FatFreq Maestro Mini

General Information

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IN THE BOX​

- IEMs
- 4-Core Silver Plated Copper (SPC) Cable with 3.5mm Audio Jack
- Fatfreq Hard Case
- S/M/L Silicone Eartips
- IEM Cleaning Tool
- 1 Year Warranty

Latest reviews

thaslaya

1000+ Head-Fier
Small in Size, Not in Sound
Pros: + Fun, dynamic V-shaped tuning
+ Deep subwoofer-like bass could be a basshead's dream
+ Vocals are clear and well defined even with the big bass
+ Rolled off treble that keeps up without being sibilant
+ Small shell provides great fit and comfort
Cons: - Niche tuning, not an all-rounder
- Recessed lower mids
- Not the most technically proficient
- Price could be more competitive
- Stock cable
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thaslaya's star rating system:
☆☆☆☆☆ - Fantastic!
☆☆☆☆ - Recommended
☆☆☆ - There are buyers but not for me
☆☆ - Can't see the appeal
☆ - Product is a failure

Disclaimer:
This set was provided for a trial period through the Watercooler tour. I recieve no compensation and all thoughts and opinions are my own. A big thank you to FATfreq for the provided unit and to @Rockwell75 for coordinating the tours.

Gear used:
●Samsung Galaxy s22 Ultra
●Samsung dongle
●Hiby FC4
●Kiwi Ears Allegro
●Letshuoer DT03

Source:
●Listening was done through Amazon Music HD or Ultra HD.

Introduction:
FATfrequency, or FATfreq for short, is an iem manufacturer based out of Singapore. Founded in 2020, the company boasts that all of its products are tuned and built by hand. The FATfreq name has become synonymous with powerful bass among those familiar with the brand. The Maestro line is arguably the company's most popular, with three current models to choose from: the Grand Maestro, Maestro SE, Maestro, and Maestro Mini. The Mini is a hybrid iem featuring a combination of dynamic and balanced armature drivers and is available for $479 through FATfreq's website. Let's break down both the Mini and SE models and see how they sound.
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Build, fit, ergonomics:
For the duration of the tour, I had both the Maestro SE and Maestro Mini, so I will draw comparisons between the two throughout the review.

Since this is a tour unit, I cannot comment on the unboxing experience as it did not include all of the stock packaging or accessories. The kit that I received included both the Maestro SE and Mini iems, the Mini's stock cable, the SE's optional upgrade blue silver cable, and the stock carrying case. The Minis are aptly named as they are quite small and compact, especially when compared to the SEs, which are much larger. The shells are made of solid black resin with blue faceplates featuring "FATfreq" on one side and their logo on the other in gold. It's a fairly simple design but still just eye-catching enough to stand out. The Mini utilizes a flat two pin connection, which makes cable swapping a breeze. They have a semi-custom shape with a shorter nozzle length and a slightly below average insertion depth. I sometimes have fit issues with smaller iems, but this one in particular is quite comfortable. There were no stock ear tips included, but I found my trusty Penon Liqueurs provided the best fit and seal. There is a small lip on the nozzle to help tips stay in place, and I found no issues with wearing them for extended periods. The Pelican-style case is quite large and not very pocketable, but it's also very sturdy and offers great protection. The stock cable that's included with the Mini is downright terrible, and its inclusion with a $450+ product is actually insulting. It's just a cable, so how bad can it be, right? I am talking KZ stock $20 iem quality here. If you know, you know. It is super thin, tangles easily, and feels so incredibly cheap that I would rather receive no cable at all and spend an extra $20 on a Xhins or ivipQ cable from AliExpress. I don't understand how FATfreq could think this cable is worthy of any iem over $20. They also sell it separately on their website for $45, which makes it even worse.
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FR graph courtesy of Gizaudio.

Sound impressions and comparison to Maestro SE:
Among the sources I own, I found the Mini to pair best with the HiBy FC4. This combination presented the warmest, smoothest response, which is my preference.

