To be sure. That was part of my curiosity: how much of the Penta sound can be had for 1/4 the cost (comparing retail to retail prices). Things I am curious about:
- I've had a couple single-driver IEMs, and borrowed a few others. What would Mr. Meze's take on a single driver sound like?
- Given the wildly different design, how much of the Meze house sound I like so much in the Penta would follow with the Solo?
- Would the Solo shells fit as well and be as comfortable as the Penta shells (their shapes are similar)?
- I'd read people calling the Solo sound "strange", but then I also read people calling the Penta "unengaging", so would I disagree about the Solo, too?
- And Jeez, who could pass up a Black Friday sale price like $150?
Yesterday I spent all day at work listening to the Solo with my Aune S2 DAP. The sound was pleasant, but I realized late in the afternoon that was the limit of what I heard. Presentation of the music was very good, but the magic of the Penta was missing. I am not digging at the Solo, only praising the Penta for the extra extension (at both ends of the spectrum), detail, clarity, sparkle, sweetness it can provide. In comparison, the Solo sounds muffled and dry.
I brought my Questyle QP2r DAP to work today instead of my Aune S2. The Questyle transformed, for me, the Rai Penta from a smooth, laid-back Sunday afternoon IEM into a fantastic performer I like to listen to daily. The sound of the Solo has changed noticeably with the different source. Bass is more extended and has better detail. Midrange is still clear and engaging, I especially like piano with Solo. The top treble is still a bit splashy and uncontrolled. It's not as clear and crystalline as with the Penta, or as sweet as the Trio. So at this minute, I'm listening to a barnstormer from Earth Wind and Fire, "Africano" from
Gratitude. With the Questyle in control "Africano" sounds big and powerful and fun. I had to stop working for 5-1/2 minutes and turn up the volume. An early impression is the Solo scales up well with better sources. All good.
And then there is the whole question of driver burn-in. Will the Solo driver loosen up with a few more hours of playing time? Will its sound change? Will, instead, I get some "brain burn-in" and simply get used to the Solo sound? I don't know, but it will be fun finding out. So far the Solo were a steal at $150, and a bargain at $250. I would definitely recommend them to anyone looking for an all-arounder rather than a specialist IEM.
So far the only thing I don't like is the memory wire in the stock cable. Holy cow is it stiff. It actually hampers my efforts to get the ear pieces inserted. I think I will be cutting it out.