DITA Audio Project M

Disclaimer
Please note that I am not an audiophile, and this review does not delve into the technical aspects of the IEMs. My impressions are based on my personal preferences, and others may have different experiences with this product. I also have a very limited experience with audio products so please take this review with a grain of salt.

The Project M was lent to me as part of a review tour in the Philippines. Thanks to Ian and Mars who invited me to join!

Price: 325 USD
Link: https://ditaaudio.com/products/project-m

Part 1: General Product Details

Package Inclusions:

• IEM shells & cable
• Carry case (with cleaning brush & cloth)
• A case with 5 pairs of Final silicon eartips in different sizes

The IEM Shells

• The shell is made of clear resin, with the Dita logo encased within in color-changing hue. The shell has a strange shape, but I believe it’s because it’s well molded to ears. The IEMs really looks beautiful!
• Each earpiece weighing at around 5.3g. They don’t feel heavy despite being about 2g heavier than my daily drivers

The Carrying Case

• The carrying case (called a “Systainer”) is specially made by a German company called Tanos for Dita. It’s made of tough plastic.
• Be careful when closing the case and your wires are inside, you might accidentally damage your wires if they get caught in the edges.

The Cable

• The cable though thin feels very premium. Sometimes they get all tangled up, but it’s no big deal, easy enough to untangle
• The jack can be switched between the included 3.5mm and 4.4mm, mind-blown! You won’t get the orientation wrong, as there’s a peg-and-hole to guide the insertion of the jack to the cable.

Part 2: Subjective review

General Usage Impressions

• The iems fit my ears perfectly, giving me a good seal with no extra effort. These might be my favorite fitting IEMs
• The shells are protruding from my ears a bit, not really an issue, just kind of feels weird.
• Feels very premium overall, I love the fit and the looks!

Sound Impressions

• The bass gives off a slight rumble in my ear but it’s not as strong as the Elysian Pilgrim.
• Song details are crystal clear with an emphasis on vocals. If you love songs with a lot of vocals, you’ll probably love this IEM. I personally think that it’s a tad bit too bright for me. It’s not a deal-breaker, this can easily be fixed with a bit of EQ fiddling in the mid-treble
• Soundstage also feels wide to me, but not as wide and “airy” as the Pilgrim.
• Despite the difference in tuning, I think this is still very much great for general use.

Final Thoughts

The Dita Project M is an excellent premium midrange IEM that is aesthetically pleasing with amazing sound to go with it. I enjoyed the unboxing experience, and the inclusion of extra tips was a pleasant surprise.

While the tuning out of the box isn’t my cup of tea, It’s still a wonderful choice for non-bass heads. When the budget allows, I will want to buy a pair for myself.

Excited to share my thoughts on the Dita Project M in this review. I believe this IEM is set to become the new standard in its price range.

This IEM was given to me by The Audio Store for a review. No exchange has been done, all thoughts and opinions are mine and honest.
Introduction








This IEM gets my recommendation. It really shines when paired with a high-quality source. Increasing the Voltage significantly enhances the bass and overall lower frequency performance. Plus, using DACs with a musical sound profile takes the tonality to the next level.


Build

When you first pick up this IEM, you'll immediately feel the solid construction. Crafted from slow-poured resin, it gives off a sense of durability. You might even think it could withstand being thrown off a building. The accompanying case, made by "Tanos", is also impressively sturdy. While it may not be as tough as pelican cases, it outshines the typical cases that come with IEMs in this price range.


Fit

The fit is better than average. The shells may seem a little large, but they still fit my medium-sized ears. The cable is also better than average for this price, with no microphonics, very little memory, good quality splitters and connectors, and interchangeable termination (3.5 & 4.4). I can use this IEM daily with confidence and ease.


Tips

The Final E tips are included, which are priced well in the market. While many may prefer the Final E tips for this set, as someone who loves treble, I always opt for the Divinus Velvet Tips for enhanced Soundstage and Details, along with a touch of sparkle in the lower treble.


Tuning Philosophy

This is a neutral set, with a bit of treble extension. The bass is very neutral and reference grade, mids are very neutral along with a slightly elevated treble. The presentation overall feels lifelike. No frequency range is overpowering other ranges. The bass-to-mids transition is seamless and produces a very coherent response. There was no trace of BA timber in the presentation.


Timber Reproduction


Drums

- They seemed authentic and vivid. The BASS DRUM packs a punch rather than being neutral. The highs are nicely done, and the cymbals sound detailed and light. In general, there's a slight boost in the low end when listening to drums.


Guitar

- Steel String Guitars have a really natural sound. I love the Attack and Bite they offer. While they may lack a bit of zing in the upper treble, they still feel very natural and have great control. On the other hand, Classical Guitars sound absolutely amazing. They feel incredibly authentic and the tone is spot on.


Violin

- They sound good throughout the spectrum, although I could use a little bit of body and to get that solved when I changed my tips to Final E (Which are included). Bite, attack airyness everything was there.


Piano

The piano sounds very earthy and weighted. You can feel the weight of the hammers in the strings. The trailing edges are well conserved although a bit of higher treble extension would’ve been liked by me. Nonetheless, the piano sounded very safe and weighty.


Wind Instruments

- Every wind instrument from Trumpet to Flute, and saxophone sounded very good. A good amount of extension to offer, good clarity and resolution.


Vocals

- Vocals sounded very neutral with this IEM. They are a bit forward in the presentation in the upper mids but very neutral. Male voices are not warm by any means, but they are full of textures and nuances. Chest, head both voices sound good and natural. Female singers on the other hand sounded exquisite. Full of details, airiness and extension to offer. It's an absolute joy to listen to female vocals with this set.


Now let's jump into the Objective Aspects of this IEM


Bass


- The bass is there, not overpowering the spectrum. Attack and decay are natural, and above average for the price. The amplitude of the bass is not much. Midbass is slightly more felt than the subbass, although they are on the same level and the falloff is extremely gradual.
Bass works extremely well with neutral sets and when paired with a warm source it can satisfy Hip-Hop and EDM music to an extent.


Midrange


- Midrange is a very reference grade. There is not a lot of warmth to offer but it never felt recessed, and always came out as a separate layer in all of the genres. The pinna is very safe and there is not even a hint of elevation to cause discomfort to my ears.


Treble


- The treble on this IEM is a bit interesting, they are borderline bright for me. With high volumes, they can cause problems to few. Although it is the best part of this IEM. The way it handles air without being peaky ever so slightly is mindblowing for the price. The tuning decisions they took to tune the treble really play very well with almost all genres.


Comparisons


Studio 4

- Studio 4 has a bit more inclination towards neutrality. Although Dita sounds more interesting, the mids are better on S4 but the treble is better (more in quantity and resolution) on Dita.


Performer 8

- I can’t make a clear choice here. On the one hand, the treble on Dita offers a different kind of timber to the instruments whereas the P8s treble is generally more generic. Performer 8 is more timber-ly correct and possesses a lower bass shelf.


Hype 2

- The soundstage and bass are a lot better on Hype 2. Otherwise, Dita is a step above this IEM.


Conclusion

The DITA Audio Project M offers a well-rounded and intricate sound quality. Its sleek design, top-notch accessories, and comfortable feel make it a standout competitor in the mid-range IEM market. Perfect for audiophiles seeking a high-quality sound without the hefty price tag. If you prefer a clear, detailed sound with a balanced tone, the DITA Project M is a fantastic pick. Although it may not cater to bass lovers and could be too bright for those sensitive to high frequencies, its overall performance and affordability make it an enticing choice for music enthusiasts and audiophiles

Dita Project M
This is a tour unit organised by AudioGeek , thanks to Dita for providing us with Units of Project M & Navigator dongle..

Package
Project M looks Luxury with the box Quality , the subtle understated logo & dark colour scheme, inside the box you get paper work which gives some more insight about Dita's Project M , the exclusive travel case provided is by TANOS , which looks catchy by industrial look in Space Grey , included Eartips are 5 pairs of Final Type E ,
The included modular cable boasts 3.5 & 4.4 jack connections , with the MOCCA cable that utilizes conductors made by Cardas in the USA , MOCCA cable is constructed of 16 strands of Cardas conductors per cable, twisted to DITA's specifications and jacketed in a flexible PVC outer layer.
As for the iems are Resin based solid shell , which is as transparent as it can get , you can see the Proprietary DD & the BA, it's the most attractive set in its price range, it's so beautiful feels like it needs to handled with care..

Sound
Fairly neutral sound signature ,
A nice balance between technicality & tonality ,
Controlled Clear & refined bass .
Mids are the part where it shines bright , vocals both male & female are presented with finnese .
Instruments have a great resolution & timbre
Treble is highly resolving, exceptional resolution atnthe cost of being a bit sharp at times .
Female vocals seem a bit bright on some not so well mastered tracks .
I enjoyed Project M most on Hiby RS2 dap which is organic sounding & helps in taming the treble response.
SoundStage & imaging is excellent.

Conclusion
Tuning wise it's a pleaser to wast audience, most of the music will sound great on Project M.
The unique clear solid resin design makes it attractive & luxurious, it's comfortable, the provided accessories & the whole package with nice modular cable , final Eartips make it a great set to buy if you are a aesthete.
This is my subjective take on Project M with Hiby RS2 as a source
on balanced cable.

Preamble​

The upper end of audio equipment manufacturer’s usually play in a certain price bracket looking to build a brand based on ‘luxury’ and ‘high-end’ audio. But given the proliferation of the hobby with the growth of Chi-Fi, there has been a delving into other markets for a number of brands. The decision to enter new markets is a big decision to make and also brings with it an expectation of all the connotations that one has built towards a brand. Today’s review concerns the Dita Project M (PM), a fairly affordable option from established Singaporean brand, Dita Audio. Dita have long played in the upper-end with single dynamic driver (DD) IEMs that command rather healthy price tags.
And so, one must wonder, can a luxury brand bring a semblance of what has made them held in high regard to a more affordable price bracket?

The Factual Stuff​

The PM consists of a single 9.8mm DD that was supposedly built specifically for the PM and a single Knowles balanced armature (BA) driver. The drivers are housed in a steel chamber and encased in clear resin for a very striking looking IEM. No mention is made about any crossovers or any other sort of tech in the PM.

The PM comes with the “MOCCA” cable that uses wires made by Cardas Audio, a quite famous cable maker in the audio game. The cable is terminated with what Dita terms their “Awesome Plug Version 2” (APV2) which is interchangeable terminations ala TermX.

The PM is accompanied by new glow-in-the-dark Final Audio E-Type ear tips and a German-made Systainer case made by Tanos.

The Opinion Stuff​

Sound​

The majority of the below impressions was written utilising the PM with Final Audio E-Type eartips out of the Shanling M6 Ultra using the stock cable terminated in 4.4mm.

Bass​

The PM is tuned with a restrained approach in the low-end with there being a present but slightly understated bassiness. The sub-bass extends quite well providing you with a sense of depth and physicality but it is rather conservatively tuned so there is no ‘kick-in-the-chest’ that some bassheads crave. That being said, these frequencies are well detailed and quite textured, providing you with a greater sense of appreciation for the low-end as opposed to simply trying to overwhelm you with power.
The mid-bass punch (or perhaps, the lack thereof) leaves me wanting for more. There is a sense of pacing that is provided by the PM but on the whole, it doesn’t wow you in this regard, maintaining a rather flat response in this area.

The restrained tuning of the bass makes this not the ideal IEM for bassheads in the market but I feel it does enough to satisfy the majority of the market. What I enjoy about the PM’s bass is that it provides the dynamism that you want from your low-end, striking rather deep and with a sense of physicality that you don’t get on an all-BA set for example. Moreover, the sense of texture and the details that you can extract from the bass-line is also quite impressive. These elements seem to speak to an overall image of neutral, tasteful tuning in the low-end that seeks to heighten technical prowess rather than just dumb fun.

Mids​

Moving to the mid-range, the PM presents a similarly neutral lean to this region. The aforementioned restrained mid-bass tuning lends itself to a clinical and clear lower-mid-range with very little to no bloat here. IT is common that a more generously boosted mid-bass tends to muddle up the lower-midrange to the point where male vocals feel veiled and less coherent. The PM suffers from no such problem but in the midst of clinical rendition, it does recess male vocals somewhat and leads to removal of some emotion and soul from this region. I am unabashedly biased towards greater note weight and slight warmth as I associate those aspects with more emotional and musical renditions. The PM doesn’t present these elements which would usually be a death knell for many IEMs but the PM does a good job of maintaining musicality and some heft in the mids in that it doesn’t suffer the curse of being overly sterile in the pursuit of technical supremacy.
Still well-timbred and natural to the ear, the mid-range is quite enticing to listen to, that is, except for a more spicy rendition of upper-mids.

Higher-pitched female vocalists have a tendency to come off a little shrill on the PM, especially when seeking it out with tracks such as “34+35” by Ariana Grande and “4 walls” by f(x). These are a little harsh to listen to on the PM and are likely to cause some fatigue over time. This was also with the stock E-type tips, which are narrow bore and in my experience, have been used to take the edge off of the upper-end of IEMs for a while now. I also tested it with the Eletech Baroques, which wide bore and place the nozzles quite close into the ear canal. The result of this was a much sharper upper-midrange response where songs felt just entirely too sibilant.
Overall, the PM, in my opinion, requires the stock ear-tips in order to be listenable for long periods of time with the upper-mid lift being a bit too much for my liking. This combined with its rather flat tuning in the lower-mids leads to an underwhelming experience which despite being well-timbred and somewhat musical in its rendition, does not do anything to wow me but leaves me wondering whether the next song will be a shrill mess.

Treble​

The upper-ends of the frequency response curve remain the most enigmatic region to me as I feel that it is the least of my worries unless it is obviously absent or obviously fatiguing. Unfortunately, the PM leans more into the latter as there is an unabashed spiciness to the treble that is most apparent with female vocalists (as mentioned earlier) and with percussion in songs such as “Reckoner” by Radiohead. There is a crispiness here that leans more into the fatiguing region as it hits sharply and with speed, quite apt for the instrument that it is rendering but tiring nonetheless. To qualify that description, I must state that I still enjoyed my listening sessions with the PM as I felt that the crispness and slight sharpness of the treble accentuated certain instruments in a manner that was highly enjoyable. There is a harrowing and slightly dramatic quality to the treble that whilst not being a laid-back listen, helped to really make certain songs shine.

This slightly brighter lean also helps accentuate microdetails in the region as the leading edge of each high-pitched note felt clear, concise and speedy in its rendition. I felt that this helped heighten perceived detail but the quality of the treble itself was also enjoyable.
With all of this said though, the PM will basically be unlistenable to some people by virtue of its more aggressive tune in this region. If you are particularly treble sensitive, there is a slight shrillness to the PM that may lead you to dislike it. But I found an almost masochistic enjoyment in this quality as there were plenty of instances of percussion or strings feeling like a breath of morning winter air, slightly painful but refreshing nonetheless.
Overall, the PM’s treble is overindulgent with certain vocals being too shrill for my liking but shorter notes sung out by percussive instruments are a very enjoyable experience.

Technicalities​

The technical performance of the PM is, on the whole, quite good! The flatter tune tapering up to a brighter signature is a method of tuning that often one associates with ‘faux-detail’. However, critical listening for very specific notes in certain songs that I have heard many-times over leads me to believe that the PM is just plain good at detail retrieval. From the low-end to the high-end of the FR curve, the PM sounds great at rendering microdetails and its dynamic range feels excellent. There is no compressed or constrained feeling here as the low-end extends sufficiently deep and the high-end feels airy and well extended as well.

Staging on the PM is fairly constrained providing me with a distinctly ‘in-my-head’ feeling without venturing into the fabled term of ‘holographic’. However, with that said, the PM also avoids the issue of being ultrawide and flat, a staging experience that I am not a fan of. There is a sufficient sense of width and depth with the PM that is immersive enough for my listening.

Imaging, layering and separation are elements that help distinguish an IEM from being an incoherent mess to being an articulate and readily dissectible monitor. The PM is the latter, separating notes, placing them within the stage and imaging them with the requisite microdetail to be an excellent companion for critical listening sessions.
Overall, I feel that the PM’s technical capabilities are one of its strong points, being able to handle busily produced tracks with a 2-driver setup is a commendable feat especially when tribrids in the price-range struggle do the same.

Comparisons​

vs Thieaudio Hype 2 (from memory and previous review)​

The Hype2 provided a rather strong low-end performance from the isobaric dynamic driver configuration with notes in this region striking with good power whilst retaining tightness. The Hype2 is the definitive winner in this region compared to the PM unless you are looking for a more tame and neutral approach to this region. In terms of midrange, the PM is a neutral with a brighter tilt whereas the Hype2 comes off as slightly darker with a degree of warmth. The treble regions are chalk and cheese with the PM being considerably more spicy than the relaxed Hyper2 resulting in an experience that is quite jarring to A-B. Technical capabilities are much more apparent on the PM due to its more revealing tuning but the Hype 2 does well to impress with its tremendous low-end detail and texture. Staging on the Hype 2 feels more tall than it is wide or deep leading to an oddly grand experience. The PM doesn’t feel too expansive in any regard.
Overall, the Hype 2 and the PM represent quite different tuning approaches with the former being slightly dark and smoother to the ear with great low-end power whereas the latter is a leaner and brighter tuning that seeks to attack you with its treble. The Hype 2 is a much safer choice in my books.

Value and Quality of Life​

325 USD is a bit of an odd price bracket with my experience at this price being fairly limited but for the price, I feel that the PM presents a fairly compelling package. Outside of the sound noted above, the experience of unboxing and using the PM is a rather enjoyable one. With limited accessories, the PM doesn’t overwhelm you with extra goodies but there is definitely a thoughtful and high-quality approach here.
The build quality of the PMs are rather impressive with the earpieces feeling robust, solid and well finished. Having experienced the Hype 2 which are priced similarly and other Chi-Fi brands such as Moondrop at higher price brackets, I feel that the PM provides a far more comforting build quality that leads me to believe that they will hold up for some time.
Comfort-wise, the PMs are rather good in my ears with its fairly well-moulded resin earpieces seating nicely in my ears. There is a potential for some fitment issues with individuals with smaller ears but I don’t think these would be much different from the usual hybrids in this price bracket.
The included accessories are both good and bad in that there is some high quality goodies in here but they come off a little odd. The Final Audio E-Types, whilst excellent with the PM are the only eartips that come with the PM and were best suited to the brighter IEM. The case, whilst quite well made, is a little too short for easy storage of the PM. I found myself adjusting positioning to get the lid to close properly.
The PM is a bit of a hard recommend at the price as I would term its tuning as divisive at best.

Conclusion​

Lean, mean and impressive for a company’s first foray into the hybrid market, the PM comes off as what it seems on paper. That is, an experiment and slightly half-baked at that. There are nuggets of gold with the PM from its handsome shell design, excellent build quality and certain portions of its FR curve. It is overindulgent in the upper-mids and treble boost leading to a harsher listening experience that restricts its everyman appeal. Stifled by this, there is little room for you to experiment with ear-tips (unless they’re narrow bore) and I would not be reaching for these as a daily.

DITA Audio creates products driven by a pursuit of excellence, believing that a well-crafted product should be an experience in itself. Beyond audio, DITA actively seeks partnerships with clients and collaborators who share a passion for comprehensive design integration and execution. They foster collaborative ventures in design, engineering, and manufacturing to achieve this goal.

Founded in 1971, DITA's parent company, Packagers Pte. Ltd., brings 49 years of research and expertise in automation and engineering, which is reflected in the unwavering commitment to craftsmanship evident in every DITA product.

"To stand out in the competitive earphone market takes courage. DITA's design team has not only created a meticulously detailed product but also added value to our home-grown brand's growing reputation."

— JURY CITATION

The Answer received the President's Design Award for Design of the Year in 2015, recognizing its exceptional manufacturing quality and user-centric design. The President's Design Award is Singapore's highest honor for designers and designs across all disciplines, celebrating individuals and innovations that positively impact both Singaporean society and the global community. Learn more about DITA Audio and their products at [Dita Audio Official]

Credit: Dita Audio

Disclosure:
I extend my thanks to Asher aka Dita Audio for reaching out to arrange a sample of the new Project M. All opinions expressed in this review are my own, and I have not received any monetary compensation for providing a positive assessment. While the earphones were provided to me at no cost, I aim to offer an unbiased evaluation.

Introduction:
The Project M is a notable entry-level product from DITA Audio in the mid-tier IEM market, offered at around $325. DITA Audio, a Singaporean company known for its meticulous design and engineering, has ventured into the hybrid IEM category with this model. The Project M promises a balanced and engaging audio experience, making it a compelling choice for audiophiles and music enthusiasts. Let's Begin with–

Design and Build Quality:



The Project M stands out with its transparent resin shell and stainless-steel chamber, providing both visual appeal and durability. The unibody design ensures robustness, while the minimal external branding and semi-transparent cables enhance its sophisticated look. The craftsmanship reflects DITA Audio’s commitment to quality and attention to detail.



Comfort: Ergonomically designed, the Project M features a form-friendly shape that fits snugly in the ear. The lightweight construction and the nozzle is short while it may comfortable to wear but the cons its really picky in term of choosing the right tips. but good thing dita including high-quality Final Audio eartips 'and its glow in the dark', very comfortable and secure fit for extended listening sessions.



Inside The Packaging Dita Provide:
•Storage Case: TANOS Systainer carry case for robust protection.
•MOCCA Cable: Custom-built with Cardas conductors for superior signal transmission.
•Ear Tips: Final Audio 'Glow in the dark' eartips (XS to XL).
•Termination Adapters: Includes 4.4mm and 3.5mm modular plugs for versatile connectivity.





The DITA Project M offers a neutral sound signature with a push in the upper midrange. While they sound great, they may not suit everyone. At first, I couldn't quite handle the spiciness in the upper frequencies and the sibilance in this set. These IEMs are quite picky when it comes to the music they play too; bad mastering can result in harshness or sibilance in the uppermid or treble. but I've been getting used to it or i say Burning-in more than 40 hours of listening time. These IEMs have become much more addictive in my opinion. and for better experince i suggest using good source it will unlock the true refined of the sound.


Specifications:
>Driver Configuration: Hybrid setup with PM1+ dynamic driver and Knowles 33518 balanced armature driver.
>Impedance: 32 ohms.
>Frequency Response: 20Hz - 20kHz.
>Sensitivity: 107dB/mW @ 1kHz.

•Lets Start With Bass Section:

The Bass response of the Project M is neutral with a slight emphasis on sub-bass. It offers good quality and control, with decent note separation and layering. However, its lack of impact or punchiness may not satisfy those who prefer a heavy bass presence. Nevertheless, it provides a solid performance for most genres of music, in my opinion. The depth of the sub-bass extension is notable, providing a deep and rumbling foundation without overpowering the rest of the frequency spectrum; it's a really well-tuned bass. Furthermore, it remains tight and controlled, avoiding any muddiness or bloat. This makes it suitable for genres like RnB, PopFunk, or possibly Kpop, where clarity and defined bass are crucial.
♪ Track Preference, Bass;



"Hourglass" by Lamb Of God: The Project M delivers a fast and controlled sub-bass response. The intricate drum patterns are well-articulated, showcasing the IEM's ability to handle complex bass lines with precision. However, the impact is not quite punchy, yet it maintains clarity and definition throughout.




