Introduction
 
The M9P IEMs hail from a small California-based company by the name of MEElectronics. They produce a wide range of IEMs that cater to different users with various sound signatures. The M9 and M9P IEMs are among the most inexpensive products available and are currently selling for $20 and $23 respectively. I decided to buy the M9P IEMs because they not only function as earphones but will also have use as a headset for my cell phone and iPod Touch. After breaking them in and listening to them with a variety of music in my collection, these are my favorite IEMs in the sub $30 price range and are fantastic earphones for the price.
 
Technical Specifications
 
Driver: 9mm dynamic driver
Frequency Response: 20Hz – 20KHz
Impedance: 16 Ohm
Sensitivity: 95dB/mW
Cable Length: 1.2m/4ft.
 
Packaging/Accessories: The M9Ps come packaged in an attractive transparent box and include a bevy of accessories including a hard zippered case, a cable wrapper, four sets of silicone eartips which includes a set of biflanges, a shirt clip and an airline adapter. Considering that the M9Ps only cost about $23, MEElectronics has included a highly impressive accessory package that puts many other inexpensive IEMs to shame.
 
Design and Build Quality: The M9Ps feature lightweight aluminum housings which feel durable and are ported at the rear to allow for more air flow. This helps with the low end response and the soundstage but cuts down the isolation.
 
The cable is perhaps the best I’ve seen on any IEM. It’s lined with what appears to be delicate braided silver wiring inside and coated with a transparent plastic coating that both looks very attractive and makes it feel very durable. The cable is properly relieved at both ends which inspires confidence in terms of long term durability. Because of the great cable design, microphonics are negligible when worn straight down and practically non-existent when worn over-the-ear.
All in all, these are very attractive and durable IEMs that should be able to stand up to pretty heavy usage and last quite a long time.
 
Comfort and Fit: MEElectronics includes three pairs of single flange silicone eartips as well as a pair of bi-flanges for deeper insertion and better isolation. I have small ear canals so I opted for the smallest single flange tips and managed to get a good seal. The included silicone eartips are fairly soft and made the M9Ps very comfortable to use for long periods of time.
 
One thing that was a constant point of contention with the M9Ps is the seal itself. Now it’s common knowledge that IEMs require a good seal in order to sound their best but the M9Ps take that concept to another level. Simply put, I’ve never come across an IEM that was as finicky about the seal as the M9. If the seal wasn’t absolutely perfect, the resultant sound was imbalanced, shallow or just plain bad. That said, using the M9Ps while on the move isn’t the best idea because of its need for a perfect seal.
 
Sound Quality
 
Usage/Burn-in: These IEMs have been given 50+ hours of burn-in prior to review but settled into their final sound signature after about 10 – 15 hours.
 
Low End: The most dominant frequency range on the M9Ps is also the best detailed. Prior to burn in, the bass was somewhat muddy but now, it has tightened up and boasts surprising refinement. Bass is still a bit boomy but not too much so. Extension is pretty good as well, reaching down into the sub bass levels before rolling off.
 
Midrange:Definitely recessed in comparison to the other two frequencies (especially the bass) but not so much so that it is overly detrimental to the overall sound signature. They’re smooth and don’t stand out too prominently, which may disappoint fans of Rock and Alternative music. The low end can creep up on bassier tracks which does make the midrange sound a bit washed out in comparison but overall, I think they are decently detailed.
 
Highs/Treble:Nice extension, detail and clarity. There’s a bit of harshness in the upper treble region but overall, highs are pleasant sounding and have a nice sparkle.
 
Soundstage: Wide and airy. Imaging isn’t too great but instrument separation is surprisingly good.
 
Sound Signature: Dark, warm, thumpy and very fun. Very bass forward and somewhat aggressive but rarely fatiguing. I love the sound signature of these when listening to Hip-Hop, Jazz and R&B. I think the low end is a bit too overpowering to be used with much Rock and Alternative music and the highs are a bit too harsh to be used with Classical but overall, these are very versatile and will work with a large number of genres that I haven’t mentioned. This is definitely the best and most entertaining sound signature I’ve heard for the price.
 
