Note: Fairly initial impressions. (I've only worn these for about 60hrs over the course of a week.)
tl;dr version:
... it's in the tagline. I have nothing negative to say about these IEMs. This is not a "5-stars at this $50 price-point" score; I'd still give it 5-stars if it cost twice as much. Adjustable comfort "for days" (or at least 12 hours in one go), blocks out the world, reproduces the sound completely and faithfully, and comes with a good number of accessories/options.
Comfort:
Probably the only pair of in-ear monitors I've comfortably worn for long hours without issues. The generous accessories pack includes a multitude of silicone tips (and also a "first one's free" pair of Comply branded foam inserts) so getting the right fitment in-ear is not an issue. When you couple that with the thin but soft memory wire to set it in place around your specific ear shape, there's no way anything else can come close to being this secure and comfortable.
Motorcycle note: These monitors do not protrude from your ears so work well under a helmet. The memory wire also helps to keep intermittent tugs from pulling them out while at speed. If you route them behind your back the large-ish bit of plastic that encompasses the wire intersection Y-join can dig into your back under a back protector and will get uncomfortable on rides beyond an hour.
Sound:
Very responsive and detailed. Faithful reproduction of all frequencies. If I am to nitpick I would say that JB's impression is spot-on accurate; there is a bit of "boom" to the bass. Not a whole lot; you can dial it out if that is your preference. Do not expect these to crush your skull with bass. That is not what they are intended to do. Rather, if you want to hear the music as it was intended to be heard you can't go wrong with this product.
Motorcycle note: The memory foam Comply tips do a great job of blocking out noise so you don't have to crank your music to hear over the wind, thus saving your hearing. Think of them as earplugs that also happen to produce beautiful music.
Accessories (see photo):
There is nothing missing from the set. The included hard-case is nicely sized for protection and portability. The usual assortment of silicone tips are included; small, medium, large in both single flange tips and isolating (2 and 3 flange/baffle design). A bag of medium sized Comply tips are also included (my preferred tips). Musicians will appreciate the included 1/8" minijack to 1/4" stereo jack converter but I haven't had a reason to use that yet. Also included is a second cable (yes, this thing is modular) that contains an inline mic for calls (or piece-of-mind back-up cable if you somehow damage the other). By default, the unit ships with the non-mic enabled cable attached but changing them out isn't hard if you go that route. Lastly, there is a functional clip that makes short work of slack management for wire routing purposes.
Misc final note:
MEE didn't splash a garish logo on these so there's always that bonus if you don't like being a walking billboard.
I've bought approximately 28,987,412 items on amazon yet have never felt compelled to write a review... til now. This is literally the 1st review I've ever written. I do it cause... MIND BLOWN.
Get these now, do not hesitate. They came in the mail, I plugged them into my V30 with it's built in DAC, I set back, I relaxed to some quality music, and my mind was blown. I have spent 200+ on headphones and earbuds... yet none honestly compare. These combined with the included memory foam rock.
Having said that, I am speaking strictly from a rock and roll perspective. I listened to the following bands and heard new nuances and clarity never heard before.... Pink Floyd, Muse, Black Keys, Glitch Mob, Radiohead, Phish, etc.... So your mileage may very.
*** BUYER BEWARE - YOU WILL LIKELY NEED TO BUY ADDITIONAL EAR TIPS, MORE DETAILS BELOW ***
I am a studio and live sound audio engineer, musician (both studio and live), and an owner of the 1st gen of the M6 Pros. I would consider myself an audiophile, as I also teach audio engineering as my primary job. I say these things by no way to toot my own horn, but these are my credentials of writing this review and may add some merit to what I am saying. I have put over 70+ hours of audio/listening on these before making this review, so my review comes from the perspective of these being fully broken in. The point of this review is to help those who are on the fence about these know exactly what they are getting, and whether or not they should invest their hard earned money into them.
