Smabat Super One

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

• Non-sound
• Sound
• Comparisons
• Conclusion

Disclaimer: I got a 50% discount for this review from Smabat themselves. Thank you very much.

Price: 308 usd

Specifications:

Frequency response: 10-22 000Hz

Impedance: 100ohms@1kHz

THD<0.08%@1kHz

Sensitivity: 115+- 3dB@1kHz


Accessories:

1 pair of full foams

1 pair of donut foams

1 pair of silicone covers

3.5mm -> 6.35mm adapter

Carry bag



Cable: There are 2 cables included, a black 2-core cable with a mic that measures at 0.73 ohms and a blue 8-core cable with 2.5mm balanced connectors that measures at 0.28 ohms. The blue cable has metal dividers/connectors and has a working chin-slider. It is pretty well made but the ear hooks on it are too strong though so I ended up switching cables due to fit issues.





Build: All metal build, there are some sharp corners on the back of the bud though (not a problem for comfort). It is on the bigger side for a bud. It has MMCX connectors which I am glad to see in a bud.

Fit: Not that good, it is pretty big so if you got smaller ears (if for example, MX500 shells are too big for you) then stay away from this.

Comfort: No problems here despite the size, it isn’t that heavy. Although it is heavier than regular plastic MX500 buds. There are a few sharp corners, but fortunately they are on the back of the bud so they don’t come into contact with your skin.

Isolation: None, it is an earbud after all.


Setup: Schiit Asgard 3 (low-gain, volume around 9´o clock), full foams, cable A12 4.4mm

Lows: Definitely a basshead bud due to It having a lot of bass quantity, both sub and mid but with a focus on sub-bass. Texture is very good and speed is good for the quantity it has but the amount of mid-bass does make it a bit looser than average and also bleeds into the mids, which does affect the overall tonality. Quantity over quality type of bass.

Mid-bass: Metallica – fight fire with fire (01:11-01:52), speed and texture are good but the amount of mid-bass makes it a bit bloated. The (02:55-03:01) section with the chopper is hearable but not very clean.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Pretenders (01:18-01:47), very good texture and is tight and fast with a lot of quantity to make it fun.

Sub-bass: Djuro – Drop that bass (01:15-01:30), has actual rumble and a lot of it along with very good extension. Has a lot of punch quantity but is a bit unclean due to the looser bass than average buds but speed and texture are good.

Will Sparks – Sick like that (03:08-03:22), a lot of quantity so it is fun but a bit unclean due to it being looser than needed but good texture and speed.

Mids: forward female vocals but recessed male vocals so the contrast between them is pretty big. Mid-bass causes some bleed into the mids so female vocals tends to lack some brightness but due to the 3k emphasis it is occasionally too sharp for me, and male vocals can sometimes be too warm

Female-vocals: Hiroyuki Sawano – OldToday (01:25-01:52), instrument tonality is good although there is noticeable bleed from the bass. Vocal tonality isn’t as bright as it should be but timbre for vocals and instruments are good.

Yuki Hayashi – MightU (01:58-02:55), instrument and vocal tonality are too warm here. But timbre is good and it is pretty clean.

Evanescence – Bring me to life (01:18-01:35), vocals are a bit fatiguing but instrument are not.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Crescent (02:07-02:26), sharp and fatiguing.

Male-vocals: Hiroyuki Sawano – Pretenders (00:57-01:17), vocals are recessed here and should be more forward and tonality is a bit too warm thanks to the bass bleed. Timbre is good though

Hiroyuki Sawano – Scapegoat (00:57-01:17), too recessed vocals but tonality is good as well as timbre.

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

Deuce – America (03:03-03:16), a bit chaotic due to the bass bloat but not too bad thanks to the imaging and separation.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Lose (string version) (01:22-01:59), Cello tonality and timbre are good but lacking in texture and detail. Violin timbre is good but needs to be brighter, more textured, detailed as well as have better treble-extension.

Hiroyuki Sawano &Z (02:18-02:57), good tonality and timbre but a bit unclean.

