Short answer: the Unique Melody MEST Mk2. It ranks #363 of 450 in-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 3.4/5, at $1,499. The qdc Anole V6 ranks #369, rated 3.3/5, at $1,298, $201 cheaper, not enough of a saving to outweigh the sound-quality gap.
The case for the Unique Melody MEST Mk2: Sub-bass and bass sit right on target down to 20 Hz across 13 hobbyist measurements on squig.link, giving kick drums and synth bass full, clean weight without bloat. The tradeoff: A 7.4 dB dip near 3.9 kHz, with the 3 to 6 kHz presence region about 5.6 dB below target, pushes vocals and guitars back and can make them sound distant.
The case for the qdc Anole V6: Six balanced armature drivers per side earn a preference score of 65 in crinacle’s measurement with a warm leaning balance. Watch for: An average deviation of about 2.9 dB from target makes the tuning uneven, with some bands noticeably louder or quieter than others.
Buy the Unique Melody MEST Mk2. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $201 saving on the qdc Anole V6 is not enough to make up the difference.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Headphones rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Unique Melody MEST Mk2 | qdc Anole V6 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,499.00 | $1,298.00 |
| Ranked | #363 of 450 in In-Ear Headphones | #369 of 450 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Harman Preference Score | 66 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) | 65 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.47 dB standard deviation | 2.85 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.71 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.62 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Hybrid (1 dynamic + 4 balanced armature + 2 electrostatic + 1 bone conduction) | Balanced armature |
| Drivers | 1 x dynamic + 4 x balanced armature + 2 x electrostatic + 1 x bone conduction | 6 x balanced armature |
| Impedance | 12.3 ohms | - |
| Sensitivity | 112 dB | 106 - 109 dB SPL/mW |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 70kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 10Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | No |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-0.2 dB at 30 Hz) | - |
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More worthwhile head-to-heads for Unique Melody MEST Mk2:
- SeeAudio Kaguya vs Unique Melody MEST Mk2
- SeeAudio Neo vs Unique Melody MEST Mk2
- qdc Anole V6 vs Sennheiser IE 900
- SeeAudio Neo vs qdc Anole V6
- Sennheiser IE 600 vs OpenAudio Mercury
Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Headphones In Full
Unique Melody MEST Mk2: $1,499.00 Linsoul eBay
Pros: Sub-bass and bass sit right on target down to 20 Hz across 13 hobbyist measurements on squig.link, giving kick drums and synth bass full, clean weight without bloat. Treble from 6 to 10 kHz is on target, and the air band above 10 kHz runs about 5 dB hot for an open, sparkly top end. At 12.3 ohms and 112 dB sensitivity it plays loud from any phone, and it rates higher than the pricier 64 Audio A12t.
Cons: A 7.4 dB dip near 3.9 kHz, with the 3 to 6 kHz presence region about 5.6 dB below target, pushes vocals and guitars back and can make them sound distant. The 5.5 dB peak near 11.9 kHz may come across as a slightly artificial shimmer, and the DUNU Zen Pro rates the same for much less.
Full Unique Melody MEST Mk2 review and specifications →
| Back | Closed |
|---|---|
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.47 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Hybrid (1 dynamic + 4 balanced armature + 2 electrostatic + 1 bone conduction) |
| Drivers | 1 x dynamic + 4 x balanced armature + 2 x electrostatic + 1 x bone conduction |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 70kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 66 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 12.3 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 112 dB |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-0.2 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.71 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -5.9 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | -2.4 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 347 Hz | -2.0 dB | 0.18 |
| Peak | 3,786 Hz | +7.8 dB | 1.12 |
| Peak | 6,016 Hz | -2.3 dB | 0.64 |
| Peak | 68 Hz | +3.0 dB | 0.91 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -1.0 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 1,420 Hz | -0.8 dB | 3.29 |
| Peak | 2,142 Hz | +0.7 dB | 2.90 |
| Peak | 7,393 Hz | +1.1 dB | 4.28 |
| Peak | 5,520 Hz | -0.9 dB | 5.11 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
qdc Anole V6: $1,298.00 Shenzhenaudio eBay
Pros: Six balanced armature drivers per side earn a preference score of 65 in crinacle’s measurement with a warm leaning balance. It matches the rating of the 64 Audio A12t for considerably less money, and its 106 to 109 dB/mW sensitivity makes it easy to drive from a phone.
Cons: An average deviation of about 2.9 dB from target makes the tuning uneven, with some bands noticeably louder or quieter than others. Better rated in-ears are available for far less money.
Full qdc Anole V6 review and specifications →
| Back | Closed |
|---|---|
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.85 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Balanced armature |
| Drivers | 6 x balanced armature |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Frequency Response | 10Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 65 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Sensitivity | 106 - 109 dB SPL/mW |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.62 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.0 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | -0.2 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 5,865 Hz | +5.5 dB | 1.25 |
| Peak | 167 Hz | -2.7 dB | 0.91 |
| Peak | 1,494 Hz | -2.8 dB | 1.71 |
| Peak | 761 Hz | +0.9 dB | 1.13 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -8.1 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 9,096 Hz | +3.7 dB | 0.91 |
| Peak | 4,218 Hz | -2.5 dB | 5.80 |
| Peak | 3,087 Hz | +0.7 dB | 3.79 |
| Peak | 6,799 Hz | -3.0 dB | 5.99 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons