[zipzap]

Quote:

Regarding the 8.a vs. Merlins-
I actually emailed kckc about a comparison a bit ago and he ended up preferring the merlins over the 8.as.  This is from a PM that he sent me (I don't think he'd mind that I make this public):
 
The Merlin has very clean bass that reaches deeper into the sub-bass with no mid bass hump, while the 8.A has a noticeable elevation in the mid bass. Personally, I prefer the lows of the Merlin more and also because yes, it does push lots of air. The drivers are actually 9mm I think and they produce the best bass I have heard for in-ears. What the 8.A does better is the overall smoothness and coherency of the drivers. The Merlin can sound too spaced apart and not as coherent between the bass and mids/highs, although UM did a great job and it's hardly noticeable. The Merlin does not sacrifice much details if any, but instrument separation is still better on the 8.A. But because of the dynamic drivers, I definitely find that the Merlin sounds more organic and natural with the perfect amount of decay. Another thing to note is that the Merlin has a more crisp treble than the 8.A, but it is no where near fatiguing (I am very sensitive to harshness or sibilance). They also have a largest soundstage and really gave me the "wow"' feeling the first time I listened to them; whereas the 8.A grew on me gradually. So all in all, I would take the Merlin over the 8.A.

 
Wow, thanx alot Chris! I have been dashing between the Heir and Merlin thread trying to find something that would persuade me to either side and finally I have found something that has done so!
Even though my gut has told me to go with the merlin as I just love the dynamic sound eg. ex1000, FX700 but a lil persuasion doesnt hurt.. lol

 

[Sorensiim]

I shot an email to Matt Wong to ask how long I should expect to wait for my Merlins and why the heck UM UK (Yusuf) just maintained radio silence 4 weeks after receiving my defective Merlins. This is his reply:
 
 
 

Hi Soren, 
 
No idea WHY this is, I had a chat with Yusuf on Sunday about this issue precisely.
 
We still haven't received your Merlin in our lab, so I'm going to have a fresh one made for you - The fit on your old set was good I'm assuming?
 
Matt
 

 
Matt Wong | Director
Unique Melody Global  

Words fail me.

 

[AnakChan]

Dude, sorry to hear that. Did you send via some sort of tracking (EMS, DHL, etc.)?

 

[Sorensiim]

Quote:

Dude, sorry to hear that. Did you send via some sort of tracking (EMS, DHL, etc.)?

UM UK confirmed receiving them 4 weeks ago and promised they would ship to their lab within 48 hours. 
 
Now, 4 weeks later, the UM director tells me they lost them. 4 weeks, not a peep.

 

[piotrus-g]

Quote:

I shot an email to Matt Wong to ask how long I should expect to wait for my Merlins and why the heck UM UK (Yusuf) just maintained radio silence 4 weeks after receiving my defective Merlins. This is his reply:
 
 
 
Words fail me.

simply shocking
 
 

 

[Sorensiim]

I need to make one thing clear: UM UK/Amp City are the ones to blame for this mess, Matt from UM Global has been very helpful throughout.

 

[Lidster]

Quote:

I need to make one thing clear: UM UK/Amp City are the ones to blame for this mess, Matt from UM Global has been very helpful throughout.

Its great that Matt is now in control of your situation and hopefully you're on a fast-track to getting your Merlins.  Hopefully Matt is tracking some of the issues that are being raised regarding customer service from UMUK.   They MUST sort out the current situation cos UMUK/Ampcity are damaging the reputation of Unique Melody in Europe.
 
I just hope Matt can sort it out and find a new distributor if needs be.  There are plenty of top notch headphone specialists in the UK (HiFi Headphones are a favourite of mine) that would offer a good service and repair the damage done by UMUK.

Fingers crossed eh.
 

 

[Sorensiim]

Quote:

Its great that Matt is now in control of your situation and hopefully you're on a fast-track to getting your Merlins.  Hopefully Matt is tracking some of the issues that are being raised regarding customer service from UMUK.   They MUST sort out the current situation cos UMUK/Ampcity are damaging the reputation of Unique Melody in Europe.
 
I just hope Matt can sort it out and find a new distributor if needs be.  There are plenty of top notch headphone specialists in the UK (HiFi Headphones are a favourite of mine) that would offer a good service and repair the damage done by UMUK.

Fingers crossed eh.
 

Matt is now 100% in charge of my Merlins and I have total faith in him. Especially because of this bit from one of his emails:
 
 

Im not going to rush it through too much though because i know you are picky with your artwork. 

At least we know he reads the forums 

 
Current status: Faith in UM restored and doing my best to completely erase any memory of a company called Amp City.

 

 

[Cassadian]

I really wonder what this new 5 driver Hybrid is.  I may stave off on purchasing the Merlin

 

[Kunlun]

UMAus seems like the very best way to go for UM ciems. Good for them.

 

[zipzap]

 
Quote:

I really wonder what this new 5 driver Hybrid is.  I may stave off on purchasing the Merlin

Haha, I was thinking exactly the same thing! But I might not be able to resist the wait and go may go with the Merlins within a few days!
 
I am also in contact with Stephen from CUSTOM-IEM, he has been very responsive and helpful, and also have alot of positive feed backs. so if CUSTOM-IEM is in charge of your region you may also consider them

 

[Stephen Guo]

Thank you for the support. 

Personally, I'm a little curious about this upcoming hybrid model from the unknown source. Can anybody update me with an email if they have more insights?
 
Quote:

 


Haha, I was thinking exactly the same thing! But I might not be able to resist the wait and go may go with the Merlins within a few days!
 
I am also in contact with Stephen from CUSTOM-IEM, he has been very responsive and helpful, and also have alot of positive feed backs. so if CUSTOM-IEM is in charge of your region you may also consider them

 

 

[ChrisSC]

sorry to be off-topic,but if anyone wants to trade their Merlins for my es5s:  http://www.head-fi.org/t/605184/anyone-want-to-trade-their-um-merlins-for-my-westone-es5s
 
Just throwing it out there 

 

[jsohn]

what is this new hybrid everyone is talking about? i would like to know!

 

[tonyjin]

ISO my Merlins... Ordered in December - they're currently back in China for the second time.