Microphone Quality: Very good considering the price. Voices come through clean and clear and the microphone does a decent job of filtering out ambient noise but can get overwhelmed in noisy environments. It works well for making phone calls as well as Skype calls on the iPod Touch.
 
Conclusion
 
As a whole, I’m very impressed with the M9P IEMs. They are well designed, perform above their price range and are, above all, inexpensive. $23 is a very small price to pay for a great pair of IEMs and considering that price, I can’t find much fault with them. While the bass may be a bit too deep for some listeners and there can be some harshness in the treble region, there isn’t much these do wrong. If you’re looking for a fun pair of IEMs that will work as a headset for your iPhone or other cell phone, sound good and won’t put a strain on your wallet, look no further. These things are practically a steal.
 
Re-Posted From My Site, Musical Musings

Prelude

Before late February, I didn’t know anything about MEElectronics. When I finally heard about the company and purchased my M9Ps, I realized that they were a company that I should keep my eye on. In the time since, I’ve had the chance to review their lower end IEM models, the SX-31 and M2s and I’ve been impressed by the both of them, in different ways. Now, I’m here with a review of the first generation M6 models, one of MEElectronics’ higher end IEMs. These apparently share the same drivers as the M9s and M9Ps and if that’s true, then I should be in for a pleasant experience. So, did the M6 IEMs live up to my expectations? Read on to find out.

Packaging and Accessories

The first generation M6s ship in a black paper box that shows off the IEMs themselves through a transparent plastic window on the front. In terms of accessories, the M6s include an accessory pack that’s incredibly similar to that shipped with the M9Ps, which is a very good thing. Inside the box, you’ll find a clamshell hard case, three pairs of silicone single flange eartips, a pair of generic black foam tips (similar to Shure "olives”), an airplane adapter and a cable winder.
 
Design and Build Quality

The M6s are made of plastic that feels rather durable. The cable is somewhat thick and rubbery feeling but doesn’t feel as though it would cause problems if not abused routinely. Inside the cable that leads out of the earpieces, there is a built in memory wire which helps route the cable over one’s ears and stay in place once the earpieces have been inserted. I’ve heard complaints that the wire is too stiff but it was relatively soft and pliable in my experience. The cable terminates in a heat-shrink covered gold-plated straight plug and doesn’t inspire confidence because of its lack of a proper strain relief.

It’s worth noting that the newer and more expensive M6s are equipped with a much better cable that features a properly relieved L-plug.

Comfort and Fit

Getting these fitted can be a bit of a pain sometimes because of their over the ear design and the memory wire that’s embedded within the cable near the earpieces themselves. The memory wire is soft and pliable but because of it being there, these aren’t well suited to situations in which you’ll constantly be taking them out of your ears. Once they are in your ears, they disappear. Using the included foam tips or Sony hybrids, I was able to get an effortless and comfortable seal. The earpieces sit flush with your ears and I found that it was easy to lie down on my side with my head against a pillow without sacrificing comfort. These are easily some of the most comfortable IEMs I’ve used. Isolation is rather decent as well with the right eartips but it’s nothing spectacular.

Sound Quality

Burn in: As per my usual, these IEMs were given 25+ hours of burn in prior to review.

Once again, MEElectronics has managed to impress me and even straight out of the box, I was enjoying the M6s. I will say that they sounded a bit hollow straight out of the box but after burning in for a few hours, it filled in nicely. In terms of bass, the low end is smooth, detailed and refined. That’s a lot of adjectives but they all apply in some way, some more so than others. It’s certainly a highlight of the presentation with more than enough boom and punch to make Hip-Hop and Electronic music stand out. That’s not to say the bass is boomy, far from it. Bass is well controlled and doesn’t overwhelm the rest of sound signature and rarely creeps up on the lower mids. The low end lacks the speed and extension of my RE0s but is certainly better in terms of quantity.

Mids are smooth and full sounding, if recessed slightly. The detail and clarity in the midrange is impressive for the price with full bodied and natural vocals and a nice sense of space and airiness. Treble is slightly emphasized as well, like the bass, and treble extension and detail are both quite good for IEMs in this price range. It’s worth noting as well that these boast marginally smoother and better refined highs than the M9s but slight harshness and sibilance can be heard on some higher notes.

