Melodic Artification Alter Ego Discussion and Impression Thread

[MusicTeck]

MA Alter Ego Product Highlights

Built to last, built for comfort: Crafted from high-purity titanium alloy, these earphones boast a sleek, full-cavity design that effortlessly molds to your ears. Enjoy hours of listening pleasure without a hint of fatigue.

Unleash the full spectrum of sound: Experience the rich detail of a custom-designed 10.5mm dynamic driver, seamlessly blended with the precision of Sonion balanced armature drivers and the newest Sonion Quad EST driver set.

Power meets precision: A revolutionary dynamic driver and air mixed power structure system guarantees a dynamic listening experience, perfect for any genre.

Open up to a world of detail: The fully open back cavity design ensures a spacious and airy soundstage, allowing every note to breathe.

Two worlds in one: Effortlessly switch between two expertly crafted sound signatures with our convenient music style toggle. Whether you crave vibrant energy or smooth detail, your music will always sound its best.

Crafted for style and function: The newly designed hardware kit, including a sleek silver-plated plug and pins, complements the earphones' stunning aesthetic.

The perfect fit for every ear: Customize your listening experience with five pairs of included Final short E ear tips for a secure and comfortable fit.

Crystal clear sound, crystal clear commitment: High-purity single crystal copper earphone cable undergoes rigorous testing and refinement, ensuring only the purest audio transmission.

Unwavering dedication to detail: We utilize a full-flying wire connection system for maximum signal stability, delivering the pristine sound you deserve.

Specification

Shell Material: TC4 TITANIUM

Frequency Range:5hz~40khz

Impedance:25Ω1khz

Sensitivity:104db@1kHz, 1mw

Stock Eartips: Final Type E

Plug:4.4mm

Driver Configuration: 1DD+4BA+4EST

 

[MusicTeck]

Let's get the party started!

 

[MusicTeck]

Here are some of the reviews: https://twister6.com/2024/04/20/in-a-snapshot-melodic-artification-alter-ego/, Head-Fi Gear review: https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/melodic-artification-alter-ego.27166/

 

[UnknownOperator]

 

[Tanalasta]

Early adopter ; again thank you to @MusicTeck for enabling as always. Purchased at RRP.

Unboxing:

Simple cube box. DHL / customs opened my package and the cardboard box needs a good shake to release. I would suggest a little pull tab to make the unboxing easier.
Included are Final-E tips ; two little IEM protective pouches ; cable and IEM and a small rectangular cable case. I found the case small to house both IEM and cable together.

Brief Impressions:

Some of these impressions I have briefly posted on Watercooler. My personal music and tonality preferences may not align with yours.
As Twister mentions in his review, the Alter Ego was universally acclaimed at CanJam from those that heard it. So I was keen to see how these would fit into my collection.

The build quality seems stellar. Titanium. Lightweight. Well machined. The two-pin sockets were one of the smoothest I have experienced. Made cable rolling easy and stress free. The mode switch requires a firm fingernail to switch but is easy to do. This is a sturdy IEM and would be great for commuting.

With the stock cable and Final-E tips, the Alter Ego has a pleasant, balanced tuning with a slight prominence in the bass/low mids. The DD gives the IEM a nice bass impact. With the mids, personally the timbre was safe but but wasn't unique enough for me to engage with. It was hard to describe and it may have been a synergy thing. Perhaps I was hoping for the laid back musicality of the Trailii or dulcet Isabellae ; or the forward engagement of the Diva. Treble is safe. It's there ; not prominent or extended necessarily but no harshness, sibilance or unpleasantries.

If a balanced all-in-one with the option of a bass/mid boost is what you're looking for and decent technicalities then by all means, the Alter Ego should be near the top of your list to audition. The warm switch elevates the bass and low mids. The lower frequency range becomes crowded with the emphasis and injects increased warmth to the tonality. I prefer the clarity of the neutral switch for my music preferences (classical, crossover, c-pop, acoustic). My friend and I thought it was a little 'too' busy but this is track dependent. But if you enjoy the XE6 or Trifecta low end, then you'll probably find an affinity with the warm switch.

