Sony IER-M9 IEM Discussions | Drop

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Sony IER-M9 IEM

Jan 12, 2019

Damn, these actually made it to MD; z1r soon? Not much of a discount though, depending on where you are, you can actually get these for cheaper. Anyways I've listened to these extensively on multiple occasions and while I would not consider these the best sounding IEMs at this price range, the overall package is quite appealing. The signature of the M9 is a warm, easy-to-like tuning. The bass you get out of these for a pure BA is pleasantly surprising; Similar to that of my Zeus-R which has 6 drivers tuned for lows but where M9 impresses the most is treble clarity and accuracy. The soundstage is not massive, and the details are not phenomenal but it just sounds so damn clean and holographic. In terms of value, as I said, you can do better in terms of sound, MD being a big reason for that. I've owned the original Noble K10 as well as the Empire Zeus-R, both of which have a MD version for significantly lower than original prices and go cheaper than this. The Zeus especially is tuned similarly to the M9 but it just gives you more detail and room while providing similar levels of clarity. If you compare it to commercial options, it fairs better, but I still think there are better sounding options, here are some for reference:

Unique Melody ME.1: Similar tuning but the speed and clarity of a planar driver is just another level. Clarity of the M9 is great, Me.1 does it even better; If you can get it to fit properly.
InEar PP8: The king of reference sound at this price point. Imo, it sounds better than the K10, which is why I sold mine. I consider the K10 better than the M9 so this logically falls into place.
Lime Ears Aether: Perhaps the biggest blow to the M9 is that the Aether came out in 2015 with a 5 driver setup, is tuned almost identically, but is just better all around. The imaging and clarity of the Aether is superb for an IEM, at any price range. Detail retrieval and soundstage is better than the M9, and it comes with bass/treble tuning switches.

Anyways, the M9 is still great for people who are looking for a a single premium option that's well built, looks good, comfortable, comes with all the proper accessories and plays well with basically any genre. Those that are deep in the hobby that are just looking to pick up another high-end IEM, I think you have better options, especially with all the new E-stat tweeters hitting the the market this year.

Jan 12, 2019

AudioJet

318

Jan 12, 2019

ccm220I snagged up a pair of KZ AS10 iems for under sixty bucks and they sound incredible. Could a $1500 pair of iems sound $1440 better? I'd sure like to give them a try.

Jan 12, 2019

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jaydunndiddit

3262

Jan 12, 2019

AudioJetThe short answer is yes. TOTL gear sounds TOTL. However, it's up to you to determine if the price jump is worth it. I've been selling off all my old gear once I started upgrading to better gear. Once you hear better, it's hard to go back to something lesser unless you're really budget minded. Even owning one TOTL set would be worth it over a bunch of budget IEMs. There is no amount of EQ or otherwise that can bridge the gap beyond superior tuning of what higher end sets can offer.

Jan 12, 2019

TheRequiem

249

Jan 12, 2019

ccm220I didn’t think they sounded holographic at all.

(Edited)

Jan 12, 2019

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ccm220

197

Jan 13, 2019

AudioJetYes but only if you acknowledge diminishing returns past a certain price point. Audiophiles are one of the most critical crowds around. There's a reason something like the oBravo Ra C Cu ($10k USD) can exist and as crazy as it sounds, after listening to them in at a speaker show in taipei last year, I walked out of that show room thinking it might be worth it. My thoughts on audio gear has always been this: If you listen to music everyday and you care about the quality, you should always buy the best setup you can comfortably afford; source + headphone even if you're not looking to get into this hobby.

Jan 13, 2019

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AudioJet

318

Jan 13, 2019

jaydunndidditThe KZ AS10s sound better than $300 iems I've used. When I say they sound fantastic I mean they really sound great. I know a good sound when I hear it. Times are changing with China directly selling tech for a fraction of what we are used to paying. Are these Sony M9 better? Man I sure would hope so. But I wear iems for moving not for sitting listening to music. For that I use OTEs.

Jan 13, 2019

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jaydunndiddit

3262

Jan 13, 2019

AudioJetWhat $300 IEMs are you listening to? I picked up some Lyra II's for a bit over $300 and they are much more proficient than anything KZ has to offer. Hell, from memory I would eve say the CA Comet was better and I wasn't a huge fan of their FR (but loved the build quality, comfort, and accessories). I have yet to find a KZ, TFZ, Fiio, etc. IEM that makes me want to keep them. They're all decent, but there is always something wacky going on with their tuning or QC that leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Dunu, DITA, and HiFiMan are really the only chinese manufacturers that release quality IEMs, in my opinion, but they are pricey.

Jan 13, 2019

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stormmilk

Jan 13, 2019

jaydunndidditIndeed Hifiman is pricey. They consider themselves a very high end brand. BTW, Fiio just released a new earbud with 4 BAs from Knowles per side. You might want to check it out.

(Edited)

Jan 13, 2019

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