The sound signature is warm, full, and smooth with a very nice and dynamic tonal balance throughout the sonic spectrum. The soundstage is nearly as large as that of the M9s but not quite as airy and positioning and separation are both very good for the price. These work incredibly well with a wide range of genres, including the aforementioned Hip-Hop and Electronic and also Jazz, Classical and Alternative/Rock. While these can’t match my RE0s in terms of overall quality, transparency and clarity, especially when it comes to the quality of the treble and neutrality, the M6s are very impressive in their own right, especially when you consider how inexpensive they are.

Value and Conclusion

The maroon versions of the M6s are available for $30 on MEElectronics’ website. The current generation model retails for $50 on the website but can be found for approximately $40 on websites such as Amazon and Overstock. At $30 for the first generation M6s, they are an absolute steal and you wouldn’t be remiss in buying the more expensive versions for the improvements to the build quality either. Despite apparently sharing the same drivers as the M9s, they are definitely superior in every way besides airiness. The M6s deliver one of the most entertaining sound signatures I’ve heard in a while and are easily the most competent performers that I’ve heard in the sub $50 price range and even outside of that range, these perform well enough to be worth a look.
 
Re-Posted from my site Musical Musings
 

Introduction

Altec Lansing has a long history of making a wide range of audio equipment and has built something of a reputation for themselves as a manufacturer. In the audiophile community, particularly with the IEM subsection, they’re relatively unknown and unnoticed. Their “upgrader” line of IEMs seek to change that, offering people a number of options when looking to upgrade from the cheap stock earbuds that shipped with whatever MP3 player they may be carrying.

The Backbeat Pros are among their top-tier offerings, offering single balanced armature speakers as opposed to the traditional dynamic drivers and pledging to offer “reference quality” sonic reproduction of your favorite music. Do the Altec Lansing Backbeat Pros live up to that highly ambitious claim or do they come up short? Read on to find out.

Packaging and Accessories

The packaging is quite average for a pair of IEMs in this price range. It doesn’t lack in any one area but doesn’t scream out at you either. The only thing that disappoints me is the accessory package. In the box alongside the IEMs themselves are four pairs of silicone ear tips in small, medium and large sizes and a pair of small bi-flanges and a soft clamshell carrying case embossed with the Altec Lansing logo. That’s it. This might be acceptable at the price range if there weren’t IEMs like the M9s on the market which come with many more accessories for a lower price.

Build Quality

The housings are made entirely of plastic and boast a slightly rubberized or soft touch finish. They don’t feel brittle or weak in the least, quite the contrary, despite their plastic build, they actually feel quite durable. The cable boasts a soft and rubbery translucent coating over silver, braided wiring. This cable design immediately draws some comparison to the M9P IEMs which have a similar design. Honestly, the M9P’s cable actually feels sturdier and is less microphonic to my ears. The angled L-plug seems to be very sturdy and is properly relieved. The only real areas of concern are the strain reliefs on the cable entry into the housings, which are very short but even then, they don’t seem as though they’d be a very big problem in the long term.

Ultimately, the prime judge of confidence in the durability of a pair of IEMs for me is whether or not I'd feel comfortable carrying these around without a pocket without a case to protect them and honestly, I wouldn’t feel too worried about doing just that. The cables are soft and pliable while still feeling quite durable and the housings feel as though they could take a good amount of everyday abuse over a long period of time.

Comfort and Fit

Using the smallest single flange ear tips, I was able to achieve a comfortable seal. These are ported at the rear but isolation didn’t seem to suffer and in fact isolate better than my RE0s and M9Ps. The housings are very light and are very comfortable to wear for long periods of time. Altec Lansing’s single flange silicone ear tips differ from the norm in that they’re slightly tapered towards the back, where the ear tips fasten on the nozzle and likely as a result; these are among the most solid sealing and isolating IEMs I’ve used.
 
