So I'm just about ready to test various IEMs with the TM2... after taking a bunch of photos, I started listening and...
It appears the right MMCX adapter for some reason, didn't want to output sound correctly. It happens the night before when trying it into my friends FW01, but I dismiss it as oddity as it works on the included pair.
Now, it also didn't work with the included pair anymore. The right side just won't output sound to my ear, I can wiggle it a bit and I can hear the sound on and off, but never got into a resting position where it would work. I don't see anything bend on the pin inside... oh well, I ordered a replacement adapter with Amazon Japan, so my test will be pending until that arrives.
For now though, I give the TM2 IEM a test with cable and compare it to a few IEMs at my arsenal. This include the Fostex TE04 on the low end, JVC FX850 on mid end and JVC FD01 on the higher end. All of these are dynamic driver.
General impression I had with the TM2 IEM is that it lacks a bit of bass, but otherwise pretty balanced. It's a bit of the thin side for me, however with great details and coherence. It might be a touch too much on upper mid for my taste, but it fell short of being sibilance, so that's good. This does reminds me of Andromeda a bit signature-wise, but of course it wasn't at that level...
Now for comparison, first against the old sibling, Fostex TE04. Right away, I can tell that the TE04 has more bass, boomy bass. There isn't much quality in TE04 bass, so I prefer the leaner TM2 here. TE04 has a rather V-shaped sound, so it does has somewhat piercing treble, with the mid dipped quite hard. For me, there is no comparison, TM2 won.
Next, going against FX850, it's a bit of a closer match. The FX850 score with bigger boomy bass, but with a better quality that I like. The mid is also thicker, giving a good body to vocal that I also prefer. However, FX850 fell short on the timbre which is slightly odd, maybe a bit plasticky? Not sure about the correct terms. I found the TM2 to be better timbre-wise. Technically, I think TM2 is slightly better and I do enjoy TM2 more despite me liking FX850 bass and mids.
Finally, against the FD01, the JVC do have more bass, but it wasn't boomy. This is a cleaner, well extended bass, that the TM2 somehow lack. The mids are slightly thicker on FD01, but neither is on thick side. Treble on FD01 is just right for me, TM2 is slightly more elevated I think, but still within my tolerance. Now, FD01 is also a better IEM in terms of technicality and details, so here I do prefer FD01.
Tldr; FD01 > TM2 > FX850 > TE04
Both FD01 and TM2 are harder to drive, I'm hovering around 45/60 on my Onkyo Granbeat at normal gain. The TE04 is around 41-42, while FX850 is around 38.
In short, I think the TM2 included IEM is really good, well competitive at this price even without the Bluetooth module. However, I didn't expect it to sound this way with cable, I don't remember it sounding thin when using the Bluetooth set, not thick either, but just about right. I can't confirm right now though with my right adapter busted.
Oh well, I'll enjoy it with my U12 for the week.
Also fun fact: the TM2 MMCX adapter won't work with Fostex TE04. It won't click into place. Further investigation shows that the TE04 cable has slightly longer MMCX head, maybe like 0.3mm or something. This is weird to me because... both are FOSTEX!
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) , the buds are a bit less so ... the 'famous from cheap buds' blinking red/blue lights do not help, plus, the blue lights keep blinking every 5 secs or so, which is really annoying in the dark (somehow I think I have read there was a way to turn that off? )
