Introduction: Smabat has been iterating rapidly on their acclaimed M-series of earbuds. Last year’s M2s Pro was perhaps the first modular earbuds with the ability for the owner to swap drivers without any soldering, and Smabat has been rolling out a lineup of various drivers for this purpose. In for review today however is the new Smabat M Pro, currently the lowest priced earbud in the series that is still in production at an MSRP of $55. As the entry-level earbud into Smabat’s current lineup, it does not feature the modular drivers or dampers of its elder brothers; rather, Smabat is focused on bringing the technical prowess and advancements of its higher-end earbuds to a more accessible pricepoint. This includes not only the M-series 15.4mm dome LCP driver, but also the labyrinth acoustic structure of the Smabat Super One. How well does this fare? Read on to find out.
I would like to thank Penon Audio for generously providing me with a unit in exchange for my honest review. You can purchase one for yourself
here at an MSRP of $55.
The specifications are as follows:
Driver: 15.4mm LCP liquid crystal film
Impedance: 40Ω
Frequency response: 10Hz-24kHz
Sensitivity: 110±3dB
Connector:MMCX
Plug: 3.5mm straight plug
Cable: single crystal copper cable
Packaging & Accessories: While the packaging is perhaps nothing out of the ordinary for those coming from the IEM world, it is however a marked step up from the packaging often employed for earbuds — frequently they are simply thrown into a draw-string bag and that’s it. Here on the other hand we have a white cardboard box with a slipcover, underneath which there is white foam with cutouts not only for the earbuds themselves but also for the two pairs of included foams — one set of donuts and one set of full foams. Underneath the foam is the usual Smabat carry bag, which features a nifty metal tensile closing mechanism to ensure the earbuds do not fall out while in transport. Finally, there is a single crystal copper cable with MMCX connectors. The cable is excellent, not only ergonomically (it is lightweight and prone neither to tangling nor microphonics, and has a working chin-slider) but also sonically, as the single crystal matches well sonically with the somewhat bright and analytical properties of the M Pro.
Build & Comfort: The all-metal build quality here is absolutely superb, infinitely more solid and premium-feeling than the standard PK or MX500 plastic shells so many earbuds employ. The MMCX connectors are very tight, I do not anticipate longevity issues here. Comfort likewise is outstanding, fit is very snug with foams for my ear anatomy, although of course as always your mileage may vary here. Of course it should go without saying that being an earbud, there is no isolation to speak of. At 40 ohms and with relatively high sensitivity, they are easy to drive from any source.
Signature: The sound signature is another way that the M Pro stands out from your run-of-the-mill earbuds: unlike the usually mid-centric tonality found on buds, the M Pro features a moderately bright, somewhat V-shaped tuning. The focus above all is on clarity and openness, although this endeavor is both anchored and upheld by a frankly outstanding mid-bass response.
Bass: Being an earbud, the emphasis is of course squarely on the mid-bass, although there is actually quite a decent amount of sub-bass all things considered. The mid-bass is punchy with a good heft to it, but the outstandingly fast transients give it an extremely clean presentation, with absolutely no bloat or bleed whatsoever, allowing for a physical substantiality quite necessary to counterbalance the analytical brightness of the M Pro, yet without impeding the clarity and resolution in any way. Whether it’s the driver or the labyrinthine acoustic structure, Smabat has undeniably tuned the bass regions with absolute mastery.
Mids: The lower midrange, far from receiving any warmth spilling over from M Pro’s mid-bass emphasis, is actually slightly cool. The upper mids likewise are pulled back, and while female vocals remain quite sweet, the drawback here is that both male and female vocals are at times a bit on the thin side. But these decisions have been made in order to effect an overall clarity and openness to the sound signature which Smabat has undoubtedly achieved. These are not the earbuds for those seeking a rich and euphonic midrange, yet this is not to say that the mids have been scooped out of existence by any stretch; rather, they have been moderately restrained in order to shine the light on the real star of the show, to wit:
Treble: Here we reach what is undeniably the crown jewel of the M Pro. Treble resolution, microdetails, air, and extension are all absolutely superb. I have heard very few transducers with the raw resolving power of the M Pro. Yet this is achieved in my opinion primarily through the quality of the driver and the acoustic structure of the earbuds, rather than through tuning trickery since there are absolutely no offensive peaks to my ear at all. And likewise, although the overall presentation leans bright, this is not at all an artificial or metallic affair; rather, there is simply nothing at all in either tuning or technicalities to impede the natural shimmer and sparkle of the upper frequencies. I’m not a treblehead, but I imagine that those who are will absolutely love the M Pro; there is scarcely anything I could wish improved in the upper regions of these buds. The one downside is that the pure abundance of details and clarity can lead to fatigue after some time.
Soundstage & Technicalities: As mentioned several times already, resolution and microdetails are off-the-charts good for this price point. The transient response throughout is impressively fast and clean. Timbre is fairly good, although due to the bright-leaning signature and the fast transients it can come across as somewhat dry at times.
When we come to soundstage and imaging however, we find a bit more of a mixed bag. On the one hand, soundstage width is excellent, and lateral imaging is quite precise. On the other hand, there is not a whole lot of height or depth, and this somewhat collapsed sense of stage means that there is not a lot of room for separation between the instruments. Layering is fairly decent considering these constraints, however, as I rarely encountered actual congestion.
Select Comparisons
vs. K’s Temperament LBBs: The LBBs has been a darling of HeadFi earbuds enthusiasts, and rightly so: it is a highly technical bright-neutral earbud that belies its accessible price point. The M Pro and the LBBs are more similar than different, but while the M Pro boasts a better build, a replaceable cable, and a more hefty mid-bass response, the LBBs has a more well-rounded stage leading to an overall technical advantage despite similar levels of resolving power between the two. Both are extremely worthy buds and the question is mainly whether you want a more musical low end in the M Pro or a more analytical emphasis on technicalities in the LBBs.
Conclusion: Smabat continues to cement themselves as one of the most unique earbuds manufacturers of the current era. In the M Pro they bring their various unique contributions — driver tech, acoustic structure, build quality — to a relatively accessible price point, one which serves as an excellent introduction to both the Smabat house sound and design language. In particular, with the M Pro they execute a marriage between a musical mid-bass response at the low end and gobs of resolving power and effortless extension at the upper. Put all this into a well-built and comfortable shell with replaceable cables, and they have themselves a winner with the M Pro in my book without doubt.
