[Edric Li]

Which one sounds smoother in the upper-mids and treble between the M7 and M9? Also, which one has a better quality to those regions (more refined, less metallic texture)?

Just to offer a different perspective, my impression is here. The biggest difference between M9 and M7 to my ears is that M7 has a treble glare, very noticeable with CD quality recordings.

Ok I get to spend some time with M9 and M7 side by side, with the same cable (Nobunaga Labs Supreme) and same eartip (Final E black).

Bottom line: M9 is far superior to M7 in terms of imaging and soundstage. Well worth the price premium in my opinion.
Both are tuned to be neutral (in my opinion), but M9 is less veiled. M7 has a slight treble glare that makes things sound metallic; M9 does not have that. M9 has a deep soundstage; M7 sounds hazy in comparison. With the improved imaging, Sony seems to have the confidence to add more subbass to M9 than to M7; to me this is the only difference in tuning.

 

[dakanao]

Just to offer a different perspective, my impression is here. The biggest difference between M9 and M7 to my ears is that M7 has a treble glare, very noticeable with CD quality recordings.

Thanks. And between M9 and Final E5000, which one do you find smoother in uppermids and treble?

 

[Edric Li]

Thanks. And between M9 and Final E5000, which one do you find smoother in uppermids and treble?

E5000 is very warm and dark by my standard. M9 is a very neutral tuning; some find it warm because they hate lowemids, but to me it's just dead neutral. And to my taste for my music, neutral is too bright and too aggressive in the uppermids (if that makes senses), but I may get used to it after listening to it for a few weeks.

I hope this answers your question without explicitly addressing "smoothness", because we may have different definitions of the term.

 

[dakanao]

E5000 is very warm and dark by my standard. M9 is a very neutral tuning; some find it warm because they hate lowemids, but to me it's just dead neutral. And to my taste for my music, neutral is too bright and too aggressive in the uppermids (if that makes senses), but I may get used to it after listening to it for a few weeks.

I hope this answers your question without explicitly addressing "smoothness", because we may have different definitions of the term.

Okay, so E5000 has less emphasis in the 2 - 10khz range than the M9?

 

[Edric Li]

Okay, so E5000 has less emphasis in the 2 - 10khz range than the M9?

Absolutely. Again, E5000 is one of the most warm and dark IEM in the market today; you are not gonna get much less 2 - 10khz range than E5000 anywhere else.

One other category to look out for, though, is that there are IEM companies that doesn't believe in the 3khz pinna gain. Those will get you a muted uppermids in 2k-4k. Two brands that comes to mind are JH and Westone. The issue is, they do normal quantity treble, so you are actually going to hear a perceived brighter 5k-10k.

 

[Dinche]

I got my M9 finally after having the M7 for a couple of months and the M7 definitely sounds smoother, or at least more laid-back. More upper mid/treble detail on the M9 which gives it more of a sibilant quality (but it is still NOT a sibilant IEM in my opinion -- it doesn't cross that line that puts it in "sibilant" territory, it's just further in that direction than the M7). As for quality, M9 no doubt, but I still love the way the M7 sounds, it's honestly not that far off the M9. I've seen the M9 often described as substantially more detailed and better than the M7, but IMO the difference is more on the modest side.

I also find the bass on the M9 tighter/more taut/more detailed. On the M7 the bass is a little more boomy but still quite clean.

Howdy,

My impressions were very similar. That's why I decided to keep my M7. I found it to be easier on my ears (very sensitive to HF) for most of my music. Playing with different combinations of cables and tips on M9. Currently testing Sony/Kimber MUC-M12SB1 and FA E tips. When I did the initial comparison, I used stock cables and SpiralD ++ tips. Will also throw the Z1R cable into the mix.

Are you keeping both (M7&M9)?

Regards

 

[291079]

so, just a quick impression with the m9 and two different daps, the zx507 and sr25, after using them for a few weeks.
both using 4.4 balanced (2.5 adapter on sr25).
this is for classical music and some pop.

i find that the warm m9 + warm zx507 pair has great bass, but there's too much of it for the music i hear. the cellos and double bass overwhelm the violin and viola. also, in real life, the cello is not that bassy as you would hear. i find that the bass overpowers the mids in vocals as well, esp. in pop where there is a lot of drums. however, the sound is a bit fuller than the sr25 and more musical.

the sr25 has better clarity and detail, which can be seen in piano pieces. I also find it to be more realistic in the bass, for example the drums. the bass actually is tighter on the sr25 i think, just not as much in impact and amount. It has a wider soundstage, so it sounds like a 16:9 box, whereas the zx507 sounds more like a sphere. instrument separations sounds better. basically, instruments sound clearer and more natural, but you lose the bass impact.

so, zx507 for bass, musicality and a more relaxing sound. sr25 for clarity, soundstage and instrument separation.

