Smabat M2s Pro

Introduction

As Smabat itself says, the M2s Pro is a second-generation modular headphone. This time, the same exterior design is adopted as for the M2s Pro, but with improved modularity, as was the case with the recent M0. Now, the drivers can be changed in a very simple way, as well as an internal grille, called the "tuning damping" grille. For the driver, the same driver as the ST10s has been used, a 40 Ω dynamic driver with a titanium-plated dome. The interior has also been redesigned to create a new acoustic control unit with a new labyrinth circuit. Attached to it is the tuning grille. Thanks to this new unit, the low end is more powerful, not to mention the mids and highs, which sound clear and natural. We will look at these and other aspects in more detail in the next review.



Disclaimer

Smabat, offered me this model, in exchange for writing an honest review. I want to make it clear that all my opinions written in this review have not been conditioned by this fact, nor will I ever write anything that I do not really think or feel here. I will only write about my personal opinion in relation to the revised product.



Specifications

• Driver Type: 15.4mm dynamic 15.4mm driver with three-layer titanium coated dome.
• Frequency Response: 10Hz-22kHz
• Sensitivity: 110 ± 3dB
• Impedance: 40 Ω
• Jack Connector: 3.5mm gold plated
• Cartridge Connection Type: MMCX
• Cable length: 1.2m

Packaging

The Sambat M0s come in a small sliding cover box made of dark grey cardboard. Its dimensions are 102x102x37mm. In the centre of the main face is the M2s Pro Module logo and on the bottom right, the word Smabat, all in white letters. In the lower left corner there is a logo referring to the internal acoustic enclosure. The rear face is still grey and on the bottom, with a clearer background, are the specifications, in Chinese and English. These specifications are very brief and for more information you will have to go to the sales website. Continuing with the description of the packaging, next to the specifications there is more information about the brand, headquarters, address, manufacture and WEB. After removing the cardboard there is a white cover on the top and a grey one on the bottom. In it there is information about the brand, as well as WEB addresses. On the sides of the white box you can read the brand name in large black letters, as well as the slogan in smaller letters. On the back is a bat-shaped logo, constructed from 7 pieces. With the lid removed, the M2s Pro capsules appear disassembled, but connected to their driver. There is also a complete set of foams, a set of donut foams and the MMCX cable. All this is embedded in a white foam mould. There is also a small instruction booklet in Chinese and English, as well as other WEB links in the form of QR. Underneath the mould is the now classic brown, leather-like Smabat case.
In short, the complete contents:

• The 2 M2s Pro capsules.
• The 2 15.4mm dynamic drivers, with a three-layer titanium-coated dome.
• 1 MMCX cable, silver-plated copper mixed braid and 4-strand single crystal.
• 1 pair of complete foams.
• 1 pair of donut foams.
• 1 instruction booklet.
• 1 storage and protection pouch/bag.

The packaging is simple, but distinguishable, containing everything that is strictly necessary. Although Smabat is not very keen on giving away more foam than necessary: only 1 pair of each, it's still a precarious amount for such a cheap component. Otherwise, it is appreciated that the storage bag is included, even if this type is not one of my favourites. Although this product is more expensive than the M0, the contents and presentation are the same, only the external colours are different.



Construction and Design

The external design is virtually identical to the M2 Pro, with two colour changes: the centre ring is clear grey and the driver rim ring is black. The cable is also different, with a thinner, silver-plated cable. They look like several assembled cylinders of different diameters. They are almost completely made of metal, including the grilles. The driver is detachable and is attached to a small, secure plastic connector. The drivers can be purchased separately here:

https://es.aliexpress.com/item/4001268432243.html

Continuing with the description of the capsule, on the outside, the marking is inscribed on the inside of a polished metal ring. On the underside, there is the MMCX connection, next to the rim. On the other side of the rim, there is a white dot with a letter inside it, indicating the channel of each capsule. On the top face of the top piece, there are two slots.
Most of the capsule is hollow, to house the connector cable. At the bottom of the inside of the capsule is the other innovative module of this generation: the famous dome that provides the peculiar Smabat sound. It has been redesigned for this occasion. This new acoustic cavity has a new labyrinth and is the difference compared to the M0, whose system was simpler. The tuning grille is located in it. There are three types. This is the second module which allows you to tune the sound. They can be purchased here:

https://es.aliexpress.com/item/1005002654579713.html

The driver that comes standard with the M2s Pro is a 15.4m, three-layer titanium-coated dome. It is 40Ω. It has a black outer rim and a metal grille. In theory, it is the same driver as the ST10s.
The cable is 4-stranded, consisting of a mixed braid of silver-plated copper and single crystal. It is slightly thinner than the M2 Pro version, but also more manageable. The 3.5mm jack plug is gold-plated and its housing is angled and covered with a small silver cylinder. The cable outlet is protected by a plastic spring. The splitter piece is another small silver cylinder. This time, there is a pin, which is a tiny silver metallic cylinder. Finally, the MMCX connectors are mounted on silver cylinders, of course, which have the channel lettering written on them in slightly darker grey ink. Despite their size, the contrast of the ink is not the best.
The second-generation modular system makes it much easier to replace the drivers. I still think that the anchoring could be tighter, firmer and more secure, because it seems to me simply sufficient. Another thing is the replacement of the tuning grid, an operation that seems tricky, more so with the tools that come in the upgrade package. The external design is unchanged from previous models, so it has its good points.



