The Custom Art FIBAE Massdrop Exclusive (FIBAE ME... never FIBAE 6, or Piotr gets the knives out
) possesses enormous bass. There is more sub-bass than mid-bass, but make no mistake, there is lots of mid-bass too. As Piotr stated, he aimed for a natural, slower decay and timbre, as opposed to the usual Balanced Armature quick and tight low-end. In this he succeeded. It's one of the most Dynamic Driver sounding BAs I've come across. It reminds me a lot of the U12, only bigger lows, and perhaps
better. I wish I still had my U12 to compare against.
Vocals are undeniably behind the bass. But they have excellent presence and size, and come through strong. They have a velvety, lush quality, with full notes and gorgeous overtones. FIBAE ME is not tuned for profound clarity and detail. It's going for warmth and musicality. That said, Piotr balanced these well, so that details are never lost and the mid-range is indeed quite clear in its own right. Just don't expect that aggressive clarity that's become so popular these days. FIBAE ME is simply pursuing a different philosophy. One I think lots of people are ready for.
The treble sounds to be in-line with the mids, both sitting behind the bass. There's lovely extension and air, though the tuning is warm and smooth. There seems to be a small pump in the presence region, to bring out some detail and light, but for the most part, these highs are linear and silky.
Soundstage is nice and large, giving you an out-of-head experience. I'm enjoying the depth, in particular. It's quite square in dimensions, with equal width, height, and depth. Again, the presentation is about musicality, so separation is not heightened to insane levels. What you get is cohesion, and naturalness that is impossible not to love. In spite of all this warm and bass, FIBAE ME achieves a degree of transparency that is surprising. These IEMs effortlessly lose me in the music.
How much do I like them? Well, as some of you know, I received Legend X two days before. And I'm having a hard time choosing which to listen at any given moment. Piotr has made something right up Pinky's alley, in a big way.
