Paiaudio MR2 IEM Review - Expatinjapan

 Head Pie  

Paiaudio MR2 IEM review​

 - expatinjapan​

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http://www.paiaudio.com/indexEn.asp​

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PLEASE NOTE: Much of the basic information concerning the MR2 is the same as I wrote for the review for the Paiaudio MR3 and DR1, such as Build, Fit and Packaging etc. So excuse me whilst I copy and paste that information over here as it is virtually all identical to my experience. 
For those readers who have already read the Paiaudio MR3 and DR1 reviews you might want to jump to the Sound and Overall sections whilst enjoying the photos along the way.
 

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Build

When I first saw photos of the IEMs on offer from Paiaudio on the internet, I thought they looked rather plastic and cheap.  I was proved wrong when I opened the box.
In person they are well made, seem durable enough to withstand general day to day punishment and use.
They have two kinds of cable, the old and the new. The old is the one I prefer for looks and design, a clear cable similar but not identical to the more custom looking Echobox X1 or the FiiO EX1 cables, stylish snake skin like looks comes to mind.
The (discontinued) new cable seems too plastic looking to me, a glossy black.
Paiaudio said that they will be reverting back to the original cable after feedback from their customers. The current batch are now shipping with the original cable design.
The cable can easily get tangled and I suspect this is due to the way it is wrapped, I have offered feedback on a more suitable way to package the cable.
The IEMs shells are of the closed style, so I found them to isolate well on my daily commute.
They also have MMCX connectors, so the cables are removable and replaceable.
There are two Knowles driver in each ear piece.
 

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Packaging

The main box is in a beautiful looking black sleeve with the companies logo on it, slide it off and inside is a cardboard black box with a lid affixed by magnets. Open it up and the IEMs are packed within a foam plate, the underneath of which has the cable (I gave feedback on how to package the cable so it would not be kinked upon arrival), also in the box is a small users manual, some extra tips (full set of S,M,L in a clear thin white silicone). There is also a small cloth bag for transporting the earphones. I prefer a hard shell case but the supplied cloth bag seems to suffice.
 

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The IEMs themselves have a nice long nozzle that means the user can get a satisfying fit, often I have the experience of not being able to get a deep enough insertion in my left ear canal, with the Paiaudio MR2 I can. The result being that I have a nice balance of the music within my head and ear to ear.
The nozzle has one large bore with a metal screen covering.
I spent a bit of time trying to pick apart the IEMs themselves without too much brutality and they stayed together.
The cable can be rotated 360 degrees where it connects at the join to the IEM, also the cable can be detached.
 
 
  They seem to not hiss when using the an ipod touch 6G and Centrance Hifi-Skyn or SHOZY Alien.
 

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Fit

This is one of the first pleasing points (apart form the outer packaging design) that hit home, I could get a full insertion via the good length of the nozzle, one that gave me the same experience and volume on both ears.
My ears are on the small side and as you can see in the photo the models ears are also on the small side, so fitting the main body of the IEM shell in the ear should not be a problem for  most users, I expect.

They are light which makes for  a comfortable experience and fit within the outer ear comfortably.
The included tips are soft and thin, others may prefer to do some tip rolling with other brands to achieve a good fit and preferred sound signature.

Also the 360 movement of the cable due to the MMCX connector aids in a comfortable fit.
 

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  Sound
 
Using the Centrance Hifi-Skyn with ipod touch 6G, 128GB and Flacplayer app.
As always I let them have a burn in of 50 plus hours to appease all readers.
 
Round one. Initial impressions. Fight!
 
The first thing I noticed was a slight warmth, which could also be thought of a congestion of some sort.
The MR2 is quite different to the Paiaudio DR1 and Paiaudio MR3 which Head Pie has already reviewed.
 
Sampling the Paiaudio MR2 on shuffle mode: (Gain 1)
Listening now to Slayer `Epidemic` and the MR2 handles the speed well, and has a fast response. A bit dark in places.
Continuing on to The Cardigans `Do you believe`, there is that ever so slight murkiness there, which comes across also as warmth.
Shabba - Best of reggae - This seems to be a good match for the MR2.
Neil Young - `Only love can break your heart`. Enjoyable, but the mids are too present still.
 
I upped the gain to 2. (Gain 2).
It improves the clarity and clearness, the mids seem to be more under control.
 
