and male vocals very clear and engaging. Giving the sound signature a slightly warm feel. But this is where Fatfreq has another trick up their sleeve. There’s a toggle switch just behind the 2pin connector. It sticks up about 1mm and allows the listener to turn the bass down on the fly and bring the midrange and treble slightly forward. My listening preference is always slightly warm, but for certain tracks and artists this setting is preferred. A good example, Elton John’s Captain Fantastic and Yellow Brick Road albums, where the piano and vocals are the stars of the show and the toggle switch makes it happen. If you look at the graph of the GM it looks very V shaped, but graphs lie a lot. This set is very good in the mids and needs no EQ to pull them back into the picture. 9.5/10



TREBLE: The treble is crystal clear and very well extended, but never fatiguing. It’s just balanced with the rest of the regions so well that I was hearing music like it was the first time, with details that had me scratching y head as to how they made it happen? 9/10

TIMBRE: This is where the GM sets itself all others I’d heard. The quality of the sound across the entire frequency range was best in class. Every instrument could be isolated with all the details present. 10/10

TONALITY: The balance of the instruments to the vocals is, again, the best I’ve every heard. It’s like some little man (the crossover) inside working his soundboard, and making the IEM completely in control of the concert in my head. Getting the most out of every last bit of sound detail and making sure no part over powered another. 10/10



SOUNDSTAGE: Ok, this is some next level crap! We’re not talking about a soundstage that was ultra wide. Rather something I’d never experienced before and directly related to the timbre and tonality. Instead of having visualisation of the instruments playing on a stage, it feels like I’m sitting on the stage and Stevie Nicks is singing next to me, Mick Fleetwood is playing behind me and on my other side is Lindsey Buckingham playing his guitar with smooth precision. They are playing just for me! 10/10



SIBILANCE: I’m ultra sensitive to sibilance and have test tracks I use to see just how controlled an IEM is to lower it. Without a doubt the GM is the least sibilant of any IEM I’ve heard. Again, the little man on the soundboard inside working his magic. 10/10



MASKING: This was probably the biggest and single most distinguishable difference between the GM and anything else I’ve heard on the market. Similar to the experience in soundstage, the instruments and isolated to themselves, making all the details present. On busy tracks that would normally sound like a bunch of different things happening on top of one another, but GM has a magical way of creating a space or protective zone around each musical element. If I could explain this another way, imagine hearing a track recorded in the late 60’s, with it’s hiss and imperfections, where it sounds like there’s a fog or layer of pollution present that makes everything sound just a bit layered into everything else. Now imagine you take the full stage in dip down into a pool that cleans all of that away, raise it back up and now you hear only the instruments as they were originally intended. The GM takes old tracks and “remasters” them. And takes remastered tracks and makes them even better! 10/10



BUILD QUALITY: Just look at the photos. I was also luck enough to get the gold upgrade cable thrown into the deal for free! 10/10



CUSTOMER SERVICE: I had heard some stories about problems in the past, but after reaching out to Fatfreq post sales and asking for certain things that were missing from the sale, because it was a floor model and being contacted by Ben himself, I was very happy with how they handled everything. I used to live in Singapore and can tell you the people are amazing!!!



I think some of this has to do with just how much power these IEM’s really need. More than any that I’d tried on the day. Now remember I was driving these with a FiiO M17, a BEAST of a DAP that puts out round 1,500mW on the 4.4mm plug @32ohms. These IEM’s are power hungry! They take every bit of that and deliver it with surgical precision. I spoke with Ben, the CEO of Fatfreq and he told me the M17 is a great pairing for the GM and that they have a few at their HQ in Singapore. They also have a technology called Linear Impedance, which I believe levels the playing field for the different drivers in the set. I think the impedance of this set is 32ohms, but it sure seems like it takes more to drive it than other 32ohm sets I have. This higher impedance and power requirement also contributes to eliminating the background noise, giving a cleaner listening experience.



Overall score 98/100 S+ Tier, you got my money and I don’t feel like it was diminishing returns. This is next level great!



Shout out to Nithin and Maddy for making the experience great!

The Grand Maestro is FATFreq's flagship IEM and the ultimate choice for audiophiles seeking the pinnacle of music enjoyment. According to FATFreq, the Grand Maestro is designed to make listening to music an experience in a class of its own. It features an award-winning frequency response that delivers exceptional bass feedback and superb low-end tonality with plenty of slam. I have already tested the Scarlet Mini from FATFreq. And this already delivers an absolutely brute performance in the lower registers that I am very enthusiastic about. With the Scarlet Mini, FATFreq speaks of a +30dB bass shelf, while with the Grand Maestro it's +20dB. The Scarlet Mini is for absolute bassheads and the Grand Maestro is a little more balanced, which is more to my taste. So I was all the more excited about the top model from FATFreq.



Unlike the Scarlet Mini, the Grand Maestro allows you to regulate the sound using two available systems. On the one hand, there are the innovative NOAH modules, which enable individually adjustable bass reproduction. My review model is the version with two modules, a black NOAH module and a blue NOAH module, each of which can be used on the Grand Maestro. Only the black module is supplied as standard. The black "power module" concentrates the sub bass and provides more slam. The blue "control module" has slightly less sub bass with more control and transparency. In addition to the NOAH modules, the Grand Maestro has a built-in vocal boost switch with two positions. When this is switched on, vocals become slightly more present. In total, the two NOAH modules and the switch can be used to achieve 4 different sound settings on the Grand Maestro. The NOAH modules are one of the secrets behind the deep, captivating bass and act as a kind of bass chamber that uses state-of-the-art acoustics to amplify low-frequency vibrations and was developed exclusively by FATFreq. They also act as pressure relief valves, preventing pressure build-up in the ear and providing ultimate comfort during extended use.

I would like to briefly mention the other technology used here after years of development. FATFreq's "BASS CANNON Technology" delivers deep bass, with a concentration of over 20 dB below 200 Hz and no overload. It utilizes proprietary dynamic woofers, bass chambers (NOAH) and acoustic filter networks for an immersive bass experience. LINEAR IMPEDANCE technology uses proprietary circuitry to correct the non-linear impedances of multi-driver systems to ensure a consistent frequency response across all devices. This technology eliminates fluctuations in frequency response when IEMs are connected to different devices such as DAPs with different output impedances. SONAR LA TROMPA Technology" inspired by the anatomy of the traditional French horn, this technology utilizes exponential horn curvature for gain control and improves treble tonality through acoustics. It delivers smooth, natural-sounding highs and a pleasant timbre in the mid and low frequencies. The "PHASEALIGN technology" ensures the alignment of low, mid and high frequencies through acoustic delay, as no DSP is available. By aligning these frequencies so that they reach the eardrum coherently, sound accuracy and resolution are improved and the requirements of stage and studio environments are met.

The Grand Maestro I tested is the latest version 2023, which has received a few updates. The 2-pin sockets are now recessed. The vocal switch too. The NOAH modules are now made of metal and a luxurious storage box is included.



The exact number of drivers is not specified for the Grand Maestro. Only that it is a Tribrid IEM. A DD driver is used for the bass range, plus BA drivers (presumably 8 in number) and a total of 4 EST drivers.

My review model was not supplied with the standard silver cable, but with the premium gold-plated silver cable. This version of the Grand Maestro costs around 3300 USD with the blue NOAH module. Certainly not a cheap IEM. Can it justify the price in terms of sound? I'll get to the bottom of this below.

