Guilty Pleasures

Dita Audio from Singapore is no stranger when it comes to making high end, top of the line single dynamic driver IEMs. For more than 10 years now, some of their IEM has been touted as one of the best dynamic driver IEM in the market from the classic Answer to the more recent Perpetua and Fealty. What’s seemingly missing is their entry to the mid range line of IEM for those who seek a more pocket friendly product from them. In comes the rather new entry level Project M that was released last year and the current latest release mid tier Mecha to fill those void. These IEMs aren’t cheap per say but knowing it’s from Dita, it might be a valued product in their price range.

The Project M is the most affordable product of Dita and the first hybrid offering from them while the Mecha is one of their first CNC titanium products to date. Today we will do a double dive into these high end products from Singapore to see how they fare in this higher echelon arena.

A huge thanks to Stars Picker Audio Library 摘星知音 for this chance to review them and do check them out for more Dita’s range of products as they are the official reseller for Dita right here in Malaysia.

Functions & Specifications

Before we start the review, here are the specifications of the Project M and the Mecha;

Project M

• Housing Material : Stainless steel chamber encased in resin
• Driver Type: 9.8mm PM1+ Dynamic + single Knowles balanced armature
• Frequency Range : 20 ~ 20,000Hz
• Impedance : 32Ω ± 15%
• Sensitivity : 107dB ± 15%
• Cable Type : QDC style 0.78mm 2 pin
• Cable Material : Cardas conductors with APV2 modular terminations (3.5mm and 4.4mm)

Mecha

• Housing : CNC titanium
• Driver Type : LiMa-Carbide 10mm Dynamic
• Frequency Range : 20 ~ 20,000Hz
• Impedance : 32Ω ± 15%
• Sensitivity : 113dB ± 15%
• Total Harmonics Distortion : ≤3%
• Maximum Power Output : 5mW
• Cable Type : Standard flush 2 pin 0.78mm
• Cable Material : UPOCC, silver plated with APV2 (4.4mm, 3.5mm and USB C DSP head)

The Dita Project M and mecha can be purchased at Starspicker website or have a visit to demo them at their physical store.

Project M

Mecha

Packaging & Accessories

Project M

Packaging here is simple, medium sized box but has the professional looks of a high end product. It comes in a black outer paper box and a hard paper box inside. Upon unboxing we are greeted with the Tanos Systainer box made by Tanos in Germany, 5 pairs of Final E eartips (glow in the dark version), the MOCCA cable with modular Awesome Plug Version 2 with 4.4mm installed, a 3.5mm plug, some paperworks and the head unit itself.

Mecha

The packaging here is similar to the Project M but in a neon green theme. Beneath the black hard paper box we will be greeted by the same Tanos Systainer, the Churro cable with 4.4mm installed, a 3.5mm head, a USB C DSP head, 5 pairs of Final E eartips, 1 pair of Final wide bore eartips in M size, some stickers, some paperworks and the head unit itself.

Design

Project M

These IEM have a rather unique design from Dita with a stainless steel inner core that houses a 9.8mm PM1+ dynamic driver made by Dita and a single Knowles balanced armature encased in clear resin with a shallow QDC style reversed 0.78mm 2 pin connectors. There is a Candy version of gray and pink coloured shells but the ones with me are the stock clear version. Built here is solid with a glossy finish and they have the usual CIEM fit that is comfy though a little thick. The nozzle here is made from aluminium and has a 6mm diameter at the tip with a metal mesh.

The included cable is named MOCCA and it is constructed of 16 strands of Cardas conductors per cable, twisted to DITA’s specifications and jacketed in a flexible PVC outer layer. The modular here is the Awesome Plug Version 2 that has a screw to fit lock and it comes with 4.4mm and 3.5mm head. The cable is on the thinner side and it is a little stiff but it sounded great without a need to cable roll.

There is a single tiny vent situated near the connector for some breathing room for the dynamic driver. No flex is present which is great.

The included storage case is a cool casing from Tanos Germany named Systainer. They are robust and the innards are lined with silicone rubber that offers great protection for the IEM. They are a stackable casing which is great for neater storage.

Mecha

Mecha on the other hand is one of the first Dita IEM that is fully CNC processed and they are made from a solid block of titanium that offers a more robust build along with a lighter weight when compared to other steel though the Mecha is still quite heavy, it feels solid and very expensive on hands. Finishing here is great with a smooth matte surface with the Dita logo engraved on the right side and the word ‘Dita’ on the left side. Nozzle here is slightly short and has a 6mm diameter at the tip. A metal mesh is fixed to prevent moisture and dust entering. Fit here is superb and they have great ergonomics that are slightly more comfortable than the Project M.