"Another One Bites The Dust" by Queen: The bassline in this track resonates deeply, with the bass guitar providing a rich, resonant texture and nuanced depth to the music. These IEMs showcase their ability to deliver a nuanced bass response, offering a well-tuned balance that perfectly complements the overall sound signature of the song.



"Like It" by CLC: The subbass in this song is so heavy and low that I can only hear it clearly with good bass earphones or my JBL speaker; I can't even hear it properly when I play it loudly on my phone. However, these IEMs still manage the sub-bass well with pretty good decay.

Midrange Is Fun & Energic:

Prioritizing clarity and transparency. The lower mids provide a warm and full-bodied sound, perfect for instruments like acoustic guitars and pianos, tbh its sound engaging and sooting, and this iems suit well with male voices.. But The upper mids are slightly emphasized maybe too much for some including me, which brings out the clarity in female vocals and string instruments. even when i watch some reels video or youtube i can hear the sibilance, especially with high pitch voices, this emphasis can sometimes lead to a bright sound that might be fatiguing over long listening sessions.
♪ Track Preference, Midrange;



"Say My Name" by Niki: Her vocals in this track are rendered with clarity and detail, showcasing the Project M ability to capture the energetic midrange presentation. The midrange delivers the emotional depth of the song, highlighting the raw and emotive qualities of the vocals while maintaining a balanced tonality.



"Peanut Butter and Tears" by DPR IAN: The midrange presentation in this track accentuates the warmth and full-bodied richness of the vocals, contributing to the emotional impact of DPR IAN's performance. The Project M handles the midrange with precision, offering a well-tuned balance that complements the overall sound signature of the track.



"Heaven Knows" by Pretty Reckless: The lower mids shine in this track, adding warmth and full-bodied richness to Taylor Momsen vocals. However, the upper mids, while emphasizing the clarity and energy in her voice, might border on being bright for some listeners, potentially causing listening fatigue over extended sessions.



"After Like" by IVE: This track has some prominent sibilance in the upper mids and treble that can be challenging for IEMs. With the Project M, I noticed occasional sibilance on words with "s" and "shh" sounds. it was present enough that listeners sensitive to uppermid energy may find it pretty fatiguing during longer listening sessions. The IEM handled the overall treble well, but the occasional sibilance peaks could be an area of improvement.
Treble Is Crisps And Sparkie:

Delivering a refined and detailed sound. However, the upper mids and treble can occasionally exhibit some sibilance its soo noticable in my ears imo, which might be a concern for treble-sensitive listeners. Despite this, the treble maintains a quality and cripsness. Detail of The treble is capable of revealing fine details in recordings, making it suitable for critical listening. Also the Extension of high frequencies extend well, providing a sense of air and space in the music imo.
♪ Track Preference, Treble;



"Merry Go Round" by Sungha Jung (Cover): The Project M delivers the treble with bright and well-extended qualities, bringing out the intricate details in Sungha Jung's acoustic guitar performance. the sound of strings is very satisfying and soo crisps. this very suit in my opinion for listenin some acoustic song or cover.



"Make it Rain" by Ed Sheeran: The extension of high frequencies in this track is well-captured by the Project M, providing a sense of air and space in the music. The refined and detailed treble response adds a layer of crispness and clarity to Ed Sheeran's vocals and the accompanying instrumentation..



"Victorious" by Panic! At The Disco: The electric guitar's presence in this track is well-defined, with the Project M maintaining clarity and control in the high frequencies. The high extension adds a solid foundation to the track without overpowering the midrange and low elements.

Technicalities, Imaging and Separation:

This IEMs may not be the widest soundstage you can find in the price buket, but it still has pretty good sense that provides space and depth, It allows listeners to discern the placement of instruments and vocals with precision, creating an immersive listening experience. Width and Depth also delightful adding to soundstage that makes it both intimate and deep, giving a three-dimensional feel to the music. Separation is acceptable, even though the Instruments and vocals are well-separated, but music with very comflex instrument such as Hardcore Metal are kinda piled up. it easy to pick out individual elements in most genre music or recording, but in very complex recording music still feels cluttered and a little bit chaotic. but good things the imaging on the Project M is accurate, soo its enabling clear separation and localization of instruments and vocals within the soundstage. This help for complex tracks where instrument separation is crucial. The precise imaging allows listeners to accurately locate where each instrument is placed within the soundstage.
♪ Track Preference, Soundstage, Imaging and Separation;



"Kill Bill" by SZA (Acoustic Version): The Project M offers pretty deep soundstage, creating a sense of space and depth that enhances the acoustic version of this track. The instrumentation and vocals are well-separated, while is not most dynamic set out there but this Project M still offers immersive experince while listening this song.



"The Tortoise and the hare" by Stray Kidz: The precise imaging of this iems allows for clear separation and localization of instruments and vocals within the soundstage. The IEM excels in capturing the spatial cues and instrumental placement, contributing to a well-defined and engaging listening experience.



"Scene Seven: I. The Dance of Eternity" by Dream Theater: This song is super complicated, with lots of different instruments playing fast and all at once. Imagine a bunch of people talking really quickly in different languages, that's kind of what it's like! Not all IEMs can handle this complex song. Some cheaper ones might make the music sound muddy or blurry,especially the deep bass parts and the fast drum beats. This Project M might not be the absolute best compared with other within the price point. but still–it does a pretty good job with this difficult song. handling the deep bass and fast drum..

Timbre and Micro Detail Retrieval:

Timbre of this iems is natural and accurate its really show how instrument supposedly sound like, especially in the bass and treble sound very lifelike, adding to the overall realism of the listening experience. Instruments like acoustic guitars and pianos sound authentic, with a natural decay and resonance. Also Micro and detailed retrieval The Project M excels the smallest sound object, bringing out subtle nuances in the music. This level of detail enhances the listening experience, allowing audiophiles to appreciate the fine intricacies in their favorite tracks. The IEMs are capable of revealing the smallest details in a recording, such as the subtle breaths of a vocalist or the delicate plucking of guitar strings.

♪ Track Preference, Timbre and Micro Detail Retrieval;



"Hotel California" by Eagles: The Project M captures the natural timbre of every instrument, such as the the string of guitars, and hit of drums in this track. The lifelike decay and resonance of the guitar strings and well controled bass add to the overall realism of the listening experience, showcasing the IEM ability to reproduce natural instrument sounds.



"Thriller" by Michael Jackson: The micro and detailed retrieval of the Project M shines in this songs, revealing the subtle nuances and delicate every sound effect in the song from howling of the wolf, whisper and screaming on background, to the pieces of fall any items to ground. The IEM excels in bringing out the smallest details in the recording, allowing audiophiles to appreciate the fine intricacies of the performance.

Pros:
+Superb build quality with good quality resin construction and stanless stell chamber.
+Ergonomic design for enhanced comfort and fit
+High-quality MOCCA cable with Cardas Grade One Copper Conductors
+Innovative Tanos Case with modular storage system
+Detailed and crips treble and also well-extended

Cons:
-Need Good Source too unlocked the true refined sound.
-Elevated upper midrange may be too pronounced for some listeners
-Treble sensitivity could cause fatigue over extended listening periods
-Sibilance: Occasional sibilance in the upper mids and treble
-Limited bass impact compared to other offerings in its class
-Packaging could be more secure to prevent movement during transit



Conclusion: Overall Performance and Positioning The DITA Audio Project M excels in delivering a balanced and detailed sound experience. With its elegant design, high-quality accessories, and comfortable fit, it stands out as a strong contender in the mid-tier IEM market. The Project M is suitable for audiophiles looking for a premium sound experience without the high-end price tag. For those looking for a clear, detailed sound with a balanced profile, the DITA Project M is an excellent choice. While it may not satisfy bass enthusiasts and might be a bit bright for upper-sensitive listeners, its overall performance and value make it a compelling option for audiophiles and music lovers.

My Rating.
- Low: ★★★★✮
- Mid: ★★★★☆
- High: ★★★★★
- Technical: ★★★★★ (4.8,5 /5)
{☆ 0 point, ✮ 0.5 point, ★ 1 point}

I recently got to try out the DITA Project M in-ear monitors, thanks to the Audio Geek Brotherhood of Audiophiles, who provide review units of several high-end IEMs.

Disclaimer​

The review unit was provided free of charge. The review is provided from a (mostly) subjective point of view, and any concepts/terms provided in the review below are my own takes on the audio, which may differ from anyone else's.

The Basics​

The Project M (hereinafter ProjM) is their first hybrid IEM with DITA's in-house PM1+ dynamic driver (9.8mm) and a Knowles 33518 balanced armature driver, housed inside a stainless steel chamber which is entombed in a hard clear resin shell. Visually these IEMs are a very far cry from DITA's other products in the line, which have an industrial aura to them. I am very easily swooned by transparent/see through electronics, and the ProjM is definitely no exception, the shell is very organically shaped and aesthetically pleasing looking, and will catch an eye or two in public. I do not think I have seen a more beautiful IEM before.



Feeding into the gorgeous monitors is a pair of 16 core copper cables (custom made, as expected from DITA) jacketed in a layer of PVC. The cable is modular in nature, supporting DITA's Awesome Plug V2 spec. Provided in the box were 3.5mm and 4.4mm terminators, which are easy to swap out as needed. I believe there's also a Type-C termination in the APV2 spec that can be used with it, but the ProjM did not come with it.



Final Audio's Clear eartips come as OEM with the ProjM. There's not much to say here, paired with the organic shape of the shell they provide an incredibly snug and comfortable fit. Oh, and they glow in the dark. (Why do they glow in the dark?)



A carrying case is also provided - the TANOS Systainer3 XXS 33 is in line with the otherwise industrial aesthetic of DITA, but unfortunately clashes with the delicate aesthetic of the ProjMs. It's akin to carrying a crystal sculpture in a tool box. Also, the box is small. I had a ton of difficulty putting the ProjMs reliably inside the case, and was worried I would hit or damage something every time I tried to close the lid - I eventually reused an older puck-style IEM case I had lying around while I perused the ProjM.

The Sound​

My initial points when I tried ProjM for the first time were as follows:

• A mostly neutral and uncolored tonality
• Fairly good soundstage and imaging
• Clear mids that lend themselves well to instruments and male vocals

After listening to several different genres of music (and some sessions of gaming with them) over several days, my conclusion is as follows:

Tonality​

As mentioned before, ProjM is mostly neutral. Emphasis on mostly, as I felt a few things were tuned slightly different from my expectations of "neutral", namely the upper treble being a bit higher than expected. Some songs also made it feel like the bass was slightly lower(not that I mind at all).

An excellent by-product of ProjM being close to reference tuning is that it is extremely malleable, and can easily be molded to taste using DSP or equalizer settings.

The lower end​

The bass in ProjM feels divisive - they're no doubt very controlled and refined, but results will vary depending on the genres of music you listen, and the kind of bass you like. The 808s in bass-heavy hip-hop songs like Humble - Kendrick Lamar or Rumble - Skrillex and Fred again felt like they somewhat lacked the super-low rumbling and impact that I've come to expect, but the thumps in more electronic pieces like Unshakeable - Celldweller and Falling Free (Aphex Twin mix) - Curve, or big-room house stuff like Pyramid - Dvbbs felt much closer than expected. Overall I'd say the bass is tuned well and the tight decay makes some songs very fun, but I definitely had to to bring out the equalizer on certain songs.

The middle​

This is where ProjM shines - the brilliant imaging means that it can pick out details incredibly well. Male vocals and instruments are easily separated and cleanly presented - songs like September - Earth, Wind & Fire and Free Bird - Lynyrd Skynyrd essentially come to life with the ProjMs. Things like orchestral arrangements (From the Heavens - Eorzean Symphony vol.2) also feel brilliant. Overall it is a detail monster, and even if the soundstage might feel small for some songs, is impeccably precise. The ability to pick out individual instruments in an orchestral using an IEM is by itself a big feat, and the ProjM shines the brightest in this regard.

The higher end​

The treble (and to an extent the upper mids) are on the slightly brighter side in the ProjM. This works out excellent for rock/metal songs - The Vengeful One - Disturbed, Edge Of The Earth - 30 Seconds To Mars and The Antinomy of Ideology - Demetori - where a balance is achieved with the other instruments filling up the other frequencies. Female vocals also feel bright in general, although not enough to diminish the enjoyment for a normal listener.

I, however, am not a normal person, and about 50% of my music collection is acid house, schranz and hardstyle. Songs like Angel Halo - TKG, THE DEEP STRIKER (HWS) - L.E.D.-G or XODUS - DJ Myosuke felt too bright on the high frequencies, especially after about 30-40 min of listening. Like I mentioned earlier using an equalizer on the higher end felt like it helped. But as my playlists hop genres too often, and swapping out eq profiles for every song change felt too cumbersome, I eventually just learnt to live with it and attempted to acclimatize myself.

Put together​

Overall, in my opinion the ProjM leans towards a neutral tone, with a brighter higher end. Bassheads might find themselves slightly disappointed by the apparent lack of impact though, and the brighter high-end might not be for everyone. Thankfully, true to the almost-reference-like nature of the IEMs, the sound can be moulded to be whatever you want with DSP or equalizer settings.

Conclusion​

Tuning wise, ProjM fans a wide net - everything is tuned to be as inoffensive as possible, and the vast majority of your music collection will sound excellent on this IEM. The decent sized soundstage, wide stereo imaging and incredible separation of detail in the midrange makes it a beast for more "traditional" music like orchestrals, rock, live band performances and most pop music.

The product description provided by DITA on the product page states that ProjM "aims to be something that can be kept and enjoyed for a long time," which makes sense considering its tuning and aesthetics, and the fact that they provide a 10-year parts or replacement availability. The intention is clearly (heh) to sell a product that will last long and feels good to use.

When it comes to high-end in-ear monitors (IEMs), DITA Audio has long been a name synonymous with excellence. Founded in Singapore, DITA burst onto the scene in 2015 with their debut IEM, The Answer, which garnered the prestigious President’s Award Singapore for its unparalleled craftsmanship. For nearly a decade, DITA has set the bar high with their top-of-the-line hi-fi IEMs, often priced beyond the reach of the average consumer and almost exclusively featuring single dynamic drivers.

But with the launch of the Project M, DITA has shifted gears. This new release marks a significant departure from their usual offerings, introducing not only their first hybrid IEM but also their most competitively priced model to date. At $325, the Project M is designed to be accessible without compromising on the quality that DITA is known for.

The Project M features a PM1+ 9.2mm dynamic driver paired with a balanced armature (BA) for enhanced treble response. The dynamic driver, custom-designed by DITA, includes a special back driver chamber that acts like a passive radiator, enriching the sub-bass with density and texture. Meanwhile, the BA is cleverly implemented to boost high-frequency tactility and energy, while the dynamic driver ensures brilliant sparkle beyond 10kHz.

In this review, we’ll dive deep into what makes the DITA Project M stand out, exploring its design, sound quality, and how it stacks up in the competitive world of IEMs.

When opening the box of the DITA Project M it has that futuristic Ghost in the Shell vibe with clean color scheme of black, white and grey from the moment you lift the lid, you're greeted with a sense of craftsmanship and attention to detail that immediately sets the tone for what lies within.

The Contents

1. Project M IEMs: At the heart of the package are the DITA Project M in-ear monitors. They boast a hybrid arrangement featuring the DITA PM1+ dynamic driver and a Knowles 33518 BA. This combination promises a full-range sound with clarity, speed, and a punchy bass that i crave.

2. MOCCA Cable: Accompanying the IEMs is the MOCCA cable, crafted with Cardas Copper conductors. This high-quality cable ensures exceptional sound transmission also offers versatility with both 4.4mm and 3.5mm modular plugs.

3. Eartips: The inclusion of Final Audio Clear eartips, which glow in the dark, highlights DITA's playful approach, it never cross my mind that a glow in the dark tips even exist, what for? i dont know

4. Carrying Case: The TANOS® Systainer® Carry Case stands out as a cool and stylish solution for transporting your IEMs. Its design speaks of that futuristic ghost in the shell vibe i mentioned, its seems durable and rugged ensuring your Project M is protected wherever you go.

5. Documentation: Lastly, the package includes essential papers and a very unique Origami style manual / brochure offering guidance and information to enhance your DITA Project M experience.




Tonality and Tuning

The DITA Project M presents a distinct tonality characterized by a bright neutral sound with a very slight sub-bass lift and a vividly boosted upper treble. This combination results in a sound profile that is both lively and energetic, with a particular emphasis on treble. The IEMs may come across as slightly U-shaped, with lean bass and mids complemented by a sparkling treble that adds a sense of airiness and dimension to the soundstage.

Driver Implementation

At the heart of the Project M’s performance is its hybrid driver configuration. A meticulously tuned in-house designed dynamic driver covers the full frequency range, while a Knowles balanced armature handles the lower to mid-treble frequencies. This blend ensures that the IEMs deliver a cohesive sound, avoiding the common pitfalls of hybrid designs where different drivers can sometimes produce disjointed audio. The result is a smooth, transparent sound with exceptional sparkle and brilliance in the treble, alongside clear and natural vocal and instrument reproduction.





Bass Details

The Project M’s bass is characterized by a neutral profile with a subtle sub-bass lift. This results in bass that is well-controlled and precise, focusing on quality over quantity. The sub-bass is slightly more pronounced than the mid-bass, but both maintain excellent separation and layering. The bass response is fast, with good decay and reverberation, making it capable of delivering satisfying slams when the music calls for it. While it may not satisfy die-hard bass heads, its controlled and detailed presentation will appeal to those who prioritize bass quality.

Midrange Clarity

In the midrange, the Project M shines with its lean yet energetic presentation. The transition from bass to lower mids is clean, ensuring clarity in male vocals and instruments. Female vocals and upper mids, while bright, are mostly enjoyable, although they might be slightly fatiguing for those sensitive to treble. The midrange maintains a good balance of intimacy and energy, making it particularly enjoyable for vocal-centric music or string instruments and wind instruments.

Treble Excellence

The treble of the Project M is bright and well-executed, providing a refined and extended response that enhances the overall sound. The treble is detailed and crisp, allowing intricate details to be easily discerned without overwhelming the listener. Although it can be intense for treble-sensitive individuals, the treble adds a significant sense of space and airiness to the soundstage, enhancing the immersive experience.

Detail Retrieval and Soundstage

Detail retrieval is a standout feature of the Project M. The IEMs deliver a high level of resolution across the frequency spectrum, with clear transients and textured bass notes. Even with a narrow bass enhancing ear tips to reduce the treble, the detail remains impressive. The soundstage, while not exceptionally wide or deep, offers precise imaging and a 3D sound experience. This makes the Project M excellent for classical and live orchestra in this genre where i really appreciate the sonical prowess of Porject M, the layering on instruments on the orchestra is spot on and mesmerizing.

Timbre and Technicalities

The Project M boasts a neutral bright timbre, natural resolution, fast transients, and good dynamics. Its soundstage is above average, providing good depth and height, with a slightly intimate midrange presentation. The stereo imaging is close yet wide, offering a well-layered and immersive listening experience. The separation of instruments and vocals is handled adeptly, maintaining clarity even in more congested tracks. The Project M excels in creating compartmentalized regions within the sound field, ensuring that no elements feel overly cramped.




The DITA Project M is a meticulously crafted IEM that delivers a bright, energetic sound profile with exceptional detail retrieval and a well-balanced presentation. It is particularly suited for mature listeners who value transparency, micro-details, and a controlled bass response. While it may not cater to those seeking a lush, warm musical sound, its precise and immersive audio experience makes it a standout choice in its price range, this is only iem that made me appreciete more classical and live orchestra its excellent intrument separation and layering is just a joy to listen without sounding too analytical.

Introduction

This sample of the Project M IEM and also Dita’s own DAC the Navigator have been provided for review by Dita Audio through the Audio Geek brotherhood of Audiophiles, who facilitate review tours of many high-end IEMs and audio equipment across multiple countries including Australia.

The Dita navigator sells for $299 and is milled from 6000 series aluminium, CC precision cut and is quite solid and weighty for a dongle DAC. It sports an output of 340mW @ 32 Ohms. It has both 3.5mm and 4.4mm Bal outputs and is biased towards a detailed but warmer analogue sound.



The Project M IEM is Hybrid design with 9.8mm DD and a Knowles BA in a very hard clear and attractive looking clear resin shell. This shell feels very high quality and provides a wind into the internals of the IEM. The custom made 16 core copper cable also comes with a modular plus system for switching between 3.5mm and 4.4mm balanced connectors. I like the fact that it also has a screw sleeve providing a nice secure connection. Included is a rectangular carry case with a foam lining to protect the IEM’s. There is a nice set of Final E type silicone tips in multiple sizes with the unusual feature that they absorb light and glow green in the dark. Now that’s innovation! Comfort and fit are fairly good for my ears. They are well shaped and while bulky, fit securely and are quite light to wear.



The Sound.

The Project M’s sound is as transparent as its shells. This is as close to a reference monitor sound that I have heard. No part of the frequency range is artificially boosted or reduced. This is a great part is what makes the Project M so amenable to external tuning changes. By this I mean sources and ear tips. To get the best from these earphones it’s a journey to find the right synergy. The Final E type silicone tips work well but I found DD HiFi 35ST D tips better at reproducing the bass levels that the Project M is capable of.



Monitor speakers for studio use are built with the intention of playing whatever signal it receives as close to perfectly as possible. This design of stereo speaker is generally not favoured as an audiophiles choice of transducer. The reason is that reference speakers are not good at conveying atmosphere and hence emotion in the music. I feel that this is where Project M falls down. It does all things very well but does not evoke any emotional connection to the music being played. The sound is open, clear, well rounded and competent.

Conclusion

Monitor speakers for studio use are built with the intention of playing whatever signal it receives as close to perfectly as possible. This design of stereo speaker is generally not favoured as an audiophiles choice of transducer. The reason is that reference speakers are not good at conveying atmosphere and hence emotion in the music. I feel that this is where Project M falls down. It does all things very well but does not evoke any emotional connection to the music being played. To my ears there are more compelling choices at this price level and Project M is not for me.

DITA AUDIO PROJECT M: MAGICALLY MINIMALIST

DISCLAIMER: The Dita Audio Project M was sent to us free of charge by the Dita Audio team for review purposes. We are truly honoured and excited to be our first collaboration with Dita Audio. We humbly thank the kind people at Dita Audio for their support.

Introduction: -

Today we will be reviewing Dita Audio’s latest hybrid IEMs, PROJECT M at Aural Café, which is their first attempt at presenting a hybrid IEM. Project M features Dita Audio’s newly developed PM1+ Dynamic Driver along with the time-tested Knowles 33518 balanced armature driver.