On a quick side note, it is important to note that the intention of in ear monitors (IEMs) is to give the user a studio/stage monitor in their ear, so the purpose of them is to give you accurate detail of your sound without exaggerating frequencies (no boomy bass, no bright highs, no pushed mids). This is different in principle than a typical ear bud/headphone, which are typically worn to enjoy music on the go in a slim and convenient package, where "big bass" and "high end sparkle" is a selling point. There seems to be a lot of marketing these days of companies calling their ear buds "IEMs" because it sounds cooler than ear buds, and while it may sound more fancy to the mass consumer, it makes it much more difficult for musicians/engineers/everyone to find the tool/product that they are actually looking for.
I previously reviewed the 1st gen M6 Pros with a pretty glowing review, and while the 2nd gen are very different than the 1st gen, there is one thing that remains the same: These completely lack any depth and detail with standard silicon tips! With silicon tips the bass is incredibly weak, the mid-highs are subdued (and not in a musically pleasing way), and the overall sound is what you would expect from a $10 gas station ear buds. MEE is kind enough to supply a medium sized Comply T200 isolation without wax guard foam tip, however if you have a smaller ear canal or a large ear canal this will not do you any good and you will have to buy the proper fitting tip (around $15 on Amazon for 3 pairs). I have also gone through the process of testing out 4 different types of foam ear tips for these (Comply's Comfort, Isolation, Isolation with Wax Guard tips, and Shure's EABKF1 tip) and can say with confidence that the Comply Comfort is my favorite in comfort if I am going to have a 2+ hour long mix/playing session, however Comply's isolation without wax guard offer the best overall sound experience, the Shure's tip actually affects the highs drastically, making them more prominent, and any tip with the wax guard despite its marketing actually does negatively affect the overall sound too much to justify spending the extra money on them. If the included medium Comply T200 doesn't fit you it is absolutely imperative that you buy additional tips, because a proper seal around your ear canal is required for any in ear monitor, and these have that same requirement!
Onto the product itself - It is important to know what you are wanting before making this purchase. If you are wanting the "Beats sound" (super heavy bass and exaggerated highs) then these are absolutely not for you. If you are wanting something "musical" that makes listening to music fun (like the Audeze iSINE) then these are also not for you. What these do offer you, however, is a very "flat" listening experience, which is EXACTLY what you want if you are on stage and needing to accurately hear what your instrument sounds like or in the studio needing to post-mix an album to get the levels right. The 1st gen M6 Pros had more exaggerated highs (in fact I had to use an EQ to bring them down to a naturally flat level), and the bass was full without being overly loud. These, on the other hand have toned the highs down considerably, giving this a much more "natural sound" experience, allowing you to hear every note being played without having to touch the EQ to turn down the highs and giving you a true "plug and play" experience. It also cuts back on the listening fatigue so that you can listen to your mix longer. However, this welcome change is not without some draw backs. Going from almost any in ear monitor or headphone really shows just how much "sparkle" is gone from the higher frequencies of these, almost to a fault that could make the untrained ear perceive that these are not as "loud" as other IEMs (which is false, these are just as loud). The sound staging on these are also different than their predecessor, and in some ways I do not understand how or why but just things to note. For example, reverb in general sounds absolutely amazing and very spacious on the 2nd gen M6 Pros, but then despite this the sound staging of these feels a bit less spacious as the separation of instruments is not as clear as the previous model (note that the instruments themselves sound clear and great, but they tend to sound more pushed together rather than seperated). Nothing ever sounds like it is right in front of you with these, however one can certainly tell when instruments have been panned left or right.
Admittedly for the past year I have primarily been using triple driver IEMs that I have become quite fond of, so part of my criticisms are part of what one should expect from a single driver IEM. However, why would I still rate these at 5 stars one may wonder? Because these are a very rarely found tool for this price range. It is not often in the in ear monitor world that you will find this flat of response at this price range. Again, "flat" sound is NOT a bad thing, it is exactly what one should want if they're needing accurate information on what they're are mixing/playing without any post-EQ and other adjustments. This is incredibly helpful for keyboardists/guitarists to be able to accurately dial in the perfect tone, and it also helps singers to hear where they may be getting off pitch without the distractions of the other instruments interfering/competing with the higher frequencies. I am also a worship leader for our church, and after buying a pair 1 gen M6 Pros a couple years back I made to call to pick up a pair for the rest of the team as well, their performance for the price couldn't be beat (they sound so much better than the "industry standard" Shure SE215s). I would not hesitate to make the same move with the 2nd gens, especially since the team would no longer have to mess with the EQ for these to sound flat.
