Intro
TL;DR:The M9 Classic is overall one of the best budget IEM packages ever. I don’t think I need to say more.
First of all, I would like to personally thank Mike at MEElectronics for providing the M9 sample for review. Apologies if the review process took much longer than expected – a lot of things got in the way which considerably slowed down the process. Hopefully I get to make up for that with this review. As always, all opinions expressed in the following review are strictly my own unless otherwise specified, and much be taken with a grain of salt. Furthermore, I am neither affiliated with MEElectronics or any of its staff, nor am I receiving any compensation for writing this review (aside from the provided review sample).
Well, it hasn’t been very long since my last review, and already I have something new to write about. To be honest, though, this isn’t really “new” as the review sample arrived about a whole month ago. Yes, this may very well be the longest time I’ve taken to write a review, but I’m going to go ahead and blame it on my fellow reviewer, Blake. The primary plan was supposed to write a joint review with both our opinions combined into one review – but since that didn't work, I guess we'll have to do with this one.
Anyways, we’re going to take a look at an IEM in a price bracket I’m all too familiar with – the ultra-budget range. The MEElectronics M9 is a $10 IEM that looks to compete with what might be my favorite IEM – the $15 Xiaomi Pistons 2.0. Let’s see how they do.
[size=x-large]== Aesthetics ==[/size]
Packaging, Accessories
The M9 arrives in a very simple cardboard box, which MEElectronics markets as “frustration-free” and eco-friendly. The guarantee the packaging has “low waste, no clamshells, and no wire ties” (although if you look at the picture below, you might want to think otherwise). Despite it being simple, eco-friendly, and cheap, MEElectronics might want to consider beautifying the box a little to at least make them look more like an actual product and less like something other than a product. (No offense, you guys). The included accessories are scant – just four pairs of eartips – but essentially you get what you pay for.
Design, Build, Microphonics
Clearly MEElectronics paid no heed to the packaging and accessories of their M9, as they seem to have put most if not all of their focus into the IEMs themselves. And apparently MEElectronics was right on the money with the build quality of these 10 dollar IEMs. It’s got a very diminutive housing made out of aluminum – pretty damn impressive for an IEM at this price. The housing is also really small – to the point where you wouldn’t even notice you’re wearing them. The cable is also nothing short of amazing at this price – sturdy, relieved pretty well, and has very little microphonics. If I were to nitpick on the build, I’d probably look at the rather flimsy Y-split, and probably the driver flex issue in the right channel (which only happens with silicone tips), but otherwise I have no complaints.
Fit, Comfort, Isolation
I’ve jabbed a lot of small IEMs into my ears before, like the Ivery IS-1 and the Philips SHE3590. And though the M9 is slightly larger than both of them, they still manage to disappear into my ears and deliver the music. Sometimes I forget they’re even in there until I notice the cable. They fit with practically all of the tips that fit me without complaint, and with great comfort to boot. They also manage to isolate well with a good seal. They can also be worn over-the-ear, although the strain reliefs on the housings are a little long.
[size=x-large]== Sound==[/size]
Specs
| Headphone Type | Closed-back vented in-ear monitor (straight down, around-the-ear) |
| Driver Type | 9mm dynamic |
| Frequency Response | 20 Hz – 20,000 Hz |
| Max. Input Power | N/A |
| Sensitivity | 95 ± 3dB (1 mW @ 1,000 Hz) |
| Impedance | 16 Ω @ 1,000 Hz |
| Weight | 13 g (0.4 oz.) |
| Cable Length | 1.3 m (51”) |
| Connector | 3.5 mm (1/8”) gold-plated 90-degree TRS |
| Accessories | 3x black silicone single-flange eartips (S/M/L) 1x black silicone bi-flange eartips (M) |
Equipment, Burn-in
The equipment used for this review is an iPad 3 and my PC as the sources, running the M9 unamped (a barebones setup – but one you would see the M9 being used in). The amp used in the test is a Yamaha RX-V359 receiver through headphone-out. The EQ software used is the EQu app on the iPad, and Viper4Windows on the PC. Test tracks are available here for reference. The M9s were burned in for at least 100 hours before the assessments, mostly with music and games. The eartips I used in my assessment are the stock bi-flanges and Comply S-400 eartips.
Sound Quality
The M9s were pretty underwhelming at first listen. They sounded think, and too bright for my tastes. The bass lacked punch, body, and a host of other gripes. But as the review process proved to me time and time again, first impressions should never be lasting impressions (if you do that, you’ll probably end up not liking a lot of headphones). So I gave it time, and well, let’s just say I was blown away.
First, let’s start with the bass. It was thin, lacked punch, and wasn’t very full-bodied at first. But over time, I kinda realized I was looking for things that wasn’t there. The MEElectronics M9 presents bass in a very “audiophile” kind of way. It’s centered on the deep end of the bass (say, around 60 Hz), and forgoes the consumer “boom” for audiophile rumble and accuracy. It’s pretty damn impressive.
Next, the midrange. I was pretty surprised to hear a relatively cold tonality to it compared to a lot of other IEMs and headphones I’ve tried over my journey – in short, it’s a bit on the neutral side. It’s a
very
welcome surprise, though, and I find myself listening to these over a lot of other IEMs. The midrange has exceptional clarity for a $10 IEM, but is slightly peaky in the upper midrange (specifically around 5 kHz) which makes some instruments sound a little too sharp over the others.
As for the treble, I found it a little too bright at first. Eventually I did get used to it, and I started to appreciate its qualities. It’s sparkly, a little sibilant, a little bit splashy, too, but otherwise crisp and lively. I find Comply foam eartips to be a great counter to the treble if you find it too bright, as the foam soaks up a good amount of that treble, leaving you with probably one of the best sound signatures I’ve ever had the honor to listen to.
Its soundstage and imaging capabilities are not far off, either. The M9 presents its sound in a pretty intimate way, kinda like sitting front row in a small jazz lounge. The key part of the presentation is how they give you a defined sense of space. While a lot of other IEMs sound like the sound gets absorbed into the “walls” like in a studio, the M9’s sound seems to bounce right back at you. And it’s a lot of fun to listen to, I have to say. If I were to list a drawback to its sound, I don’t think I could list any, really. Everything just sounds so good I couldn’t say anything bad about it. And to think, all of this for 10 bucks. Freaking amazing.
Gaming, Movies
Playing a little bit of Far Cry 4, I was pretty much blown away by what these little things could handle. So far, they’ve passed every music test with flying colours, and this one was no different. Their treble was a little sharp (especially noticeable with silenced guns) but was otherwise a lot of fun to play with. Their positional audio isn’t phenomenal, but isn’t bad either. Movies are also enjoyable to watch on these, mostly because of their midrange, which is presented nice and clear amongst the soundtrack – a stark contrast to the bass-centric path of immersion.
EQ, Amping
With some amping tests, I didn’t notice much of a difference in the M9 – if at all. Playing around with the EQ did, however, produce some interesting results. Apparently controlling the treble basically gives you control over the whole signature, as it radically changes depending on how you equalize it. Reduce the treble by about 3 dB, and you get a significantly better-rounded signature without the sharp treble. Reduce it by 6 dB, and you have a basshead-friendly signature that will wow your non-audiophile friends.
Value
I’m sure I already mentioned this several times throughout this review, but let me say this again: The MEElectronics M9 retails for about 10 bucks. Ten. Dollars. Now, for what you get, I feel they’re probably one of the best bargains on an IEM I’ve seen since the Pistons – and to be honest, I think they are. In this winter that is only getting colder, you can either get a scarf, some mittens, and other winter accessories for $10, or get an MEElectronics M9. If I were me, I’d gladly take the M9 over any winter clothes – I’ll just put up with the cold with my winter outfit from last year and some tunes to jog out to.
Firstly, like to thank Mike from Meelectronics for supplying the M9 Classic to review.
The new release of the M9 Classic is Meelectronics budget in ear headphone. Priced at $9.99USD, I was a little skeptical that they could make an in-ear that sounds decent, but I was wrong.
Packaging, Accessories and Build Quality
One way the M9 Classic is able to make a decent in-ear, for a low price, is to throw away traditional packaging design.
The phones come in a brown corrugated box, inside you get the in-ears, and 4 pairs of silicon tips. S, M, L and one pair of Double Flange. That is it, and that is all you need.
The in-ears are also 30% smaller than the previous M9, making it lighter and thus reducing the cost there as well. Made form Aluminum, the casing feels durable and should last.
They also used a tangle resistant cable, which I found to be true, but there was some microphonics coming through, but not enough to notice once music is running through.