The unboxing experience is one of the best I've ever had on the IEM market. This super classy wooden box with coated clear lacquer really makes an impression and shows that this is a very high-priced product. Fantastic! The wooden box is opened by pressing a golden button. The golden hinges are also top quality. The inside is just as high quality. What do you think is inside the full metal case? As an outsider who doesn't know much about IEMs, you'd almost think it was a gold Rolex watch. No, of course it's the Grand Maestro! In addition to the usual utensils such as various silicone ear tips and a cleaning brush, the wooden box contains the blue NOAH modules and the gold-plated pure silver cable with various adapters (3.5mm, 2.5mm, 4.4mm). I am very pleased that this IEM also comes with adapters that allow it to be connected to any source. The cable is of a very high quality for the price, lightweight and very soft and flexible. There are no microphonic effects whatsoever. In terms of sound, it is also a great match for the Grand Maestro. I was not able to achieve any improvement with a pure silver cable from Lavricables compared to the delivery cable, which speaks for the quality of this gold-plated pure silver cable from FATFreq.

When I first took the IEMs out of the round golden full metal box, I first thought it was a custom IEM, because the shape and length of the nozzle looks completely different from the other manufacturers. Rounded and slightly longer, it ensures that the IEMs sit a little deeper in the ear canal. Surprisingly, it is still quite comfortable and doesn't get in the way even during longer listening sessions. When inserting it, you don't have to try to push it in artificially as you would with a Raven, for example, which otherwise doesn't create a proper seal for me. A little loose pressure is enough and it sits bombproof with my preferred AZLA Clears. In my opinion, you shouldn't use eartips that are longer, as the shape of the nozzle alone ensures that it sits deep in the ear canal. In terms of sound, the AZLA Clears also fit very well, as they are known for sounding neutral without emphasizing one frequency range in particular. With the Grand Maestro, there's no need to soften the treble or anything like that, but more on that later. The elegant design of the faceplates contributes to the boutique character of the entire presentation with the wooden box, so that any outsider immediately gets the impression that we are dealing with something really expensive. An acquaintance of mine who was recently at my house said when he saw the box: "What kind of "piece of jewelry" do you have there?". That says it all. A Multiverse Mentor, which is even more expensive, lies next to it in a small leather case and doesn't immediately give this impression. In any case, I am delighted with this presentation of the Grand Maestro! If it also sounds the way it is presented, then FATFreq has done everything right.



The Grand Maestro needs power, and lots of it! I already noticed in my review of the Scarlet Mini that IEMs from FATFreq require significantly more power than other IEMs. It's the same with the Grand Maestro. I run my iBasso DX320 MAX Ti at gain level 2 to drive higher levels with the Grand Maestro. The device also scales with the power available to it. I have also used it with my stationary system consisting of Topping D90 III and Niimbus US4. It is one of very few IEMs that generate zero noise on the Niimbus, which is an advantage when IEMs are not so efficient to drive. It also has a much better control range. More power on the Grand Maestro means more control and a cleaner sound with better separation. Fortunately, with the DX320 MAX Ti I have one of the most powerful DAPs on the market, which has no problems with the Grand Maestro. The Niimbus combo plays slightly more separated. Unfortunately, I don't have a smaller DAP with less power here to test this combo. That's why I used my Google Pixel 7 Pro for a small sound test. And this shows a bloated bass range that extends into other areas where the separation and details fall by the wayside. I have to admit that this is of course not a very realistic test (because nobody would run such an IEM directly on a smartphone), but it shows that a Grand Maestro scales very strongly with the source. For example, I can listen to a Volür on the Pixel 7 Pro without it sounding worlds worse than on the DX320 MAX Ti. It can be heard with acceptable quality on a smartphone, but I can't enjoy the Grand Maestro for 10 minutes on the Pixel 7 Pro.

The Grand Maestro has a more balanced sound compared to the Scarlet Mini and technically surpasses the Scarlet Mini in all areas. Let's start with the most outstanding area and that is the bass. I don't know of any other IEM that offers such a brilliant low bass range and manages the connection to the mid-bass range as seamlessly as the Grand Maestro. And then there's the art of leaving the other areas such as mids and highs untouched. Nothing blows out into the other ranges, absolutely nothing. Nor is the mid-bass range bloated at any time. The Fir Audio XE6 has an even stronger mid-bass range. However, this doesn't sound as detached from the rest as it does on the Grand Maestro. This is also reflected in the audibility of the bass range. Only an EE Raven can keep up here, even though it does not offer the same extension of the sub bass as the Grand Maestro (with black NOAH module). With the blue NOAH module, the bass tuning sounds similar to that of the Raven. The bass range, which is already very fast with the black module, is lowered slightly in the lowest registers below 50Hz with the blue module, giving the mid-bass punch a little more free rein and the entire bass range then sounds from previously very fast to extremely fast with even more audibility! Insane! The Grand Maestro belongs to the ranks of the absolute best IEMs in the bass range. In my opinion, this includes the XE6, Raven, Trifecta, Volür and the Grand Maestro. Incidentally, the modules are as easy to change as with a 64 Audio IEM. You can pull them out with your fingernails and reinsert them without any tools. This is much more fiddly with a Fir Audio because the modules are so small and a tool is required.

The mids are very neutral and have no coloration whatsoever. With the vocal switch, the bass range can be lowered slightly, allowing the vocals to play more in the foreground. The blue NOAH module with the vocal switch activated gives you a neutral reference tuning that is comparable to a FIBAE 7U or U12t. The Grand Maestro therefore offers a total of four different sound tunings thanks to the two modules and the vocal switch. I prefer to leave the vocal switch deactivated, because for me the vocals are perfectly placed in the stage in this mode, not too superficial, just the way I like it. If I feel like a turbo-fast bass, then I use the blue NOAH modules. But most of the time I listen to the Grand Maestro with the standard tuning, i.e. black module + deactivated vocal switch.

The Grand Maestro is a genre talent. No matter what I listen to with it, it all sounds very good. The very coherent tuning naturally contributes to this. The soundstage is larger than average with good depth and outstanding instrument separation. I can easily locate individual sound sources and concentrate on them while aiming at the next instrument in the next moment. The more power is available, the better the Grand Maestro separates. Microscopically fine on the Niimbus US4 as well as on the iBasso PB5 with its 1.7W@32 ohms! The Korgtube-based amp produces a slightly warmer timbre with typical tube timbres on the DX320 MAX Ti. In my opinion, this is a very good combo.

With the four EST drivers used for the treble range, FATFreq shows how you can achieve a very high resolution and still not need any artificial exaggerations in the frequency diagram. A super resolution that doesn't leave any micro details undetected or masked by peaks. Here it plays at the level of an XE6. The Trifecta is a little out of the picture, as it is somewhat specially tuned in the treble due to its mountainous landscape and is sometimes in front and sometimes behind, depending on the recording. If the recording is right, then the Trifecta is almost unbeatable. However, the Grand Maestro is clearly the better all-rounder of the two. Technically speaking, the EE Raven is the most outstanding IEM at the moment. In my opinion, however, it suggests a slightly higher resolution in the treble by lowering the upper mids with the small peak at 6Khz. Depending on the recording, however, this also leads to a masking of micro-details because cymbals sound a little too concise. The Grand Maestro does not have this problem. Even when using the blue module with the vocal switch on, the treble remains clean and smooth at all times.

The Grand Maestro from FATFreq is an outstanding IEM which, thanks to its tuning options, covers all sound profiles from a very bassy yet coherent presentation to a neutral reference presentation. With a price of 3300 USD (including the blue NOAH modules + gold-plated silver cable), it is not cheap. But considering the prices of the competition and this presentation, I think it's reasonable. The Grand Maestro is one of the best IEMs you can buy today with an unsurpassed low bass response. A true endgame IEM!

About Me: DISCLAIMER: Trust only in YOUR ears. I’m not a professional reviewer. This is a hobby. I thoroughly enjoy providing feedback for other hobbyists to read at no benefit to myself. Music has been, and will continue to be, a huge part of my life. My escape from the frustrations and static of everyday life. I typically listen to progressive metal, deathcore, hardcore, alternative and classic rock. Music with meaning, emotion, and polyrhythms! Music dedicated to pushing the limits of what we thought was possible. I am a simple man, on an epically expensive journey searching for the long lost treasure at the end of the rainbow that will bring me absolute happiness. Until it doesn't, because the ‘end game’ in this hobby is just an illusion.

