Forte Ears Mefisto Review – High Definition

Sound –

Testing Methodology: Measured using Arta via IEC 711 coupler to Startech external sound card. 7-9KHz peaks may be artifacts/emphasised due to my measurement setup. Measurements besides channel balance are volume-matched at 1KHz. Fit depth normalised to my best abilities to reduce coupler resonance. Still, due to these factors, my measurements may not accurately reflect the earphones or measurements taken by others. I gave Mefisto 100 hours of burn-in prior to review.

Tonality –

From the moment I heard Macbeth, it clicked with me and Mefisto, though distinctly different, presents many of the same lovable characteristics. The key differentiators here are Mefisto’s more U-shaped tonality, its more present, dynamic bass and smoother lower treble. It has a greater sub-bass focus, which is paired with a more reserved lower midrange that helps to reduce excess colouration above. Its mids are leaner and more neutrally toned than Macbeth as a result, but they aren’t sparse due to Mefisto’s more laid-back nature, with a denser, smoother upper-midrange and lower-treble upholding overall coherence. The top-end has plenty of energy and presence, with emphasis picking back up within the mid-treble and continuing through the upper treble. Though less present than Macbeth, the treble emphasis appears more isolated and therefore draws more attention. This culminates in a sound that is quite energetic, highly detailed and complex, but still never sharp or intense. It is more forgiving and relaxed than the Macbeth, built atop a slightly more rambunctious bass as its foundation.  

Bass –

Though less present on measurement, Mefisto has undoubtedly more presence than Macbeth in subjective listening. This is likely due to both the driver type and the more laid-back midrange. In the grand scheme of things, bass is moderately enhanced; able to take the spotlight when required, but never overwhelms. Mefisto’s low end is tonally neutral due to a sub-bass focus producing bold and structured over smooth and rich notes. Though mid bass does sit behind, it certainly isn’t lacking texture or punch at all; albeit, don’t expect a warm, round bass either. The first thing I noticed here was the wealth of dynamics and sub-bass information on display. Mefisto illuminates small details at the very bottom, like very few IEMs. It’s all about awesome depth, dynamism and rumble placed in a gentle spotlight that still upholds great overall balance.

As much as this can be credited to thoughtful tuning, Mefisto also boasts superb technical ability. The dual woofers haven’t been tuned to deliver heaps of bass but rather top-level responsiveness and extension with a reasonable, well-balanced quantity. Bass notes have excellent definition, a super tight attack and swift decay. Dynamics and timing score top marks here, making it a delight for electronic, rock and faster-paced tracks in general. Though sub-bass is assertive and physically felt, it isn’t overly pressurised and fatiguing either. If you enjoy a more sub-bass-emphasised tuning, Mefisto delivers just that with immense satisfaction. It is perfectly controlled with huge detail retrieval, tastefully emphasised and always heaps of fun.

Mids –

Riccardo has produced an IEM that delivers balanced vocals with a slightly lean, articulate voicing, all set to excellent resolving power. As the midrange is never forward in the mix, intensity and brightness are tempered. Despite this, don’t expect a wholly laid-back or easygoing sound. Mefisto is still fairly contrasted, neutral-toned and analytical due to its scooped lower midrange. I was nevertheless enamoured by the consistency of Mefisto’s voicing, delivering a similar experience across a wide selection of albums. Pivotal to its magic is the flatter 1.5-3 kHz shelf that contrasts with the more ubiquitous climb to a 3kHz peak. Quite a few IEMs I’ve tested employ similar tunings, and I have generally been a fan. Similarly, Mefisto delivers a good balance between male and female vocals. The centre midrange boost helps to add size and power to vocals, ensuring that though they are lean, transparent and highly defined, they are not dry, small or strained.

It also means vocals sit more or less on par with the bass and mid-treble, despite the midrange otherwise, taking a step back. At times, male vocals can sound a little too lean, but again, the timbre is never what I’d consider egregious. It simply prioritises tonal transparency, definition and separation over coherence and warmth. Macbeth has comparatively higher clarity and upper midrange presence, but also has greater warmth, dampening its effect. Mefisto strikes a similar balance, being less warm but also less forward. Though far from a lush and coherent IEM, as far as high-end IEMs go, Mefisto is still one of the more easygoing choices, making it better suited towards longer listening than most competitors. It does so whilst sharing Macbeth’s excellent resolution of small details and layers. Mefisto offers a very resolving listen, heightened by enhanced separation, a large soundstage and a high-definition tuning.  