Sound Quality
Before the review, I had given the M9 at least 15 hours of burn-in. The sound-signature is warm and smooth, with a good amount of bass. I get relaxed with the M9 sound signature, because it’s not fatiguing at all, I can listen to it for a long time without getting bored or tired of it. Because these in-ears are so light, I had them in for a fair few hours, and almost forgot that I had them on when the music stopped. They are very comfortable.
The Bass: M9’s bass is very punchy, and even though it uses a dynamic driver, it tends to be quite fast. It’s very accurate and well controlled and textured. Also, the fact that the whole sound-signature is balanced doesn’t mean that the bass lacks body, vice versa, it has a full body and it has enough weight to feel natural and real. The drums presentation is very unique in its naturalness and realism.
The Mids: The mids are quite neutral. They are very clean, clear and accurate, managing to reproduce impressive detail layers.
The Treble: The treble has good extension, like the mids, the treble is detailed and clear, but you feel that bass was more important in the design of this earphone. Still pretty good sound overall.
Conclusion
The M9 is ridiculously cheap. You don’t get fancy accessories or foam tips. What you do get is an awesome pair of aluminum in-ears, that are light, yet durable and has great sound to match. With 1 year warranty, Meelectronics have made an in-ear that will be hard to match with the price and quality.
--
Specification
Comparison
Versus Xiaomi Pistons 2.0 ($16)
Against the IEM I dubbed “the ultimate earphone under $20,” I feel that the MEElectronics M9 goes toe-to-toe with the Pistons. In fact, the competition between them is so close, I could say it’s “driver-to-driver”. From an aesthetic standpoint, I could say the Pistons gain the upper hand with his luxurious gold-coloured aluminum and chocolate brown accents. On the other hand, I could see how people would prefer the M9 and its simple and subdued aesthetics.
But let’s get to the most important subject at hand – the sound. To be really honest, again, I don’t really have much of a preference between either. The M9 has a very clear “audiophile” signature to it, with more clarity in the midrange and treble, and bass aimed for more accuracy. The Pistons, on the other hand, is aimed for more fun, with a more rounded-out low end with significantly more power and a smoothed-out treble. Like I said, I myself can’t pick one over the other, but I could very well see a lot of other people will.
== Conclusion==
The MEElectronics M9 is an amazing budget IEM. It’s got one of the best overall packages I’ve ever seen since the Pistons. I don’t think I need to say more – if you have the money to spare and you’re looking for an amazing budget pair, don’t go anywhere; the M9 is one of the best choices out there.
As always, this is thatBeatsguy signing off; thanks for reading!
01/13/15: Changed scoring. 12/23/14: Added a new scoring category (Presentation) to the score table on all reviews since the Brainwavz R3. 12/04/2014: Changed link of image folder on all reviews, as part of a migration of files from DropBox to Microsoft OneDrive.
| Category | Score | Comment |
| Packaging, Accessories | 7/10 | The simple eco-friendly packaging doesn’t really make the M9s look like a finished product. Its accessories are equally simple, but you get what you pay for. |
| Design, Build, Microphonics | 8/10 | With full aluminum housings, and a high-quality, non-microphonic cable, the M9’s build quality is unprecedented at this price. |
| Fit, Comfort, Isolation | 8.5/10 | A straightforward fit coupled with great comfort makes for an IEM that fits virtually all ears. Isolation, like all other universal IEMs, varies with the eartips used. |
| Microphone | N/A | |
| Bass | 8.5/10 | Deep, clean, and accurate – those three words make up the amazing bass response of the M9. |
| Midrange | 7/10 | The M9 aims to please audiophile tastes with its exceptional clarity and neutral tonality – much unlike other IEMs at this price. |
| Treble | 7.5/10 | The treble, to me, is a little too sharp. It’s nothing some Comply tips or a little EQ can’t fix, though. |
| Presentation | 7/10 | The M9’s amazing sound signature is laid out across a decently-sized soundstage with a lot of air into it, giving it a very defined sense of space. |
| Gaming | 7.5/10 | The M9, unlike common “gaming” headphones and IEMs, aims for competition-grade sound, with great clarity and stereo imaging. |
| Movies | 7.5/10 | Just like its gaming performance, the M9 goes against the typical consumer fare with a clean sound that centers on the vocals more than the bass. |
| EQ, Amping | 7.5/10 | Equalizing the treble drastically alters the overall balance of the M9’s sound, which makes it easier to adjust the EQ. Amplification doesn’t improve its sound, however. |
| Value | 10/10 | This is the first time I’ve ever given a perfect score in the Value section, but I feel it is perfectly warranted. The MEElectronics M9 simply has one of the best, if not the best value of any IEM I’ve ever seen. |
| Total | 7.8/10 | The M9 is overall one of the best budget IEM packages ever. I don’t think I need to say more. |
Shout-Outs, Gallery
First of all, I just want to again thank Mike at MEElectronics for providing me with a review sample of the M9. I also want to again apologize for having the review get delayed way past schedule. I hope this review could make up for that. Also, thanks to my sis for helping me out with the pictures. As always, here is the link to all of the pictures taken during the shoot.As always, this is thatBeatsguy signing off; thanks for reading!
