Hi Joker,
I've been using the Brainwavz M2 on a daily basis and really enjoy their sound. As with all things I enjoy I find I'm ready to upgrade. I probably have more classic consumer sensibilities and after reading your reviews have narrowed down the field to about a dozen iems (including a couple of customs). I'm tentatively setting a $500-$600 limit since this is more about comparison and less about paradigm. I'd ultimately like to get a good BA and dynamic since I need to hear both to truly appreciate the difference. I liked your comment about fully appreciating the Miracle due to sheer experience with everything else.
I know there's no direct correlation but I really enjoy my Denon AH-D5000 at home since it's so capable of handling any additional bass I EQ into it but also sounds great without it. On the other hand my K702s just can't live up to the bass impact I like and the sound level really degrades when I push them with an EQ. The have great clarity but I only plug them in when I want to remember why I'm not as excited by them. (I'd love to get my hands on the LCD-2 but that's another story for another day.)
I use my M2s on a daily basis with my iPhone 4S and my Digizoid ZO2. I really prefer the warmth provided by that mini EQ booster. I also tend to use the Equalizer app and push the lower frequencies even higher. I find the M2 is quite capable of handling my combined EQing and doesn't sound particularly muddy with the boost to my ears. I'm afraid if I start with something boomy/muddy I'll have less flexibility for the tracks that I drop to a flat EQ. However I have no desire for the ability to reach a completely analytical sound so I'm good with something that's warm with a flat EQ. I listen primarily to very melodic metal and enjoy the strong (not recessed) mids of the M2. I'd like to have a good level of detail for some of the more intricate guitar solos. I also like the fit/isolation with the M2. I'd like something that doesn't necessarily need to be loud to sound good. I generally listen in the office so I keep the volume at low/medium listening levels so that I can hear the phone ring.
Based on all of that would you have any suggestion(s)? Thanks in advance for any advice!
Here's a picture of one of my usual EQ settings for the M2s with the Equalizer app.