CVJ Mei

DISCLAIMER

I would like to thank CVJ for providing this review unit. The CVJ Mei can be gotten here (no affiliate links): https://aliexpress.com/item/1005005322356441.html




SPECIFICATIONS

• Driver configuration: 1 x 10 mm dual-magnetic DD + 2 x BA (Knowles BA + customized BA)
• Impedance: 22 Ohms
• Frequency response: 10 Hz - 40 kHz
• Sensitivity: 120 dB/mW
• Cable: 2-pin, 3.5 mm (single-ended), 0.75 mm, 4-strand silver-plated cable
• Tested at $59 USD

ACCESSORIES



Other than the IEM, these are included:
- 3 pairs of silicone eartips (S/M/L)
- Cleaning brush cum tuning switch pin
- Cable




For gear residing at $50ish USD, the accessories here are nothing to write home about. Perhaps the addition of other variants of eartips (both foam or silicone) or a semi-rigid case would not have gone unappreciated.

The tips are serviceable from a sonic and comfort perspective. The stock cable is a 2-pin, 0.75 mm, 4-strand silver-plated cable. It is quite thin and tangly, but thankfully has minimal microphonics. Sadly, there is no chin cinch.

An innovative 2-in-1 card pin plus cleaning brush is included to flip the switches. Don't lose it!

The rest of this review was done with the stock cable and stock tips. No aftermarket accessories were used, so as not to add any confounders to the sound.


BUILD/COMFORT



The Mei's housings are fashioned from aviation-grade aluminum magnesium alloy. During ordering, one can select between a jet black, blue or a silver mirror-like option. I chose the latter, and the shells are superbly beautiful and elegant, though they may be a finger-print or scratch magnet.

The earpieces have a "魅" or "mèi" word emblazoned on them - this term in Chinese has connotations of a demon, or enchantment. Indeed, as we will read below, this IEM can shapeshift to various signatures with the press of a switch, and the Mei does justify this appellation.

Ergonomics are well-designed - the shells are light with no weird protrusions. There's a concha knob to give added grip, with a smooth inner aspect. Comfort is very agreeable, and I had no issues using the Mei for longer listening sessions.




With 2 vents on each earpiece, the Mei has below average isolation, though it should still be usable on-the-go.



I didn't find any driver flex on my pair, but that is partially dependent on ear anatomy and type of eartips used, so YMMV.



DRIVABILITY

I tested the CVJ Mei with the following sources:
- Apple dongle
- Cayin RU7
- Colorfly CDA M1 DAC/AMP dongle
- Creative Sound Blaster X5
- E1DA DAC/AMP dongle
- Hiby R3 Pro Saber 2022 DAP
- Khadas Tone Board -> Schiit Asgard 3 amp
- Khadas Tone Board -> Topping L30 amp
- Questyle M15 DAC/AMP dongle
- Sony Walkman NW A-55 DAP (Walkman One WM1Z Plus v2 Mod)
- Sony Walkman NW A-55 DAP (Walkman One Neutral Mod)
- Sony Walkman NW WM1A DAP (Walkman One WM1Z Plus v2 Mod)
- Smartphone

With a high sensitivity of 120 dB/mW, the CVJ Mei is easily driven and amplification is not truly necessary. Unfortunately, this IEM hisses on some sources with poor noise floor control as a trade-off. Generally, the hiss is not noticeable when music starts, and only in quieter tracks is it more prevalent.


TUNING SWITCHES

The Mei's selling point its tuning switches. They are easily toggled with the provided card pin-brush, and move up and down with a satisfying click. I faced QC issues with some other tuning switch IEMs in the past, where the switches were stuck and required great force to be manipulated. I'm glad to report no such issues on the Mei.

The Mei is a three driver hybrid, with one 10mm DD and two BAs (1 x Knowles and 1 x customized BA). The tuning switches are designed within the crossovers, so toggling the switches will deactivate or activate various drivers inside the shell. The switches work and do change the sound signature as per the graphs below:


Graphs of the CVJ Mei on various tuning switches. 8 kHz region is a coupler artefact peak.



With a flick of a switch, the Mei's soundscape changes from the muddiest: L-shaped and dark sonics (blue graph with both switches down); all the way to the most technical and analytical (black graph with both switches up).

The switches are definitely not gimmicks unlike some other "tunable" CHIFI that have subtle or no changes in sonics. In fact, most other "tunable" IEMs provide just minuscule variants from their stock curve; it is rare to see IEMs such as the Mei give such drastic distinctions in sonics. In a way, it is kind of getting 4 IEMs with 1 purchase, so versatility is a feather in the cap of the Mei. It thus lives up to its shapeshifting namesake of "魅" or "mèi".