Looking at the graphs, the bass measurements of both the SE and Mini are very similar up until about 500 Hz. The SE then has a steeper rise in the pinna gain region, a noticeable dip at around 6 kHz, and then continues on to have greater treble extension. The Mini has a slower rise from the lower midrange to a peak at 4 kHz, followed by a more rolled-off treble response. This makes sense considering the SE utilizes EST drivers for the highs. Of course, the graph can't tell the whole story, so let's compare their technicalities. Although the bass quantities are similar, the quality on the SE is noticeably better. It's more defined and resolving with better texture and less bloat. The midrange is less recessed and stands out more from the prominent bass on the SE. The treble is where the tunings deviate the most. The Mini's treble is more polite with less extension and no sibilance to speak of. The SE, with its EST drivers, exhibits much better extension and treble detail, but it's also spicier, more fatiguing, and can sometimes become sibilant or harsh. The SE is slightly harder to drive with just a simple dongle. The Mini can get quite loud, while the SE can only reach a medium to high level of loudness. It's not a huge difference, but it is something to note. The soundstage of the Mini is not as wide as the SE, but it still has good width and depth and never sounds congested. The Mini's capabilities compete well in the sub-$500 bracket, but when compared to the SE, the latter simply exhibits better technicalities across the board. The soundstage is wider and deeper, and there is better detail retrieval, dynamics, and separation. Honestly, this is to be expected, given the price difference, although the note weight of the SE is a bit thinner than I had hoped for, and the Mini has a more "full" sound than the SE. I also feel that the timbre is a bit off, too. It can present as somewhat artificial, thin, and dry and has a metallic sheen or tinniness on certain tracks. The Mini actually beats out its much more expensive older brother here. Although I wouldn't characterize the Mini as "warm," it does exhibit much more warmth than the SE and has a much more natural and organic timbre in comparison.
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●Lows - The Mini is a sub-bass focused set, but the mid-bass is no slouch either. The bass response is the closest to a subwoofer I've ever heard in an IEM so far. It's just such a fun, rumbly experience, but it's definitely not just a gimmick. The bass has both great quantity and quality. Sure, it's not the cleanest presentation I've heard, but for the price, I'm very impressed with the execution. The extension can go very low and exhibits a nice deep rumble. It has great weight and texture but also never sounds bloated or completely overpowering. The impact and slam are decent with a fairly quick attack. My one minor complaint is that the decay can be a touch slow and sometimes overstays its welcome. It can also sound a tad unkempt or messy in some tracks, but for the most part, it's just big and fun. In "Cry" by Benson Boone, when the kick drums come in at 0:30, they sound so full and enveloping. It's almost impossible not to start bobbing your head to the beat. They continue to have great impact throughout the track without encroaching on his wonderful vocals.

●Mids - By virtue of the V-shaped tuning, the midrange is recessed, but it's actually not as bad as I would imagine just looking at the graph. The pinna gain rise is slower here on the mini than the SE, and it's my preferred style to keep the upper mids from becoming too energetic too fast. Vocals still have a lot of good presence and are well represented, but it's not necessarily a "vocal forward" tuning. The lower mids are mostly devoid of bass bleed, but being more recessed means losing some life and detail from instruments and male vocals. It's most noticeable with certain genres and tracks where the mids are integral to sounding correct. On "Separate Ways" by Journey, the keys and guitars get recessed behind the percussion and synthesizer, and it comes across somewhat deflated, like some of the life of the midrange was sucked out. The Mini definitely won't please midrange enthusiasts, but the powerful V-shaped tuning would give that away already.