Adjustment and Ergonomics

The adjustment can be made with the cable over the ear or in the traditional way, downwards. The asymmetrical capsule gives it a disadvantage compared to the M0 model, limiting the total freedom that this model offered. Even so, the size and diameter of the capsules, like the rim of the drivers, still provide one of the best fits seen in earbuds.



Sound

Profile

I find the sound of the M2s Pro to be a step backwards in the line exhibited by the M0. Back to a powerful bass, a midrange that hides behind it and a treble that is less present. There is less clarity and the mids are muddied. It is clear that the balance of the sound falls back to the low end and the first half of the mids. The result is a warmer, more classical sound, where the power of the Smabat bass is once again latent.
It should be noted that the impressions described here were taken with the standard configuration and donut foams. In this way, the profile becomes more like a warm V, with a higher incidence in the low end.



Bass

Smabat has achieved a good sound in the sub-bass area, which is the most successful point of the new acoustic system of this new model. Thanks to it, he has managed to boost them a little and to gain in depth. On the other hand, the notes are heavy, the bass is slightly dark and dense, quite compact, but with a good power and noticeability, even more than desired. Admittedly, my opinion of the bass in the earbuds has changed over the years. In the past, I would have liked the M2s Pro a lot. But now, I miss those other things that are lost because of the bass on display. Continuing with the description of the range, the bass is relatively thick, which limits its definition and its speed is average, leaving some aftertaste and being slower in its pickup. All this limits the level of detail and the recreation of layers. The bass has a binding and smoothing power throughout the entire range and thus throughout the sound. It is true that with donut-type foams the zone improves in its perception, even gaining in speed and definition, relaxing the presence and the incidence of its influence on the rest of the sound. In this way, by the grace of Smabat, the sonority, timbre, presence and power of the bass are closer to those produced by IEMS. And this is another of the great advantages of the earbuds manufactured by this brand.



Mids

With such a presence of bass, the M2s Pro inevitably have a warm midrange, which lags behind the lower range. As a result, vocals lag behind the representation of the lower notes. For this reason, the potential that this model could have in the middle range is lost. As I say, the timbre of the voices is warm, but without losing their naturalness. Due to the distance, descriptiveness suffers slightly, but even so, it retains a good level of detail and a very appetising colour. With donuts the clarity emerges, the range gains in light and detail. The higher speed obtained with these foams favours a more marked and detailed texture, without the area being exceptional. Despite all these efforts, the mid-range is still weighed down by the darkness and the greater emphasis on the first half, which gives it a murky look that affects it negatively. This nuance is not only felt in the vocals, but also in all the instrumentation. This is how the performance obtained is somewhat thicker, less delicate, with more body, but without reaching a smoothness that makes the sound opaque and unpolished. In general, I don't find too much revolution in this midrange and, coming from the M0 and some good reviews about this model, I expected something superior, excellent. And my feeling is that it stays in the "B", not beating the darkness, not offering a better separation, definition, level of detail and balance.



Treble

The treble is perceived as a little thin, even with donut-like foam, the high notes are not fully extended, although it is true that they gain in presence and development. It is, therefore, a treble-safe tuning: there is a level of brightness that stops at the moment of being more explicit. Thus, the treble feels rounded and not very extended. All of this contributes to a loss in the sense of air, definition, nuance and level of detail. Micro nuances are lost in that soft semi-darkness and where they are expected, they don't appear. Therefore, the M2s Pro are not the best earbuds for critical and analytical listening, quite the opposite. They are suitable for long, relaxed listening, as long as the bass level doesn't get to the point of dazing.



Soundstage, Separation

With a big, thick bass, which has a great level of sub-bass for earbuds, the soundstage feels tight. The semi-darkness of the set, coupled with the relative lack of clarity and air, doesn't allow for a very large soundstage to be recreated. The level of separation is not very high and together with the sense of compactness of the elements, which acts as a magnet for the musical notes, means that little escapes from the core of the sound. Nor is there a very dark background, nor is there enough distance between the silences to do so. It is not a closed, congested, occlusive or completely intimate sound, but the expansive capacity is limited, for earbuds. Thus, the three-dimensional recreation is simply good; the width is average, the depth is somewhat greater, and the sense of height is average. But at no point is there a sense of escape or a feeling of music outside the head as there is, for example, in the M0.



