What’s up Gear Mortals, Isaac here! Today, we’re talking all about in-ears — specifically, the M6 Pro In-Ear Monitors from MEE Audio.
Before we get too far into this, I want to make one thing very clear: I am no in-ear monitor expert. These opinions you are about to read are coming from someone who is somewhat of an in-ear pleb, if you will. But either way, hopefully, this insight from an everyday layman can be useful to those who are looking to get into the wonderful world of in-ear monitors. Without further adieu, let’s get started!
The M6 Pros from MEE Audio are the more affordable of the two options available in the company’s Pro line of in-ears, retailing at $49.99 on the company’s website. In terms of the specs, the M6 Pros feature a single moving coil driver, proprietary DC cable connector, detachable cables for durability, and comes shipped with both an audio-only cable and headset cable (with mic and remote) in a protective carrying case. The folks at MEE Audio also include a 1/4″ stereo adaptor, carrying case, and 6 different pairs of ear tips + 1 pair of Comply™ foam isolation tips that each have their own specific shape and size to let you pick which one fits you best.
Now, I’ve been using my pair of M6s pretty regularly for a few months. For me, this comes in the form of either listening to music while walking or jogging, typically outside in the dry, hot climate of Los Angeles. And so far, they’ve held up pretty damn well. Given that the company describes them as “an all-in-one in-ear earphone for stage, gym and street”, it would make sense that the M6 Pros can take a bit of a beating, especially if you’re up on stage getting nasty night after night. For most of you reading this, you’re probably interested in in-ear monitors for the purposes of band practice and playing live shows. And while I haven’t really put these puppies to the test in that environment over and over again, I do feel pretty strongly that they a) hold up to the headbanging and copious amounts of sweat (given their rubber coating and snug fit), and b) block out enough noise (looking at you, drummers) to keep your mix clean and audible during a set.
“The M6 Pro is an all-in-one in-ear earphone for stage, gym, and street.”
In terms of the frequency response, I found the M6 Pros to be fairly even when fitted snuggly. It’s important to keep the earbuds set firmly in your ears to achieve the best bass response, which can be a little tricky if you’re not familiar with getting them to sit just right. MEE Audio actually has this quick tutorial on how to get your in-ears fitted to your ears (and how to wear them a couple different ways), which you can check out here. In general, the bass is pretty even, there’s a tiny dip in the mids around 1000 Hz, and a bit of a boost around 10,000 Hz. While the company has said that some users find the M6 Pros to be a bit bright on the higher end of the spectrum, I really did not find this to be the case, and might even consider it a plus if you need some of those higher frequencies to allow your in-ear mix to cut through a little better. You can see a full breakdown of the M6 Pro’s frequency response compared to the more expensive in-ear model from MEE Audio, the M7 Pro, below.
One thing I really appreciated about the M6 Pros was the variety of earbud tips that came with these in-ears. Most in-ear monitors will have a few different options available as far as tips go, but there aren’t many out there that come with 6 different kinds, plus an isolating pair. I was also very satisfied with how well-balanced the frequency response was. For casual listening, these in-ears performed very well, and while the bass and treble felt slightly favored over the mids, I was always able to hear a clean mix, even when standing next to sources of loud noise like a construction zone and a drummer. The clear rubber coating also felt extremely durable over the entirety of the cord. It’s difficult to imagine these falling apart anytime soon, even with the vigorous motion from running or dancing around on stage, so that’s a solid win in my book.
The only complaints I really have about the M6s are that again, it can be difficult to get to fit right on the first few attempts. I’m convinced once you have the proper shape figured out this really isn’t too much of an issue, but it can be frustrating nonetheless. And despite the smooth rubber coating, I found myself oftentimes untangling the cords. A personal preference of mine is a fabric/mesh coating over rubber or plastic, so the rubber probably wouldn’t have been my first choice with these. That being said, this material probably cleans up a lot better after being sweat on (which you will probably do with these at some point), so the folks at MEE Audio probably know what they’re doing a bit more than I do.
Overall, the M6 Pro In-Ear Monitors from MEE Audio are a super solid first choice for those wanting to dip their toes into the world of in-ear monitors. For $49.99, you really can’t ask for much more, and M6 Pros give you a good base understanding of what to look for in a pair of in-ears so that you can invest a little more in a more expensive pair down the road. You can pick up a pair of black M6 Pro In-Ear Monitors through the MEE Audio website, or you can snag some via Amazon, which carries them in clear as well. Happy monitoring!
