BRAINWAVZ M2 IEM Earphones - Free Fedex 2 Day To Select Destination

Customer Reviews

Great Purchase.Review by bigfan

Overall

All i have to say is that I'm super satisfied with this purchase. The product is worth every dollar. The headphones are pretty durable for the most part but i use them everyday for my commute which does a bit of wear and tear to them. However my first day lasted me a good half a year. As long as you see any issues you can always use the warranty to fix it, which is a big plus to this purchase. (Posted on 4/11/13)

Excellent BuyReview by Sandeep

Overall

Very Good IEM , liked it more than my soundmagic headphones.
Bass is quite good. High & Mids are detailed.
I bought when on sale , so at that price its a bargain!

(Posted on 3/21/13)

Excellent p/pReview by Emre

Overall

Best iems for the price. I am not an audiophile but certainly have some experience with headphones and earphones. This pair has the best sound for the beginners phones i have ever tried and the price is fantastic. Must have in my opinion; if you are not an expert, they are great, if you have a very good pair, would make a wonderful substitute. Thank you mp4nation! (Posted on 3/19/13)

9/10Review by Sumedh

Overall

Pros: warm, fun and spacious sounding
Cons: slightly boosted bass that could use more control
I've had the Brainwavz M2 here for several weeks, and I'm sorry that I haven't had the time to post my thoughts on them sooner, but I'm doing so now after enjoying them the whole time. My Star rating is against other IEM in the $100 and under range. I received these as a free review sample, but they did not buy any special favors.

The build quality is not bad for a budget IEM. The cable feels nice and is fairly tangle free, as well as having only a small amount of microphonics. I did have an issue where the strain relief on the right earphone came loose and would slide up and down the cable, and for a while I left it that way as it helped me identify the right and left by feel in the dark. Eventually I glued the strain relief back in place. While doing that I discovered that the metal rod that the cable runs through could be unscrewed too easily from the earpiece.

Isolation with single flange silicone tips is decent like my Nuforce IEM with Shure tips, and more than my RE252, but less than my W1 with triple flange tips. They isolate enough to enjoy the music while sitting 3 feet way from a window air conditioner unit. They also came with a variety of tips and a nice case, but the medium silicone tips worked right away for me and I didn't bother with the rest.

GEAR USED: MAcbook Pro lossless music > Pico DAC > ALO Amphora, Macbook Pro > uDAC, uDAC-2 or DACport, iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4.

EARPHONES COMPARED: Brainwavz M2 vs Brainwavz Beta, HiFiMan RE-2, Nuforce NE-6/7M, Maximo iMetal iP-HS-5, Denon C700, Westone 1, Westone 2, Westone 3, Monster Turbine Pro Gold, UE11Pro.

MUSIC USED: (24/96 only where noted, otherwise 16/44 lossless):

* Diana Krall - Live in Paris
* Peter Asplund - As Knights Concur
* John H. Clarke - Acoustic Guitar (bought off CDBaby.com)
* Nils Lofgren - Acoustic Live
* Tord Gustavsen Trio - "Restored, Returned"
* Esbjorn Svensen Trio - From Gagarin's Point of View
* Jimmy Cobb Quartet - Jazz in the Key of Blues 24/96
* Shelby Lynn - Just a Little Lovin
* Nancy Bryan - Neon Angel 24/96
* Wendy Sutter - Songs & Poems For Solo Cello
* Eva Cassidy - Live at Blues Alley
* Ottmar Liebert & Luna Negra - Up Close 24/96
* Bill Evans - Waltz for Debby
* Carla Lother - 100 Lovers 24/96
* Infected Mushroom - B.P. Empire
* Bella Sonus - Enamoured
* Jack Johnson - In Between Dreams, On and On, and Sleep Through the Static
* Pink Floyd - Animals
* Orianthi - Violet Journey
* Black Eyed peas - The E.N.D.
* Katy Perry - One of the Boys
* Sade - Soldier of Love
* A variety of low bit-rate rock music downloads for my kids to look for issues

SOUND: I felt that they sound pretty nice right out of the box. They seem to have raised the bar for what I consider to be budget earphones. After just an hour of listening I was ready to say that these could easily sell for twice the asking price, and are a lot of fun to listen to. They made small improvements in refinement and bass control over the first 100 hours, but one could start enjoying them right away.

