Forte Ears Mefisto Review – High Definition

Pros –

Awesome unboxing and design, Excellent included cable, Likeable and versatile tuning, Top level bass definition, Excellent treble extension and air, Spacious soundstage

Cons –

No modular cable, Requires a strong source for the best experience

Verdict –

Mefisto is a wonderful addition to the Forte Ears family that offers jaw-dropping technical performance at its extremities with a versatile and easygoing character in between.

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About Forte Ears –

Forte Ears is a Singaporean company founded by Riccardo Yeh. Riccardo has extensive ties within the audio industry. Chiefly, he is an avid Guqin player and served as the International Sales Director at HIFIMAN. It was here that Riccardo was inspired by Dr Fang to pursue a role in producing his own products. Under this tenure, Riccardo helped to provide feedback and suggestions on the HE-1000 and Susvara, both going on to achieve legendary status for the company. The brand Forte Ears speaks to Riccardo’s love for Western opera, embodying technical brilliance and artistic inspiration. Forte Ears’ designs seek to deliver a balanced and cohesive sound, using each driver technology with purpose and taking it to its limit without over-complication.

Introduction –

Until recently, Forte Ears has only been known to a select few as a bold brand trialling some promising prototypes amongst the various audio shows running in 2024. Just one year later, and you’ll find their first model, Macbeth, in frequent discussion for one of the best TOTL IEMs money can buy. It was clear that Forte Ears wasn’t all talk but a brand that is here to stay. Mefisto represents a sibling to Macbeth, its co-flagship designed to deliver a more powerful bass and a darker yet still dramatic overall presentation. In so doing, the driver setup has been overhauled, now including a dual dynamic driver woofer system and planar magnetic tweeter. Mefisto secures Forte Ears’ legacy, showcasing that lightning can strike twice.

Mefisto is available for $2,899 at the time of writing or $4,999 with Eletech’s optional Temptation cable and Mefistofele miniature. You can read more about it and secure one for yourself at Forte Ears!

Disclaimer –

I would like to thank Riccardo and Eric very much for reaching out to organise a review of the Mefisto. All words are my own, and there is no monetary incentive for a positive review. Despite receiving the earphones free of cost, I will attempt to be as objective as possible in my evaluation.

Contents –

• Page 1: Intro, Unboxing, Design
• Page 2: Sound and Source Pairings
• Page 3: Comparisons & Verdict

Specifications –

• Drivers: 4 BA, 2 7.8mm Custom LCP DD, 1x Aria Custom Nano PMD
• Crossover: 4-Way Forte Relay Circuitry System
• Acoustic Resonance Chamber
• Frequency Range: 12 Hz – 35 kHz
• Impedance: 5.6 Ohms
• Sensitivity: 105 dB

Behind the Design –

Diabolic Isolation System

Immediately, Mefisto differentiates itself from its sibling with its use of dual 7.8mm new-gen liquid crystal polymer (LCP) dynamic drivers. New-gen LCP drivers offer excellent rigidity and responsiveness, which translates to incredibly low distortion and excellent control and extension. These are enclosed within a sealed chamber (dubbed D.I.S.) with a custom-engineered bracket that secures the drivers in an opposed push-pull format. The dual woofer array further lowers distortion, increases efficiency, and also effectively achieves the bass response that would be possible in double the housing volume. Riccardo posits that smaller drivers offer superior responsiveness and efficiency, with the dual setup equating to no loss in extension or power. D.I.S ensures minimal energy loss, improving the perception of bass details and extension further.

Aria

In addition to the dual woofer array, Mefisto also implements four balanced armature drivers to cover the midrange and highs. Yet the pièce de résistance is the nano diaphragm planar magnetic super-tweeter dubbed “Aria”. Riccardo developed this driver in-house to deliver excellent efficiency and his desired frequency response. PMD’s naturally offer excellent transient response and uniform force output over the diaphragm surface, which translates to low distortion, making them perfect for producing a highly resolving treble response. Riccardo has implemented the PMD in the ultra-high frequencies. He reasons that though the audible information is not substantial, the added information aids the perception of the overall presentation.

