Unique Melody Mason Nuit Étoilée & Soleil Tombé

Disclaimer: The demo was loaned from MusicTeck for honest impressions. Planning on purchasing CIEMs Mason.



Unique Melody needs no introduction, they are known as the first company to introduce the piezoelectric bone conduction driver to the HiFi community in 2019 with MEST OG. Mason series, however, has a much longer history as one of the flagships of UM. For a long period of time, they were only available in CIEMs (called something 12). If I remember correctly, Mason was the second UIEM that Unique Melody mass produced in 2012, the first one was the other flagship Mentor made in 2011, exclusive in Japan. I am a proud owner of Mason V2/V3+ and the original Mentor V1 which was my very first hi-end UIEMs.

In 2020, UM added their patented BCDs to the Mason series and upshift the Mason line to the Mason FS (Fabled Sound). The Mason FS line maintained the tuning philosophy of Mason, it is in a natural, analog, dense, retro-style sound that has priority in coherence. Unlike the younger brother Mentor, Mason and Mason FS do not chase for the fun, impactful and engaging signature that is currently leading the market. It is a very mature, cohesive, and pleasant sound. This tuning approach reminds me of the concept of “Zen”. Every time I put a Mason or Mason FS to my ears, I can feel the sense of calmness, peace, and tranquility. They can always lead my ears and my mind to a peaceful meditation.

Bone Conduction Drivers Work Differently

Ever since UM introduced the BCD concept to the community, it has been very popular, and we have seen various types of BCDs with different added “names”. We could simply call them BCDs, but different types of BCDs work entirely differently. While I was preparing for this review, I asked many questions to UM about the BCDs and the New BC-Turbo booster and now let me share a little bit.

Coil BCDs for Bass. The representing IEMs are Empire Ears Raven, Legend EVO, UM Mext, Noble KK, Kinera Loki etc. This is the most universally used BCDs, it is known for the tactile bass. It is so popular that now most audiophiles associate the BCD effect as the “tactile bass”. However, the biggest problem of this type of BCD is they are very likely to create lower-mid distortion. If you have ever seen the measurement of any of the IEMs I mentioned above, you will hear and see it more or less.

BA BCDs for Mids. This driver is relatively new to me. It is made by Sonion, works similar to BAs but has a different timbre. So far, I only know Canpur 622B is using this driver. But since it is a Sonion, I am sure there will be more to come.

Piezoelectric BCDs for Soundstage. This type of driver is what we mostly see UM headphones. UM’s dBC-s and Freqshift BCDs are claimed as the UM patented driver based on piezoelectric structure. The representing IEMs are UM Mest series, UM MM and AP, UM Mason FS series. It needs high voltage to power up two electrode plates to vibrate the inner layers (metal or ceremic). Instead of pushing the energy to a diaphragm then transmitting it to the air, this driver pushes the energy to the supporting panels then transmits it to the skull. The good thing is this driver is full-range and has a consistent, stable vibration. The bad thing is it is too big which can only stay close to the faceplate, and it needs a lot of voltage to drive. With inadequate power, this driver is mainly affecting the 3kHz and ultra-high frequency. I think that sorta explained why UM’s IEMs always have thicker mids and holographic 3D staging.

BC-Turbo Micro Voltage Booster

According to UM, their iterations after the original BCDs in MEST OG, they were working on letting the BCDs to be more sensitive with low voltage input. So, it can have audiophile get more BCD effects even the driver cannot get adequate power. However, it is now reaching their limit, to a point the layers are very sensitive metal—silver and palladium, and the number of layers increased from 7 layers to nowadays 21 layers. So, they came up with this BC-Turbo booster to increase the voltage input to the BCDs while not affecting other drivers.



“Unbox”

The demo was loaned from MusicTeck, so I have the IEMs separated from the package already when they are here. But I heard the unboxing experience of the new Mason NE/ST is “ultra satisfying”. Two of my friends who bought the Mason NE told me that was their best unboxing experience ever, so I asked Andrew to send me the full package. Here we go!

The customized shipping box!



A gift bag.



The actual box.



Protection guide in an envelope.



Accessories—Oval clamp, cloth pad, eartips.



Additional nozzle filters/warranty card/cable wrap.



Cloth bag covers the leather carry case.



Leather case--premium Italian leather, natural leather smell, perfect ditches.






Leather case—Inside, 2 layers.



Design And Fit

The shape and fit are identical to the previous Mason FS, Red Halo and Le Jardin. I was gravitating toward my headphones system during that time, so I didn’t purchase any of them, but I got myself a pair of Fusang, which to my ears are slightly smaller than the stabilized cactus shells. Aesthetics is as subjective as sound, but I must admit, they are gorges! The finish, details and quality are second to none. I felt the size is slightly bigger than my preference, Fusang and Fei Wan are ideal to my ears.



