FATfrequency Maestro SE - I'll take the Mini

2.5⭐️

+ Deep reaching subwoofer-like bass

+ Fun V-shaped tuning 

+ Great build quality

+ Excellent soundstage

+ Bass quality and texture

- Bass lacking some reverberation due to short decay

- Treble can be fatuguing

- Maestro Mini is similar enough for 1/4 the price

- Large shell may cause issues for some (didn't for me)

- Price

thaslaya's star rating system:

☆☆☆☆☆ - Fantastic!

☆☆☆☆ - Recommended

☆☆☆ - There are buyers but not for me

☆☆ - Can't see the appeal

☆ - Product is a failure

Disclaimer: 

This set was provided for a trial period through the Watercooler tour. I recieve no compensation and all thoughts and opinions are my own. A big thank you to FATfreq for the provided unit and to @Rockwell75 for coordinating the tours. 

Gear used: 

●Samsung Galaxy s22 Ultra

●Samsung dongle

●Hiby FC4

●Kiwi Ears Allegro 

●Letshuoer DT03 

Source:

●Listening was done through Amazon Music HD or Ultra HD.

Introduction:

FATfrequency, or FATfreq for short, is an iem manufacturer based out of Singapore. Founded in 2020, the company boasts that all of its products are tuned and built by hand. The FATfreq name has become synonymous with powerful bass among those familiar with the brand. The Maestro line is arguably the company's most popular, with three current models to choose from: the Grand Maestro, Maestro SE, Maestro, and Maestro Mini. The Maestro SE is a tribrid iem featuring a combination of dynamic, balanced armature, and electrostatic drivers. It is currently available for $2018 through FATfreq's website. Let's break down both the Mini and SE models and see how they sound.

Build, fit, ergonomics:

For the duration of the tour, I had both the Maestro SE and Maestro Mini, so I will draw comparisons between the two throughout the review.

Since this is a tour unit, I cannot comment on the unboxing experience as it did not include all of the stock packaging or accessories. The kit that I received included both the Maestro SE and Mini iems, the Mini's stock cable, the SE's optional upgrade blue silver cable, and the stock carrying case. I was initially very surprised when I opened the box to see just how large the Maestro SE are, especially when compared to the Mini. The shells are made of solid black resin with blue faceplates featuring the Maestro SE logo on one side and FATfreq's logo on the other in gold. It's a somewhat simple and minimalist design, but I personally really like it. It has a mature and understated nature, but the colors help it stand out just enough to catch the eye. The SE uses a flat 2-pin connection, which makes cable swapping a breeze. One issue I did have was that the connections on both shells were loose and the cable would not stay connected very well. Seriously, if I even so much as gave them a stern look, the iems would fall right off. I'm not sure if this is a quality control issue on FATfreq's side or the fact that these shells have seen some abuse from being a tour unit. The issue persisted with every cable I tried, but it was noticeably worse with the included blue silver cable. The shells have a semi-custom shape with a fairly long nozzle length and an above-average insertion depth. I never really have fit issues with larger iems and often prefer the fit of bigger shells, but I do have large ears, so the fit may be troublesome for those with small ears. There were no stock ear tips included, but I found that my trusty Penon Liqueurs provided the best fit and seal for me. There is a small lip on the nozzle to help tips stay in place, and I had no issues wearing them for extended periods. The Pelican-style case is quite large and not very pocketable, but it is also very sturdy and provides great protection. The Maestro SE comes with two cable options when purchased from FATfreq's website: the default SPC cable (which is terrible) or the upgraded silver blue cable. This tour unit came paired with the upgrade option, which will set you back an additional $161 if added during the purchase. This is a very nice, high-quality four-wire cable that includes 2.5mm, 3.5mm, and 4.4mm modular terminations. It is thick and sturdy, yet still supple, and has a decent weight balance. I'm a sucker for thick and heavy cables, and this one is right up my alley. The screw-on locking mechanism of the termination is very secure and ensures that they will not come apart accidentally. Honestly, the standard cable is not worthy of any iem not named KZ, and it even feels cheap by those standards. I would highly recommend upgrading to the silver blue cable when purchasing unless you own other cables that you prefer.

FR graph courtesy of Gizaudio.

Impressions and comparison to Maestro SE:

Among the sources I own, I found the SE to pair best with the HiBy FC4.

Looking at the graphs, the bass measurements of both the SE and Mini are very similar up until about 500 Hz. The SE then has a steeper rise in the pinna gain region, a noticeable dip at around 6 kHz, and then continues on to have greater treble extension. The Mini has a slower rise from the lower midrange to a peak at 4 kHz, followed by a more rolled-off treble response. This makes sense considering the SE utilizes EST drivers for the highs. Of course, the graph can't tell the whole story, so let's compare their technicalities. Although the bass quantities are similar, the quality on the SE is noticeably better. It's more defined and resolving with better texture and less bloat. The midrange is less recessed and stands out more from the prominent bass on the SE. The treble is where the tunings deviate the most. The Mini's treble is more polite with less extension and no sibilance to speak of. The SE, with its EST drivers, exhibits much better extension and treble detail, but it's also spicier, more fatiguing, and can sometimes become sibilant or harsh. The SE is slightly harder to drive with just a simple dongle. The Mini can get quite loud, while the SE can only reach a medium to high level of loudness. It's not a huge difference, but it is something to note. The soundstage of the Mini is not as wide as the SE, but it still has good width and depth and never sounds congested. The Mini's capabilities compete well in the sub-$500 bracket, but when compared to the SE, the latter simply exhibits better technicalities across the board. The soundstage is wider and deeper, and there is better detail retrieval, dynamics, and separation. Honestly, this is to be expected, given the price difference, although the note weight of the SE is a bit thinner than I had hoped for, and the Mini has a more "full" sound than the SE. I also feel that the timbre is a bit off, too. It can present as somewhat artificial and thin and has a metallic sheen or tinniness on certain tracks. The Mini actually beats out its much more expensive older brother here. Although I wouldn't characterize the Mini as "warm," it does exhibit much more warmth than the SE and has a much more natural and organic timbre in comparison. 

