Doubling down on @domq422 question on the one trick “ponyness” of OG in your opinion?
I have MEST, for me it is really universal as it plays beautiful through my whole library (hip hop, indie, electronica, classical, rock, female songwriters, funk, jazz), as nothing else I had. On the other hand it is by far the most expensive set I ever had, so I don’t know what could I expect from something else in that price bracket
They can be a bit of a one trick pony, but they so that trick very well, IMO. I would love to try a CIEM version to see how much better the bone conduction driver works on them versus the UIEM.
Anyways, if you get a pair of the Mest (OG or Mk2) you have to make sure to let me/us know how they work. 
But … but … what is that trick?!? 
I’m just messing with you - I’ve heard they’re a good all a rounder from others so I’m just curious on your opinion.
The CIEM version should do the Bone Conduction feature considerably better, but paying that $1799 asking price is … a lot. I’ve yet to go through that process on getting a CIEM, I think all Audiophiles should at least once.
If I ever do get a pair, this is the first place I’m visiting, you kidding me?
The trick they do best is technicalities laid bare and unhindered by traditional tuning and cohesiveness. Their segmented tuning allows them to be one of the most uncompromisingly revealing transducers I have heard. Most IEMs are a compromise between attempting to achieve a good technical performance and a sound sig that is pleasant and appeals to a wide segment of listeners. The Mest basically went for balls to the wall technical performance that wasn’t compromised to achieve a more traditionally balanced or desireable tuning.
The few comparisons I have read between the UIEM and CIEM versions definitely mention there beinga pretty decent increase in balance and techs on the CIEM version which many attribute in part to the better bone conduction performance. You’re right though. I’m not gonna be laying down the cash for the CIEM version as I just don’t think a $1700 Mest is something I want lol! 
I have heard that the MEST II doesn’t have the best cohesive playback but it’s almost it’s special sauce so to speak. It sacrifices cohesiveness, for unparalleled replayability in regards to resolution.
This is the main reason I think I’ve wanted to try them for so long. It may not be the all-arounder that the Monarchs are for me (let’s not mention EDM or rap for the monarchs…) but it’s a sick IEM and I think it would have a rightful place as a contribution to a stable, rather than a 1 IEM solution. I think of it like a garage, a nice M5 for everyday driving, practical, comfortable but it’s still thrilling and fast (Monarchs) and then on the weekends, you pull out the 911 GT3 (MEST) - doesn’t do the grocery shopping runs so well, but it’s damn quick and fun as hell to drive.
Everything is a compromise after all.
Laying down the cash for a Custom is … questionable at best tbh 
I use MEST almost as EDC on contrary to them being supercar in garage for golfing session 
I keep falling in love with it since May I bought them. Nothing apart from few buds gave me similar level of (auditory) satisfaction in this period of time.
I keep on rediscovering my library with it. It is funny, because the new music I get to know with Mest and later on - as this is my reference - on other sets it often sounds very plain. It is probably because they “oversharpen” stuff, putting Picasso-like filter on the canvas. That may not be coherent, but it works wonders for example on Atrocity Exhibition by Joy Division I listen to right now (those drums, I guess it was made to be incoherent on purpose though)
Yeah, it definitely wouldn’t be an all-rounder for me either. I think you have the right idea. If I bought it, the Mest would definitely be a specialist pair that I would use for critical/active listening on some genres and in some sprcific situations. The question for me is, given how many IEMs I currently have, would I actually end up using them enough to make the purchase worthwhile? And, if not, am I willing to get rid of something(s) I currently have to make room for the Mest? I don’t know the answer to that yet, but I do know that they’re too good (and expensive) to sit around in a case.
I’ll make sure to absolutely reply more in depth when I have the opportunity but check out this email I just got from MusicTeck
My goodness, that price …
Tempting, tempting…are you going for it?
I wish, man … there’s absolutely no way I could convince my self to spend anymore money on audio this year as it is, let alone my wife! relative to others, it’s probably pocket change but I’ve dropped probably close to $2k this year alone on IEMs, Sources, Cables, tips yadayada - I have to take a step back if I’m honest. If I was making big bucks then hell yeah! But unfortunately the last 4 months the car market has been extremely slow. Slow enough for me to think 4 times about every purchase. It’s embarrassing but it’s the truth.
And speaking about your last comment above ^ knowing what you have, I’d say that the MEST II is probably special enough for you to give it a run. Especially at that $900 price. Worst comes to worst, after the sale is over, you could resell them for $800-$850 and really only lose a minimal amount. Definitely something to think about …
At least until I settle this single DD madness and see what the prestige has to offer, I’m tappin’ out. This year has been pretty special for me because I sold off a ton of stuff in order to be able to put together a total summit fi setup. Normally, there’s no way I would have soent this much on audio in year. I mean, I’m making more money than I ever have before by far, but the music industry is fickle and this ride can pretty much end at any time so I’m also taking the opportunity to sock away as much as I can.
With my IEM collection in particular, I want to see how these last few purchases in particular shake out and I’ll go from there. Also, I don’t put audio buys on credit cards. Audio in the end is a hobby and if I can’t afford something outright, then I don’t buy it. I’m not saying that’s right for everybody or preaching, BTW. I’m just paranoid about ending up broke later in life.
Ahhh yes - that’s right. The all down, showdown between the single DD kings of the IEM space. That’s an interesting one. I’m hoping you have the intention of writing an elongated article on your findings because as a musician, your word definitely has more weight behind it in my eyes. The Prestige is a set I’ve been waiting for since it was Initially announced a few months back I believe, it was rumored to be an updated MMKII priced at $1100 so needless to say, I was interested.
