Hello all! Today I will tell you about the In-Canal headphones from well known Audio-Technica company – model based on one armature driver called IM01. Audio-Technica is a Japanese company that was founded one year after Gagarin’s flight, in the distant 1962. The company is known for its professional studio equipment and for home stereo and headphones components for music lovers in general. Thank you Mycroft store, I was lucky enough to be introduced to an interesting new product for my ears.
Audio-Technica IM01 In-Canal Headphones
Technical characteristics
Type of headphones plug-in
Type of headphones armature
The connection type is wired
Min reproducible frequency, Hz 20
Max playable frequency, Hz 15000
Impedance ohms 47
Sensitivity , dB 106
Maximum power, mW 3
The design
Type of mounting without attachment
Connection by cable
Cable type symmetrical
Double sided cable connection
Detachable cable Yes
Jacks
Connectors mini jack 3.5 mm
The shape of the connector L-shaped
Gold-plated plugs Exactly
Accessories
The case included There are
Replaceable ear cushions Yes
Number of interchangeable ear cushions 4
Dimensions
Cable length, m 1.2
Appearance and kit
The headphones come in a cardboard box with nice colored printing. Inside are the headphones, a storage and carrying case IM01, a set of three size S/M/L silicone earpieces, one pair of foam earpieces and a removable cable with a 3.5 L-shaped jack.
The cable is pretty strong, black, with earhooks, has solid, in my opinion, connectors to connect to the headphones. The headphones themselves are transparent in light brown. The shape of the headphones is strictly a behind-the-ear fit. For me it is very comfortable, especially in winter, when a hat is an essential part of your closet.
The IM01 fit me very well. I chose silicone pads of medium shape and did not experience any discomfort during the track. In general, pretty, comfortable and I think quite reliable ear plugs.
Sound
Headphones were connected to the stationary MyST DAC 1866OCU V.2 and to portable Hidizs ap100MM and QLS qa-360. Music genres range from light jazz, electronica to metal.
The headphones played pretty well with different sources. Of course I liked them the most with the stationary. But to listen to a portable model at home, sitting in front of a massive machine… that’s a lot to take in? If only in the middle of the night, when you need a good sound disguise, so you won’t bump into your spouse…
Now for the genres. I have to say right away, the metal is not their strong suit. Due to some simplification and dip in the lower frequencies, the bass parts sound as if in the background and smoothed. Bass drum instead of “D” gives out an obscene “b” or even “p”.
But the instrumental compositions are fine. After turning on Depeche Mode’s “Ultra” I completely forgot about any shortcomings and fully immersed myself in the etheric waves.
The middle part is very musical. It is delivered cleanly, smoothly, without peaks and distortions. Well, very voluminous and comfortable, just class!
The high frequencies although smooth, not accented, but they are not scattered and do not hurt your ears. There are not many of them, but you don’t feel the lack of them when listening to music.
In general IM01 are very musical headphones. The material is soft, solid, neat and even fat.
Thanks to them, they dispose to long and comfortable listening to musical material. And by the way, once again, all this fatness is usually achieved in the lower register. And here it’s not, the midrange itself gives that effect.
Tweeter – Softened, smooth, but without any apparent loss of information. Comfortable.
Mids – Rounded, detailed, warm. Vocal parts sound very nice. The middle part, that’s IM01’s forte.
Bass – They are there, but sound very neat, a little blurry. It lacks clarity, aggression, and sharpness.
Conclusion
These headphones are very musical and comfortable for long hours listening to your favorite music. But not without flaws, of course. For aggressive music genres for example this model is not very suitable.
Today with the interesting position of ruble against dollar the price for IM01 in America is 10500 Dollars. I think this is quite humane.
Who I would recommend buying the Audio-Technica IM01? For those who are not in constant search of sound, but just want to enjoy their favorite music. I like them!
Sound, comfort, price.
They are not universal in terms of genre. Not well suited for heavy and aggressive music.
Is the Audio-Technica IM01 worth the investment and does it provide excellent sound quality, or should I keep searching for better options?
How does the Audio-Technica IM01 in-ear headphones manage to provide such a pleasurable sound experience without relying on extravagant claims or an endless pursuit for perfection?
Do these Audio-Technica IM01 in-ear headphones deliver exceptional sound quality?
These in-ear headphones from Audio-Technica seem to offer an enjoyable sound experience. But, could you provide more details on their features, sound quality, and overall performance? Are they comfortable to wear for extended periods? Additionally, how do they compare to other similar products in the market?
Are Audio-Technica IM01 in-ear headphones truly worth the hype? I’ve been on a relentless quest for the perfect sound, but perhaps it’s time to just embrace the joy of music. Can these headphones deliver that immersive audio experience without the need for constant chasing?