This and That:
Inexpensive single-BA in-ear with Knowles ED 29689, according to the manufacturer.Comes with a very simple plastic cylinder that contains the in-ear, a shirt clip and several silicone tips.
Small size. Shell design is an obvious Klipsch Image X10 replica.
Pretty supple cable (unfortunately no chin-slider).
Sound:
Low impedance sources; largest included single-flange tips.
Tonality:
Compared to pretty flat/neutral sounding in-ears such the Etymotic ER-4S/ER4SR, ER3SE, Ultimate Ears Reference Monitors or Fostex TE-02, the MR1 heads into a slightly bassier and warmer direction in the lows in comparison while having pronounced, somewhat strenuous and exhausting mids and a somewhat more relaxed middle and especially upper treble.
The lows’ emphasis starts climbing around 600 Hz and reaches its climax at about 180 Hz, nonetheless the root is also already on the somewhat fuller and warmer side, comparable to that of my InEar StageDiver SD-2. In the sub-bass below 35 Hz, it starts rolling off. Compared to a really flat in-ear like my Etymotic ER-4S, the lows are emphasised by ca. 5 dB, however the bass and root actually appear somewhat more present at times because the lows aren’t the quickest (more on that further below). So this is no bass-light or thin sounding in-ear although it has got less quantity and impact than most dynamic driver models in this price range.
Because of the early starting root, really low voices are a little more on the fuller side, however without sounding really coloured yet. Voices also have a slight upwards lift towards 3 kHz which does not make them appear any brighter than they should be but brings them closer in the mix and also makes them appear somewhat too forward, strenuous and exhausting at times.
Above that, the treble takes a good step back and is clearly more on the relaxed, dark side. Though, as the area before is somewhat emphasised, this relaxation-tilt above 3 kHz makes the vocals appear even more intimate and exhausting.
While my beloved Etymotic ER-4S also has a slightly more intimate appearing midrange because of its mild lift in the presence area, it sounds more accurate and just slightly exhausting since its treble energy past 3 kHz is pretty much spot-on flat and not recessed, while the MR1 is clearly on the dark side above 3 kHz wherefore it sounds quite off, not well balanced at all, and is quite exhausting to listen to.
Above 8.5 kHz, level is steeply rolling off, so one shouldn't expect the slightest subtle glare above 10 kHz. Cymbal crashes are therefore somewhat muffled, too.
All in all, its tuning just isn't good (the LEAR LUF-BA1 makes the same mistakes). For the same price, the warmer Brainwavz B100/B150, or the more neutral and only slightly dark SoundMAGIC PL50, or the more neutral EARNiNE EN120 (that has a resonance in the middle highs though) are single-BA in-ears that are tuned so much better than the MR1.
Resolution:
The MR1 shows that it is using a BA driver in its quite detailed midrange and treble. Speech intelligibility, details and transients are good and the in-ear sounds quick. It's still not among the most resolving single-BA in-ears though, however its resolution is adequate for the price, especially in the midrange.
For Balanced Armature Standards, the bass is however quite soft and also softens towards the sub-bass, which makes it appear somewhat more present than it actually is at times. While it still has that BA-like control, it is indeed quite soft and somewhat slowly decaying for a BA driver. The dynamic driver Fostex TE-02 is definitely superior in terms of bass quality.
Soundstage:
The stage is pretty wide and leaves the base of my head, extending further than my ears. Instrument separation is good as well and the soundstage is well-controlled, even with quicker and denser recordings.
While the soundstage presentation appears relatively realistic and authentic, it nonetheless lacks a little bit of spatial depth compared to the width. There is some depth but not enough to make the stage appear perfectly three-dimensional.
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Compared to other Single-BA In-Ears:
Earmax ER-580:
The Earmax has the more neutral bass but rolls off earlier (so the MR1 has got the superior bass extension). The ER-580 has got the darker, however not warmer midrange. The Earmax sounds a little darker in the lower treble below 4 kHz but has got the superior extension and is brighter in the upper as well as upper middle treble – the ER-580 has got cymbal crashes whereas those sound muffled with the Pai Audio.
The ER-580 has got the faster and tighter bass while both are about identically resolving in the mids and treble.
The ER-580’s soundstage is somewhat narrower but has got more spatial depth and sounds more three-dimensional. The MR1’s instrument separation is a little more precise.
Except for the bass extension, the ER-580 is audibly superior. And also cheaper.
SoundMAGIC PL 50:
The PL 50 is the more neutral in-ear out of the two with less bass quantity and just a moderately dark tilt towards darkness in the middle and upper treble. In comparison, the MR1 is the bassier in-ear with the more exhausting, more intimate, “in your face” midrange that is however less slightly dark than the PL 50’s. The Pai has got the darker, less extended middle and upper treble.
The PL 50 has got the quicker and tighter bass and is overall a little more resolving.
In terms of soundstage, the MR1’s is wider while the PL 50’s is narrower but has got somewhat more spatial depth (although it is also wider than deep).
I'd take my PL 50 over the MR1 any day.
Conclusion:
The tuning isn't great at all and the bass is soft and slow for Balanced Armature standards.