Acoustics & Crossover

Equally important as the driver set up is the surrounding acoustics that bring them all together. Like Macbeth, Mefisto uses an Acoustic Resonance Chamber (ARC) comprising a 3D-printed acoustic chamber and waveguide for enhanced harmonics. The shell design optimises the sound properties of each driver and permits phase-coherent sound output. Forte Relay Circuitry System (FCR) makes a return too, comprising a 4-way crossover enabling precise control over each driver and seamless transitions between. FCR features a vintage copper inductor core that are no longer in production and were handpicked for the Mefisto.

Artisan Shells

Mefisto fuses form and function with its 3D printed resin shells set to solid sterling silver faceplates. Not only does this offer stunning aesthetics and in-hand feel, the silver also functions as part of the acoustics, making up one face of the internal chamber. This effectively offers an ultra-dense damping material that reduces resonances, altogether producing exceptional spaciousness and control.

Curated Eletech Cable

Once again, Riccardo has paired up with Eletech to ensure every part of the Mefisto lives up to its flagship status. The factory cable is a 4-wire design with triple dynamic blend conductors comprising pure silver, silver-plated copper and pure copper. An upgraded cable is available for 200 units called “Temptation” which offers a bespoke gold, silver and copper blend instead at an additional $1100 USD. Both are terminated with 4.4mm connectors. Furthermore, Riccardo has opted to use Eletech’s summit-level copper Ode to Laura wiring within the Mefisto so that all parts of the conducting path are optimised.

Unboxing –

Mefisto offers a familiar unboxing to Macbeth, providing a consistent experience that is no less impressive the second time around. It comes in a hard box with a gothic theme. Split fold panels reveal the gorgeous IEM shells and leather carrying case with embossed Mephisto type. The case is large with ample room to accommodate both the IEMs and a dongle/small DAP. It has a soft, non-scratch suede interior and an internal pocket to hold small accessories.

Below the case is the ear tip holder with 3 pairs of Eletech’s Baroque Stage tips that offer a slightly firmer and longer sound tube than the regular variants. They also have a white colour scheme that better matches the silver faceplates of the Mefisto. The included cable is packed within the carrying case and is made by Eletech, offering the quality you’d expect from a boutique hand-made cable.

Design –

Mefisto broadly mirrors Macbeth with regards to its design, so those familiar with that model’s look and feel will find an almost identical experience here. This means you get a piano black 3D printed resin shell with metal nozzle filters and a cast metal faceplate – this time in pure silver. Mefisto employs motifs from the opera “Mefistofele”, featuring an antique floral design in raw silver that feels like a sensible foil to Macbeth’s more regal, colourful display. It is just as handsome and intricate, a true delight for the eyes, if also on the louder side. Still, a flagship should make a statement, and Mefisto certainly does just that.

0.78mm 2-pin connectors also make a return, and once again, connection is reliable and consistent on either side. The factory cable employs silver, SPC and copper conductors with a silver colour scheme that matches the IEMs themselves. As always, I find Eletech’s cables supple, tangle-resistant and easy to live with. There is no memory or notable microphonic noise, aided by the over-ear fit. Their clear jackets offer excellent aesthetics and don’t harden over time, in my experience. Metal connectors contribute further to a premium overall package, and the 4.4mm termination is sensible even if modular connectors have become more commonplace in recent years.

Fit & Isolation –

Unsurprisingly, the ergonomics are nigh identical to the similarly shaped Macbeth, which means Mefisto is on the larger side but will find a comfortable fit for the majority of listeners. It has a faux-custom design with sculpted features that complement the anatomy of the outer ear. Fit depth is medium, and wearing pressure is minimal due to the vented design, both contributing further to long-term wearing comfort. The fit is very stable due to the ear-hugging design, and the seal was strong and consistent in my testing. 

Those with smaller ears may struggle due to the height of the shells, but again, for average to large ears, they are well sculpted and presented no concerns for me personally. There is minimal driver flex that didn’t cause performance degradation during my testing period, and passive noise isolation is well above average for a vented hybrid IEM. They are, therefore, suitable for commuting and public transport. Isolation is still shy of a fully sealed or custom monitor, which will be the option those prioritising noise attenuation will want to reach for.

Next Page: Sound Breakdown