Changelog
01/13/15: Changed scoring. 12/23/14: Added a new scoring category (Presentation) to the score table on all reviews since the Brainwavz R3. 12/04/2014: Changed link of image folder on all reviews, as part of a migration of files from DropBox to Microsoft OneDrive.
LusJoseZ
Nice review, just bought these, they should arrive in a couple of weeks, very nice photos!
Pros: Sounds Great, Robust Design, Light Weight, Cost
Cons: Some Microphonics
Firstly, like to thank Mike from Meelectronics for supplying the M9 Classic to review.
The new release of the M9 Classic is Meelectronics budget in ear headphone. Priced at $9.99USD, I was a little skeptical that they could make an in-ear that sounds decent, but I was wrong.
Packaging, Accessories and Build Quality
One way the M9 Classic is able to make a decent in-ear, for a low price, is to throw away traditional packaging design.
The phones come in a brown corrugated box, inside you get the in-ears, and 4 pairs of silicon tips. S, M, L and one pair of Double Flange. That is it, and that is all you need.
The in-ears are also 30% smaller than the previous M9, making it lighter and thus reducing the cost there as well. Made form Aluminum, the casing feels durable and should last.
They also used a tangle resistant cable, which I found to be true, but there was some microphonics coming through, but not enough to notice once music is running through.
Sound Quality Before the review, I had given the M9 at least 15 hours of burn-in. The sound-signature is warm and smooth, with a good amount of bass. I get relaxed with the M9 sound signature, because it’s not fatiguing at all, I can listen to it for a long time without getting bored or tired of it. Because these in-ears are so light, I had them in for a fair few hours, and almost forgot that I had them on when the music stopped. They are very comfortable.
The Bass: M9’s bass is very punchy, and even though it uses a dynamic driver, it tends to be quite fast. It’s very accurate and well controlled and textured. Also, the fact that the whole sound-signature is balanced doesn’t mean that the bass lacks body, vice versa, it has a full body and it has enough weight to feel natural and real. The drums presentation is very unique in its naturalness and realism.
The Mids: The mids are quite neutral. They are very clean, clear and accurate, managing to reproduce impressive detail layers.
The Treble: The treble has good extension, like the mids, the treble is detailed and clear, but you feel that bass was more important in the design of this earphone. Still pretty good sound overall.
Conclusion
The M9 is ridiculously cheap. You don’t get fancy accessories or foam tips. What you do get is an awesome pair of aluminum in-ears, that are light, yet durable and has great sound to match. With 1 year warranty, Meelectronics have made an in-ear that will be hard to match with the price and quality.
--
Specification
- Drivers Dynamic, 9mm
- Rated Impedance 16 Ω
- Frequency Range 20Hz ˜ 20kHz
- Sensitivity 95+3 dB @ 1 mW
- Cable 1.3m, Tangle Free
- Plug 3.5mm Right Angle, TRS Type
- 13g Weight.
thatBeatsguy
"I get relaxed with the M9 sound signature, because it’s not fatiguing at all"
I....I can't even--
I....I can't even--
DisCHORDDubstep
Headphoneus Supremus
Pros: Bass, build quality, accessories, looks, cable
Cons: Somewhat grainy mids and treble
Disclaimer: I was given the MEElectronics M9 Classic in return for a review. The opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own, and were not influenced by MEElectronics in any way.
Before I begin I'd like to thank Mike at MEElectronics for sending the M9 Classic out to me for review.
Looking at this gorgeous brown cardboard box, you see the MEElec logo in a stunning shade of matte black...