If I'm trying to describe the sound, it helps to compare them other earphones or headphones. I might call them the Denon D2000 or D5000 of the IEM world, but that may not be a perfect match as I'm working from memory of the Denon. The M2 frequency response was almost a perfect match for my UE11pro customs, minus the UE11pro's superior detail, air and extension in the highs, refinement and speed. But even the soundstage size seems to be of similar proportions. I actually went back and forth between my UE11Pro and M2 out of several amps after I heard this, and the biggest difference in the frequency response of the two is that the M2 are slightly darker or recessed in the highs than the UE11Pro. No, I'm not saying the M2 are as good as an over $1100 custom IEM, but if someone wanted to have an idea of the UE11Pro "flavor" I would tell them to try the M2 to hear the tone and balance.

In comparison to my Denon AH-C700 which I paid $199 for in 2007, the Denon sound thin and hollow in the mids with a brighter or even "tizzy-sounding" treble, only redeemed by their nice bass presence which isn't as well controlled as the M2. The Denon lack the rich vibrant mids and refinement of the M2, and are also not as efficient. However, comparing the M2 vs the Denon or Nuforce earphones does seem to make the M2 sound a little dark in the highs; maybe more from the sudden contrast, and having acclimated to the other IEM than a fault of the M2. But if I listen to the M2 first, then switching earphones makes the Denon and Nuforce sound bright and the M2 more normal instead. The Denon improve noticeably with Complys T400 foam tips, but not enough. The M2 are more fun and enjoyable with better bass control, cleaner richer mids, and smoother more refined treble than the Denon. Impressive for the low price.

In previous comparisons my Nuforce NE-6 and NE-7M also topped the Denon C700, so I also compared those to the M2. The NE-6/7M are a little more neutral and forward sounding than the M2. Although they may be slightly more accurate in frequency balance than the M2, they are not as much fun and don't disappear behind the music as well as the M2 do. The M2 seems to be more transparent in the sense of not calling too much attention to the mids or highs, although the bass is certainly tipped up in a fun kinda way and the overall sound is warmer (like the UE11Pro). The more forward upper-mids of the NE-6 and NE-7M bring some of the details of the background instruments out, but not necessarily in a way that allows the earphones to disappear when listening. This improved in the Nuforce earphones by switching from the stock tips to some Shure E2c tips, but not enough to overcome this.

Similarly, the Maximo iMetal iP-HS-5 (aka i590 for iPhone) and HiFiMan RE-2 were a bit colored in comparison, with a tilt toward the highs and details rather than the warm mids and bass of the M2. Although I have rated the Maximo on par with the Nuforce or HiFiMan RE2 (just with a different sound), and above the JVC Marshmallows and Aircushions or Brainwavz beta, they still fall below the new M2 for me when it comes to enjoying the music instead of listening to the earphones' sound. The area where the good budget IEM like Maximo or Nuforce surpass the M2 is in their bass detail and speed, but I prefer the additional impact of the M2 and less attention to detail when I want to have some fun with them. This was especially appreciated with low bit-rate downloaded music that my kids listen to.

I decided to compare the M2 to my Westone 1, since I hadn't listened to them in a while. They cost several times more than the M2, but I was running out of budget IEM to compare them to. I found the W1 to be better in neutrality, transparency and speed, but they were not as extended in the deep bass or treble as the M2. The M2's bass quantity is a bit higher and more impactful than the bass of the W1, but the W1 bass speed and definition is still noticeably better. Despite less bass presence than the M2, the W1 are a fairly warm sounding IEM and not out of character when comparing them to the M2. Their mids and highs were somewhat similar in volume, up to the limits of the W1's balanced armature. But the M2 have a little more sparkle/air/extension and a larger more spacious soundstage, while the W1 are more forward/intimate sounding and slightly muted in the ambience department.

