Mega5ESTMega5EST

Impressions after two weeks of listening.

Ear tipsEar tips

Mostly using AZLA SednaEarfit XELASTEC II and stock foam tips. Foam tips result in a darker presentation.

With other silicone stock tips the treble was either a pinch too much or a bit unnatural for my ears (bear in mind I’m highly sensitive to peaks in treble). Both the Azla and the foam tips improve the treble response for my specific tastes and anatomy — that’s the part that might be different for most.

SourcesSources

Fiio K13 R2R, Fiio KA15, Hiby R3. I didn’t notice any significant differences across the three units — maybe 5% better-controlled bass on the K13.

I’ll try to compare it to both the Tea Pro and the DUSK in DSP mode — my two favourite IEMs so far.

The listenThe listen

Laid-back in terms of overall presentation.

Bass is the weakest part — not very defined, a little pillowy. At the same time it makes music feel very well integrated, pleasant and cohesive. The amount of bass is definitely enough; I’d like it to be a touch more defined and controlled. It has a nice punch and a slow decay, and I’d say it’s not really suitable for EQ. It’s a very specific presentation — you could call it more natural, but less impressive overall, compared to the DUSK and the Tea Pro.

Overall it’s a warmer listen than the DUSK, and not as warm as the Tea Pro (they’re close, though). The Mega5EST has less bass but a slower decay, which makes the tonal balance feel warmer. The Tea Pro has more bass that punches harder and faster and decays faster, which “cleans up” the sound a bit.

Treble, while being very accurate and natural-sounding, stays perfectly integrated — some may say it lacks contrast. Before the Mega5EST I’d considered the DUSK the best treble I’d heard: so smooth, and yet extended. After a few days with the Mega5EST I went back to the DUSK. Its treble still seemed smoother — but I noticed it isn’t as even.

I’d never noticed it before, but the DUSK’s treble is smooth because it’s scooped. The Mega5EST, while not sounding quite that smooth and at moments not quite as extended, is much more evenly presented. It simply sounds the most natural. The Tea Pro doesn’t really compare here — it’s nowhere near the DUSK or the Mega5EST in terms of being natural and neutral. It’s a very different presentation, coloured in a very pleasantly incisive way. If you want a treble that’s well contoured and paints a defined, exciting picture while not being natural, the Tea Pro works there.

The vocal presentation is just amazing — I really don’t know what to say here. It’s the best vocal-sounding IEM I’ve heard. Incredibly well integrated into the mix; the DUSK and the Tea Pro sound detached by comparison. It isn’t an exciting, forward vocal set. It’s just there — the way it’s supposed to be.

Overall, a cohesive sound that blends everything together while keeping an amazing clarity, thanks to that incredible tonal balance.

It gives me 6XX vibes — there’s nothing to be excited about, nothing really amazing happening; the music just flows in a very inoffensive way. But the longer I listen, and the more I go back to other headphones, the more I notice flaws I’d never noticed before. The Mega5EST just keeps revealing how flawed everything else is.

It just leaves you, your imagination and your music to do the rest.

A note on the unitA note on the unit

Bought directly from Hisenior. I think there’s been a soft revision — the case is different, and the shells seem darker.