This set was purchased new from MusicTeck. I have no affiliation with FatFreq. These IEM’s were purchased with my own hard earned cash and my opinions are my own. If you’re interested in purchasing a set for yourself, please find the link below.

https://shop.musicteck.com/products/fatfreq-grand-maestro?_pos=2&_sid=97ec5249b&_ss=r

Product Overview: FatFreq Grand Maestro Universals (2023)

Retail: $2826-2928 (Stock Silver Cable/ Black ’Power’+ Blue ‘Control’ Modules)
Driver Configuration: Driver count Redacted. The FF GM utilizes Tribrid technology: Dynamic Driver/ BA Driver(s)/ Quad EST Drivers
Proprietary Technology: BASS CANNON/ NOAH MODULES/ LINEAR IMPEDENCE/ SONAR LA TROMPA/ PHASEALIGN
Version Updates (2023): Recessed 2-pin sockets/ Recessed Vocal Switches/ Metal NOAH module(s)/ Luxury Collector’s Exhibition Box
Stock ‘Silver’ Cable: Pure Silver (unconfirmed)/ Exchangeable terminations (2.5/3.5/4.4)

Unboxing Experience (5/5)
I never cared much for unboxing. To be honest, I always preferred a small form factor box that I could easily store and forget about. Give me the necessary accessories to rock and roll and I’m good. No more.. The unboxing of the Grand Maestro has changed my entire outlook on how satisfying this experience can truly be. If I had to use two words, ‘pure elegance’. Honest to god, the freaking outer box feels like silk. What is in here? A Faberge egg? Dear lord. Once you remove the exterior box, you are greeted with a luxurious, polished wood box. Inside, you find two compartments. To the left, under a removable tan suede cover, a metal FatFreq puck case housing your new IEM’s. To the right, a microfiber, extra black 2-pin cable and a ‘Welcome to the Family’ thank you card.



Contents

• Luxury Collectors Exhibition Box
• Pair of Grand Maestro IEM’s
• ‘Silver’ cable with exchangeable terminations + SPC cable
• Black metal puck case
• NOAH Modules with case
• Black Cleaning Cloth
• (2) full sets of tips
• Welcome to the Family’ Card

Build Quality (5/5)
I’ll be the first to admit, I wasn’t crazy about the brown faceplates BUT once you really take a close look, you can’t help but appreciate how uniquely beautiful they really are. The shells are rather large (I’ll clear the air on this once we get into fit and comfort). Two big improvements over the previous version, recessed 2-pin sockets and recessed ‘Vocal’ switches. Switches feel solid and seat with authority. I have had zero issues unintentionally flipping the switches during use.



Fit (5/5)
As previously stated, the Grand Maestro’s are quite large in size and require a rather deep insertion in the ear canal. I tip rolled for a few days and ended up landing on the SpinFit W1’s. I typically use size medium eartips but found sizing down, due to the nozzle size, provided the best fit and seal. With this combo, I can wear these for hours with no pain or discomfort to my ears whatsoever. Additionally, I experienced zero discomfort or unintentional triggering of the tuning switch during insertion and/or adjustments. This can either be attributed to the exceptional shape of my ears or the design enhancement on the 2023 version. Unfortunately, I never demoed the original to provide a comparison.

Cable Quality (4/5)
The stock ‘Silver’ cable compliments the overall theme well. I appreciate the exchangeable terminations and the overall quality of the cable. Though I’m sure the stock cable is plenty capable, I did not spend much time utilizing it. At this price range, I feel like the Grand Maestro deserves a more ‘exclusive’ cable pairing without having to pay an additional premium to unlock the full range of benefits the Grand Maestro has to offer. If you’re on the side of ‘cables attribute literally zero enhancement to the sound of IEM’s’, you’ll be just fine.

Accessories (4/5)
Case: The metal puck style case is nothing new. It’s functional, well constructed and performs its job. I do prefer this case to the FatFreq Fatbox included with previous
models, mostly due to its overall size. Includes a foam insert to house IEM's, tuning modules, cleaning tool and moisture absorber.
NOAH Modules (Metal): Black ‘Power’ installed/ Blue ‘Control’ modules in small clear case.
Eartips: Included are (2) sets of ear tips (both silicone). One set look to be a generic SpinFit style that I couldn’t identify. The other, SendaEarfit Max’s. Both suitable but I am very particular when it comes to what eartips I use.
Wishlist: IEM shell sleeve/ Cable organizer/ NOAH module removal tool



Sound
Sound is subjective. My ears and personal preference are undoubtedly going to differ from yours. I will do my best to describe my preference, provide a brief subjective description for each frequency region and elaborate with some track impressions.

Personal Taste: Bass. I need to feel my music. There needs to be a distinct separation and accurate layering of instruments. I need to hear that bass guitar! This is the sonic link between the rhythmic and melodic elements in music. Vocals are generally less important to me but need to sound natural. Upper treble should be well extended with an emphasis on presence, air, and overall detail retrieval. I find myself somewhat sensitive in this region and absolutely despise shouty, sibilant IEM’s.

Tuning Switch/ NOAH Modules: If you opted to purchase the Blue ‘control’ modules in addition to the stock black ‘power’ modules, you have a grand total of 4 tunings available to suit your needs. See graph below.



Black Module/ Vocal switch off: U-shape tuning, providing the highest quantity of sub-bass and treble response. Mid’s are slightly recessed but male and female vocals both remain natural. Instrumental timbre is extraordinary but you will sacrifice some micro/ macro detail retrieval due to the elevated sub-bass. This configuration best suited me for Hip-hop/ EDM/ Less technical metal compositions.
Personal Preference Ranking (1-4) : 1

Black Module/ Vocal switch on: A more neutral/ less exciting variation with an emphasize on male and female vocals (Mid-range). To achieve this, the sub bass and upper treble frequencies are slightly recessed. This configuration was great for vocal focused compositions and provided a more relaxing experience while maintaining fantastic instrumental timbre, imaging and detail retrieval.
Personal Preference Ranking (1-4) : 3

Blue Module/ Vocal switch off: Less aggressive U-shape tuning with an elevated, yet ‘tighter’, sub-bass presentation. Because the sub-bass is better ‘controlled’, the upper frequencies are really given the opportunity to shine through. Great detail retrieval, expansive headstage, natural timbre, and overall balance. This configuration best suited me for more demanding metal compositions, classic rock, instrumentals and alternative.
Personal Preference Ranking (1-4) : 2

Blue Module/ Vocal switch on: Neutral, mid forward tuning. Sub-bass is tight, with a focus on quality over quantity. Similar experience to the Black module (vocal switch on) but with a little less energy. Best configuration for listening to other vocal media (Podcast/ audiobooks/ etc.).
Personal Preference Ranking (1-4) : 4

Overall Detail Retrieval: The Grand Maestro's offer excellent layering and instrumental separation across all tuning configurations. Micro detail retrieval is good, but don't expect 'Annihilator-level' performance. The details are there, just not in your face.



Cable Pairing
DISCLAIMER: Though I personally enjoy cable rolling and believe in the sonic benefits, I’m not here to convince anyone. I typically prefer pure copper cables.

Effect Audio Ares 8: UP-OCC Pure Copper Litz/ 24 AWG/ 8 Wire - Natural and uncolored tone. Bass is slightly more controlled and treble is well extended. Being an 8-wire, the cable is slightly stiff but aesthetically, the pairing is a match in heaven.

Effect Audio Code 23: EA Ultraflexi Insulation/ UP-OCC Pure Copper Litz/ 16.5 AWG/ 2 wire - The Grand Maestro scales well with power. If nothing else, the Code 23’s 16.5 AWG wires provide a low resistance gateway to all the clean juice your source can provide. Copper cables are typically known to provide a warmer tonality, while silver gives you the benefit of clarity. The Code 23 somehow provides the best of both worlds, making it an excellent option. Down side, the cable is a freaking bear.