Soundstage: Below average in size, not impressive at this price.

Tonality: V-shaped that leans towards warmth due to the bass quantity but occasionally it can be bright as well due to that 3k emphasis being my weak spot. Timbre is good.

Details: decent details but bottlenecked pretty hard by the bass bloat.

Instrument Separation: decent imaging and separation but bottlenecked pretty hard by the bass bloat.

Songs that highlight the Earbud:

Good genres: EDM, Trance, Hip-hop

Bad genres: classical, vocal focused tracks



Comparisons:

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

Bass: Djuro – Drop that bass (01:15-01:30), deeper extension and more rumble on the Super One. It also has a bit more punch quantity and texture but the X6 is faster and tighter. Tonality is a bit more accurate on the Super One.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Pretenders (01:18-01:47), more quantity on the Super one but similar texture while the X6 is faster and tighter. More tonally correct on the X6.

Metallica – fight fire with fire (01:11-01:52), more quantity on the super one but sounds more bloated because of that and because it is tighter and faster on the X6. More tonally accurate on the X6.

Mids: Hiroyuki Sawano – OldToday (01:25-01:52), both instrument and vocal tonality are a lot better on the X6 and vocals are more forward on it as well. Timbre is also better on the X6 and sounds a lot more natural. The Super One has bleed from the bass and clarity is worse on it and detail is similar.

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

Hiroyuki Sawano – Scapegoat (00:57-01:17), tonality is a bit better on the Super One but timbre is better on the X6 as well as cleaner.

Treble: Linkin Park – Shadow of the Day (03:24-03:42), a lot sharper and fatiguing electric guitars on the Super One.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Lose (string version) (01:22-01:59), Cello tonality, texture, timbre and clarity are better on the X6. Violin tonality, timbre and clarity are better on the X6 while detail and treble-extension are similar.

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

Technicalities: Shiro Sagisu – Hundred years war (02:24-02:57), soundstage is a lot wider and deeper on the X6. Detail, instrument separation and imaging are similar while the X6 has better timbre.

Overall: ehm, yeah so that happened…the X6 is actually the better iem for my library and preferences. If you only listen to EDM and hip-hop the Super One is indeed better but at the price it is at I won’t recommend it.



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

Bass: Djuro – Drop that bass (01:15-01:30), a lot lower extension and a lot more rumble on the Super One. More punch quantity as well as texture on the Super One but is a lot tighter, faster and cleaner on the RW-2000.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Pretenders (01:18-01:47), more mid-bass on the Super One as well as a bit more texture but a lot cleaner on the RW-2000 because it is faster and tighter.

Metallica – fight fire with fire (01:11-01:52), a lot cleaner on the RW-2000 because of the faster and tighter bass along with it having less quantity. More tonally accurate on the RW-2000.a

Mids: Hiroyuki Sawano – OldToday (01:25-01:52), instrument tonality is a bit more accurate on the Super One but timbre is better on the RW-2000. Vocal tonality and timbre are a lot better on the RW-2000 as well as more forward. Detail and clarity are better on the RW-2000.

Evanescence – Bring me to life (01:18-01:35), vocals are peakier on the Super One but similarly fatiguing.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Scapegoat (00:57-01:17), instrument and vocal tonality are slightly better on the Super One but sounds veiled in comparison. A lot better timbre as well as detail and clarity on the RW-2000.

Treble: Linkin Park – Shadow of the Day (03:24-03:42), better tonality and timbre on the RW-2000 as well as less sharp electric guitars.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Lose (string version) (01:22-01:59), Cello tonality is better on the Super One but timbre, detail, clarity and texture are better on the RW-2000. Violin tonality, timbre, detail, clarity and treble-extension are better on the RW-2000.

Hiroyuki Sawano &Z (02:18-02:57), tonality, timbre, detail and clarity are a lot better on the RW-2000.

Technicalities: Shiro Sagisu – Hundred years war (02:24-02:57), soundstage is a lot bigger and deeper on the RW-2000. Detail, imaging, instrument separation and timbre are a lot better on the RW-2000.

