Firstly I would like to thank Musicteck for arranging this
loan unit. These have had well over 100hrs of burn-in.
*disclaimer: This sample was provided on loan for the purpose of writing a review, no incentive was given to write a favourable review. All opinions expressed are my own subjective findings.
Gear Used: Audio Opus #2 > ME-1
HP Laptop > JDS Labs OL-DAC > Head “n” HiFi Desktop O2
> ME-1
Tech Specs:
Impedance: 23.1 Ω
Diaphragm Diameter: 18.5 mm
Magnet Type: Dual-Layer High Strength Neodymium
Shell: 3D Printed Medical Grade Acrylic with CNC Finish
Connector Type: 2-Pin Protruding Connector
Cable: 6N Single Crystal Copper
Cable Termination: 3.5 mm Headphone Jack
Packaging, Build Quality and Accessories:
The ME-1 come in a premium wood box, there is a black card
sleeve around this wooden box that has the brand name embossed on it. Open the
wood box and you are greeted by the silicone case, inside this you will find
the IEM's. Underneath the top layer of foam you will find the other case filled
with the rest of the accessories. The box looks great and is fitting of this
kind of product.
The build quality is superb, no visual flaws with the main
shell seamlessly flowing into the larger faceplate. The grill on the faceplate
does flax a little so when inserting it is best to only use pressure around the
edges of the faceplate. The nozzle is plastic and quite wide, the cable is soft
and supple with memory wire around the ear. All connectors have good strain
relief and that cable is a mix of copper and silver. The
connectors for the cable are 2-pin, but they are the type that protrudes a
little, rather than being recessed or flush. Most 2-pin cables will still work
well but do stick out a little farther. Overall the ME-1 are superbly finished
and well made.
Accessory wise you get a good selection, first off you get
foam tips in S, M and L sizes, along with silicone tips in XS, S, M and L. You
get two carry cases, one is a soft neoprene type case with various
compartments, and the other is a silicone case which has an integrated cable
tidy. There is a 3.5mm to 6.3mm adaptor included along with an airplane
adaptor. So a great array of accessories and most people should be able to get
a good fit (wide bore means Symbio W hybrid tips fit well).
Comfort and Isolation:
The ME-1 are quite a large and heavy IEM, however the
ergonomics are excellent. The fit inside the ear is the right depth for me anyway, yes they do stick out a
little with their large faceplate however once you find the right tips you can
get a secure fit that is comfortable over long periods of time.
One bit I personally don't like is the memory wire, however
I have never been much of a fan of stiff memory wire. I find it doesn't help
keep IEM's in place for me and is just a little awkward to get the right shape.
These are not built to isolate, they are fully open back,
which means they leak sound in and out, they are not designed to be the perfect
commuting IEM, however use in quiet environments allows these to shine.
Sound:
Split into the usual categories with a conclusion at the
end. The below is based on using silicone tips.
Lows: Let’s start off with the sub-bass, which is
wonderfully extended and present but without adding too much body. The mid-bass
has a slight dip meaning they don't punch the hardest or with a lot of
authority but it makes them sound very well controlled. The bass blends nicely
to the track playing, but always retains good quality and a full body without
affecting the midrange. Those looking for bass head IEM's should shy away, but
those that want a tighter more accurate sound with sub-bass presence over
mid-bass punch will be satisfied.
Mids: The midrange is smooth and detailed, with excellent
space and air around vocal tracks and guitars. There is a slight recess in the
upper midrange which makes some vocals sound a bit unnatural, yet certain
guitar notes really stand out (Dance Gavin Dance – I’m Down with Brown Tone). The
lower midrange is slightly up front and quite aggressive presenting good detail
but layering is where they are superb. There are parts of the midrange that are
excellent, but others that just don’t sound tonally correct.
Highs: The highs have good impact and clarity maintaining energy
and sparkle even when tracks get a bit busier. They are well separated and also
positioned spatially; imaging in the treble is very accurate however the
midrange focus is not as good. The highs don’t suffer from sibilance, are not
strident and very well presented. They are just right in terms of presence but don’t
become fatiguing and have excellent tonality and clarity.
The soundstage is open and wide, with excellent layering and
separation, the width is more impressive than the depth (sometimes you forget
they are IEM’s and sound more like full size headphones). Separation is very
good yet they have a fuller sound, they don’t become congested through faster
tracks.
Pairing: Now the ME-1 sounded superb out of the Opus #2 but
had excellent synergy with my Objective 2 amplifier, they do benefit from good
amplification even though they are relatively easy to drive.
Comparison vs 64 Audio U6 (M20 module):
The U6 is smoother overall and has excellent sub-bass
extension like the ME-1, however the U6 has a thicker bass presentation with a
bit more punch to it. The ME-1 sound more detailed and better separated in the
midrange, but the U6 is smoother and more tonally accurate. The treble is where
these differ the most, with the ME-1 having excellent air and presence, the U6
are a bit too polite, lack the impact and sparkle of the ME-1 and take a slight
backseat in the mix. It is hard for me to say which I personally prefer, as
both are superb IEM’s that are quite different, but ultimately I really enjoy
the sound of the U6 and do not need to EQ them.
Vs HiFiMan RE800:
The RE800 are more dynamic in the bass regarding punch but
both have a similar tuning down low with good sub-bass presence, control and
articulation. The midrange on the RE800 is more linear with a slight tilt
towards the upper midrange, but with a similar amount of detail as the ME-1
(both crystal clear). Both have airy treble and good presentation, the RE800
has quite a big peak around 7 kHz that can cause some fatigue to some users. Both
have good soundstage but the ME-1 wins here being more open and airy (at the
expense of isolation). Both benefit from EQ so this comparison is more down to
preference rather than there being a straight winner.
Conclusion: The ME-1 is certainly a competent planar IEM,
the sub-bass presence is excellent but the mid-bass is lacking a bit of dynamic
punch. The lower midrange is slightly boosted giving certain male vocals the
edge; however the upper midrange is a little recessed and leaves some female
vocals sounding a bit unnatural. The highs are detailed and well presented and
as a whole are a good IEM. Some small EQ tweaks can improve these, and if you
get the chance to audition them I suggest you do so.
There is plenty of detail on offer with a nice wide
soundstage and I can see these becoming quite popular, as a little EQ really
goes miles with these, and they do a lot right.
Sound Perfection Rating: 8/10 (upper midrange needs a little
improvement, but plenty of detail and a wide soundstage makes these a good buy)
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