Nostalgia Audio Pendragon Review – Sumptuous

Comparisons –

Forte Ears Mefisto ($2899): After more AB comparison, Mefisto feels like a closer competitor to Pendragon than Macbeth due to its more similar woofer setup. Macbeth has more in common in terms of the top-end tuning, but lacks the same bass oomph and therefore appeals to a different audience. Though the tuning isn’t wildly different, Mefisto is markedly more neutral in its tonality, more separated and contrasted. Pendragon is bolder, richer and smoother. Mefisto has more sub-bass slam, rumble and pressure while Pendragon has more mid and upper-bass warmth. Pendragon feels more even metered, while Mefisto sounds more sub-bass biased, tonally cleaner, and overall more aggressive. Pendragon is richer, less fatiguing and has a more natural texture and decay. The midrange on Mefisto is slightly more upfront as it climbs to emphasis quicker. Pendragon is a bit more laid-back and has more coherence and density. Mefisto offers more neutrality, separation and definition.

Pendragon offers similar resolving power and layering, but with more contrast between foreground and background. It has more gusto and power to its vocals, but there is less air in its presentation between each element. Mefisto offers a bit more extension to its female vocals, while Pendragon is slightly more coherent and less prone to sibilance. Mefisto offers the brighter top-end, which is most pronounced within the mid-treble. The lower-treble is equally present on both, but more natural and textured on Pendragon, with Mefisto being a bit crisper but also thinner. However, above, Mefisto offers more air, fine detail and more present sparkle. Pendragon is darker, cleaner, but also more muted here. While extension is similar on both, Mefisto is more overt in its presentation, while Pendragon is subtle and smooth. Mefisto ultimately makes for a more vibrant and engaging listening experience while Pendragon slowly draws you in, being more sedate, relaxed and life-like in its presentation. Mefisto offers a slightly wider stage and has better separation.

Craft Ears Omnium (2500 EUR): Omnium is a versatile, W-shaped high-end IEM with excellent technical ability. While it shares a powerful low-end with Pendragon, it contrasts with a more neutral tone, leaner note weight and brighter top-end especially. Omnium has a notably more sub-bass focus, more so than Mefisto. It has a sharper cut through the mid-bass preceding a neutral upper-bass to lower-midrange. Pendragon is warmer, less emboldened, richer and fuller. It has a lot more punch and body, while Omnium epitomises separation. Both are very textured and controlled. Omnium is slightly quicker, but both are well detailed overall, just with differing styles of presentation. The midrange, in turn, is leaner and more separated on Omnium. It is more present, the inception of its more W-shaped presentation. The combination of greater upper-mid presence and less bass and lower-mids gives it a more revealing, clearer voicing, albeit also a less forgiving one. Omnium isn’t intense per se, but certainly has a more intimate, breathy presentation with a dead neutral body and a slight dryness. Pendragon contrasts with greater body and coherence. It is denser, and its notes are richer and more filled in. Pendragon picks up more textures, and its layering feels a bit more organised.

Omnium offers superior resolving power of small details and better separation and definition overall. A similar trend can be observed in the top-end, Omnium being brighter and more defined, Pendragon being more forgiving and linear. The lower treble is more even-handed on Pendragon, offering a more accurate body, decay and texture. Omnium has more 6kHz presence, giving it a sharper, crisper but also thinner voicing. It also has more mid-treble, giving it a more open, airy voicing. Background details are more clearly etched and apparent. Pendragon is cleaner, darker and more subtle. While both have similarly excellent extension, Omnium has an upper-treble peak that gives it a tizzier voicing but also more sparkle and micro detail presence. Once again, Pendragon is more reserved and natural-sounding, but occasionally these details are overshadowed. In terms of raw soundstage dimensions, Pendragon is a touch wider with similar depth. Omnium has more holographic imaging, while Pendragon feels a bit more stable with more defined background and foreground layers. Omnium has better separation.

Verdict –

Even from first impression, the design and masterful construction immediately set the tone. This is a statement piece, not intended to suit all but to resonate with a specific user. Pendragon is large but light, and as a result, its ergonomics will not agree with some, but will still suit most. Similarly, its tame treble response may be too polite for listeners desiring a vibrant, open treble response and Pendragon sacrifices separation in pursuit of lushness and coherence. It’s after extended listening that Pendragon shines, priding itself on wonderful listenability, with a voicing that is versatile and never wears even after hours and hours. This is set to top-level resolving power and timbral accuracy, showcasing impressive treble linearity. If you enjoy a bass focus but don’t want to sacrifice overall versatility, Pendragon is an excellent option. Nostalgia Audio’s latest and greatest certainly looks the part even if it doesn’t awe quite the same as your typical TOTL IEM on first listen. It’s beyond where Pendragon really comes into its own, delivering a rich, refined yet relaxed presentation that isn’t lacking nuance and complexity in the slightest.

Pendragon is available for $3,799 USD at the time of writing. You can read more about it and secure one for yourself at Nostalgia Audio! I am not affiliated with Nostalgia Audio and make no earnings from purchases made through these links.