MEElectronics M9-SL Hi-Fi Sound-Isolating Earphones (Silver)

 
[size=10pt]Packaging[/size] [size=10pt]– SML single flanges and two double flange tips (one “balanced”) along with a clamshell case and annoying preattached shirt clip. No surprises here.[/size]
[size=10pt]Build[/size] [size=10pt]– Nice aluminum body but looks very plain and cheap. Great tangle and noise free cable plus good strain reliefs. I found that certain tips, the drivers exhibit some serious flexing during insertion. The updated remote/mic is very solid but a tad bulky.[/size]
[size=10pt]Comfort[/size] [size=10pt]– This style of housing have never given me fit problems and the M9 is no different. I found all the tips to be rather comfortable. Isolation is pretty average considering the ported back.[/size]
[size=10pt]Soundstage[/size] [size=10pt]– Weird is the only word I can think of. Because of the vent in the back, the soundstage is above average in size, but at the same time, the center seems slightly empty. When you cover the back, the dimension shrinks drastically.[/size]
[size=10pt]Lows[/size] [size=10pt]– Bassy to very bassy depending on the tips used. Well done most of the time but it does get boomy. It can be annoying in vocal centric songs.[/size]
[size=10pt]Mids[/size] [size=10pt]– Mids are very recessed. Vocals are very distant and slightly hollow sounding. The bass bleeds into the mids slightly.[/size]
[size=10pt]Highs[/size] [size=10pt]– The highs are relatively well done. Clarity and detail is good. Very smooth throughout. For me, the highs lack the quantity and sparkle to make music lively.[/size]
 
[size=10pt]The MEElectronics M9 takes a while to open up, but when it does, its performance is very respectable. I’m not a fan of the way vocals are reproduced but the bass is quite good and treble is not bad either. Just like the M6, it stands on top of its price bracket at $10.[/size]

Build Quality and Initial Impressions:
- build quality seems remarkable. materials doesnt seem like the company cut cost to gain more income and i salute meelec to that. the earphones themselves are made of a metal alloy and not plastic, plus the cable seems very sturdy even if you pull it off or step on it, it remains solid. build quality is something you'd expect from a $50-$70 IEM's. and the accessories, man, the package came in with a lot of extras:
a balanced tip
3 extra tips for bass enhanced
an airplane adapter
a semi-hard case
all for a total of more or less (im not from US), $20.
never been able to hear a lot from MEELEC, i searched reviews regarding the product as i was looking for an additional IEM, and found good reviews so i decided to try one. i was hesitant at first knowing i haven't had experience with them, but gave it a shot since it was just a $20 earphone. the first time it came in (these are my second pair), i plugged it in (without burning in), and was like, meh, they sound a bit muddy, with the high's prominent, and the bass was creeping to the mids. they have a dark signiture, but detail was there. so i tried to burn it in for the next 50hrs and viola! seem to open up a bit, the mids started to show, and the timbre of the highs came prominent. well, i know this part should be on the sound quality so im gonna take it off from here.
 
 
 
Sound Quality:
 
first, im a musician from a show band and i listen to a lot of music, pop, punk, rock, alternative, hip hop, jazz, rnb, and a lot more, so i might base my opinions from these genres so if you feel i might be biased to these or if you found your genre above, please bear with me. i cannot place the albums i listen in particular, there's too many of them!
 
 
Bass: tight, punchy, well modulated and controlled. its flavored, but somehow in a good way to make the music not sounding too dry. the problem with the bass is sometimes it creeps to the mids, and the bass-mids separation is sacrificed. im not a basshead, nor an audiophile, but it seems to have a bass that the bassheads will love and audiophiles will respect. its there and its enough, its presence is really felt to be punchy and clean.
 
 
Mids: this i think, to my own opinion, is the con. they seem to be pushed-back behind the bass and the trebles. so vocals located in the mids, might sound a bit far. not so bad though, but it can be improved with EQ.
 
 
Highs: they sparkle, have a sense of tingle and clanging detail. some people find it a bit tad too excessive, but i find it sufficient. the detail is very good, clean, and modulated.
 
 
isolation: very good. people cant be heard talking unless they are about a meter from you and talking out loud. 
 
 
sound stage: a bit wide, but not much. i am a musical instrument "separation" freak. so you might not take my word for it.
 
 
 
amp vs unamped: not much difference. with this amount of impedance, its unnecessary. there might be little changes yes, but not that significant to deserve additional power input. save the environment, use less power if it aint really much.
 
 
CUSTOMER SERVICE:
 Exceptional!! one of the many reasons people should go try this product because the company really stands for their product. my first m9 had sound issues, as the right bud sounded louder than the left. i mailed meelec since i did not bought it from an authorize reseller and there has been no meelectronics customer service in our country (im not from US), about my problem and on how i can have a warranty service despite not having bought it from an authorize reseller. they mailed back, and told me i had an old stock m9 (which means out of warranty even if i recently bought it). but to them, their instruction to me was simple, with a statement ending with "..and we will send you a new one." no further questions were asked. to my disbelief, i never experience any audio equipment manufacturer went that far to send even a $20 earphone from USA to Philippines even if the product was brought from an online "black market". ive heard a lot of people saying their customer service was very good, and here i say yes indeed those stories were true. A big plus to meelectronics.
 
 
Conclusion: if you have a tight budget of $20 or so, you cannot go wrong with these!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

i got it recently , with the cw 31 , which is twice the price and said to be awesome one at the price ..
 
package :- the carry case was good , but could have been a bit bigger , only the mid bud fits good , others are not giving a good seal to my ears , the cable clip is a welcome addition , cable slider is good too , the cable is of good quality , ten times better then the c-260 , not flimsy at all , not too strong but tough enough ..
 
audio quality :- low is awesome , im a bass head , i own cx 400 , cx 215 , ep-630 , ahc-260 who are said to be the big bass things , but this out dose each of them , and not even out of control , stays big and deepest ..
mid is good , better then the c-260 , near to my s3 , and the good thing is , dont have any artificial effect to sound at all like the s3 ..
high is good , but let me tell you , you wont bother about that , cuz you wont care for it , the bass and the mids will grab all of your attentions most of the time , but when you want to feel it , its there all the time , now the sound stage is not bad at all , on par with the c-260 ..
 
design :- is good , the built is sturdy and good enough .. comfort is really nice too ..
 
should you buy this :- yes , now , go buy it , no for only those who dont like bass ..