ADVANCED M4 Earphone Quick Review

ADVANCED M4 Earphone Quick Review

Thanks to ADVANCED for the sample.

Brief:  Bargain middy monitor.

Price: US$40 which is about £32

Specifications:  Driver Unit Custom Tuned Single Dynamic Drivers, Impedance 16 Ohm+/-15%, Sensitivity 92dB+/-3dB at 1kHz, Frequency Response 20Hz – 20kHz, Rated Power Input 1mW, Max. Input Power 5mW, Cord length 1.36M, Plug 3.5mm Gold Plated.

Accessories:  1 pair of Comply Foam tips (TX-400 medium), 3 pairs of black dual-flange tips (s/m/l), 3 pairs of black silicone tips (s/m/l), 3 pairs of white silicone tips (s/m/l), 1 premium carrying pouch, 1 cord shirt clip.

Build Quality:  The buds are metal and seem great. The cable is an uber braided awesome thing, tré fancy.

Isolation:  For a dynamic rather good.  Fine for out and about, on a bus too.  Tube and flights I’d skip but way more than sufficient with mesic to get run over if you forget what your eyes are for.

Comfort/Fit:  Great.  In and done, comfy to wear them all day for me.

Aesthetics:  The buds look nice, not super pretty but then you hit that cable, that braiding looks pretty awesome if you ask me, I mean just look at it.

Sound:  Ever the heart of the matter and while the M4 may not be the most heart stirring earphone I’ve ever come across, it’s got a lovely balance to it.  A really mature and grown up sound signature.  It claims natural something and I’d go with that, is a very naturalistic balancing.  Not quite neutral, erring to the more natural, a little bit warmed, a little touch softened, a tiny bit enhanced bass.  Most notably though with this balance its mids are rather more prominent than many more consumer orientated products are.  These are perfectly suited to any one that needs to monitor vocals or other instruments found in the key, mid-range band.  Clear, articulate, easy to pay attention to and really focus on.  Great on the ear, nice and pleasantly easy for the most part.  They can get a little harder up top, the treble can on occasion be a touch brittle especially if well amped and with a cooler source.  Still on more mainstream sources, i.e. weaker ones that round off nicely and they become really excellent priced, little bit middy monitor that while being cleanly present has just a smidgen of warmth and smoothening.  Making it something that you can wear and hear all day without any issues.  A really very pleasing first introduction for me to the ADVANCED brand.  A cracking little bargain monitor.

Pro’s:  Great balance.  Great value price.  Love that cable.

Con’s:  These are for grownups, bass heads look elsewhere.