Comparisons

Smabat M0

Both Smabat models correspond to this second generation of modular headphones. The M0 is the smaller and cheaper sibling, with a 20Ω driver as opposed to the 40Ω of the M2s Pro. I already talked specifically about this model in a previous review and I must repeat that I liked it a lot, more than the model I am currently reviewing. The reason is its profile, the M0 has a more balanced profile, it gains its greater clarity and amount of treble. That makes it possess more detail, more air and scene, even separation. The three-dimensional recreation is also more obvious and perceptible. The mids on the M2s Pro are more distant and appear muddier, even with donuts. In the M0s, after removing the damping grille, bass is improved, without reaching the level of the M2s Pro. But there is no need for that either, if the result is a darker and warmer sound. It is clear that the low end is better in the M2s Pro, more forceful, mature, powerful and in that line that is closer to the sound provided by the IEMS. Another thing would be to swap the drivers to see if the new M2s Pro acoustic unit still improves the sound of the M0 driver or if it is the whole that is superior. And by doing the experiment, I am right: the acoustic cavity of the M2s Pro has a lot to do with the sound. This unit boosts the bass of the driver and after the change, the sound between the two is more similar, but the great clarity of the initial M0 is lost. Although they are still there, but not at the quasi-crystalline level of the original M0. However, the mids gain and it opens a new earbud to enjoy. To continue to mess around, I bought the 150Ω gold driver, the one with the yellow dot on its packaging. Placed in the M2s Pro, suitably rolled and with donut foams, it really is a qualitative leap in all segments, but, above all, in the midrange. Compared to the M0, the M2s Pro's mids with the gold driver sound more complete, with great presence, great body and more richness. Compared to the M0, the sound of the lower model with the stock driver is thinner in the midrange and that greater emphasis of the upper treble can be improved in some places, but becomes a weak point where musicality is lost. Overall, the M2s Pro with the gold driver still doesn't reach the level of clarity of the M0s, but it does have a more balanced and richer sound in the bass and midrange, and even more detailed treble, enough to feel a clear improvement over the stock driver.
In any case, experimenting with drivers and grilles, interchanging all these elements with each other and adding the other accessories that can be purchased on the web, is a really enjoyable experience and is perhaps the great attraction, along with the sound, of course, of this new generation of Smabat.




Conclusion

Smabat continues to innovate and build a great reputation in the world of earbuds. It is a pioneer and clear exponent of modular earbuds and has hit the sweet spot when it comes to changing drivers. The same can't be said about the damping grilles, but that's to be expected. I think there will be a third generation where these grilles will be easier to replace and, who knows, it may be possible to replace the internal acoustic units in the future. Then modularity would be complete. But back to the M2s Pro, this is a new redesign of the M2 Pro, adapting it to the second generation of modularity. Actually, their sound follows the Smabat line, where the bass wants to sound like an IEMS, at the cost of losing the clarity offered by the M0s. This is not generally a bad thing and many fans will be delighted with the sound offered, but it is true that certain advantages offered by the earbuds are also lost: a sense of openness, stage and three-dimensionality. Actually, I'm being hard on the M2s Pro, because coming from the M0, I was expecting an improved version of this one, that new line of light and expansion. And it hasn't been, hence my disappointment. But the best thing about modularity is that the M2s Pro are not going to end up in the drawer, but they are a testing ground in which to change grilles and drivers in search of the desired sound. And just by changing the gold driver I've already found a superior point. Isn't it great?



Sources Used During the Analysis

• E1DA #9038D.
• Hidizs S9 Pro.
• Tempotec Sonata E44.
• Earmen Sparrow.
• S.M.S.L Sanskrit 10th MKII + iFi ZEN CAN.
• Burson Audio Playmate.
• Zishan Z4.

Ratings

• Construction and Design: 90
• Adjustment/Ergonomics: 92
• Accessories: 65
• Bass: 85
• Mids: 78
• Treble: 75
• Separation: 75
• Soundstage: 75
• Quality/Price: 85

Purchase Link

https://es.aliexpress.com/item/1005002624547944.html

You can read the full review in Spanish here:

https://hiendportable.com/2021/08/22/smabat-m2s-pro-review/

Disclaimer:

I would like to thank Smabat for providing a review unit of the M2s Pro. Rest assured that my impressions written in this review are my own personal thoughts and opinions and in no way influenced by outside parties.

I am not an expert in this hobby nor claim to be an audiophile. I just love listening to music and am fond of writing articles.



Introduction:

The Smabat M2s Pro is a modular, dynamic driver earbud currently selling for 64 USD (on sale at the time of this review). It improves from the company’s initial attempt at modular earbuds, tweaking the design to be more reliable and better implemented. The changing of the driver doesn’t require any soldering and is just as easy as removing the pin (?) and then connecting with the other drivers they sell separately, from 6 USD up to their flagship driver (Super One), at 38 USD. The M2s Pro utilizes a titanium-coated dynamic driver, with an impedance of 40 ohms and a sensitivity of 110 dB (MMCX connection). To “customize” more the signature, one can also acquire damping filters to alter the venting of the shell (sold separately).





Oppo Reno 4 > KGUSS BH3 > Takstar HA101 > Transducer

The stock driver of the M2s Pro is portable-friendly and easy-to-drive. A phone will do, though a more “hobby-oriented” source will bring improvements (varies).





Build and Comfort: Shell is all-metal, with the driver faceplate being an exception (plastic + silicone; mesh is metal). Regarding design, it is simple-yet-classy looking (lightweight, to note). There are sharp points near the female MMCX connection but I didn’t encounter any comfort problems with them.

The M2s Pro follows the design language of the company, when compared to their other models.

It fit me better than MX500 shells but not as perfect as the Zen LL shell (note: I have small ear canal). YMMV on this.