After my initial comments on Cooler, I ended up preferring the stock cable. It is well tuned to the IEM. I thought the soundstage could be more holographic but have to remember this is a $2500 IEM and not a $5000 IEM. I tried the Eletech Enigma which improved the clarity, air and separation but unbalanced the tuning and mid timbre. Tips are personal. I ended up enjoying the stock Final-E and thought the W1 were just a tad 'bright' in the upper mid register. W1 and Crystal subtly have a wider soundstage.

I suspect the Alter Ego will sing out of a warmer or well powered source. The SP3000 may not have been quite right. I would have loved to see how the Alter Ego performs with a rich, technically excellent cable like the Sov Symphony.

My Alter Ego is currently en-route to another well known Australian Cooler

 

[UnknownOperator]

As I have completed preliminary cable & ear tip trials for the Alter Ego, I will be copying some of my early impression posts from the Watercooler thread over to this space. Apologies for the redundancy. I am very fortunate to have grabbed a pair of these as soon as I did. My serial number indicates that I have one of the first production sets. Thank you @MusicTeck and special thanks to Leo at @MusicTeck for taking extended time to make cable pairing recommendations.

If you value top class powerful clean bass, mid range presentation, and vocal presence, my Lord, get in line for these.

Nothing is out of order. They do not require much power. The open back design means that sound does bleed out and I could hear as much when I set them down to get something across the room. But they project a lot of detail AND they are fun to listen to.

Listening with the HiBy R8II set to Class A output/Medium gain/Turbo boost ON using the default tuning setting, they are very easy to enjoy and connect with music. There is really good balance from the low end through the mid frequencies. Nothing is distracting. They throw a wide stage. The open back design leaves a lot of room for everything to have its moment. The bass plays strong and clean, featuring more than satisfactory sub bass and mid bass response. It doesn’t have the same texture or visceral presence as what I've experienced with Monachaa, but it does just fine (on the default setting). Male and female vocals are admirably present and have convincing timbre and clarity.

I have experimented by pairing the Alter Ego with the Flash Acoustics Thanos and Beat Audio Cyclone 8-wire cables. The Thanos is now a permanent fixture with the Monachaa for the way it thickens the lower reaches of bass and midbass body while maintaining the Monachaa’s crazy 3D staging. So, I’m not going to mess around any further with that combination since it’s now become my favorite monitor/cable pairing. To be transparent, I also preferred the Thanos with the Alter Ego, but the Cyclone 8-wire is a noticeable improvement to the AE’s stock cable in that it opens up the soundstage a lot. I hear improvements in detail retrieval, texture, and space around instrument staging. The clean and strong bass remains, but I hear an increase in body and detail in the already immersive mid range and vocal presentation. I find that this makes the Alter Ego a highly enjoyable monitor for multiple guitar tracked rock and roll, especially music from the 80’s and 90’s that runs lean through the lower frequencies and hot up top. The Cyclone 8-wire is advertised as “relatively dark” and I would agree that it is not a cable that I would recommend if you are looking to add treble presence or sparkle to the Alter Ego. This might be my only criticism of the AE. The treble region is smooth and present, but not the quality or volume of high frequency presentation that you will find with monitors like Monachaa or Annihilator 23. This makes me curious about how a silver or gold/silver hybrid cable might influence the Alter Ego’s delivery of treble.

Switching the tuning toggle switch results in, to my ear, a subtle lift of lower mid range frequencies and mid bass body. I believe that the cable pairing of the Cyclone 8-wire casts some influence on how subtle this change is for me, and again triggers my interest in pairing a silver cable with the AE. As it stands, with the Cyclone, I prefer the default tuning.

Melodic Artification are going to have a big hit on their hands with the Alter Ego and it gets an easy recommendation from me.