Sade - `Hang onto your love`.  Clear, music, clarity, good separation.
Lets try the Cardigans `Do you believe` again. Much better. Clearer, better instrument separation and extension in the highs.
Orbital - `Lush`. Energetic, but lacking in width.
Red Hot Chili Peppers - `Monarchy of Roses` great during the chorus, but during the busy and low parts gets congested and loses some of the dynamics.
 
Round two. Love.
 
After spending more time with the Paiaudio MR2 I did start to enjoy more of what it had to offer with its focus on the Mids.
It is quite smooth and laid back, listening for longer periods on time is comfortable and doesn`t cause fatigue. 
It is not an IEM for those who are detail monsters, or like a treble extension. This is one for those who just want to sit back and listen to the music.
Vocals are well presented.
Musical memory makes me think of ATH-ESW9 but I would have to dig it out of the cupboard NOTE. 
 
Round 3 (Several days later).
 

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Using the SHOZY Alien DAP. JVC Spiral Tips.
 
At low volumes it is very pleasant to listen to. Smooth and lush. Vocals are forward.
Good height. Bass has tightened up a bit since my last serious listen.
The sound is balanced yet also tends on the darker side due to focus of the bass and mids.
It is neither flat, or V shaped.
The soundstage is smaller than the MR3 but that is to be expected.
It can open up when the music is more open like Pixies, but when coupled with Mazzy Star the darkness becomes more prevalent.
A band like Nirvana who straddles the above two bands sounds quite well matches the MR2 nicely.
Listening again to the Cardigans `Erase and rewind` everything is there. Great detail, tight bass, clear vocals and nice fast response, adequate bass with minimum bloat, soundstage still narrow to some degree; but good separation.
Layering is very enjoyable on some tracks.
 
Back to the thinner stock tips.
 
The stock tips make the bass less prevalent and improves instrument separation and layering.
Altogether a lighter sound with more reach.
 
Final round 3.1, swapping back to the Centrance Hifi-Skyn.
 
The experience is similar to Alien Dap, the sound is a bit fuller due the Centrance in house sound and the more powerful amplifier.
 
The bass has tightened up considerably since the earlier listening sessions. Good width, detail and instrument separation.
The MR2 still prefers a lower level of volume to sound optimum. More laid back music seems the most suitable choice rather than full on rock and roll.
 
Final round 3.2, ipod touch 6G with Flacplayer app.
 
Nice clean and clear, bass is more tamed, details are minute and accurate, vocals clear, lush and rounded. Nice separation.
 
 

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Value

The Paiaudio range of IEMs is priced as follows
DR1   US$39 - $49
MR2  US$129 - $149
MR3  US$169 - $189.
I think it is an acceptable price US$129 -$149 

for a multi driver IEM. ​

It also has replaceable cables, and a great fit which makes these great value for the price.
 

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Overall
The Paiaudio MR2 is great sounding IEM, but one that needs decent amplification to really shine.
They tend towards the warm side, with good separation and layering. Decent detailing.
The supplied tips are silky smooth and very comfortable, I found that I did not have to reply on my current go to tips the JVC Spiral Tips (which made the MR2 sound overly dark) but could get a decent fit and experience with the stock tips.
They are built sturdy enough to last If one takes care of them.
The replaceable cables are also attractive and convenient in case one needs to replace them or wants to try an aftermarket alternative.

DR1 - Clear and well balanced over all. fairly flat. Not particularly wide. Good separation.
MR3 - Great separation, good width, height. More of a full sound, smooth.Accurate. Airy.
MR2- Slight warmth, full sound. Not as much width or height, but good separation. Musical. Improves with amplification. Accurate.

The MR2 occupies the middles spot in the Paiaudio family at the moment, the price between the MR3 and MR2 are so close in price and sound it could well be worth it to just go for the MR3, `cause three drivers gotta be better than two!?, right, ight...amirite?

Well it comes down to a matter of taste I think when choosing an IEM from the Paiaudio family, size and design wise they are identical in form. The difference is in the number of drivers and each has their own particular sound signature; which I have outlined above and will expand on in a later article.

The Paiaudio is an IEM that needs about 100 hours to reach their optimum performance, they are an IEM that grows on the user after time. if you are a detail, treble monster preferrer they might not be the IEMs for you, not to say the MR2 is a slacker in this department either.
If you are looking for a well priced entry level two driver IEM that performs above its price point then the MR2 is for you.
Its not TOTL nor is it BOTL either, a decent well rounder with a tendency towards warmth.
 
