FATfreq Scarlet Mini | Hybrid Universal IEMs

An interesting IEM for the niche audience of folks who want the most bass regardless of basically anything else. (As opposed to those who want the most bass while still getting excellent performance in all other regards, for whom I think the Punch Martilo will easily win out.)

It's very similar in many ways to the original Empire Ears Bravado, which was my daily driver for a long time. Compared to the Bravado, the Scarlet Mini has much less driver flex, a treble tuning that is not _as_ wonky, although still not ideal without EQ, and a smaller form factor that is quite comfortable, almost to the point of making them good for sleep sleeping. In terms of the bass performance, the Scarlet Mini has slightly more bass quantity than the Bravado (and, obviously, vastly more than almost all other IEMs), and even for us confirmed bassheads, the amount of bass may present a problem on some genres of music. (For example, acoustic bass on some jazz tracks gets weird.) In terms of bass quality, I still slightly prefer the Empire Ears drivers for the perception of texture. Bass performance on the Scarlet Mini is very tip sensitive, because too good a seal will interfere with the dynamic driver. I've had the best luck so far with sancai tips that have a sort of greebled textured on the exterior to provide just enough pressure relief.

The FScarlet Mini is great for bass-heavy genres like hip-hop, & EDM. However, while it performs well in these areas, it does not deliver clarity and detail. Its strengths lie primarily in bass-heavy music as fat freq suggests. One gripe for me is the stock cable. I looks and feels like a cable for a sub $50 IEM. The metal FF cases are always great. Included tips are not. If you are looking for crazy sub-bass, go for it. I suggest adding a better cable and some nicer tips.

The Scarlet Mini delivers a powerful, V-shaped sound signature that will immediately appeal to fans of dynamic, bass-forward headphones like the Fostex TH900. The bass is the undeniable star of the show-deep, full-bodied, and energetic, with a sub-bass rumble that is both physical and textured. However, the midrange does sit a bit behind the rest of the spectrum, and I found myself wishing for just a slight bump in the mids to bring vocals and instruments more forward. But after all, it IS a V-shaped tuned signature.

The treble sounds a bit muted, the mids are okay, the bass is lacking not as Punchy as people say they are.

These are exactly what I was looking for: they sound great with excellent bass but not so much it overwhelms everything else. In fact, the mids and highs sound really clear. They also fit well and are nice and small and comfortable. Couldn’t be happier.