With how the driver attaches to the shell, it just holds there. No mechanism to lock it in place and depends on friction created by the plastic outline of the faceplate and the silicone ring around the shell opening. I didn’t experience the earbud itself falling apart with daily use so I guess the design works? Only time will tell how long that silicone will hold out.

Cable is four cores, in twisted fashion. Every component is made of metal, from the jack to the splitter, slider and male MMCX connector. Regarding the male MMCX connector, out of all my MMCX transducers, only Smabat has ever done this – the L/R markings are enlarged and by doing so, easy to notice and read. I can’t express in words how much I appreciate this design consideration from the company. Another way to determine L and R is to use different colored earbud foams, but as I don’t prefer mismatching colors, the connectors are a huge help. Cable is very light and on the thinner side, so it doesn’t introduce any issues with the earbud design. Twisting is decent and there are no inconsistencies that jump at you. While the cable is thin, I didn’t encounter tangling with casual use.

MMCX connectors don’t exhibit the “helicopter effect” that is common with poor quality ones.

Nonexistent isolation with minimal-to-none sound leakage (depends on listening volume).


NOTE: To easily close the shell, what I do is let the +/- cables to go around the modular system and twisting the driver itself into the shell. I think Smabat has a guide as well on YT.



Package: 1 pair of full foam. 1 pair of doughnut foam. Smabat-branded carrying pouch with a tight closing mechanism (nice touch and very functional when going out).



Now, onto sound:

For this review, the earbud was left in stock mode, without mods using the standard foams included with a listening volume of low-medium. I cannot use doughnut foams as they just slide off the earbud, not just on the Smabats but for all the few earbud shells I’ve tried.

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Bass: the only earbud that competes with the IEMs I’ve tried in this price bracket on bass quality. Out of the few earbuds I’ve listened to, I’ve been assessing them on the factor that they are earbuds, and earbuds in general have inferior bass quality to IEMs. The M2s Pro’s stock driver is way, way different – it goes sub-bass deep, is fast, well-textured, and very clean-sounding. It is still elevated, as usual with earbuds to compensate for the form factor, but still remains a very “mature” tuning with a bit of “fun” due to said elevation. Another thing different is the emphasis, or rather the lack of that mid-bass mountain common to earbuds. Don’t get me wrong, there is still mid-bass presence that provides overall weight, but it is not exaggerated to the point of sounding overly thick, going muddy. Regarding extension, this is the only earbud that I don’t find lacking with more bass-focused tracks, particularly those that utilize lower bass frequencies.

Midrange: if you’ve ever tried listening to an earbud foamless, you’ll notice how well-presented the midrange, particularly upper midrange, is. It can be described as “airy-sounding,” clear, balanced, and in some cases, neutral. Definitely, bass response suffers greatly with this wearing style. Now, what if I tell you that the M2s Pro achieves all of the good stuff even with full foams without the drawback? What this entails is that it provides foamless-esque midrange with its excellent bass quality. There is no bias in the forwardness between the two sexes and is very balanced in the mix, along with the bass and treble. No hollowness at all. Instrument and vocal texture is rendered and well-presented. Midrange peak is around 3 kHz, which works perfectly with my preference (YMMV). If you are sensitive in that region, you will definitely find the M2s Pro to be rather shouty.

Treble: Of the brighter side… but! Emphasis is on treble proper which I greatly appreciate with earbuds, as it helps the clarity and brilliance side of things. I say emphasized and of the brighter side but it isn’t necessarily so. The full foams tame down this tuning and results in a balanced signature. If you want more treble quantity, use doughnuts or better yet, thinner foams. Extension is surprising as heard in the overall presentation – there is a great sense of air with the music. Treble is clean and crisp.

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Timbre: natural. Nothing is lacking or in excess.

Soundstage, Imaging, and Separation: Oh, how I missed this earbud stage compared to the last one I’ve tried. It’s just magical – this sense of width, height, and of course the depth due to the bass extension. Add in the form factor and well, I can’t find anything bad to say about it. Imaging and separation are exceptionally good out of the 7 total earbuds I’ve tried, like IEM-of-this-price-bracket good.

Detail-retrieval: What surprised me the most. I never expected earbuds to render this much detail. Where does this unexpected experience come from? Well, a number of reasons: 1.) the tuning is usually of the more consumer and warmer kind, 2.) form factor doesn’t provide any seal, and lastly, 3.) the driver is just not technically-capable. The Smabat M2s Pro is the irregularity - you hear most, if not all, macrodetail and some microdetail without fatigue and harshness.

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Conclusion:
I’ve completed the trinity of the search for contentment (see account signature). I cannot express in words how good I feel with reaching this point in this hobby. With that, after finishing some pending reviews, I’ll be taking a long break from the audio world (I also have tertiary education to give importance to ). The Smabat M2s Pro is what I call a perfected modular design – easy to install/uninstall drivers without any soldering, MMCX connection, and the possibility of using a different damping filter to tweak the venting of the earbud, thereby changing the signature itself. Add in how technically capable the M2s Pro is with its neutral-with-a-bit-of-fun tuning, and I can definitely say it’s one of the best value transducers of the few I’ve tried. A perfect 5 out of 5. Nothing short of exceptional.