 

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Thank you again to Paiaudio for sending us the MR2 IEM​

-expatinjapan​

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Preamble:

Disclaimer: Before I start with my actual review, I’d like to thank PaiAudio and especially their Alex for providing me with a sample of the MR2 (price: ~ $129-139) in exchange for my honest opinion.
After I picked up their 3.14 “Flat” earbuds and the MR3 (I’ve also reviewed both) some time ago, here now comes my evaluation on the MR2 – and as a little teaser, just like the MR3 back then, my conclusion is really good.
I am not affiliated with PaiAudio in any way and this review reflects my honest thoughts on the product.

PaiAudio is a rather young company founded in 2014 and based in Shenzhen, China and has specialised in manufacturing In-Ear monitors. According to their information, the company that consists of totally 13 people has got national elite audio developers in their team.
The yet young company has currently four earphones in their product range, of these one is an earbud, one a dynamic In-Ear and two are Balanced Armature-based In-Ear Monitors, whereby all models except for the earbuds feature replaceable cables.

The company backs mainly on direct distribution through ebay (http://stores.ebay.com/paiaudio), Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/gp/aag/main/ref=olp_merch_name_1?ie=UTF8&asin=B00ZU89S6E&isAmazonFulfilled=0&seller=A4X08XUDEJ1P3), AliExpress (http://www.aliexpress.com/store/1738335) but also Penon Audio (http://penonaudio.com/Paiaudio-all-models).

In my review below, you can read how their dual-driver model, the MR2, sounds for the comparatively low price.

Make sure to also check out the PaiAudio thread: http://www.head-fi.org/t/781399/audio-pai-audio#post_11926956.


Technical Specifications:

Transducer Type: Balanced Armature, Knowles
Transducers per Side: 2
Acoustic Ways: 2
Sensitivity: 120 dB
Frequency Range: 20 – 20000 kHz
Impedance: 32 Ohms
Cable: 120 cm; L-shaped 3.5 mm connector
Colours: red, blue or tan


Delivery Content:

Just like all PaiAudio in-ears, the MR2 arrives in the an identically designed packaging with the same delivery content.
The in-ears arrive in a plain black package with a paper sleeve that has got a huge white “π” on top, which is PaiAudio’s signature feature. The actual packing underneath the paper sleeve is just entirely black and has got a magnetic flap that unveils the In-Ear monitors when one opens it. Apart from the In-Ears, a user manual, three pairs of white silicone eartips in different sizes (S/M/L) and a velvet travel pouch are included. I’d preferred to see a sturdy hard case or zipper case instead, but regarding the price for a BA-based dual-driver IEM, the velvet pouch is quite okay and aftermarket cases aren't that expensive at all.
 

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Looks, Feels, Build Quality:

The IEMs’ shells are relatively big and ergonomically shaped, but it generally doesn’t matter for me as my ears’ conchas are pretty big either.
Build quality is flawless as it seems and both halves of the shells are glued together very sturdily and pristine. Overall, the IEMs’ bodies seem valuable and convey the impression of being very sturdy.
For this price range rather unusual, the MR2 uses an MMCX coaxial connectors system for its detachable cables, just as Shure does for example.
The flexible cable is greyish, semi-transparent and seems thick, sturdy and very durable, although it doesn’t have strain reliefs. The only thing I’m missing is a chin slider, but as the cable is replaceable, it isn’t a real flaw at all.

Through the transparent shells, the Balanced Armature drivers, internal wiring and crossovers can be seen, what I personally really like. Also visible are the two sound tubes (just like the MR3, the MR2 features a dual-bore design with dedicated acoustic filters in each bore behind the mesh).

Upon request, other colour schemes can be obtained as well (orange in my case).
 

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Comfort, Isolation:

As I already mentioned, the IEMs’ bodies kind of resemble the size of the ears’ conchas and are rather big, which is not a problem for my large outer ears, but they might be too big for people with very small ears.
In the beginning, I couldn’t manage to get a good seal with the MR2, but it changed with time, as I found out that I have to gently turn the IEMs forwards, which is due to a rather unconventional angle of the rather short nozzle. Then, seal is pretty decent for me.
Comfort-wise, I find the MR2 to be very pleasant, and the cable has got close to zero microphonics, which is very nice, though I wouldn’t mind having a chin-slider.

