Nice review but you should have done Mahlers 2nd. HA! Just kidding. What I find with my review unit is the MEXT sounds best on low gain on my M8. When I go to mid or high gain the mext gets a tad shouty. I think the bone conducter has a bit too much energy on the higher gain settings.

I much prefer the 6th and then the 2nd to the 4th but this is a new release that I quite liked!
Regarding gain/power I quite agree, the MEXT prefers non aggressive and dead silent amplifiers.
I seldomly used medium gain on my DAPs.

No one does symphonies like Mahler...

Interesting; I put away my PWAudio Monile 50s a silver/copper hybrid, and started using the stock MEXT cable (copper) and the highs are tamed and the sound is much smoother. Maybe the silver element of the cable makes the MEXT too hot?

I am not too much into cable rolling, I used only the stock.
Theoretically a silver/copper cable is made in order to bring details in the foreground and spice a little the treble.
BTW what tips are you using? I found the silicone more balanced for my taste.

Got the MEXT a week ago....
FYI I own a Harbeth floor speaker handmade home set up, so I can tell when impactful bass response comes in your way......
MEXT is indeed a perfect all rounder with bone conductor technology working MAINLY in the mid section, But I have to admit that iems such as ISNH40/H50 (ISN AUDIO) which I also own, not only are way more impactful/visceral in the lower end than the MEXT, BUT those are also on par with a kilobuck iem like the MEXT in terms of Soundstage / resolution /headroom /clarity /note weight & unique tibre for ONLY a quarter of MEXT 's price,
just thought that people should know that valuable information that ISN H40/H50 are COMPLETELY ON PAR with the MEXT for less than 300 dollars and save some serious cash there..so I would advise anyone to check those out....... .Nice review though, Wishing a happy Easter.......

I found using the JVC spiral dots has the best sound.

@alexandros a
Thank you very much, I also own a 2 channel set up consisting of the Audiophysic Step 35 and Spark so I guess I know about speakers.
The bone conduction, as seen on the specs sheet, is definitely working in the mid bass range but combined with the DD and the rest of the tuning, makes for a very impactful bass response when viewed as a whole.
Of course don't expect Harbeth performance although the mids have a speaker like quality.
Unfortunately I don't have experience with the earphones you mentioned but nice of you to mention them.
Happy Easter holidays.

What do you think is a better choice for bass this or the fh9. Also which is physcially larger? Thank you

The MEXT has better sub bass extension and less of a mid bass hump but in the FH9 you get the feeling of the larger driver hitting in your ears.
In the FH9 bass is more prominent because the driver is somewhat dominant and detached not as integrated as in the MEXT.
Also the FH9 sounds less dark than the MEXT.
On the other hand you don't get this unique feeling that you have with the MEXT.
But all this from memory, I must do an A/B but this can be done after a couple of days.

Thank you very much

@Ichos really wasn't complying anything by mentioning my home audio set up apart from the fact that I have really found out (being at this journey as a music enthusiast and strictly Not as an audiophile, for many many years) true high fidelity monitors at very lower prices than the MEXT (H40/H50 are perfect examples of my statement)
I also haven't purchased (in the past), and certainly won't buy (in the future) any other that much expensive iem cause(having auditioned the MEXT) I really don't think IT'S really worth that much extra cost, especially when in today's market everybody can find iems on PAR with the MEXTS in much lower prices....
anyways..... thanks for coming back and as far as the MEXT goes their one and only MAJOR downside IMHO is their physical dimensions (fits like a glove to my case...... nevertheless I think most other people will certainly have fitting issues unless those people have any chance of trying the MEXT before buying them.....)

Yes being bulky is one of the few negatives I mentioned.
Still if you don't have very small ear cavities, the actual fit is very good.
Thank you for reading!

Is it more bulky than fh9?

@ruffandruff

More or less the same but I find that the MEXT fits better than the FH9.
I guess due to the semi - custom design and the anatomically shaped area around the sound tube.
The appearance is quite bulky but for my ears the fit was perfect and stress free.
They are also lighter than the FH9.

How long did you burn these in for?

I mentioned in the review, 150 hours for sure but I didn't monitor the progress.

Great review. You had me at pizzicato.

In retrospect, could the bone conduction tuning be a tad aggressive?

@szore What do you mean by aggressive? It is something that is integrated and part of the tuning, you barely notice, it is cohesive and you don't feel it as a detached effect that can be annoying.