Even though it’s a bit more than that, I think if you have the cash and you’re ready, it’s a blind buy. Thie has earned that rep. In my opinion. I hope they work for you and I’m absolutely looking forward to your thoughts on them. Any idea when they’re coming in?
Reading how you’ve become more able to acquire all this gear recently warmed my heart - I’m happy to hear you’re doing well, brother. I really hope it continues, and truthfully? I hope I get to hear your music one day 
I learned my lesson with Credit Cards when I was in my early 20s unfortunately- I made some absolutely horrible financial decisions that I’m still paying for to this day. I tend to not reach for a credit card either, I do however use PayPal pay in 4 on occasion. It’s an automatic payment, straight from the checking account, 0 interest and it’s every 2 weeks so it’s spread out enough to allow me to buy various things I wouldn’t normally be able to but still afford it in a way.
Also - I just realized that we kind of hi-jacked this thread a touch.
Sorry, mods! Feel free to lay the mod-hammer down and split our discussion here.
I will do a write-up for sure. HBB asked me to post something in his thread when I finish so I’ll post whatever I come up with there. Stay tuned…
Now for something topical, I do slightly prefer the OG Mest, but honestly if this price is still available on the MkII after I figure out who’s staying and who’s going on the single DDs, I might just have to grab a pair.
I’m actually hoping to borrow both versions from the owner for a more extended session because the last one was 4 hours of listening split between both Mests, both Monarchs, and A12t + U12t so I’m hoping to have a day or two where I can just have some time with just the two of them to see how it goes.
Yes, please Mr. Anonymous. I think we’d all appreciate that. I shall stay tuned no doubt.
Even if the OG is a preferred set, that price cannot be denied. I have a feeling they may be trying to sell through the stock now because something is coming from UM but I could be wrong of course. Also, I think it’s a shame being limited to only a few minutes with those sets - I mean, we’re talking 6 potential end game IEMs and I say from experience, it took about a week for me to understand why the MMKII deserved my hard earned cash - but it clicked. No doubt.
I did spend most of that time with the Mests. I have own the OG Monarch and I have owned the Mk2, but I had a friend on headfi who had a couple questions about differences between the two that I wasn’t comfortable answering from memory so I did some mostly quick AB work with those just to answer his questions. I also did the A12t to U12t comparison pretty quickly just because I was interested to see what differences I could hear and the owner of the U12t left it with me so I could do more listening between it and my A12ts later.
So basically I probably spent about 2.5+ hours, maybe more, doing some AB listening with the two Mest models. Still not as much time as I’d like to really get down to the nitty gritty.
If you do decide to pick up a set and the deal isn’t running definitely talk to Andrew at musicteck He may extend the deal to you.
Awesome! Thanks for the tip. I have heard a few good things about this Andrew fella. I’ve ordered a couple times from Musictek, but I’ve never had to deal with their customer service. From what I’ve read, it seems like he’s/they’re good people.
They are really good people. I ordered a hiby RS6 from them along with the mest but there’s a battery ban for mail service in the country I’m in right now. The RS6 was turned back, we discussed solutions and in the end we agreed that it would be better to wait and purchase it when I’m back in the US.
You live the Audio life I hope to once live, my friend. That sounds like an amazing experience to me, honestly.
Let me ask you this, please - how would you compare the MEST II V. the Monarch II? Back in February before I bought my pair, it was always going to be between the MEST II and the Mon II - I ultimately decided to go with the Monarch’s due to the universal acclaim it received for its coherence and resolvability. I haven’t looked back since, however - I’ll let you in on a little secret ….
I’ve sometimes wondered if I’d made the right decision. Since you’ve had a good amount of time with each, I trust your take honestly. I know it’s mostly from memory and I definitely understand that.
First, to @Etroze86 , do you mind if I ask what country you’re in currently? If you do, I totally get it and just ignore the question. That’s cool of them to help you deal with the situation and not just dump it in your lap.
To @domq422 : One of the side benefits of having been a session musician for so long is that you meet a ton of studio geeks from the musicians to the engineers to producers etcetera and a lot of them tend to be audiphiles to one extent or another. Plus, most of those that are into audio aren’t just into speaker setups because they use a lot of head gear in their occupations. Over the years I have become friends and/or acquaintances with a pretty big network of these guys which has enabled me to try out many times the amount of gear I would have otherwise been able to try and has also allowed me to get bro deals on gear I never would have been able to afford before the last four or five years. I’m definitely blessed!
All of that said, I don’t have anyone showing up at the library with me to drink hot cocoa, compliment my eyebrows, and have some audio BFF fun with so you’re definitely blessed to bro!
As for Monarch Mk2 versus Mest Mk2, IMO you unquestionably made the right decision. Especially when you consider that the Mons are your main squeeze, they make a lot more sense to me as the well-rounded foundation or cornerstone of a collection than the Mest Mk2. Now, that you own the Mons though, adding something that gives you a totally different presentation like the Mests could be a great way to go. The Mests are, IMO, an IEM to be used on occasions where I’m listening actively and critically and I want the detail to be presented in such and obvious and in your face way that it can’t be missed. The Mons are much more capable of being an all-rounder that I can choose to engage with and listen critically, but also let me just enjoy a very listenable, high end audio experience if I don’t.
If the Monarch Mk2s would have fit me better, I would still own them. They are a great pair of IEMs and there’s a reason they are loved by so many listeners and even thoughs with varying tastes. They just started to cause me pain after about 30 min and they were uncomfortable for the whole time before that lol! So the Mest Mk2s definitely have them beat on fit.