●Highs - The treble on the Mini is very well done. My fear with any V-shaped tuning is that the highs will be too accentuated in an attempt to combat the big bass shelf, leading to a thin, harsh, and sibilant treble response. Those woes were quickly alleviated upon my first listen. The treble is crisp and clean with no troublesome areas to my ears. Snares, cymbals, claps, etc., are all clearly heard and detailed without harshness. The highs do just enough to make their presence felt without overdoing it. The intro to "Given Up" by Linkin Park is full of jingling keys and claps that can come across as harsh and coarse on some brighter sets. However, on the Mini, they sound really nice and clear without being fatiguing or bothersome. The treble might be a bit blunted and too polite for some, but I personally love how it helps to balance out the bass without stealing its thunder. Though I wouldn't characterize it as a "warm" set, the Mini does sound warmer compared to the SE, but the latter does have much better extension and air. Those looking for that EST type of sparkle will likely enjoy the SE better, but for sensitive people like myself, the Mini hits just right.
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In conclusion:
The FATfreq Maestro Mini is certainly small, but don't let its size deceive you. This little thing puts out big sound! The Maestro series is renowned for its exceptional bass response, but it offers much more beyond its subwoofer-like capabilities. The intense V-shaped tuning showcases great energy in the upper mids and treble to balance that big bass shelf. The Mini offers a fantastically fun and dynamic presentation that's capable of elevating your music to a head-bobbing level. While the Maestro SE is technically the "superior" iem, I much prefer the presentation of the Mini. I will admit the SE has better technicalities, including detail retrieval, soundstage, separation, and imaging. Its bass is cleaner, the midrange more pronounced, and the treble is more extended. However, the Mini's rolled-off treble, fuller note weight, and more natural timbre win out for me. The fact that it's less than a quarter of the price of the SE doesn't hurt either. In closing, if you want an unapologetically V-shaped tuning with big, boisterous, subwoofer-like bass and a treble that does well to keep up without any sibilance, then look no further than the Maestro Mini. Now, $479 is certainly not inexpensive for any iem, but I do think they have a decent price-to-performance ratio. Although if they were closer to $300, they would be an absolute no-brainer recommendation. Obviously, this type of tuning won't be suitable or preferred for every genre, but I was surprised by its performance across my library. The Mini sounds really great with R&B, chillhop, dance, pop, EDM, and even some indie, singer-songwriter, and country music. FATfreq has a cult favorite on its hands, and after hearing them for myself, I understand their appeal and may need to grab a pair for myself.
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Last edited:
MakeItWain
MakeItWain
Good job, man.

lycos

100+ Head-Fier
Fatfreq Maestro Mini
Pros: -Excellent midbass
-Energetic iem
-Warm vocal
-Great value
Cons: -Treble can be too energetic
Battle of Basshead Midfi: Fatfreq Scarlett Mini vs Maestro Mini vs Symphonium Titan

Big thanks to @Damz87 for organising Fatfreq Scarlett Mini tour and @tfaduh for loaning his personal Fatfreq Maestro Mini as part of the same tour. Symphonium Titan is my personal iem.
Scarlett has the upgraded cable, Maestro Mini has 3rd party cable from XinHS (Aliexpress) and Titan uses stock cable.


Fatfreq Scarlett Mini
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To say Scarlett is a bassy IEM is a gross understatement. It’s simply a bass monster. I’m not sure why it is called Scarlett “Mini”; it definitely does not refer to the bass. The tuning is L-shaped, with the deepest and most amount of bass among all IEMs that I have tried and you can buy. Scarlett is capable of slamming bass very deep, weighty, and rumbling with natural decay. Despite its quantity, the bass is well controlled with no distortion I could notice, not bloated, and has very good texture. Unfortunately, that’s all Scarlett delivers.

The mids are recessed and hollow, with vocals feeling quite detached from the music. The female vocals simply sound unnatural. The treble also suffers from roll-off, with not enough sparkle. Indeed, Scarlett is a dark IEM that reminds me of my old Audeze LCD-X. In terms of space, the music sounds as if it comes from a far distance and from one point. This makes imaging very compressed and inaccurate.


Fatfreq Maestro Mini
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Maestro Mini is a more balanced IEM, although it would still be categorized as a bassy IEM. The tuning is W-shaped and quite energetic. It has deep subbass and a full midbass punch, although to a lesser degree compared to Scarlett. Like Scarlett, the bass has good natural decay, albeit faster. The lower mids are lifted to add volume and warmth to the vocals. The lower treble is capable of adding sparkle to the music. In most tracks, the treble is well controlled with no sibilance, although some people may find it too energetic. Maestro Mini provides a good sense of space in the music. It has a wide soundstage but is relatively flat.

Symphonium Titan
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Titan is also more balanced than Scarlett Mini. The tuning is U-shaped. The bass focuses more on subbass instead of midbass. Therefore, despite how deep the bass hits, it feels like it lacks weight. The vocals sound clean but recessed and lean. The treble is quite smooth and non-peaky, with just enough sparkle. Titan has an intimate soundstage where you feel surrounded by music.

