Bottom Line
The Mee Audio M6 Pro 2nd Generation is a unique pair of IEMs that follows the design philosophy of professional IEMs, placing a strong emphasis on comfort and modularity. In terms of audio quality, it’s good but nothing mind-blowing.
However, the quality of life features like the ability to use several cables, turn it into a wireless device, and get a replacement on any part that malfunctions instead of being forced to buy a whole new pair of IEMs make it a game-changer for consumer IEMs and we hope to see more devices like it.
The release of the 1st-gen Mee Audio M6 Pro marked a pivotal moment in the IEM game. It may have passed unnoticed by the larger consumer landscape, but this was when IEMs that adhered to a design philosophy favored by professionals became available for just $50.
The 1st generation of the M6 Pro had some issues, but it was well enough received and commercially successful to warrant a sequel without the need to rebrand anything, which is always a good sign. Most importantly, the Mee Audio M6 Pro 2 did not receive a price markup.
The 1st iteration of these IEMs was already good in its own right, and the 2nd generation got some neat improvements while still retaining the original price. As far as consumer-friendly practices go, it doesn’t get much better than this.
However, there is no way that these IEMs can satisfy every type of user. So let’s take a look at who the M6 Pro 2 is great for and why.
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Specifications
| Name | Mee Audio M6 Pro 2nd Generation |
| Type | In-Ear Monitor |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz – 20kHz |
| Driver | 10mm Dynamic Driver |
| Impedance | 16 Ohms |
| Sensitivity | 100dB(1mW) |
| Water Resistance Rating | IPX5 |
Design
Transparent earpieces are a recurring theme in professional IEMs. They serve a purpose similar to transparent gaming cases – to showcase the technology packed inside. However, it doesn’t take much know-how to notice that the Mee Audio M6 Pro 2 lacks anything impressive to showcase.
Unlike genuine professional IEMs that usually feature balanced armature drivers (sometimes several of them per earpiece), the M6 Pro 2 only features a single dynamic driver. Nevertheless, it nails the aesthetic if you’re into that.
More importantly, Mee Audio offers custom engraved faceplates that can hide the circuitry and give the earpieces more personality.
The folks at Mee Audio weren’t only looking to recreate the look of a professional pair of IEMs. At only $50, the M6 Pro 2 can’t be expected to have phenomenal sound quality, but it nails the other aspects that are paramount in professional gear – comfort and modularity.
Comfort
First up, the comfort – in order to properly use any pair of IEMs, you have to form a proper seal inside your ear canal.
This will not only keep the buds from falling out but will also provide passive noise isolation and better bass. The proper seal is achieved through the use of proper ear tips. If the ear tips are too small, there will be sound leakage; if they’re too large, there will be great discomfort.
Most manufacturers try to combat this issue by packaging their IEMs with several pairs of ear tips that come in different sizes (usually three: small, medium, and large). However, the M6 Pro 2 comes with no fewer than six pairs of ear tips, including options with different sizes and different types. The package contains three pairs of single flange tips, one pair of double flange tips, and two pairs of triple flange tips.
Plus, the IEMs use standard tips, so you can use your favorite aftermarket solutions as well.
The cord also adds to the feeling of comfort and stability. It is designed to be worn around the ear, no matter which cord you use (more on that later).
To this end, the parts of the cord that go around the ear are covered in a layer of malleable plastic that you can mold however you see fit. The cord is durable, but it doesn’t feel harsh against the skin.
Modularity
Anti-consumer practices like the ones heralded by Apple, where phones are sold without chargers and entire products need to be replaced over small malfunctions, simply do not fly in the world of professional audio gear.
Professionals like being able to fix or replace their gadgets. If you try to force gadgets that aren’t fixable or replaceable down their throats, they’ll turn to another manufacturer.
This is one of the reasons why professional IEMs are highly modular, and the same goes for the M6 Pro 2. The cable is detachable. It plugs into the earpieces securely, but if it goes bad, you don’t have to buy the whole product again.
You actually get two cables out of the box – one with an in-line microphone with a single-button control unit and one without it. There’s even an option to purchase a replacement Bluetooth neckband that can transform the M6 Pro 2 into a wireless device. The neckband is sold separately and costs a bit more than the earbuds, so we won’t consider it for this review.
