Minerva Custom IEMs
Discussion
Just doing some research and there looks to be a new IEM company in the UK with really good prices on silicon customs.
Anyone ever heard of them (or ideally tried them?) - they are 'Minerva'.
http://www.minerva-hearingprotection.co.uk/
From what I can tell it looks like they are hearing aid/hearing protection manufacturers who have provided the NHS for years and have recently moved into custom IEMs. According to their site they are one of the largest specialist ear mould makers in Europe so their credentials on that side seem pretty good.
It looks like they have discounted their custom monitors recently, I assume to get into the market (and also because they can due to their economies of scale?). Their dual drivers are 1/2 the price of ACS which is a significant saving.
All this is nice, but the big question is, has anyone every heard of them??? Anyone know if they sound any good?
Anyone ever heard of them (or ideally tried them?) - they are 'Minerva'.
http://www.minerva-hearingprotection.co.uk/
From what I can tell it looks like they are hearing aid/hearing protection manufacturers who have provided the NHS for years and have recently moved into custom IEMs. According to their site they are one of the largest specialist ear mould makers in Europe so their credentials on that side seem pretty good.
It looks like they have discounted their custom monitors recently, I assume to get into the market (and also because they can due to their economies of scale?). Their dual drivers are 1/2 the price of ACS which is a significant saving.
All this is nice, but the big question is, has anyone every heard of them??? Anyone know if they sound any good?
Bump - I'm guessing no one has heard of them?
I emailed them today and got a very quick and knowledgeable reply which makes these very tempting for the price...
____________________
The drivers we use are balanced armature transducers that are manufactured by a company called Sonion, one of the two sources of this type of speaker and standard among the IEM industry. You can find spec sheets for the transducers here. However anyone can pick a few transducers, put them in a custom earpiece and get an “okish” sound; most of our development of the Mi-2 and Mi-3 in the last 2 years has been focused on getting the crossover circuitry for the transducers right, refining the placement of the transducers and smoothing the frequency response with the use of sound dampers. The finished products give very detailed and neutral sounds, with powerful, capabale bass, very detailed high end and smooth mids. This is along with the comfort and noise reduction that comes from a well fitted custom earpiece.
I emailed them today and got a very quick and knowledgeable reply which makes these very tempting for the price...
____________________
The drivers we use are balanced armature transducers that are manufactured by a company called Sonion, one of the two sources of this type of speaker and standard among the IEM industry. You can find spec sheets for the transducers here. However anyone can pick a few transducers, put them in a custom earpiece and get an “okish” sound; most of our development of the Mi-2 and Mi-3 in the last 2 years has been focused on getting the crossover circuitry for the transducers right, refining the placement of the transducers and smoothing the frequency response with the use of sound dampers. The finished products give very detailed and neutral sounds, with powerful, capabale bass, very detailed high end and smooth mids. This is along with the comfort and noise reduction that comes from a well fitted custom earpiece.
Thanks.
If you are more a treble and mids focused listener, then I agree that the Mi-2 may be a better choice. Generally a dual armature IEM will have less bass than a triple armature one, just keep in mind that I say "generally", as this is not always the case.
Saying that, the Mi-3 is in no way a bass monster, but a very musical and overall excellent IEM.
Custom IEMs also seem to deliver more bass impact that universal ones.
If you are more a treble and mids focused listener, then I agree that the Mi-2 may be a better choice. Generally a dual armature IEM will have less bass than a triple armature one, just keep in mind that I say "generally", as this is not always the case.
Saying that, the Mi-3 is in no way a bass monster, but a very musical and overall excellent IEM.
Custom IEMs also seem to deliver more bass impact that universal ones.
Mi-3 vs. UM2:
Mi-3 wins in the bass area with better texture and impact, the midrange on the Mi-3 is more liquid and again more textured, highs are clearer and more expansive on the Mi-3, soundstage is bigger and more expansive on the Mi-3. Comfort, fit and isolation is clearly won by the Mi-3.
The Mi-3 is the clear winner and the better earphone.
UM2 sounds a bit warmer, while the Mi-3 can sound both warm and analytical, much depending on how one listens to it.
All in all, Minerva have done a great job with the Mi-3.
Mi-3 wins in the bass area with better texture and impact, the midrange on the Mi-3 is more liquid and again more textured, highs are clearer and more expansive on the Mi-3, soundstage is bigger and more expansive on the Mi-3. Comfort, fit and isolation is clearly won by the Mi-3.
The Mi-3 is the clear winner and the better earphone.
UM2 sounds a bit warmer, while the Mi-3 can sound both warm and analytical, much depending on how one listens to it.
All in all, Minerva have done a great job with the Mi-3.
In the sticky up top, you will find all the earphones I have reviewed. In my opinion the Mi-3 performs overall better than any of the universals I have heard.
The sound signature of the Mi-3 is quite similar to the UM3X, same amount of bass, mids and highs with the same level of detail and instrument separation, the difference is the enormous soundstage of the Mi-3 and a more "lively" sound.
One could say that the Mi-3 is a better and upgraded version of the UM3X that fixes the biggest shortcomings of it, dynamics and soundstage.
Mi-3 is much more comfortable with better isolation as well.
The sound signature of the Mi-3 is quite similar to the UM3X, same amount of bass, mids and highs with the same level of detail and instrument separation, the difference is the enormous soundstage of the Mi-3 and a more "lively" sound.
One could say that the Mi-3 is a better and upgraded version of the UM3X that fixes the biggest shortcomings of it, dynamics and soundstage.
Mi-3 is much more comfortable with better isolation as well.
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