PW Audio x Unique Melody Cobalt Blue: Shielded/ OCC Copper/ 26 AWG/ 4 Conductor - A shielded cable option offering the tonal benefits of the Ares at the expense of convenience. The cables ergonomics are pretty terrible but the shielding does a great job of isolating interference and giving you clean freaking jams

Impressions
Source: I preferred an unflavored/ analytical source. The HiBy RS6 offered the power but added a little to much warmth for my preference. I preferred the Astell & Kern house sound paired with their Class A portable amplifier.

Local FLAC (Lossless)/ A&K SR35 + A&K PA10 / Effect Audio Ares 8W (4.4)/ GM Tuning Configuration (Varies)/ SpinFit W1 Eartips.

Veil Of Maya - [m]other - Red Fur - (Black/ Vocal OFF) - This 4 piece progressive metal group puts out some of the best produced recordings I’ve ever heard. The Grand Maestro’s elevate this song to another level. Timing, timbre, dynamics, emotion. The subtle details are faint, but audible, but this is to be expected given the V-shaped tuning offered by this configuration. For me, the vocals are positioned perfectly. Slightly recessed, complimenting the overall harmony of the track from top to bottom.

Spiritbox - Eternal Blue - Eternal Blue - (Blue/ Vocal OFF) - Djent! Metal! A female vocalist? That’s right. Courtney LaPlante’s vocals can simply be described as enchanting. Drums are impactful and tight, while guitars flow like water from riff to riff. Symbol strikes decay a little quicker than I’d prefer but nothing abnormal sounding. The song just sounds so rich and full.

Agnes Obel - Aventine - The Curse - (Black/ Vocal ON) - I first heard Agnes Obel while watching the mind breaking Netflix series ‘Dark’. She is a singer/ song writer/ pianist producing some of the most mesmerizing compositions I have ever heard. If the name is new to you, I would highly recommend giving her a listen. The first thing I notice is the instruments sound insanely accurate. Vocals are about as close to perfect as I’ve ever heard.. I literally don’t have much more to say because I’m just too distracted enjoying this song.

Job For A Cowboy - Single - The Agony Seeping Storm - (Black/ Vocal OFF) - Lets give the Grand Maestro’s a real test. This song is fast, chaotic, and emphasizes one of my favorite instruments to track in music. The bass guitar. Typically, the bass guitars primary function is to maintain a steady rhythm. Not today. Right of the rip I’m hooked. The drums, guitars, bass, all so perfectly separated and clear. The elevated lower frequencies immediately condemn your soul to beautiful chaos. I’ve listened to this song on multiple sets but none hit like this. When I say there’s a lot going on, there’s a lot going on but the Grand Maestro never fails to keep up every step of the way.

TesseracT - War of Being - The Grey - (Blue/ Vocal OFF) - These progressive metal icons really brought the heat with their newest album ‘War of Being’. I chose ‘the grey’ particularly for its instrumental precision to test the accuracy of the Grand Maestro. The sub bass does slightly bleed into the overall mix, softening the ‘wow’ factor during extremely tight instrumental sections BUT the trade off is pure energy and impact.

Everything Everything - Raw Data Feel - Teletype - (Blue/ Vocal ON) - I typically use this song to test detail retrieval and imagining. Right from the start, you get sounds invading from every direction. This configuration provides the least amount of sub-bass but it still hits with authority. Overall detail retrieval is top notch, unleashing an overwhelming sense of curiosity. What was that? What is this? I never noticed that before! A+.

Hardwell - Rebels Never Die - PACMAN - (Black/ Vocal OFF) - The Grand Maestro's literally puts you downtown in an abandoned warehouse. This party might be unsanctioned and dangerous but you don't care. You are focused on one thing and one thing alone. THE BASS. The Grand Maestro’s might not be the hardest hitting in the Maestro series but these things the best bass I have ever heard in an IEM.

Pink Floyd - The Dark Side of the Moon - Money - (Blue/ Vocal OFF) - You may have heard of this song... Top notch imagining, great instrumental timbre and the sound stage is flat out incredible. Every instrument literally has its own designated space in the mix. Couldn’t ask for anything more.

Conclusion: I’m going to be candid here. The FatFreq Grand Maestro’s are the best IEM I’ve experienced to date. When you’re shopping for a TOTL product in this price range, you typically have your preferences pretty well identified. But what if that precisely tuned IEM you just purchased doesn’t satisfy all the music in your diverse library? Do you just concede and purchase a few more sets? Or, do you find something unique. Something that isn’t perfect most the time, but all the time. For me, that’s the Grand Maestro. The set I never knew I needed, but now can’t imagine living without. After 50+ hours of critical listening, I can say with absolute confidence, this set will be difficult to dethrone from the top of my list.

FatFreq Grand Maestro Universal
$2729.00 usd retail (MusicTeck)
$3599.00 sgd retail (FatFreq direct)

FatFreq doesn’t specify driver counts, or other specs like frequency response, impedance, sensitivity, etc.
What is known is; Tribrid technology, Dynamic Driver, BA driver(s), Quad EST drivers.

Preamble:
Shout out to Andrew and Grace at MusicTeck for the always awesome customer service and prompt shipping.
Also to Ben at FatFreq for patiently answering my numerous queries.
(At time of posting MusicTeck shows FF Grand Maestro as an in stock item)


- Tuning Switch:
There is nothing subtle about the tuning switch.
The change in sound signature is quite significant and noticeable.
In the Vocal boost ON position, mids and vocals are very much prominent and forward, very clear and detailed.
Head stage is clear and open.
In the Vocal boost OFF position, mids and vocals loose prominence and become somewhat recessed. They also loose some clarity and detail.
The sound signature becomes more balanced, and overall warmer.
Head stage closes in a bit.

The vocal boost switch is positioned on the top of each IEM,when positioned in ear, making it easily accessible.
The switch is not recessed, the pin protrudes out of the shell a couple mm (1/16 inch).
This is both a blessing and a curse.

The non recessed design facilitates changing switch positions on the fly without removing and reinserting the IEM each time.
But, the switches don’t have much resistance to movement making it very easy to reposition them unintentionally. I have developed a habit of checking switch position every time I put the IEM’s in my ears, or, if I reposition the IEM while listening.
Also, the switch pins are square with angular sharp corners that sometimes contact my ear, it is unpleasant when this occurs.

I can listen and enjoy the GM in either switch position, but have a strong personal preference for the vocal boost position. I generally like a more forward and energetic mids and vocal presentation, provided it’s not over emphasized.


- Build and Fit:
Build quality of the all resin shells appears to be excellent. The faceplate seam is expertly finished and invisible.
There is a small vent hole in the shell, presumably for the dynamic driver. And, of course, the large vent hole in the faceplate to facilitate the NOAH tuning modules.

The nozzles have a flange molded into them and I find they hold ear tips securely.
The nozzles have a semi custom shape, and reach deep into the ear canal.
I typically like a deeper fit, it often allows me a wider selection of ear tip options and, I have fit issues with short nozzles. On the Grand Maestro however the fit, for me, is a bit too deep. They reach into the area of my ear canal where it narrows a lot, and full insertion causes me almost immediate discomfort regardless of ear tip selection.

Fit is of course very personal, hopefully my ears are the exception, and fit won’t be a challenge for most people.
I’m having good success with larger sized Moondrop Spring, and Sedna Xelastec tips that seal and anchor well closer to the outer portion of my ear canal. The IEM’s protrude from my ears a bit more, but the fit is comfortable and the IEM’s stay in place and maintain a good seal.