So the last question to answer is if you own the 1st gen M6 Pros should you upgrade to the 2nd gen: I would say that if you are looking for an accurate representation of your stage/studio mix, then it is definitely worth the upgrade and you will not find a better value anywhere. However if you are looking for something that sounds more musical than the 1st gens, then these would not be your best bet (unless you personally enjoy listening to music that is flat and not exaggerated with coloration of warmth or darkness). The bottom line is that I would absolutely recommend these to my students and fellow musicians/engineers that are on a budget, for the price they are an incredible tool and offer such a high value, but again be aware that you are buying an in ear monitor and not something that will blow you away with bass.
I have owned and auditioned many other mid-range IEM and M6 Pro 2nd Gen is the best IEM I have heard so far, regardless the price. I have listened to 1st gen M6 during the trip in Japan. Its upper mid and lower treble got out of control, causing harsh sound in the vocal. However, I noticed that the bass and mid-treble is quite nice. I looked up on rtings.com to see 1st gen M6 reviews and they basically confirmed it.
With that being said, when I saw the promo FR graph for M6 2nd gen, I knew M6 2nd would address the problems that the 1st gen had. And lo and behold, it did. Listening to M6 Pro is a joy. The bass is deep, punchy, yet decently light and not bloated. The mid/vocal is slightly pushed back for a little bit, but it is not too bad. It is pretty standard for a V-shaped mid. The treble is very nice. It is neither recessed nor sibilant. The treble of M6 will not cause fatigue for a long listening session or lack of initial excitement.
Comparisons:
Mee P1/PX: P1 has better soundstage, musical instrument separation than M6 and is among the best I've heard in those regards. However, it lacks the bass that prevents itself from being my go-to everyday IEM. Listening to vocal and orchestral music is a joy with P1 though.
Mee P2: My being favorite for a while, but I always yearn for slightly more bass and slightly less treble when listening to this. M6 is the answer for what I wish I could change about Mee P2.
iBasso IT01: My current favorite IEM. The bass has more slam, the mid is slightly more forward, and the treble is done very well, with slightly less mid-treble and more upper-treble compared to M6. My issue with IT01 is that it is really bulky and none of the ear tips that fit wells, has good isolation. It is a chore to wear this as it feels bulky. It is a constant reminder that you are wearing a pair of IEM.
Massdrop Plus: The "reference" sound, or so they say. I think that MD+ has done best is it linear and elevated bass. The "reference" mid (following Harman's target response) curve makes vocal too forward to me as if the vocal is not in the center of the band anymore, but rather in front of that band, blocking the view for the rest of the member. I am not used to this vocal forwardness. The treble is almost too recessed for the sake of eliminating sibilance. I'd love this MD+ if it has less mid and more treble. Too bad. I really want it to be the best IEM. But I have to honest with myself.
Other IEMs that I tried:
Fiio F9 Pro: The 8khz peak. Nope. Good product as a whole with presentation and accessories. The sound is quite harsh (I assume the non-Pro is even worse).
RHA MA750i: I don't have these anymore but I remembered it being very V-shaped. Very bassy and bright. Non-detachable, flimsy cable.
1More Triple: decent but the vocal, though having the warmth, lacks detail. Undetachable (albeit durable feeling) cable.
I don't like M6 Pro cable. They are very spongy and they use 2mm DC connector so there is no aftermarket cable that I can replace. But at least the cable is replaceable and it is quite durable. Very spongy and I dislike the memory wire. For a $50, I can take it I suppose.
I have no financial gain for writing this review.
An In Depth Review of the Second Generation M6 Pro:
First lets start off by addressing my experience with IEMs and MEE Audio.