M0/M2s Pro Experiment…

So, I decided to swap out the drivers of the two earbuds and here are my short impressions:

> M0 driver in M2s Pro shell – suffocated, muffled midrange with the still bright treble tuning with a perceived increase in bass quantity, particularly mid-bass.

> M2s Pro driver in M0 shell – similar to the initial pair, midrange sounded muffled. Interestingly, it is also significantly bassier.

The changes in sound due to the shell swap is eerily similar. Now, does this mean that they use the same drivers only with a different impedance? Don’t know. There are also a lot of factors – the indicated impedance (20 vs. 40), how much space the chamber has (resonance and such, as well), how thin/thick the tuning cotton is, damping filter in the vent, as well as the venting itself among others. All of these can affect the sound one way or another. However, I am sure of one thing - the two earbuds are way better when they’re in their respective shells. How far the buds can go with some effort on tuning is something that is up to the wise ones (i.e., those knowledgeable in modding and stuff; awesome individuals).

EDIT 2023-08-25: If you are not aware, I am selling my own Earbuds, called RikuBuds: https://rikubuds.com/

• Non-sound
• Sound
• Comparisons
• Conclusion

Disclaimer: I received this review unit for free from Smabat themselves. Thank you very much.

Price: 64 usd

Specifications:

Drive unit: 15.4mm titanium-plated diaphragm material

Impedance: 40Ω

Frequency: 10Hz-22kHz

Sensitivity: 110±3dB



Accessories:

1 pair of full foams

1 pair of donut foams



Cable: 4-core copper cable measuring at 0.57 ohms with metal connectors and dividers. Not really a good cable in terms of measurements but is pretty thin and lightweight so it does not impact the fit negatively.





Build: All metal build with replaceable MMCX connectors. There are some sharp corners near the mmcx connectors though.

Fit: Average sized bud and does fit me pretty good. Although not as good as an MX500 shell for me.

Comfort: Pretty good and it is pretty lightweight for a metal bud, although there are some sharp corners (near the mmcx connector) that sometimes stab my ears a bit when I put them on.

Isolation: None, its an earbud after all.

Setup: Schiit Asgard 3 (low-gain, volume around 9´o clock), full foams, stock cable 3.5mm

Lows: Both sub and mid-bass are elevated but it is mostly a sub-bass focused bud. It is very clean due to the speed and tightness and has excellent texture. It has actual rumble as well and extends very deep.

Mid-bass: Metallica – fight fire with fire (01:11-01:52), clean because of the fast and tight bass while the quantity is a little bit elevated and well textured. The (02:55-03:01) section with the chopper is hearable and clean.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Pretenders (01:18-01:47), Very good texture and quantity isn’t as much as I would like it but is pretty good for a bud. Tightness and speed are very good so it is quite clean.

Sub-bass: Djuro – Drop that bass (01:15-01:30), extension is very good for a bud and has actual rumble as well but not that much though. Punch quantity could be higher but is very well textured as well as tight and fast.

Will Sparks – Sick like that (03:08-03:22), very well textured and quantity is elevated but still very clean due to the tightness and speed.

Mids: Very well balanced male and female vocals and quality with both are very good. Forward vocals that are clean and without bass bleed.

Female-vocals: Hiroyuki Sawano – OldToday (01:25-01:52), instrument and vocal tonality and timbre are excellent and vocals are forward as they should be. Detail and clarity are also very good.

Yuki Hayashi – MightU (01:58-02:55), very good instrument and vocal tonality without being fatiguing. Timbre, detail and clarity are excellent.

Evanescence – Bring me to life (01:18-01:35), tonality is correct but is a bit fatiguing and somewhat shouty due to the 3k peak (my weak spot!).

Hiroyuki Sawano – Crescent (02:07-02:26), fatiguing and shouty due to the 3k peak.

Male-vocals: Hiroyuki Sawano – Pretenders (00:57-01:17), very good vocal and instrument tonality as well as timbre. Detail and clarity are also very good.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Scapegoat (00:57-01:17), instrument tonality and timbre are good but vocals need some more warmth. Very clean and detailed though.

Treble: Linkin Park – Shadow of the Day (03:24-03:42), electric guitars are a bit fatiguing but tonally correct.

Deuce – America (03:03-03:16), fatiguing but otherwise good separation and imaging.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Lose (string version) (01:22-01:59), Cello timbre, texture and detail are very good but could be warmer. Violin tonality, timbre, texture, detail and treble-extension are very good.

Hiroyuki Sawano &Z (02:18-02:57), very good tonality, timbre, detail and clarity.

Soundstage: Holographic because of it being very wide and deep.

Tonality: Bass-boosted (sub-bass) neutral with a tonality that leans slightly towards brightness due to its small 3k peak (again, my weak spot, but if you aren’t sensitive there, it could be a warmer bud for you).

Details: A lot of details.

Instrument Separation: Both separation and imaging are very good.