- Tuning Modules.
There are currently two NOAH modules available, Black and Blue.
The Grand Maestro ships with the Black nozzles, the Blue modules (and future module releases, assuming there are more under development) are purchased separately.
I just received the blue modules a few days ago and I’m initially quite pleased with the alternative sound signature offered.

Frequency graphs are not yet available for reference and I’m not set up to graph. So this evaluation is based on my hearing.
Individual experience may vary.
** Edit. FR Graph added. Courtesy The Tone Deaf Monk.

The Black modules offer a sub bass boost in the 20-40Hz range, that carries into 40-160Hz lower bass band.
Bass is more boomy/thump in nature.
Resonance doesn’t decay quickly and carries through the head stage.
The black module also offers the most ambient noise suppression.

The Blue modules have less sub bass boost. Still excellent sub bass extension, but the 160-300Hz upper bass band is less veiled by sub bass and bass is fuller/tighter with resonance decaying more quickly. Less sub bass presence throughout the head stage.
The blue module offers good ambient noise suppression, but less than the black nozzle.

- Equipment:
-Astell and Kern Kann Max, mid gain, 4.4mm balanced out.
-FatFreq Grand Maestro aged 100+ hrs.
** (Vocal Boost Switch ON position)
-Stock modular Copper/Silver plated copper hybrid cable. 4.4mm termination.
Sedna Xelastec ear tips size M for a mid point nozzle insertion depth.

- Sound:
Black Module
Bass has a sub bass boost and focus that is very well implemented. Sub bass extends low and lower bass is boomy with some thump. Mid/upper bass is somewhat overshadowed by the lower bass range.
An example is “Metallica - Now That We’re Dead”. Toms in the opening drum volley exhibit more woof than punch.
Lower mids are recessed.
Mid range is clear and open.
Upper mids are elevated and present forward. Clarity and detail retrieval are very good.
Vocals are also forward and prominent.
Male and female have excellent clarity and presence while remaining natural and accurate.
Highs are crisp and well defined, but ultra highs roll off a bit early at the cost of air and energy.
There is no hint of sibilance or harshness.
Head Stage is clean, clear, and open.
Width is good, between the ears.
Height is also good, doesn’t extend overly high, but sub bass extends low.
Depth front to rear is also very good.
Layering and separation are very good on all three axis.
Imaging is excellent. Individual instrument placement is precise and accurate.

Blue Module
Sub bass is less boosted, still very much present, with less bleed throughout the head stage.
Decay is quicker and resonance fades sooner.
The sub bass veil is “lifted” from lower and upper bass, this range becomes tighter with more fullness.
The Toms in the open volley of
“Metallica - Now That We’re Dead” are quicker and punchier.
Lower mids remain recessed.
Mid range opens up more.
Upper mids become slightly more forward and prominent, clarity remains excellent, detail and micro detail retrieval is improved.
Vocals also gain some additional prominence while remaining very detailed, natural and accurate.
Highs are crisp, clear and highly detailed. Ultra highs have more energy and air.
Head stage benefits by becoming even more open and spacious.
Width remains between the ears.
Height reaches higher with the additional air in the highs.
Depth front to rear is also better.
Separation and layering benefit from the additional open spaciousness.
Imaging on all three axis is, I believe, the best of any iem I have experienced to date.

- Summary:
The head stage on the Grand Maestro has me addicted.
With vocal boost ON, and the Blue module in particular installed, the GM head stage is nothing short of incredible, IMO.
Left right stereo imaging is excellent, top to bottom layering and imaging is excellent, as is front to rear.
On tracks that are recorded with good imaging on all three axis, individual instruments, sound effects, and vocalists present from every conceivable position on stage.

The Grand Maestro is very much a musical IEM.
The sound signature can be manipulated to personal preferences via the various modules and switch position combinations available. But the resulting sound remains refined and high quality throughout.

They like power.
With any source I tried I found I was either using mid or high gain setting. And I still was pushing the volume to 50-75% to make the GM truly happy.

Speaking of volume:
The GM has a very clean and clear background. With high quality recorded sources it will tempt you to keep sneaking the volume up a notch or two.
They can get loud, without distortion or congestion.
But, my experience on occasion was that I was inadvertently listening at volumes that quickly fatigued my ears.
Please: Rock out responsibly

The comments here are unbiased and my own honest reflection on this IEM.
I own this IEM, so I am not beholding to anyone with respect to opinion or commentary.

I will not out right recommend any piece of gear, because I am fully aware of the diverse nature of sound preferences among those of us who enjoy audio.
However, based on my personal preference, and experience, with other flagship IEMs.
I do believe FatFreq has a winner on their hands with the Grand Maestro.
It is very much worthy of consideration if you are looking at TOTL ear gear at this price point.

- Other Stuff:
A bit about me and the music types used for evaluation below.
If you give a cats meow about that stuff.

** note: I try to be objective, but I am biased somewhat by my personal preference for sound signature. I lean toward a more balanced sound with perhaps a slight mids forward bias, good bass, good mids, good treble.
I am somewhat treble sensitive in the 8-9K range.

I do NOT consider myself a professional/career reviewer as I have no formal training as a sound engineer or musician.
I enjoy doing evaluations as part of my hobby.
* i.e. the thoughts presented here are strictly personal opinion based on my hearing, your mileage may vary.

** My hearing taps out at around 12.5 kHz, I can hear 12.5 but it’s more a background sound. I think it is fair to note this.
“Air” is typically a reference to treble that is present above 12.5 kHz, it is therefore beyond my hearing capability. When I reference “air” in a sound evaluation I’m referring to where I perceive the positioning of the upper treble ranges, ie. where they present themselves within the sound stage/head stage.

*** I have large ear canals, and typically the stock tips included with most IEM don’t fit well for me. I have a selection of third party ear tips that fit well in most cases so I default to these. I will identify my tips of choice, but unfortunately, seldom can I comment on the stock offerings.

- Music:
varied selection of tracks from my playlists played from SD card. FLAC 44 through 192 and DSD 2.8 (64) through 22.4 (512)
My mainstay are Blues, Rock, Jazz, Country, Classical.
I also streamed Apple lossless for electronic, R&B, Death Metal, etc. to get a well rounded experience of how well this IEM handles a variety of genres.

The Grand Maestro - A Pinnacle Level Tunable Endgame IEM
"There is tunable IEM's on the market aplenty - but don’t sound like this creation from Fat Frequency"

Shoutout to a Friend for the generous loan of this wonderful IEM, And I am thankful to have had the pleasure of being able to enjoy this grand creation.

INTRODUCTION:

FATfreq
Handcrafted in Singapore
Founded in 2016 by engineers Aaron and Ben, FATfreq began as a service provider for IEM repair and modifications. With technical experience in the circuitry, acoustics, and driver configurations of over 20 IEM brands, FATfreq quickly became the go-to place for IEM rescue and restoration works.

Now Singapore's leading IEM company, FATfreq creates world-class IEMs and innovative systems for every musician - all at an affordable price point. Every piece is carefully built and tuned by hand, adhering to rigorous quality checks for our Pro-audio industry.

From <https://www.fatfreq.com/about-us>


Now let's get into it: The Techy Stuff
GRAND MAESTRO $3599 USD for Universal or $3999 for Custom
FATfreq Flagship 2023
Tribrid Technology
Quad EST Drivers
4 Configurable Bass Tunings*
Pressure Relief Module
• Comes with Black NOAH Modual - You need to purchase the Blue NOAH moduals to get the 4 tunable Tunings.
From <https://www.fatfreq.com/grand-maestro>

More information can be found here and non-affiliated purchase link: https://shop.musicteck.com/collections/fatfreq/products/fatfreq-grand-maestro
Musicteck even offers Financing!

Subjective Part of my Audio Review -

I share my impressions as I hear them with my ears.
As all our ears are different shapes & size so what I hear as bright or bass heavy -you might hear as dull and Vise-Versa; just something to be mindful of.