My very first set of in-ear monitors I received years ago which was the Westone UM Pro 20. They were a great set of earphones, but after 2 events in which the left (both times) would suddenly die without any damage or wear to the cable or abuse of the IEMs themselves, I decided to quit on them. I've been using budget IEMs since then, and for the price, they all weren't too bad as you could easily replace them with the relatively small price compared to other IEMs. I stumbled across MEE Audio products about a year and a half ago. After being a fan of the standard M6 model and M7P model for about half a year, I decided to upgrade to the highly worshiped M6 Pro (First Generation) model. Although I enjoyed their sound, at the time I failed to take into consideration the fact that these are made for MUSICIANS. As a musician you need to hear your voice above all else and that includes an IEM that not only can reproduce your voice, but can help you pick out the errors in your vocal delivery. Taking this into further consideration, the M6 Pro first generation headphones sound great, but only if you particularly cherish the vocals within a song. Thus, I found them overly sibilant, bright, and mildly fatiguing for more than just vocal heavy songs. I found myself not being able to hear the background music, almost as if it was pushed backwards and the singer was being forced into my ear canals. A great IEM, but not my style.
Fast forward to this NEW version that boasts a refined sound. Although I didn't expect them to be completely changed from the ones I knew and loved from before, I was hoping that the highs and mid frequencies weren't as exaggerated so they could be less fatiguing and well, that's my issue with these budget earphones.
Review:
--Appearance--
These earbuds look amazing. Although they aren't the matte textured earphones I perceived in the preview pictures, they still look stunning, and MEE Audio also promotes their custom engraved metal side plates you can purchase and attach to them. Overall great execution with the aggressive yet subtle curves that surround the plastic shell and a sunken logo that isn't simply printed onto the shell. They aren't exactly eye catching if that's what you're looking for and they sport a low profile when you have them sunken into your ear.
--Comfort--
This is where these buds struggled in my opinion. The actual bud and IEM housing is extremely comfortable, even to the point where I can sleep on it. However, the issue is in the detachable cable. The part of the cable that you'd grab to replace the cable is extremely rigid and hard plastic that has an edge on it. Although this edge isn't necessarily sharp, it is an annoyance to the top of my ear lobe. Although I've grew accustomed to it over the two weeks I used them, beware if your ears aren't that of a giants. Overall, after you get used to them, the most comfortable earphones and come in second to the original M6 Pros that I hold at number one.
--Sound--
Remember when I said I didn't like the original M6 Pros sound because they were bright an sibilant? Because they were fatiguing? Well I'm saddened to admit that that didn't change with these. On a brighter note (get it) the bass response is far more controlled if not a bit more recessed than that of the original model. The high end has a nice sparkle and I'll admit, it is a very tiny bit quieter. If you are a vocalist or a drummer, you will enjoy this earphone. I'd recommend the Second Gen M6 Pro to any budget musician playing at small-medium gigs or someone who just wants to listen to themselves or other artists in vocal heavy songs. The bass is a little flat and as long as you aren't an acoustic or bass guitarist or someone who listens to a large extent of genres you wont notice the lack of depth but sadly, I do. These buds aren't the best for the price, I do admit that. They deliver a great overall package but something is just lacking in the drivers and they could've been so much better if it were in exchange for the exclusion of included low lifespan comply eartips.
--Conclusion--
I was going to say that they lacked clarity, they were life lifeless in the sub to mid bass frequencies, and that they just sounded like a rushed, very lazily revised model. But--I was comparing them to my daily driver. I run the Brainwavz B400 Quad-Balanced Armature reference monitors and no duh these don't sound as good. They are only 1/5th the price of what I normally put in my ears. In other words, they sound about five times worse, but that doesn't mean they suck. As an upgrade from other MEE Audio models or just flat out cheaper earbuds, the M6 Pro Second Gens sound absolutely amazing with a crisp and high resolution sound you won't find in other budget IEMs. I now understand the raving reviews about this product, and to rate it as a normal audio head would, it's quite good for the price and this isn't to mention that a removable cable on this kind of bud can ensure years of lifetime. Although it's a shame its some strange 1-pin deep female connector and not the regular male MMCX industry standard connector. In conclusion, if you are running 20 dollar buds as a standard, get these buds if you want to hear a big jump in audio quality for only 30 dollars more. If you own 50 dollar earbuds already, I'd question the transfer if it were for anything other than the low profile plastic shell.
That's all I have to say. Great choice for a budget listener but could be improved!