Sound

Summary—Tested under N30LE AP version, Output-P mode, Medium Gain, Tube On, Classic Timbre

Mason NE/ST is right along the line of Mason series—A warm-reference sound. The new Mason FS has a very unique signature, it at least broke my stereotype of the “reference tuning” which often associates with “flat”, “neutral” and “colorless”. Mason has the reference signature where it does not purposely emphasize one certain frequency. The coherence of Mason is a true state of the art. At the same time, it also has a full, lifelike timbre and bone conduction effect in the mid-range to push a sense of warmth underneath, which makes the sound of Mason more emotional and intriguing. Mason NE/ST is a reference to the MY Hi-Fi standard (yours may vary), but not a reference to the studio standard if that make sense.

Soundstage and Imaging

The soundstage of Mason NE/ST is loyal to the UM house signature. It is a “immersive” over “expansive” approach which is truly making Unique Melody unique. The way Mason NE/ST presenting the sound is like put the user on to the stage and interacting with musicians, instead of sitting in distance and appreciate a piece of art. The new Mason NE/ST is pushing the boundary a little further than their previous releases. The front to back depth is further stretched to provide a create a more involving sound. The imaging size and accuracy is also phenomenal, I can not only hear and pinpoint the position of each instrument, but also “feel” the vibration and “see” the musician. It is an awkward description, but you may have to listen to them or other UM IEMs that have BCDs to understand what I am saying.

Resolution and Details

The new Mason NE/ST has a clearly improved resolution and details over the previous generation. It is up there as one of the best in the house, as it supposed. But the thing really shocked me is how wonderful the Mason NE/ST is at micro-dynamics reproduction. It is often captured in acoustic guitar, violins, pianos, saxophones and other acoustic solos. It reveals any small vibration of the instruments quickly, precisely, and clearly.

Talking about more or less details at this level is pretty much nonsense, the way they present the details really matters to me. And I must admit, Mason NE/ST has done that really well, it sorta reminds me of Stax X9000 which the details are there when you are seeking for, but they won’t pop up in your face. It is not trying to make the details “sound louder” but to illustrate multiple layers of music in details.

Bass

The whole bass frequencies of Mason NE/ST are playing support role in the big picture. It holds the other frequencies nice and steady, and it does not stick out interrupt the whole image. The bass of Mason ST is very linear, which aligns with its natural, organic sound signature. The transition from bass to mid-bass to lower-mid and core mid is smooth like butter. It sounds like the whole frequency spectrum is done by one mega driver, but UM used 3 different types of drivers (UM custom bass BA, custom mid BA, FreqShift BCD) from sub-bass to mids. It is quite impressive. The speed is not very quick and is delivering in a slow and gentle pattern. It might not be the perfect choice for EDM and synthetic music in general, but I found it is satisfying for classical and rock/metal ballads.

Mids

Mason’s mids are always grabbing my attention no matter which generation. It reminds me why IEMs are having a special place in my heart of my entire audio journey. I also believe this is the biggest selling point of Mason NE/ST. But writing this part is difficult, it is too hard to describe the mids of the new Mason NE/ST in words. The lower-mids undertake the bass seamlessly, giving a thick, smooth and juicy texture. At upper-mid and lower-treble, there is a little spice to bring in more details and better transparency. The mid overall is very detailed and has a lot focuses on micro-dynamics, where I got a photorealistic image of musicians’ techniques effortlessly. There really aren’t many things to complain about the mids from Mason NE/ST, the only problem is you have to pay that much for it. TT.

Treble

The treble of Mason NE/ST goes to a neutral direction with a little bump in the lower treble to improve the transparency and clarity. The side effect of this tuning approach is adding a bit of vocal sibilance at the same time. Fortunately, Mason maintained thickness and texture in the treble region, so the sibilance is reasonable. The additional treble compared to the Fusang gives the New Mason NE/ST a bit more sparkles and engagements. It is more fun and open than the previous iteration, but it also canceled some of the creaminess and dark chocolate taste that the Fusang had.

Tips Rolling



Stock Azla Xelastec Tips (as reference): The Xelastec tips gave me the most secure fit in my entire rolling trip. It fits nice and secure in my ears. But the size of the bore is a bit too big for my liking. Considering Mason has a relatively large nozzle, it can be painful after a few hours.

Symbio W Clear: Symbio W is clear, fits nice and secure in my ears. The comfort is much better than the Xelastec, at least for me. The lower treble was more controlled without affecting the transparency and clarity. The bass is also a little stronger with slightly more mid-bass energy. Highly recommend!

Comply TWB- The comfort is similar to Xelastec, maybe a touch better. It has lower treble roll offs than Symbio W. The mid-range was affected a little bit, it is not as transparent as other tips.