●Lows - There is a lot more focus on the sub-bass, and the mid-bass suffers a bit for it. It's still definitely elevated, but it's not as prominently featured as I would like. The bass is fast; dare I say it's a bit too fast? I expect big bass to also have at least an average level of decay so I can really feel the reverberation and weight. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your preferences), the bass decay is very quick, and I'm missing some of the rumble that I enjoy. Don't get me wrong, it is still very full and fun, but just a bit more technical than musical to my ears. The extension reaches low, and the attack is fast. The impact of the bass has a nice thump, but again, the decay being so fast robs it of a little bit of that messy quality that lends to a more musical presentation, and it can come off a bit dry. I think where this kind of bass response really shines is on tracks like "Drew Barrymore" by Bryce Vine. I love the way it extends low and rumbles deep without taking away from the mids or highs. This song can sound terrible with bass that has a lot of bleed or is just messy and unkempt. The SE really excels at separation while retaining a cohesiveness that many big V-shaped sets just can't match.

●Mids - The midrange is a little more prominent on the SE when compared to the Mini, but it's still not a mid-focused IEM, as the bass and treble remain the stars. The upper mids have a lot of presence, even over the prominent bass, which is great for helping vocals and guitars come through. In "Who You Love" by John Mayer featuring Katy Perry, both artists' vocals come through clearly and concisely without sounding recessed by the prominent bass or treble. The lead and rhythm guitars have great presence too, as well as other instruments. Now, it's worth noting that this isn't an inherently bass-heavy song, but it goes to show how the Maestro SE is more of an all-rounder than I initially thought. Although I do feel the lack of note weight, especially here in the midrange, holds the tuning back. A little more weight and warmth could help to add a more natural, organic timbre instead of things coming across as slightly artificial.

●Highs - The treble has truly exceptional extension and air. There's also a ton of detail to be heard, and those EST drivers are on full display here. Unfortunately, there's a bit too much edge and harshness in the treble for me to truly enjoy the tuning, though I must confess that I am a warmth lover at heart. I can fully appreciate that there are those that enjoy this kind of the treble, but it just sounds thin, tizzy, and fatiguing to my ears. In "Umbrella" by Rihanna featuring JAY-Z, the cymbals in the intro and throughout the song are sharp and almost piercing in their presentation at medium/high volume levels. However, there's also a synthesizer in the background that I've never really heard or paid attention to before that is very prominent on the SE. If I turn the volume down to low levels, things sound much more enjoyable, but I also miss that dynamic sound you only get by cranking the volume up. During my time in this hobby, I've been hard-pressed to find an iem with EST drivers that doesn't irritate my ears. Maybe it's my inner ear anatomy, or maybe I am extra sensitive to treble. I'm not sure exactly what the cause is, but the Maestro SE is, unfortunately, another case of me and ESTs not getting along.

In conclusion:

Never judge a book frequency response curve by its cover. Before hearing the FATfreq Maestro SE for myself, I just assumed it had a big, gimmicky bass, and everything else would take a back seat to that visceral thump. Boy, was I wrong! It is so much more than I initially thought. Sure, there's a lot of bass, but it never veers into gimmick territory. Its quality is superb, even if it lacks some lasting rumble and reverberation due to a quick decay. Unfortunately, the treble somewhat ruins this one for me. I can't listen for very long before fatigue sets in. It's just too harsh and bothersome to my ears, especially when comparing it to the warmer Mini. The larger shells of the SE do fit me better and are slightly more comfortable, but the overall tuning falls far short compared to the Mini. I still think the SE is the more capable of the two, with better low and high-end extension, technicalities, and a more "mature" tuning. If the highs were tuned a bit warmer and didn't come across as thin and grating, I think it would be an absolutely fantastic set. The Mini is like the fun, younger brother. He still lives at home, has fewer responsibilities, is a bit messy, listens to his music unapologetically loud, and is more engaging and outgoing. The SE is like the older brother who grew up, moved out of the house, and got a job. He’s more mature, sophisticated, nuanced, takes his music and details more seriously, and can afford the finer things (EST drivers). He’s got some years on him, so maybe his hearing isn’t what it once was, and the treble energy doesn’t bother him. But he’s also less fun and may take himself a bit too seriously. Those who truly appreciate the qualities of EST drivers and a well-extended, airy treble coupled with a visceral, deep bass will find much enjoyment in the Maestro SE. Unfortunately, that’s not the case for me, and I didn't find much to love here outside of the bass. The Mini has a much more “fun” tuning to my ears, with less treble energy and no fatigue. It also doesn’t hurt that it comes in at a quarter of the cost of the SE. I would recommend demoing both of these with your own ears if possible before making a purchase. I think many people would find the Mini to have a more favorable price-to-performance ratio, and it's definitely my choice between the two.