SOUND & TECHNICALITIES

The following impressions were done with both switches up -> ie all drivers in play.

On this set-up, the Mei is neutral bright. This config converts the Mei to one of the more technical sets at the $50ish segment. Imaging and micro-details are very well-done, with an above average soundstage in all 3 dimensions. Soundstage drifts to just beyond the ears. Transients are rapid, with good clarity on tap. Music rarely gets congested even on complex tracks with competing riffs.

With the 2 BAs brought into action, there is unfortunately BA timbre added to the mix when acoustic instruments are heard.

The Mei is sub-bass focused, though bass quantity is just a hair north of neutral. The bass is very clean and fast, with no mid-bass bleed. Texturing is above average, with brisk bass lines heard.

The lower midrange is very clear and transparent, with no mid-bass bleed to encroach here. Coupled with the aforementioned excellent technicalities, layering of instruments are easily handled, with pockets of space for various instruments to be show-cased. With a 5ish dB ear gain, vocals are not shouty.

The Mei has good treble extension, air and sparkle with both switches toggled up. There is good resolution and clarity on display, though with a double-edged sword of some sibilance. Trebleheads will like this configuration, though it may be a tinge spicy for treble sensitive peeps.


COMPARISONS



Comparisons were made with some budget tunable gear below $50ish USD. As per the "SOUND & TECHNICALITIES" segment above, the Mei was tested with both switches up (all drivers activated).


TRI Star River


Graphs of the TRI Star River on various tuning switches. 8 kHz region is a coupler artefact peak.

The Star River is a dual DD set with 2 tuning switches, which in theory provides 4 tuning options. However, on independent graphs, the Star River is a literal switcheroo scam, as there are only 2 distinct signatures out of a promised 4.

Additionally, my Star River unit has poor QC, with one earpiece having the switches stuck, requiring great force to activate them.

Whatever the case, the Star River's 2 tunings confer a very old-school shouty V-shaped banshee-like sound. The upper mids are very harsh and fatiguing, and to top it off, the timbre is off, with weak technicalities. Comfort is also not the best.

The Star River is a huge mess - it deserves a 2/5 grading - and I'll recommend the CVJ Mei any day of the week, as the latter has working tuning switches (both physically and via measured graphs), with way-improved technical chops and fit.


KZ D-Fi


Graphs of the KZ D-Fi on various tuning switches. 8 kHz region is a coupler artefact peak.

The D-Fi is a single DD which has 4 tuning switches to grant 16 possible permutations in tuning. However, amongst the most extreme of tunings, it is just a 4 dB difference in bass frequencies, hence the D-Fi isn't as versatile or have as marked differences in switches as the Mei.

The D-Fi is neutral with a sub-bass boost. It does not have as great air and treble extension as the Mei with both switches up. The D-Fi has a more natural timbre as it is a single DD, but it is a league or two behind the Mei in technicalities (soundstage, imaging, instrument separation, micro-detailing).


CONCLUSIONS

The CVJ Mei - "魅" or "mèi" - lives up to its mercurial name, by bringing 4 rather contrasting and unique sound signatures to the table. This chameleonic demon can morph from a neutral bright technical behemoth to a laid back and veiled sloth, all in the blink of an eye!

Build, aesthetics and ergonomics are top-notch, and the Mei can be driven off the weakest of phones. With both switches up (ie all drivers in play), the Mei can boast of stellar technicalities, putting some other similarly priced tunable IEMs to shame.

The low sensitivity does lead to hiss on some sources, and the pure DD mode is quite muddy and lowFI sounding. On some of the brighter configurations, there may be smatterings of sibilance and spiciness, but by and large, versatility is the Mei's calling card, and it is literally getting 4 IEMs in 1 purchase. The Mei is one of the stand-out $50ish hybrids that one can get in 2023, and it has my recommendation.

Hello everyone! 大家好！Mister Zeng here!

I will be reviewing units sent to me by my dear friend @RemedyMusic. I am very grateful for these IEMs that you've lent me sir

For your information, I will only cover my personal sound impressions of this IEM. I will not talk much on the packaging or the accessories that comes with the unit. Moreover, I will also include my personal EQ For it to hit my specific sound preference. Let me know how it sounds on your end of the comments below.

All of the audio gears that will be used have been burned in for at least 150 hours or more.