Comparison:
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Price

  • Fatfreq Scarlett Mini: USD 639 (or 798 with upgraded cable)
  • Fatfreq Maestro Mini: USD 479 (or 599 with upgraded cable)
  • Symphonium Titan: USD 999
As a side note, it is interesting that Fatfreq’s upgraded cable and connector seem to be identical to Titan’s stock cable and connector. See below.
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Bass
All three IEMs—Scarlett, Maestro Mini, and Titan—have outstanding bass quality but with different presentations. Scarlett has the deepest, most rumbling subbass, followed by Titan and Maestro Mini. In terms of midbass, Scarlett again has the heaviest and weightiest punch, followed by Maestro and then Titan. These IEMs have natural bass decay, with Scarlett seeming to have the longest decay, followed by Maestro Mini and then Titan.
  • Subbass: Scarlett > Titan > Maestro Mini
  • Midbass: Scarlett > Maestro Mini > Titan
Midrange
Maestro Mini has enjoyable, thick, warm vocals. It has good lower mids and upper mids, making it great for both male and female vocals. Titan's vocals are more neutral, leaner, drier, and lack richness in comparison. In my opinion, Scarlett's mids are too recessed and unfortunately muffled. It is hard to recommend Scarlett if you care about vocals.
  • Midrange: Maestro Mini > Titan >> Scarlett
Treble
Maestro Mini has the most treble energy. The treble can be quite coarse and grainy. In several tracks, it can be peaky and piercing. Luckily, this does not happen often. At the extreme opposite, Scarlett almost has no treble energy. In my opinion, Titan has the best treble among these three. It strikes an excellent balance: it has enough sparkle but still sounds smooth.
  • Treble: Titan > Maestro Mini >> Scarlett
Space and Imaging
In terms of soundstage, Titan is the most intimate, followed by Maestro Mini and Scarlett. Titan and Maestro Mini have very good imaging, while Scarlett's imaging is quite poor. With Scarlett, the music seems to come from a very distant singular point, making instrument positioning a mess.
  • Imaging: Titan = Maestro >> Scarlett
Detail Retrieval
In terms of technicality, all three IEMs are roughly on a similar level. Titan has slightly better instrument separation, followed by Scarlett and lastly Maestro Mini.
  • Detail: Titan > Scarlett > Maestro Mini (difference is minimal)

Conclusion
To sum up, each of the Scarlett Mini, Maestro Mini, and Symphonium Titan have their own appeal. Scarlett Mini is for bassheads who only care about bass and want the deepest and biggest bass among all IEMs in the market—and don’t really care about mids or treble. Maestro Mini is for those who enjoy an energetic IEM with punchy midbass and warm vocals—at the expense of slightly more elevated treble. Titan would be suitable for those who love rumbling subbass, a more neutral sound, and smoother treble—at the expense of a lack of vocal warmth.

MakeItWain

Previously known as SemperMalum
Hey There, Mr. Blue - We're so Pleased to be with You (Maestro Mini)
Pros: Thundering yet Controlled Bass
V-Shaped tuning done right
Subwoofer Feeling/Effect (similar to Scarlet Mini) makes this a fun set without taking anything away
Extremely Comfortable
Natural timbre and solid technicalities
Still a capable all-rounder while giving you visceral bass
Cons: Power hungry (not as power hungry as Maestro Mini's siblings but still needs power to open up the sound)
Not as smooth as similarly priced IEMs
Not exactly budget friendly
Occasionally sharp which is not ideal for the treble sensitive or high volume listening
TL;DR: Unapologetically V-Shaped sound with a subwoofer in your Ear

Overview/History

Hi all.

Another Fatfreq review being dropped as I was able to demo both the Maestro SE and the Maestro Mini as part of a tour. I've spent the past week only putting the Maestro Mini and the Maestro SE in my ears and putting them through the gamut.

If you aren't aware of what Fatfreq has brought to the IEM community, they're essentially the bass whisperers. Their Maestro series is their take on the V-shaped sound signature (and their most successful line up) to the point where they were backed up on orders.

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*Stock photo from Fatfreq's website*

Many of the bigger reviewers out there are absolutely enamored with their basshead yet quality line up and I think you can firmly place me right up there as a fan of their offerings.

Without further adieu, here's my full write up/impressions/review of the Maestro Mini.