Sound Quality

What immediately strikes me about these IEMs is their forward mids. The midrange is thoroughly dominant and is the best frequency range in terms of clarity and overall quality. Vocals and stringed instruments come through loud and clear but with a hint of artificiality. The low end is very punchy and reasonably fast but is also rather boomy. Sub-bass extension is somewhat lacking, and they start to roll off past 100 Hz but there’s a strange peak at about 40 Hz. I stated in my review that the low end wasn’t very pronounced and my opinion hasn’t changed in that regard but I have noticed how smooth it is and that it is lacking in terms of detail. Highs are well detailed and crisp without being fatiguing but treble extension leaves a bit to be desired, as these roll off pretty quickly after 14 kHz or so.

The soundstage and imaging are decent all around. While the soundstage sounds pretty narrow and a little bit congested, the end result is an intimate listening experience. The narrow soundstage does cut down on the ability to detect where different instruments are positioned within the pseudo-studio in your head so imaging suffers overall but not so much so that it significantly impairs the experience.

Across the frequency spectrum, I couldn’t help but notice that they sound quite soft and veiled despite their forward mids and slightly aggressive presentation. These are pretty forward sounding IEMs but as in your face as they seem to be they don’t seem like they’re trying to get your attention. Instead, they’re merely staring at you. You can’t help but notice that they’re so up front but they aren’t slapping you in the face. Clinical is how I described them in my initial impressions and that hasn’t changed. Overall, the sound signature is somewhat cold and fairly revealing but they’re not what I’d call analytical. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, just different. While there are a few flaws in the sonic presentation, there isn’t anything these do horribly wrong.

Conclusion

These are middle-of the road IEMs to my ears. Sound quality is above average for the price as these do a decent job at resolving detailed source material. These aren’t the most dynamic or exciting IEMs on the market and are rather cold and clinical sounding on the sound spectrum. Currently, these can be found for around $30 - $40 at many online retailers such as Amazon and eBay. At that price, these aren’t a bad choice. Personally, I’d rather listen to my MEElectronics M9P IEMs over these because they boast a very “fun” sounding sound signature while boasting enough detail throughout the sonic spectrum to satisfy my inner detail freak. For those of you who are looking for a bass light and mid-centric pair of IEMs, these are a great choice for the price. While they don’t quite live up to Altec Lansing’s claim of providing “reference quality” sound but what they do; they do pretty well for the price.
 

Introduction
 
I’ve already written a great deal on the RE0s but I don’t consider any of it a formal review in the traditional sense. If you’ve read my previous writing about the RE0s, you should know that I am positively enamored by them. In the few weeks since I received them, they have quickly become my preferred listening devices when I sit down with my laptop or iPod and listen to music. After putting them through their paces for 200+ hours and listening to the sound signature evolve and mature in that time, I finally feel that I’m ready to give the RE0s the review they deserve. So, without further ado, read on for my full review of the HiFiMan RE0 in ear monitors.
 
Technical Specifications

Driver: 9mm dynamic driver
Frequency Response: 15Hz – 22KHz
Impedance: 64 Ω
Sensitivity: 100db/1mw
Cable Length: 1.28m/4.2ft
 
 
Packaging and Accessories

The RE0s come packaged in a small, clear plastic clamshell box. The design is unobtrusive and eye catching, showing off the IEMs flanked by the three pairs of silicone single flange tips. Included accessories range from the aforementioned three pairs of single flange silicone tips, two pairs of small and large bi-flanges, five pairs of replacement filters and a shirt clip. Overall, this is a decent accessory package but I would’ve been happier if a soft or hard carrying case had been included with the package. I guess you could argue that the case the RE0s came in could be used to carry them around in a pinch but it’s just slightly too big and bulky to fit very comfortably in a pocket.
 
Design and Build Quality

Right off the bat, the similarity to the V-Moda Vibes is immediately apparent. The housing is made of metal, painted black with a matte finish instead of the high-fashion polished aluminum look and feel of the V-Moda Vibes. The metal design inspires confidence in terms of long and short-term durability in that they feel sturdy and resilient without being too heavy or too light. Extending down from the casing is a long strain relief which is soft rubber in texture and adds to the durability and protects the cable as it enters the housing. The cable also terminates in a properly relieved L-plug which is new in the current revision of the RE0s.