The W1 are pretty good for single BA IEM, and they disappear better than the M2 or others when I listen to jazz and acoustic or string music, but the M2 were more fun for rock music or for listening loudly. For critical listening the W1 are a better choice, and more accurate most of the time. I wouldn't call the W1 a "fun" phone like the M2, and some listeners have described them as flat or boring at times. But the W1 also sound best when amped, while the M2 are less picky about that, and with a good amp the W1 shine better. Certainly the M2 can be more exciting and dynamic to listen to than the W1, especially unamped, but a similar thing could be said about the D2000/5000 vs the HD600/650. Being more fun with less power doesn't always make it a better choice for critical listening.

When bringing out the Westone 2 and 3, or even the Monster Turbine Pro Gold, the M2 began to sound more like a budget IEM. The M2 bass is more like the W3 or MTPG in quantity, but not in quality. And they just don't have the speed, detail or realism of the more costly IEMs that I tried.

SUMMARY: The Brainwavz M2 (aka Visang R03) are a nice sounding budget IEM which have a pleasing tone, fun bass impact, and good soundstage/image. They are a very clear upgrade to the wwww.MP4nation.com Brainwavz Beta that I reviewed previously, as well as more enjoyable than several other $40-$150 earphones that I own. They are not as accurate, fast or detailed as my balanced armature IEM or some of my dynamic IEM, but I also would not call them slow or veiled. Their biggest problem is with the slightly boosted bass that is somewhat less well controlled than I would like. They're not a giant killer and the sound is not perfect, but they don't do many things wrong - there are no big irritating peaks or troughs that would bother even the more discerning listeners. For those on a budget it would be well worth giving these consideration. (Posted on 3/17/13)

Best of the bestReview by Mikhail

Overall

Listening to music through the headphones - the quality at the highest level! These are the best headphones in their price range! I advise all music lovers! (Posted on 3/6/13)

Excellent IEMsReview by Guillermo

Overall

I bought a M2 on 7/3/12, and today it still working. I was afraid that, like the cheap IEMs, it could stop working after a few months... But it didn't happen.

Pros:
- Good price
- Adequate for "bass heads"
- Accesories (foam tips and semi hard case)
- Remarkable costumer service
- Free shipping

Cons:
- Construction quality could be better, but it isn't that bad if we look the price
- Isolation it's ok, in a loud environment you must increase the volume (Posted on 2/12/13)

Great sound, disappointing build qualityReview by Leyeon

Overall

I absolutely love the sound these earphones produce. A great, punchy bass and smooth mids and highs. For this price range, no need to further comment on that.

However, the build quality disappointed me a little. First, the strain reliefs weren't connected too firmly to the body of the drivers, and after a few months both had come loose. However, this is easily fixed by either a drop of glue or by shoving them up over the metal above it, where they will be held in place.

What is more worriesome though, is the connector plug. I like the 45 degree angle and all, but it wasn't too sturdy, and now, about half a year after purchase, the cable doesn't fully connect anymore inside the plug, meaning that it only play music when I push the cable down. I think this is because the cable can move too much, and the stress reliefs are too short and not sturdy enough. I hope in the future Brainwavz can upgrade these plugs to better build quality (like Sennheiser did with some of their IEM's). If they do, I would give these earphones 4 stars instead of the 3 I had to give them now.