We at Aural Cafe believe that it’s the foundation, the pillar that is responsible for the success of the product so let's start the review of Dita Audio Project M by talking about the Dita Audio team at first. Dita Audio is a Singapore-based company known for its unabating hard work and passion for complete design integration and precise execution. The team at Dita Audio believes in a collaborative approach to not only come up with innovative designs for audiophiles but also lays equal importance on merging those thoughtful designs with precise engineering and manufacturing of the same.

Packagers Pte. Ltd, DITA Audio's parent company, was established in 1971 and carries more than 52 years of research in the field of automation and engineering. It was the year 2020 when we were chatting with a Japan-based industry veteran to enhance my knowledge about this audiophile hobby when Dita Audio recently launched Dita Dream XLS and became the centre point of our topic. He told me about Dita Audio's sharp focus on designing, quality and manufacturing of Dita Dream XLS titanium shells. He also told me that the team at Dita Audio doesn’t compromise an inch with quality irrespective of the price of the product. Every audiophile product offering from Dita Audio is a culmination of thoughtful designs along with precise manufacturing of the same. Over the years Dita Audio has not only launched flagship IEMs such as Dita Dream, Dita Dream XLS and very recently Dita Perpetua but they are very well known and respected in the industry for their innovative plug system “Dita Awesome Plug” which was released in 2015 providing the audiophiles the freedom to use multitude of configurations on the plug end. Available in 2.5mm TRRS, 3.5mm TRS and 4.4mm TRRS. The same Plug system was updated in 2022 with the release of DITA’s Awesome Plug Version 2. In this long journey, Dita Audio has also come up with class-leading cables such as Dita Fat, the Truth and the legendary OSLO and cool dongles such as Dita Navigator.

Dita Audio Project M is DITA’s first attempt at designing a resin-based hybrid IEM. Project M is part of DITA’s PROJECT line which aims at experimenting with new ideas and materials to come up with evocative and memorable audiophile stuff. Dita Audio Project M features an all-new 9.8mm composite dynamic driver PM1+ especially developed for Project M and is the central figure forming the nucleus of its sound signature along with Single Knowles BA (Balanced Armature). The 9.8 mm PM1+ dynamic driver is a full range driver for handling lows, mids as well as upper mids frequencies whereas highs and ultra highs are taken care of by the Knowles balanced armature 33518.

Dita Audio Project M is priced at US$ 325.



Specifications: -

• Driver Configuration: PM1+ Dynamic (9.8mm) + Knowles 33518 BA
• Impedance: 32Ω ± 10%
• Freq Response: 20Hz-20Khz
• Sensitivity: 107dB/mW @1kHz
• Cable: 1.2m MOCCA Cable with detachable 4.4mm and 3.5mm Termination

Packaging & Accessories: -

Starting with DITA’s Project M unboxing experience, we can happily say that it’s a very clean and calm experience. The Project M comes in a black high-quality cardboard box which is covered by a black sleeve on top. The black sleeve itself is thoughtfully designed featuring the Project M Frequency graph at the front and the specifications are printed at the back of the sleeve in silver colour fonts. We loved the thoughtful and minimalistic clean design language of the Dita M Sleeve and the mix of black with silver-coloured fonts. On sliding the sleeve, one comes across the black cardboard box with the Dita Audio logo on top. On opening the black box it's where the Magic begins. The clean transparent Project M IEM shells are visible right in the box near which the fibre carry case is positioned, this is the very box inside which Dita’s latest APV2 cables are placed along with 3.5mm and 4.4 mm plugs. The Project M ear tips come along with five pairs of Final E-Type silicone ear tips are neatly placed in a small ear tips case. A user manual and a pamphlet are also included to introduce Dita Audio Legacy and Project M. So, all in all, the unboxing experience is one of the cleanest we have experienced in the near time where everything is placed in a very minimal and clean way. For a more fun and visual experience one can see our unboxing video of Project M by clicking on the following link:







Build & Design Concept: -

Now when it comes to design language Dita Audio has always taken a very different, innovative and minimalistic approach in whatever they do. Starting with Project M IEM shells it's DITA’s first attempt at designing a resin-based IEM. The resin-based IEMs have to deal with their own resonance and distortion issues where the chassis resonates with its driver, so to overcome that the team at DITA Audio took the help of a highly optimized stainless-steel chamber where both the DD and the BA are housed following which the sound is projected through the custom moulded transfer tube terminating in an aluminium lightweight nozzle to achieve minimum resonance and maximum dynamics. The entire metal setup is finally enveloped by slowly pouring transparent resin mix resulting in very high-quality elegant IEM shells along with intriguing visuals to calm the curious audiophile brain all thanks to the use of high-quality transparent resin mix. One can also see internal wiring which is done using copper cables sourced from the well-known hi-fi brand “Cardas Audio”. The story doesn’t end here, since Project M Features a 9.8mm DD and a Knowles BA, the sound of Hybrid Project M is finally optimized using acoustic Fine Element Analysis to deliver a coherent and clean full-range sound experience. Project M comes along with a high-quality MOCCA Cable that utilizes conductors made by Cardas Audio from the USA. The modular cable is constructed using 16 strands of Cardas conductors per cable, which is twisted to DITA's specifications, and jacketed in a flexible PVC outer layer. The cable also comes equipped with DITA’s latest APV2 plug system thereby the team at Dita Audio has tried their best to take care of ever-demanding audiophiles by providing a soft supple flexible cable that might be viable forever. The custom-made copper cable is chosen to add a tinge of musicality and warmth to the clean-sounding Project M. Each Project M Comes with an elegant small rectangular shape light grey colour Sustainer Carry Case, sourced from Tanos Gmbh. from Germany. The minimalistic and high-quality carry case has been thoughtfully chosen by the Dita Audio team to provide a scratch-free home to the Project M resin shells. The real fun lies in the Final E-type silicone ear tips which are specially treated to glow in dark environments. All in all, we can happily say that the team at Dita Audio has tried their best to provide high-quality IEMs, cables, ear tips and carry cases considering its 325 USD price tag.

When it comes to fit, we can say that the IEM shells are thoughtfully designed using high-quality resin without any harsh edges. The rounded edges and high-quality resin material provide a very comfortable experience while listening to music for a longer duration of time. The provided lightweight flexible cable just adds to the comfort of listening to music on the go.




Sound Analysis: -

Credits: @aftersound

• Tonality: - After trying Project M with several sources, we can say that the tonality of Project M leans towards a neutral uncoloured clean sound. This can easily be understood while listening to different genres of music. Project M showcase Dita Audio's take on a neutral and reference sound. The 9.8mm DD is nicely tuned along with Knowles BA to present a neutral sound that doesn’t sound dry. The overall sound is as transparent and smooth just like the shell of Project M. Every frequency is tuned in a very precise manner to go with different genres of music tracks. Finally, we at Aural Cafe loved listening to Classic Rock, Progressive Rock, and Blues such as Stairway to Heaven by the Rock band Led Zeppelin on Dita M.

• Lows: - The lows in Project M are taken care of by 9.8mm Custom tuned DD. The lows are tastefully tuned to keep up with the neutral tonality and to provide a sufficient natural texture to the lows. The mid-bass is tight and has a decent slam whereas the sub-bass showcases decent modulation whenever needed. The sub-bass has above-average rumble when listening to the Weekend’s Starboy while the speed and texture are surprisingly good which is audible while listening to Jean du Voyage - Nakshatram on Aune M1p but we would love a tad bit more layering in the sub-bass region. We also loved listening to ‘Might Not’ by Belly feat the Weekend.

• Mids: - The mids in Project M are again taken care of by the 9.8mm full-range custom-tuned DD. It is here where the Magic begins. The mids are slightly forward to keep up with the reference nature and merge smoothly with both lows and highs. Project M showcases a very textured and clean vocal both in case of male and female vocalists with lots of soul in it which makes listening to the Jazz and Blues genres of music really enjoyable. The timbre of the instruments is lifelike without any colour. The electric guitar section on ‘Hotel California’ by the Eagles was intoxicating with each note crystal clear with a very lovely texture on Dethonray DTR1+. We also loved the electric guitar’s timbre, texture and control while listening to ‘Sultans of Swing’ by Dire Straits. The upper mids are also tuned very precisely effortlessly merging with the highs without any harshness.

• Highs: - Finally, the role of time-tested Knowles 33518 BA comes into play while tuning the highs on Project M along with the DD. The highs on Project M are smooth and airy without any harshness even on high volume. The micro details are not on the face but come in a much more organic way while listening to different genres of music. The overall high is quite resolving and refined. The highs have decent air which adds enough excitement while listening to “In Your Eyes” by the Weekend feat. Kenny G version on the iFi Go Bar Kensei with Linum DualBax Zebra cable. The Linum Dualbax Zebra cable adds a bit more excitement to Project M. The upper treble has sufficient body and sounds truly reference. The guitar notes and vocals while listening to ‘Sidewalks’ by Weekend feat Kendrick Lamar are exciting and engaging. The highs are not overdone and tuned in keeping with the reference tuning, so it is there but it's not in your face. We also didn’t find any kind of brightness in this region as reported by other reviewers.

• Soundstage & Imaging: - The Soundstage on Dita M is average at best in terms of width and depth. We also feel that the Dita Audio focused more on coherency between the DD and BA and thus the Soundstage is kind of intimate. The same can also be said about the separation between instruments which is average at best. We at Aural Cafe would love a tad bit more depth in terms of Soundstage on Project M. The imaging on Project M is very precisely done. One can easily understand the placement of instruments while listening to the progressive rock genre of music on Project M. We loved listening to ‘Pneuma’ by Tool on Project M on Dethonray DTR1+ with stock Final Type-E and Linum Dualbax Zebra cable.

• Synergy: - We are happy to say that Dita M is easy to drive but if you want to see the full potential of Project M 9.8mm DD then we would suggest using it with a pure DAP or a high-quality dongle. We would also suggest at least 20 hours of burn-in to let the custom-tuned DD open up. When it comes to source matching, we give very high importance to source matching at Aural Cafe. We tried Project M with several DAPs such as Dethonray DTR1, DTR1+, SG1 Gold, Astell & Kern SP1000m, and Aune M1p and also with portable desktop sources such as Dethonray Listening M1. We also tried Project M with a number of dongles such as Aune Yuki, Tanchjim Space and iFi Go Bar Kensei. In our case, it matches really well with Aune M1p, Dethonray DTR1+ and Listening M1. The soundstage and separation improved on Dethonray Listening M1 and the iFi Go Bar Kensei in the case of dongles. We also love matching Project M with Linum DualBax cable and Spinfit CP145 which adds a tad bit of air and excitement to the whole frequencies.

Conclusion: -

Through Project M Dita Audio has clearly shown the kind of importance the team at Dita Audio gives even to the smallest of details while coming up with their ‘Cheapest Offering’. Everything about Project M is minimalist yet exciting and engaging. Every persona of Project M from the design of the box, and ear tips to the cable, and the carry case is carefully chosen. This clearly shows how hard the team at Dita Audio has worked to showcase their take on neutral and reference tuning. We at Aural Cafe would definitely love a bit more refined sub-bass and a bit more soundstage in terms of depth but if you love high-quality neutral and reference-tuned IEMs or if you are a newbie in this hobby or if you love Progressive Rock, Blues, Jazz genre of music we would highly suggest you, try Dita M. We also are quite impressed by the focus the Dita Audio team has given on durability while coming up with Project M. Every part of Project M screams expensive and high-end but in calm and minimalist way. So, on this note, while listening to ‘Fear Inoculum’ by Tool on Project M we team at Aural Cafe would like to conclude this review by thanking the Dita Audio team for allowing us to review Project M.

Non-Affiliated Link: -

• https://www.headphonezone.in/products/dita-audio-project-m
• https://zeppelinandco.com/products/dita-project-m-uiem

I had the opportunity to spend a couple of weeks recently with the Dita Project M as part of a tour, thanks to Minidisc Australia for providing the kit and as always @Damz87 for organising the tour!

The Dita Project M, priced at $325 uses a simple configuration of a single dynamic driver and a single balanced armature driver. The shells are very well made with beautifully finished acrylic, and feel very high-quality. Their shape is a bit odd, and I had some issues fitting them at times. Dita include Final E tips with these, which are one of my fave tips for universals, but I still had some challenges getting a proper seal some of the time. This carried through to my alternating opinion of these IEMs, which was highly dependent on what sort of fit I could get.




The rest of the included accessories are great, I like the modular Cardas cable and the funky TANOS systainer3 hard-shell case is solid and will protect the IEMs very well.



Overall the Project M tuning is rather flat-ish, but it does work pretty well.
Bass is somewhat on the lean side , but comes across with good definition and detail. If you're looking for a basshead kick, you may wish to pursue something else, but I was plenty satisfied with what I heard from Project M. Midrange seems like a specialty of this IEM, vocals and guitars are forward and very well presented without being at all harsh or overdone. Treble extends well, and is again relatively forward, which I didn't really mind, although some may find it fatiguing over longer sessions.

Project M's technical performance for an IEM at this price point is excellent, definitely punching above its weight here. Stage is rather more wide than it is tall or deep, but you do get a nice spread of instruments in their right place from left to right. Detail and resolution are great, the elevated upper mids and treble do a good job here, although it does come with more glare and edginess that you don't get with IEMs at higher price tiers. It takes a reasonably powerful amp to get good dynamic punch out of the Project M, but it’s DD does respond well with a bit more current.

I won't spend much time with comparisons, as I don't have anything else on hand at the moment in Project M's price range, but one IEM I do have that Project M reminds me of is the Campfire Andromeda2020. Project M's DD provides more of a tactile hit in the sub-bass vs Andro2020, however it does suffer technically with much less refined micro-details. But that's to be expected when comparing IEMs in different tiers.

I really like Project M, and I'd strongly recommend it for anyone looking at the sub-$500 bracket, especially if you don't mind a little less bass and can work with it's unusual shell shape.

DITA Audio Project M and its neutral ethereal sound

Disclaimer

I got Project M for free in return for a review, I am free to say whatever I want.

All impressions are my own subjective thoughts after having used them for a good time. These are my thoughts at this moment, and as time moves I might change my opinion.
This is also a very subjective hobby where everything from experience, anatomy or age will affect what we hear. Also keep in mind that it is easy to use bold words when talking about differences, while it may be perceived as a small change for you.
While I can perceive something as natural sounding, I do believe we can never get a perfect performance similar to what is achieved live.

Ranking System:
1 Very bad or unlistenable
2 Listenable but not good
3 Average
4 Very good
5 Exceptional or having a special sauce

My rating system highly values what is musical for me, so my rating will always be a subjective opinion.



About me and my gear used for the review

My audio preference is neutral with some warmth, I can also like forward midrange and treble if not excessive. I am a believer in having different tuned gears for different genres or moods instead of chasing the single perfect one.

Main music genres I listen to are metal, electronica, jazz and pop. I am a music lover, and can also listen to almost all the genres out there.
I have been into music gear since the mid 90s, gifted some big speakers at an early age. Then moved more and more into headphones with the Koss Porta Pro and a Sony Discman.
I have also tried playing many instruments over the years from piano to sax and have a feel for what's a natural tone, but not the biggest patience in learning to play.

My current favorites in Headphones are ZMF Verite Open and Beyerdynamic T1 G2.
My current favorites in IEMs are 634ears LOOK 2-TX02 and Campfire Audio Bonneville.
My current favorites in Earbuds are FranQL Caelum and Venture Electronics Zen 3.0.

Gear used in the main rig is Denafrips Ares 12th-1 DAC together with the Topping A90 Discrete headphone Amp. I also have a Schiit Lokius I can swap in if I want to do a little analogue EQ.

Portable gear being HIBY R8 II, with some dongles like HIBY FC6 and Colorfly CDA-M1P.




So what is the DITA Audio Project M

DITA Audio is a brand I have never ventured into before the Project M, easiest way to explain who they are is a quote from them:

DITA builds products embodying a quest for the sublime, based on the premise that a well-crafted product is an experience in itself.

Beyond the realm of audio, DITA looks to engage partners and clientele with a curiosity and passion for complete design integration and execution. Driving collaborative ventures in the fields of design, engineering and manufacturing to that end.

Established in 1971, DITA’s parent company, Packagers Pte. Ltd, possesses 47 years of research and experience in automation and engineering: treasured and translated into the uncompromising commitment to craft imbued within every DITA product.

DITA is a component of ENTRA, an idea-to-engineering entity with over a century of engineering expertise and experience.

www.ditaaudio.com

info@ditaaudio.com



The new model Project M ($325) is their latest one, being their first resin hybrid IEM. They have gone a new path making the IEM more ergonomic than their previous designs, with a clear resin body and metal nozzle. The size is average and should suit most ears, I actually find this as one of the most comfortable IEMs. The Project M uses 2 pin sockets for the cable, they protrude outside the shell.

The build quality is remarkable, and feels even better in your hand than what photos can capture. DITA also provides a 10 year parts or replacement availability, so the IEM can be long term viable.

The Project M consists of DITA’s all-new PM1+ 9.8mm Dynamic Driver and a Knowles balanced armature driver, both are housed in the stainless-steel chamber you can see inside the resin.
The chamber has a molded tube to deliver the sound, in return they can make use of filled resin as the sonic tuning is made without the shell as a factor. The PM1+ works full range with the BA giving the sound better clarity and treble.



The packaging is elegant while not being overdone, Project M also arrives with a good set of accessories.

The MOCCA cable uses 16 Cardas conductor strands per cable, with a PVC outer layer making it durable. The hardware for the 2 pin socket is angled and of the jacket style, making it very secure and comfortable together with the subtle ear guides. The cable also uses DITA’s APV2 angled modular system so you can change termination from 3.5mm to 4.4mm, one of the better modular systems out there.
MOCCA is one of the best stock cables I have used with its nice design, sound, lightness and quality.

One downside it's that the cable is light and there is no chin slider, so the ear loops might fall off your ear.



Tanos have made a small and secure hard case container for DITA, it's a little on the small side and looks quite rugged. But in return you should keep your Project M very secure during storage or your travels. And for the handymans out there,yes it looks like a Festool container for their tools.

And last you get a set of glow in the dark Final Audio Type E silicon tips, these are small bore and ergonomic tips.





Timbre

First off, what is Timbre?
From the Wikipedia:
The Acoustical Society of America (ASA) Acoustical Terminology definition 12.09 of timbre describes it as "that attribute of auditory sensation which enables a listener to judge that two nonidentical sounds, similarly presented and having the same loudness and pitch, are dissimilar", adding, "Timbre depends primarily upon the frequency spectrum, although it also depends upon the sound pressure and the temporal characteristics of the sound"

First minutes of trying a new set of gear, what I always listen to is how natural and musical it sounds. Much of this goes down to how I perceive the Timbre.

The Project M is a neutral bright IEM, natural and resolving with fast transients and good dynamics.

Going to use the ranges here in review:





Details and soundstage

Detail in IEMs is down mostly to quality driver and how it amplitudes the frequencies, also when the driver is faster it also increases the resolution you hear. And Project M does all of them, and is a reason why it's such a detailed IEM.
This is a very resolving IEM and one of the most resolving IEMs under $1000, I know it's a bold statement. But the amount of micro detail is remarkable, the transients clear without being smoothened and even the lowest bass notes have so much texture to it. Some of the perceived resolution is due to the forward treble, but even if I EQ down the treble it's still resolving.

Soundstage is not super wide or deep, it's actually quite average in size. But the imaging is spot on and envelops you in 3D sound, very immersive in music. And if you're a competitive gamer, Project M delivers a perfect solution to give you the upper hand with its imaging cues.



Bass

I had seen measurements before the Project M arrived, prefer not to see it but I was kind of late to the game with this one. From that the bass to me looked to lean in balance to the upper frequencies, but there is not much music where I find the Project M lacking in quantity. Especially when I have adjusted my brain to the tuning, and this is coming from a bass lover.

Some of the reason is also because the bass is so tight, deep, punchy, textured and resolving. One of the best DDs I have tried lately for producing low end, be it for music like acoustic string instruments, organ or just electronic bass notes.

I could have wished for a little extra sub bass extension, as the mid bass is the most dominant on the Project M. I have played with EQ, and the driver takes it perfectly without sounding uncontrolled in the bass.



Mids

The midrange was perhaps what impressed me the most from first listen, it has a very rich and clear sound. Making both female and male voices so clear and nuanced, good weight without being sibilant and harsh. This is actually something that is very similar to my favorite IEM Bonneville, looking at measurements both follow a similar style having the upper mids slightly recessed while the low mids have some weight from the bass.

Most of the music is in the midrange, also why I find it so important and it's easy that I complain on sets. Project M delivers be it vocals or instruments, the upper mids also help instruments like brass or brighter females not being tiresome. For folks like me who are sensitive to upper mids this is perfect, while some might lack some bite if they are Harman tuning lovers.



Treble

Ethereal and forward treble, had plenty of goosebump moments due to certain songs getting that extra realistic treble air. And funny enough this is very similar to Bonneville, both have a similar type of tuning in both the upper mids and treble.

The treble is very realistic to my ears, and has good bite and clarity. Plenty of air that doesn't feel forced and tiresome, I cannot hear that its the BA pushing the treble, it sounds coherent with the DD.

But this can also be negative, not for me as I am tolerable with the low/mid treble region. But many will probably find this bright, even if it's super controlled and not harsh. If you find headphones like old Beyerdynamic models bright or even the newer oval Hifiman planars, it's a big chance this will also be bright then.



Synergies

I find that the Project M is most suited for warmer or more analog sources, using my HIBY R8 II is great as it is neutral with some warmth. But changing to the HIBY FC6 with its R2R and organic sound is more enjoyable and musical.
Same can be said when I move over to my desktop setup with Denafrips Ares 12th-1 being a warm R2R DAC, even with the Topping A90 Discrete being on the neutral side.

I find the stock cable really nice, and moving over to Effect Audio Cadmus 8W the sound gets a little brighter and airy.

The stock tips are a good match for Project M, even with being smaller bore I don't feel it limits the soundstage or the treble, just sound clear and full.
Changing over to Eletech baroque does open the treble a little more, making it brighter and not better for me. Velvet is a better match than Baroque, and is more similar to Type E with maybe a little more airyness.



Comparisons

When evaluating the sets I use each of them over longer periods and also some shorter sessions swapping back and forth, it takes a long time and is not done in one sitting. The most critical comparison is done on my desktop setup that is highly resolving, with volume matching to take away loudness variance.

The spider chart is slightly exaggerated on some points to show differences.





I have chosen two other models that cost around the same as the Project M, they all have different tunings and configuration. What they all have in common is being some of the best sounding and comfortable IEMs at this price range. Comfort can depend on your ears, and same can be said for the sound.

Letshuoer Cadenza4 is their latest hybrid IEM, using 1 DD and 3BA. Have a neutral tonality similar to Project M, where they differentiate is Cadenza4 having extra vocal bite on brighter voices and instruments. What Cadenza4 is lacking is treble extension, and in return don't sound as realistic and airy as Project M. Bass weight is very similar, but Project M has a little extra punch. The Cadenza4 does sound less resolving due to the treble, but also due to the sound being smoother with not as fast transients as Project M.