As the shells are closed, which is typical for most Balanced Armature earphones, isolation is on a high level, though of slightly lesser amount than extremely noise-isolating earphones like the models from Shure or Westone, but it’s still very high and on the same level as the UE900.


Sound:

My main devices for evaluating the sound of the MR2 were the iBasso DX90, DX80 as well as the HiFime 9018d. Music files were generally stored in FLAC as well as WAV format, but also some MP3s were used.

Tonality:

After the really felicitous experience with the MR3 in-ears, I was especially eager to know how the dual-driver model sounds. Its sound heads into the smoother, more bass-emphasised direction, but is overall still fairly balanced. With the small emphasis in the upper treble, the MR2 could also be described as very slightly, tendentially v-shaped, but “a bit bassier than balanced” is in my humble opinion the better fitting characterisation.

In my ears, the bass is emphasised by about 8 dB (compared to the ER-4S) and mainly focusses on the mid-bass, upper bass as well as fundamental tone, although the sub-bass fortunately doesn’t roll off either and is just as present as the mid-bass. The overall emphasis is very even.
The following midrange is in my ears slightly elevated (and therefore no typical v-shaped midrange) and deep voices are very slightly on the warmer side (due to the lows’ emphasis that starts extending at about 500 Hz), but still what I’d consider as tonally very correct and they are far from being coloured. The following presence area and middle highs are more in the background, wherefore the sound gets smoother and guarantees for really good, non-fatiguing long-term listening. At 9 kHz is a moderate peak.
Above 10 kHz, the extension is still good up to 14 kHz, wherefore subtle sparkling/glare in this area can still be heard, what is quite nice.

The MR3 follows a tuning philosophy that pretty much resembles my UERMs’ tonality with a tad more lows.
The MR2 is bassier and sounds darker as well as more relaxed than the MR3 – especially the middle treble which is less present on the dual-driver makes the sound appear more forgiving and better for long-term listening. In contrast to the MR3, the treble is not bright, but also not really dark – “relaxed” would be a fitting term.
In the super-treble above 10 kHz, the MR3 has probably got the slightly better extension by 1 kHz.

Resolution:

In terms of detail retrieval, the MR2 is really good, simply typical for BA-based in-ears. Not much surprising, the lows are fast, responsive and arid, but also gain a good bass body from the large Knowles woofer, what I personally like about it. The mids are precise and unveil singers’ variations very well. The treble is also high resolving and sounds natural.

Regarding resolution, the triple-driver MR3 is superior to the MR2 (and also beats the Shure SE425). Typically for the M3’s small dual-woofer, the bass is somewhat more arid than the MR2’s large woofer, but the dual-driver MR2 has got the nicer bass body and is about just as fast and controlled (and not really soft at all, though softer than the MR3’s small, responsive BA-woofers).
Although the MR3 has got the better treble resolution, I kind of prefer the MR2 in the upper department, as it lacks the slightly metallic impact of the MR3, wherefore the MR2’s treble sounds more natural.

Compared to the Shure SE425, the American slightly wins – the Shure has got the quicker bass and the somewhat higher detail retrieval in the mids and lower highs. Though, with music that contains many instruments, I find the Pai to be better controlled (most likely due to the larger soundstage). Not much surprising, the Chinese in-ears have got the better extension above 10 kHz.

Soundstage:

Just like the MR3, the MR2 is spatially convincing, although its soundstage is slightly narrower and also not as deep, but still quite remarkable (and in contrast to some multi-drivers like the UE900 or Westone W4R, the Pai has got a good spatial depth). And also like the MR3, MR2’s instrument placement and separation as well as layering are really felicitous (the MR2 is just as precise as the MR3 in this regard) and above the Shure.
Once again, the whole presentation is really successful and beats the Shure in terms of spatiality.


Conclusion:
 
PaiAudio’s MR2 is, just like the MR3, a really good Balanced Armature-based in-ear that retails for a really fair price. In contrast to the flagship that is more neutrally and balanced tuned, the dual-driver represents a gentler, bassier signature that I would consider as “trimmed fun”.
The spatial imaging as well as detail retrieval are clearly on a better level than what the price suggests – though, in contrast to the slightly more expensive MR3, the MR2 is no “SE425-killer”, but comes quite close in performance.
Sonically, there is nothing to criticise at this price point and the MR2 has got a formidable price-to-performance-ratio, wherefore it gets 96% or 5 out of 5 possible stars in my evaluation.