Ok, so frustration free packaging may not be pretty, but it gets its job done: Being as cheap as possible, and holding the IEM's until you open the box. On a IEM so cheap, I'd rather have the money I spend be on the product rather than presentation anyways. Speaking of which...
As soon as I opened it, my eyes nearly popped out of my head. A metal bodied IEM with a fantastic cable that's decently relieved and comes with a shirt clip and 4 pairs of tips including a bi flange... Surely they must have sent me the wrong one!
Nope. It's the M9 Classic.
Examining this 10$ marvel of build quality further:
The cable is very flexible with very low memory and has next to no microphonics worn cable down, and none when using the included shirt clip and/or when worn around the ear. It also looks fantastic and is far more well relieved than you'd think to see at this price point. On the IEM's, you have a hard relief with notches cut out to give it a little flexibility, and on the jack the relief is semi-flexible. The only spot without relief is the Y-split, but again, I'm surprised that they even put as much strain relief on these as they did anyways. With the cable being as good as it is, I can see these lasting well over a year. Only time will tell though. If it ever does quit on me, I will update this review.
The metal used in the construction of the IEM seems to be of a decent quality, and has a driver port on the rear. They have a rather small profile, and the bi-flange tips that come with them are longer than the actual driver housing itself. (minus the nozzle)
Popping them in my ear, I can instantly tell they didn't skimp on sound either.
(All of my findings on the sound is relative to the price unless stated otherwise)
Listening to "First Encounter With The Omnitican" by Omnitica, the moment the sub-bass kicked in, I was astounded. They remind me of the UE6000 in active mode, except more neutral and less detailed. (Note: Only active mode. Passive mode on the UE6000 sounds very different)
Overall signature is an exciting V-Shape with excellent bass extension and texture, decent treble extension with a small amount of grain, recessed mids, and a decent soundstage.
Bass: Very well extended and detailed, with a focus on sub-bass. Rather impactful and punchy with plenty of rumble. Very clean might I add. If I had to pick my favorite aspect of the sound, it would be the bass.
Mids: On "Midnight Motion" by Kenny G, the soprano saxophone can get a little hot on upper octaves, and I had to turn down my volume once. Not the smoothest midrange I've experienced, but it gave the sax a little bit of bite and excitement. Male and female vocals are recessed relative to bass, and sound a tad thin to my ears (vocals tested on "Rocket" by Def Leppard, "Never Say Goodbye" by Bon Jovi, and "Rhiannon" by Fleetwood Mac). My take is that the upper midrange has a bit of a spike somewhere that causes the glaring irregularity I heard with the saxophone, and the lower midrange is recessed a tad.
Treble: A bit grainy and smeared, but by far the best I've heard for the price. On "Rocket Queen" by Guns 'N Roses (Lossless WMA), cymbal brushes are fairly well distinguished from one to the next, but lacks micro detail.
Panasonic RPHJE120K:
Build: Cheap plastic, hard strain relief, cheap feeling cable. Winner: M9
Bass: It has at least 20 db more bass than than M9, and not only is there a lot of it, its also boomy and slow. Sounds like a thick layer of mud thrown over the recording. The M9 wins again.
Mids: Shrouded by the thick layer of bass and has next to no detail. Sometimes entire instrument lines are inaudible under the bass. Its like the bass drowned all the other frequencies. Vocals sound like they're coming from the next room over. M9 wins by far.
Treble: No extension at all. Extreme rolloff. Some of the worst I've heard, just because of the lack of it. What is there isn't particularly good either. M9 absolutely destroys the Panasonics on every level.
Thinksound Rain 2:
Not really a fair comparison, as how the Rain2 is a 100$ IEM, but I'll just throw it out there anyways.
Build: The M9's cable is less microphonic, but the cable material quality seems to be about the same, maybe a little bit in favor of the M9. The strain relief of the Rain2 is superior by far however, and the wood and metal housings look and feel fantastic. Winner: Rain2
Bass: Faster and better controlled, and less midrange bleed. Winner: Rain2
Mids: The Rain2's mids are extremely natural with a pleasant warmth and gives vocals a fullness that the M9 doesn't have. Winner: Rain2
Treble: The Rain2 is smoother with more sparkle and detail up top, and is less fatiguing. Winner: Rain2
It was to be expected that the Rain2 would come out on top, but the difference between the M9 and the Rain2 is smaller than the difference between the M9 and the Panasonics. Pretty impressive.