Disclaimers: This unit was received as part of the Watercooler Tour as hosted by - I was not given any instructions to review or leave any impressions; this is purely just something I wanted to do with the opportunity given. Shoutout to Fatfreq as this is the second/third Fatfreq IEMs that I've been able to demo as part of separate tours and it speaks volumes to them standing behind their product that they're letting people try out their awesome IEMs.

Build Quality, Comfort and Accessories
Photo dump time!

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I just recently reviewed the Maestro SE so some pictures are being reused from that write up. The unit(s) came in a black pelican hard case.

There were some included tips that looked competent. I did try them for a moment (after wiping down) but I did most of my listening with my own tips line up. YMMV based on fit or whether you're willing to tip roll.

In a previous review, I had indicated that the Maestro SE are chonky bois but the Maestro Mini are small and very comfortable. Here's a size comparison compared another comfortable set (for me) the Xuan NV for size comparison sake. The Mini are even smaller then them. Which is borderline baffling how they did it.

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Tip Rolling
With how comfortable the Maestro Mini are to me, I was able to fully embrace tip rolling and getting the perfect combination down.

The Maestro Mini really do respond/work well with your line up of tips and they're one of the few sets where I can definitively tell a major difference between what the tips presented. Usually, it feels more subtle but the Maestro Mini are anything but subtle.

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Spinfit W1: Bass was still present/impactful but it felt like some subbass was lost (felt more midbass forward). Vocals/treble were presented exactly how they graph/squig where it can occasionally be sharp but not nearly as fatiguing as the Final Type E can be. While the Spinfit W1 were the winners for listening with the Maestro SE, I don't think they're my favorite here.
Final Type E - Clear/Red: Bass was impactful (more so than the Spinfit) and nothing on the bass side felt lost. The issue were kind of with the mids/highs - the Maestro Mini does adopt a more aggressive mids/highs approach and the Final Type E help elevate the treble usually. This makes the Final Type E perfect with the Scarlet Mini but they can get very sharp at times with the Maestro Mini. It's not to the point where I can't listen with them but the more treble sensitive would hate the Maestro Mini with the Final Type E Clear/Reds.
TangZu SanChai - Balanced: Bass on these tips were great; rumble and midbass was present. They did not sound as harsh/sharp as the Final Type E but they also felt a bit closer as soundstage and separation definitely took a hit. Treble was definitely smoother than even the W1. Probably the runner up for me though not the perfect combination for my tastes.
Dunu S&S: Combo achieved! Treble was smoothed out the most with the Dunu S&S, mids/vocals were still as natural sounding but bass (while not as midbass impactful as the SanChai) rumbled comfortably in my ears. With the treble tamed a bit, I was able to increase the volume comfortably (without fear of fatigue) that makes this combination perfect for moderate volume listening as well as higher volume listening.

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Cable
The Maestro Mini has two cable options; one is their stock black cable while they also have an upgraded blue cable which is modular. I -love- that blue cable but the stock black cable is extremely thin and I am not a fan of that one. Thankfully, I have a handful of other cables available to me (because I'm a cable addict now, apparently, thanks Xinhs and NiceHCK) and they work well with the Maestro Mini.

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Sound
But how do they sound? Analytical and clinical.

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These are bass cannons. They sound bassy and V-shaped but the elevation in mids/treble make this still a viable all-rounder that's extremely fun to listen to. You aren't going to get necessarily the same quality of bass that it's siblings offer (like the Maestro SE) or the same quantity of bass (Scarlet Mini) but you're getting an extremely fun presentation nonetheless that harkens back to the times where you could just sit back and -enjoy- your music. But, let's break it down further.

Gear Tested On: Primarily streamed music via either dedicated Streamer, Laptop or Phone
Phone chain: Pixel 8 Pro -> Abigail Pro
Phone chain: Pixel 8 Pro -> Fosi DS2
Streamed Music Chain Workstation: Laptop -> Fiio K11
Streamed Music chain: WiiM Mini -> JDS Labs Atom DAC+ -> JDS Labs OL Switcher -> Geshelli Labs Archel 3 Pro


Lows/Bass: Bass quantity and quality are amazing with the Maestro Mini. The bass is detailed, subbass focused with satisfactory midbass impact/slam (not necessarily the same quality as it's siblings). This is easily a natural step up from prior heralded basshead sets (Legato, etc.) without breaking the bank and could easily be endgame (does that even exist in this hobby??) for people that don't want to go to the Summit-Fi territory levels.