Nevertheless, this just goes to show you how modular the M6 Pro 2 is. And as if that wasn’t enough, these IEMs also come with a 6.35mm adapter that allows for even more versatility in how you use them.
The M6 Pro 2 comes with a 1-year warranty, but you also get a lifetime half-cost replacement on lost or damaged gear. And this could be any part of the package – the chord, the earpieces, or even a single earpiece.
Features
Aside from the versatility they offer thanks to the modular design and the plethora of extra interchangeable parts that the M6 Pro 2s come with, another feature warrants highlighting. And that is the IPX5 rating.
This means that the IEMs can withstand jets of water projected by a nozzle. It’s highly unlikely that you would point a jet of water projected by a nozzle at these IEMs, but wearing them outside when it starts raining or during intense workout sessions where they’ll be exposed to sweat is not at all unlikely.
Needless to say, the M6 Pro 2 can handle both of these situations like a champ.
Mee Audio is also in the business of making custom ear tips for their IEMs that go for around $150. That’s three times as much as the IEMs themselves, but it’s rather affordable as far as custom ear tips go.
If you opt to go this route, know that there will be no coming back. You’ll want to use the M6 Pro 2 over technically superior IEMs just due to the comfort. Again, we won’t be taking the custom ear tips into consideration when scoring the comfort, but we wanted you to know that the option is there.
Sound
It’s a shame there aren’t many other affordable IEMs out there that adhere to this professional design philosophy, as that means you’ll have to miss out on all the great perks and features offered here if you aren’t a fan of how the M6 Pro 2 sounds.
And it doesn’t offer a sound profile that’s for everyone.
This isn’t to say that it’s perfectly flat, as many professional IEMs would be. It’s still a budget pair of IEMs geared towards listeners as opposed to musicians and audio technicians, and listening to music wouldn’t exactly be enjoyable through a pair of genuine monitoring earbuds.
Overall, the sound is rather accurate, but there is some warmth to it.
Still, there’s only so much range that a single driver can cover, so we expected a certain frequency range would be favored over the others. In this case, it’s the mids that get this extra treatment. This makes the M6 Pro 2 perfect for vocal tracks, acoustic instruments, and live performances.
The bass sounds good as well, but it’s clear it wasn’t given as much attention. If you’re not into bass-heavy music, then it won’t detract from the experience. It’s not punchy, but it doesn’t lack power, either, striking a nice balance. However, if bass-heavy music is your jam, you’ll likely find the M6 Pro 2 lacking.
As for the treble, it’s a bit sharp. There is some roll-off, which was a wise decision given that a single driver has to do all the work, but the treble can still be exhausting after some time. What’s more, it can get rather sibilant.
Conclusion
IEMs created by professional musicians for professional musicians – that’s the story the folks at Mee Audio are trying to sell.
So, can you expect to see big-name musicians using these to perform in front of filled-out stadiums?
No, we’d wager against that.
But what the M6 Pro 2 does offer is a departure from the standard consumer earbuds with all their inconveniences.
It features a design that imitates professional IEMs by placing a high emphasis on convenience, modularity, and replaceability, all at an affordable price range. It even looks like a pair of professional IEMs with transparent earpieces, although if that’s not your jam, you can always use the faceplates.
However, the sound isn’t a perfect mimicry of professional IEMs, and thank goodness for that. The warm sound profile with great mids and strong bass fares well in most genres of music.
Unless you’re specifically looking for bass-heavy IEMs, you’re probably going to fall in love with the M6 Pro 2.
Netflix 4K doesn’t even come close to genuine Blue-ray 4K in terms of colors and contrasts, but most people will opt for it just due to sheer convenience.
Similarly, the Mee Audio M6 Pro 2 may not offer the best sound, but once you get used to the convenience it provides, it’ll be hard to go back to regular consumer IEMs. Throw in a pair of custom eat tips from Mee Audio, and the M6 Pro 2 will completely ruin other IEMs for you.
Overall, it’s a good product. We just hope more professional-lite IEMs will come out in the future to account for different tastes in music.