Here are the list of audio gears used for this review:

• Topping A90 Discrete
• SMSL SU-9N
• Centrance DACport HD
• Abigail Dongle
• Apple Dongle USB C to Headphone Jack

Here are the list of tracks used for this review: (All tracks have been streamed at Qobuz and while other tracks have been bought for the FLAC file)

• Shoot to Thrill - AC/DC
• You Shook Me All Night Long - AC/DC
• Back in Black - AC/DC
• Highway to Hell - AC/DC
• For Whom the Bell Tolls - Metallica
• Killing Strangers - Marilyn Manson
• Sunflower - Post Malone
• Save Your Tears - The Weeknd
• Always Remember Us This Way - Lady Gaga
• Time - Pink Floyd
• 雪落下的声音 - 陆虎
• Seishun Kyousoukyoku - Sambomaster
• Lay Me Down - Sam Smith
• Let's Groove - Earth, Wind & Fire
• September - Earth, Wind & Fire
• Porco Rosso - Joe Hisaishi
• Summer - Joe Hisaishi
• Innocent - Joe Hisaishi
• Nostalgia - Joe Hisaishi
• Don't Stop Me Now - Queen
• Radio Ga Ga - Queen
• Come Together - The Beatles
• Early Summer Rain - Yasuharu Takanashi
• Mourning - Post Malone
• AND MORE...

CVJ Mei - A Review by Zeng

I will be giving a rating for each category of out of 10. (10 being the highest, 1 being the lowest)



Tonality (6/10):
The tonality of the CVJ Mei is good; it is well-tuned and well-balanced. However, it sounds somewhat unnatural in the treble region, especially when listening to female vocals. Celine Dion's voice in the song "Immortality" sounds sharp and not true to life.

On the other hand, when listening to male vocals, it sounds good. Michael Bolton's voice in the song "When a Man Loves a Woman" is strong and impactful. The IEM seems biased towards male singers rather than females.

Instruments on orchestral tracks such as Porco Rosso and Summer by Joe Hisaishi sound decent. The trumpets are well presented, and the soft hits of the hi-hats are also decent. However, they still sound somewhat artificial. The drums in the song "Everything I Do (I Do It For You) [Classic Version]" by Bryan Adams sound too boomy. The upper bass appears to be elevated, overshadowing the song and creating a muddy sound.

Bass (6/10)
The bass of the CVJ Mei is decent, providing a good rumble in the subbass and enhancing the enjoyment of hip hop and R&B tracks. However, the quality of the bass is not top-notch. I find it produces a mediocre bass quality. When listening to "Killing Strangers" by Marilyn Manson, it reproduces the bass adequately but without any exceptional qualities. In short, it gets the job done but lacks premium quality.

Mids (7/10)
The mids of the CVJ Mei are good, exhibiting a well-balanced blend of forwardness and distance. They are well-tuned, although there is a slight elevation in the lower midrange that can make it sound slightly muddy. Aside from that, the mids are fairly decent.

Treble (4/10)
The treble of the CVJ Mei is subpar. It offers energy, but nothing too impressive. Similar to the bass, it sounds artificial and somewhat cheap or unnatural. Once again, it fulfills its purpose, but the quality is not high. When listening to "Porco Rosso" by Joe Hisaishi, I can discern the instruments being played and the detail is there, but it lacks authenticity. Additionally, there are no signs of harshness that can be heard through this IEM. However, prolonged listening sessions with this IEM can cause ear fatigue.

Imaging and Separation (8/10)
The imaging and separation of the CVJ Mei are actually quite good. I can easily distinguish instruments as if using a compass. When listening to both "Summer" and "Porco Rosso" by Joe Hisaishi, all instruments can be easily identified from left to right. Overall, it's great in this aspect.

Soundstage (3/10)
Soundstage in IEMs is generally not impressive, and the same applies to the CVJ Mei. Everything seems to be placed right there, lacking width or height in any of my orchestral tracks.

EQ Performance (7/10) – It's important to note that my EQ presets are specifically tailored to my preferred sound signature. They are not a one-size-fits-all solution.
Moving on to my specialty, maximizing the potential of EQ settings. The CVJ Mei responds reasonably well to my EQ adjustments. I was able to address some peaks in the treble region and reduce the bass as well. The sound improved significantly compared to the stock settings. However, it's worth mentioning that EQ adjustments can only go so far. The sound still struck me as somewhat unnatural or artificial, but the overall tuning was undoubtedly enhanced.

My Personal EQ for this IEM:

Conclusion:
So, should you buy the CVJ Mei? At a price of $59, I can't recommend the CVJ Mei solely based on its imaging and separation capabilities. While this may be beneficial for those who enjoy casual gaming to distinguish left and right, the soundstage is not satisfactory. The tonality of this IEM is not bad, but there are other IEMs that offer a more natural sound. Male vocals excel in this IEM, as well as instruments like trumpets, piano, and violin. However, the bass and treble can sound artificial, sometimes overpowering the mids of the IEM.