What makes my ears happy as a sound signature is a slightly more aggressive L shape. I love my Bass Sub and Mid Bass slam, love it all actually; and in balanced quantity. With the Bass, I prefer a faster decay the faster the better so as to not bleed into the mids., I am treble sensitive and prefer a slightly darker warmer replay with good treble extension.

I prefer the fast speedy bass of the Beryllium Coated Driver of my Xenns Mangird UP with a Beryllium Coated Driver. Of course, there are exceptions in the market - as I also find the bass of the Bio Diaphragm used in the Yanyin Canon special - has some special sauce like an 8" subwoofer that feels like a 12" Has the slam and some serious sub-bass! And the super cool Copper Alloy Shell IKKO Obsidian OH10 does some magic to the bass.

My music Library is widely varied from; Metallica, Great White, Cowboy Junkies, Pink Floyd, Adelle, Melisa Ethridge, Fleetwood Mac, Five for Fighting, Mänskin, Poncho Sanchez, Jimmy Smith, Chopin, The Crystal Method just to name a few. When not listening to my test tracks the majority is Jazz or Alternative Rock especially Female Rock. Lorde, Halsey, Alanis Morrisette, Evanescence. All depends on my mood.

Sources: E1DA SG3, Shanling UP5, Geshelli JNOG J2 with AKM4493 chip. Truthear SHIO (Dual Cirrus Logic 43198 DAC Chips)
DAP/TRASPORT: From Lenovo Laptop with Tidal, Hiby R6iii ( ES9038Q2M ), Samsung S22 Ultra with DSD Files.
Amps: iFi ZEN-CAN and iFi ZEN-DAC2 , LoxjiP20 & XDUOO MT-604 tube hybrid amps and Topping A90D Amp 4.4 Pentagon Balanced Out - Unless stated
Tips Used for the Grand Maestro were the Whizzer Easytips SS20

SOME STANDOUT TRACK IMPRESSIONS:
Let's Begin: BLUE NOAH FILTER , VOCAL SWITCH OFF

#1 "Snowman" by SIA
- On this track I found vocals just a real standout not only is the vocals just amazing but the bass is so satisfying to compliment the singing it gives a real nice thump very analog sounding just wonderful

#2 "Lux AEterna" by Metalica
- The base fast and weighty though I wish it did have some more mid base hit it is still a very satisfying replay and would do well with this kind of library as well.

#3 "Nils Cline" by Phil Colins
- Just so immersive and addictive it's a very busy track that has many elements and the Grand Maestro separated all of them and gave each part equal love it was so well done.

#4 "The Cave" by Marcus Mumform
- So much energy and liveliness it made this track a real standout the male vocals were bang on very nice very

#5 "Come As You Are " by Nirvana
- Here I found the quad EST implementation added just a hint of top end and special sparkle when mid-bass kicks in it's very musical it's a great mix.

#6 "All My Friends Are Here" by Joe Satriani
- OK this track Joe describes it as a musician actually a guitarist trying to control a wild beast and I will say in this multilayer track that the Grand Maestro did perfect layering and stage the guitar the ascending a major just WOW electric guitar was very electric.

#7 "Shape Of My Heart" by Sting
- I put this track in here as well I had the same problem I did listening to any IEM like the PENON 10th anniversary where they're just so incredibly musical that you actually have a very hard time reviewing what you're listening to. Because you get completely lost in the music and it's just such a wonderful feeling and you have to chuckle a little bit because you have to keep going back and listening to the same song over and over again in order to write down your impressions it's pretty fun yet annoying at the same time.

#8 "Live & Let Die" by The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
- All the sections and the pieces get the space they need to breathe from the strings to the drums all unquestionably bang on tonality wise very exciting and the Grand Maestro made it sound lively and a great sense of stage and presence with excellent macro and micro details.

#9 "Unfinished Sympathy" by Massive Attack
- Sweet drops , goes low Yet the Grand Maestro actually had me wishing for a little bit more sub base that's funny to actually hear from a company and a line of IEM that are known to be bass monsters. Yet this shows the incredibly masterful skill of the tuning where you can still get a lot of base and yet have all the vocal and the high frequency energies done in a way that makes it a very enjoyable

#10 "Ubiquitous Mr. Lovegrove (LIVE)" by Dead Can Dance
- One thing the Grand Maestro does so very, very well is the ability to give you a realistic sense of the venue you can tell if you're in a big place a little place a big concert a massive concert an outdoor concert or an intimate studio.

#14 "Jetlag Corporation (Remastered)" by Aes Dana
- Another standout track where the EST are done in such a fantastic way again you got the very musical bottom and notes and then a perfect coherence of all the drivers and you get these added Sparkle's on the top end that it's impossible for you not to put a huge grin on your face as you're listening to this track.

#15 "Vivaldi Double Cello Concerto Mvt#1" by Tina Guo
- The grand does very much reproduce cello the way cello was meant to be reproduced very realistic and it made my hair stand up on end that's how well done it gave me the sense of being right there listening to it live.

#16 "Chemical Mentalist" by The Crystal Method
- You want to listen to the Crystal Method, Daft Punk, Or Yellow anything EDM the Grand Maestro will eat up for breakfast and spit out some spine chilling slam and no hint of sibilance or harshness to be found you can go crazy loud with this I am just be careful please people.

OVERALL SOUND IMPRESSIONS:
OK let me first start off saying that prior to putting the Grand Maestro's in my ears this is the first exposure I have had to this brand. Previously I have heard and seen much talk about how the Fat Frequency IEM are not only Bass monsters but also have a quite a bit of balance where it doesn't wash out the vocals or the high frequencies quite a marvel if you're talking about a + 20 DB gain hyper control bass boost on the Maestro SE and only a +7DB pina gain, that's quite a impressive feat.

Now going into this review and getting the Grand Maestro from a friend on loan, I was thinking it was also going to be a bass monster but quite on the contrary in the end I found and was still wishing for more bass than the Grand Maestro could throw out.

I was actually…. I'd hate to say it but a bit disappointed

That is of course until I've spent more time with the Grand Maestro, where I kind of got a better understanding of where they were going with the tuning. The GM is mixture of a very vocal forward VOX and a warm balanced IEM as well as taking a shot at making a monitor like neutral sound signature for the series.

It's very hard to actually describe the entire journey between the swapping out of the modules for the air pressure that changes the bass and of course the rest of the frequencies moving up is also affected as we climb up the frequency scale.

Let's just start off with the BLACK NOAH module vocal switch OFF, here where it has the most amount of sub bass boost it's in its most V shaped form and probably the closest to the maestro SE that being said they are not the same I don't believe from the impressions I've got from the friend who owns this IEM and having had both at the same time. This was my second favorite overall preferred tuning I found the vocals a bit overpowered by the base and had me wishing for a little bit more clarity on that end.

Now BLACK NOAH module with the vocal boost ON I will first say that I don't particularly enjoy the boosted vocals with the switch on with this position. Which is funny because I do have a great preference for vocal forwardness like in the PENON FAN2 where I really enjoy how forward the vocals are in the mix.

I didn't quite enjoy so much it here though but I must say it is a really awesome implementation to what it can do and how it changes the overall entire presentation.
For some I know that they will be their preference but for me I preferred having the vocal switch off and for the sound impressions that I did those were all done with the vocal switch off and with the blue NOAH filter in place.

Next up is the BLUE NOAH filter with the vocal switch ON now with this one this one is the most monitor like neutral configuration at the Grand Maestro can do and it definitely was not my favorite at all as I prefer a more substantial bottom end And I found this one was a little too muted for my taste.

Now BLUE NOAH with vocal switch OFF in this configuration I found the Grand Maestro to be a warm organic lush slightly vocal recessed presentation.