The best thing about the Maestro Mini (and by extension the Scarlet Mini) is the size being on the smaller end which fits perfectly in your ear. This gives the IEM this an entire head shaking subwoofer effect. Both the Scarlet Mini and the Maestro Mini provide a level of head shaking that is addicting and unlike anything I've enjoyed in my ears. The difference in the two really comes down to how much more bass do you want (and are willing to sacrifice for) vs how much you'd miss the other aspects in your music.

You're able to enjoy this tasteful bass whether you go to moderate volume listening or higher volume listening.

Mids: Mids for the Maestro Mini are extremely natural with the timbre. While the upper mids are a bit elevated, it still remains very balanced sounding and there is zero bass bleed. I wouldn't consider them extremely smooth but the overall cohesiveness between the bass/mids feels like they're working together rather than against.

Both male/female vocals sound great. The only nitpick I would have really comes down to female vocals occasionally sounding sharp but it's essentially to compensate for the sheer amount of bass. With the right tips, they weren't a concern for me anymore.

Treble: Treble can sound extremely sharp at times but, otherwise, they sound elevated to compensate for the large amount of bass.

I think the best way to put it is that while the treble is elevated, I think the bass provides a good enough blanket that it almost buffers the highs. There were some fatiguing moments in certain tracks that tend to be very sparkly at the top end but having swapped to the Dunu S&S tips, they were reigned in a bit and it became significantly less harsh.

This is more of the tuning choice with the Maestro Mini, though, where it gives you both the bass but also doesn't shy away from the other frequencies.

Specific songs listened to and other Etc.:
I listened to a handful of my 'reference' songs but also my general library to figure out where the Maestro Mini excelled. I can comfortably say that the tuning choice in these make most of the music I listen to fun and engaging. Adding an Asterisk to songs where the Maestro Mini really shined.

Fleetwood Mac - Dreams*
Stevie Wonder - Sir Duke
ELO - Mr. Blue Sky*
Gorillaz - 19-2000 Soulchild Remix*
Boston - More Than a Feeling*
Justice - Genesis*
Deadmau5 - There Might be Coffee*
Camille - Le Festin*
Michael Jackson - Billie Jean
AC/DC - Thunderstruck
Outkast - Hey Ya!

Here's one track that stands out because it's got a fun rumble of bass but female vocals are extremely high and there's a LOT of stereo separation and sparkle on treble: Dog Days are Over - Florence + the Machine.

This is an example of a song that is borderline unbearable on the Final Type E Clear/Red tips, OK on the Spinfit W1, OK on the SanChai Balanced but great on the Dunu S&S where I didn't feel like I needed to skip the track.

I think the soundstage is wider than the Scarlet but not nearly as complete as the Maestro SE. The Maestro Mini is well above average on details/dynamics as I was able to pick out things in some of my music that only the Dusk or the Moondrop S8 presented better. Layering/separation isn't the greatest but they're not going to disappoint you if you use this set as a bassy all-rounder. But, by picking up the Maestro Mini, you're essentially saying that you want a basshead set that will do every genre well.

These will not provide the same vocal/separation/layering/soundstage as, say, the Crinacle x Dusk but I don't think you'd care while you're nodding your head in sheer fun/enjoyment of your music.

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Comparisons:
Comparisons will be hard but I think it's worth comparing to another similar basshead IEM and it's older siblings.

Legato: I'm primarily comparing the Maestro Mini to the Legato because the Legato were my previous basshead set that I loved. The Maestro Mini are clear step up from the Legato both in terms of bass quality, quantity and impact. You're also getting a more complete package of sound for the mids/treble that the Legato was missing.

In turn, you're not getting as smooth of a set as the Legato. I think the Maestro Mini is definitely worth the step up to.

Scarlet Mini: I think where the Scarlet Mini takes a seat back for all the other frequencies of the spectrum to embrace the full bass experience, the Maestro Mini has no lack of midrange presence or upper extension.

