Quick Impressions of the new ATH-IM lineup:
IM50: The surprise winner! Very balanced across all frequencies, gentle midrange warmth, decent soundstage depth and width --- probably the best "entry-level" ATH in-ear model thus far. I might just get myself a pair! Really!
IM70: Too much decay in the bass, thus distracting. Everything else sounds altogether too similar to the IM50. Basically, a bass-boosted IM50. Only comes in red, which accentuates the plastic feel of the lower-end IMs. Would not recommend.
IM01: Not bad, has its moments over the IM50, but the IM50 is the better value. Took a look inside, well-made, almost certainly uses the new Knowles (it is not from Sonion or any other company for sure) RAB driver.
IM02: It's the CK90PRO MK2 in new clothes.
IM03: It's the CK100PRO after it has grown out of its flashy phase. It's a bit less hot-headed and thus is less abrasive (but gives up absolute extension), a little thicker in the bass, but not by much. The CK100PRO will always have a special place in my heart, so the IM03 is a skip for me, but for many, I imagine it's an "improvement" over the CK100PRO. Identical drivers, but most likely increased damper value and slightly modified crossover (just a guess).
IM04: Very good. Not your typical ATH sound, honestly, but it's a welcome change. Very solid bass, a few dB north of neutral, but nothing to be worried about, as the bass has good texture and extends low, and midrange clarity isn't sacrificed. Deeper soundstage than the IM03 because of elevated lower midrange presence. Still matches the IM03 in "natural" midrange clarity, transparency, and presence, but doesn't have the harder-edge "etchy" sound of the IM03. Overall, a more mature tuning; a little more stage monitor-like, but overall very nice. A worthy flagship, IMHO. (Again, the CK100PRO has a special place in my heart, so the IM04 doesn't quite displace it as my favorite ATH in-ear, but it's better from a technical and presentational standpoint). From the soundstage presentation and going by the slides displayed in their press conferences, I'm almost certain it uses the Sonion AcuPass drivers with a pair of 3300 to flesh out the detail overall. Has similar timbral traits to the
Livezoner41 LZ4 CIEM demo I tried, and that makes sense, because the LZ4 definitely uses the AcuPass/3300 combination, as does the CosmicEars BA4.
Like good, calculated businessmen, ATH is catering to an M-shaped society --- the low-end and the highest-end. Both ends are winners, with a mixed bag in the middle. If you were looking for a middle-class, socialist revolution, sorry, better luck next time. This is the age of Abenomics. (
These statements actually make little real-world sense; I just wanted to BS stylistically...)