Feature Product
- 2nd-generation M6 Pro universal-fit noise-isolating in-ear monitors feature upgraded sound and build quality
- The highly acclaimed sound of the M6 Pro gets further Refined for the second generation with a more accurate midrange and smoother, more natural treble
- Engineered for real-world reliability with detachable, replaceable cables and a sweat-resistant design
- All-day comfort with secure over-the-ear fit, flexible "memory wire" ear hooks, and seven pairs of ear-tips including comply T-Series memory foam tips for extra noise isolation
- Includes regular stereo cable, headset cable with mic/remote, protective carrying case, comply memory foam eartips, 6 sets of silicone eartips, and ¼" adapter; 1-year
Description
Designed for the stage, built for the road with their durable modular construction, comfortable fit, and great sound, The M6 Pro 2nd generation musicians’ in-ear monitors are an all-in-one audio solution for street, stage, and home. Engineered for real-world reliability, the M6 Pro features detachable, replaceable cables and a sweat-resistant design. The included spare headset cable incorporates a microphone and remote for use with phones and tablets while the in-ear fit and Comply memory foam ear tips reduce external noise, enabling safer listening volumes. An ultra thin 5µm driver diaphragm and aluminum voice coil deliver Clear, full-range sound with deep, yet balanced bass and crisp detail reproduction, refined further for the second generation with an even more accurate midrange and smoother, more natural treble. The 2nd-generation M6 Pro also introduces MEE audio’s first-ever optional personalization, with custom-engraved faceplates available for order via me audio. What's in the Boxm6 Pro in-ear monitors stereo audio cable stereo headset cable carrying case Comply memory foam ear tips silicone ear tips (6 pairs)shirt clips (2)¼” (6. 3mm) adapter user manual1-year manufacturer
I purchased these after reading reviews here and on a couple motorcycle review websites. My purchase was made so that I could have music while riding my motorcycle and also when I am out mowing the pastures on a tractor. Normally when I am on the bike with a full face helmet and windshield I would lose a good portion of the sound at 45mph when listening to classical, talk or light jazz without turning the volume way up. Turning the volume up is bad. So I put these on with the Comply Ear tips adjusted the volume so that it was comfortable and then cranked up the bike and road. At 65mph with my visor up I was able to clearly hear the above genres without adjusting the volume. Very impressive! I jumped on the tractor, put my over the ear protection on and am able to hear very well. On the tractor with regular earbuds with the standard rubbery tips, this was not possible before. I give these five stars for function and I will reflect that in my review after a few months after I see how long they hold up to this type of use. The build on these seems much more sturdy then other earbuds I have purchased so I am hopeful they will hold up in the longevity department.
These are fantastic!
I like these a bit more than the Bose QC20s for a few reasons.
1) They do an amazing job at noise isolation. Passive noise isolation that is on-par with Bose Active Noise Cancellation.
2) The audio sounds very rich, and very clear
3) They have a modular design that is very simple to use and you can even get a bluetooth cable for them.
4) Comes with standard cable, phone cable, 1/4 adapter, and a plethora of ear canal fittings, including comply-foam.
5) No DAC required.
6) Affordable!
I've owned and used lots of really expensive pro-grade headphones in my time. Sony, Sennheisser, AKG, Shure, Pioneer, you name it..
These are obviously made to compete with/emulate the Shure studio/DJ earbuds, and they do a fantastic job at it.
The passive isolation is better than the Bose active cancelling with filtering out external hi's, lows not as good as the Bose, but sound definition is better all around.
They are IEMs so there is no bias towards (typically muddy) bass like most modern headphones, it's a clean flat eq response like you would want from monitors. Bass tones are warm, mids are defined, and Hi's are super crisp.
Some of my favorite earbuds!
MEE, you win!
EDIT: I just got the bluetooth BTC1 adapter and it is very nice. Only gripes are that the connector on one side seems to come out enough to cause a cutout when my helmet strap presses against it from time to time though and the sound quality seems to be ever-so-slightly lower via bluetooth.
UPDATE EDIT 9-24-2018: MEE warranty RMA'd the BTC1 cable for me. The first RMA unit they sent had really bad sound distortion so I RMA'd that right away. They sent me a second RMA, controls were fine but the sound distorted badly, so they sent me another and it is perfect. The customer service and RMA process was the one of the most painless I've ever had to deal with.
