COMPARISONS:-
VS Inear Stagediver SD5 (Mahogany version):- (1299euro)
Built around 5BA drivers, the SD5 vanilla version retails for 1039 Euros. Both are built very well, both have similar accessories and don’t have any problem with fitment. Both have similar isolation too.
The SD5 is slightly V shaped with the stock cable with a more neutral approach.
It has slightly smaller bass size, it moves lesser air and has smaller mid bass body too. The SD5 has slightly better sub-bass reach. The Mirage bass is livelier. Mid range of the SD5 is not as forward as the Mirage, SD5 has even notes thickness and depth across the spectrum. It feels more disciplined and smoother as far as notes thickness is concerned. Still there are some spikes at the lower treble region, the Mirage doesn’t have this. Highs do get slightly calmer when they go deeper into the spectrum.
The stage size of the SD5 is smaller in every direction. Level of details is similar, but thanks to its sharper notes the Mirage can feel a hair more detailed.
Going balanced (penon OS849) with the SD5 does deliver sharper notes and bigger stage size but still is not as deep as the Mirage and still is slightly smaller from every direction.
VS Nocturnal Eden:- ($1099)
The Noc Eden too is based on 5BA drivers. Build quality (resin) of the Eden is fantastic. Accessories too are similar but the Eden doesn’t have Foam tips out of the box. What sets the Eden apart from all the competition is its accuracy while keeping notes thickness and depth even.
Eden is the flattest earphone in this lot. It has a very neutral and natural tonality.
The bass of the Eden is considerably smaller, moves far lesser amount of air and has the fasted decay speed too. There is not much mid bass body. The mid range delivers sharper notes, in fact the Eden maintains the notes sharpness and depth across the whole spectrum and it barely changes. The male vocals sound slightly sharper than natural. This sharpness helps with instrumental pop. All the instruments have better transparency. The upper mid range is not as thin as the Mirage. There are no sibilance but it is doesn’t have a dull note in its armory.
The stock cable stage size is very good and is a bit smaller than the Mirage in every direction but height. Using a good quality balanced cable (penon OS849) gives the Eden bigger stage size which is similar to the Mirage but makes the notes sharper.
The Eden delivers more even amount of air between instruments and is one of the most resolving and transparent earphones in this price range.
CONCLUSION:-
One of the latest earphones from the house of Unique Melody, the Mirage priced at $1099 sits in the lower mid tier of earphones.
The Mirage is an unique earphone thanks to its custom open BA mid range driver which gives it fantastic stage size and resolution not seen in this price range. It manages to keep the stage out of the head where both the SD5 and Eden have the big portion of the stage inside the head. The design along with titanium shell gives the Mirage a very classy look and is very comfortable too. The pattern on back gives it more character.
I don’t see many earphones in this price range matching the stage size of the Mirage. For details one can go for the Nocturnal Eden. (Next in line for review)
If huge stage size along with up to the class details is what you are looking for, the UM Mirage should be on the top of your list.
Fire in your questions, if you have any regarding the UM Mirage, I will try my best to answer them.
Have a nice day guys, enjoy!!