This was definitely my favorite version of the Grand Maestro I just loved what it did to vocals it was very musical and it was very easy to get lost in the music with this kind of presentation I didn't really like the upper mid gain with the vocal switch and at first when I listened to this with it off I thought maybe it was a bit recessed and it probably is in the mix if you listen to a different IEM that is more neutral you can tell but it's just so smooth and totally correct that you forgive it any shortcomings and you just kick back and enjoy the music.
Now with this configuration.

I found that I heard more of a mix with the instrumental kick drums came in more into play had more note weight Just love the base again it's just so tastefully done it's not overpowering anything and you get the EST's adding the sparkle on the top end all the instrumental sounded great and I really enjoyed the stage as well though with the switch on the stage goes from fun listen to hyper craziness that might be a little bit mind blowing.

Finally I must say that I wish I was the owner of this IEM. Though I would probably have done it in a custom version, as it is truly wonderful. The Grand Maestro it's a standout in a sea of similarly tuned offerings.

The interesting part about kilobuck IEMS is that manufacturers are willing to take a little bit more of a risks to try something different and that doesn't always work in this case it certainly does and I can see why not only Fat Frequency has a huge following but a bright future as well.

lots of people say that there is a law of diminishing returns when it comes to gear that tries to reproduce music but in this case I think the Fat Frequency IEM really breaks the mold. I think this is one is a standout.

There are many more choices that are much more expensive than the Grand Maestro, but for what this does it is unique and stands on its own. The GM is worth every penny you will spend on it because you will just enjoy just listening to the music the way you want, tailored to your personal tastes.

Thank you for taking the time to read my review.
My Video review is here: TO BE DONE LATER

My QuBuz Playlist:
Listen to the playlist Test Tracks by tonedeafmonk.audioreviews@gmail.com on Qobuz https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/14733715

My SQUIG:
https://tonedeafmonk.squig.link/

My YouTube Chan:
https://www.youtube.com/@tonedeafmonk

My Discord:
https://discord.gg/hhyg5PKK5X

FATfreq
Handcrafted in Singapore
Founded in 2016 by engineers Aaron and Ben, FATfreq began as a service provider for IEM repair and modifications. With technical experience in the circuitry, acoustics, and driver configurations of over 20 IEM brands, FATfreq quickly became the go-to place for IEM rescue and restoration works.

Now Singapore's leading IEM company, FATfreq creates world-class IEMs and innovative systems for every musician - all at an affordable price point. Every piece is carefully built and tuned by hand, adhering to rigorous quality checks for our Pro-audio industry.

From <https://www.fatfreq.com/about-us>


Now let's get into it: The Techy Stuff
GRAND MAESTRO $3599 USD for Universal or $3999 for Custom
FATfreq Flagship 2023
Tribrid Technology
Quad EST Drivers
4 Configurable Bass Tunings*
Pressure Relief Module
• Comes with Black NOAH Modual - You need to purchase the Blue NOAH moduals to get the 4 tunable Tunings.
From <https://www.fatfreq.com/grand-maestro>

More information can be found here and non-affiliated purchase link: https://shop.musicteck.com/collections/fatfreq/products/fatfreq-grand-maestro
Musicteck even offers Financing!

Subjective Part of my Audio Review -

What I Liked:
-With the use of the NOAH modules you can completely change the tuning of the grand maestro whether you want more base less space more trouble more vocal it has the ability to do any of these tunings with a very easy swap out of the balanced air pressure modules.
-With all of the four possible tunings from the NOAH modules at any one time is the bass never overwhelming any of the rest of the frequencies it's quite spectacular
-The bass is so tastefully done it has texture it has warmth it has organic quality that is lush and musical
-The treble is also another standout of the Grand Maestro where it is ever present but never overwhelming harsh or sibilant
-Now the EST implementation is exemplary of what can be achieved and in this case it uses quad EST drivers you would think there would be an abundance of added sparkle and Twinkle's but in reality they're there just to give you the super upper high frequency special sauce that can only be found in top of the line tunings.
the stage well it's just perfect for me it's one of those kinds of presentations where you get a great depth you get a great sense of height you get left or right information when it feels it should give you that information otherwise it keeps you focused center stage it's brilliantly done.
-The vocals it is a chameleon where you at one point get either a little bit laid back warm presentation with the vocal switch off or with the vocal switch on it really gives you a sense of front and center of the stage and you're being spit on by the performers very forward with the switch on in this presentation and is easy to do even while the IEM are in your ears.
-Fat freak offers not just the universal but also custom IEM'S so if you do find fitment an issue you can always go to the custom route except what do you do with your very expensive purchase that you've already bought? It would be nice here if Fat Frequency would take your I M back for a small restocking fee and let you upgrade to the custom.

The Not So great Stuff
-The vocals again here you're either presented with the laid back warmer signature or the very forward signature there is kind of no happy medium with or without the switch on with the Grand Maestro in my listening impressions so at any one time you are getting a colored reproduction of the vocals not a true monitor like style if that is your preference you will not find that in the Grand Maestro.
-In order to get the four possible tunings at this present time you need to buy a second set of the Noah modules the blue sets which is available but at an added purchase cost of over 100 US dollars they should come included especially at the price you're buying as I am for.
-The vocal switch is positioned in such a way that you can easily select it to turn it on or off, but you also can easily hit the switch when you're inserting or removing. Not that that is too much of a big deal you can immediately notice a difference with one on or one off and it sounds like channel imbalance; but in fact you've just got one of the switches on and one switch off.
The IEMS themselves are probably the largest I've ever seen they are big bois and are definitely not going to fit everyone. The saving grace here is that the nozzles are quite long and also this is a detriment as well for Fitment for some. I had to really select a proper tip in order to get a proper fitment and be comfortable but at any one time I could only get about 2 hour listening sessions before it became too uncomfortable for me.

A future change and feedback to Fat Frequency would be to maybe find a different place for that switch maybe on the top where it wouldn't be as easy to hit it's also been observed for some people that that switch hits the inner part of your ear making it also a bit uncomfortable for some people.


I share my impressions as I hear them with my ears.
As all our ears are different shapes & size so what I hear as bright or bass heavy -you might hear as dull and Vise-Versa; just something to be mindful of.

What makes my ears happy as a sound signature is a slightly more aggressive L shape. I love my Bass Sub and Mid Bass slam, love it all actually; and in balanced quantity. With the Bass, I prefer a faster decay the faster the better so as to not bleed into the mids., I am treble sensitive and prefer a slightly darker warmer replay with good treble extension.

I prefer the fast speedy bass of the Beryllium Coated Driver of my Xenns Mangird UP with a Beryllium Coated Driver. Of course, there are exceptions in the market - as I also find the bass of the Bio Diaphragm used in the Yanyin Canon special - has some special sauce like an 8" subwoofer that feels like a 12" Has the slam and some serious sub-bass! And the super cool Copper Alloy Shell IKKO Obsidian OH10 does some magic to the bass.

My music Library is widely varied from; Metallica, Great White, Cowboy Junkies, Pink Floyd, Adelle, Melisa Ethridge, Fleetwood Mac, Five for Fighting, Mänskin, Poncho Sanchez, Jimmy Smith, Chopin, The Crystal Method just to name a few. When not listening to my test tracks the majority is Jazz or Alternative Rock especially Female Rock. Lorde, Halsey, Alanis Morrisette, Evanescence. All depends on my mood.

Sources: E1DA SG3, Shanling UP5, Geshelli JNOG J2 with AKM4493 chip. Truthear SHIO (Dual Cirrus Logic 43198 DAC Chips)
DAP/TRASPORT: From Lenovo Laptop with Tidal, Hiby R6iii ( ES9038Q2M ), Samsung S22 Ultra with DSD Files.
Amps: iFi ZEN-CAN and iFi ZEN-DAC2 , LoxjiP20 & XDUOO MT-604 tube hybrid amps and Topping A90D Amp 4.4 Pentagon Balanced Out - Unless stated
Tips Used for the Grand Maestro were the Whizzer Easytips SS20

SOME STANDOUT TRACK IMPRESSIONS:
Let's Begin: BLUE NOAH FILTER , VOCAL SWITCH OFF

#1 "Snowman" by SIA
- On this track I found vocals just a real standout not only is the vocals just amazing but the bass is so satisfying to compliment the singing it gives a real nice thump very analog sounding just wonderful

#2 "Lux AEterna" by Metalica
- The base fast and weighty though I wish it did have some more mid base hit it is still a very satisfying replay and would do well with this kind of library as well.

