SMABAT M2 Pro Review (1) – Mercurial Chameleon
Pros
Good build, light, comfortable.
Detachable cables.
Can be worn cable down or over ear.
Multiple permutations in sound signature – depending on foam cover type, driver type and tuning module type.
Good timbre.
Good subbass extension for a earbud.
Cons
Would require soldering skills to change driver (changing of tuning module doesn’t require soldering thankfully).
Above average technicalities for a midfi earbud, but not classleading, with occasional hazy imaging/congested instrument separation during complex tracks.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The SMABAT M2 Pro is midfi earbud in terms of sound quality with good timbre, but the real selling point is that the SMABAT M2 Pro is a mercurial chameleon, giving one many options in tuning the sound signature of your choice via a modular design. There are different permutations in driver type, tuning module type and foam cover type. DIYers will have a field day with this set, but those not so hands on will still find plenty to like about this earbud.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Driver Type: stock driver in box is a 15.4 mm titanium plated diaphragm. There’s options to buy an aftermarket full sized titanium unit or even the ST10S black gold driver (these are not included and you might need soldering skills).
- Frequency Response: 10 Hz – 22kHz
- Impedance: 40 ohms
- Sensitivity: 110 dB/mW
- Cable type: MMCX
- Tested at $65 USD
- Purchase Link: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4001267044768.html
ACCESSORIES
Other than the earbud, it comes with:
- 1 set of 4 strand single crystal copper mixed wire – very well braided and of high quality, no microphonics.
- 1 pair of silicone covers.
- 1 pair of full foam covers.
- 2 pairs of tuning modules – this will be discussed further below under “Sound & Technicalities”.
- Card pin (for removal of tuning modules).
I find the full foams gives a warmer sound (though with slight loss of details) whereas the silicone covers makes the sound clearer and brighter with better microdetails. The upper mids/lower treble can get a bit hot with the silicone covers with the stock tuning module, but I’m treble sensitive, so YMMV, and the basshead in me prefers the full foams for the warmth.
BUILD/COMFORT
The SMABAT M2 Pro has a very high quality metal shell, and I’ve used it for hours at a stretch and fallen asleep with it in my ears without discomfort. Additionally, it can be worn cable down or over the ears and is smaller than the SMABAT ST10 predecessors, which some had a problem with fit wise.
The SMABAT M2 Pro comes with MMCX detchable cables, which is very good to see in earbuds, as even some TOTL earbuds costing a hundred dollars or more have non detachable cables, which may be a potential area of failure down the line. In addition, some folks may be keen to use balanced cables or wireless adapters with it, so I really like the non detachable option in this set. The MMCX are of good quality, neither too loose or too tight, and they lock satisfactorily without spinning.
DRIVABILITY
The stock driver (40 ohm) in the SMABAT M2 Pro is drivable from lower powered sources such as a smartphone, but it scales better in dynamics, details and soundstage with amping. There’s an option to put an aftermarket 150 ohm ST10S Black Gold driver unit inside, and that will probably need more juice than the stock driver.
SOUND & TECHNICALITIES
The SMABAT M2 Pro has authentic vocal and instrumental timbre and above average technicalities as befits a midfi earbud, with nice soundstage. Instrument separation and details and imaging are not classleading compared to the predecessor, the SMABAT ST10, and imaging is occasionally hazy. In fact imaging and instrument separation are one level behind on the SMABAT M2 Pro compared to the SMABAT ST10, especially when it comes to complex tracks.
With regard to customizing the M2 Pro’s sound signature, other than the full foams vs silicone covers influencing the sound, the sound can also have multiple permutations:
You can watch this video below to see how the tuning modules can be swapped. It is quite easy to do with the provided card pin in the box, just be careful to protect the wire to the driver when screwing on and off the driver:
Now to complicate matters, there is an option to install different driver units for the SMABAT M2 Pro. The M2 Pro’s stock driver is a 15.4 mm dome titanium driver, but one can buy an aftermarket full sized titanium unit or the ST10S black gold driver (these are not included in the box and you might need soldering skills to install these; soldering kit and aftermarket drivers are sold separately in the SMABAT Store on Aliexpress).
The various driver types and their purported tuning signatures are described below (pics taken from the SMABAT store page), and also below is a video on how to solder the drivers.
DIYers will have a field day with this, but I’m not very good at soldering, hence I just stuck to the stock drivers for this review. Even with the stock drivers only, I already found quite a lot of variation in the sound signature with just the silicone covers vs full foams and the 2 provided sets of tuning modules, so I’m rather satisfied. But I would be happy to hear from the adventurous ones who have tried their hand at soldering and exploring the other driver types!
COMPARISONS
I don’t have the recently released SMABAT ST10S Black Gold or Black Silver earbuds, but I did some A/B testing with the original SMABAT ST10. I read that in the forums, after the first batch of ST10s were fixed for the MMCX issues, there were retuned versions of the ST10, so possibly there are 3 versions of the ST10 on the market. I’m not sure which version I have as I bought my ST10 second hand.
As the mercurial SMABAT M2 Pro has multiple sound profiles as above, I decided to put full foams plus use the more V shaped (and bassier) tuning module (ie tuning module 0) which is in the box (not preinstalled), so as to give the bassiest config to compare with the SMABAT ST10 (which is known to have great subbass extension for a bud). These are my findings:
- The ST10 has better bass extension and quantity even with the SMABAT M2 Pro on the most bassy config as above.
- The ST10 note weight is slightly thinner with a slightly cooler tonality and less authentic timbre than the SMABAT M2 Pro.
- SMABAT M2 Pro has slightly more recessed lower mids.
- Technicalities wise, the ST10 is ahead, with better soundstage, better imaging, instrument separation, clarity and details on the ST10. The SMABAT M2 Pro gets congested with complex tracks, whereas the ST10 handles these with more ease.
- Fit wise, the ST10 is larger and slightly less comfortable.
Hence, I think the original SMABAT ST10 is still better in technicalities and bass quantity/extension, but SMABAT M2 Pro may have better timbre/note weight and fit. Though the SMABAT M2 Pro has the edge in having multiple sound signatures.
CONCLUSIONS
The SMABAT M2 Pro is one of the pioneers in earbuds that incorporates an innovative modular concept for different tuning modules and driver units. It would make DIYers very happy and give a wealth of tuning options, in addition to using the silicone covers/full foams to modify the sound.
Sound quality is very good for a midfi earbud and it has a good fit and build and detachable cables to boot. While technicalities on the SMABAT M2 Pro are not classleading, the timbre on the SMABAT M2 Pro is great like other midfi buds and and coupled with the tunable sound signatures, it brings a lot of things to the table. For DIYers, the SMABAT M2 Pro will be a major dream come true, but even for the lay consumers without soldering skills, this is one set that earbud lovers should consider.
MY VERDICT
You find an INDEX of all our earphone reviews HERE.
DISCLAIMER
I would like to thank SMABAT for providing this review sample in exchange for an honest opinion. My views are my own. It can be gotten here at: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4001267044768.html
Our generic standard disclaimer.
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