Overall, awesome earphones, four stars for the sound, minus one for the build quality. Keep up the good work Brainwavz! (Posted on 2/2/13)

CRAZY GOODReview by Josh

Overall

i really love these headphons. after burning them in they soud awesome. they are for bassheads and are the most fun sounding headphones in my collection. ive beaten the crap out of it and they still work brandnew. i remember i had the comply foam tips on these and i shoved them deep in my ears an they were hard to remove i like this for running and i drop my phone it was connected to and the pull was so hard the headphones ripped out of the tips which were still in my ears. but the wires were not pulled out and the headphones didnt break. these headphones are durable as hell and sound amazing for their price point. MUST BUY!! (Posted on 1/19/13)

WholesomeReview by Ranu

Overall

I order these is December 2012 when the price was 42$ and got lucky with another 5% off coupon, so, ultimately got it for ~$40. I was not so pleased with it when i started hearing it as soon as i got it. Burn in is absolutely required. Now, with almost 50 hours of burn in, there is nothing as that can beat the earphone at this price. (Posted on 1/3/13)

Only positive impressions.Review by Eduard

Overall

These headphones I really liked. I took them from my friend to listen to music. After that, almost immediately bought.
Like: juicy bass, smooth tonal balance, good isolation from external noise, high-quality cable. I listened to a variety of music: vocal, jazz, guitar. Only positive impressions.

Good sound insulation.
Equipment used:
During the trip: sansa clip, FiiO E11 Portable Headphone Amplifier.
At home: Rega Planet, homemade headphone amplifier. (Posted on 1/3/13)

Would recommenedReview by heSuhtate

Overall

I was really pleased with it, although I would recommend buying it on sale I bought it for the full 60.00 which is quick pricy but nonethless recommend as the quality is nice! (Posted on 12/11/12)

Good IEM for Bass lovers.Review by akshay

Overall

These are quality headphones with thumping bass. I was impressed with the build quality and set of tips provided with these as well. AS wholesome package for a fair price. SoundMagic E10 are as good as these but Brainwavz M2 are superior in terms of build quality. When on sale they make best choice of IEM to buy. at 49$ i still feel they are great value. So buy without hesitation and enjoy your music (Posted on 12/5/12)

Good if you take care of themReview by LarrE

Overall

I really like these headphones due to the good quality of sound. I used them for almost year and the quality of sound remained excellent. However, they are fragile, after i lost the case, they broke really fast, lost contact and one ear broke while the other one goes on and off. I can't blame the headphones for that though, and am going to buy another pair. (Posted on 11/19/12)

Very adequatelyReview by Volodymyr

Overall

Headphones demonstrated superior sound quality. Together with the FIIO it is downright bomb)! Thank mp4nation for good service, fast and reliable services ... and again on headphones: turning on them, I finally felt a myself at a concert favorite bands - Led Zeppelin, Machine Head, MUSE, DIRE STRAITS, YES, Gino Vannelli and others ... . This shows that with any style headphones will cope on all 100%! (Posted on 10/13/12)

Pretty goodReview by Pat

Overall

Sound is slightly better then my soundmagic PL30 and these have replaced them as my commuting earphones. Might need some more experimenting with the multitude of included tips to get a better fit. (Posted on 10/10/12)

Great introduction to quality audio gearReview by KYC

Overall

This was my first purchase from MP4nation and I was very pleased with it. The M2 was worth the hype and it beat all my other previous earphones, albeit they were entry-level gear.

The bass is punchy and fun but the rest of the sound is still very clear too. Great if you are listening to hip-hop, D&B, electronica etc.

Accessories included were good as well especially the Comply tips. The aluminium casing on the earphones screams quality but the strain relief can slide down easily. Put a bit of superglue on and you're set.

I recommend this earphones to everybody. Good price for awesome sound. (Posted on 9/29/12)

When on sale - its a steal!Review by Grigoriy

Overall

Im using M2 for a year - quite a long time for in ear headphone, most of them i broke in six month or so. M2 sounds really good for its price, but when bought on sale - it a steal ! (Posted on 8/25/12)

Has potentialReview by bottomcoughs

Overall

I've owned the M1, M2, M4 and HM5 over the years. HM5 obviously rules them all but I also wanted a good pair of IEMs for portability.

Of the other three, I preferred the M2 due to its "fun" sound. The M1 was probably too neutral for me and the M4 lacked the mids because of the V-shape signature. M2 was the right mix for the type of music I listen to (Hip-Hop, D&B, Electronica). I love the bass but it does settle down slightly once burned-in for more than 50 hours. The highs are not as clear as the M4 but still reasonably good.

However, it does lose a point for build quality. The strain relief slides off pretty easily and this is a well-documented issue with these IEMs. The left side died on me after a couple of months which was a bit disappointing.

Fortunately, MP4Nation came to the rescue and replaced them promptly. You do have to pay to ship it back to them but I got a brand new pair in the post which was the important thing. (Posted on 6/29/12)

The Greatest Choice for "Bassheads"Review by Timur

Overall

I can't say that I am the pro, but I have some expierence. Before listening to M2, I had Sennheiser IE2 and SoundMagic PL30. Here is my short review.
The packaging was very accurate, the box with M2 was packed in another box with air packs. So, no damage was caused.
The complectation is very generous :) the M2 box is quite bright and beautyful, so it can be presented as a gift.
The quality of headphones is almost perfect, despite some sharp edges around the headphones' cable. M2 are quite heavy, but the cable is tight and strong. The headphones fit well.
In my opinion, the style of M2 sound is rather dark. There is a lot of bass. Mid-level is flat and does not have any features. But the treble is not so bright, maybe due to powerful bass. SoundMagic' sound is a bit lighter, but the bass is not so cool as in M2.
As for me, M2 is ideal for hip-hop, drum'n'bass, dubstep and other hard musical styles.
I don't have perfect ears, and I also love these styles. The M2 headphones are almost perfect to me.
I hope that my short review will help you to decide! (Posted on 6/14/12)

For the price, it's a bargain.Review by Nerdsinc

Overall

The M2's were my first IEM.

I bought them after getting them recommended to me by a friend to had the M3's.

The bass and mids are detailed to heck. The M2's strong point lies here.

The highs are okay, but I've heard better....

The M2's are bass oriented headphones, but I'd say they are for people who enjoy a good mix of bass and everything else. They aren't as bassy as say... The Hippo VB's, but the bass on this will be more than enough for a person to enjoys detail in their bass.

The price is like the topping. Those things a CHEAP....

I highly recommend these. (Posted on 5/30/12)

Good, but not for meReview by kingpage

Overall

Before burn-in, these are really relaxed and the bass was quit strange. After enough burn-in, they opened up somehow and the sound signature stabilised. I have done more than 80 hours of burn-in now, I am very satisfied with their strong suits – bass and midrange. The bass is sufficient in quantity, and the decay is perfect for Hip Hop and R&B music. The bass is there when needed, and since the signature of this IEM is towards warmth, a veil is inevitable, which is not a problem at all for me. A friend of mine tried them out, and thought they are not as good for classical as the ones he’s got (not sure what IEMs, but I assume brighter than M2). The vocals are very sexy and enjoyable. On the other hand, treble may be tamed and may lack a sense of sparkle, yet it is decent nonetheless to my liking. I personally hate fatiguing phones, so I’m a bit biased. The roll-off of treble is later than I expected at around 14-15 kHz, so the M2 is extended both ways with deep bass and high frequency harmonics.

Apart from the veil that I talked about, there is however room for improvement on the soundstage. Although the soundstage is better than average, I still crave for some full-size cans’ or speakers’ experience in IEMs which I will probably never get. I will address these in my next upgrade. The distance is about first couple rows, yet not as distant as the PL-30.

I was not that impressed with these, compared to my initial impressions pf CAL! and HM5. I guess M2 is too dark for my liking. (Posted on 5/30/12)