The Scarlet Mini will sound more inoffensive and definitely has more subbass rumble but I don't think it can provide the same basshead all-rounder feeling that the Maestro Mini is capable of. I am personally going to go with the Maestro Mini in this case but only because I was able to demo them to know exactly what I'm getting myself into.

Maestro SE: The Maestro SE is the better overall IEM but I don't think they're nearly as comfortable nor as fun. I would go with the Maestro Mini for a fraction of the cost. But, if I was looking at a Summit-Fi quality IEM that provided details galore while having some of the best detailed bass out there, the Maestro SE would not disappoint at all (if you can get them to fit).

Other Things to be aware of:
Fatfreq has typically been very responsive but there have been reports of people's shipments being delayed for months. That being said, it does appear that things are coming out in a more timely manner so it's likely that they've finally shrunken their backlog and things are more normalized for them. YMMV, though, so be aware that it could be 3+ weeks or it could be months. If you don't want to wait, there are other retailers like MusicTeck that you can purchase from instead.

These also retail for $475 so you are paying premium for this set. I don't think I can recommend them sight unseen but, if you're not treble sensitive, I think I'd lean towards being more OK with that referral. But I'd feel better about recommending this set as a fun 2nd IEM set that could even be your most expensive in your line up based on their ability to be used as an all-rounder unlike the Scarlet Mini which is more of a niche listen.

The Maestro Mini, like it's siblings, love power. I would not recommend this set if you don't have the ability to drive them. I don't think they're nearly as power hungry as the Scarlet nor the Maestro but they scale well to their power, their source (and even the tips) so you should really help them live up to their full potential.

The Masetro Mini also work really well with certain sources. Any warmer sources will further tame the treble extension on the Maestro Mini and likely be additionally pleasing to the ear. The Fosi DS2 (and Fosi in general from what I've heard) tend to be very warm-neutral leaning and tend to provide some treble relief. The Maestro Mini really performed well with this set up.

I did run the Mini with the K11 (which tends to still keep the sound signature as close to true neutral as possible) and this was a situation where keeping it with the Dunu S&S made the most sense while I could play around a little bit more on other tips with the Fosi DS2.

The Archel 3 Pro ran these extremely well and I could actually use the tone control here to dial back the treble a small smide so that I could use some of my other tips to greater effect.

Conclusion:
Overall, I'm a huge fan of the Maestro Mini. While I was initially concerned about how sharp the graphs/squig reflect that they are (and impressions that people have provided comparing the Maestro Mini and the Scarlet which is extremely inoffensive with it's treble extension), my concerns were squashed when I was finally able to put them in my ears.

Don't get me wrong. They can get up there. They likely won't be for everyone especially people who are treble sensitive. They worked extremely well for me but I could see how some people would struggle with them or would need to either EQ, run Dunu S&S or another set of tips, or run only in lower volumes. But, in my use case, I think the Maestro Mini is an excellent addition.

I think the Maestro Mini is a step up from a 'niche' IEM but it is still going to be a bit more pricey than some may be willing to spend. If you are willing to spend on it, though, I think the best thing that the Maestro Mini does is remind you that it's totally OK to just sit back, relax and have fun with your music.

You don't have to sit broodingly in a dark room and using the brightness of an IEM to shine some light in your earholes.

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Let Fatfreq show you the way.

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Thanks for reading!

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MakeItWain
MakeItWain
@Syan25 - I think Deuce and MM will coexist with different tuning and sound characteristics. MM may be more mid-bass and V-shaped with Deuce is neutral with a great sub bass boost to give it that subwoofer feel.
Syan25
Syan25
Yeah, I want something fun for fusion and hip-hop. But I don't want the bass too overburden the rest and I don't want too harsh a treble. I was at the CanJam in London and I regret not testing these two weeks ago...
MakeItWain
MakeItWain
Yeah, I think Deuce is probably going to be infinitely safer to recommend. Treble wasn't an issue for me on the Maestro Mini but I can't say that it's not a bit more on the aggressive side so it can effect your ears more.

Comments

takoyakeyy

New Head-Fier
Definitely a bass canon, I would love them more if my stupid ears don't hurt every time I use them for a long period. Been thinking of selling it to people who will use it more but will probably cry during the shipment.
 
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