The Best IEMs for Gaming Under $1000 | The Mega 5 EST |

Introduction to the Mega 5 EST

The Mega 5 EST, the M5E, the Mega Fest, the Mega Best—these are the nicknames for the hype train that is the high-senior Mega 5/EST, and I am touted by many to be the best-tuned IEM in the world, the best IEM at under $1,000, etc. You know how this works, but you should all know the rules now.The questions on all of your minds right now would probably be, why is it good? Why should I buy one?" And on the flip side, "Why shouldn't I buy one?" So let's talk about that. This is the high-senior Fabos Mega 5 EST. As for why there is the word "Fabos" in there, I'm not entirely sure. Timmy, put it up on screen.

Build, Accessories, and Other Non-Audio Details

The Mega 5 EST uses an EST hybrid system. It features a single dynamic driver, two BA drivers, and two EST drivers. This puts it in direct competition with the established Moondrop Variations, as well as the upcoming The Audio Oracle Mark III from Lenzo. So, first let's talk about the build, accessories, and all the other non-audio stuff. It's fairly standard—a full resin build, nothing much special to talk about. That's it. It is handmade, with every single unit hand-built and almost no 3D-printed components. It uses a standard two-pin connection and comes with a carrying case, silicone ear tips, foam tips, cable clips, a cleaning cloth, and a cable. Okay, that's pretty standard, I guess. This is the case that it comes in, so you get quite a lot of value for money, considering that it is rugged. Am I allowed to say that on this channel now? Am I corporate now? Am I not allowed to swear anymore? Now, in terms of silicone ear tips, they come with both the wide-bore ear tips and the narrow-bore ear tips. I would recommend using the narrow-bore ear tips, not because they look better on FR (frequency response), but because they actually extend a bit more outward on the nozzle, giving you a much more secure fit. That’s the case for me, at least.

https://www.gaming-today.com/2024/11/Why-High-End-PCs-Become-Obsolete-Due-to-Cloud-Gaming.html

Sound Quality and General Impressions

As for the sound, is it all that it’s cracked up to be? I would say, yeah, it kind of is. This is the definition of a plain water signature. You wouldn't really appreciate it if you have all these exciting signatures in your collection, but it’s something that you will always appreciate at the end of the day. It’s the safe pick—everyone would definitely like it. Again, it’s plain water—it does everything well and nothing great. I think that’s also the reason why a lot of people tend to have a love-hate relationship with the Mega 5 EST. So that brings us to the first question: why should you buy it, and why shouldn’t you buy it?

Why You Should Buy and Why You Shouldn’t Buy

You should buy it if you're looking for something that is generally good for everything. On the flip side, you shouldn’t buy it if you're looking for something that is very clearly a specialist. Now, in comparison with its direct competitor, the Moondrop Variations (which is also a model that we carry, so there’s no direct conflict of interest—link in the description), the Variations is very clearly going for a much more Harman-style tuning. If you have heard it before, it sounds very clean and exciting at first listen. The kind of tuning the Variations has also tends to be a lot more separated when it comes to the bass, mids, and treble. So, everything, while it doesn't seem as cohesive as on the Mega 5 EST, sounds cleaner in a way. But the Mega 5 EST, on the other hand, presents a much more well-rounded package. It is something that I would listen to a lot more often, as opposed to the Variations, which is kind of more for specific genres only—if you get my drift. That said, the Mega 5 EST does feel a bit boring after a while, which is why I say it’s kind of just plain water. Sometimes you just want some Coke—not that kind of Coke, the different kind of Coke. So, is the Mega 5 EST better than the Variations for my taste? Yes, but for other people's tastes, I’m not going too deep into that. Which is why I say you can pick—you have both choices. You don’t have to buy one over the other; you could buy both. That’s beneficial for me, not for you.

Considerations Before Buying the Mega 5 EST

Another thing to consider when buying the Mega 5 EST is its price. It is not a cheap purchase by any means. Again, it’s competing in the $500 price bracket for the IEM segment, running at $549 at the time of recording. So, it’s not great, not "good money," and certainly not "budget money," but at least it’s not Kobok (a joke, I guess). Another thing to consider when buying the Mega 5 EST is its rather short and stubby profile. It’s not that bad, but in terms of fit, that could pose a problem for you.

Conclusion: Should You Buy the Mega 5 EST?

To round everything up, get the Mega 5 EST if:

• A) You have the money, of course—that’s the prerequisite.
• B) You want an all-rounder that is arguably better at all-rounding than all the other all-rounders on the planet.
• C) If you like to graph sniff, because, God, that is a really nice graph, isn’t it? God, it looks so good.