 

[Taka0302]

I know that the MA Alter EGO has an open back faceplate.
I assume this means sound leakage. Is the Alter EGO suitable for use in a crowd?
Will people around you be bothered by the sound leakage?

 

[UnknownOperator]

I know that the MA Alter EGO has an open back faceplate.
I assume this means sound leakage. Is the Alter EGO suitable for use in a crowd?
Will people around you be bothered by the sound leakage?

If there is already ambient background noise, I’m not sure that anyone neighboring you would pick up the leakage. However, if it’s a more intimate setting, like sitting next to someone on the couch, or in bed, then yes. They’ll hear it.

 

[Taka0302]

If there is already ambient background noise, I’m not sure that anyone neighboring you would pick up the leakage. However, if it’s a more intimate setting, like sitting next to someone on the couch, or in bed, then yes. They’ll hear it.

Thank you. That was helpful.

 

[MusicTeck]

Started my cable rolling (<or ~$1k) tests today. My main objectives are:
1. Improve the treble extension and engagement. 2. Improve the imaging accuracy and soundstage depth. 3(bonus). Improve the resolution and clarity in the lower mid.
Selected cables are(most of them are silver or silver alloy):
1. Astral Acoustics Eclipse
2. Astral Acoustics Reference Silver
3. EA Code 24
4. Flash Acoustic Ultron
5. LL Venom
6. LL Evua II
7-9. Vortex Lavinia/Alida/Minerva
I tested the source Lotoo Mjolnir, which is the most neutral reference sound DAP, in my opinion. Testing tips SpinFit W1. I didn't use my favorite Canal works, CWU-GECM, because it is too hard to get in the US.
There is a lot of work to do, lol. So far, I have finished the first round of testing—orchestra and instrumental. The clear "winner" so far is Astral Acoustics Eclipse, followed by Vortex Lavinia, and then Ultron tied with Code 24.
For ~$500 cables, the "winner" so far is Vortex Alida, followed by Reference Silver, then Evua II, they are very close tho.

I will update my impressions of those I liked the most after I finish my vocal tests.

 

[smirks_audio]

Started my cable rolling (<or ~$1k) tests today. My main objectives are:
1. Improve the treble extension and engagement. 2. Improve the imaging accuracy and soundstage depth. 3(bonus). Improve the resolution and clarity in the lower mid.
Selected cables are(most of them are silver or silver alloy):
1. Astral Acoustics Eclipse
2. Astral Acoustics Reference Silver
3. EA Code 24
4. Flash Acoustic Ultron
5. LL Venom
6. LL Evua II
7-9. Vortex Lavinia/Alida/Minerva
I tested the source Lotoo Mjolnir, which is the most neutral reference sound DAP, in my opinion. Testing tips SpinFit W1. I didn't use my favorite Canal works, CWU-GECM, because it is too hard to get in the US.
There is a lot of work to do, lol. So far, I have finished the first round of testing—orchestra and instrumental. The clear "winner" so far is Astral Acoustics Eclipse, followed by Vortex Lavinia, and then Ultron tied with Code 24.
For ~$500 cables, the "winner" so far is Vortex Alida, followed by Reference Silver, then Evua II, they are very close tho.

I will update my impressions of those I liked the most after I finish my vocal tests.

Hi Leo
Thanks for doing some gear impressions!

 

[Tanalasta]

Thank you for the comprehensive trial.

Just wondering how Alter Ego would do with the higher end cables from PWA, Brise etc to improve the musicality and technical aspects a little more ; plus tighten up that bass. Cable impressions tend to be always ‘relative’ to something as a reference point. And am very keen to hear your thoughts. I know very little re: the cables other than LL Venom and Code 24.

 

[MusicTeck]

Sorry about the late update. I had a super busy weekend. I finally went back to the stage on Sunday and had some wonderful and memorable moments with a JPOP cover band (to relieve the confusion, this is Leo typing). Then, I hurt my lower back and rested at home yesterday. I was testing but could not type anything.