Canal Work Gel Eartips: So far, my favorite tips. It has a very strong grip while still soft and comfortable. It gives a stronger grip than the Symbio W and has a shorter nozzle which helps me get better contact with the shells. It works similar to the Symbio in the lower-mid while giving extra bass to the lower-end. Highly recommend!

Cable Rolling

Stock FTS Pro vs FTS

The stock cable comes with Mason NE/ST is PW First Times Shielding Pro. It does make some minor improvements to the FTS after a long time AB. The improvements are mainly in the background darkness and details. The newer shielding material does provide a slightly darker background which helps more details pop out. The tonality between these two cables is basically the same.

Stock FTS Pro vs MeetAgains SE

MeetAgains SE has a leaner sound which seems to push the vocal a little further and fill in a little air. It also has a more neutral tonality compared to the thick, a little warm sound signature from FTS and FTS pro. To me MeetAgains SE is an excellent pairing with Fusang, but not Mason NE/ST.

Comparisons

Mason NE/ST vs Mason Fusang

Mason NE/ST shares the similar signature with Fusang, but the technical performance is at a whole different level. Switching between these two Mason, I got noticeably more details, a smoother transition, and deeper and wider soundstage. The sub-bass to mid-bass is also more elevated on the new Mason. Adding a little treble sparkle makes the new Mason a more natural, organic sound. Fusang has a darker and romantic tuning in comparison.

Mason NE/ST vs Amber Pearl

Amber Pearl was not an instant buy for me, the mid-bass is bit overwhelming. But I still pull the trigger. Why? It echoes so many good memories I had with the legendary Shure E5(which I still have a pair, hehe) and JH Roxanne, but done to perfection. AP is sweet, creamy type of IEMs that everyone would love, no matter what music you throw to it. Who doesn’t like sweets? Mason has another tuning approach, it is a more controlled, organic and realistic sound. It basically lets you taste both sweets and bitterness in the music.

AP is a master of coloring sound. It has smooth upper-mid with nice sparkles and vocal presence, very well controlled 6k dip without being dull, and extra air in ultra-high. It has all the appealing flavors and mingled them very well together. It is the ideal “mainstream” sound. Mason NE/ST, on the hand, is master of naturality. It has a more cohesive sound than AP, the transition from bass to mid is probably the smoothest I have heard so far. The controlled bass help mid-range stands out more, with more micro-dynamics showing off. The upper-mid added just the right number of sparkles and liveliness for instrumental music. The treble has more physicality with solid and realistic resonance. It is an IEM tuned for hardcore acoustic music lovers and vocal enthusiasts.

DAP Pairing



N30LE AP Version (as reference): I tried the AP version mainly with P mode, Class A, Tube Classic. Many thanks to @twister6 for recommending this set up to me. I found P+ and Hyper mode have a little too much lower-treble presence than what I like. Overall, this combo gave me enough bass rumble and a very full and strong mid-range, and a smooth, detailed treble.

AK SP3000ss: I was surprised by how sensitive Mason ST is to the source when I switched to the SP3000. The SP3000 gives extra air to the treble, the treble extension reaches noticeably further than N30LE AP. However, it doesn’t give enough weight to the bass and mids. The overall sound is a bit lean and too analytical.

LP P6Pro Black: P6Pro was my reference before I got N30LE. They are similar to some extent. With P6Pro, Mason ST get a smoother lower treble, and a little less bass impact, but the bass hit a little faster. The overall sound is not as thick as N30LE AP when the tube is on with classic timbre, it is closer to N30LE with tube modern.

Summary

Mason series has a special place in my heart. It has the naturality, the smoothness, the coherence, and the beautiful mid-range that I am dying for. It resumed a lot of my initial enjoyment of Hi-Fi IEMs but goes to the summit level in sound quality. I know there is a buzz about the price and UM’s marketing, but I see more positive over negative with this release. First of all, it is a flagship and limited to 88 pairs. The stabilized cactus shells, PWA high-end cable, Italian leather case, and very thoughtful accessories all of which are pointing Mason NE/ST to a high price tag, it is not a big surprise. I feel much more comfortable holding Mason’s package in hand than an IEM with a cardboard box which costs similar money. Secondly, I appreciate UM brings out another tuning that is different from the mainstream trend and still sounds phenomenal. It is a unique and brave move against the current deadly boring tuning trend. Thirdly, the new BC-Turbo may lead a new trend after UM introduced BCDs to the Hi-Fi market back in 2019.

I really appreciate Andrew @MuiscTeck is willing to take the cable out of the package for a discount price. Don’t get me wrong, it is a nice cable, very nice looking especially with Soleil Tombe theme. But for someone who already has FTS or Orpheus, it could be redundant, sonic-wise. If you have the budget, you love acoustic music, classical, Jazz and vocals, the new Mason NE/ST is a very strong contender.