634ears Miroak-II Cocobolo is the other one, this is a single DD from a Japanese boutique maker. My version is with a softer wood and has an organic sound, quite the opposite of the more clear and transparent Project M.
Bass is deeper and stronger, but lacks a little of the definition when you compare the two. Midrange is more similar to Cadenza4 with having a good bite on vocals and brass, but also sound thicker overall. The treble is forward but not as bright as Project M, still very airy but dont have the same ethereal presentation. Miroak-II is also not as resolving and the Project M, its still daily detailed for its price and being a single DD.



Music

When comparing DITA Project M to other sets I have used the tracks listed here and more, I will provide some notes under each track for what is different between the three.

I will also share a playlist of songs I like to use for testing IEMs, it's way too long now and I need to do a clean-up. I will link it here anyways for those who want to check it out:

https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/ad7bbfa3-2067-4235-b2ed-f5a3fb53ff28



https://tidal.com/browse/track/267372746?u

Apostrophe - Hypnopaedia

Project M
A perfect track for focusing on treble and air, the ethereal sound is clear on Project M. The piano notes linger with lots of nuance and sound is airy and open.

Cadenza4
The sound is softer, and while it has air it's not as sparkly and ethereal as Project M. The stage also is not as cinematic and dimensional.

Miroak-II
This is closer to Project M capturing realistic and ethereal air, and falls just short of the Project M. Lack the extra crispness, and in some ways can sound safer for the sensitive.



https://tidal.com/browse/track/146377432?u

Katie Melua - A Love Like That

Project M
Such beautiful vocal and acoustic instrument playback, felt touched when hearing this album on DITA Project M the first time. Has a way of being so emotional and nuanced with her voice, what a lovely presentation.

The track has acoustic instruments and her vocals, from what I hear Project M sound so natural and resolving. Not too bright or too warm, and the stage projects close but so holographic.

Cadenza4
Her voice actually is more focused on Cadenza4, but doesn't portray the same exact amount of detail and airiness to her. This is where the upper mids of Cadenza4 make certain vocals and instruments more pronounced, same that if a singer is sibilant it will show more on Cadenza4.

Also a smoother sound versus the crystal clear Project M, but that I mean it has smoother transients and every note has a softness to them. The stage is very similar, just a little less holographic.

Miroak-II
Warmer and richer with more body, the sound is projected a little farther out than Project M. Katie sounds a little more husky and doesn't have the same clarity to her, the drums and guitar sound more organic with more weight.

But her voice has a forwardness like Cadenza4 but with a more dense organic sound.



https://tidal.com/browse/track/114331955?u

TOOL - The Pot

Project M
Decided on using some prog metal that's more accessible for the folks reading, Tool always has complex music and is good for evaluating.

I was surprised about how well Project M does metal, while I prefer more bass the sound is full enough where I enjoy it. Bass is tight and fast, and sounds realistic on the kick drums or bass guitar.
The cymbal strikes are clear and realistic without being sharp, this is back to the upper mids dip.

Cadenza4
The biggest change I notice is that it's sharper and brighter due to the upper mids. This also since the bass seems lighter with less punch, I find Cadenza4 to have great bass but it's not as punchy and realistic as Project M.
There is also a little lack of realism to the cymbals and they seem muted, probably because of the treble not being as forward.

Miroak-II
Not as clear and resolving as Project M, but sound much more full bodied with a similar realistic sound up top for the cymbals.
The voice, drums, bass and guitar have that extra fullness that make metal and rock more fun and engaging.
Miroak-II is also easier to listen to more heavy metal or death metal.



https://tidal.com/browse/track/87252035?u

Infected Mushroom - Deeply Disturbed

Project M
Technical electronica like this is nice with Project M, detailed sound and tight bass punch.
Some more bass would have made the experience almost perfect, there is also that some electronic music has sharper elements. This is also in this track with especially the some elements in the middle of the track, listening for too long to music like this would give me fatigue on Project M.

Cadenza4
Not as technical and immersive Project M, and have less body to the bass. The quality though is excellent here also, and with a small EQ could have been more fun.
This is also not as tiresome on the sharper elements as Project M, so I could listen to this for longer. Mainly due to less treble emphasis and also because of a soft sound.

Miroak-II
This is music that's like made for Miroak-II, unless you want a more technical sound like Project M.
Stronger bass that takes away the weight from the brighter elements, also since it has a more soft sound similar to Cadenza4. It also is more immersive and sounds clearer up top than Cadenza.



https://tidal.com/browse/track/170594746?u

Geoff Castellucci - Sixteen Tons

Project M
Sounds very clean, I am used to sets with more thickness into the midrange. It's still full sounding with lots of nuance in his voice and the bass kick, but it has a more transparent sound than with Miroak-II. The fast transients make it loose perhaps a little natural tonality.

Cadenza4
Very similar to Project M, just a little less fullness. But the softer and slower sound is more suited for his voice than with Project M.

Miroak-II
The more full bodied sound is fun here, the track is already very bassy. I would have thought the Miroak-II would be too much. But I don't feel it like that, it just sounds engaging and full.
It's just a step below Project M on perceived resolution, probably as the Miroak-II have not as clear transients.



https://tidal.com/browse/album/114542267?u

Nenad Vasilic - Bass Room

Project M
Last one is a special one, this is just the double bass with echo in a larger place. Instead of using just a song I have used quite a few songs and the album as a whole is good.
The Project M is the most spacious sounding here, with also the most clarity and separation of every note. What it perhaps lacks is a little bass body to sound more real to life on double bass.

Cadenza4
The weakest of the three when we look at how realistic the bass notes and quantity is, not that it's bad and if you had lifted the bass on the mid bass 1dB it would have been hard to hear the difference in quantity with Project M. Both have a faster DD for the bass that are good at showing all the details of the bass playing, and the coherency of the Cadenza4 and the BAs for the mids and treble is done really well. Even so it's not as smooth and coherent as Project M and Miroak-II in comparison sessions.

Miroak-II
This has the most pronounced bass playing, not because it's more resolving but more because of the increased bass quantity. I dare say that the Miroak-II have more natural bass weight, maybe a little too much and a mix between the two would be perfect.
The full bodied bass is also a little slower, every lote lingers a little more and sounds more organic.




Conclusion

I will start with their own quote about themselves:

DITA Audio is a Singaporean company that builds products embodying a quest for the sublime, based on the premise that a well-crafted product is an experience in itself.

Click to expand...

The model Project M is an experience and suits that description, and is among the best quality IEM you can get for the price. This is a technical and mature IEM in how it sounds, capturing a clear sound. There is some coloration in the treble making details pop more, also makes it sound airy and open. The dynamic driver they have developed is also among the faster ones, and balances speed and nuance with excellence.

That sound is all good, and this continues onto the build and accessories. You get better than average shell quality, with a stylish and minimalist design. The accessories are also good and you are ready to enjoy misc from the get go without upgrading them, unless the tips don't work for you in size.

I know I am gushing over Project M, and it's well deserving as DITA have made something remarkable here. I would have thought they could have charged a lot more without people questioning it, but it's good for the consumers that we get DITA quality for a reasonable cost.

It's not all praise, some would have liked more body to the bass while some will probably find it too bright. The brightness and bass quantity is a part of what I love about Project M, gives it a unique flavor that is maybe not suited for all my music. But with the correct music, this strikes a homerun.

I highly rate the DITA Audio Project M, recommend it for folks who want a more neutral bright sound done right.

Summary
For a while now the Dita Project M has been getting lot of attention, so is it that good? Lets discuss, if you do not know already, Project M is a 325$ hybrid iem from a Singaporean boutique audio brand, “Dita Audio”. Price wise packaging is good, included accessories are of good quality, build and specially designed is fantastic. Most importantly sound, this has a clean sound with a boost in the sub bass but main bias toward treble, with decent technicalities.
Returning to the main question: is it really that good? While I find this set to be a fantastic set, it may not suit everyone. If you're looking for a overall well-rounded package with clean sound for a long-term investment, I highly recommend this set. However, if your primary focus is best sound quality at this price point then ChiFi IEMs might be a better choice.
One extra thing that I specially liked about Project M or Dita in general is, they have a 10year warranty for this.



Intro
Hey Guys, whats up….
Today I will be diving deep into the gorgeous Project M from Dita Audio. If you dont know already this is the new entry level offering by Dita Audio coming in at $325.

About the brand
Talking about Dita Audio, they are a boutique audio company based out of Singapore, they specialize in high end single dynamic driver iems and premium iem cables. I first heard of them fairly recently from a couple headfi threads. This is actually my first Dita product, so excitement is high. This set is actually a bit special as this is also their first hybrid iem. Lets start off the review with some specs.

Disclaimer: thanks to Dita Audio for providing this unit, but this review is unbiased and my honest opinion. Thanks…



Specs
(sorry, but this is all the info I found for specs…)

• Hybrid arrangement featuring DITA PM1+ Dynamic driver and Knowles 33518 BA
• Boasts full-range sound with clarity, speed, and punchy bass
• Comes with TANOS® Systainer® Carry Case
• Includes MOCCA cable with Cardas Copper conductors and both 4.4mm and 3.5mm modular plugs

Packaging
Continuing on to the packaging section, this comes in a well designed high quality packaging. I would say the packaging is on the premium side considering its price. This comes with quite high quality accessories, such as the tips are Final Audio Clear (glow in the dark) tips, the case is beautiful and a good quality modular cable. I will be diving into more details about the accessories below. List of box contents:

Build and Design
Moving on to the build and design of the Project M, this is great. Dita has gone for a full clear resin construction. This is maybe the most perfectly executed transparent iem I have ever seen. In itself this is utter gorgeous and in certain lighting conditions this looks ever better. Anyways, the shells are of medium size and weight is standard. They have a semi custom iem shape. Finger prints and scratches were not an issue in my use case. The 2pin connectors are slightly extruded, similar to QDC. The nozzle is normally sized, and it is lipped so it holds eartips securely. The shells are vented.

Inner Structure and Tech
Lets look at whats inside the Project M, this is much easier thanks to the transparent design. As previously mentioned, Dita has gone for a hybrid design, interestingly this is their first hybrid iem. Project M has Dita PM1+ dynamic driver and Knowles 33518 balanced armature driver.




Cable
Now let’s look at the cable. The Project M comes with a great cable called the Mocca cable made by Cardas Audio. Build wise this is a 2core braided cable, not sure what wire is used inside. Design wise this is a great looking cable and it goes quite nicely with the transparent iem design. It uses QDC style recessed 2pin connectors and has modular terminations, 3.5mm and 4.4mm. The modular termination is quite good and is called the “amazing plug v2”. Connectors casing and the Y split are made of good quality plastic. Unfortunately there is no chin singe. There is low audible microphonics. The preformed earhooks and the coating in the wire are good, they blend in with the color of the cable and did not cause any irritation.


Case
The Project M comes with a very unique and stylish carrying case. This is a specially made Tanos sustainer from Germany. The look and design is like a proper sized tanos sustainer. Build wise this is made of plastic. The inner side of the case is covered with silicone. The lock in front of the case seems a bit less practical and not the most sturdy. The hinge is fine. The handle on top and front is for aesthetic reason I believe lol.




Fit and Comfort
Continuing with fit and comfort, Project M scores high. The shells sit nice and flush in my regular sized ears. The stability is on point. Breathability is good thanks to the vented design. Isolation is good but nothing crazy. Driver flex was not an issue when inserting the iems. I did not find any issue with long term listening, is was plenty comfortable.



Sound
Please note: Listening impressions are highly subjective and can differ depending on different ear shape, individual music library, choice of source, eartips, cable and personal preferences, so your experience may differ. I personally always use and test all my gear in various setups to get a generalized idea on it. You can find my “tested with” info below.

Now most importantly lets talk about its sound, starting off with sound signature, it has a U shape sound with bias towards Dita has gone for a clean sound with main focus on treble and slightly forward sub bass. Initially it will take a bit of time to adjust to the treble.

Bass
In the bass section, Dita has gone for a neutral bass, with a mild elevation in the sub bass. Project M provides excellent quality bass over quantity, with a well controlled nature. Position wise sub bass is a bit more forward conpared to the mid bass. Both sub bass and mid bass are precise and well controlled. Note separation and layering is quite good for a single dynamic driver. Speed is on the standard to slightly fast type. Decay and reverberation is good.Although the bass performance on the Project M would not satisfy bass heads, it still slams pretty hard when the music calls for it.

Mids
Moving on to the midrange, the Project M has a leaner and energetic presentation. Dita has prioritized on clarity and transparency with sparkle and crispness on top. The transition from bass to lower mids is clean. Thus this contributes to a clean and clear male vocal performance. However, I've noticed that female vocals and the upper mids in general, can sound a bit bright, but nonetheless this is enjoyable for the most part. While this doesn't get sibilant or harsh, it might be fatiguing for treble sensitive listeners. I quite enjoyed the level of energy and intimacy present in the midrange. Note weight is decent. Instruments sound clean but is also slightly affected by the upper mid extension. All in all I quite enjoyed the vocal performance of it specially with Adele’s 30 album and Lana Del Ray’s classics.

Treble
Proceeding on to the treble section, they have opted for an almost bright tuning for the Project M, and I can say it's executed well. In short Project M has a refined and well-extended treble that flows nicely with the frequency range. Details are crisp without being too in your face. It is easy to spot intricate nuances. I find Project M’s treble performance to be quite resolving. While there is no significant harshness or sibilance issues, treble sensitive listeners may find it bothersome. The speed is normal to fast type. Personally, I find this tuning quite enjoyable with vocal based tracks. The airy presentation enhances the sense of space in the soundstage.



Technical Sound:
Soundstage of the Project M is standard, with decent width. Stage depth is good.
Imaging is also better than average
Sound separation and layering is good
Resolution is decent
Dynamics are good
Timbre is ok

Power and Pairing
When it comes to powering the Project M, it runs fine on lets say apple dongle or moondrop dawn pro. But it scales significantly with better gear. With Cayin Ru7, this sounds really good, the analog and spacious sound nature went quite nicely with the clean and natural presentation of the Project M. But my favorite has to be using it with Cayin N3 Ultra, in tube mode specifically. This softened the upper mids and added just the right amount of smoothness for me.

Tested With
Source: cayin ru7, cayin n3 ultra, questyle m15, moondrop dawn pro, apple type c dongle
Eartips: stock (Final E Clear) [Best Pairing], Final E Black, spinfit w1, azla crystals (2nd best pairing)
Cable: stock
Music: Tested with versatile genre of music



Conclusion
The journey with Project M so far has been quite interesting I must say. I find the whole package of good sound, great build and design, quality accessories, long term service support very appealing at this price point. If this matches your requirements, I highly recommend this set. Big props to Dita Audio for doing such an amazing job. And huge thanks to you all for sticking around. See yall in the next one.

Purchase link (not affiliated)
Dita’s website: https://ditaaudio.com/products/project-m
Music Teck: https://shop.musicteck.com/products/dita-project-m
Bloom Audio: https://bloomaudio.com/products/dita-audio-project-m

TONALITY: 8.2/10
TECHNICALITIES: 8.8/10
TIMBRE: 8/10
SOUNDSTAGE: 8.8/10
IMAGING: 8.5/10
MUSICALITY (subjective): 8/10
CONSTRUCTION: 9.5/10
ACCESSORIES: 9/10
SOUND VALUE: 8.5/10 (in Dita catalog realm: 10/10)

INTRO

Dita Audio is an high end IEM company based in Singapore, their first IEM call Answer was launched in 2015 and won the ‘’President award Singapore’’ for its uncompromising craftsmanship.
For nearly 10 years, Dita aimed for top of the range hi fi IEMs that weren't accessible to the middle class and you were hard pressed to find any earphones priced under 1000$. As well, they tend to always use a single dynamic driver.

But all this changed with their latest release called Project M, which is not only their first hybrid release but the most competitively priced IEM ever released by Dita too.

Priced 325$, the Project M is an hybrid IEM using PM1+ 9.2mm dynamic driver and a known balanced armature for extra treble response. The special DD was created by Dita and uses a special back driver chamber acting like a passive radiator to enhance the sub bass density and texture, adding substance to overall tone as well.
The BA was implemented in a novel way too, which doesn’t cover ultra highs section and focus on high tactility and energy instead ,while the DD extends beyond 10khz, adding to treble extension something the BA struggles too, which is brilliant sparkle.

All this is extremely promising in theory, but let's see in this review how it translates in terms of musicality and technical performance.

CONSTRUCTION&DESIGN



The construction of Project M is aMazing, it’s all made of limpidly transparent and glossy high grade resin plastic which is thick, hard and seem invincible. It’s the kind of IEM I'm not afraid to drop on hard floors because the drivers aren’t at risk of shaking inside or getting damage by impact.
The shell is big and chunky, and the sumptuous design take full advantage of it’s transparency so the back of dynamic driver has the Dita logo on it and their no need to write, paint or print anything on the housing surface, it’s all fully polished, smooth for the finger and captivating for they eyes.
The 2 pin connector on top isn't QDC, it’s normal 2pin (without inverted polarity) but it’s protuberant ,which means it is meant to be used with stock cable to get connector protection advantage.



Lucky us, the included cable is excellent too. It’s the MOCCA modular cable which has 2 L shape changeable plug, one 3.5mm single ended and one 4.4mm balanced. The cable is made of 16 strands of cardas conductor from the USA. It’s light and elegant. This cable is so good that I don’t see an urgent need to upgrade it and the consumers will most likely be more than happy with sound transmission result which is clean, balanced and dynamic, you don’t have euphonic warmth added, nor spiky gain. This is a seriously well made cable.



Then when it comes to packaging, it’s again elegant in presentation and quite impressive in accessories quality. You have Final ear tips that glow in the dark, while it’s super cool, I don't feel those eartips do justice to soundstage and imaging due to the notably smaller nozzle hole than IEM nozzle size. Yet, it’s worthy of my ear tips collection and I will use those with Final E5000 and other IEM with small nozzles.
The carrying case is very nice too, and quite cute with a retro look. Again, Dita offers a unique accessory, like their cable, it's something that will make the consumer smile.

All in all, excellent construction and accessories.

SOUND IMPRESSIONS


(To be noted, while i use stock cable, i don't use stock eartips and go for variety of wide bore instead, which open up soundstage and make treble a notch less spicy. Audio source are (not this Gryphon above lol): Tempotec V6, Aune Yuki, Hiby R6pro MK2 and Fiio KA17)

The Project M isn’t a typical sounding IEM, it doesn't follow warm or bright harman targets, don’t go bass head nor mid centric, don’t go all U shape yet is near there, don’t go all treble head yet it’s near there as well.

Those allergic to high upper mids pinna gain that force presence of instrument and vocal in high intensity will be relieved while those that are very sensitive to upper treble where attack and definition edge as well as ultra highs sparkle belong will perhaps not find it enough safely tuned on top.

The Project M tonality can be summarized as bright neutral with slight sub bass boost and vividly boosted upper treble that add sparkly crispness and air. It’s a rather treble centric IEM, that can feel slightly U shape, with mostly lean bass and mids then energetic and lively treble that add extra dimension and sense of openness to spatiality.

This is a meticulously tuned IEM that seems to use the house produced dynamic driver to cover full frequency range with the knowles balanced armature dealing mostly with lower to mid treble where presence texture and attack accent belong. This DD +BA is very well implemented since it doesn’t sound like any 1DD+1BA hybrid i’ve heard before, if the BA was used for upper mids and treble, you wouldn’t get this sparkle brilliance, nor as smooth and transparent vocal and instrument.

In terms of musicality, this will appeal to the mature listener, those seeking reference performance with boosted micro details, those that prefer transparency over thick lushness, those that bet on bass quality before quantity, those that don’t consider cold sounding something that has all its energy concentrated in the treble region.



The bass quality of M is very impressive technicaly, though just slightly boosted in mid bass with a magnified sub bass resonance response that takes full advantage of DD housing reflection for extra density and vibrancy that permit bass lines to be physically extracted, with good texture definition and beautiful colorful tone and density.
I never struggle to follow electric bass lines with the M, it's roundly extracted, rich in texture and air vibration, so the grunt is euphoric here, yet not overly forward nor delivering basshead worthy rumble.
This sub bass extension is tightened in presence and dont get loose nor bleed on mids which are kept clean.
DOuble bass is well done too, which impress me because it’s an hard instrument to deal in term of note release yet here it dig deep, linear but with a sustain full of air and texture info, the attack lead has proper bite too so nothing feel overly scooped, yet, it’s not as authoritative in presence as electric bass or digital instrument with more ‘’packaged gain’’.
Then when it comes to mid bass and kick drum, it’s tempered but round and punchy, the acoustic drum texture is realistic and well resolved, the punch is mellow, not hard hitting. There's just a notch of warmth to thicken it, yet it doesn't make the rendering muddy nor overly dark.
This makes the M quite good for rock, then for jazz it depends if you need greater not weight in lower mids for piano especially, which can sound a bit distant and lean in dynamic. This isn’t a bass-less IEM, it’s there when called for, not forced on the listener nor dominating the mix.

The mids are crisp, clean and open with a smooth dynamic loudness free of any shoutyness yet an edgy attack lead for vocal and instruments to improve sense of clarity and presence definition.
This make the vocal very intelligible and gently bright, i do encounter some instance of subtle sibilance with problematic tracks so this isn’t buttery smoothness here, it’s crunchy lean mids with boosted sense of transparency and a monitor-like rendering that avoid this screamy fest upper mids boost to bet on sharp readability of an open and airy soundscape.
So the presence isn’t about intensity of loudness here, but how it’s envelope is crusty in definition, properly toasted in clarity without the need of boosted forwardness so the main stage is fully open, crispy clean and instrument has proper sense of air around them, not mixing anamorphic sound layers that will eat each other in macro rendering.
I guess the project M would sound incredible just using this excellent dynamic driver but the extra high end knowles balanced armature sure add tactile abrasive edge to definition, an extra energy to presence attack lead that help an otherwise flat multi layering that impress already with it’s agile performance and especially transparent resolution and sense of clean openness.
But is it all perfection? Depending on your palate taste, some might wish for more warmth and lushness for vocals, though I don't consider the mids thin here due to rich textured timbre density, yet it doesn’t mean I find them very thick too, which isn’t the case. Too buttery mids would negatively affect clarity of imaging, which is excellent here.
My main qualm for mids density will be in lower register, like for piano it does lack a bit of note weight and i can’t feel the impact of note fully, it flows lightly, cleanly, and doesn't attract attention. In jazz piano trio, higher pitched note will be better define and more energetic in attack tapping, if we go quartet with guitar, the later will stole the show, same goes for saxo, which is speedy and edgy in presence, this energy add sense of intensity our brain translate in dynamic loudness, without the shouty fatigue.
This is a part of Project M Magic. This attack swing adds a sense of intensity without getting the hearing fatigue of high pina gain.