For under $50, you might not be able to find a better sounding IEM. The fact that the price includes a full suite of extra's makes these IEM's even that more amazing at the price.
I consider detachable and replaceable cables a must have feature of any IEM I purchase these days. I got tired of eventually throwing out perfectly good IEM's simply because the cable eventually broke. It is a fact of life with IEM's and other small headphones such as the type that come with smartphones. The cable just isn't thick enough to not fray and break apart at stress points over time and sometimes with cheaper IEM's, that time is less 6 months. Fortunately the cables that come with the M6 Pro IEM's is detachable and replaceable. You also get two separate cables. One that has an inline microphone and one that does not. What a nice touch to include both cable types. The cables seem to be fairly well made with attention being focused on the known stress points such as the mini jack (L shaped and sturdy). The cables are not woven like I have been seeing on many IEM's around this price point but they still appear to have good tangle free properties and should resist sweat with no problems since the housing appears to be neoprene. Of course with the cable being replaceable, I am a little less worried about it lasting more than a year. I have read in another review that that person felt that the cables did not fit securely enough into the connectors on the IEM's but that may have been a quality issue with his pair of IEM's. The cable fits snugly into their connectors on the pair I have and I have not felt like there was a risk of them detaching inadvertently. My smartphone is an Android based phone and the microphone and button on it work just fine with my phone. The quality of the microphone is pretty good and better than about 65% to 70% of other wired headset microphones I have experienced.
Since I have already mentioned the two different cables that come with the IEM's, I might as well touch on the other included goodies you get with this set of IEM's before getting to the sound quality. I was surprised to find that the whole package includes a semi-hard zippered case with separate internal pockets to hold the extra cable and ear tips. It is a pretty nice case for a pair of IEM's under $50 and is another nice touch that is very much welcome since it makes it easier to keep track of the extra cable and ear tips that are not attached to the IEM's. A full set of pretty decent yet standard silicone ear-tips are also included in S, M, and L sizes. One final nice touch is that a pair of M sized Comply foam ear-tips are included as well (Comply T200). The Comply tips are super comfortable and give a superior seal between your ears and the tips themselves. They isolate and seal out the outside environment better than the silicon tips and I highly recommended them. The IEM's fit really nicely in my ears. They are not large profile housings so the fit flush within my ears and are not very noticeable when inserted.They also stay put better than any other in ear headphone I have ever worn. I have yet to push one or the other in to seat it again when I am out doing errands or even working out/jogging. Once I first seat them within my ear and the Comply tips expand and create their seal, that seal has not been broken until I purposely break it. Recreating a lasting seal only takes about 10 seconds once I am ready to seal out the outside world again. Because the housings are relatively small and lightweight, I have yet to experience discomfort or fatigue and have kept both IEM's sealed in my ear for over 3 hours and was barely able to physically feel them even after that 3+ hours.
All of this would be saccharine flavored icing on a pretty looking yet way too chemically sweet cake if the sound wasn't good though. Fortunately, the sound built on the decent sound profile of the first version of these IEM's and corrected the somewhat deficient yet muddy sounding low end and the mid range bleed that messed with the high end of the first version of these IEM's. Version 2 does have a V shaped curve but the low end is more substantial without sounding muddy or unfocused. You get a firm and tight low end with this version. Bass heads may want to EQ the low end just a little bit too add a heavier lower end and they do respond well to EQ adjustments like that if you really feel the need for a bigger boom on the low end. I am very happy with the way these are tuned out of the box though and am not applying any EQ to the low end. I am also not EQ'ing the mid's as well. I haven't noticed the mid range bleeding into the high end like the first version did but i can't guarantee that won't happen if you push the EQ on the mid to high range. The only EQ I have applied is a slight addition around the 2k to 2.5k range on the high end. Not a lot, just a slight bump up. I am very impressed with the balanced sound I am getting out of these IEM's with just that small adjustment. I would have never thought these were under $50 IEM's if listening to them for the first time and was unaware of their actual price point. My guess would have been around $125 or so and when I saw the case and extra's, I would have reasonably assumed that these were between $150 to $175. At under $50, these are possibly the best IEM's for the price. I haven't found better.
