Mason FS (Soleil Tombé) Initial Impressions
Hi all! I am eager to share some first impressions of the much discussed Mason FS. I remember when the previous generation Mason FS launched, many were dubious of the Trailli-like price however over time Mason proved itself among the summit class IEMs. Fast forward 3 years from Mason FS's introduction in 2021, we have the new generation Mason FS with all new technology (such as the BC Turbo) and tuning. Such learnings from previous models such as Mentor and even the previous collaboration with Cayin, the
Amber Pearl (AP). As an owner of
Mason Fusang and Amber Pearl, I didn’t know what to expect with the new generation Mason FS. I anticipated the new Mason FS to be a step above AP given the new technology, however this isn’t necessarily the case (and in a good way).
Overall tuning is similar to Fusang, as a member of the Mason series, this makes sense. This is where the similarities to Fusang end. Mason FS has the strong technical foundation I get from AP however the focus of the tuning has shifted from the bass region to the mids. AP excels with bringing the beat of a song alive, getting your foot to thump with the melody. Mason FS brings the organic source, the vocal (or the solo instrumental) to life. This is evident with the 3D representation of the vocal, how each ebb and flow in a singer is riding a wave, the BCD keeping up with the resolution of the set. The graininess of the voice is amplified with the emotion of the singer, which results with a tactile granularity (texture) which I haven’t heard with any other set. This 'zone focus' of the mids on Mason FS reminds me a little Aroma Jewel, particularly how the Jewel allows the mids to shine brightly with other elements of the technialities taking a back seat (ie restrained bass and relaxed treble).
Where Mason FS falls short, is where Mason as a series falls short for my tastes. The tuning in the bass region and overall tuning is flatter. I love UM Mason series, my Mason Fusang has the most hours on it out of all my high end IEMs. However I could not live with Mason Fusang as my only IEM, as I prefer more bass and rhythm in my playback. Mason FS plays it's role perfectly as a reference mid centric set, where as AP is a bass set which happens to have class leading mid performance. However AP is only second to Mason FS with mid performance, as I think the Turbo driver in the Mason FS gives the even more Bone Conduction feel in the mids. The Turbo certainly plays its role as the BC booster, one can tell immediately when listening to a saxophone solo, piano and vocal. The BC Turbo technology is marvelous and I feel is in its natural home in the Mason series.
Comparing with my
Mason Fusang, the new Mason FS is a quantum leap. The Mason Fusang is darker, hazier, much less definition by comparison. However I do enjoy the Mason Fusang, as it’s like a small jazz club with cigar smoke lingering in the air. Perhaps you can seek the singer through the smoke, perhaps not. However you are getting the emotion with a bone conduction, and the Mason tuning hits the right spot for me with these type of songs.
A fun part was listening back to back with the new Mason FS and
Campfire Trifecta. Trifecta has the hazy-ish nature of Fusang and is darker. However the three DD’s gives substance to the voice like the BC from AP. However the Trifecta is unable to bring forward the resolution or achieve the microdynamics in the texture as UM's bone conduction technology can. The defn/detail isn’t like FS at all, and Trifecta can't keep up with busy passages as the 3DD's lend to a slower performance. However you get some of that density and impact as you would from the palladium BC. The bass of Trifecta does attempt to compensate, however I'm not getting the vivid 'life energy' I have from Mason FS. With acid jazz or hip hop (or anything leaning on a strong beat), I will reach for Trifecta but for classical solos, pure vocal, I will reach for Mason FS 10 times out of 10.
Anyone thinking UM pulled a fast one w/ AP vs FS, don’t worry. AP owners didn’t get bamboozled. UM really gave Cayin the best they had, but were sure not to give Cayin the signature UM ‘mids at all cost’ Mason signature. This is all preference. While I would def pick FS over AP for the vocals, I just can’t have fun with music like I do with AP, vocals be damned. For me, mid bass>mids. I love Cayin's tuning, as Amber Pearl IEM represents Cayin's purest expression of it, even if Cayin's technology struggles at times to keep up with their vision. Please note, the new
Mason FS is larger than Amber Pearl. The new Mason FS is at my limits for IEM volume. I can wear it comfortably however, UM's shell geometry does not disappoint. For reference of my shell size tolerance, I find Empire Ear Odin shell too large for sessions over 15-20 minutes, and of course Empire Ear EVO is a non starter.
I walk away from Mason FS being very impressed. UM managed to boost BC driver performance so it can play with the resolution of the set, this is the ultimate balance of presence and detail which many of us chase. The downside of this set however, isn’t specific to the FS. It’s the fact with Mason series sets, you will not be rocking out with it. It’s focused for a particular set list. Solos, duets, jazz, vocal, classical instrumental. It lacks the stage for full orchestra, the champ for this goes to Elysian X for now. Some would say the ultimate transducer can place you in the concert hall. UM redefines the benchmark. Why settle for being in the concert hall, when you can become the one who plays the instrument and feel the vibrations yourself.
Mason FS starts at $6199
what Iem would you compare it to the most
just kidding)