The cable itself is relatively heavy, fairly thick and very soft and pliable. It seems durable enough to withstand a fair amount of abuse. One issue I have with the cabling of the RE0s is that they transmit a lot of cable noise. Wearing them straight down while walking or performing any kind of activity that causes the IEMs to rub against your clothing, will result in microphonic noise being transmitted into your ears. It’s annoying and distracting to be sure and using the included shirt clip and wearing them over-the-ear is practically required if you plan on walking with these.

These feel like they will be able to withstand normal amounts of daily use and abuse for a long period of time. I do wish these came with a carrying case of some kind to protect them while on the go and naturally, it’s expected that you’ll want to protect your investment. I would advise investing in a carrying case of some kind to protect them if you plan on carrying them around.
 
Comfort and Fit

The housings of the RE0s are very small and light and, as such, you’ll barely feel them while they’re in your ears. For me and my small ear canals, the small black tips were best for me but now, I use a pair of small tips I sourced from a pair of V-Moda Vibes which I find to be a bit softer and thus more comfortable. With all of the various eartips supplied with the RE0s, I’m sure that most users will be able to find a pair that work for them.

Sound Quality

Let me preface this by saying that these are the best sounding IEMs I’ve ever heard. Nothing I’ve ever used comes close to matching the RE0s in terms of clarity and transparency, bass and treble extension and micro level detail. These are a highly resolving pair of IEMs and as such will be highly revealing of flaws in your source material. I would not recommend using these with 128kbps music files or any other poorly recorded music, as these will make the flaws in those files stand out so much more. On the other hand, because they are so highly resolving, they allow great recordings and high bitrate files such as 320kbps MP3s and FLAC files to shine.

The RE0s are a very neutral pair of IEMs across the board and offer very little in the way of coloration to the music being pumped through them. These are highly transparent and allow you to hear music mostly as the artist intended, without adding any degree of warmth or coldness that isn’t actually present in the piece itself.

The midrange is fairly recessed but lively and very clear. Both male and female vocals are full-bodied and natural sounding and, across the board, instruments just sound great. The biggest strength of the RE0s is their endlessly extended and exceptionally clear and bright treble. Highs are forward and sparkle with just a touch of warmth without a hint of sibilance. These have the best highs I’ve ever heard in an IEM and should please just about anyone looking for a great high end response.

Low end response is perhaps the weakest aspect of the RE0’s sonic presentation but even then, it’s not at all bad. Bass is very detailed and natural sounding but what it lacks in is body. It just doesn’t have quite enough “oomph” to my ears and as a result makes the entire sound signature somewhat thin. Extension is very nice as well, as you can detect bass notes down to 20 Hz, even if those notes aren’t particularly powerful.

Soundstage and imaging are both good as well. The soundstage is of average size and depth, with great instrument separation and decent imaging.

The RE0s don’t necessarily need an amp, despite their relatively high 64 ohm impedance but respond very well to the extra juice. The soundstage widens a bit, dynamics improve and the bass improves a bit in terms of fullness. These also respond well to amps with a bass boost feature such as the inexpensive Fiio E5 and the JDS Labs CMoy BB, which highlight the great low end detail and sub-bass extension the RE0s possess.

Conclusion

Without a doubt, these are the best IEMs I’ve ever heard. These really make my music collection come alive and are very entertaining to listen to for long stretches. They let the music sink in slowly if you’re reading a book, doing homework or anything else that requires concentration while also allowing you to tune into the finer details of the music and really immerse yourself in the music you hear. For the current asking price of $80 plus shipping from Head-Direct, you really can’t go wrong with the RE0s. While these probably won’t satisfy bass-heads (at least without a bass boosting amp), these can easily compete with IEMs three to four times their price and are an absolutely phenomenal value for the price. I highly recommend these to budget conscious audiophiles who are interested in neutral and, above all, excellent sounding IEMs.
 
Re-Posted From My Site Musical Musings