Hello everyone! Forgive me if my writing's a bit all over the place, this is my first time posting a review on head-fi. Truth be told, I don't really write reviews for the public. I usually just take down my thoughts on my notes app and call it a day. Anyway, I figured I should do a writeup on this IEM because I think it's good and not many people know about it—and I feel like you guys should know about it. I now have about a good 5 months of using this as my main IEMs so I'm pretty confident with how I know this IEM. So yeah, here we go!
General Information
INM Audio's INM2 Stage is a dual-balanced armature driver in-ear monitor designed for studio and stage use. It features two balanced armatrure drivers (1x Low, 1x Mid-high) with (what I assume is) a two-way crossover. It prices at around $230 (USD) and is proudly made in the Philippines.
A bit of background...
Ever since I got started using IEMs for music making back in 2018, I've only ever used universal IEMs with foam eartips. Only until early last year I decided to make the leap and get custom IEMs. A few months later, I got to know Matthew Marcelo, the founder of
INM Audio. I told him I need something that I can use for both mixing in the studio and mixing for live performances. He directed me to this model.
Designing and Ordering
Of course, a benefit of getting custom IEMs is that you'll get to also own an eye-candy of an audio equipment. After looking for design inspirations on numerous instagram posts (particularly the ones from e-earphone and soundcat), I settled with a transparent orange for the shells and a glittery swirl on the faceplates. It's the kind of design where you'd have to take a closer look to appreciate its beauty. Friends are quick to point out that my IEMs look like those sugar-topped orange candies. I can definitely see why though.
After ordering, it took about 2 months before I got mine.
What's in the box?
The packaging of this one is simple but very nice. It's padded inside using cut-out foam so the case doesn't take damage on shipping. The box includes a custom laser-engraved case with the brand name and your name, a standard 0.78mm 2-pin to 3.5mm cable, a cleaning tool, and the IEMs themselves.
Also yes I did change the cable to a different one due to personal preferences.
Build, Fit, and Comfort
The build quality of this IEM is excellent. The shells are thick and durable, built to withstand the rigors of touring and the wear and tear of daily use. It’s clear that this set is designed with working musicians in mind.
The fit is, as expected, perfect. The moment I put them on, they felt secure, I never felt once these are gonna fall out. They remain comfortable even during long listening sessions, with zero strain on my ears. And of course this goes without saying, the seal on these is the best seal I've ever had in an IEM hands-down. No outside noise can penetrate through when something's playing.
One thing worth noting though: the nozzles don’t penetrate as deeply as some other CIEMs. Personally, I love this balance. The fit is comparable to a FitEar MH334 custom IEM—deep enough for a secure seal but not so deep that it feels intrusive.
Power Requirements
I had no trouble powering these IEMs. These are increadibly easy to power—even an apple dongle would do.
The Sound
Bass region
The bass is linear, fast, and accurate, with a slight mid-bass emphasis that adds warmth and a natural sense of roundness to the music. This warmth makes for a relaxing listen without sacrificing detail. The sub-bass extends well, remaining audible but not overly emphasized—unlike sets such as the Hexa, which focuses on the sub-bass a little more in comparison to the rest of the sound signature.
The INM2 Stage boasts its transparency, making it easy to hear the nuances in production choices. This is especially evident in kick drum hits, where it delivers both clarity and impact. Tracks like
さよならベイベ,
何なんｗ, and
Same Blue have a punchy yet airy feel, while others, like
恥ずかしいか青春は and
ふっかつのじゅもん, showcase its speed and precision. Each mix’s uniqueness stands out, allowing the listener to appreciate the subtle differences in decisions made by the producer and engineer.
Midrange
The midrange on these is gorgeous. Unlike many Harman-inspired IEMs that thin out the low-mids, this set embraces an unapologetically uncolored lower midrange with lightly forward upper mids. This balance, combined with the linear bass response, allows lush vocals and mid-centric instruments to shine.