The treble is truly the star of the show in terms of intensity with the M, it doesn't try to hide itself at all nor be perceived as leanly balanced, it calls for attention and adds extra 2D holographic dimension and air to the overall leaner soundscape.
The highs have both the crunchy edge that add presence definition and bite after attack as well as magnifying sparkle brilliance that is released in the air, this is quite a gourmet treble that will sure impress a fancy treble head or micro details lover.
At first I was in fact very disconcerted by the highs cause I think balanced armature finally can deliver true sparkle! Yet, Dita wise audio engineer and team choose for something I in fact cherish the idea for years, they tune the DD in a wide way so it can reach up to 20 khz and produce those most needed sparkle and extension energy that balanced can’t (whatever spec say, db extension is to low in balance to achieve this sparkle resonance flexible swing) and use the BA in low and mid treble region to add edgy intensity to highs attack, as well as presence info and extra micro details that will flow more freely in the mix.
This kind of seriousness in tuning is something I respect, and this patented dynamic driver and it underline how Dita can truly be competitive in the IEM world…..when they have the courage to go sub-1000$ price range.
So crisp and vividly lively is the treble in a cohesive and non splashy way even if yes, very sensitive people could find it a notch spiky and trebly in terms of sharpness of intensity. In my case, this adds excitement and sense of speed to the music, as well as extra airy openness as noted above.

The soundstage as an open 2.0 speakers-like spatiality where we get extra airy depth holography due to both recessed center stage and upper treble tactile detachment. This make the experience very immersive and the extra treble air ccan be perceive as a super tweeter speaker put in middle off stereo speaker that are widely separated. It's wider and deeper than taller.

The imaging is very good too, thanks to transparent layering, textured bass line definition and edgy presence of instrument and percussions rendering, the macro readability is very impressive here and i can see people using these IEM for monitoring purpose.



SIDE NOTES

At 32ohm of impedance and average sensitive of 107db, the M do benefit proper amping and will scale up in technical performance with higher fidelity source, as well as not too high output impedance so the balanced armature don't distort. Simply put: cleaner and more detailed is your source, more impressive will sound the M, and to wake up dynamic and soundstage rendering, a min of 100mW@32ohm is suggested.

Then while the quality of Final eartips is very nice, i find it to compressed the soundstage and make highs more intense in pressure, mids lack openess and bass isn't as well layered, it go less define in bass line fullness. I tend to use wide bore eartips with similar nozzle size than the M, Tangzu Sancai or KBear KB07 are my main choice.

And now whn it come to cable, the consumers is blessed because i don't feel the need to upgrade it and it's no1 cable i use with the M. If you wanna go warmer, you can try 100% high purity or litz copper cable, but this will stole a bit of it's appealing DNA crispness too.



COMPARISONS



VS HIDIZS MS5 (1DD+4 knowles BA-350$)

The MS5 is brighter and more V shaped as well as bassier and more upper mids forwards.

The bass is more boomy and resonant, less textured and less rounded in mid bass presence and kick drum definition, the punch is more about sub bass boom, this sub bass don’t have the sustain grunt and control of Project M which offer superion bass performance with less resonance bleed and veil, tone has more substance, timbre more texture, attack is better controlled and less detached in macro dynamic too.

Mids are more forwards, more intense in presence loudness, less smoothly textured in vocal timbre, less transparent and open sounding than M. M is leaner, has lighter note weight, vocal presence is wider but not as lively and dynamic, mids are cleaner with sharper instrument definition which isn’t blurred in definition edge with balanced armature euphony.

Treble is leaner, darker and thicker with MS5, it has less air, less sparkle, less crispness and doesn't feel as lively in macro dynamics. Project M dig out more micro details, put percussion and high pitch sound more forwards, high attack is more snappy and crisp, it’s cleaner again, less hazy in attack release.

Soundstage is just a notch wider with the M, yet notably deeper and cleaner.

Imaging is superior due to more transparent layering, more spacious instrument separation.

All in all, if you need proof that more BAs don’t guarantee superior performance, this is the case here with crisper and more technical sounding Project M. M offer superior resolution, more controlled and speedy attack, better imaging as well as more clean, open and transparent mid range.

VS KINERA HORN (1DD+4BAs-500$)

Norn is way brighter, more aggressive and plain hard V shape than more crisp neutral sounding M.

Didn’t remember Norn was that bad, so ... .yeah, a bit unfair but hey it’s 150$ more than the Project M still.
Bass is harder in punch, more recessed and thin in sub bass which is more roll off, it’s a bit more tactile and physical in impact, it’s not a dense in substance, nor as rich and textured in timbre, bass line are more muddy in fast busy track with Norn.

Mids are a shouty fest compared to the M, its peaky and bright to the max, instrument tone and timbre is more noisy, less natural, presence is more fuzzy but can go superior in macro layering when their a lot of instrument, yet the transparency isn’t as clean as the M which offer leaner smoother less dynamic mids, with crisper presence envelope and again less note weight. Both these IEM are a bit risky with sibilant tracks, yet Norn is way harsher and more upfront in vocal loudness, the spike presence edge of M help intelligibility of vocal while it make it noisier and screamier with the Norn.

Whole treble section hit you in the face with Norn, it doesn’t have air nor sparkle, it can deal with busier track better in term of multiple layering yet the sound info will be rough and euphonic due to cheaper BA used, unlike cleaner crisper percussions rendering of the M which has sharper resolution for proper readability, way more clean air around instrument as well as proper sparkle that BA alone can’t deliver.

The soundstage is notably wider, taller and deeper with the M, it feels more intimate, centered and in your head with Norn.

Imaging is superior too, I can see myself using the M for monitoring while I'll never use the Norn for this even if their multiple stages of macro layering it’s all mixed up too closely.

All in all, the M is superior in both technical performance and tonal balance….even more so than against MS5 in fact. The M is more refined and mature in musicality, less fatiguing too, as well as notably crisper and sparklier.

CONCLUSION

To say the Project M take me by surprise is an understatement….in fact, i was extremely worry about this IEM expecting a big drop in technical performance from their higher end single dynamic driver yet I get the opposite, as if world go upside down in term of sound benefit return, Dita way…

As an open minded audiophile when it comes to sound signature, I often found myself a bit annoyed by over repetitive tuning choice lately, mostly based on one of multiple harman targets. I feel insecurity in IEMs world when it comes to tune differently, as if taking risk would always mean going against some mysterious hegemonic will.

Following and achieving properly a musical ideal is always worth respect when well done, when their true effort and R&D behind the wheel.

And this is what Dita audio gloriously achieve here, without any compromise in R&D, sound quality, construction and accessories quality, they create an IEM that can’t be mimic by any other company, with their own patented dynamic driver that achieve mind blowing and surprisingly wide range performance and a unique way to implement the balanced armature, her to add crusty presence reproduction, extra highs separation that magnify percussions vividity, attack speed and snap and plenty of sparkle and extra air on top.

If you always dream to find an IEM sitting between neutral and analytical, offering a wide, deep spatiality, excellent bass performance that is textured, dense yet superbly controlled so you can easily follow bass line even in busy track, and that isn’t shy to show its upper treble prowess (and sparkle and crunch): the Dita Project M is most likely the very best IEM from Dita when it come to sound value.

While musicality appeal will be different for everyone, and even if yes, the upper treble of M is very edgy and forwards, I do think the Project M has the talent to become a classic, and the fact it’s different than any other IEMs in term of tonal balance make it worthy of serious audiophile collection as well as those that want to try an IEM from Dita that offer high sound benefit return.

Highly recommended!





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PS: I want to thanks Dita Audio and Ted SuperChonk (which is part of Project M conceptor team) for sending me this review unit. I'm not affiliated to this company, nor gain any $ for this review. The Project M will now take part of my 300 IEMs collection like all other reviews samples that worth being kept.

Hum, while ''out of stock'' at official Dita store, the Project M is available for 325$ at Musicteck here (non-affiliated link):
https://shop.musicteck.com/products/dita-project-m

DITA AUDIO is an audio company based in the land of Merlion, Singapore. And this company has an extensive years of experience of producing and crafting audio products way back in the 70's. This audio establishment is considered as a boutique brand as it produces some of the well-crafted and meticulously engineered in-ear earphones in the market. The first set that I know from DITA is the Perpetua but I didn't test it out personally as I only saw it on some audiophile forums and also in audio review sites that its asking price is rather quite intriguing for a single dynamic driver set-up.



And then one day, a DITA rep happens to also be my online friend who offers me to do a review on their latest product and without any hesitation, I accept it as it is my opportunity to test out some DITA products.



Then finally, I finally got this new product and this one is DITA's latest midrange set that will be priced around US$325 as they are aiming to grab some market share in an ever increasingly competitive audio market which is now almost dominated by audio companies from Mainland China.



This is DITA PROJECT M and this set has a hybrid driver configuration consisting of a single self-developed PM1+ dynamic driver in a 9.8mm diameter and a custom Knowles full-range balanced armature driver. The dynamic driver has a dual cavity configuration with a high-grade neodymium magnet with a composite diaphragm on it, and this driver will solely handle the low frequency part, while the Knowles full-range tweeter will be responsible for the rest of frequency sections like midrange and highs.



These drivers were encased in a specialised well-designed and augmented acoustic chamber made of stainless steel as this material is known for its acoustic properties to influence by balancing its overall frequency bands for permitting a well-refined tuning from its drivers. With all of the implementation of these audio technologies, it will deliver a full-range sound with a deep punchy bass and an exceptional clarity and detail on midrange and treble sections.



Then the acoustic chamber is again encapsulated in a clear high quality resin shell in a modified UIEM-type form factor that really looks very sophisticated with a DITA Audio logo on its faceplate and a metal alloy nozzle where we will look upon the acoustic tube connected to the acoustic chamber. It appears that DITA PROJECT M uses a TFZ/NX7-type of 2-pin connector which is quite unusual as I only see it on TFZ sets and some few ones from NICEHCK and KBEAR.



In terms of wearability, The DITA PROJECT M offers a very comfortable and cosy fitting into my lugholes as it provides an excellent passive noise isolation. That passive noise isolation was possibly achieved due to a good proper sealing that is able to block some external noises from the outside surroundings.



The stock cable of DITA PROJECT M has a modular feature as we can attach/detach its interchangeable termination plugs between 3.5mm single end and 4.4mm. This cable was provided by Cardas, a US-based audio cable manufacturer and this one has 2-core with 16-strands with high grade copper in litz array that are coated with an environmental-friendly PVC insulator layer. That cable is quite supple and flexible with some resistance against entanglement and not a hint of microphonics on it.



The DITA PROJECT M is pretty well-accessorised that a midrange should have while its overall product packaging is quite a minimalist.



Inside of its packaging box, aside from its stock cables, it also some like a good quality stock cable, it also included some luminous ear tips and small tool box-like storage case provided by a German firm, Tanos which is known to provide rugged, durable and environmentally-friendly Systainer storage models.



Here are the following contents inside of DITA PROJECT M packaging box:

• Pair of DITA PROJECT M IEM transducers
• Stock cable by Cardas
• 3.5mm termination plug adaptor
• 4.4mm termination plug adaptor
• Tanos Systainer Storage Case
• Five (5) pairs of balanced bore ear tips in different standard sizes (XS,S,M,L,XL)
• Paperwork like product brochure and warranty card.

With a rating of 32 ohms and a sensitivity of 107dB, The PROJECT M can be driven by some devices with a normal gain mode but pairing it to a source with a good quality Hi-Fi DAC/Amp will truly show its full capabilities as it scales it pretty well to have better dynamic and fuller sound.



As for its sound profile, it seems that the PROJECT M has a mild U-shaped sound which is quite closer to a reference-neutral/ neutral-ish-bright type of tuning. I'm a type of audio enthusiast who really adheres to neutral-sounding sets and this one seems pretty aligned with my preferred type of tuning target curve.


(Graphs were provided by @baskingshark and @mars chan, credits to them on their effort)




LOWS/BASS:

As a neutral sounding set, its bass response is quite tight, precise and incisive with some reverberation with it.

The sub bass appears to be given more prominent in this particular frequency section as I definitely clearly hear those rumbling ang reverberations that were generated by sub bass-focused instruments like drum machines, synthesisers and low tuned bass guitars and double basses. Then, the mid bass of this one appears to have rather sufficient just to give an enough note weight to some bass-focused instruments like bass guitars, bass kick drum and bass trumpets.

The bass guitars have resonant and a bit weightless sound while bass kick drums have a sustaining and thudding sound on every hit on its pedal. Deep male vocals like bass and bass-baritones have less heft and depth but I clearly heard its vibrato on its end enough to give some semblance of a dusky sound characteristic. Overall, the bass quality of this one is well-segregated and clean sounding that makes this set commendable.


MIDRANGE:

The midrange presentation of this set is presented in a neutral and almost linear manner but it is transparent, clean and properly energetic that makes it enjoyable to listen to some types of vocals like high octave tenors, countertenors, some mezzo-sopranos and sopranos, and also string and woodwinds instruments to sound more accurately closer to its natural sound.

While male vocals might sound a bit lean and less textured especially on baritones but it retains some its smoothness and sweet traits particularly on light and lyric baritone voices. Tenors have some bright, clear and graceful on both leggero and lyric tenors while countertenors have more velvety and tender sound with some added intensity on it. On female vocals, like the baritones, the contraltos has lack of volume and depth on this vocals but it has some rounded a tad smokier one. Mezzo-sopranos have more expressive and fiery vocals from them. Projecting soprano vocals is probably the strongest asset of PROJECT M as it can deliver a crystalline, gleaming and silvery sound to give more expressive, energetic and spacious sounding vocals which is good coloratura and lyric sopranos.

On instruments, strings like violins, cellos and guitars and then, woodwinds like piccolos, concert flute and clarinets sound quite very natural on presenting their respective tonal colour as they sound more vivid, silky, lively, brilliant, airy and expressive respectively. Meanwhile most percussives like snare drums and tom-toms have more penetrating, precise and resonant sound on them. And then brasses like trumpets and trombones have some added brightness that they sound more brilliant and a tad metallic. Pianos seems to have balanced sound as it also has both mellow and bright tone as it has sweet, clear and brilliance sound on them.


HIGHS/TREBLE:

The treble response of this one has a good brilliance as I noticed that there are noticeable elevation on the upper-mids to presence region as it gives a good clarity and definition on highlighting vocals and attack of instruments. Sibilance of this one appears to be well-controlled but its on borderline that it produces some slight hissing coming from sibilant-laden tracks. Some treble-sensitive folk might set a bit too much on them duee to its intensity on some elevated upper-mids to presence treble but it doesn't still reach the stridency level of some treble-centric sets thats has overboosted parts on the treble region.

It has a good sparkle as it is intense pretty well with a substantial amount of harmonics with excellent treble air extension on the brilliance section of its treble region. I noticed the glistening and sizzling of cymbals and hi-hats. Glockenspiels have silvery and bell-like sound on them while celestas have glistening ansd shimmering sound.


SOUNDSTAGE, IMAGING AND OTHER TECHNICALITIES:

Overall, the PROJECT M has an above-average to wide lateral span on its sound field with a good height ceiling and a good depth on it as it gives me a sufficiently spacious head room within my aural sphere.

On its stereo imaging aspect, it gives an atmospheric-feel dimension where I can panned out and pinpointing accurately the placement of instruments and vocals in clear, transparent well-layered soundscape with good spacing and separation of each element in sonic canvas.

The cohesive performance of hybrid drivers is remarkable as the dynamic driver is pretty responsive while the BA driver delivers a clear and detailed sound without distortion. This set is quite pretty resolving in all of its resolution capability facets as it has a solid macro-dynamics while having a sharp definition on its micro-detail retrieval aspect as it able to capture some nuances and details like vocal ends, instrumental timbre tails and roomy effects like reverberations.


PEER COMPARISONS:

7HZ AURORA

• A bit more expensive.
• It has more drivers inside.
• Its has composite shell chassis that also have a gorgeous-looking shell chassis.
• While it has a modular feature on its stock cable. The overall build quality of its cable has thicker and heftier profile with easier to do attach/detach termination plug.
• Almost similar tuning profile as this set is also veering towards a brighter tuning.
• A bit more recessed in midrange presentation.
• Similar technical capabilities to do point they are going mano-a-mano on equal grounds.

HIBY CRYSTAL 6 MK.II

• It also has similar resin chassis that also has UIEM-type form factor.
• It uses an all-BA driver configuration and all of them are custom-made Sonion BAs specifically for HIBY.
• It is also pretty well-accessorised like the PROJECT M
• Like the PROJECT M, it also has a modular stock cable.
• Very picky on sources, it scales well with some devices with high gain/high impedance mode.
• Similarly tonality with PROJECT M as it also has bright-neutral sound profile.
• Equally excellent on techical capabilities from soundstage size up to the resolution capability although this set is a bit sharper on micro-detail definition.

To sum up my initial impressions regarding this unit, this set is one of the few sets that instantly register to my thoughts that it has an excellent tonal profile that aligns with my preference. And this set delivers it from a beautifully-crafted resin shell chassis up to the glow in dark ear tips that I find amusing to look at in terms of physical aspect.

Tonality-wise, this set proves that DITA Audio is well-verse and has a long experience on audio engineering on how they tuned as this set has a neutral, clean and pretty delineation on its overall sound quality with remarkable clarity and resolution along with its very competent technical performance.

Excellent job DITA! and I hope that you will release more sets in the midrange segment with even more polished and innovative features in the future.


DITA AUDIO PROJECT M is now available in Dita's official site and also in Musicteck and Bloom Audio website. Check out the links below:


★★DITA AUDIO OFFICIAL STORE★★

★★MUSICTECK★★

★★BLOOM AUDIO★★

SPECIFICATION:

MODEL: DITA PROJECT M
IMPEDANCE: 32Ω
SENSITIVITY: 107dB
FREQUENCY RESPONSE: 20Hz – 20KHz
CABLE LENGTH: 1.2m
PIN TYPE: TFZ/NX7-TYPE 2-PIN CONNECTOR (0.75MM)
PLUG TYPE: (MODULAR) 3.5mm, 4.4mm
DRIVER UNIT(S): (1) DYNAMIC DRIVER + (1) BALANCED ARMATURE DRIVER


Tracks Tested: ( * = 16-bit FLAC, ** = 24-bit FLAC, *'* = MQA, '*' = DSD, *'= .WAV)

Alison Krauss -When You Say Nothing At All *
Jade Wiedlin - Blue Kiss**
Led Zeppelin - When The Levee Breaks **
Mountain - Mississippi Queen *
Queen - Killer Queen **
Guns N' Roses - Patience *'*
Eric Clapton - Tears in Heaven '*'
Sergio Mendes- Never Gonna Let You Go '*'
Pearl Jam - Daughter **
Roselia - Hidamari Rhodonite *
Assassin - Fight (To Stop The Tyranny)*
Celtic Frost- Visual Aggression *
New Order - Blue Monday *
The Corrs- What Can I do (unplugged version) *
Jimi Hendrix Experience - Voodoo Child *
The Madness- Buggy Trousers *
Metallica - Motorbreath **
Mariah Carey- Always Be My Baby *
Destiny's Child - Say My Name *
Malice Mizer- Au Revoir *
Mozart - Lacrimosa *
New York Philharmonic Orchestra - Dvorak- Symphony 9 " From the New World." *
Eva Cassidy - Fields of Gold (Sting cover)*
Michael Jackson - Give In To Me *
Exciter - Violence and Force *
Diana Krall - Stop This World **
Debbie Gibson - Foolish Beat *'*
The Sisters of Mercy – Lucretia My Reflection**
Suzanne Vega – Luka **
Lauren Christy – Steep *
Ottoman Mehter - Hucum Marsi *
Diana Damrau - Mozart: Die Zauberflöte*
Type O Negative - Black No.1 *
Felix Ayo - Vivaldi: Presto **
Three Tenors - Nessum Dorma *
Mercyful Fate - Witches' Dance *


P.S.

I am not affiliated to DITA AUDIO nor receive monetary incentives and financial gains as they provide me a review unit for an exchange of factual and sincere feedback from yours truly.

Once again, I would like to send my gratitude to KENNETH KOH of DITA AUDIO for providing this review unit. I truly appreciate his generosity and trust towards me and other reviewers.

DITA audio Project M, review and comparisons.

Thank you for commending me on the photos in my past reviews, but I hope you also read this review, because I want to say something. But first, let me introduce the DITA Audio Project M.

DITA Audio is a high-end audio company based in Singapore. The DITA Audio Project M was sent to me as part of a review tour. I would like to thank DITA Audio for providing us with this review sample. Please visit their website for more information.

The packaging is simple and includes a nice-looking case, five pairs of glow-in-the dark eartips, yup, you read that right, glow-in-the dark, a manual, and a modular cable that you can interchange between 3.5mm and 4.4mm plugs.

The cable's conductors are made by a high-end cable company, Cardas, in the USA. I tried it on other IEMs, and I found it to be very transparent and color-free. The plug can be changed between 3.5mm and 4.4mm connectors. The QDC-style IEM connectors have the same polarity orientation as the more widely adopted 2-pin connectors, meaning I can change to my other 2-pin cables if I want to, and the polarity won't reverse. Awesome!

I tried my best eartips for improving the imaging and image holography, the ePro EP00 medium eartips, but found that the Project M became too bright for my taste, so I reverted back to the glow in the dark stock tips, which I found to sound optimal.

The IEMs themselves look beautiful in person and feel very comfortable to wear for long periods of time. The fitting is perfect for me.



Power handling, dynamics, and energy:

When provided with a powerful source, it can take a lot of power and go very loud without losing its composure. Your ears will be the limiting factor in how loud you can listen to this. The dynamics are excellent; it can go from relaxed to loud quickly and never sounds lethargic. It is an energetic listen. To me, this is an indication of the high quality of the drivers used.



Sound signature:

It may not be the most textbook accurate, but it sounds accurate enough, and it sounds very realistic. The timbre of the pianos, vocals, and other instruments is very lifelike; it sounds like you are listening to the actual performance rather than a recording, and it's very transparent. But be aware that at the first few seconds of listening, you'll feel that the upper treble is too much, but due to its coherency, your hearing will quickly adjust within 10 seconds and normalize the upper treble. It has a U-shape sound that is biased toward brightness. Bass heads and warm heads, or people who like very boosted bass or warn tonality, this is not your IEM.

Technicalities:

Big soundstage, good imaging, and instrument separation.



Bass:

The Project M is a technical bass monster; the first few songs I listened to with the Project M were old pop music; the bass sounded normal and neutral; but when I switched to more recent electronic music with excellent bass, man, I was almost shocked by what the Project M put out, because the bass on the Project M is very thunderous and powerful when the music demands it; it has very high dynamic range, which to me indicates excellent driver quality being used; it sounds very clean, detailed, fast, and high in resolution; but the tuning is not for people who like very boosted bass. The Project M has some of the best bass I've heard, but remember, I'm not a bass head guy, so put that into consideration.

Midrange:

Very clean,clear, clear, and color-color-free. It sounds perfectly balanced between male and female vocals. It is energetic yet non-fatiguing. One of the best midranges I've heard, neither polite nor shouty, just perfectly cooked.



