Crossposting some impressions and comparison of the new FATfreq Scarlet Mini hot from the DHL packaging...
FATfreq Scarlet Mini
Have had some ear time with the new FATfreq Scarlet Mini now and my ears are starting to wrap around just how much bass this thing is injecting skullside. At least, when they are not cowering in fear.
In the world of IEMs and headphones, there are "all rounder" tunings and "specialist" tunings. The Scarlet is undeniably a specialist, a specialist's specialist even... a Basshead's bassy IEM. This thing is the
Cardinal of Bass:
Who you calling mini?
I have mainly been listening to electronic music with them for which they are such a treat. The sub bass is as advertised even more crazy than the blue line, but the overall tuning and the detail brought from the new hypertweeter really keep things energized. The balancing act the team at FATfreq have pulled off here is incredible. Delivering this much payload while maintaining coherence - let alone a nice amount of detail - a true challenge.
This is not to say it will be an IEM for everyone or all music of course. The bass is front and center, and care of a slightly more forward tuning is more frequently present than in the Maestro. While I think you could get away calling most Maestros Neutral with epic sub bass, the extra mid bass here definitely pushes these into a more pronounced v shape tuning. But when they work, for ears that are ready... these are special in a way I haven't felt since the OG mini
Red vs. Blue: Scarlet and the Maestros
I have been busy hard at work comparing the Scarlet to my
horde collection of Maestros. Very arduous and laborious work I assure you
But for my cooler bros I will go that extra mile! In particular: the Maestro Mini, the Maestro SE and the Grand Maestro.
Meet the Maestros, bottom to top: Maestro Mini, Scarlet Mini, Maestro SE, Grand Maestro (CIEM)
Mini vs. Mini
Starting off the comparison series post, we’ll cut to the chase and compare the Scarlet Mini (for the purpose of this post “Red”) to its blue bro, the OG Maestro Mini (“Blue”). Given this is the primary comparison of interest, I’m going to devote a whole post on this one and then maybe combine the MSE and GM comparisons in part 2.
The Blue Maestro Mini were my introduction not only to the Maestros but to FATfreq as a whole. I was so impressed with them I blind bought a Grand Maestro within weeks and from there the sickness progressed
Technical
My Blue unit is one of the earlier run, without any meshguard (talk about tubeless lol!) so particularly on the build, there have been improvements made that aren’t exclusive to the Scarlet seen here, but are interesting to note. FATfreq have constantly been refining and improving their products based on the surge of customer interest and feedback, it’s quite impressive to see!
The Scarlet features the updated recessed 2 pin connector, now standard across FATfreq’s Maestro series as well. You can see on the Maestro some of the connector imperfections present in their earlier runs, it is much tidier on the new recessed mount.
Also, note the improvements on the Scarlet nozzle profile. They’ve added a waist and taper to help it hold on to tips a bit better, something I appreciate a lot as the Mini’s are a bit prone to let them slide off.
Physically, the shape of the Scarlet is a bit more conformal, which made it surprising that, when I took these pictures, it was actually a bit larger than the OG:
Note the exposed balanced armature on my Blue, these things really get the drivers into your ear!
I would be surprised if either Red or Blue caused substantial fit challenge. Both are relatively small by modern IEM standards and give lots of options to pivot in ear for the ideal placement.
The OG Blue mini contains 1 DD for Bass and 2 BA for mids and Treble… rather than depend on large drivers or higher counts, the minis put these in an exceptionally small form factor to get those drivers as close as possible to your eardrum. Seriously, look at that BA right in the nozzle in the above pic (covered by a mesh on newer Maestro Mini models, but impressive to see), that is bringing the sound right to your front door!
We can only speculate as to the configuration of the Scarlet - beyond at least that it is a multi driver, hybrid and not a tribrid. At least one of the BA’s is a new “Hypertweeter” that produces sound up to ultrasonics comparable to EST drivers to spec, something I’ll touch on in the sound off shortly.
In terms of sensitivity, I found them very similar in terms of power/SPL needs, both requiring substantially less than their Tribrid big bros.
Sound Off
First things first. Yes the Scarlet has more bass than the Maestro Mini. Sub bass? Yes. Mid Bass? Yes. Bass Bass? YES.
It’s not a subtle difference either, it’s quite evident right away. Particularly the more forward boost protrudes higher up in frequency on Scarlet, so the Red’s Bass Cannon not only fires harder, it fires more often too. Whereas there are songs or even whole genres where you could listen to the Mini and not trigger the bass shelf at all, the boost is absolutely unavoidable on the Scarlet.
The tradeoff down low then depends on what aspect of FATfreq’s bass is most attractive to you. If you want the MOST bass, all day e’ry day, Scarlet is it. If you want a stealth basshead tuning that functions as a reference at fancy parties but somehow brings the woofer for Latenight, then the Maestro is the magic trick for you.
The upper mid and treble tuning differs quite radically. The lower/mid treble is much less pronounced on the Scarlet, this helps add to the sense of bass dominance, but it also masks some of the timbral shortcomings that are evident on the Blue mini which has relatively prominent ear gain. Whereas the upper mids / lower treble on the Scarlet is subdued, it’s a touch off kilter on the Maestro Mini, which adds a slightly cooler tonality to the otherwise textbook neutral mids/treble. Not necessarily unpleasant in either case, but a varying concession depending on your taste.
As advertised the hyper tweeter in the Scarlet does extend up to at least the 10s of kHz… it exposes some nasty edges in certain mixes or more frequently highlights recording noise. I’ll get into more detail (har har, pun fully intended!) on this topic when I compare the Scarlett to the EST loaded Tribrid MSE/GM, but in brief I find the combination of hyper detailed upper treble with subdued upper mids / lower treble on the Scarlet a bit unnatural. In most recordings it’s not an issue, but when it is noticeable I wouldn’t say to my ear it is an improvement over the more orthodox roll off in the Blue mini.
Any Color You Like
It should be clear that I take the view that the Scarlet is a specialist side grade compared to its more generalist forebear, the Maestro Mini. That is not to belittle the Scarlet or what it achieves within the realm it competes in. While imitators are trying to catch up to last year’s models… FATfreq have kicked up the Bass to a whole new level, topping even themselves.
There is a new Bass king in town, but the Maestro Mini’s Reference + Mega Bass is still unique. It seems like FATfreq don’t view Scarlet as a replacement either, thankfully keeping both available in their stable of offerings.
Regardless of your choice between minis, I think you will be happy. Be warned though, these bass cannons are highly addictive
