Main advantage
Portability
Much like any other in-ear model, these ones are easy to carry around. They will neatly fit into pockets, and they even come with a case that you can use if you need to keep them better protected. They are practical and highly convenient, and thanks to their overall quality, you can rely on them at all times.
The case they come with is soft but durable, and it can protect them against impacts or drops, but it does add a bit of bulk. The fact that they are lightweight and portable also means that they are comfortable to use. They offer lots of breathability to your ear, and because they are transparent, most of the time you won’t even notice that they are there.
Those that see you performing live won’t know you’re wearing them. The additional memory foam tips will provide more comfort if you need to, without increasing the weight and reducing portability. They are a much better choice than the previous iteration, the simple M6 design.
The cables are also lightweight, and they are still resistant, meaning that even if you accidentally pull on them, they won’t get damaged. They’re thus great for stage performances.
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Main disadvantage
They get tiring
Their main disadvantage comes from their build and the fact that they are in-ear models. Like many other such designs, they will start to get annoying – the human ear is not used to having something stuck in it for hours on end. You will start to feel them rubbing inside your ear if you are exercising or moving a lot and you cause your body to sweat.
Furthermore, they have a slight tendency to put too much emphasis on the higher frequencies, which isn’t noticeable at first. But once you get to use them for more hours, you will feel it.
Main features explained
Build quality
Compared to the older simple M6 model, these in-ear monitors feel a lot more premium. This is partially thanks to the additional cable that comes in the box and that has no in-line controls. You will feel that the cables are thick enough and the earbuds feel dense and lightweight at the same time. This means that they are strong enough not to be damaged by accidental drops.
The ear hook that comes on both cables feels riding enough, especially when compared to the older M6 model, however, if you are to take into account more sports-oriented headphones, they still feel flimsy. More expensive headphones will also come with better cables, so this is where these monitors do decent but not phenomenal.
Describing the sturdiness of a pair of headphones, build quality is always an important feature to keep an eye on. It all matters, from the materials used, to how the components are assembled together. Each of these aspects affects the quality of the build, or the perceived quality at least, and has an impact on the durability of the end product.
Build quality preferences will always vary from a person to another, or its importance will always be put upper or lower the decision list. However, you should always try to look for models that are made of metal, or at least heavy-duty plastic materials, as these will be sturdier and not so prone to breaking.
Constructions like many joints, such as these headphones, will be weaker, and that is why you need quality materials for that purpose. Fortunately, these ones are made of durable plastics that will let you enjoy their sound for longer. In-ear headphones are always hard to judge, but their build quality depends heavily on the shape of their tips and the cable.
Comfort
These headphones come with impressive memory foam tips, which makes them really comfortable, especially when compared to the older M6 model. The ear-hook design is sturdy and doesn’t bend too much if you don’t want it to. This makes them fit the ears more securely. While they don’t fit as snugly as other higher-priced models, they are still good at what they do.
In terms of comfort, however, in-ear designs are not a thing for everybody, and if you are not used to wearing something like this all-day-long, they will start to get fatiguing rather quickly. Fortunately, their design is a stable one, and the ear hooks will prevent them from falling from your ears easily.
However, because they are not that stiff, they won’t be too stable for sports-oriented activities. That shouldn’t stop you from wearing them outside when running or doing sports, because they are still suitable for that, they will rarely fall out of your ears, and the cable will not have the tendency of getting tangled.
Portraying how pleasant or enjoyable wearing headphones over an extended period, comfort will always have its place in the decisionmaking process. While there are different types of headphones including over-ears, on-ears, and in-ear models, they each have their pros and cons. In-ear models like these ones will usually be less comfortable because all their weight hangs from your ears – they don’t have a headband or anything to hold them up.
The bright side is that they are usually really light and you don’t have to worry about a heavy weight pulling down on your ears. Some models come with neckbands to keep them in place, especially if they are designed for sports, but these ones don’t.
Varying between individuals, comfort is a subjective aspect, but there are still some design elements that will always make a product more comfortable.
Controls
The control scheme would be easy to use and really simple if it wasn’t for the transparent casing of the in-line control that made it so difficult to see it. The controls will provide the basic functionalities needed for skipping music, volume control, or for making calls. You will feel that the buttons are highly responsive, although the slider could have had better input if it used small notches.
Looking somewhat similar to the old M6 model, this new one comes with a detachable cable and an all-around transparent look. This makes the headphones stand out and gives the appearance of a premium product. The ear-hook design and angled earbuds will fit the contour of your ear better.
Headphones with some built-in controls, such as these ones, will always have better functionality, and while they usually come with volume toggles and a multi-function button that allows for playing or stopping the music, these are characteristics that will help those lazier people that want to sit back on their chair and enjoy the music.
There are some headphones that come with controls that function as noise-canceling switches or provide touch-sensitive input models or talk-through modes. When it comes to in-ear headphones such as these ones, you can’t really place that much technology in them, because this will greatly increase their weight and as a result, will reduce their portability and their comfort in use.
Headphones like these, meant to be used as monitors in the studio, can also work well as outdoor headphones, especially thanks to the ergonomic button layouts that will help you change the volume and parameters of your audio without having to change these settings directly from the sound source.
There are users that prefer the simplicity of headphones with few to no buttons, and for them, these ones, with their simple look, will work great.
Sound
If you are used to regular in-ear headphones meant for casual listening, these ones will feel like a whole new level, an improvement. When playing some songs you can actually hear the parts where the singer stops and breaths, this is how accurate they are in their sound representation. They also feel really accurate, with a sound distribution that rivals desktop monitors.
There is no clutter in any particular area, and the bass, mids, and treble will sound impressively accurate. Being monitor headphones, they are specifically made for professional musicians, especially those playing on stage, so they can have an accurate feel of how they are performing. The headphones are not limited to that purpose, of course, but for those looking to use them on stage, they will certainly deliver.
While the sound quality is great, the noise isolation aspect needs to be discussed too. Those that are used with this kind of monitors will notice that their ear tips look much like earplugs professionals use frequently at shows. They don’t just do the job of blastic music in your ears, but they also cover the ear like plugs so that noise from outside doesn’t get in and interfere.
This will greatly help you isolate the audio you are playing or singing, as the ears will only be focused on that. Even when you are at the gym and don’t want to hear other people talking around you, or the sound of the machines being worked out, the headphones do great to isolate noise.
If you wish, you can also change the ear tips with some foamy ones. This could give you a better fit in some cases, and a more accentuated sound, with even less interference coming from outside. The headphones come with a set of these tips and you should use them for a tighter fit.
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