Treble:

The treble is loaded to the brim with details and sounds very rich. There is a little enthiusiasm in the upper part, but as I said earlier, your hearing will adjust to it within seconds. The boost in the upper treble sounds coherent with the rest of the spectrum; it adds to the realism and contrast of the sound, making it one of the, if not the, best trebles I've heard from an IEM. Very delectable.




Compared to Elysian Pilgrim (400 USD):

The Pilgrim is bassier and has more midrange; the Project M is more U-shaped in sound signature; the Project M is more energetic and lifelike; while the Pilgrim sounds a little lethargic and a little dry. Between the two, I highly prefer Project M.

Compared to Moondrop Blessing 3 (325 USD):

I don't have it right now because it is under repair, but I memorized the sound very well. They are both a little bright sounding, but the Blessing 3 sounds thinner and more fatiquiging in long listening sessions, while Project M is more balanced and never caused me listener's fatigue after many hours of listening. The Blessing 3 has better imaging and holography. They have about the same soundstage size, but I think Project M is more spacious. I prefer Project M over Blessing 3.

Compared to Hisenior Okavango (300 USD):

Again, not a side-by-side comparison, but I remember the Okavango very well, and they are similar in price. The Okavango, in its all-down switch position, sounds flat in frequency response and is ideal for sound monitoring. In its all-up switch position, it sounds V-shaped. The project M is U-shape-sounding, has more upper treble extension, and sounds more airy. They are both musical and musically engaging, but I find Project M to be more so. I can't say which one is better because they have different sound profiles for different purposes.

Compared to the Letshueor S15 (300 USD):

The S15 is a planar IEM. The S15 has a mild W-shape sound signature, while Project M has a U-shape. When it comes to technicalities, Project M easily wins, as it has a bigger soundstage and better imaging. The S15 is simply not a technical set, but in terms of musicality, they are about equal; the difference is in their presentation. The S15 sounds very analog-like and very organic, while the Project M has a modern sound style with more details and resolution. I love both of them.

Compared to the Xenns Mangird Top (525 USD):

The Top belongs in a higher price bracket, but it's one of my reference sets with which I compare other sets. The Top has a more prominent bass presentation, but it is a little incoherent and could sound overbearing at times. Note: I'm not a basshead, and while Project M may have less bass, it has better quality bass, has no coherence issue, and sounds much tighter, more detailed, faster, cleaner, and more dynamic. They are about equal in resolution, but I feel the top has more. They have about the same soundstage with a minor difference in shape; perhaps Project M is more spacious, but when it comes to imgaging performance, the Xenns Mangird Top wins hands down. It has more defined, precise, and stable imaging and is very holographic too; this is the reason why it is one of my reference sets. I love both of them.





Pros:

- A truly high end audio sound quality.
- Excellent treble.
- Clear, color free midrange.
- Deep, tight, fast, and detailed bass.


Cons:

- Not really a con, but this is not for bass heads and people who like warm tonality.
- A nitpick, the cable is good, but could be better, I wish it was softer and thicker.
- I wish there were at least two kinds of eartips to modify the sound slightly, for variety.

Money grab:

I'm very skeptical when it comes to expensive high-end products and boutique audio companies, because the few IEMs I've heard that cost 400 to a couple of thousands of dollars coming from those companies are just money grabs, IMO, due to poor or mediocre sound quality. I understand the phenomenon called the law of diminishing return: you spend more and more on a product, but you get less and less improvement on the sound. Unfortunately, some companies rely on the prestige of their brand name to jack up the price disproportionately without regard to sound quality. This is the reason why I'm very reluctant to buy expensive audio products, especially now that there are so many companies, not just from China, that produce excellent-sounding products at very competitive prices, based on my experience and from what I've gathered.


The DITA Audio Project M is the first set I've heard to sound and is priced very competitively coming from a high-end audio company. It has high value for money considering its outstanding sound quality; it's not a money grab at all. If this is what DITA Audio can do at this price point, I'm curious what they can do at higher price points. I hope other high-end companies follow this example soon, selling expensive but affordable products with proportionately good sound that are competitive in the global market regardless of where they were made.

I'm not hyping up Project M; I'm just expressing how I feel about it.

I'm totally impressed by Project M. It might not be inexpensive, but I feel it's a bargain for the sound quality you get. I consider it a must-have IEM below the $500 price range for audiophiles who can afford it. I wholeheartedly recommend the DITA Audio Project M.

Happy listening! Cheers!

Thank you so much to Chris Fisher for sending these IEMs on tour for me to review!

Since this is my very first review, I would like to introduce myself...
My name is Isaiah Schell, and for the better part of a year I have been immersing myself into the world of in-ear monitors. My first set of IEMs were the CCA CRA, which were quickly traded out for the KZ CRN, (big yikes) then the KZ PR2, which were upgraded to the Kinera Celest Phoenixcall, then to the Thieaudio Hype 2, which were eventually returned in exchange for the Penon Fan 2. As of now, I still own the Fan 2, PR2, and Moondrop x Crinacle Dusk, (2024) which I will be individually reviewing soon.
Now, what happened around January of 2024 was nothing short of a miracle, at least in my opinion. You see, all my life I have been obsessed with technology; at age six I was taking apart household electronics, at age ten I bought my first 3D printer and learned how to use CAD, at age thirteen I was competing with my self-developed combat robots, and then, in 2024, as a senior in high school, I decided to put my engineering skills to use by designing and manufacturing my own IEMs. I learned the in and outs of how to tune IEMs, what each part of a FR graph means, and ultimately led me to create my very own boutique in-ear monitor brand, SymphonyEars. (I'll do a short review on my own products in the future, but in the meantime, go check out my work at symphonyears.com if you're interested!!)

Ok, with that introduction out of the way, let's move onto the actual review!
Oh man, was I excited to try the Project M out! After all, I had been seeing so many reviewers PRAISE this set for its overall balance and simplicity. And especially since I had recently purchased the new Moondrop x Crinacle Dusk, I was interested in comparing the two sets.

The Dita Project M retails for $325 and features a dual-driver hybrid setup consisting of a single 9.8mm full-range dynamic driver, complimented by a Knowles 33518 balanced armature for "added soundstage." What immediately stands out to me about this is that there is absolutely ZERO crossover used in this product, with the dynamic driver actually playing sound OVER the single balanced armature! This is important to note because, even if an electronic "frequency divider board" is not used in an IEM, the vast majority of IEMs aim to split the drivers' frequencies apart in order to focus a driver's strengths in certain regions. So, in Moonrop's Dusk, for example, their dual dynamic drivers are specifically targeted to handle bass frequencies, their dual balanced armatures only handle the midrange and lower treble, and the dual micro planars only reproduce the airy upper treble region up to 20khz thanks to a series of capacitors, resistors, and acoustic dampers. Now, regardless of if this tuning tactic has a positive or negative effect on the overall sound of the product, it is still important to note that this is what is being used by Dita in the Project M. So, with that in mind, let's move onto the unboxing!

Please note that all testing of the IEMs in this review were performed with the Moondrop Dawn Pro DAC using a 4.4mm balanced connector.



The box that the Dita Project M comes in is VERY nice! The outer sleeve is simple yet informational with the FR graph on the front and basic specifications on the back. The inner box has a unique fabric texture that should forbid anyone to throw it in the garbage; this is just some stinking luxurious packaging here!
Opening up the inner box, we are presented with an adorable Pelican-like plastic carrying case, five pairs of Final Type E ear tips, a 3.5mm and 4.4mm swappable termination cable, the IEMs themselves, and some documentation. A+ for packaging and accessories!



The cable provided with the Dita Project M is generally a pretty decent cable. Its texture is matte, it cooperates very well in the hand, on a desk, and in its carrying case, and overall fits the asthetic perfectly. It features a swappable L-shaped termination as well, so that is great to see. The only area that I would knock this cable is in the chin slider category because.. well.. it does not have one. :'(
If you can get past this one negative, then you've got yourself a perfectly adaquate cable for the $325 that you're spending.



Now, let's move onto the actual IEMs.
OH MY GARSH THEY'RE BEAUTIFUL!
Whatever resin that Dita is using here is just absolutely incredible. These things are crystal clear and are without any blemish whatsoever. There is no branding or model numbers on the outer shell, but that is because their self-developed dynamic driver contains all of the labeling on its metal housing. Despite the beautiful appearance of these shells, I unfortunately have to take some points away in regards to the SHAPE of the shell.. at least for my ears. I have quite small ears, and sadly the nozzle width and points at which the shells make contact with my outer ear make wearing the Dita Project M uncomfortable over longer periods of time. Don't get me wrong, they are not the worst things in the world, but compared to something like the smaller Penon Fan 2, (which features four drivers by the way) they just aren't ideal. Your mileage may vary.



Finally, let's talk about the sound quality for the Dita Project M.
The very first thing that I noticed when I played the first song with this set was that the soundstage was massive! Everything sounded spacious and full; not closed in and intimate. Think more width rather than depth.
Next, I noticed that, although the graph says otherwise, the bass is actually quite pleasing! And that's coming from a basshead!! Now, sure, this IEM is nowhere NEAR a basshead IEM, but because the FR is nearly flat up to 600hz, both midbass and subbass can equally shine though into the mix, providing the listener with a very organic sound.
Then, the upper midrange and treble.. WOW! It really stood out to me how buttery smooth it sounds, despite the rough looking graph! I mean seriously, you would never know that the graph looked like this just by listening to the Project M!

Below is the FR graph that I measured post-listening session with my IEC711 coupler using foam ear tips:



HOWEVER.
When I placed the Moondrop Dusk in my ears.. a couple opinions changed.
1. Project M sounds, in comparison, thin.
2. Project M does not have enough subbass.

Yeah... so it looks like Dusk might have a bit of an edge in the treble and subbass regions compared to the Dita Project M.
But, for whatever reason, the soundstage is still SO GOOD on the Project M. Dusk likes to get intimate and nibble at my eardrums, while Project M tends to give me some space and surround my head, rather than invading it. But this isn't always a bad thing. I am able to feel male vocals and instruments really "dig in" a lot more with Dusk, rather than hearing them a couple feet away, if that makes any sense.

Below is the FR graph for Dusk that I measured using the same setup mentioned earlier:



CONCLUSION:

Dita Project M is a fantastic, well balanced IEM. It focuses on providing its listener with an open, airy sound and nearly perfectly manages to balance every region on its frequency response graph. While it does not cater to the basshead, nor the treblehead, it is able to find a balanced compromise where not any part of the mix jumps out as being overly emphasized or unnatural. While the Dita Project M could have improved the upper treble and smoothed out the upper midrange rise, the clean sound signature that Dita is able to provide at this price point is absolutely phenomenal. Hands down, this is one of the best sets that I have ever heard! If you have the chance to decide between something like the Dusk ($359) or even the Hype 4, ($399) I would personally recommend choosing either of the alternatives to the Project M if you can spare the extra $35 to $75. Just make sure to pick up a 4.4mm cable for the Dusk if you go the Moondrop route! (DSP sucks) But if what you want is a unique, well accessorized, and masterfully crafted pair of IEMs, then absolutely go check out Dita with their Project M!

Thanks for reading!!

This will be a relatively short and sweet review of the DITA Project M. It's had a lot of great feedback on Head-Fi and elsewhere, and for the price is generally within a reasonable blind buy territory for those who have the money to spend on mid-tier IEMs. I purchased these from MusicTeck at full retail price.

Disclaimers: by "mid-tier," I'm including roughly everything from around $300-700, as I believe that notable diminishing returns start in the $500-700 price bracket or so, and probably hit hardest after $1-1.2k. I am also not a cable believer or burn-in believer beyond the brain growing accustomed to a specific tuning. That said, $700 gets you a lot in 2024.

The packaging overall is excellent, although my specific set came loose from the foam inserts. Fortunately, they weren't damaged in any way, as the package itself is pretty sturdy. In the future I might suggest that DITA place some sort of protective tape over the shells in order to keep them secure, similar to what some other models do, assuming they aren't moved to the case. The case itself is very well built, but could stand to be just a little bit taller, as it's annoying to ensure the shells are in a proper position to close the case without pressure. The cable is excellent and very ergonomic, but it would have been nice to include a slider. Be aware that the QDC pins are recessed and you'll likely have to use a bit of force to connect them.

People have seen plenty of photos, so I'll merely share one at the end, but the shells themselves look very nice in person. They do have a very snug fit, and some of the smaller sized tips allow for deeper insertion, but in my experience caused some ear canal pain after a bit of time. I suggest trying different tips to see what works best for you.

I tested them with the Apple dongle as well as a DC06 Pro, but they are easily driven and I didn't notice much of a difference in sound, if anything. Others may of course disagree. I believe they have a clean sound, for lack of a better word, with relatively good separation. They do lack bass. I very briefly tested EQing them in Apple Music, and it appears they do handle a bass lift somewhat well, but that's purely a subjective opinion.

As other reviews have indicated, the treble can be a bit strong, and sibilance as noticed on certain tracks, such as one or two off of Caroline Polachek's Desire, I Want to Turn Into You. I generally listen to a mix of alternative and pop music, but will also listen to many other genres. Mids are a little scooped out, but I think it's pretty close to being a good all-rounder within the bracket, with the exception that its tuning is not going to make bass stand out.

As far as comparisons, I do believe that if you're after a treble-focused sound signature, it's a very good value. Other IEMs in the same price $300-500 bracket that I've tried are the TIMSOK TS-316 ($499 USD) and 634ears MIROAK-II (~$320 USD).

TS-316: More of a W-shaped tuning with stronger bass emphasis. It can very much become a "wall of sound" on some busy tracks where resolution gets a bit lost. I think the Project M would win out here. The TS-316 has much better timbre and excels with acoustics and jazz. The shells are heavier due to the stainless steel and a slightly tougher fit for some, but overall I think it can be more comfortable since it feels a little less custom and "tight".

MIROAK-II (Green Copper): This has a much boomier, "musical" sound, to use the generic term. Much stronger bass, better timbre. The Project M would likely again win on the top end and overall separation, but this isn't a set you listen to for the treble. The fit can be tricky since it's a bit of a bullet, but getting the right tips helps, and it's not a heavy shell. Construction is arguably equally good if not better due to their being built-to-order.

In the case of the Project M, I felt like the dynamic driver wasn't extremely noticeable in the same way. If you told me it was a pure BA set, I'd have believed you. I also wonder if my definition of timbre is different from others, but I've seen some reviews saying it's a bit metallic. I'd agree.

I wasn't sure whether to give these a 3.5 or 4. The build quality really elevates the rating by itself. For me, they're probably in that 3.5 range, but I think they can be a good value if it's the kind of sound that you're looking for. In that case, they could even be a 5. I figure the 4 is the safe middle ground. I understand why some people may like them, but prospective buyers should try and do their due diligence.

DISCLAIMER

This is a loaner unit from DITA. It will be returned after this review.

The DITA Project M can be gotten here: https://ditaaudio.com/products/project-m (no affiliate links).




SPECIFICATIONS

Driver configuration: 9.8 mm PM1+ dynamic driver + 1 x Knowles balanced armature driver
Frequency response: 20Hz - 20KHz
Impedance: 32 Ω @ 1kHz
Sensitivity: 107 dB/mW @ 1kHz
Cable: 2-pin, 0.78 mm; 16 strand; with 3.5 mm and 4.4 mm modular terminals
Tested at: $325 USD


ACCESSORIES



Other than the IEM, these are included:
- 5 pairs of Final E ear tips (SS/S/M/L/LL）
- Systainer hard carrying case
- Cable
- 2 modular plugs (3.5 mm single-ended and 4.4 mm balanced)

The accessories are quite princely, and are befitting of a $300ish IEM, perhaps other than the lack of foam tips.




Nevertheless, the highly sought after silicone Final E tips are included here, and they are one of my favourite eartips (confession, I have about 20 pairs of Final E tips at home haha). These tips are very comfortable and slightly tame the treble - this is a good pairing for the Project M, which lies on the brighter side. DITA has included 5 pairs of Final E tips here, from SS sizing all the way to LL.

Achtung! The Final E tips provided here glow-in-the-dark, so the significant other might notice that there is a new IEM in town (this can't be hidden!)




The stock cable is a MOOCA cable by Cardas. While we have no info on the cable materials, it is sheathed with PVC, and is a 16-stranded cable. This is very well-braided and supple, though slightly tangly. Sadly there is no chin cinch, but microphonics are minimal.

It is much appreciated that this cable is modular, with a 3.5 mm and 4.4 mm distal terminal, with a screw-on cover to protect it from dislodging. I've seen other simple plug-in modular cables with no screw-on protection cause the connected DAP to drop off! With a modular concept, users can decide which modular terminal to use, depending on whether you utilize single-ended or balanced sources.




Last but not least, we have a Systainer carrying case made by Tanos. This case is quite hard and tough, which promises to cushion the precious contents inside. This case is stackable in a lego-like configuration, so that's something cool to play with for owners of more than one case.

The rest of this review was done with the stock cable and stock Final E silicone tips. No aftermarket accessories were used, so as not to add any confounders to the sound.


BUILD/COMFORT



The Project M is downright one of the most beautiful IEMs I have encountered in my audio journey. Fashioned from transparent resin, one can see the inner workings of the Project M in all their glory. The resin shells are not just pretty wallflowers, as they are tough as nails and extremely solid.

Due to the prism-like function of the transparent resin, at some angles, the Project M's shells are illuminated with a rainbow!



The housings are very light, with top-notch ergonomics. There's a concha protrusion for added grip, with no awkward edges to poke the ears. I have used the Project M for hour long sessions without issues.



I did not encounter any driver flex on my set, which is a sign of well-implemented acoustic airflow. Isolation is average, and this IEM is suited for outside use.


INTERNALS

The Project M is a 2 driver hybrid, comprised of a 9.8 mm PM1+ dynamic driver and 1 Knowles balanced armature driver. These are nested in a stainless steel chamber, with sound tubes leading to an aluminum nozzle.




DRIVABILITY

I tested the Project M with the following sources:
- Apple dongle
- Cayin RU7
- Chord Mojo 2
- Fiio KA11 dongle
- Fiio KA17 dongle
- Khadas Tone Board -> Schiit Asgard 3 amp
- Questyle M15 DAC/AMP dongle
- Sony Walkman NW A-55 DAP (Walkman One WM1Z Plus v2 Mod)
- Sony Walkman NW A-55 DAP (Walkman One Neutral Mod)
- Sony Walkman NW WM1A DAP (Walkman One WM1Z Plus v2 Mod)
- Smartphone

The Project M is moderately easy to drive. While it can be driven off a weak phone, the Project M scales beautifully with amplification (for soundstage, dynamics and bass tightness). Amplification is recommended to get the most out of this IEM as such.


SOUND & TECHNICALITIES


Graph of the DITA Project M via IEC711 coupler. 8 kHz is a coupler artefact peak.

The Project M is a sub-bass focused IEM. Having said that, it isn't the most extended in sub-bass rumble, with bass quantity is just a hair north of neutral. The Project M aces bass quality handily, with a nimble bass-line heard, coupled with nice texturing and not an ounce of mid-bass bleed.

The midrange is very transparent and clean, with no bass encroachment. Instruments and vocals are easily palleted on a dark background. With just a 5 dB ear gain, the upper mids are fowards without shrillness, which is a refreshing change from the usual shouty upper midrange in most modern day IEMs.

The Project M is a treblehead's dream. Treble is well-extended with good sparkle and air. We are greeted with astounding clarity and micro-details as such, though there is a slight sprinkling of sibilance. I'm treble-sensitive and personally find this set a tinge bright, but the Project M is one of those sets that is tuned bright but not overly harsh - I'm sure consumers have encountered some other CHIFI that are steroid boosted in the treble to give "fake clarity", but sound like an ice-pick in the ears!

There's a hint of BA timbre, with note weight a tinge on the lighter side, but nothing too egregious.

This set is a very technical and resolving midFI hybrid, which is all the more surprising considering it is just a 1 BA + 1 DD design. Micro-details are solidly captured, and layering and is very well done, with pinpoint imaging and an above average soundstage in all 3 dimensions.


COMPARISONS

Comparisons were made against other midFI hybrids. Planars, single DD and pure BA IEMs are omitted, as the different transducers have their own pros and cons.




Penon Fan 2

The Fan 2 is a warm neutral hybrid, with a thicker note weight. It has a lusher midrange with a less airy treble.

In technicalities, the Fan 2 is weaker, with a smaller soundstage and it is also worse in micro-detailing and imaging.

The Achilles' heel of the Fan 2 is its super long nozzles, which may cause consumers discomfort (this is in contrast to the ergonomic Project M). The Fan 2 is more easy to drive.


QOA Aviation

The Aviation is a U-shaped hybrid which is bassier. However, the bass isn't as tight, with smearing and bleeding noted. The Aviation has a less extended treble with poorer clarity.

In technicalities, the Aviation is a league behind, with inferior micro-detailing, imaging and soundstage. It sounds very veiled compared to the more resolving Project M. Timbre is a bit more natural on the Aviation, and it is easier to drive.


CONCLUSIONS



DITA has released a solid and elegant Mid-FI hybrid in the Project M. Incidentally, I believe this is DITA's pioneer hybrid release, and it is also the cheapest IEM in their stable as of the time of writing.

In terms of external tangibles, the Project M has one of the most beautiful shells in the industry, with a robust transparent resin housing that even allows a prism effect of rainbow colouration! We also have a generous accessory line-up, melded with great comfort during usage.

When evaluating it for sonic performance, the Project M furnishes a neutral bright tuning, with excellent resolution and technical chops. Bass is clean and fast, with no mid-bass bleed, and the midrange is as clean as a whistle. Treble is well-extended with great air, and this should please analytical-junkies and trebleheads.

The Project M may lie on the brighter side of the spectrum, with a bit of BA timbre and a thinner note weight, but otherwise, even for my treble-sensitive preferences, I can use it for extended sessions, and really enjoyed my time with this IEM. Verily, I would be sad to send it back after the tour!

This set will recommend for folks looking for a technical masterpiece with eye-catching looks!

Disclaimer: Dita Audio provided me with a review unit. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Unaffiliated link here.

Introduction and Packaging Impression​

Dita Audio is a boutique Singaporean audio company that has been known for their single dynamic driver IEMs and premium cables. Project M ($325) is Dita Audio's first foray into the hybrid IEM market with a single dynamic driver and a balanced armature. I did not have much experience with Dita Audio products previously, but prior to this review, I have listened to the Perpetua, Dita Audio's flagship 1DD IEM. Suffice to say, I was impressed by the sound and the craftmanship enough that I sought to know more about their products, especially knowing that they are local to me too in Singapore. Dita Audio also has a long history with Final Audio.

Due to their boutique status, most of their products are often sold out and hard to find a demo, as well as being pricey. So, when I learnt about Project M, it seemed like a perfect opportunity for me, especially at the price point (it is currently the cheapest Dita Audio product next to their DAC/amp, the Navigator). Thankfully, Dita Audio has given me an opportunity to review the Project M.



I have to say that the unboxing experience of Project M feels extremely premium. I have other expensive sets of IEMs and headphones that have much more boring unboxing experience. Opening up the box, you can find the IEMs, TANOS Systainer³ containing the MOCCA cable, and a set of glow-in-the-dark custom Final Audio Type E eartips.



