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  • The Oufit

  • The Audio

  • The Verdict

  • The Insides That Count

  • Frequency Response

  • Distortion

  • Isolation

  • Other Tests

  • The Oufit
  • The Audio
  • The Verdict
  • The Insides That Count
  • Frequency Response
  • Distortion
  • Isolation
  • Other Tests

Featuring a flat, tangle-resistant cable and an in-line mic/remote, MEElectronics bills these in-ears as a convenient audio solution for mobile devices like tablets and phones. Thanks to multiple color options, the M9P in-ears aim to stand in as both fashion accessory and premium audio provider.

If you like huge bass emphasis, you can't go wrong with these. They're free of distortion, durable, portable, convenient, and provide a healthy soundscape that leans on the low end. If you're looking for something a little more prepossessing, albeit pricier, the AKG K323 XS may be a better choice.

The Oufit

A great combination of convenience and style

Unlike on-ear and over-ear headphones, in-ear headphones often champion innocuity, standing in as a fashionable accessory without dominating your dome. Thus the M9P's aesthetic highlights include the design of the cable and remote as much as the 'buds themselves.

Our test sample is the gunmetal color, but the M9P in-ears are also available in red, silver, and pearl varieties. Discreet silver bands and sturdy, reinforced flex points on the earbuds transition smoothly to a flat cable in the same color. The cable splits at an adjustable point that's emblazoned with "M9P," white lettering on firm black rubber. Likewise, the gold-plated jack is reinforced by semi-flexible rubber.

MeElectronics M9P 2nd Gen.

Firm gunmetal 'buds, flat cable construction, and flexible hard rubber at each sensitive joint give the M9P a welcome amount of durability.

These in-ears are quite comfortable, even over longer periods of time. The angled tips and multiple sleeve sizes make it easy for most people to find a good fit. The hard plastic caps can irritate your outer ears if you push them in too far, and getting used to the way they sit can be annoying for a time. In the long term, however, the M9P in-ears are comfortable enough, even if they lack the ear-coddling plushiness of other models.

The M9P should work with all Android and iOS mobile devices, although full remote functionality may not account for all third-party apps.

There's plenty by way of utility elements, too. Listeners on the go will relish this product's single button in-line microphone/remote combo, which features a highly nuanced volume slider and a button to play/pause music playback or answer calls. The M9P should work with all Android and iOS mobile devices, although full remote functionality may not account for all third-party apps. A shirt clip, zip-up carry case, and five pairs of silicone tips in different sizes add further to the convenience factor.

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The Audio

A bit bass heavy, but great overall

Once you find a good fit and get to listening, the first thing you'll notice is that the M9P in-ears tread quite heavily in bass territory. Whether it's a thundering timpani, an upright bass, or Skrillex with a case of butterfingers, sub-bass and bass sounds plow through the mix without fail. Unlike many other consumer-facing, bass heavy headphones, however, the M9P in-ears don't stop there.

A multi-faceted, sweeping soundscape that punches well above this product's price tag.

While treated with a bit more delicacy, middle, high-mid, and bright, treble frequencies are emphasized generously, too. The result is a multi-faceted, sweeping soundscape that punches well above this product's price tag. Just keep in mind—especially if you're looking for a flatter mix—that these in-ears give ample prevalence to bass frequencies compared to everything else.

Because they're of the in-ear variety, the M9P headphones have plenty of natural advantages in terms of keeping sound in and keeping noise out. Though they aren't specifically poised for noise canceling, a good fit will see everything from honking automobiles to ringing office phones dampened by at least 25% of the original volume, and more if you're actually listening to music.

A good fit will see everything from honking automobiles to ringing office phones dampened by at least 25% of the original volume.

The M9P in-ears also produce clean, distortion-free audio. Time in the lab revealed a healthy lack of distorted elements like clipped high notes and compressed bass tones. In fact, even the deepest bass elements were notably less distorted compared to most of the headphones we test, which is a very impressive result. This kind of distortion-free performance usually costs much more than MEElectronics is asking for.

The Verdict

An absolute steal at twice this price

The 2nd Generation M9P in-ears are simply a terrific value for consumers. Between the sturdy design, generous soundscape, and distortion-free playback, it's pretty hard to believe you can find these online for as little as $20.

If you're looking for something a little subtler, AKG has some $60 in-ears that offer a less bottom-heavy soundscape. If you're all about that bass, however, the 2nd Gen. M9P in-ears are an outstanding choice.

The Insides That Count

Simply listening to a pair of headphones is great, but we like to take it a step further with an industry-standard Head-and-Torso Simulator. Time in the lab with the MEElectronics M9P 2nd Gen. in-ears (MSRP $39.99) produced great results.

We discovered a bass-heavy frequency response that nevertheless maintains good emphasis on mid- and high-frequency sounds, resulting in a solid consumer sound that's tailored specifically for mobile devices like phones and tablets. What's more, a good fit ensures that most outside ambient noise is reduced, while distortion-free playback means you'll hear nothing but crisp, clean sound.

Frequency Response

Our frequency response test feeds a 78 dB frequency sweep through a set of headphones and records the volume return of each frequency.

The most notable thing about the M9P in-ears is how much emphasis they put on sub-bass and bass elements. Subtle sub-bass elements around 20 Hz are played back around 90-95 dB of volume, which slowly tapers down to midrange frequencies a little above 70 dB. This volume holds steady, and peaks again around 5kHz where many harmonic overtones live. The result is a very bass-heavy frequency response that nevertheless treats midrange and high frequencies with respectable emphasis.

This is a great result, but if you're looking for something closer to a flat, studio response curve, these aren't the headphones for you.

MeElectronics MpP in-ears

The MP9 in-ears give ample support to sub-bass and bass elements, while still emphasizing midrange and high frequencies at relatively appreciable volumes.

Distortion

Our distortion test measures the percentage of total harmonic distortion (THD), where a THD of 3% or less in bass, midrange, and high frequencies is ideal. The M9P in-ears performed with unparalleled excellence here, maintaining distortion below 3% not only from 60–10kHz, but even within the sub-bass range below 60 Hz which is typically much more prone to distorted sound.

MeElectronics MpP in-ears

Considering that a THD of 3% or less is considered ideal, the M9P in-ears earned an A+ in our distortion test, measuring less than 1.25% THD across the entire frequency spectrum.

Isolation

Our isolation test measures how well a set of headphones cancels ambient noise, whether it be through passive or active means. Because they're in-ears—they basically block your entire ear canal—the M9P are a great choice if you want to quiet the outside world. Most noises, from deep rumbling truck engines to wailing babies, are quieted by as much as 40 dB. Bass frequencies sound 25% quieter, midrange frequencies sound 50% quieter, and the highest pitches sound as much as 75% quieter—this is about as good as it gets without active canceling.

MeElectronics MpP in-ears

The M9P are great isolators, dampening noises across the entire frequency spectrum by as much as 30 dB.

Other Tests

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Meet the tester

Lee Neikirk

Lee Neikirk

Former Editor, Home Theater

@Koanshark

Lee was Reviewed's point person for most television and home theater products from 2012 until early 2022. Lee received Level II certification in TV calibration from the Imaging Science Foundation in 2013. As Editor of the Home Theater vertical, Lee oversaw reviews of TVs, monitors, soundbars, and Bluetooth speakers. He also reviewed headphones, and has a background in music performance.

See all of Lee Neikirk's reviews

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