Once upon a time, MyST IsoEM-3V headphones were a true legend among audiophiles. Their unique isodynamic operating principle promised incredible detail and sound speed, making them a dream come true for music lovers. Then they disappeared from the market, leaving behind only memories and questions.
And now, years later, these headphones are back. The story is almost like a good movie: a forgotten hero makes an unexpected second attempt. Many wonder if the new IsoEM-3V will be able to repeat its former success in today's world, where completely different technologies and standards reign supreme.
In this article, we won't just listen to these revived headphones. We will try to understand what they can offer today's listener. Have they retained their magic? Or is nostalgia their main selling point? Let's find out together.
The MyST IsoEM-3V is not just an updated version of the old model, but a serious step forward for fans of unusual headphones with an isodynamic system. They sound lively and detailed, while remaining comfortable to wear — a rare combination for this type of design. If you've been following the original model for a long time and waiting for a chance to try something really different from the usual dynamic “earbuds,” now is the time: these headphones deserve attention.
Solid and brutal
Externally, all of the in-ear isodynamic headphones from MyST — whether the “ones” or the “threes” — are virtually indistinguishable. The unified body is designed in the style of an army field telephone and does not feature any design flourishes, but this, if you will, is also a style in its own right.
The engineers focused on durability, reliability, and functionality. The detachable housing, secured with two screws, is made of milled aluminum and coated with a durable powder coating. The sturdy silver-plated copper cable is springy and requires skill and patience to position the earpiece correctly in the ear.
A small hole on the back panel improves low-frequency response without affecting sound insulation.
The company chose not to disclose technical details, but emphasized that the membrane with electrodes, as always, is designed and manufactured in-house, as are most of the components. The only exception in this case is the magnets, which are ordered from China.
The developers also pointed out that the sound of both “threes” greatly depends on the shape and material of the ear tips. In particular, they recommended the SpinFit CP100Z silicone ear tips, which we used to test the earphones. In general, when it comes to audiophile models, it would be a good idea to order custom ear tips based on an ear mold.
Expanded range
Finally. For once, when testing isodynamic headphones, I am not too limited in my choice of sources. The company kept its word: with a sensitivity of 105 dB/mW, the MyST IsoEM-3V model is ready to work with a variety of portable players, smartphones, and computer audio outputs that I had on hand on the day of the test. However, the sound quality varied noticeably, and there were some surprises…
Who would have expected that these isodynamic headphones would pair so well with an iMac from the last decade? Without any plugins, Audirvana Plus delivered clear, full-bodied, and rich sound to the headphone output, even though I had never experienced anything like this before with other high-quality headphones.
The headphones are versatile and can work with many players, smartphones, and DAC amplifiers.
The LG V20 music smartphone with its Quad DAC sounded even, smooth, and bland — against its backdrop, the well-deserved veteran of the “playerphone” industry, the Highscreen Boost 3, seemed much livelier, although it also failed to fully reveal the advantages of the IsoEM-3V.
The good old honest Hidizs AP100 player made a very harmonious pair with the headphones. With the upsampling and equalizer functions turned off, it demonstrated a natural, lively, and detailed sound at 50% volume (last time, the player couldn't cope with the “ones”). At the same time, with the IsoEM-3V, the device seemed to move up a league, delivering an unexpectedly “mature” sound.
Even the budget first-generation Fiio X1 player, albeit at 95% volume, still managed to rock the IsoEM-3V. And although its sound was noticeably simpler compared to the Hidizs, it turned out to be more dynamic and interesting than that of both music smartphones. The connected Fiio A3 portable amplifier added a fair amount of volume and drive.
The Chord Mojo DAC amplifier has already become cult in certain circles and has gained a sect of devoted fans. I admit, I also like how it works with dynamic high-impedance headphones, but in my purely personal opinion, it is not particularly friendly with any isodynamic headphones — tested with different manufacturers and models.
With the IsoEM-3V, the sound of the Mojo seemed deliberately bright, convex, and at times almost rough. However, I didn't have any serious complaints — some people might even like this kind of presentation.
Multi-genre
Over several days of testing, I listened to quite a few tracks of various musical genres on different sources. My overall conclusions here are a kind of “arithmetic mean.”
As the company explained, the MyST IsoEM-3V is intended to be an audiophile model with a universal commercial sound, which is why the developers focused on a lively and natural midrange frequency response. It is curious that the measurement graph, with its apparent naturalness of presentation, differs greatly from the monitor straight line, but this is where the company's secrets of psychoacoustics lie — so, as they say, relax and enjoy.
We already know that the company has a particular passion for metal genres, so let's start with them. When transmitting fast bass drums and guitar rhythms, the “ones” were drier and faster (not to mention the big machine-gun MyST Gatling). Here, the lows are noticeably more voluminous and full-bodied — and while there is a slight trade-off in detail compared to the IsoEM-1, there is certainly no less drive.
The precision of the isodynamic drivers allows you to hear rock genres such as grunge, where deliberate guitar distortion and distortion prevail, in a new way. Now these distortions are not muddled together, but are presented clearly and in detail.
Classic rock — whether hard rock, progressive rock, blues, etc. — sounds solid and voluminous. The popular demo recording of “Hotel California” from the Eagles' live album demonstrated a full-bodied and literally holographic bass drum — and a very natural one at that, without any obvious exaggeration in the low end.
The cable is made of silver-plated copper.
Electronic music by Yello and Zodiac did not impress. The emphatically accurate presentation of the treble and bass, which are particularly important in this genre, made the sound somewhat dry. However, I never touched the equalizer — and there are options here…
I started listening to acoustic vocal-instrumental genres and jazz “by the book” and, unexpectedly for myself, got “stuck” for a couple of hours. The notorious specially highlighted midrange of the IsoEM-3V made the presentation of these genres so natural and comfortable that the sound became simply balm for the ears.
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Goran Bregović's orchestra, The Speakeasy Three, the rowdy La Minor… Jazz, swing, rockabilly, pop — these headphones were completely in their element here. It is believed that people start listening to jazz actively in adulthood, when the ear is more comfortable with the shrill sounds of the brass section — here, the highs are delicately processed right out of the box.
As expected, the impressive midrange helps the headphones reproduce chamber classics in a lively, melodic, and easy manner. They don't get lost in large symphonic works either.
So, the MyST IsoEM-3V is back in action. These headphones don't try to please everyone — they are designed for a specific task and do it brilliantly. For a musician in the studio, a sound engineer, or a music lover who appreciates honest and detailed sound, they can be a revelation.
They won't knock you out with deafening bass or a bright, entertaining presentation. Their strength lies in their precision, balance, and amazing naturalness. You hear the music exactly as the authors intended, with all its nuances and details.
If you need a “tool” rather than just an accessory, if you are tired of intrusive coloration and are looking for benchmark neutrality, take a closer look at these. The IsoEM-3V is a time-tested, serious solution that can easily outperform many modern models today.