Highs –

Once again, I find Mefisto and Macbeth to share more similarities than differences, albeit there have been some adjustments made to balance out the midrange tuning. Specifically, Mefisto has a more linear lower-treble, delivering notably less crunch, crispness and leading-edge emphasis than Macbeth. Above, it has a similar mid-treble presence and perhaps a little more upper treble at the very top, which grants it a more esoteric treble voicing. Notes are thinner but very clearly expressed and set to an abundance of air and headroom. The emphasis on air and sparkle creates an energetic top-end that brings micro details to the fore. By comparison, the lower treble is quite reserved which, given the context, prevents over-sharpening of treble instruments. In turn, the midrange isn’t overly breathy, and treble notes lack grain and stridence.

The smoother onset of notes helps to take the edge off and reduce fatigue levels. Though Mefisto has a clear and airy treble, it never sits at the forefront of the sound. To my ears, Riccardo has struck just the right balance between appropriate presence and an engaging yet not overly spiced voicing. As with Macbeth, I was very impressed by the technical performance of the Mefisto throughout, and this is similarly reflected in the treble performance. Though not as crisp and aggressively present as Macbeth, Mefisto prides itself on superb extension and micro/background detail retrieval. It is highly resolving with clean, immediate notes. Though it doesn’t have the sharpest, most focused foreground presentation, notes have ample body and a satisfying texture. It also has quite a normal note timbre, lacking the wispiness often carried by PMD and EST driver types. This is simply a defined, spacious and energetic top-end with top-level resolution.

Soundstage –

Many lauded Macbeth for its uncanny soundstage, and Mefisto shares much of the same magic. It doesn’t have quite the same sheer space, but it is still an overtly spacious IEM. I find the BCD’s in Macbeth give it a bit of extra width with more separation between the background and foreground layers. Mefisto doesn’t reach that same out-of-the-head expansion quite so often but is still very capable of producing it. It also has a similar amount of depth overall, forming a more rounded and balanced presentation. Though it doesn’t layer quite like Macbeth, it does have a more focused foreground and more stable imaging. It sounds slightly less holographic, if still holographic in the grand scheme of things, but does so with greater structure and organisation. Positioning is sharp, and distance portrayal is convincing, crafting an enthralling three-dimensional presentation. This means Mefisto ends up handling complex passages with greater ease than even Macbeth. Part of this can be attributed to its excellent separation. The neutral tone and note size, combined with the large stage dimensions, mean each small detail is clearly apparent and easy to isolate.

Drivability –

Mefisto offers a 5.6-ohm impedance and a 105dB sensitivity. Riccardo mentions he designed the earphone to be efficient and suitable for portable use; I find this to be the case. While it does scale immensely with better sources, a high-performance portable source will successfully drive Mefisto. It also isn’t too sensitive to hiss.

Output Impedance Sensitivity

Despite the incredibly low 5.6-ohm impedance and complex driver setup, Mefisto showcases impressive source stability. It isn’t perfectly linear but surprisingly steady as output impedance rises. Measurements suggest a mild lift in the high frequencies and this was my experience. As impedance rises, Mefisto gains a touch of brightness, but it is very subtle. Therefore, buyers shouldn’t feel the need to be too selective with source matching.

Driving Power

Riccardo reasons that two smaller DD’s are more efficient than a single large one. While Mefisto isn’t a difficult IEM to drive per se, it is definitely one that thrives with a good source. Good amplification is key to extracting the best performance from Mefisto, especially with regards to bass control, depth and overall soundstage expansion. Portable sources can suffice, but you’ll want something on the more powerful side like the Fiio BTR17. Relative to the BTR5, I noticed an immediate jump in quality. Of course, a good desktop stack provides another jump yet albeit not quite so substantial. Lower-powered DAPs, dongles, and receivers didn’t quite deliver the oomph, lacking dynamics and range to my ears.

Suggested Pairups

Mefisto benefits from a solid amplifier and ideally a low output impedance of 1 ohm and below. If you desire a brighter sound, a 10-ohm impedance source or over will produce an audibly brighter sound. Subjectively, I preferred warmer sources, which help to round out its male vocals a bit better. Dynamic and analytical sources such as THX-based ones, are also a good pairing as the earphones aren’t too intense, it helps to maximise its strengths. I would personally avoid brighter sources as they can err on the dry and thin side but as always this will come down to personal preference.

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