Today, Marcus reviews the Unique Melody Maven II Crescent, a $3299 titanium-designed hybrid dual dynamic, BA, and EST driver custom monitor.
Disclaimer: This sample was sent to me in exchange for my honest opinion. Headfonics is an independent website with no affiliate links or partnerships. I thank the team at Unique Melody and Musicteck for their support.
Click here to read more about the Unique Melody products previously reviewed on Headfonics.
This assessment follows our current scoring guidelines, which you can read in more detail here.
The custom-designed version of the Unique Melody Maven Pro from 2023 now has a new sibling called the Maven II Crescent.
Finished in a similar, durable titanium shell, this beauty retails for $3299 or around $200 more than the Maven Pro version. This hybrid monitor is UM’s debut dual dynamic configuration alongside a mix of balanced armature and electrostatic drivers.
The universal version is cheaper at $1799, which tells you a lot about how challenging it is do a complete custom design of the same monitor.
As such, the Maven II technically sits closer to the likes of the MEST MKIII CF rather than the flagship Mason Variants in UM’s product lineup. Consider the price difference between universal and custom as a byproduct of the additional craftmanship.
I have not heard the universal version, but in reading the general feedback, I feel there may be a qualitative difference between it and the custom tuning.
This version can dig deep, sounds pure and beautifully defined from top to bottom, and as always, with a UM custom, its isolation performance is excellent.
Where does the Maven II sit in the lineup when compared to the likes of the Maven Pro, MEST MKIII CF, and the high-end Multiverse Mentor? I found out in my full review below.
Features
The Unique Melody Maven II custom version has the same hybrid dynamic, BA, and EST driver configuration as the universal.
The precise configuration is 2 dynamic drivers for the lows, 4 BA for the mids and highs (mix of Sonion and Knowles), and 4 Sonion electrostatic drivers for ultra-highs with a 5-way passive crossover.
The dual dynamic is split between a 9.8mm ‘core bass’ dynamic driver and a smaller 6.8mm variant that covers the “ultra-low and bass’ frequencies.
That means the smaller dynamic driver runs at a lower amplitude but over narrower and lower frequency response than the main 9.8mm version in what unique melody calls a ” vertical parallel bass matrix”.
The Maven II is rated at 10.7Ω for impedance with an SPL of 106 dB/mW @1kHz, so it is quite efficient and reasonably sensitive but not in the super-sensitive league of monitors such as the Vision Ears VE10 and Campfire Audio’s Andromeda.
Design
The Maven II custom titanium shells are gorgeous, unique, and big. I understand the key selling point of the universal version is just how small they got the shells, but dispense with this thought because this is not that.
Just like the 2023 Maven Pro sample I have here, the custom version form factor is a ‘chunky boi’ but, at the same time, fits perfectly in my ear (more on that below), and whilst very solid to the touch, it doesn’t feel too heavy to wear.
The finish on this 3D-printed two-piece shell is flawless. Going grey or the natural titanium finish was a good move. It shows off the smooth and elegant contouring of the shells in a far superior manner to the Maven Pro black sample.
The only benefit of the black, aside from personal preference, is that it disguises the seal between the plate and main body shells, but honestly, that is no big deal for me.
This design is exquisite and easily on par with the JH Audio Jolene sample from a few years back for intricate craftsmanship, with an enhanced 3-dimensional lattice faceplate finish that also cleverly hides the dynamic driver venting from the glancing eye.
Comfort & Isolation
Some pros and cons come with the Maven II’s titanium shell in your ear. The pros include excellent levels of passive isolation from a very accurate fit. Even allowing for the fact that it is a hybrid dynamic driver, the perceived level of silence is very impressive.
I will caveat that pro with a note that I did ask for a long nozzle or a “pro-fit” rather than a shorter relaxed cut. I prefer that style for the enhanced seal and for the horn nozzle opening to be as close as possible to the second bend in my ear canal, which is where the music ‘comes alive’.
You may prefer a relaxed fitting, something a bit looser with slightly less pressure on the ear canal, which normally I would say no worries, but in this instance, I would suggest not to go shorter.
During this review process, I found that inserting to a certain depth gave me a controlled but somewhat unengaging performance from the Maven II that had me worried until I gave it a gentle push a little further into the canal, which produced a massive improvement.
The cons of the Maven II titanium custom shell are the weight and temperature. It is bulkier and heavier than resin, and because the material is rigid, you will perceive the solid mass in your ear quite quickly. It will not be for everyone.
Also, if the room is cold or you have them out in the cold for a while, the titanium will get quite cold and can give you a bit of a wake-up call when inserting those cold shells into your ear. They will warm up fairly quickly, but it’s just something to be aware of.
Stock Cable
The Maven Pro uses the same core cable as the Maven Pro, which is the UM Copper M2 custom designed in collaboration with PW Audio of Hong Kong and sells for $562 on its own via Musicteck USA.
However, in this instance, there have been a few upgrades on the core design, so it does not look exactly the same. To make sure you know that is the case, UM has called this the M2 RE cable.
On paper, the main wire and jacket are unchanged. This is a 24AWG gauge OCC copper 4-wire geometry with a fiber core, wrapped in a carbon fiber sleeve and applied with a black PVC coating on the external surface.
The wire is braided with a new titanium-finished barrel splitter and chin cinch, matching 2-pin round barrel connectors, and a matching titanium-finished 4.4mm plug with minimalist branding. Both the splitter and main jack barrel are concave-shaped to enhance the grip.
There is some soft silicone spring memory material before the Maven II connectors, which is generally quite soft when settling on your ear.
The cable’s handling is slightly firmer than some PVC designs I have previously used. Memory-retentive qualities are low on this cable design, and it is not that heavy either, with super low microphonics traveling to the Maven II shells from below the splitter.
Packaging & Accessories
As with most Unique Melody retail packages I have received for review, the Maven II box is quite compact and a little understated in plain black.
However, everything is very neatly organized inside its jewelry box-style compartments, with the case and shells on top and the accessories in a slide-out drawer below.
The blue zipper carry case used is a little dated for me. This is an old UM design going back quite a few years now. Not that it is a bad case, it does the job quite well, but rather I had expected something a bit more modern.
You will find the shells and cable inside the case pre-attached with each shell slipped into a protective mesh pouch, which is a nice touch. You also get some meshing on the cable barrels and a small silicone sheet on the jack to make sure each hard aspect of the contents is protected from each other.
Because this is a custom-designed monitor, you do not get any ear tips. Beyond what’s in the carry case, the accessories include a small cleaning cloth and a warranty card.
Click on page 2 below for my sound impressions and recommended pairings.