Driving the Mecha is a newly developed 10mm Lithium-Magnesium (LiMa-Carbide) dynamic driver, sporting a dual magnet setup that boosts dynamic range and the performance of the driver. It is a composite mix of Lithium and Magnesium, the 9mm diaphragm is apparently hard to fabricate when compared to other builds.

Dual venting is incorporated into the final design of the driver to maximize the potential of the acoustic chamber. There is a very minor flex present and only happens when you press the IEM after insertion.

Cable included here is a higher end cable that is named Churro for the anti tangle ridges with a soft touch PVC sleeve and the Churro is constructed from monofilament single crystal, high purity copper with silver plating jacketed in PE. It is thick but very soft and pliable, suitable for all usage scenarios at a 1.2 metre length. The 2 pin has an angled plug with a plastic body. Included is a 3.5mm, 4.4mm and a high quality USB C DSP plug which is capable of decoding up to 32 bit/384kHz with 35mA when operational and a low 15mA standby current draw. The USB C DSP head does sound great to be honest with a clean, low noise sound that is well balanced.

The included storage case is the same Tanos Systainer box like the Project M.

P/S: The USB C DSP head can be used on the Project M cable as well and other Awesome Plug type connectors.

Gears Used for Comparisons

FiiO M17

Questyle M15

Qudelix T71

Hiby FC6

EPZ TP35

Dunu Luna

Letshuoer EJ09

Tigerism Dark Magician

Intime Sho DD

Letshuoer S15

Moji Monica Alpha

Songs list

Tone and Presentation

Project M

Tone of the Project M here is a neutral bright tone that has a subtle U shaped sound which emphasizes on the low and high range without any major recessed midrange. Being a bright sound, the overall clarity here is superb with great details across the spectrum. They have a clinical sound with a mild warmth to the midrange to prevent it from sounding too cold or liveless. The energy here is packed and they are an aggressive sounding set especially on the treble region. Timbre wise they are accurate for the price paid apart from the peak on the piercing upper midrange with some minor balanced armature timbre with some bright sources.

Mecha

The Mecha here has a warm, thick, organic tone that sounded sweet and intimate that brings back memories from the early 2010s from the likes of Cardas EM5813, Shure SE535 and Oriolus. It has a slightly dark sound that has a neutral signature but with a healthy dose of bass boost. Although being slightly dark and warm, their clarity is actually superb with details well displayed in a flagship manner without skipping a beat. Resolution here is top notch vivid alongside a decent transparent sound that sounds natural and accurate but for their price, this isn’t their strength. Timbre here isn’t the best with instances of metallic sheen on the upper midrange and isn’t natural to be a reference set but it is truly an uber fun set to listen to without sacrificing technicalities.

Soundstage

Project M

The soundstage in the present here is good with a wide sound that has a good headroom and air present but height is just average in their price range. The 3D representation is great with a holographic sound and easy to distinguish placements.

Mecha

The Mecha soundstage is wide and tall at the same time but given the flagship price and status, they are up against stiff competitors that offer better air and headroom. Nonetheless, the soundstage here is quite big and able to present a good intimate sound that immerses yourself in the music. The soundstage here is a holographic one where a full 3D representation is accurate and easy to pinpoint where the sound is placed.

Separation and Timbre

Project M

Separation here is amazing and they are well tuned for a hybrid as they are able to give a great left and right stereo separation with no crosstalk issues. Although there is some gap from the midrange towards the high range, it isn’t too obvious and pretty decent for a single bore hybrid.

Mecha

Separation here is one of the main strengths of the Mecha in my opinion as they are well separated with a wide dynamic range and no gaps are present here with a full range, harmonious sound that is immersive. The dynamic driver here is tuned very well indeed and no crosstalk issues are present even with 3.5mm single ended output.

Drivability

Project M

The Project M is rated at 32 ohms with a 107 db sensitivity and they are quite easily driven without a need for a powerful source but they do need a warm, balanced source matching as their treble might get a little too spicy with bright sources especially with most Sabre based DAC. They are a little picky with the types of files being played and the source quality is also important as they are quite prone to pick up noise.