For what the M9 Classics cost, they are nothing short of amazing. They blow away the competition and punch above their price. For the audiophile on a budget, I can think of nothing better. Well done, MEElectronics; you have a winner here!
Before I begin I'd like to thank Mike at MEElectronics for sending the M9 Classic out to me for review.
Packaging
Looking at this gorgeous brown cardboard box, you see the MEElec logo in a stunning shade of matte black...Ok, so frustration free packaging may not be pretty, but it gets its job done: Being as cheap as possible, and holding the IEM's until you open the box. On a IEM so cheap, I'd rather have the money I spend be on the product rather than presentation anyways. Speaking of which...
As soon as I opened it, my eyes nearly popped out of my head. A metal bodied IEM with a fantastic cable that's decently relieved and comes with a shirt clip and 4 pairs of tips including a bi flange... Surely they must have sent me the wrong one!
Nope. It's the M9 Classic.
Examining this 10$ marvel of build quality further:
The cable is very flexible with very low memory and has next to no microphonics worn cable down, and none when using the included shirt clip and/or when worn around the ear. It also looks fantastic and is far more well relieved than you'd think to see at this price point. On the IEM's, you have a hard relief with notches cut out to give it a little flexibility, and on the jack the relief is semi-flexible. The only spot without relief is the Y-split, but again, I'm surprised that they even put as much strain relief on these as they did anyways. With the cable being as good as it is, I can see these lasting well over a year. Only time will tell though. If it ever does quit on me, I will update this review.
The metal used in the construction of the IEM seems to be of a decent quality, and has a driver port on the rear. They have a rather small profile, and the bi-flange tips that come with them are longer than the actual driver housing itself. (minus the nozzle)
Sound Quality
Popping them in my ear, I can instantly tell they didn't skimp on sound either.(All of my findings on the sound is relative to the price unless stated otherwise)
Listening to "First Encounter With The Omnitican" by Omnitica, the moment the sub-bass kicked in, I was astounded. They remind me of the UE6000 in active mode, except more neutral and less detailed. (Note: Only active mode. Passive mode on the UE6000 sounds very different)
Overall signature is an exciting V-Shape with excellent bass extension and texture, decent treble extension with a small amount of grain, recessed mids, and a decent soundstage.
Bass: Very well extended and detailed, with a focus on sub-bass. Rather impactful and punchy with plenty of rumble. Very clean might I add. If I had to pick my favorite aspect of the sound, it would be the bass.
Mids: On "Midnight Motion" by Kenny G, the soprano saxophone can get a little hot on upper octaves, and I had to turn down my volume once. Not the smoothest midrange I've experienced, but it gave the sax a little bit of bite and excitement. Male and female vocals are recessed relative to bass, and sound a tad thin to my ears (vocals tested on "Rocket" by Def Leppard, "Never Say Goodbye" by Bon Jovi, and "Rhiannon" by Fleetwood Mac). My take is that the upper midrange has a bit of a spike somewhere that causes the glaring irregularity I heard with the saxophone, and the lower midrange is recessed a tad.
Treble: A bit grainy and smeared, but by far the best I've heard for the price. On "Rocket Queen" by Guns 'N Roses (Lossless WMA), cymbal brushes are fairly well distinguished from one to the next, but lacks micro detail.
Comparisons
Panasonic RPHJE120K:Build: Cheap plastic, hard strain relief, cheap feeling cable. Winner: M9
Bass: It has at least 20 db more bass than than M9, and not only is there a lot of it, its also boomy and slow. Sounds like a thick layer of mud thrown over the recording. The M9 wins again.
Mids: Shrouded by the thick layer of bass and has next to no detail. Sometimes entire instrument lines are inaudible under the bass. Its like the bass drowned all the other frequencies. Vocals sound like they're coming from the next room over. M9 wins by far.
Treble: No extension at all. Extreme rolloff. Some of the worst I've heard, just because of the lack of it. What is there isn't particularly good either. M9 absolutely destroys the Panasonics on every level.
Thinksound Rain 2:
Not really a fair comparison, as how the Rain2 is a 100$ IEM, but I'll just throw it out there anyways.
