[shotgunshane]

Official UM Merlin demo thread is up HERE.

Looking forward to the reviews from ES5, JH16 and Future Sonics owners. This custom is very intriguing and is at the top of my list for consideration in going custom.

 

[Mochan]

The Merlins are utterly smooth and there is no sibilance. That spike in the treble 6k region is deceptive; it's a smooth emphasis that gives that bright airy feeling to the UM sound, but it's not a grating or harsh treble at all. 
 
Regarding the mids, they are unbelievably liquid and smooth. Effortless is the way I'd describe them, and yes they are sort of laidback (which is how I like them). These are not a forward or aggressive IEM.
 
 
Quote:

Looking on the graph my initate thought was this 6kHz will cause silibiants. However you said "UMs' trebles" So there should be no silibiants at all. Could you please cover that?
 
Stunning finishing, faceplate and artwork "as always"
 
Could you please elaborate mids some more? By the graph I'd say they are recessed... Especially 500-800Hz region
 

 

 

[piotrus-g]

Quote:

The Merlins are utterly smooth and there is no sibilance. That spike in the treble 6k region is deceptive; it's a smooth emphasis that gives that bright airy feeling to the UM sound, but it's not a grating or harsh treble at all. 
 
Regarding the mids, they are unbelievably liquid and smooth. Effortless is the way I'd describe them, and yes they are sort of laidback (which is how I like them). These are not a forward or aggressive IEM.
 

Yeah, I know UM trebles cause my IEMs has the same peak but in different region. But if you say so, then ok.
 
Are mids especially vocals se530 liquid and smooth or rather TF10 alike?
 
Oh btw. One of these photos shows BA drivers. Is this dual TWFK design?
 
 

 

[Yikuso]

Quote:

Yeah, I know UM trebles cause my IEMs has the same peak but in different region. But if you say so, then ok.
 
Are mids especially vocals se530 liquid and smooth or rather TF10 alike?
 
Oh btw. One of these photos shows BA drivers. Is this dual TWFK design?
 
 

There's no audible sibilance, at least I don't hear any at all for now. I guess it's just the log scale y-axis that makes the FR graph looks like a spike. The spike spans across a ~5kHz region if you look at the graph. That would look pretty smooth if it's in the same scale as the 200~1kHz region.
 
I find it hard to give an accurate evaluation about the mids now. What I can say is, it sounds totally different from my TF10s. I never had the 'recessed' feeling which I had with the TF10s. It's not forwarded neither. Just in the spot.
 
For the BA drivers, it's actually quad TWFK. Two for the mids and two for the highs, imho.
 
 

 

[Anaxilus]

Quote:

Nice impressions. I'm leaning even more towards the Merlins. If there only where someone with the Merlins, Atrio customs and Atrio universals to compare them all... Well, maybe someday average_joe will have them all

If you look at the review list on my thread you will see Kunlun is scheduled to hear the Merlin demos.  You will have your answer then.
 

 

[project86]

Quote:

For the BA drivers, it's actually quad TWFK. Two for the mids and two for the highs, imho.
 
 

Minor correction - TWFK is a dual driver unit. So quad TWFK would be a total of 8 drivers. Dual TWFK is the correct term, and yes that's what Merlin uses as far as I can tell. 
 

 

[piotrus-g]

Quote:

There's no audible sibilance, at least I don't hear any at all for now. I guess it's just the log scale y-axis that makes the FR graph looks like a spike. The spike spans across a ~5kHz region if you look at the graph. That would look pretty smooth if it's in the same scale as the 200~1kHz region.
 
I find it hard to give an accurate evaluation about the mids now. What I can say is, it sounds totally different from my TF10s. I never had the 'recessed' feeling which I had with the TF10s. It's not forwarded neither. Just in the spot.
 
For the BA drivers, it's actually quad TWFK. Two for the mids and two for the highs, imho.
 
 

Thanks for reply!
So basically Merlin is Westone ES5 (theoretical) with dynamic low driver instead of CI. Nice.
 
Maybe in future ... curse you head-fi!

 

[dogears]

This is really getting very interesting!
 
Quote:

If you look at the review list on my thread you will see Kunlun is scheduled to hear the Merlin demos.  You will have your answer then.
 

 

 

[PsiCore]

@Anaxilus - great to hear that. Looking very much to the impressions. Damn, my wallet won't like the end of the year

 

[Kunlun]

Quote:

If you look at the review list on my thread you will see Kunlun is scheduled to hear the Merlin demos.  You will have your answer then.
 

K2: Judgement Day

 
 

 

[dogears]

All set

 

[Maxvla]

Subscribed. Looking forward to reviews of this IEM.

 

[Mochan]

Quote:

Yeah, I know UM trebles cause my IEMs has the same peak but in different region. But if you say so, then ok.
 
Are mids especially vocals se530 liquid and smooth or rather TF10 alike?
 
Oh btw. One of these photos shows BA drivers. Is this dual TWFK design?
 
 

 
The mids of the SE530 honestly don't even begin to compare. They are not TF10-like at all either. Like I said, they mids are unbelievably liquid, completely effortless. The music was like water gushing out of the Merlins and rushing into my ears. 
 
I am not sure what TWFK means, but as mentioned it is two mid BAs + two high BAs + one dynamic bass driver per ear (total of 5 drivers per ear). 
 
 

 

[dogears]

^TWFK = Knowles' drivers.

 

[Poetik]

Beyonce Knowles' personal drivers.