Mecha

The Mecha is rated at 32 ohms with a 113 db sensitivity and it does need a little more driving then although not very demanding. With a basic dongle, they seemed to lack clarity when opposed to driving with a good dongle and they scale up pretty well with better sources. They are flexible when it comes to source pairing but due to their slightly dark sound, a neutral bright source will increase their overall clarity in a small margin. The Mecha is a rather forgiving set as they are not picky on types of files being played but certainly, higher bitrates and a proper mastered will do justice but isn’t a night and day situation.

It is also noteworthy that the supplied USB C DSP head sounded great which is rather surprising and they matched decently with the Mecha providing a smooth yet powerful sound with a touch of brightness. Not much info on the used chipset apart from it being able to decode up to 32 bit/384 kHz and a low power draw.

The Bass (Low)

Project M

The bass here is a neutral flat bass that is slightly elevated to give a thumpy, fast bass that is dynamically fun yet accurate. It extends very well with an airy decay along with a slow roll off. Mid bass here is rather flat but they are still able to give an authoritative bass impact when called upon. Details and clarity here is good without any muddy bass and no bleed is present. Resolution is decent with a superb transparency as the overall bass sounds natural and accurate. Sub-bass here is great with a decent extension and they have a clean, natural rumble that matches the mid bass perfectly. Basshead might yearn for a fatter bass and bigger mid-bass lift but purists will find the flat, natural bass amount rather appealing.

Mecha

Now here is where the Mecha gets interesting, the bass. To simply put it, amazing bass response. It has a boosted bass that hits hard but still able to sound neutral and natural with a superb amount of mid-bass boost without sounding too artificial. The bass is certainly suited for high end bassheads that want a strong bass that doesn’t skip on the quality and the bass matches well with the overall presentation of the Mecha. The bass is highly resolving, organically presented that is worthy of a flagship status and also having a decent transparent sound natural even though it is boosted. Pace of the bass here is quick with a tight slam and the sub-bass reaches very deep with a rather accurate amount without being overpowering. The bass here isn’t for purists but it is for a musical, casual listener that just wants to immerse themself into the music rather than a critical listening.

The Mids

Project M

The midrange here has an almost flat signature apart from it to lean towards the upper midrange that produces a bright sound signature. Details here are packed be it macro or micro as they are able to give a full detail retrieving capabilities alongside a crystal clear midrange. The upper midrange do have quite a peaky sound that is slightly harsh and they are borderlining a sibilant sound but can be lessened marginally by a warm source pairing. Resolution here is average for their price bracket but they are a transparent set that has almost to no coloration present. Female vocals do shine with these sets as they have a sweet brilliance that gives a lively female vocals while on male they do lack some depth and thickness and the same goes for instruments as I do feel that lower notes instruments do lack depth but on strings they are great.

Mecha

Midrange that the Mecha brings is a neutral forward mids that is thick and lush while still able to sound clean. They tend to lean toward the lower region but still have the brilliance on the upper midrange that sound smooth and present. Details here are actually pretty good even for their price as they perform well in their macro and micro details but a focus more towards the former. Resolution here is superb with a vivid coloured sound signature that gives a sweet, soulful sound that is enjoyable but on the other hand, they do lack accuracy and sterility that lack transparency. While lacking in accuracy, the Mecha is able to produce an unique, intimate lushness in their vocal presentations and they are deep, soulful and sweet. Instruments sounded great with their alluring, vivid sound but do sound a little artificial when it comes to certain strings like violins and guitar.

The Highs

Project M

The high range here is where it gets a little tricky as they are a boosted high range that are on a thin of being harsh and sibilant with bright sources. Treble sensitive users might want to stay away from these as they are bright and can be fatiguing. But all being said, from a treble head perspective, the high range here is energetic, bold with a clean, crisp sparkle and they have a slow roll off that produces an airy presentation typical of a high quality balanced armature driver. Details and clarity here is on point by being highly resolving and transparent. Treble here does lean towards an intense side and they are well extended, boosting their clarity. There are some minor instances of a balanced armature timbre but only on certain bright sources. The extra spiciness here actually does justice for classicals, jazz and even EDM by giving a dose of energy for a livelier sound.