PS: Again thanks to @RemedyMusic for lending me these units for review. More power to you friend!

General/Build/Comfort/Packaging
CVJ has been on a hiatus for quite some time after releasing several good sounding IEMs. I have tested the CSN, Mirror and they’re good for the price they’re asking for. There were several released prior to the Mei, but it doesn’t seem to be that well received by the community, today we have the Mei and hopefully it will be able to bring CVJ back to the game once again. Build quality of the Mei is very good, aluminium shell and matte black finishing (the sample that i received), it feels very solid and doesn’t feel hefty at all.

In terms of comfort, with the right eartips, it literally disappears into my ears, throughout my listening session which lasted at least 3-4 hours, i don’t feel any discomfort with it, except when i’m using the stock cable which i can’t get a good fit with it due to the earhook in which it won’t let the Mei sit snugly in my ears. Packaging is very straightforward and bare minimal, one type of eartips, a cleaning brush with a tip to turn the switch on or off, a small carrying pouch and the Mei itself, i do wish they include several types of eartips instead of just one.



Gears used for this review

• Earmen Angel Dac/Amp
• Earmen ST-Amp
• Macbook Air M2 3.5 Out
• iPod Touch 5th Gen
• CVJ Mei with Simgot EW100’s cable and Stock Eartips (the earhook on Mei is too stiff and i can’t get good seal and fit with it, hence resulting to other cable)

Foreword
My review is solely based on what I hear via my equipment and I never consider my reviews to be objective in any way rather a subjective approach. Do take into consideration that everyone’s ear anatomy is not the same, so the psychoacoustics perception might be different as well, but i believe it will not stray too far

Switches Positioning


Sound Impression (Up Down 1 DD + Knowles BA)
Mei is slightly warm to my ears and it has sufficient energy on the top end.
The mids and vocals are forward, note weight is good, but the BA timbre is very noticeable and the cymbals and high hats sounds splashy, let’s take a look at the breakdown below:

Bass

• Bass has good enough texture and speed, sub bass has fairly good extension and rumbles when it’s called for, punchy mid bass
• Good speed and handles Metallica, Slipknot’s track quite well
• Good enough quantity but nowhere near bass head level

Mids

• Mids are forward but not overly in your face
• Male and female vocal has good texture, though i find that the female vocal somehow doesn’t sound that lively compared to male vocal

Highs

• Good energy and non offensive
• Good amount of air and sparkles which helps with imaging
• Detail retrieval is alright, nuances can be heard easily

Other switch config sound impression
Down Down (DD only)

• Bass is more or less similar sounding to Up Down’s config
• Mids aren’t forward and vocals sounds a little pushed back
• Treble is muted and there’s no energy at all on the top end, dark sounding
• I honestly don’t know why this mode exist at all, it totally made musics sounds very bad, but kudos to CVJ for having this option available

Down Up (1 DD+ 1 Custom BA)

• Bass and mids are mostly quite identical in terms of sonic performance compared to Up Down config
• Treble is the part where i hear the difference, there is a little less energy compared to Up Down config, i would say it’s a little smoother, suitable for those who are sensitive to treble

Up Up (1 DD+ 2BA)

• Bass and mids to my ears, once again quite identical
• Treble is very energetic and lively here, on certain track, it does have a slight hint of sibilant, but most of the time, it is alright, treble heads will be pleased with this config
• Detail retrieval is good
• Soundstage and imaging is good with the amount of air from two BA, once again, it might not be for everyone especially if he/she is treble sensitive

Driveability

• Mei is very easy to drive and doesn’t require much power to perform at its best
• It does however scale with source in terms of note weight, cool/warm sounding depending on the DACs
• Doesn’t really benefit from amping as i tried running it with Earmen’s ST-Amp vs direct from my Macbook Air M2’s internal dac, the difference is very minor

Final Thoughts
The idea of tuning switches is not new, but the implementation on the Mei is something different compared to the usual switches implementation. Instead of altering a certain frequency range, Mei gives the listener the flexibility to switch on or off a certain driver as something different and stands out amongst the competition. Mei as a whole offers a slight U shaped listening experience and you can customise it further by leaving a certain driver on or off.

*CVJ Mei is sent over by CVJ for the purpose of this review. I thank them for the opportunity.

Head over to their AliExpress store if you're interested in getting one:

CVJ Mei - Non Affiliated