Songs that highlight the Earbud: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2sXnZTOr1A https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbjiEJyBKbQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0CqY27IFyo&t https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tS6uI7keuTg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7lNeeDNbzQ

Good genres: Trance, EDM, Pop, Rock/metal, Yasuharu Takanashi, Hiroyuki Sawano, Classical

Bad genres: Very versatile bud, but hip-hop is less suited for it due to it needing more rumble



Comparisons:

Earbud: NiceHCK MX500, Full foams, stock cable 3.5mm

Bass: Djuro – Drop that bass (01:15-01:30), lower extension and more rumble on the M2S Pro. Punch quantity is also a bit higher on it but similarly tight and fast while it is more textured. More tonally accurate on the M2S Pro.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Pretenders (01:18-01:47), very similar quantity, speed and tightness but more textured on the M2S Pro.

Metallica – fight fire with fire (01:11-01:52), very similar quantity, speed and tightness but more textured on the M2S Pro. But cleaner on the M2S Pro due to it having better separation.

Mids: Hiroyuki Sawano – OldToday (01:25-01:52), very similar vocal tonality and forwardness but better timbre on the M2S Pro. Instrument tonality and timbre are better on the M2S Pro. More detailed (micro-details) on the M2S Pro.

Evanescence – Bring me to life (01:18-01:35), similarly fatiguing, although the M2S Pro is a bit sharper to me due to the 3k peak.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Scapegoat (00:57-01:17), a bit better tonality (vocal and instruments) on the M2S Pro due to it having some of the needed warmth and also better timbre.

Treble: Linkin Park – Shadow of the Day (03:24-03:42), more fatiguing on the MX500.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Lose (string version) (01:22-01:59), Cello tonality, timbre, texture and detail are better on the M2S Pro. Violin tonality and texture are similar but better timbre, detail and treble-extension on the M2S Pro.

Hiroyuki Sawano &Z (02:18-02:57), similar tonality but better timbre and details on the M2S Pro.

Technicalities: Shiro Sagisu – Hundred years war (02:24-02:57), soundstage width is similar but deeper and therefore more holographic on the M2S Pro. Detail, imaging, instrument separation and timbre are better on the M2S Pro.

Overall: The M2S Pro is the upgrade to the MX500, very similar tonality but with actual rumble in the sub-bass (when the track calls for it) and better extension both ways.



Earbud: Yincrow X6, full foams, stock cable 3.5mm

Bass: Djuro – Drop that bass (01:15-01:30), very similar rumble but a bit lower extension on the M2S Pro. A lot more punch quantity though on the X6 while speed, tightness and texture are better on the M2S Pro. More tonally correct on the X6.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Pretenders (01:18-01:47), a lot more bass quantity on the X6 but similar texture while it is a lot faster and tighter on the M2S Pro. More tonally correct on the X6.

Metallica – fight fire with fire (01:11-01:52), a LOT cleaner on the M2S Pro due to it having a lot faster and tighter bass as well as a lot lower quantity. Separation is also a lot better on it.

Mids: Hiroyuki Sawano – OldToday (01:25-01:52), vocals have better tonality, detail, timbre and more forward on the M2S Pro. While instrument tonality is better on the X6 with similar timbre although a lot cleaner and detailed on the M2S Pro.

Evanescence – Bring me to life (01:18-01:35), a lot more relaxing and fatigue free on the X6.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Scapegoat (00:57-01:17), better tonality with both vocals and instrument on the X6 but better timbre, detail and clarity on the M2S Pro.

Treble: Linkin Park – Shadow of the Day (03:24-03:42), a lot more relaxing and fatigue free on the X6.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Lose (string version) (01:22-01:59), Cello tonality and texture are better on the X6 but better timbre and detail on the M2S Pro. Violin tonality, timbre, texture, detail and treble-extension are a lot better on the M2S Pro.

Hiroyuki Sawano &Z (02:18-02:57), better tonality on the X6 but better timbre, detail and clarity on the M2S Pro.

Technicalities: Shiro Sagisu – Hundred years war (02:24-02:57), wider soundstage on the M2S Pro but similar depth and both are holographic. Detail, imaging, instrument separation and timbre are a lot better on the M2S Pro.

Overall: They are both quite different despite both having a bass boosted neutral signature. The M2S Pro is the more reference tuned bud while the X6 is the more fun one. So, if you want a more fun and relaxing bud the X6 is the better one. Although the M2S Pro has a lot better technicality so there is that.



Earbud: Yincrow RW-2000, full foams, stock cable 4.4mm

Bass: Djuro – Drop that bass (01:15-01:30), a lot lower extension and has a lot more rumble on the M2S Pro. Punch quantity is also higher on the M2S Pro and is more textured, but a bit tighter, faster and cleaner on the RW-2000. More tonally correct on the M2S Pro.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Pretenders (01:18-01:47), similar quantity but more textured on the M2S Pro while it is a bit tighter and faster on the RW-2000.

Metallica – fight fire with fire (01:11-01:52), similar speed, tightness and quantity but individual strikes are more distinct on the M2S Pro and is more textured on it.

Mids: Hiroyuki Sawano – OldToday (01:25-01:52), instrument tonality and timbre are better on the M2S Pro. Vocal tonality is a bit better on the M2S Pro while timbre and forwardness are similar. Detail and clarity are very similar.

Evanescence – Bring me to life (01:18-01:35), a bit sharper on the M2S Pro (3k peak) but otherwise similarly fatiguing.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Scapegoat (00:57-01:17), similar tonality both vocals and instruments as well as timbre. Similarly detailed and clean as well.