Speaking about the MOCCA cable, it is a custom-built cable by Cardas Audio terminated in Dita Audio's modular cable system called Awesome Plug v2. Personally, I prefer not to use modular plug system, but if I have to use one, I prefer this screw-in type. The unit comes with 3.5mm and 4.4mm L-shaped plugs. The 2-pin plug connector is recessed and sleeved like QDC, but the protrusion on the IEM isn't as tall as QDC's. I am told that the 2-pin configuration is standard 0.78mm, non-reversed polarity, but due to that sleeve, the cable is only usable with Project M. Additionally, if you want to use an aftermarket cable with Project M IEM, the protrusion will make the 2-pin stem sticks out pretty long. Thankfully, the stock cable of Project M sounds excellent and I can tell that the IEM is indeed tuned and optimized with this stock cable in mind.




Then, we go to the container. After a short research, I found that TANOS Systainer³ is a modular container system from Germany, normally used to store industrial parts and tools. Dita Audio's decision to use this system for their default case is indeed interesting and unexpected, but I am definitely very intrigued by its organizing potential. However, I find that with eartips and cable attached, the IEMs barely fit into the case, giving the eartips a slight squish when closed. However, with the interlocking, stackable design, I hope that Dita would sell the case separately and in different sizes.



The IEM itself is encased in clear, slow-pour resin, giving you a full view of the 9.8mm PM1+ dynamic driver encased in a stainless steel chamber bearing Dita Audio's logo. There is a really small vent the size of a sewing needle near the back of the chamber. The Knowles BA is hidden in the nozzle and you can see a red and green cable running in the main sound tube into the aluminium nozzle. There isn't an obvious crossover circuitry in sight, so it seems that the dynamic driver is running full range with the BA assisting on the higher frequencies. I guess Dita Audio did not stray that far from their 1DD speciality with the custom PM1+ DD being the main star for most of the frequency range. The nozzle measures at 6mm at its widest and it may cause some fit issues for some.



At the first glance, the eartips seems to be just a glow-in-the-dark version of the popular Final Audio Type E eartips. However, on closer inspection, the bore is slightly larger than the standard Type E eartips, and the central bore feels a tad stiffer.

Overall, I find that the packaging and the unboxing experience are excellent.

Sound Impression​

Sources: SMSL H300+D300 stack, Fiio Q15, Fiio M11S, L&P W2-131, Hiby FC6, Dita Audio Navigator
Setup: Stock L size eartips, stock cable
Music Sources: Local FLAC (redbook/hi-res), Tidal Masters, Apple Music Lossless

The IEM has undergone a 24-hour burn-in at a medium volume for prior to the review.

Listening impression is a very subjective experience depending on individual ear shape, choice of eartips, music library, and personal preferences, so your experience may vary. I personally listen mostly to pop, jazz, some rock, and very limited metal.

First, I have to say that burn-in is a MUST for this IEM. Out of the box, it is pretty sibilant and sharp. After burn-in, the sound noticeably mellowed down and more coherent. The burn-in also helped to reduce the tinge of metallic timbre I find when I first listened to it.

I would describe the tuning to be close to neutral with a slight boost in subbass and upper treble, somewhat of a U-shaped tuning. That allows the midrange to be forward while keeping excellent extensions on both ends of the frequency spectrum. I would not call this a reference-grade/monitoring-grade neutral tuning, but the colouration is subtle enough to be enjoyable and versatile. Overall, I don't think there is any specific frequency range that stands out above the rest, keeping the sound signature balanced. It does have its quirks that made it much better on certain tracks more, notably on vocal-focused tracks.


(measurement taken with a clone IEC-711 coupler with foam tips, the small notch at 1.2kHz is my particular coupler's quirk)

Bass​

The best way to describe Project M's bass is "quality over quantity". Unless you're a basshead, I don't think you'll be lacking the bass if you can get a deep enough insertion. The bass texture is impeccable with quick attacks but deep-reaching rumble. It still maintains a certain thickness and weight to the tone without being too bassy. The stainless steel chamber seems to introduce a pleasant, trailing resonance in the bass to give it a more natural timbre. The subbass glides smoothly into midbass without having a steep bass shelf, giving it a more coherent expression of the lower frequencies.

Testing tracks: Dream of Arrakis (Hans Zimmer), DAYS (Shimizu Shota)

Midrange​

Project M's midrange is quite forward with plenty of details. Vocals do pop out slightly, but it is not too intimate or ASMR-like. The note weight is on the lean side, so it does not exaggerate male vocals while making female vocals sound sweeter to my ears (not to say that male vocals are lacking quality here). Clarity and resolution in midrange are top notch, allowing you to separate the vocals and instruments very well. The midrange is also overall sounding very clean without any noticeable bleed from the bass region.

Testing tracks: Phony (Wagakki Band), Shape of You (Ed Sheeran)

Treble​

Project M has a very airy upper midrange and treble with excellent extension to upper treble. There is a tinge of wispiness in the really high notes and it does make it seem a bit too sparkly. That sparkle, however, does improve the detail retrieval and treble texture. The burn-in helped to even out this treble region, making it less fatiguing to listen too, and does not seem to affect the excellent treble resolution. Usually with in-nozzle BA, you'll find the treble to be really in-your-face too, but luckily Project M has implemented it really well.

Testing tracks: Through the Fire and Flames (Dragonforce), Golden Hour (JVKE)

Technicalities​

Despite being a mere 1DD+1BA configuration, I would say that this is one of the most resolving IEMs in any price point. The resolution is amazing, capturing a lot of details in the presence region. Other aspects of technicalities are a bit more modest: the soundstage is just a modest "bubble" around your head, going with more depth in layering and pin-point accurate imaging rather than size. The coherence is also excellent with little to no BA timbre.

Testing tracks: Change (MONKEY MAJIK), Bubbles (Yosi Horikawa)

Driving Requirements & Pairing Suggestion​

Project M is moderately easy to drive, even through 3.5mm single-ended output. It needs a fair bit of power to open up the soundstage and dynamics, but it may exaggerate the treble too much when paired with bright sources. I would recommend a neutral to darker sources generally. Resolution does improve with more power, but it might push the treble a bit too much.

Select Comparisons​

Moondrop Blessing 3 ($319):
Looking at the price point and the direction of the tuning, Moondrop Blessing 3 is natural comparison to the Project M. I have to say, despite having a simpler driver configuration, I would say Project M bested Blessing 3 on sheer technicalities, which is quite a surprise to me as well, most notably at resolution and layering. Soundstage are somewhat on par between them, but due to the better coherence in Project M, it does a more accurate imaging. Both are U-shape, but I feel that Blessing 3 has a higher boost on both ends of the spectrum. The bass speed and details are quite similar between them, with Blessing 3 having more impact while sacrificing a bit of coherence. The treble on Blessing 3 is more smoothened out, losing out a bit of texture when compared to Project M. I personally think Project M is the superior set between the two, in terms of sound and as a whole package with the accessories.

Final Audio A5000 ($279):
The A5000 has been my favourite 1DD recently due to its comfort, resolution, and soundstage. Compared to Project M, I would say that A5000 still excels more at soundstage. However, A5000 isn't the most vocal forward set around and Project M definitely has an advantage here and in the midrange overall. At a quick listen, it seems like A5000 has similar level of treble details, however the more I listened to it, the A5000 does lean towards a more fatiguing treble expression. Project M seems to have a better-controlled treble region just shy of being shouty or sharp to my ears. A5000 also has a punchier bass, although it does sound a bit diffused rather than the focused bass with Project M. I think overall, I would go with Project M on the count of better layering and more accurate imaging.

Thieaudio Monarch Mk2 ($999):
While from the price isn't a fair comparison, but I was asked for this comparison, so here it is. They are tonally different. Monarch Mk2 has that very clean presentation with that distinct layering between bass-mids-treble, making each frequency range to be very detailed and layered yet balanced. Project M is a bit more blended with more focus on upper mids and treble, but that nudges it to be more natural and musical overall. Monarch Mk2 is my Swiss Army Knife of IEMs, it excels in most things, without having anything stand out. It's an excellently technical IEM too. Meanwhile, Project M has better vocal expression, and I dare say that I enjoy vocal-heavy tracks more with Project M than the Monarch Mk2. Project M's resolution, however, is very close to Monarch Mk2. The thing that Project M loses out absolutely against Monarch Mk2 would be the bass and versatility.

Conclusion and Final Thoughts​

Project M is an excellent entry at around $300 price range. Beautiful design, excellent set of accessories, and enjoyable sound. I believe Project M is indeed a successful foray into the hybrid territory for Dita Audio, and I do hope that whatever they learnt from this would eventually be expanded into their future products.

Dita Project-M Review​

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Dita Project-M Review​

Intro​

Well hello audio lovers, today I have a very special iem from the famous and talented audio brand “Dita Audio” and that iem is uniquely dubbed “Dita Project-M”. The Project-M is dual-driver hybrid iem with a single DD and single BA. I’ve never actually had a pair of Dita earphones in my ears prior to my time with the Project-M. However, I feel it’s a fair assessment from my perspective that there’s... something that hits different with a Dita set. I think I base that off of the respect that Dita has in the community. There’s an Allure to the name. Like some untapped air of enchanting mystery that only a few know about. Okay, that may be going a bit far, but you get what I’m trying to say. I don’t know, maybe it’s the mystique surrounding the name “Dita”. Maybe it’s the elegance in the simplicity of the earphones in front of me. Of course, that simple aesthetic is just a facade as there is nothing simple about this set. It’s obvious to me that labored love went into the creation of this set. There’s a certain charm or charisma to them. That said, this isn’t a hype review, I’m not here to promise any grand proclamations that this set punches above its price, or it’s the best in its price point. No sir. That would be tacky, cheesy, and not my style in the first place. Too many variables. I will say that it kinda feels like the Project-M is a nod to those who could never afford an actual Dita earphone. Like I said, I’ve never heard a Dita earphone until now, but I assume the Project-M has some of the same Dita DNA, yet at a more affordable price.

Project-M​

Dita is renowned for their use of single dynamic driver earphones. It’s kind of their thing. Or at least I thought it was. So, to my surprise they went with a hybrid this go-round with the Project-M. Like I said earlier, Dita chose to implement one dynamic driver and one balanced armature driver into the design which Dita claims gives the Project-M the distinct texture and characteristics behind its signature. I will cover this a bit more later but sitting here with the Project-M in my ears I feel pretty assured to say that Dita does nothing by accident. Read their material, see the careful marketing, the exquisite nature of their presentation and it becomes very obvious that Dita was serious about crafting a budget oriented iem that is built to last (10 yr parts/replacement warranty), to look beautiful, and to sound better than it should.

What’s in a name?​

One really cool piece to the story behind the Project-M was how it got its name. I love a good story behind the naming scheme of any iem or audio device that I review. Names are important. So often we see “number names” (as I like to call them) that are about as meaningless as a name can be. Dita actually has purpose and heartwarming intent behind this name, and I find it perfect. Such a class act of a company (you’ll read those words a lot). Dita actually named the Project-M after a young boy who hung around the folks at Dita since he was a young teenager (14 yrs old). This young boy had showed signs of great interest in developing further in the world of audio when he crafted his own DIY iem very young. Naturally the folks at Dita were impressed and so they let him hang around and learn. They let him mix it up with the professionals, discover the craft behind true engineers, artisans, etc. I won’t spoil the whole story and you can watch it HERE. However, to make a good long story much shorter, Dita named this set the Project-M after a young boy named “Michael”. Best naming scheme I’ve heard yet, hands down!

Dita​

I wish I had some long history with this brand because I would lay it on thick right now. Yes, even thicker than I already have. It’s just so easy to be impressed by this brand. Dita has been a prized audio brand that excels in the mystery and seems to tap every perfect button of those who’ve spent quality time with their products. I’ve done some digging. Like always, I do my homework folks. I read the reviews of their products, watched the reviews, read the message boards, perused their website… Yada Yada Yada. Consumers who’ve purchased a Dita set seem unanimously enchanted, and they seem to want to get it off their chests and talk about it too. At any rate, friends, did you know that Dita’s parent company has been around for over 49 years?! They’ve been conducting research and development through automation & engineering all this time. Dita is a Singaporean company, and they have what seems to be a love affair with music and a love affair with their craft. I wish I could tell you more but, I actually don’t really know enough and also, I don’t really want to. let’s just keep the mystique hanging around a little longer. It’s better that way. The Dita Project-M…

Non-Affiliated Purchase Links​

–Ditaaudio

Disclaimer:​

I received the Dita Project-M from Dita Audio as part of a review tour and in exchange I will conduct a full review and feature at Mobileaudiophile.com. I have not received any payment or any other form of compensation for this review. This set is a tour unit sample iem. Dita Audio has not requested to pre-read any review and doesn’t have any control over “what” or “when” anything gets published to mobileaudiophile.com. All thoughts within this review are my own, though please take note that I will always have my own biases. This is impossible to get around. I try to be as objective as my subjective self can be, but this is an opinion piece folks. Thank you to Dita Audio and thanks for reading.

Gear used for testing​

–Ifi Go Blu
–Aful SnowyNight
–EPZ TP50
–Fiio Q15
–iBasso DX240 with Amp8 MK2
–Shanling M6 Ultra

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Packaging / Accessories​

Unboxing​

I feel that Dita gives a pretty nice unboxing experience. You won’t feel overly lavished in goods and accessories, but what Dita does provide is all of good quality. Now, the box is a black rectangular box of good size with a sleeve covering. You’ll see the Dita logo, as well as “Project-M” in bold letters at the bottom. I love that Dita also added a frequency graph depicting the Dita Project-M’s frequency response. You have some specs on that back etc. Take the sleeve off and you are left with just a black box and a Dita logo in the middle. Open the box and you’ll see the slick looking Project-M earphones staring back at you in foam cut-outs. Right next to the Project-M is the carrying case. Inside the carrying case you’ll find the modular beautiful cable and modular cable adapters. Next to the case is the eartips sitting cool in a small plastic case which also happens to be sitting in a foam cut-out. It’s all packaged nice friends. Oh Dita… You get me.

Eartips​

The eartips are very much usable and actually sound good with the Dita Project-M. Who’da thunk it? Imagine a company who actually provides tips which actually pair nicely with their earphones. It’s a novel idea. Also, it’s a rare occasion. Most companies add some throw away horrible tips (not good), or… they throw in many different styles of tips (better). However, Dita went a step further and simply added eartips which complement the sonic tendencies of their earphones (best). Friends, like most of you, I have untold mountains of tips that do nothing more than collect dust. Let’s put it this way, I add in the “eartips” section because I feel it makes sense and it’s an important piece of the puzzle which drastically aids or derails the sonic capabilities of any set of earphones. This is one of the few times that I feel I don’t really need this section because the Dita provided tips actually…compliment the sound of the Project-M. It’s a novel idea.

What are they​

The tips in the package of the Project-M are actually Final Audio E-tips! I love them. They added in a total of five sets in five sizes which come packaged in a small plastic box. These tips are the white silicone E-tips, rigid, tacky, great seal, narrow bore. However, the coolest thing about these tips is one of the weirdest things about these tips. Did you know, they glow in the dark? Ya I thought it was weird too. I actually found this out sitting in my dark bedroom at night looking for the Project-M at my bedside. I love listening to my music at night. Anyways, how cool. I don’t even know why it’s cool, but it’s cool. I liked finding out that I would have zero issues finding these earphones. There they were… Glowing. Okay, enough about that. Did I mention it was pretty cool though?

Carrying case​

The case included in the packaging of the Dita Project-M is an odd one. I can’t say I’m a huge fan, but I wouldn’t say I dislike it either. Now, I don’t know who the brand Tanos is, but they are makers of this small box. Anyways, I do like this systainer style case, I just don’t know if it’s a good size. The case provided with the Project-M is very military style futuristic looking. It looks like I’d find a couple magazines full o’ rounds of ammunition inside of this little baddie. Anyways, the case is rather small. It feels extremely durable and probably seals watertight, but it’s small. Maybe just large enough to get your earphones and cable into. I can say this, without question your precious Project-M’s will be kept safe from most elements. Perfect for placing into a backpack or bag and safe storing (if that’s how you store your earphones). As for myself, I don’t ever use cases and wouldn’t need this case, but I know many of my friends in the community use them daily. It’s a neat case, it’s different, and like everything else, it makes sense.

Cable​

The cable is one of the coolest pieces to the puzzle that is the Dita Project-M. I believe the adapter plugs were created and crafted by the storied brand Cardas. I also believe that the cable was made by MOCCA. The cable is a beauty in my opinion. Like I said earlier, the cable is actually a modular one with both 3.5 single ended and 4.4 balanced right-angle adapters. I feel it pairs perfectly with the clean look and aesthetic of the Project-M. The cable itself is an almost opaque white cable with a very soft and pliable PVC outer layer. This cable is a 2-pin QDC style which has 16 strands and is relatively beefy while at the same time is very light which adds no extra weight. It’s a nice one folks. Personally, I always cable swap, I find it fun. I like pairing the perfect cable with my earphones. This is one of the few times I did not need to do so. The cable pairs well both aesthetically as well as sonically. Nice work Dita.

Build / Design / Internals / Fit​

Build Quality / Design​

What a sweet build! My word! Build quality and design go hand-in-hand with this set folks. They complement one another which is a rarity of late. The Project-M earphones are absolutely stunning. I really mean that. Made entirely of crystal clear beautifully transparent resin. Bubble free, like glass. Just beautiful looking. I love the way the driver and Internals look Housed within the Dita Project-M. Gorgeous. The shape is the most unique and elegant looking design that I’ve seen. I don’t even know how to describe it, if I’m being honest. You’ll notice the faceplate is almost off canter where a usual iem would have them. On the faceplate area is the Dita logo. Pure class folks. Did I mention that the Project-M is a dope looking iem? The build is as solid as it gets.

In the spirit of continuous development and evolution, DITA introduces its first resin-based, hybrid earphone, the Project M.
The M’s physical appearance is a departure from previous DITA designs, taking on an even more ergonomic form factor that is at once familiar and yet uniquely DITA.
Dita Promotional​

Click to expand...

Internals​

Dita chose a hybrid setup this time making use of one dynamic driver and one Knowles balanced armature driver. The dynamic driver is a 9.8mm Dita crafted PM1+ Driver. Both the Knowles balanced armature and the PM1+ DD are Housed within a stainless-steel chamber, as you can see from the photos. I don’t know much about this DD but I’m assuming a ton of care and purposeful intent went into the addition of it. I can tell you this, it is surely a very capable dynamic driver which was tuned precisely along with the Knowles BA.

The Project M features DITA Audio’s PM1+ Driver, a 9.8mm dynamic driver, newly developed and custom-built specifically for the Project M.
The main engine behind the Project M’s sound, the PM1+ is responsible for the texture and characteristics behind the M’s signature. With the driver itself boasting a full-range sound with clarity, speed and a punchy bass
The PM1+ Driver performs best with additional technology, leading us to augment the Project M’s soundstage with a single Knowles Balanced Armature Driver.
Dita Promotional​

Click to expand...

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Fit / Comfort / Isolation​

As far as fit is concerned, I feel that the odd shape of the Project-M actually helps in the fit and overall comfort of this earphone. For whatever reason the off-center faceplate actually makes it easier to put into my ears. I get a fantastic seal right away. The Project-M aren’t ultra heavy but there’s some weight there. However, the weight distribution is as good as it gets. I never feel fatigued by the size, weight and shape of the Project-M either. I’d say they are pretty darn comfortable. Well, as comfortable as a set of in-ears could be. Isolation is very good. I’d say above average for sure. I get very little sound from the outside world. Within reason anyways. Nothing completely isolates outside noises. However, this set does very well. I never got any complaints from my wonderful family about sound leakage either so no worries there. Fit, comfort, sound isolation is all pluses in my eyes. Again, nice work Dita!

Drivability​

The Dita Project-M is rated with an impedance of around 32 ohms and a sensitivity of 107 db’s. What this translates to is an earphone which is fairly sensitive. This also means that most sources can drive the Project-M. However, I most certainly feel that a source with some good output power will drive the Project-M to their best fidelity. This is one set that really does come alive with more power. I used so many sources and gear in this review folks. I used about 10 different dongle dacs, Bluetooth dac/amps, dac/amps and daps and found that closer to neutral sources to slightly warmer sources seemed to pair best. For me, my Shanling M6 Ultra was a wonderful synergetic pairing. I also love the Fiio Q15 with this set. The Aful SnowyNight was also a great mobile option on high gain using the 4.4 port.

What should you use? ​

I have a nagging suspicion that anyone looking to purchase the $325 Dita Project-M will also most likely have some robust and powerful sources. I don’t want to assume though. However, most folks seeking out +$300 iems will usually have at least something on hand that is reasonably talented sound-wise. I found Project-M scales very well with power. As in, there’s a good difference between less and more. Using the Shanling M6 Ultra on at least medium gain was good but I used it mostly in high gain. The Fiio Q15 is the same story. I found that the Project-M tightens up a bit and the dynamic range seems to extend a bit. Macro-dynamics are perceived to open up and become a bit more expressive too with more juice. Is this mandatory? No, of course not. The Project-M still sounds nice on lesser powerful sources. I just think this set scales well (to a degree) and I’d be remiss if I didn’t explain that.

Sound Impressions​

Quick look at the sound​

Finally, we get to the sound. It is usually a chore getting to this point in any of my reviews, but I found this one was a bit different. I was joyful through the whole process of discovering this set. Still, it is the sound that we are here for in the end. The Project-M are almost perfectly neutral with subtle shades of warmth down low and hints of brilliance up top. Maybe an ever-so-slight V-shape. I could see folks describing this as slightly U-shaped as well. I actually probably lean more towards U-shaped. What I hear is a transparent sound with slightly dialed back dynamics but a very clean sound that satisfies each area of the mix in a beautiful way. Each 3rd of the mix is precisely tuned to bring out each area’s sonics in a clean and monitoring type style. Even though I hate to call it that. There is such a melodic quality that “monitor-ish” doesn’t do it justice in my eyes. There is no one area of the mix which overtakes another. The balance is wonderful!

Neutrality​

Like I said, the Project-M comes across close to neutral and so you should expect what comes with a clean and clear neutral presentation. It also comes across with pretty precise transients with nicely etched note definition. In my opinion, listening with the Project-M bad recordings will sound… well… not perfect. However, better recordings or files will come across “seemingly” exactly as the author of those files intended (as though I know the intent of the artist, sounds good though). This may or may not be a good thing. Having said all of that, this doesn’t mean that the Project-M is without some dynamic and vibrant energy. Dynamics are there in its’ neutrally balanced way. You simply won’t have a ton of color emphasizing the spectrum. You simply don’t have spruced up and elevated kinetic dimineundos or dynamic contrast that comes across generally more “fun”. Still, I’ve had a ton of fun listening to the Project-M. I suppose it all comes down to what kind of “fun” were talking about. I hear neutral, measured, balanced, tight, swift, and solid. In no particular order.