Build: The M9's cable is less microphonic, but the cable material quality seems to be about the same, maybe a little bit in favor of the M9. The strain relief of the Rain2 is superior by far however, and the wood and metal housings look and feel fantastic. Winner: Rain2
Bass: Faster and better controlled, and less midrange bleed. Winner: Rain2
Mids: The Rain2's mids are extremely natural with a pleasant warmth and gives vocals a fullness that the M9 doesn't have. Winner: Rain2
Treble: The Rain2 is smoother with more sparkle and detail up top, and is less fatiguing. Winner: Rain2
It was to be expected that the Rain2 would come out on top, but the difference between the M9 and the Rain2 is smaller than the difference between the M9 and the Panasonics. Pretty impressive.
Conclusion
For what the M9 Classics cost, they are nothing short of amazing. They blow away the competition and punch above their price. For the audiophile on a budget, I can think of nothing better. Well done, MEElectronics; you have a winner here!
DisCHORDDubstep
Thanks! Forgot to update with the packaging.
Scratch4416
Thanks for the review. I will give these a shot. I was going to buy something a little more expensive, but honestly all I care about is they sound decent and don't break in a week.
LusJoseZ
Good review, you might want to learn about photo composition and lightning, tell me when your earbuds die. And applejack is best pony!
Kenny Ingram
Head-Fier
Pros: Sound, Comfort, Build Quality, Price
The MEElectronics M9 Classics! I've had these over a month now, and I'm confident in saying that they're among my all-time favorites for a few reasons.
Price: the first (and reason I originally purchased them) was because they're so damn cheap! $9.99? Wow, that's not a lot. But what should you be expecting for $9.99? Well these aren't just cheap plastic Skullcandy earphones you'll find at any checkout aisle, they're capable in ear monitors, which brings me to my next point.
Sound quality. What do I mean when I say that? Well I'm a musician, and I'd go so far as to say I'd be comfortable mixing with these earphones if I had to. These are fantastic when they have a good seal. I don't use any of the supplied tips, but use MEElectronics's largest triple flange tips, as they fit my ears better. The bass is great, and everything else is prominent and crisp and clear. I'm a huge of MEElectronics's sound signatures (I use the M6s as my current stage in-ear monitors), and these don't disappoint in that regard either.
Comfort: when I have the triple flanges in, they're super comfortable. Like, fall asleep on your side while wearing them comfortable. Haven't had much issue with these coming loose or out of my ears either on longer walks.
Lastly: the build quality. Some companies tend to cheap-out when it comes to building their earphones. MEElectronics does not. These are constructed of a great feeling metal, and have nicely placed bass ports on the outside. And like all MEElectronics's products, the strain reliefs are of fantastic quality, and the cord is great (more of a rubbery feel than the M6s powdery feel, but still great).
What I was originally hoping for when I bought these was a more casual feeling and looking earphone when off [or on] stage, than the MEElectronics M6s. These have completely surpassed my expectations. For a $10 earphone, you will not find something that sounds, looks, or feels better than these.
Kenny Ingram
Price: the first (and reason I originally purchased them) was because they're so damn cheap! $9.99? Wow, that's not a lot. But what should you be expecting for $9.99? Well these aren't just cheap plastic Skullcandy earphones you'll find at any checkout aisle, they're capable in ear monitors, which brings me to my next point.
Sound quality. What do I mean when I say that? Well I'm a musician, and I'd go so far as to say I'd be comfortable mixing with these earphones if I had to. These are fantastic when they have a good seal. I don't use any of the supplied tips, but use MEElectronics's largest triple flange tips, as they fit my ears better. The bass is great, and everything else is prominent and crisp and clear. I'm a huge of MEElectronics's sound signatures (I use the M6s as my current stage in-ear monitors), and these don't disappoint in that regard either.
Comfort: when I have the triple flanges in, they're super comfortable. Like, fall asleep on your side while wearing them comfortable. Haven't had much issue with these coming loose or out of my ears either on longer walks.
Lastly: the build quality. Some companies tend to cheap-out when it comes to building their earphones. MEElectronics does not. These are constructed of a great feeling metal, and have nicely placed bass ports on the outside. And like all MEElectronics's products, the strain reliefs are of fantastic quality, and the cord is great (more of a rubbery feel than the M6s powdery feel, but still great).
What I was originally hoping for when I bought these was a more casual feeling and looking earphone when off [or on] stage, than the MEElectronics M6s. These have completely surpassed my expectations. For a $10 earphone, you will not find something that sounds, looks, or feels better than these.
Kenny Ingram