Sony MH1 & MH1C In-Ear Monitor review 🦻 Discontinued Endgame

Рет қаралды 1,469

Күн бұрын

Forget everything you've ever heard about in-ear monitors. Throw every target curve in the trash. If you want the most detailed and natural-sounding audio in a portable form factor, then do NOT buy a Moondrop Blessing 2, JVC HA-FDX1, or Etymotic Research ER4XR. $20 and a 2-to-3 week wait from China will get you the only IEM you'll ever need. And if they're all sold out? Well then, enjoy the fruits of Rin Choi's labor with AutoEQ:
mega.nz/file/YWZTBC6a#t8k3j-w...
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Sony MH1C (black): www.ebay.com/itm/304047921784...
Sony MH1C (white): www.ebay.com/itm/304047919516...
Sony MH1 MMCX mod: www.ebay.com/itm/255274328280...
[Behind the Scene] The Sony MH1 R&D Story: www.inearmatters.net/2012/10/b...
Rin Choi's measurements: rinchoi.blogspot.com/2013/02/...
Rin Choi's mods: rinchoi.blogspot.com/2013/02/...
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TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 - IEM market is the biggest scam in audio
1:12 - Portable endgame
1:32 - VS Sony MH750
2:19 - VS Etymotic Research ER4SR
3:19 - VS Moondrop Blessing 2
4:30 - VS Drop + JVC HA-FDX1
5:15 - VS Sennheiser HD 6XX
6:45 - Samsung Galaxy Buds eartips
7:53 - Boomy bass & vent-sealing mods
9:03 - Subjective listening impressions
9:38 - Awful, backwards fettuccine cable
11:15 - MMCX cable mod from Russian ebay seller
12:49 - Dig that neon green aesthetic
13:28 - TRN Audio cable
14:24 - Kinda crooked
14:54 - VS Sony WF-1000XM3
16:13 - Sead Smailagic's design process
17:12 - Why can't there be anything as good?
17:58 - Can't really recommend discontinued IEMs
18:39 - The AutoEQ .csv files
19:23 - Conclusion
#audioreviews

Пікірлер: 46

@IDrinkLava 2 жыл бұрын

*Addendum:* -At 7:38, I was wrong about how the PC volume slider percentages scale. 5% is 0.7dB, not 2.4dB. That means the difference in mid-treble and upper-treble between the Sony MH1/MH1C and the Sennheiser HD 6XX is nearly inaudible. In addition to that, 10% is 1.5dB, 20% is 3.3dB, 30% is 5.3dB, 35% is 6.4dB, 40% is 7.5dB, and 50% is 10.2dB. - At 19:04, the graph uses the Harman 2018 over-ear compensation file instead of the Harman 2019 in-ear vs compensation file. The correct settings for the Moondrop Blessing 2 are: Preamp: -4.3 dB Filter 1: ON PK Fc 33 Hz Gain 3.5 dB Q 0.41 Filter 2: ON PK Fc 108 Hz Gain 2.1 dB Q 0.62 Filter 3: ON PK Fc 2209 Hz Gain -7.7 dB Q 0.85 Filter 4: ON PK Fc 4956 Hz Gain 9.5 dB Q 0.42 Filter 5: ON PK Fc 6298 Hz Gain -10.8 dB Q 1.33 Filter 6: ON PK Fc 2687 Hz Gain -1.4 dB Q 4.60 Filter 7: ON PK Fc 3604 Hz Gain 1.7 dB Q 3.32 Filter 8: ON PK Fc 4667 Hz Gain -1.1 dB Q 3.58 Filter 9: ON PK Fc 12042 Hz Gain 1.1 dB Q 2.02 Filter 10: ON PK Fc 19746 Hz Gain -3.1 dB Q 0.70

@gabd.5299 2 жыл бұрын

Man that modded iem is looking pretty nice! Really good price too. I'm just sad that I can't use these silicon tips type headphones. My ear canal is just uncompatible with these, no matter how much I tried. Thank god for regular earbuds and headphones. Nice video as always. Full of interesting stuff! Keep up the good work.

