With Sony’s IER-Z1R (which had previously garnered significant praise from me) retaining much of the spotlight in their latest in-ear lineup, Sony’s IER-M9 has in relative terms, slipped under the radar. No slouch on Sony’s in-ear hierarchy either, they take their podium place as the 2nd priciest model in the IER series ($1500 USD). In contrast to the Z1R’s hybrid configuration, the IER-M9 instead uses 5 proprietary Sony-made Balanced Armature drivers per side.
As a long-time fan of Sony’s exploits in the IEM realm, the M9 continues to showcase the Japanese conglomerates’ impeccable ability to continuously innovate and create spectacular products. Beating around the bush in this regard would be to do a great disservice to the Sony IER-M9; like the IER-Z1R, they represent the very best IEMs money can buy for their respective sound signatures. Yep, Sony has done it again.
In addition to having vast expertise in sound reproduction, Sony are (not-so-secretly) also masters in the art of packaging their products. You get the full Sony Experience with the M9 – an elegantly minimalist exterior, enveloping a polished yet stylish interior. Anyone else feel like getting a monocle and top hat while unboxing high-end Sony products?
Inside each earpiece, 5 Balanced Armature drivers – including a magnesium-diaphragm supertweeter – handle sound. An integrated housing-within-the-housing helps to minimize vibration from each driver, while a film capacitor seeks to minimize distortion. Recommended 32bit IEDriver which is less prone to errors when compared with 64bit driver. Save the downloaded file to your local machine. In you code you need to set the system property for IE driver as. System.setProperty('webdriver.ie.driver', 'pathofchromedriver IEDriverServer.exe').
Interactive troubleshooting, e-mail technical support, the latest driver downloads and answers to frequently asked questions www.canontechsupport.com Toll-free live technical support within the limited warranty Monday—Friday(excluding holidays) at 1-800-828-4040 Telephone Device for the Deaf (TDD-1-855-270-3277). This tool lets you search for and identify outdated drivers, and will automatically download the updates you are missing. This application will also protect your computer from hardware failures, conflicts and system crashes.
Accessories provided include:
– Sony Hardcase
– 14 pairs of Sony Hybrid Eartips
– 3.5mm Cable (Not Pictured)
– 4.5mm Balanced Cable
– Cleaning Cloth
Plentiful yet functional accessories presented in a thoroughly aesthetically pleasing manner.
Aesthetics (8.5/10): Matte Black shells, decorated with a carbon-fibre faceplate. A classic look, for sure, yet still awfully handsome to look at.
Build Quality (9/10): The housing of the M9 is made with Magnesium Alloy. I can’t say I’ve much experience with the material, but they feel sturdy to the touch. The MMCX connectors are made such that they do not rotate, always a plus in my books for longevity. Included cables are resilient yet fairly supple, and are tangle-proof. All in all, not quite glorious Nippon steel, but fantastic in their own right.
Fit and Comfort (9.5/10): Yes, while you might not think these Frankenstein-looking housings might fit well, they’re actually insanely comfortable and ergonomic to wear. The housings contour to my ears wonderfully, and never feel like they’re in danger of falling out. I could and have worn them for hours at a time without fatigue.
Isolation (9/10): As a general rule, if they fit well, they’ll likely isolate well. The norm, not the exception, the M9 blocks out a substantial amount of noise for your busy commutes on the Subway.
Bass (8.75/10): During my initial audition with the IER-M9, my expectations regarding the lower frequencies were not set very high – the M9, after all, sports solely Balanced Armature drivers which are often not considered optimal for the reproduction of bass notes compared to traditional Dynamic Drivers. Upon firing up my usual test tracks, however, it was quickly apparent that I had underestimated these little monitors.
The texture, decay and weight of the bass produced by the M9 is eerily similar to that of a DD, high praise for Sony’s in-house made balanced armature drivers. A general weakness of BA Bass is its propensity to sound thin and artificial, but the M9 reveals none of that. The slight bass boost in both the sub and midbass regions raises the “fun” factor, while still exercising excellent restraint. Bass is always exceptionally clean, tight and agile, highlighted by demanding drum-heavy tracks like Muse’s “Neutron Star Collision”.
Sub-bass extension is also fantastic, reaching all the way down to the lowest registers, considerably unique also in its ability to make it “felt” rather than “heard” compared to other BA setups. The rumble did, however, leave more to be desired, lacking the grunt and texture the Z1R can bring. All in all however, it’s stellar bass from the M9.
Midrange (9/10): One of the more frequently levied criticisms of the M9 is that it can sound “boring”, and this sentiment likely stems from the M9’s midrange presentation. It’s without significant peaks, neutral sounding and just ever slightly recessed in terms of stage presentation. The amalgamation of these factors ultimately contributes to bringing about the aforementioned impression many get with the M9.
The midrange however is still very much excellent, with the former mostly an issue regarding personal preferences. I do find myself clamouring for greater midrange presence at times, but objectively, the midrange of the M9 is supremely capable. It boasts fantastic clarity and detail, though perhaps just a fraction behind resolution kings like the 64Audio U12t or the Anole VX, given its greater emphasis on smoothness ahead of transparency, due to the slight touch of analogue warmth present.
Male vocals are some of the best I’ve heard on M9, perfectly conveying the velvety, rich texture of vocals such as Frank Sinatra’s and Andrea Bocelli’s like few monitors on the market can. While their female counterparts do still sound airy and natural, the M9 lacks the sparkle and brightness in the upper midrange register to really make singers like Adele stand out.
Treble (8.75/10): The lower treble on the M9 is exceptionally tuned, with sufficient sparkle to make cymbals and hi-hats shimmer and shine, on tracks like the Jackson Five’s “Want You Back”, detailed with natural decay. Far from what would be considered an intense listen though, it retains the smoothness characteristic of the M9’s sonic signature. Upper treble on the other hand has been tuned down a notch, as instruments like Trumpets on classic Jazz Standards such as “LOVE” or “Autumn Leaves” sounding neutered and unexciting, albeit still with good resolution and articulation. In the same vein, extension is unimpressive, with roll-off evident in the highest registers, once again illustrating the M9’s predisposition to favour a relaxing and non-fatiguing listen over exhibiting sheer technicalities.
Soundstage, Imaging, Separation and Timbre (8.75/10): Even against the backdrop of the prior praise I’ve lavished, the imaging and separation capabilities of the M9 are by far their most outstanding quality. It isn’t hyperbole to say that they’re likely the best I’ve had the pleasure of listening to in that regard. While the stage of the M9 is just slightly wider than average, and its depth relatively unimpressive, the sense of space created by sheer imaging and separation ability will floor you at times, especially in genres like Jazz (Count Basie for example), or live recordings. It’s an experience like no other, and therein lies the “wow” factor of the M9. The M9 also avoids most of the timbre issues full BA setups can have, possessing sufficient weight and decay to its sound. They’re great and generally a non-issue, unless you’re overtly nitpicky or anal about it
As if it were ever in doubt over the course of the review, the Sony IER-M9 gets an easy recommendation from me for those in the market for a warm-neutral type sound signature. For those who want something non-fatiguing to listen to, yet still brimming with technical ability, the M9 checks all the boxes. And you get to unbox a high end Sony product. Furthermore, they’re relatively inexpensive compared to majority of the market in the TOTL department. Did I also mention you get to unbox a high-end Sony product?
All hail our Japanese overlords.
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