After testing different music genres, here are my subjective impressions. Don't take these too seriously; trust your own ears.

My general impression of Alter Ego is very positive, and that's why I can't hold back from sharing my impressions publicly. To some extent, it is my favorite release in 2024 as a "gateway" IEM to the summit-fi hobby. A really fine-tuned IEM with superb build quality, comfortable fit, and an effective and creative tuning switch. It is almost perfect, but not yet perfect. I love how natural it sounds and how easy it is to have it in my ears for hours and hours. It is such a beautiful, non-fatiguing IEM that falls into the same category as the legends Traillii and Jewel. However, sometimes, I do wish it could have a little more "spicies" in the treble and a little deeper soundstage for live music. This is my intention when doing this cable rolling game.

Astral Acoustics Eclipse: Eclipse adds the exact things I want and keeps the original natural timbre of Alter Ego. It is a cable that leans heavily to the technical side, with superb clarity, resolution, imaging accuracy, speed, and soundstage. Compared to the cable I tested this round, Eclipse is the clear winner in technical performance. With Eclipse, AE now has a more holographic, three-dimensional soundstage, better clarity from bass all the way to treble, and a more refreshing upper-mid and treble presentation. It doesn't add too much flavor to AE, which is a good thing to me. Please keep in mind that AE comes with a switch that can lift bass to lower-mid, add warmth, and thicken the sound quite a bit, so adding too much flavor may not benefit both tuning modes.

LL Venom: Venom was not on my recommendation list when I was doing my instrumental tests. But it really shines when I switch to rock and pop tracks. It adds note weights throughout the spectrum. It was a little distracting when I was playing instrumental, especially some solos, but with rock and pop, this is a good and fun signature to have. AE doesn't lack note weights per se, but having a little extra-weighted sound is welcoming to certain genres. So, I cannot blindly recommend Venom to every AE owner, but if you feel this is the direction you want, Venom still holds exceptional value.

EA Code 24: Effect Audio is the most experienced brand in the round's testing. It is also the one that has the most personality out of the cables I tested. What grabbed my attention were the upper-mid presence and sparkles out of Code 24. It gives me the most fun and engaging sound. The comparably narrower soundstage limited the suitable genres of the Code 24-AE combo. It is like LL Venom. If you find the upper-mid and lower-treble are the key areas you want to make some improvements, then Code 24 is excellent. I like Code 24 with pop, vocal, and acoustic guitar a little more than other genres.

Flash Acoustic Ultron & Vortex Lavinia: I decided to combine these together because these two cables share some similarities. Like Astral Acoustics, Flash Acoustic is another OEM brand. Ultron really surprised me when they just landed at the store. The synergy of the Ultron-AE combo is between Eclipse and Venom. The technical performance is a tad behind Eclipse, but Ultron has slightly punchier, more aggressive bass attacks. Lavinia is similar to Ultron but has a slightly leaner mid-range, a shorter but wider soundstage, and a little more sparkles.

In the >$1000 premium high-end cable rolling, I am planning to have PWA Meet Agains, 1950s, EA Cleo Octa, Eletech SOA, Brise Shirogane, Beat Audio Oslo, and a less-known (maybe) cable Magnus-4 from Noble, but I think it will have beautiful synergy with AE too. I wish I could include Ele's new cable, Euclid, but it hasn't arrived yet (reserved for later!). It is a beautiful cable!

 

[smirks_audio]

Hey Leo, thanks for testing these out and sharing your impressions! They're very comprehensive and helpful.
I'm glad you were able to take the stage again, very exciting. Maybe too much fun considering your back injury

Wishing you a speedy recovery!

 

[MusicTeck]

https://shop.musicteck.com/products/melodic-artification-alter-ego?_pos=1&_sid=b20c02eac&_ss=r Alter Ego is here now