Sound Impressions
The following sound impressions of the Unique Melody Mest Jet Black were completed using a mix of pairings, including the Chord Electronics Mojo 2 and the DX340/AMP15 in balanced output mode.
Summary
There is plenty of familiar DNA from various UM models mixed into the sound signature of the Mest Jet Black.
Some of it is a sneak peek of what is possible from higher-end models, such as the staging excellence of the Multiverse Mentor, some of it is a refinement of previous UM Mest generations with superior dynamic range over the Mest MKII, and even some areas seemed borrowed from the Maven series with an enhanced level of bass definition.
In short, this is a very balanced and impressively open-sounding monitor, but also one that some might find more neutral and technically capable than older models, such as the more rounded tuning of the Mest MKIII CF.
It is not too thick or heavy-handed in the mids, relatively bloom-free, with no concerning overemphasis in the bass response or uneven peaks in the highs. It’s tuned for a relatively easy but pleasing, immersive, and resolving listening experience.
You can tweak the experience further with the stock cable choice. The UM Dreamy will enhance the bass presence, introduce more warmth, ‘fattening’ the vocal timbre to produce a very smooth bass and vocal forward presentation.
The Jet Link cable produces a more expansive sound signature from the Mest Jet Black. This pairing is more about resolution, imaging accuracy, and keeping a tight lid on the potential for bass bloom with its punchy, fast response in the lows.
Everyone will have their preference, but it is not set in stone. I found certain source pairings to match one cable better than the other. A journey you can discover in more detail in my synergy section further down this page.
Frequency Response
On paper, the Mest Jet Black’s FR has gone through more of a gradual evolution compared to the likes of the MKII, rather than introducing wholesale changes.
That being said, it’s the acoustical environment and staging capability that stand out more with the custom version over the older models, an aspect you can read about in the next section below.
The FR isn’t hugely Harman-centric, save for the lows up to 100Hz, which have a tasteful elevation accentuated by the quality 10mm driver, which introduces some additional heft and a more natural level of decay than the BA setup on the lows on the likes of the Maven Pro.
The Mest Jet Black bass response is not as bombastic or as in-your-face as the Maven II Crescent lows, but it does offer improved dynamic range and definition over the Mest MKII low-end tuning.
Especially so with the Jet Link cable, which seems to enhance the bass clarity and controls significantly. The Dreamy version enhances the perceived weight but also introduces more bloom and lengthens the decay, so it’s not quite as tight-sounding.
From 100hz up to 2k, the Mest Jet Black FR runs a little north of neutral, but I find the mids not too laden with warmth and weight unless you switch to the Dreamy cable and pair it with rich-sounding sources such as the N6iii/R202 (R-2R mode).
There is a slight 2-5k dip, vocals will come across as relatively neutral in their imaging, though the amount of perceived space is excellent. There is some decent fill here and plenty of space for vocals to be clean and clear, especially with the Jet Link cable pairing.
The Mest Jet Black treble peaks around 5-8k but done so in a tasteful manner, sounding quite articulate, with some nice shimmer, but nothing with too much contrast or peakiness in its coloration.
Staging & Dynamics
This is where the Mest Jet Black excels above all previous Mest generations with tremendous width and staging depth.
If you have heard the Multiverse Mentor, there is some semblance to just how wide and tall the imaging can get with the Mest Jet Black. Not quite to the MM level, but certainly much wider and more open-sounding than its peers in the range.
And that is where the improved dynamic range and additional bone conductors work their magic with the Mest Jet Black.
The imaging isn’t soft or tucked discreetly behind the vocal performances. It’s right there, kicks in immediately, stretching the sound field to create this immersive and very holographic presentation.
It works beautifully with acoustic recordings, where the slightly leaner midrange note combined with the more neutral and cleaner Jet Link cable tease out a very elaborate, precise, and complex soundstage quality.
Ranged against the Mest MKII and Maven series, it makes all of them sound either a bit small in their staging capability or quite intimate in their delivery.