#3 "Nils Cline" by Phil Colins
- Just so immersive and addictive it's a very busy track that has many elements and the Grand Maestro separated all of them and gave each part equal love it was so well done.

#4 "The Cave" by Marcus Mumform
- So much energy and liveliness it made this track a real standout the male vocals were bang on very nice very

#5 "Come As You Are " by Nirvana
- Here I found the quad EST implementation added just a hint of top end and special sparkle when mid-bass kicks in it's very musical it's a great mix.

#6 "All My Friends Are Here" by Joe Satriani
- OK this track Joe describes it as a musician actually a guitarist trying to control a wild beast and I will say in this multilayer track that the Grand Maestro did perfect layering and stage the guitar the ascending a major just WOW electric guitar was very electric.

#7 "Shape Of My Heart" by Sting
- I put this track in here as well I had the same problem I did listening to any IEM like the PENON 10th anniversary where they're just so incredibly musical that you actually have a very hard time reviewing what you're listening to. Because you get completely lost in the music and it's just such a wonderful feeling and you have to chuckle a little bit because you have to keep going back and listening to the same song over and over again in order to write down your impressions it's pretty fun yet annoying at the same time.

#8 "Live & Let Die" by The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
- All the sections and the pieces get the space they need to breathe from the strings to the drums all unquestionably bang on tonality wise very exciting and the Grand Maestro made it sound lively and a great sense of stage and presence with excellent macro and micro details.

#9 "Unfinished Sympathy" by Massive Attack
- Sweet drops , goes low Yet the Grand Maestro actually had me wishing for a little bit more sub base that's funny to actually hear from a company and a line of IEM that are known to be bass monsters. Yet this shows the incredibly masterful skill of the tuning where you can still get a lot of base and yet have all the vocal and the high frequency energies done in a way that makes it a very enjoyable

#10 "Ubiquitous Mr. Lovegrove (LIVE)" by Dead Can Dance
- One thing the Grand Maestro does so very, very well is the ability to give you a realistic sense of the venue you can tell if you're in a big place a little place a big concert a massive concert an outdoor concert or an intimate studio.

#14 "Jetlag Corporation (Remastered)" by Aes Dana
- Another standout track where the EST are done in such a fantastic way again you got the very musical bottom and notes and then a perfect coherence of all the drivers and you get these added Sparkle's on the top end that it's impossible for you not to put a huge grin on your face as you're listening to this track.

#15 "Vivaldi Double Cello Concerto Mvt#1" by Tina Guo
- The grand does very much reproduce cello the way cello was meant to be reproduced very realistic and it made my hair stand up on end that's how well done it gave me the sense of being right there listening to it live.

#16 "Chemical Mentalist" by The Crystal Method
- You want to listen to the Crystal Method, Daft Punk, Or Yellow anything EDM the Grand Maestro will eat up for breakfast and spit out some spine chilling slam and no hint of sibilance or harshness to be found you can go crazy loud with this I am just be careful please people.

OVERALL SOUND IMPRESSIONS:
OK let me first start off saying that prior to putting the Grand Maestro's in my ears this is the first exposure I have had to this brand. Previously I have heard and seen much talk about how the Fat Frequency IEM are not only Bass monsters but also have a quite a bit of balance where it doesn't wash out the vocals or the high frequencies quite a marvel if you're talking about a + 20 DB gain hyper control bass boost on the Maestro SE and only a +7DB pina gain, that's quite a impressive feat.

Now going into this review and getting the Grand Maestro from a friend on loan, I was thinking it was also going to be a bass monster but quite on the contrary in the end I found and was still wishing for more bass than the Grand Maestro could throw out.

I was actually…. I'd hate to say it but a bit disappointed

That is of course until I've spent more time with the Grand Maestro, where I kind of got a better understanding of where they were going with the tuning. The GM is mixture of a very vocal forward VOX and a warm balanced IEM as well as taking a shot at making a monitor like neutral sound signature for the series.

It's very hard to actually describe the entire journey between the swapping out of the modules for the air pressure that changes the bass and of course the rest of the frequencies moving up is also affected as we climb up the frequency scale.

Let's just start off with the BLACK NOAH module vocal switch OFF, here where it has the most amount of sub bass boost it's in its most V shaped form and probably the closest to the maestro SE that being said they are not the same I don't believe from the impressions I've got from the friend who owns this IEM and having had both at the same time. This was my second favorite overall preferred tuning I found the vocals a bit overpowered by the base and had me wishing for a little bit more clarity on that end.

Now BLACK NOAH module with the vocal boost ON I will first say that I don't particularly enjoy the boosted vocals with the switch on with this position. Which is funny because I do have a great preference for vocal forwardness like in the PENON FAN2 where I really enjoy how forward the vocals are in the mix.
I didn't quite enjoy so much it here though but I must say it is a really awesome implementation to what it can do and how it changes the overall entire presentation.
For some I know that they will be their preference but for me I preferred having the vocal switch off and for the sound impressions that I did those were all done with the vocal switch off and with the blue Noah filter in place.

Next up is the BLUE NOAH filter with the vocal switch ON now with this one this one is the most monitor like neutral configuration at the Grand Maestro can do and it definitely was not my favorite at all as I prefer a more substantial bottom end And I found this one was a little too muted for my taste.

Now BLUE NOAH with vocal switch OFF in this configuration I found the Grand Maestro to be a warm organic lush slightly vocal recessed presentation.
This was definitely my favorite version of the Grand Maestro I just loved what it did to vocals it was very musical and it was very easy to get lost in the music with this kind of presentation I didn't really like the upper mid gain with the vocal switch and at first when I listened to this with it off I thought maybe it was a bit recessed and it probably is in the mix if you listen to a different IEM that is more neutral you can tell but it's just so smooth and totally correct that you forgive it any shortcomings and you just kick back and enjoy the music.
Now with this configuration I found that I heard more of a mix with the instrumental kick drums came in more into play had more note weight Just love the base again it's just so tastefully done it's not overpowering anything and you get the EST's adding the sparkle on the top end all the instrumental sounded great and I really enjoyed the stage as well though with the switch on the stage goes from fun listen to hyper craziness that might be a little bit mind blowing.

Finally I must say that I wish I was the owner of this IEM. Though I would probably have done it in a custom version, as it is truly wonderful. The Grand Maestro it's a standout in a sea of similarly tuned offerings.

The interesting part about kilobuck IEMS is that manufacturers are willing to take a little bit more of a risks to try something different and that doesn't always work in this case it certainly does and I can see why not only Fat Frequency has a huge following but a bright future as well.

lots of people say that there is a law of diminishing returns when it comes to gear that tries to reproduce music but in this case I think the Fat Frequency IEM really breaks the mold. I think this is one I am that is a standout.
There are many more choices that are much more expensive than the Grand Maestro, but for what this does it is unique and stands on its own. The GM is worth every penny you will spend on it because you will just enjoy just listening to the music the way you want, tailored to your personal tastes.

Thank you for taking the time to read my review.
My Video review is here:

My QuBuz Playlist:
Listen to the playlist Test Tracks by tonedeafmonk.audioreviews@gmail.com on Qobuz https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/14733715

My SQUIG:
https://tonedeafmonk.squig.link/

My YouTube Chan:
https://www.youtube.com/@tonedeafmonk

My Discord:
https://discord.gg/hhyg5PKK5X