I have been sceptical on ordering these because the generation 1 I heard was very harsh in the mid and highs. I've seen a few good reviews on these gen2 UPDATE: 9/18/2018 a got them this morning listened to them for 12 min. Overall I was very satisfied with the sound. However I kept them playing for 4 hours while I was working and they really got a good break in because now the sound is a lot better. I'd recommend these for someone who wants to hear the true sounds of any music. They are flat but still punchy with the bass. If your looking for bass headphone look else where these are made exactly what they had in mind when designing them, for a stage musician or someone who wants a clear flat sound with slightly elevated bass. Overall I compare these to Audio Technica M30x which sound amazing for $70
The only thing I care about is the sound. That's all I'm going to talk about. These are $50 in-ear monitors, not $1,300 8-driver Jerry Harvey destroyers. I've owned some killer IEMs from Shure, UE, Westone, Etymotic, AKG, etc. These are surprisingly good, especially for this price point. I'm not a basshead but who doesn't like thumping bass that's tight, not bloated or wooly. The bass is tight, quick and articulate. The clarity is stunning. The highs are sweet without being grating. I don't like veiled treble. I want to hear the siss of percussion. I want to hear the slight echo of feedback off a guitar. I want it clean but I also want it to sound live. I can always EQ a frequency band I want to enhance, but I want it to sound good flat.
The isolation is good. With these sealed in, I'm in a bubble. Everything outside of it is pretty much a silent movie. That doesn't mean I wouldn't hear a bomb go off - or the rumble of a subway train - but the passive noise cancellation is more than ample. These are not open earbuds or Grados, etc.
I can't get enough of the clarity. I'm old school, so as I listen to Rush's "Tom Sawyer," I'm reminded of the slight reverb in the vocals. I'm slightly blown away by how crisp it all sounds. I've got bass, keyboards, lead guitars and drums all combined in a very busy recording, each occupying its individual space, each articulate and separable, not sonic mud. There are no losers in this mix.
Switch to Flo Rida's "Low" and it's club-mix throbbing, without sounding veiled. The bass is really "low" - even for headphones not marketed to bassheads. It's the track, but these IEMS handle it effortlessly. Switch to Pavarotti singing "Nessun Dorma!" and - in all candor - it's not as airy as the HD800, but it's flat, clean and crisp. The bass is gone. At the end, I did hear some tape hiss off the track. Switching to "Torna a Surriento," the bass is back, thanks to pizzicato on the string bass. It's surprising how it bursts in, when the plucking begins.
Switch to "Shallow" off the Star is Born soundtrack. The acoustic guitar is dynamic, as is the violin that comes in with Lady GaGa. The piano is percussive and clean. You can hear both the strengths and imperfections of the recording. I saw the movie in Dolby Theater and I doubt any IEM can compete. Loudspeakers allow a spaciousness I've not heard in any IEM, and that experience made the hair go up on the back of my neck. Still, these sound surprising clean and "live" for IEMS.
The electronic beat of Gessafelstein & The Weeknd on "Lost in the Fire" was a tight punch in the face. On "Sunflower," you can hear the stark contrast between the clarity of the vocals and the artificiality of that rhythm track. Same with "Secreto." Ironically, J. Cole's "MIDDLE CHILD," has more clarity, even if it uses artificial brass and a throbbing bass beat, which made me wonder how these little guys would handle jazz.
If you turn it up (because it's a lot quieter and more subtle than "MIDDLE CHILD," Dave Brubeck's "Take Five" sounds refreshingly live and crisp, although it makes me yearn for my HD800 - or even my LCD2 - before I sold them off. It may be asking too much for real air in an IEM but at least these provide ample grumble and snappy kickbass, snare drum and high-hat for something shoved this far into my head.
If I might add a word of caution, these little guys will seriously tempt you to (Oh, that bass plucking is delicious) break the bank and either take a ride on the best or invest in circumaurals and an amp. I got them so I could have something decent in my pocket - while working out or on the move - without breaking the bank.
Best fifty bucks I ever spent.
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