Treble: Linkin Park – Shadow of the Day (03:24-03:42), a bit sharper electric guitars on the M2S Pro and a bit more fatiguing on it as well.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Lose (string version) (01:22-01:59), Cello tonality, texture and detail are very similar but slightly better timbre on the M2S Pro. Violin tonality and texture are better on the M2S Pro but similar detail and treble-extension.

Hiroyuki Sawano &Z (02:18-02:57), a bit better tonality on the RW-2000 but similarly clean and detailed.

Technicalities: Shiro Sagisu – Hundred years war (02:24-02:57), a bit bigger and deeper soundstage and more holographic on the RW-2000. Detail, imaging and instrument separation are very similar but timbre is slightly better on the M2S Pro.

Overall: They are both quite similar in that they are both bass boosted neutral but they are also different in that the M2S Pro is more sub-bass focused (similar mid-bass quantity though) while the RW-2000 is more mid-bass focused. So, the M2S Pro is better for genres such as EDM, Hip-hop and trance. While the treble is a bit less peaky (does not have the 3k peak that I am weak to) on the RW-2000. So, if you want better treble, the RW-2000 is the better one, but if you want better bass, the M2S Pro is better. They are also on the same level in terms of technicalities and mids are also similar in quality and quantity. My personal preferences align more with the M2S Pro and I do actually prefer it a bit over the RW-2000, both of them are great though but the obvious value set goes to the M2S Pro.



Earbud: K´s Samsara K300, full foams, stock cable 4.4mm

Bass: Djuro – Drop that bass (01:15-01:30), very similar extension but a bit more rumble on the M2S Pro. Punch quantity is a bit higher on the Samsara but faster, tighter and more textured on the M2S Pro. Tonality is a bit more accurate on the M2S Pro.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Pretenders (01:18-01:47), more quantity on the Samsara but more textured, faster, tighter and cleaner on the M2S Pro. Tonality is a bit more accurate on the M2S Pro.

Metallica – fight fire with fire (01:11-01:52), more quantity on the Samsara but a lot cleaner on the M2S Pro due to it having a lot faster and tighter bass. Texture is also better on the M2S Pro and individual bass strikes are a lot cleaner on it, while it is bloated on the Samsara.

Mids: Hiroyuki Sawano – OldToday (01:25-01:52), instrument tonality is better on the Samsara but a lot better timbre on the M2S Pro. Vocal tonality and timbre are a lot better (and more forward) on the M2S Pro and is cleaner and more detailed.

Evanescence – Bring me to life (01:18-01:35), more relaxing and fatigue free on the Samsara.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Scapegoat (00:57-01:17), vocal and instrument tonality are better on the Samsara but better timbre on the M2S Pro. Cleaner and more detailed on the M2S Pro.

Treble: Linkin Park – Shadow of the Day (03:24-03:42), more relaxing and fatigue free on the Samsara.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Lose (string version) (01:22-01:59), Cello tonality and texture are better on the Samsara but more detailed, cleaner and better timbre on the M2S Pro. Violin tonality, timbre, texture, detail and treble-extension are better on the M2S Pro.

Hiroyuki Sawano &Z (02:18-02:57), better tonality, timbre, detail and cleaner on the M2S Pro.

Technicalities: Shiro Sagisu – Hundred years war (02:24-02:57), soundstage is wider on the M2S Pro but deeper and more holographic on the Samsara. Detail, imaging, instrument separation and timbre are all better on the M2S Pro.

Overall: The Samsara is a lot warmer and is the more fun bud while the M2S Pro is the more reference tuned but still pretty fun because of the sub-bass and also a lot more technical than the Samsara.



Earbud: NiceHCK EBX21, full foams, stock cable 4.4mm

Bass: Djuro – Drop that bass (01:15-01:30), rumble is pretty much nonexistent and has very poor extension on the EBX21 compared to the M2S Pro. Speed is a bit faster (specifically the decay) on the EBX21 as well as tighter but a lot more textured on the M2S Pro and is a lot more tonally correct on it.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Pretenders (01:18-01:47), more quantity and a lot more texture on the M2S Pro but a bit faster and tighter on the EBX21.

Metallica – fight fire with fire (01:11-01:52), cleaner on the EBX21 due to the faster, tighter and a lot lower bass quantity.

Mids: Hiroyuki Sawano – OldToday (01:25-01:52), similar vocal timbre but a bit better tonality on the EBX21. Instrument tonality and timbre are better on the M2S Pro though. Clarity is better (due to the brighter tonality) on the EBX21 but similar details.

Evanescence – Bring me to life (01:18-01:35), a lot more fatiguing and sharper on the EBX21.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Scapegoat (00:57-01:17), Vocal and instrument tonality and timbre are a LOT better on the M2S Pro.

Treble: Linkin Park – Shadow of the Day (03:24-03:42), similarly sharp but more fatiguing on the EBX21.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Lose (string version) (01:22-01:59), Cello tonality, timbre and texture are better on the M2S Pro but similar details. Violin tonality is better on the EBX21 as well as detail but better timbre on the M2S Pro while texture and treble-extension are similar.