Pint sized look between the 20’s ​

I add this section for anyone who doesn’t want to spend a half hour reading my full review and simply wants to read a condensed version. Granted I cover a whole lot more past this section but, I get it. Not everyone wants to read a book. Here is my pint-sized look between the 20’s.

Quick bass​

Beginning with the bass, it isn’t overly accentuated but yet it isn’t without density or rumble. The Project-M’s low-end won’t bring bassheads out of the woodwork. Definitely not for fans of big bass, but definitely for fans of quality bass. Slightly softer in attack. Not completely hard edged but dense in body with moderate levels of slam and good impact. I’d say the low-end is sub-bass focused but there’s only a slight difference in emphasis between the sub to the mid-bass. With my music library, the bass fulfills my satisfaction with an adequate level of intensity to bass drops, bass guitar, kick drums etc.

Quick mids​

The midrange is only slightly recessed yet with very nice presence, aided by the transparency of the sound. Note outlines are clean, defined and really sound great with good recordings. There’s even some shimmer in the upper mids too. Possibly a bit shouty to some but not at all to me. Note weight is slightly leaner but not dry to my ears, and there’s still good solidity to the sound. A natural note weight if you will. The midrange is very well tuned.

Quick highs​

The treble has very good extension, a little bit of glitter, some shine but also never fatiguing either. It’s tastefully tuned people! The treble has some bite to it and good body to notes as well.

Each area of the mix is accounted for and cared for. Nothing is oversaturated and nothing is a burden. Nothing veiled, grainy, sharp, too glaring or too sibilant. It’s almost like Dita knows what they are doing. Again, this isn’t necessarily the most “fun” replay I’ve ever heard but… define fun. Fun as in… big bass, bright treble, bombastic and energetic, color everywhere. No, it isn’t that, thankfully. This is maturity through and through. The stage is of a decent size, you have depth for layering, Imaging is spot on too. I find detail retrieval is well accomplished as well. Folks, I’m finding it hard to find any issues. I’ll be reaching in the “downsides” sections, just putting it out there.

Bass Region​

The entirety of the bass region fits comfortably with the overall tuning as it forms a perfect balance with the rest of the mix. I don’t find the Project-M bass region to be overly colored or accentuated and I also don’t find the bass region very far forward at all. It kinda sits back existing in concert with the midrange and treble though still sounding hearty and full. I’ve said this a few times but, if you are a basshead and desire big, booming, and earth-shaking bass, you may not want to spend the $325 to own this set. This doesn’t mean the low end cannot get guttural enough, and it doesn’t mean that it doesn’t get boomy enough. The bass does have some meat to it. Just not so much that the rest of the mix bends to its will. Nothing is masked, muddy, or bloated. Basically, the bass cast shade over the rest of the frequency, unless the track you are listening to is literally recorded as such.

Sub-bass​

The lowest of the lows comes across with plenty of rumble for those folks who don’t necessarily desire that full sonorous & resonant sub-bass expression. However, I hear decent density in note weight and body, but it simply isn’t over cooked or noticeably over-enriched down low. Again, not for bass bois, not for bassheads, and not for those who enjoy an ultra-deep and fun sub-bass. Now that I’ve got that out of the way… the sub-bass is great. It’s tight, condensed, very well extended, solid enough to give bass guitar that growl and speedy enough to navigate just about any track you throw at the Project-M. The leading edge of attack isn’t rock hard and crystalline, but it is very well defined when a track calls for it. I’ll say this a few times: this is a “quality-trumps-quantity” situation. Without question. “Take on Me” by Weezer is a remake of the classic ole’ school 80’s jam. This track begins with some pretty hefty and very quick kick drums. I should feel these drum hits if the sub-bass is worth its salt. Thankfully I do feel a moderate and very tight drum kick with a nice impact too. I also hear a very clean drum kick too. Nothing fuzzy or pillowy to the Project-M down low. “Groove” by Ray Wylie Hubbard is another track that is a nice barometer for deep rumbling sub-bass. The Project-M sounds just as dirty as it should sound. Perhaps a hint less deep haptic reverberant buzz but the timbre is great, and Ray’s deadpan vocals are very clear and clean amongst that bassline.

Mid-bass​

The mid-bass is only a touch less emphasized than the sub-bass. No doubt this is done to keep a cleaner midrange, but there’s still enough boom and slam for hip-hop. That’s obviously a debatable statement though. Bass guitars are maybe a bit reserved as far as fullness is concerned, but I don’t think anyone is going to complain. This is a transient quick and clean lined mid-bass that behaves how it is told to behave from the track that is playing. Again, quality trumps quantity and does so in a very mature way. There is something to be said for a clean and well-defined bass. Almost as though the impact of the mid-bass comes through clearer and with better presence when the bass has more room to operate and defined note edges. The mid-bass also has a nice and moderately meaty bass drop for fans of hip hop, like in the track “All My Life” by Lil Durk. When the bass drop occurs, it is perfectly outlined against the rest of the melody but yet it also sits even in the sound field. The bass drop isn’t forward or bulbous but is still convex enough and rounded in its overall sound. Decay is pretty rapid too, for a dynamic driver.

Further thoughts on the Bass Region ​

One further point about the low-end is that it fits the overall tuning very well. For instance, listening to Andrew Bird‘s track “Mancey” the bass guitar is literally pancaked between the rest of the instruments, and it comes across remarkably noticeable and full in its note body with a deep drone and a nice density. However, I love that the bass guitar overtakes nothing else and nothing else overtakes the bass guitar for dominance in the mix. Everything exists in the same field of sound harmoniously. There is a precise nature to the low-end without losing the atmospheric vibe of a dynamic driver’s natural decay. It’s just nice folks.

Downsides to the Bass Region​

Without a doubt the number one issue that people within the community may have is the the quantity of the bass region. It is well extended and meaty enough but simply not what I would call “fun” per se, and it certainly doesn’t warm the rest of the mix. Im sure that bassheads won’t enjoy it too much. However, I do feel that is a smaller segment of the audio community and generally most fans of actual quality bass should really enjoy what Dita was able to accomplish for the price. I enjoy the replay of the low-end quite well. I’m able to hear my music in a different way (to a degree) than how I’ve heard it of late. Every area of the mix seems almost perfectly portioned and the bass is no exception. Each is a supporting role with no lead actors. The bass is simply one perfectly formed leg of a three-legged table. Okay that was a weird example, but you get the idea, I’m sure.

Midrange​

The midrange incorporates most of the instruments we hear, vocalists too etc. On the Project-M I find this set to really do a nice job of keeping a very crisp note edge without sounding coarse or grainy at all. The sound in the midrange is clean and with pinpoint control and only a few issues to note. Note weight is rather lean as there really isn’t a whole lot of warmth to color or bulk up the sound. The mid-bass doesn’t really encroach into the midrange at all which leaves the presentation sounding more refined and defined. I don’t hear a great recession of the midrange as there is very good presence within the mix. Like I said, the sound has a nice balance that is very appealing, and the midrange follows suit perfectly. Again, note weight is not the most robust and there are hints of sharpness in the upper midrange. Still, as a whole the mids sound musical and melodic but yet very well detailed with good depth, a holographic stage and fantastic imaging.

Lower-midrange​

Looking at the low-mids, I find that male vocalists are a hint less organic and slightly less weighted than natural to my ears. Does this mean they’re bad? Absolutely not! Males sound fantastic actually. The note body is simply a hair leaner than what I consider perfectly realistic. Having said that, not many sets do this right and if they do, usually something else in the mix pays the price for it. No, I feel Dita did a great job here. Even within the leaner structure there is still solidity, or density. I feel most of this lean structure occurs because of the cleanliness of the region and the transient quick decay/sustain. No harmonics hang around long enough to blur the sound. Better said, harmonics don’t extend past their welcome. One track I always listen to in my “vocalist” Playlist is Chris Stapleton in the song “Higher” (and any other Stapleton track). There is something special happening here within the sound field. His voice is so melodic, almost euphonious as his mellow sounding inflection harmonizes perfectly. His voice is edgy at the crest of each note, but never abrasive like he can sound so often. This is a raspy southern voice folks and not every set can replay his voice perfectly in every track. I have too many tracks featuring male vocals where I drew similar conclusions, too many to speak on here. Just know this, male vocals generally come across very well in my opinion.

Upper-Midrange​

Females are usually, but not always, located near the upper-mids and for the most part the Project-M succeeds at providing female vocals that are both crystal clear and fairly energetic. I feel that Dita once again nailed the target they were shooting for. There is a nice mix of smoothness and technical capability which is very nice to my ears. The upper-mids are very cohesive with the overall sound of the Project-M melting naturally into the lower treble. Details in this area are easy to hear with fantastic clarity and great note distinction and resolution. Females do come across a hint lean but like the rest of the mix, I find the presence to be better than good. Clarity is really very nice too. It all comes together to make vocalists like Rhiannon Giddens sound as though her vocals are on a pedestal, forward, and emotional on the track “Who Are You Dreaming Of”. Or Taylor Swift in “The 1” from her Long Pond Studio Sessions album. Her voice is whispery sweet and soft with such a nice delicate smoothness to it. There’s an ambiance to the song and the Project-M is able to capture that.

A nice balance​

Now, there are certainly iems in this price range that specialize in the midrange. They specialize in vocals with accentuated midrange qualities. I found the Project-M’s balance of the frequency and technical proficiency doesn’t preclude it from being emotionally charged and musically gifted. Instruments come across nicely as well. Strings of all types of sound edgy without sounding coarse or abrasive. Percussion has just enough snap and energy on attack to provide a satisfying percussive hit. Snares have that nice “pang”, cymbals have good body too. Woodwinds sound great as well. The thing the Project-M does a bit different from other sets is it has the ability to position instrumentation on equal footing with everything else across the midrange. Nothing is overtly emphasized or over accentuated. I wouldn’t call any one area more forward than the next. Thankfully there is great space for instruments to operate with very defined and clean lines between instruments too. I find that the timbre is great, energy is nice, and the midrange has a nicely open feel to it.

Downsides to the Midrange​

If I were to come up with some downsides, I’d probably say that some folks will want a warmer and darker sounding midrange with better smoothness and thicker note body. Not everyone will want the Project-M’s rendition of the midrange. On the same note, some may want an even leaner, more analytical sound in this area. The truth is, nothing is for everyone, but I can surely see why many folks will adore this set. I also hear the faintest bit of sibilance from time to time, but it is so far and few in between that I don’t feel it necessary to make sibilance a “con”. Other than what I’ve spoken about another issue for some may be a slight lack in dynamism. The Project-M is not going to color the sound a whole lot and much of what you hear is going to be a result of the actual recording you are listening to. The Project-M will replay what is given to it and will do so by the book. With that all said, I think Dita did a fine job, I really do. The mids have fantastic pinpoint imaging with very good separation of instruments and voices. Like I’ve said a few times, the Project-M does a nice job of balancing a clean, resolute & detailed sound with a non-offensive, musical and even smooth sound at times. I’m impressed.

Treble Region ​

The treble is pretty special folks. I find the treble region to be nicely airy and open sounding with plenty of brilliance, but also, I don’t find it offensive or too sharp either. It looks like Dita tuned this set to walk that fine line. Instruments have good separation, and the timbre is close to natural throughout. Extension is another great quality on the Project-M too. As I’ve said many times already, the overall sound is balanced and even. So, there’s no great peaks which will add sharpness or any overly saturated areas of the treble. There is no forced resolution or forced details up top by emphasizing the treble above the rest of the mix. Having said that, I do feel the actual body of treble notes are clean, rounded, and have very nice placement in the sound field, for the most part. Let’s put it this way, I didn’t hear anything that was “off” to my ears.

Not bad at all…​

The treble region is also very dexterous and agile with a very speedy note decay which does cut off some harmonics to some instruments, but I feel this is a nice caveat to have. This speed really does help the Project-M in illuminating details in a natural way and not in a forced way. I love that. I feel the drivers are of very good quality on this set. Nothing feels forced folks. It’s just resolute, clean and timberaly accurate with enough dynamics and extension to keep things interesting. I wouldn’t necessarily call the treble region smooth or crisp either. I’d actually simply refer to it as natural. Which is kind of the running theme of this set. Imaging is also very well placed as there’s actual layering which occurs, as the depth is there to create some front to back distinction.

Examples​

Listening to “Bishop School” by Yusef Lateef is one of those tracks which isn’t recorded to the utmost of quality. This is something which comes across while listening. While the Project-M is more than able to keep up with this song in all its modulations of different treble activity, it still shows the scars of a bad recording. At least the file I have. However, listening to Billy Strings’ track “Secrets” the Project-M puts on a clinic of speed and timbre integrity all the while never skipping a beat. The Project-M sounds crisp when it needs to be crisp and does so with very nice timing and cadence.

Downsides to the Treble Region​

Honestly, I’ve had a hard time coming up with actual issues up top. I really feel it is a nice treble. However, this will not be for treble heads. As nice as the tuning is, it also isn’t overly accentuated and may seem to lack a bit of treble bite for some folks. The treble also isn’t overly punchy either. The beauty of this treble is its ability to remain cohesive and fit the overall tuning, along with some other great qualities. However, those who adore that energetic and vibrant type of treble that has defined note edges and brilliance throughout may want to keep looking. Having said that, the Project-M isn’t without brilliance either. Just toned down a bit. Altogether, this is a job well done.

Technicalities​

Soundstage​

The stage size of the Dita Project-M is certainly one of its strengths in my opinion. We have good extension in the sub-bass, good extension in the treble, you have good depth too which all equates to a soundstage which is above average in all ways. I find the width is outside of my ears which makes for a good and wide presentation. Height is average to above average as well. The midrange is a bit closer to the listener due to the nice balance across the mix and so I do feel that the stage is somewhat intimate in that regard. The stereo image is close, but also wide, tall and pretty deep. I find layering of instruments and vocals to be very well done. Even against some of the very nice iems in its price point.

Separation / Imaging ​

Another strength. In fact, you might as well call all technicalities… Strengths. The Project-M does have an open sound. Plenty of space within the psycho-acoustically rendered sound field for instruments to sound partitioned off from one another to a degree. I hear nothing congested, or at least nothing that is overly cramped. Obviously in more congested tracks things will come across a hair more pushed together though. I did hear some tracks that gave the Project-M a run for its money, and I did sense some slight blending of sounds. That said, most sets will sound the exact same way in those tracks. I feel the Project-M does an admirable job of creating compartmentalized regions within my mind space. Imaging follows suit wonderfully. Nothing is off to my ears. Left to right and front to back is well delineated placing the elements on the stage in precise locations. Of course, some tracks are better at showing this off and some genres are more apt to have better imaging too. However, in the grand scheme of things the Dita Project-M does very well in both separation as well as imaging.

Detail Retrieval​

I’m sure you know what I will say here. The Project-M does an above average job of providing good detail retrieval across the spectrum. Whether you are looking at the bass, midrange, or the treble region. Again, we have good space, clean lines, great resolution, faster transients, proper placement of elements on a stage, and the sound is very well balanced. In my opinion, these are all ingredients for good detail retrieval. The best part is that Dita tuned this set in such a way that doesn’t necessarily sacrifice musicality for technical abilities. Not completely anyways, the Project-M still has a very melodic and emotional quality to it.

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Final thoughts on the sound​

I don’t usually give a “final thoughts on the sound” section, but I wanted to today so, bear with me folks. The Dita Project-M is simply impressive. Still… despite that, there will certainly be folks who don’t jive with the sound. This isn’t the most energetic, dynamic or outright fun sound. You don’t have that big booming bass. Nor do you have an electric treble region full of sparkles and shining brilliance. Not everyone is going to want to fork over $325 for such a tuning. With all that said, I feel this set is very mature. Front to back, top to bottom… Dita put on a clinic folks! To be 100% honest, I don’t think I’ve heard such a tuning within the price point, on any set. Of course I haven’t heard em’ all. The balance that I keep speaking of is almost off-putting at first. It took me a while to really engage and find the beauty of this sound. Let me not mince any of my words though, the Project-M is a fantastic iem. Truly. I feel that Dita covered all bases sonically. Every way you spin the Dita Project-M is great. Whether it’s the build, the design, the unboxing, or the sound. It’s all very well done. I salute Dita and now… I have to try out some more of their iems! Nice work.

Is it worth the asking price?​

The big question. This will always be the number 1 question asked, other than if there are better sets “at” or “around” the price point. Let me answer that fast and decisively… Yes, it’s worth every penny that Dita is asking and no, you won’t find a set like this at the Project-M’s price point. Not that I’ve heard anyways. I have not heard them all. However, there are a huge swath of folks who have to save up a very long time to afford something this expensive. It’s just the truth. To those people taking a risk on a tuning that isn’t a “run o’ the mill” type sound is pretty anxiety inducing. They could take my word for it, but that is risky. I’ve been able to spend over a month dissecting this sound, soaking in it, trying a ton of different sources, like a kid in a candy store. So, I understand wholeheartedly if you are the type who’d want something with a more popular sound, more fun, more dynamic. With that said, I cannot responsibly say that the Dita Project-M isn’t worth the asking price. It’s 110% worth that price folks.

The Why…​

Because the Dita Project-M has a fantastic unboxing with great tips, a dope and totally unique carrying case and one of my now…favorite cables. Love that cable. To add to that, the build is beyond exceptional. Do you know that not one bubble appears in that crystal clear resin? It is so perfectly transparent that I could probably use it as a magnifying glass if I tried hard enough. It’s perfect folks! The driver inside is so sweet looking, the shape is so different from anything else on the market and I’m not even at the good part yet! My word! Folks, the best part of the Project-M is undoubtedly the sound (if it aligns with your preferences). Each area of the mix is accounted for, each is a perfectly measured and weighed part to a wonderful whole. Each section (bass, mids, treble) has its own unique characteristics that blends cohesively with each other in the most natural way for the price. Granted, you could spend a lot more money and yes, you will find something better. But friends, the Project-M costs a mere $325 with one of the best warranties I’ve ever heard of. Dita gives you a 10-year parts or replacement warranty! What?! It’s a no-brainer if you can afford it. In my opinion anyways.

Set apart​

Now, there are some absolutely phenomenal iems priced around the Dita Project-M. I have a few in my collection. However, none of those gives me exactly what the Project-M can give. In my collection, I certainly have some more fun iems, even better technical iems. I have sets that do a better job at vocals, at rumbly bass. I have sets that offer better detail retrieval and they all cost around the same price, give or take. What they don’t always have is that crystal clear balance where all elements of the stage operate apart from each other in the sound field, yet cohesively merge in such a Technically Musical manner. Definitely check out other reviews, I am certain not everyone is going to feel as strong as I do about this. Without question some reviewers will be less enthusiastic. Again, I cannot responsibly say to any of you that the Project-M isn’t worth the money they are asking.

Ratings (0-10)​

Note: all ratings are based upon my subjective judgment. These ratings are garnered against either similarly priced sets or with similar driver implementations or styles with the unique parameters of my choosing. In the case of the Dita Project-M ratings below, that would be $300-$350 hybrid style iems. Please remember that “ratings” don’t tell the whole story. This leaves out nuance and a number of other qualities which make an iem what it is. A “5-6” is roughly average and please take into consideration the “lot” of iems these ratings are gathered against. $300-$350 US is not the largest scope of iems, and so seeing a 9 is reasonable depending on the set. My ratings are never the same and each set of ratings tells a different story. Each time you read one of my ratings will be unique to that review. Basically, I create a Rating that makes sense to me.

Aesthetic ​

–Build Quality: 9.8 Built exceptionally well.

–Look: 9.9 Is this the best looking iem in its price point?

–Accessories: 9.6 Very nice unboxing.

–Overall: 9.8

Sound Rating ​

–Timbre: 9.5 Within the top class in timbre.

–Bass: 8.8 Quality over quantity.

–Midrange: 9.4 Very resolute with great presence.

–Treble: 9.2 Sparkly with nice extension.

–Technicalities: 9.4 Technically a fine set.

–Musicality: 8.6 Fantastic musicality for the tuning.

–Overall: 9.2

Ratings Summary:​

Remember, these ratings are all opinions folks. In fact, this entire review is an “opinion piece”. Please try to take this into account because I don’t want to lead any of you wrong. Remember, the breadth of my understanding about audio may not be as great and vast as some other reviewers. Shoot, it may be a lot vaster too. We all haven’t been down the same journey through audio. This is so important, probably the most important difference between reviewers. So, these are my opinions from my perspective, and I stand by them. At any rate, the ratings above are tallied against other hybrid iems between $300 and $350 US. That’s a good-sized scope of sets, but not so large that it’s going to push ratings down all that much. You see a lot of “9’s” above. Maybe the most I’ve put on a set until now. The ratings that aren’t “9’s” are also pretty damn close. I don’t feel there is a whole lot to explain here as the ratings are self-explanatory, but there are a couple that I may have to explain myself on.

Explain Yourself! ​

I have to start with the bass. A “8.8” is actually a high rating for something that isn’t the most convex and quantity isn’t the most emphasized. In fact, I could use a bit more to be honest. However, this is such a tactful and precise bass region that has good density, it’s speedy and is very agile and clean. I was actually going to rate it much higher, but I thought about the quantity. It needs just a touch more. Of course, that would impact the entirety of the rest of the mix, and possibly throw the beauty of this set (balance) out of whack. You’d then have to tinker with the pinna rise or treble and… “8.8” is good enough. The bass is good enough. Another area where I’ll probably get some private messages from some of you (I always do) is in the “Treble” Rating. I gave this set a lofty “9.2”. I know treble heads will be thinking I’m nuts. However, I stand by it. Timbre up top is nice, great extension, separation, Imaging and enough brilliance to bring openness and airiness to the overall sound. Every rating above is debatable but I do stand by them all.

Conclusion​

To conclude this full review of the Dita Project-M, I want to thank the amazing folks at Dita Audio as well as YouTube’s Ted Superchonk for providing the Project-M in exchange for a full review and feature at Mobileaudiophile.com. I have been more than happy to spend time with this set folks. Of course, this is just a tour unit and so… off it goes to the next person in line. What a bitter-sweet reality of tour units. Anyways, I have been honored to check out this set and had a great time giving my opinion on it. So, thank you Dita! Folks, I couldn’t be more impressed with Dita Audio as a brand. They seem to have an obvious love for music. Do you know they have a room built specifically for listening to music to give a reference for their engineers and sound technicians to almost re-calibrate? The emphasis on music is something that I love to see. But the standard they represent is just as awesome. Every move they make has a purpose behind it. I over romanticize everything, but I think I’m being pretty conservative when I say that Dita Audio is next level and I’m so glad they decided to create something that is more accessible to more people.

Other perspectives ​

Please check out other thoughts of the Project-M as not everyone is going to have the same feelings towards this set. We are all very much different as each of us has different tastes or likes and dislikes. We may have different gear, different music libraries, our hearing isn’t always the same and like I stated earlier, we haven’t all been down the same journey in audio. The point is, we all perceive music differently. So, do yourself a favor and read, listen to, or watch other thoughts regarding the Dita Project-M. That’s it friends, take good care, stay safe and always… God Bless!

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