@lukabosnjak3829 9 ай бұрын

Nice, finally someone who understands the disaster that modern audio market is... Also, you should try Oluv's tuned Earfun Free Pro 2, very similar to the MH1 but even more neutral and smoother sound

@LamNguyen-kg4ru 2 жыл бұрын

yeah, that's what I wanna say, I'm have a sony mh1c from 2011 and I'm still using it till now. I mod my mh1c to mmcx and using balanced cable for my self. It blown Blon BL03 away, I'm also own Sony XBA N3 which is really good in soundstage compare to mh1c, but it has a little bit peak in 7kz to 14k. How to apply the Rin Choi's AutoEQ, it's the csv file and the EQAPO can not read it?

@IDrinkLava 2 жыл бұрын

First of all, you need to install AutoEQ using the instructions on GitHub. Second, you'd need to extract the .CSV files into a custom folder inside the directory. Something like "custom/inear/Sony MH1" Then, you'd have to launch it from the command-line window with the following parameters: python autoeq.py --input_dir="measurements/oratory1990/data/inear/Sony XBA-N3" --output_dir="my_results/Sony XBA-N3/Sony MH1" --compensation="compensation/harman_in-ear_2019v2_wo_bass.csv" --sound_signature="custom/inear/Sony MH1/Sony MH1.csv" --equalize --parametric_eq --max_filters=5+5 --ten_band_eq --bass_boost=4 --convolution_eq --fs=44100,48000

@IDrinkLava 2 жыл бұрын

sending a 2nd reply because youtube flagged the python script as a link and they don't notify when a reply has a link in it

@hyper0505 2 жыл бұрын

@@IDrinkLava How to increase the bass, should we change the amount of max_filters + bass_boost if we want more bass or just the bass_boost ? Like if the bass is 6 so how many is the value of max_filters ??

@IDrinkLava 2 жыл бұрын

@@hyper0505 Max filters just increases the amount of EQ bands. It's diminishing returns after a certain point, anyway.

@blue4059 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for such a detailed review! What would you recommend instead for under $30 USD?

@IDrinkLava 2 жыл бұрын

Just buy anything with a detachable cable and EQ it.

@giljesusseraspe9225 6 ай бұрын

These are Legendary. Same with MH750/755 (a bit more fun sounding). ❤❤❤ I have many hi-end headphones too from 2k to 10k price range and this kills them mostly, no expensive amps, no sweat! This is also close to the Harman Kardon target or even better and both MH1/C & MH750/755 got very ROUND BASS!

@KirbyCurbwhy 2 жыл бұрын

Nice video! I agree that the IEM market is sucky, I tried the KZ CRN/ZEX Pro after countless recommendations for a neutral IEM so I could use it for mixing, but it's mediocre and sibilant, definitely returning them. The whole multiple driver deal with IEMs seems like just a gimmick manufacturers use as an excuse for poor sound quality. I'll probably grab these as a safe bet for neutral sound, as I also don't feel like I'll be comfortable with the whole Etymotic fit. Do you recommend the MH1s for working with audio? Also, I was turning up my volume just when 9:01 hit and it scared the crap out of me, thanks lol

@IDrinkLava 2 жыл бұрын

"I tried the KZ CRN/ZEX Pro after countless recommendations for a neutral IEM so I could use it for mixing, but it's mediocre and sibilant, definitely returning them." I've found that Crinacle's tastes lean towards the treble-boosted, both from what recommendations I've tried and from the graphs I've seen of others. "The whole multiple driver deal with IEMs seems like just a gimmick manufacturers use as an excuse for poor sound quality." It's a combination of over-engineering and hype marketing to target the audiophools who live and die by confirmation bias. BA drivers are prone to distortion--the ER4SR in particular sounds really nasty between 200Hz and 700Hz even at fairly low volumes. Using multiple BA drivers is a way around this limitation, but of course it also can cause problems with crossover frequencies. "Do you recommend the MH1s for working with audio?" The mids and treble are fairly transparent, but you'd either need the electrical tape & low-viscocity polymer mod or a -5dB low shelf at 100Hz. The bass as-is might lead you to cutting bass frequencies that don't need to be cut.

@KirbyCurbwhy 2 жыл бұрын

@@IDrinkLava Definitely will do the bass mod then if I get these, thanks!