Overall: The RW-2000 is outclassing the Super One in every way except the sub-bass.



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

Bass: Djuro – Drop that bass (01:15-01:30), lower extension and more rumble on the Super One. More punch quantity on the Super One as well but tighter, faster and a bit more texture on the Samsara. Tonality is more accurate on the Samsara.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Pretenders (01:18-01:47), more quantity on the Super One but faster, tighter, more textured and cleaner on the Samsara as well as more tonally correct on it.

Metallica – fight fire with fire (01:11-01:52), a lot cleaner on the Samsara due to it being faster and tighter. Texture is similar though while the Super One has a lot more quantity.

Mids: Hiroyuki Sawano – OldToday (01:25-01:52), instrument and vocal timbre and tonality are a lot better on the Samsara as well as more forward vocals. Detail and clarity are also a lot better on the Samsara.

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

Hiroyuki Sawano – Scapegoat (00:57-01:17), better tonality and timbre on the Samsara as well as cleaner and more detailed.

Treble: Linkin Park – Shadow of the Day (03:24-03:42), a lot more fatiguing and sharper electric guitars on the Super One.

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

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

Technicalities: Shiro Sagisu – Hundred years war (02:24-02:57), a lot bigger and deeper on the Samsara and is holographic while the Super One is not. Detail, imaging, instrument separation and timbre are better on the Samsara.

Overall: The Super One is even bassier than the Samsara and the samsara has the better tonality for my library and also better technicalities.



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

Bass: Djuro – Drop that bass (01:15-01:30), a lot lower extension and a LOT more rumble on the Super One, the Chaconne in comparison is almost nonexistent with the rumble. Punch quantity is also a lot more on the Super One and is more textured but a lot faster, tighter and cleaner on the Chaconne. More tonally accurate on the Super One.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Pretenders (01:18-01:47), a lot more bass quantity on the Super One as well as more textured. But a lot cleaner on the Chaconne because of the faster and tighter bass. More tonally accurate on the Super One.

Metallica – fight fire with fire (01:11-01:52), a lot muddier on the Super One and is a lot cleaner on the Chaconne due to the much faster and tighter bass on it. Texture is similar though.

Mids: Hiroyuki Sawano – OldToday (01:25-01:52), instrument tonality is a bit more accurate (still too warm though) on the Super One. But the chaconne is in multiple leagues ahead of the Super One in vocal tonality/timbre, instrument timbre, detail and clarity.

Evanescence – Bring me to life (01:18-01:35), more tonally accurate on the Chaconne and more fatiguing on the Super One.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Scapegoat (00:57-01:17), tonality is a bit more accurate on the Super One with both instruments and vocals. But a lot better timbre, clarity and detail on the Chaconne as well as more forward vocals.

Treble: Linkin Park – Shadow of the Day (03:24-03:42), electric guitars are sharper on the Super one but similarly fatiguing.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Lose (string version) (01:22-01:59), Cello tonality is better on the Super One but timbre, detail, clarity and texture are a lot better on the Chaconne. Violin tonality, timbre, detail, texture, clarity and treble-extension on the Chaconne is in another league.

Hiroyuki Sawano &Z (02:18-02:57), tonality is slightly more accurate on the Super One but a lot better timbre, detail and clarity on the Chaconne.

Technicalities: Shiro Sagisu – Hundred years war (02:24-02:57), Soundstage, detail, imaging, instrument separation and timbre are multiple leagues head on the Chaconne.

Overall: The Chaconne is decimating the Super one in every way except the sub-bass….



Earbud: Smabat M2S Pro, full foams, stock cable 3.5mm

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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



Conclusion: The Super One is not worth it at all based on the fact that it failed miserably against buds that are a lot cheaper than it with my library. Although if you are a basshead that wants quantity over quality type of bass, then I could see you liking it or if you only listen to hip-hop/EDM (it does have the deepest extension of all my buds so far). Otherwise, NOT RECOMMENDED. Thanks for reading.

Reference/test songs: