Brainwavz M2 IEM Noise Isolating Earphones Let You Master the Music Affordably

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Not everyone needs or wants earphones that overemphasize or distort audio content. I see so many listening devices that manipulate sound in some form or fashion but some folks just need a good set of affordable reference in-ear monitors. That is where the new Brainwavz M2 IEM Noise Isolating Earphones fit the bill.

Brainwavz M2 IEM Noise Isolating Earphones/Images courtesy Brainwavz

Brainwavz offers quite a few different IEM devices and the M2 is hardly the be-all, end-all in that reference but they offer sound as it was intended and do so at an affordable price. They are no-nonsense, no frill earphones that offer a level of clarity and sound reproduction available in units of nearly twice the price. Now, if you like your music and spoken voice to sound like it is in a nightclub, the M2 earphones are probably not your cup of tea. I would compare these to near-field monitors in a recording studio versus speakers at a rock concert. Brainwavz M2 IEM Noise Isolating Earphones offer crisp, clear sound reproduction and are some of the best I have heard in a while for spoken voice.

The new M2 IEM earphones from Brainwavz are comfortable and lightweight and arrive with a carrying case for convenience with six sets of ear tips in small, medium, and large sizes and one set of Comply foam tips for added comfort. First thing I noticed right out of the box is there is no microphone on the Brainwavz M2 so they do not allow full use of a smartphone while being worn. They also use a traditional 3.5mm audio plug so you iPhone users will need to dig out your lighting adaptor for these. By the numbers, the M2 earphones utilize dynamic 10.7mm drivers that reproduce 20 Hz-20 Khz with a sensitivity rating of 115dB at 1 mW. M2 uses high-quality silver, oxygen-free cable to keep things durable and lightweight.

Right out of the box, I could tell these earphones were not going to impress the techno dance music crowd. Electronic music is difficult to distinguish what exactly it was supposed to sound like, and while the Brainwavz M2s will reproduce the electronic sounds, they are much better suited for acoustical instruments and vocals. They deliver a crisp, clear sound reproduction and as they are dynamic drivers they will get better in time as the units “break in.” The manufacturer claims an “intense, detailed bass” reproduction from the M2 earphones but I will politely disagree with this. The bass reproduction is far from intense but it is accurate especially for drums and stringed instruments playing those lower notes. A live jazz recording sounded incredible on the M2s while some electronic music was a bit lackluster. These are IEM earphones for an audio engineer, not a DJ, and at $59.50 they are a good value. More information can be found at www.Brainwavzaudio.com.

Source: Review sample provided by the manufacturer.

What I like: Clear, natural sound reproduction; Recommend for acoustic instruments, vocals, spoken word

What can be improved: The M2 earphones work mostly as advertised but I would get away from promoting intense bass reproduction

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About the Author

David Goodspeed
David was editor of AutoworldToday at Today Newspapers in the Dallas suburbs until its closing in 2009. He was also webmaster and photographer/videographer. He got started doing photography for the newspaper while working as a firefighter/paramedic in one of his towns, and began working for the newspaper group full-time in 1992. David entered automotive journalism in 1998 and became AutoworldToday editor in 2002. On the average, he drives some 100 new vehicles each year. He enjoys the great outdoors and as an avid fly fisherman, as is his spouse Tish. He especially enjoys nature photography and is inspired by the works of Ansel Adams.