@ericfernando4296 2 жыл бұрын

Etymotic is still the more surefire way for neutrality from er2se to 4sr, but it's nice that with bass mod you can get close to Etymotics with the Sony without breaking the bank.

@IDrinkLava 2 жыл бұрын

I strongly disagree. ER2SE & ER4SR are severely lacking in the bass, lower-mids, mid-treble, and upper-treble. The difference is night & day when compared side-by-side with studio monitors. The Etymotics sound "thin" & lacking in treble definition, such as the guitar in the intro to "Fast Car" by Tracy Chapman. The Sony MH1's bass & lower-mids might *look* boosted on a graph, but to the eardrum they sound nearly flat up until 300Hz.

@ericfernando4296 2 жыл бұрын

@@IDrinkLava you are referring to the "missing -6db" theory which is debunked on Rinchoi's blog titled "On The Case Of Missing 6 dB Effect" I still use mh1c as my secondary monitor to check if the bass is overdone or not alongside my Etymotic. Since their only difference is mostly only in the bass region i can pretty much trust my mixes. also your description seems to be from not inserting the etymotics deep enough, you need the triple flange to achieve maximum sound and bass from Etymotics

@karidiprashanth Жыл бұрын

i am currently using my 7th one. Nothing comes close to these in smoothest trebles with beautiful bass. yes m40x has flatter and fuller sound. but these are fun and enjoying. waiting for sony to upgrade this.

@IDrinkLava Жыл бұрын

If you watch my newer 7Hz Salnotes Zero review, they actually come closer than anything else released since then.

@ericfernando4296 2 жыл бұрын

Definitely the best kept secret. I wish it's going to stay obscure so i can keep several copies for myself :) There are currently movements to expose KZ because some of their multri driver iem often only have one driver to do all the work, while the other has no contribution for the sound. Once CRN is exposed, i think it will do quite the damage with audio influencer sphere. Also quite funny when i saw Crinacle's description of what he aims to do with zex pro sound tuning are quite similar to how mh1c sounds in stock form, but is a sibilant hell in my ears.

@IDrinkLava 2 жыл бұрын

Do you have any citations for that KZ driver thing? There are a lot of baseless rumors that get spread around the online audiophile circles.

@ericfernando4296 2 жыл бұрын

@@IDrinkLava look for Delta Fyre on FB

@IDrinkLava 2 жыл бұрын

Huh, you told me about this yesterday, then I check r/headphones for the first time in a long time and it's right on the front page. Seems I'm not the only one Crinacle has burned over the years.

@TheAshimaru 2 жыл бұрын

where crinacle says ZEX Pro sounds like MH1C?

@ericfernando4296 2 жыл бұрын

@@TheAshimaru he doesn't say it because i doubt he know what even mh1c is, but from his description of "adding 6db in the bass, clean df neutral inspired mids" is what mh1c actually sounds like CRN on the other hand has serious peak in 8k and also for my ear, in 6900hz

@ProblematicBitch 2 жыл бұрын

these are the best earphones i have ever used. I first got them more than 10 years ago and i have kept buying them ever since, it is insane how good they are for the price, the mh1c sound better to me compared to the mh1, but they are both great

@IDrinkLava 2 жыл бұрын

There is a lot of unit variation with the MH1 and MH1C OEM models sold around the internet. Some models may have as much as a 12dB boost in the bass region due to a lack of QC.

@alexyruma1 11 ай бұрын

I Still Use my Mh1...💗💗💗

@hyper0505 2 жыл бұрын

any thoughts about Moondrop Variations ?? the fr graph kinda simillar with Sony MH1C

@IDrinkLava 2 жыл бұрын

You're right that they're remarkably similar, though I *highly* doubt the Moodrop Variations is worth the $500 price premium. Variations has a -4dB scoop out in the 150Hz-350Hz range compared to the MH1, which would undershoot the HD600/650 (-1.6dB quieter at 200Hz relative) if you're looking for a portable version of those.

@hyper0505 2 жыл бұрын

@@IDrinkLava yeah, it doesn't have the boost after 200Hz that could cause muddiness i think??. Yeah the tuning is similar with MH1C especially at upper mid-treble region. The differences between them is at the upper mid peak. Also for the price i think it's just because of the multi-driver system. It's a tribrid iem.