One thing to note, the Dreamy will push the bass and vocal imaging further forward. It still offers that wide quality, but you might find your listening focus more centered on the lows and mids over the highs, which is where the Jet Link excels.
Synergy
Efficiency & Sensitivity
The Unique Melody Mest Jet Black is rated at 12.6Ω for impedance with an SPL of 106 dB/Vrms @1kHz, which is a fairly consistent benchmark for UM’s MEST series and the likes of the Maven series.
I wouldn’t classify it as super sensitive. Much like the older MEST models, the Mest Jet Black is fairly easy to drive, and you shouldn’t expect too much volume twiddling differences between it and the likes of the recent Maven II Crescent or previous iterations, such as the Mest MKII.
That means dongles and DAPs will drive the Mest Jet Black without any issues, such as distracting background hiss.
DAP Pairings
I tested the Mest Jet Black with 3 DAPs, including the HiBy R8 II, the iBasso DX340/AMP15, and the Cayin N6iii/R202. I also threw in the Chord Electronics Mojo 2 for a portable amping perspective.
My conclusion was almost as much about which cable is the ideal pairing, the Dream or the Jet Link, as it was about what I heard from each DAP.
What I can say is that with the Dreamy, the HiBy R8 II delivered the beefiest bass performance. No other DAP or portable amplifier came close to the depth and power of the R8 II/Dreamy pairing with Turbo Mode activated.
With Dreamy, I felt the N6iii/R202 in R2R mode was just a bit too warm and bloated-sounding. Yes, it has a nice, fulsome tone, and the vocals are very rich. However, it’s a bit much compared to the superior control and clarity from the Mest Jet Black and Jet Link pairing.
The 1-bit sound is more flexible as it offers more clarity and space for the Dreamy/Mest Jet Black pairing to breathe, but overall, it’s still a better match with the Jet Black’s focus on clarity and detail.
The DX340/AMP15 is a more flexible partner for either cable. Both deliver excellent dynamic range, and good space to allow the Mest Jet Black mids and highs to breathe and sparkle whilst avoiding too much warmth in the lows if you plan on using the Dreamy cable.
The Mojo 2/Mest Jet Black pairing with UM Dreamy also heavily emphasizes the low-end and vocal body, making it ideal for those who need low-end power. However, I still preferred the cleaner, more balanced sound of the Jet Link pairing, which reduced the bass bloat and provided more vocal clarity.
Dongle Pairings
I tested 3 dongles with the Mest Jet Black and again, both stock cable options. This included iBasso’s DC-Elite and Nunchaku, and the Cayin RU7 in balanced output mode with a high-gain setting.
For the DC-Elite, the Mest Jet Black sounded more appealing with the UM Dreamy cable over the Jet Link. I felt the Jet Link was too neutral and didn’t quite capture the explosive sound of the DC-Elite as well as the Dreamy.
Also, the Dreamy produced a more liquid set of highs and a fuller vocal note, and to no surprise for anyone reading this far, a much deeper bass response.
The Jet Link/Mest Jet Black pairing sounded much superior with the RU7. The RU7 is a very spacious performer with a neutral vocal imaging experience. The Jet Link/Mest Jet Black pairing sounded more open, wider, and detailed, with better space around a clearer vocal imaging experience.
The Dreamy pairing pushed the vocals further forward and gave them some additional weight, but the staging control and clarity were not quite as convincing.
The Nunchaku is a ‘depends’ answer. It has two tone signatures, AB and tube, the former of which is neutral and balanced, and the latter more colored and warmer sounding.
Logic would dictate the Dreamy in AB, and indeed that is the case. It has a bit more character, whereas the Jet Link experience was too flat, too neutral, and kind of boring with the Mest Jet Black.
The Jet Black/Nunchaku Tube mode was much better, but I would argue the more bombastic set of lows from the Dreamy, combined with the enhanced vocal weight, will appeal to tube enthusiasts a bit more.
