This is the second UM IEM I’ve owned – the MEST MKIII was my first. So my comparison will be in relation to MEST MKIII. Jet Black is a 10 driver quadbrid using 4BA, 2EST, 1DD and uniquely, 3BCD drivers (two are BA based and one is PE based). It retails for $2000 USD with a cable and $1600 USD without. I used Lotoo Paw Touch Gold as my source and Astral Acoustics Pulse as my cable.
Pretty decent accessories in the box as it includes a nice leather/suede case and 9 pairs of eartips. Build quality of the shell itself is nice, it’s black ceramic faceplate definitely feels better than alot of the resin shells out there for other IEMs.
Bass:
The bass is slightly elevated but not too much. It feels like just the right amount whree its not too elevated and not too recessed. The 3BCD combined with the 1DD produce very evenly balanced mid bass and subbass extension. It’s not for bassheads, but the bass quality itself is quite good.
Mids:
The mids are quite decent not overly recessed like on a v shaped IEM and sound fairly detailed for the $2k price range. I think overall it’s again nicely balanced not too forward or recessed and balances well with the treble and bass.
Treble:
The treble is also nicely detailed thanks to the EST drivers and again I have to say it’s not too forward or recessed but seems to be just right. Not for trebleheads but most people will find the treble extension and detail quite nice.
Technicality:
The soundstage width, imaging and detail are some of the best I’ve heard on a $2k IEM. This easily beats Mest MKIII and ThieAudio Monarch MK2 in terms of that, and I think for under $2k IEM it will be hard to find something beating this in technicalities.
Jet Black seems to be overall a very well balanced IEM in terms of signature – unlike MEST MKII and MEST MKIII and MEXT, it is not v shaped or energetic but rather an all arounder that will fit almost any genre due to the amazing balance between bass, mids and treble where not one frequency ever overpowers another. This is one of those IEMs where I really have a hard time finding much negatives, unless you want a super energetic sounding IEM which this isn’t. For an under $2k IEM this is one of my top recommendations.
Pretty decent accessories in the box as it includes a nice leather/suede case and 9 pairs of eartips. Build quality of the shell itself is nice, it’s black ceramic faceplate definitely feels better than alot of the resin shells out there for other IEMs.
Bass:
The bass is slightly elevated but not too much. It feels like just the right amount whree its not too elevated and not too recessed. The 3BCD combined with the 1DD produce very evenly balanced mid bass and subbass extension. It’s not for bassheads, but the bass quality itself is quite good.
Mids:
The mids are quite decent not overly recessed like on a v shaped IEM and sound fairly detailed for the $2k price range. I think overall it’s again nicely balanced not too forward or recessed and balances well with the treble and bass.
Treble:
The treble is also nicely detailed thanks to the EST drivers and again I have to say it’s not too forward or recessed but seems to be just right. Not for trebleheads but most people will find the treble extension and detail quite nice.
Technicality:
The soundstage width, imaging and detail are some of the best I’ve heard on a $2k IEM. This easily beats Mest MKIII and ThieAudio Monarch MK2 in terms of that, and I think for under $2k IEM it will be hard to find something beating this in technicalities.
Jet Black seems to be overall a very well balanced IEM in terms of signature – unlike MEST MKII and MEST MKIII and MEXT, it is not v shaped or energetic but rather an all arounder that will fit almost any genre due to the amazing balance between bass, mids and treble where not one frequency ever overpowers another. This is one of those IEMs where I really have a hard time finding much negatives, unless you want a super energetic sounding IEM which this isn’t. For an under $2k IEM this is one of my top recommendations.
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