Mecha

The Mecha high range is a flat sounding profile but still manages to sound lively that blends well with the other frequencies. They are a little dark sounding but still possess a decent sparkle and they sounded very crisp in their decay. Trebleheads wouldn’t find these high ranges energetic enough as they are buttery smooth while being present. No peak or sibilance is present here and they have the detail retrieving capabilities with enough clarity to not sound dull or lifeless. Treble here is balanced with a decent extension that possesses air in the roll off. Timbre here do sound natural but in some areas where the highs decay, they do produce some instances of metallic sheen that hamper the natural state of the music but only by a small margin. The high range here though have some setbacks, they are actually a great set for a relaxing, casual listening as they do not incur any fatigue.

Comparisons

Project M vs Truthear Nova

The Nova that cost almost half the asking price of the Project M but the packaging of the Project M is more complete alongside a vastly better cable and casing. Nova has a less bright signature and has a setup of 4 balanced armatures and a single dynamic driver while being smaller in size.

High range amounts do go to the Project M with better extended highs that sparkles brighter and crisper while the Nova is smoother and more natural in timbre. Details and clarity on the Project M is better with a more resolving sound.

Midrange on the Nova does sound more balanced with no major emphasis and they are suitable for a wider genre of music. Details and clarity is being trumped by the Project M by being cleaner, clear and packed with details when comparing side by side. Nova mids do have a slightly better body but do lack brilliance when compared.

Bass

Bass amount is similar with a flat, linear bass but the Project M is able to dive deeper with a better sub-bass extension. Details here are also similar but clarity on the Project M is clearer and cleaner partly to their bright signature.

Soundstage

The Project M sounds wider and taller but marginally.

Mecha vs Dunu Luna

The Dunu Luna is a single beryllium dynamic driver flagship that costs USD1699 and released quite a while back. They have a neutral reference accuracy but may come off as a little boring compared to their thick, bassy, lush sound of the Mecha.

High range leans slightly to the Luna with better details and clarity. The Luna highs here do roll off early that might give a rather tame highs when compared to the Mecha. Treble on the Luna sounded more natural and correct with better timbre. The Luna does have better transparency while the Mecha has better resolving capacity.

Midrange of the Mecha is way lusher, thicker and sweeter but the Luna has the edge of being more accurate and balanced. Details and clarity are somewhat similar but the Luna has accuracy while the Mecha has a more organic sense. The Luna possesses no coloration that gives a better transparency.

Bass on the Mecha has the supremacy here by being hard hitting and way more present versus the Luna but they aren’t as accurate and natural. Sub-bass amount goes to the Mecha by amount versus the rather shy sub-bass of the Luna.

Soundstage here is similar with a wide, airy sound but some of the soundstage of the Mecha is being masked by their thick sound.

Synergy

Project M

The Project M has a prominent neutral bright sound and they do match a warmish source to make them sound more complete. A bright source from the likes of Sabre who has the infamous sheen and that will make them sound harsh and slightly sibilant. Not much driving power is needed and they don’t really scale up much so a normal dongle will suffice.

Good pairing – Hiby FC6, 7HZ Artemis39, FiiO BTR7, Hidizs Robin, EPZ TP35, BQEYZ Lin

Not so good pairing – Questyle M15, FiiO Q7, Qudelix T71, FiiO KA5

Who Is It For?

Project M

For their neutral bright signature, the Project M matches well with genres such as acoustics, pop, EDM, hip-hop and classicals but not so much for metal, Jpop and some rock genre as they may sound fatiguing after some time. They are accurate enough for monitoring and immersive enough for gaming and movies but not really suited for a relaxing listening for their high top end energy.

Mecha

The Mecha has a rather unique dark, warm neutral tuning that has a healthy boosted low end and they are suited for EDM, hip-hop, jazz and classicals superbly but not so much for acoustics, some instruments and metal for being too smooth at times. Their big soundstage and immersiveness makes them a good choice for movies and gaming but isn’t a good choice for monitoring and critical listening for their lack of accuracy. Their alluring sweet sound is suitable for a fun, casual listening that makes you focus more on the music rather than the gears you are using, which is special.

Final words

With the IEM world getting more and more packed, what Dita has produced here is 2 very unique contrasting yet competent IEMs with the rather usual neutral bright sound of the Project M and the fluid, organic, retro tuning of the Mecha. Yes the Mecha does cost almost 3 times more than the Project M but we do get a way more solid titanium build, a better cable and a slightly more complete package that includes a matching USB C DSP head. The Project M does have the upper hand in their technicalities with their crystal clear sound presentation but isn’t as smooth and enjoyable as on the Mecha. Both of these products have the DNA of Dita with their tuning mastery and both have caveats but one thing is for sure, they are worthy in their own ways.