This is very evident in acoustic, classical, and operatic/theatrical music—wherein the emotion, vulnerability, and the intimacy of the artist shines. In
Let You Break My Heart Again, Laufey’s guitar and vocals are beautifully highlighted, and when the orchestra enters, you can feel the playful exchange between her and the instruments. Similarly, in
JUPiTER, Chris Martin’s vocals, the steel-string acoustic guitar, the string section, and the airy choir echo all blend seamlessly, giving it an ethereal feel.
Treble region
The highs, though minimal, are still smooth and refined. While air is still present, it's not emphasized or evident to call it artificial. Despite leaning warm, gives enough details to keep you satisfied. A good example of this is
さよならベイベ. You can still hear the subtle compressed grit and bite in 藤井風's vocal distortion, but not to the extent of emphasizing it. Hi-hat and cymbal splashes are crisp yet smooth, never harsh or piercing.
Soundstage
I'd describe the soundstage as just right. It's intimate yet immersive, with an accurate sense of space. In acoustic sets, the singer feels like they're in front of you with their guitar. Orchestral tracks make you can feel the size of the hall. And in theatrical tracks like
The Heat Is On and
Good For You, it reels you into the musical itself.
Scaling
The INM2 Stage scales well in all volume levels. As you increase the volume, the sound increases in quality and resolution. Personally, I found my sweet spot at mid-volume—giving me a satisfying bass response, and letting the mids and highs shine.
In short summary...
A warm take on reference-neutral. If the Sennheiser HD600 were an IEM, this would be it. I'm not joking—its sound signature is scarily similar to the HD600. I think their website described it best:
"The INM2 Stage is one of the most versatile sets in the lineup. Despite leaning warm and relaxed, it delivers a very detailed sound, which punches above from its price range. It is still fairly neutral with a really good bloom in the lower end of the frequency range."
What makes the INM2 Stage special is its transparency. The INM2 Stage is not shy at showing the tracks' true colors. It lets the tracks shine by itself. It faithfully presents every detail of a track, allowing the artistic choices of the musicians, producers, and engineers to take center stage. This characteristic also makes it ideal in situations where you want to adjust the EQ—an ideal blank canvas for shaping sound to your preference.
Conclusion
The INM2 Stage is an incredibly transparent IEM that allows the music to speak for itself. Like a blank canvas, it presents tracks with clarity, highlighting every decision made in the music production process without unnecessary coloration. Its warm tuning ensures a smooth, non-fatiguing listening experience, free from harshness, while still retaining impressive detail and accurate soundstage.
True to its purpose, the INM2 Stage is a practical and reliable tool for both musicians and engineers—built to withstand the demands and deliver the needs of studio work and live performances. It scales well with volume, takes EQ well, and doesn’t require much power to shine.
For those seeking a warm reference-neutral IEM, excellent build quality, and a price-to-performance ratio that exceeds its price range, the INM2 Stage is an easy recommendation. Whether you're a professional working in audio or an audiophile who values transparency in music playback, this set delivers an experience that puts the artistry of the music front and center.
Signal Chains:
- iPhone 11 → Apple Dongle → INM2 Stage
- Macbook Air M2 → INM2 Stage
- Behringer MA400 → INM2 Stage (For live performances)
Tracks used:
- 恥ずかしいか青春は - 緑黄色社会
- ふっかつのじゅもん - sumika
- Same Blue - Official髭男dism
- さよならべいべ - 藤井風
- 何なんｗ - 藤井風
- Let You Break My Heart Again - Laufey
- Take It! (feat. Bernard Wright) - Snarky Puppy
- Good For You - Dear Evan Hansen Original Broadway Cast
- The Heat Is On - Miss Saigon Original Cast
- JUPiTER - Coldplay
Frequency response graph (for sniffers):
https://therollo9.squig.link/?share=IEF_Neutral_Target,INM_Audio_INM2_Stage