 

[angpsi]

so, just a quick impression with the m9 and two different daps, the zx507 and sr25, after using them for a few weeks.
both using 4.4 balanced (2.5 adapter on sr25).
this is for classical music and some pop.

i find that the warm m9 + warm zx507 pair has great bass, but there's too much of it for the music i hear. the cellos and double bass overwhelm the violin and viola. also, in real life, the cello is not that bassy as you would hear. i find that the bass overpowers the mids in vocals as well, esp. in pop where there is a lot of drums. however, the sound is a bit fuller than the sr25 and more musical.

the sr25 has better clarity and detail, which can be seen in piano pieces. I also find it to be more realistic in the bass, for example the drums. the bass actually is tighter on the sr25 i think, just not as much in impact and amount. It has a wider soundstage, so it sounds like a 16:9 box, whereas the zx507 sounds more like a sphere. instrument separations sounds better. basically, instruments sound clearer and more natural, but you lose the bass impact.

so, zx507 for bass, musicality and a more relaxing sound. sr25 for clarity, soundstage and instrument separation.

Hi, thanks for your impressions! Can you please clarify whether you are listening to your own files or streaming from some service? Are these lossless or are we talking Spotify?

 

[291079]

Hi, thanks for your impressions! Can you please clarify whether you are listening to your own files or streaming from some service? Are these lossless or are we talking Spotify?

Combination of flac and spotify

 

[Modeux]

Hey. I got a really stupid question. Are there any instructional videos on how you're supposed to properly store the m9's in it's included case ? I just spend a solid hour trying to figure out how you're supposed to wrap the cables, put them in their clip, then in the case. But , it always end up with the ear loops always sticking out and I have to forcefully shove them into the case. I have no clue what it is I am doing wrong.

 

[surfgeorge]

Hey. I got a really stupid question. Are there any instructional videos on how you're supposed to properly store the m9's in it's included case ? I just spend a solid hour trying to figure out how you're supposed to wrap the cables, put them in their clip, then in the case. But , it always end up with the ear loops always sticking out and I have to forcefully shove them into the case. I have no clue what it is I am doing wrong.

There is this video:


But I do it the other way around
First put the ear pieces in the holder, then wrap the cable around 3 fingers, pull it through the loop, arrange and put into the box

 

[smokecrack]

Does anyone with the M9 and an RME ADI-2 have an eq profile they can share?

 

[DavidYH328]

so, just a quick impression with the m9 and two different daps, the zx507 and sr25, after using them for a few weeks.
both using 4.4 balanced (2.5 adapter on sr25).
this is for classical music and some pop.

i find that the warm m9 + warm zx507 pair has great bass, but there's too much of it for the music i hear. the cellos and double bass overwhelm the violin and viola. also, in real life, the cello is not that bassy as you would hear. i find that the bass overpowers the mids in vocals as well, esp. in pop where there is a lot of drums. however, the sound is a bit fuller than the sr25 and more musical.

the sr25 has better clarity and detail, which can be seen in piano pieces. I also find it to be more realistic in the bass, for example the drums. the bass actually is tighter on the sr25 i think, just not as much in impact and amount. It has a wider soundstage, so it sounds like a 16:9 box, whereas the zx507 sounds more like a sphere. instrument separations sounds better. basically, instruments sound clearer and more natural, but you lose the bass impact.

so, zx507 for bass, musicality and a more relaxing sound. sr25 for clarity, soundstage and instrument separation.

Hi,
SR25 owner here. Have you tried comparing the balanced to unbalanced 3.5mm with the m9? I don’t know if it’s worth the money to get a 4.4 to 2.5 adapter. And if it’s worth it, can I know which one you purchased? Thanks.

 

[smokecrack]

Can someone tell me what my options are in getting the SS (extra small) size triple comfort tips here in the USA? Seems like the only sellers I can find are in Japan and it's going to cost $50 for a pair of tips. Encompass doesn't seem to have them either.

 

[rantng]

Can someone tell me what my options are in getting the SS (extra small) size triple comfort tips here in the USA? Seems like the only sellers I can find are in Japan and it's going to cost $50 for a pair of tips. Encompass doesn't seem to have them either.

I paid $25.99 for 2 pairs of size S from a Japanese seller on ebay. There's a listing here for the SS size - https://www.ebay.com/itm/124857202285?hash=item1d1211b66d:g:X90AAOSwNsZhG2dw