Hiroyuki Sawano &Z (02:18-02:57), better tonality and timbre on the M2S Pro. While detail is similar.

Technicalities: Shiro Sagisu – Hundred years war (02:24-02:57), width is similar but deeper and more holographic on the M2S Pro.

Overall: The M2S Pro is a lot more suited for my library and pretty much beats the EBX21 in all aspects except for female vocals. But if you dislike bass and want something brighter the EBX21 will suit you more.



Earbud: Moondrop Chaconne, full foams, stock cable 4.4mm

Bass: Djuro – Drop that bass (01:15-01:30), rumble is pretty much nonexistent and has poor extension on the Chaconne compared to the M2S Pro. Speed is faster (specifically the decay) on the Chaconne as well as tighter but a lot more textured on the M2S Pro and is a lot more tonally correct on it.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Pretenders (01:18-01:47), more bass quantity and texture on the M2S Pro while it is a lot faster, tighter and cleaner on the Chaconne. More tonally correct on the M2S Pro.

Metallica – fight fire with fire (01:11-01:52), cleaner and more detailed on the Chaconne due to the faster, tighter and lower bass quantity.

Mids: Hiroyuki Sawano – OldToday (01:25-01:52), instrument tonality is better on the M2S Pro but timbre is better on the Chaconne. Vocal tonality and timbre are a lot better on the Chaconne (similar quantity though). Detail and clarity are a lot better on the Chaconne.

Evanescence – Bring me to life (01:18-01:35), more fatiguing because it is sharper on the M2S Pro.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Scapegoat (00:57-01:17), Vocal and instrument tonality are a lot better on the M2S Pro while timbre is better on the Chaconne. Detail and clarity are also a lot better on the Chaconne.

Treble: Linkin Park – Shadow of the Day (03:24-03:42), sharper electric guitars on the M2S Pro and is a bit more fatiguing.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Lose (string version) (01:22-01:59), Cello tonality and texture are better on the M2S Pro but timbre, clarity and details are better on the Chaconne. Violin tonality, timbre, texture, detail, clarity and treble-extension are a lot better on the Chaconne.

Hiroyuki Sawano &Z (02:18-02:57), tonality is better on the M2S Pro but cleaner and more detailed on the Chaconne.

Technicalities: Shiro Sagisu – Hundred years war (02:24-02:57), soundstage is wider on the Chaconne but a bit deeper on the M2S Pro, although the Chaconne is still more holographic. Detail, imaging, instrument separation and timbre are in another league on the Chaconne.

Overall: The Chaconne is still the king of upper-mids and treble. But the M2S Pro has better bass for my library as well as lower-mids (male vocals).



Earbud: Smabat Super One, full foams, cable A12 4.4mm

Bass: Djuro – Drop that bass (01:15-01:30), extension is a bit lower on the Super One and rumbles a lot more. Punch quantity is also a lot higher on the Super One but tighter, faster and more textured on the M2S Pro. Tonality is a bit more correct on the M2S Pro.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Pretenders (01:18-01:47), a lot more quantity on the Super One while it is tighter, faster and more textured on the M2S Pro. More tonally correct on the M2S Pro.

Metallica – fight fire with fire (01:11-01:52), cleaner on the M2S Pro because of the faster, tighter and less quantity bass. Texture is also better on it.

Mids: Hiroyuki Sawano – OldToday (01:25-01:52), vocal tonality and timbre is a lot better on the M2S Pro along with more forward vocals. Instrument tonality is a bit more accurate on the Super One (but too warm) while timbre is better on the M2S Pro. Detail and clarity are better on the M2S Pro.

Evanescence – Bring me to life (01:18-01:35), similarly fatiguing but cleaner on the M2S Pro.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Scapegoat (00:57-01:17), a lot cleaner and more detailed on the M2S Pro along with more forward vocals. Although the tonality is a bit better on the Super One while timbre is better on the M2S Pro.

Treble: Linkin Park – Shadow of the Day (03:24-03:42), sharper electric guitars on the M2S Pro but more tonally correct as well as more natural timbre.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Lose (string version) (01:22-01:59), Cello tonality and texture are a bit better on the Super One but better timbre, clarity and details on the M2S Pro. Violin tonality, timbre, texture, detail, clarity and treble-extension are better on the M2S Pro.

Hiroyuki Sawano &Z (02:18-02:57), better tonality, timbre, clarity and details on the M2S Pro.

Technicalities: Shiro Sagisu – Hundred years war (02:24-02:57), soundstage is a lot bigger on the M2S Pro. Detail, imaging, instrument separation and timbre are also a lot better on the M2S Pro.

Overall: The M2S Pro is the better tuned bud and has better technicalities.



Conclusion: Yeah, I very much recommend it. It competes in the high-tier area but is priced at around mid-tier. If you want something reference tuned but with some bass boost (sub-bass) to make it more fun and is also very technical, this is a very good bud and it still has possibilities for changes due to its modular driver structure (you only get one driver with it though, so if you want to play around with different drivers you need to buy them separately). Thanks for reading.

Cable source: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet...zTm4ei7HEfP8AI1zxswrMw2ho/edit#gid=1801072063

Reference/test songs: