For more than a year has passed since then, as MEEAudio released its model P1, which received the code name of the proud Pinnacle. P1 brought the high achievements of the company, offering excellent appearance, quality and unusual, very interesting sound. Collecting the cream with the audiophile market, MEE decided to release a low-end model designed for “the masses”, and it became the Pinnacle P2.
Let me remind you briefly what was different from P1. In addition to stylish design (body made of zinc alloy, the two wires in the kit, elegant box), P1 suggested and unusual sound. In the headphone features a special resonator that provides atypical for IEM the length of the HF. This became the main feature of the model that defines her sound. P1 sound innocent enough, volume and with good detail, but the most extended treble, not everyone liked it, especially the dissatisfied lovers of poorly recorded material and the owners of the players is not the best way of controlling HF.
In MEEAudio these reviews took into account and made P2 more traditional sound. Also worked to reduce prices in order to fit into the mass niche market “plugs”. The case has been replaced with plastic, simplified and supplied with the package. This allowed us to put on P2 the price of exactly 50% below the “big brother”, that is $ 100.
Specifications
- Emitter: dynamic, 10 mm
- Frequency range: 17 Hz – 20 kHz
- Impedance: 16Ω @ 1 kHz
- Sensitivity: 100±3dB/mW @ 1 kHz
- Microphone: omnidirectional, sensitivity -40±3dB, frequency range 100 Hz – 5 kHz
- Cable: removable, with MMCX connector, 1.3 m
- Plug: 3.5 mm TRRS, corner
- Weight: 4 g without cable, 21 g with cable
Packing and delivery
Elegant box with a double lid left a lot of the older model, the P2 packaging more traditional, but still — cardboard quality, printing on level. The box contains the earphones themselves, and a cable to the headset clip for attaching the wire to clothing, 6 pairs of tips (1 trehglazaya, 2 dvuhventsovye and 3 single), pair of Comply foams, soft cover with zip closure and adapter for 6.3 mm connectors.
In General, the package is easier, but still quite extensive.
Design and comfortable wearing
Form P2 the same as P1, but instead their zinc alloy housings are made of glossy plastic, surprisingly not much zalamyvayutsya. On the one hand, plastic is certainly not metal, but the weight of the headset fell and it benefited from the wearing comfort. The build quality is still very good, customized everything carefully, and because of the unusual shape earbuds look interesting.
In principle, P2 can be worn cable down, but the main option of planting still behind the ear. Due to the sophisticated shape and lack of sharp angles headphones well sit down and do not cause discomfort. Soundproofing is a little above average, especially with mnogopaltsevy nozzles.
Perhaps the main stumbling block of this model is cable. In pursuit of longevity the developers have made it pretty thick, hence the problems with the inflexibility and the existence of a rustling by the friction of the clothes. Of course, cables with MMCX connectors on the market a lot, including budget models, but the complete wire P1 against this background, I remember with nostalgia (although for the price it’s almost half the cost of P2). In General the situation with the microphone effect can be quite successfully to reverse the slider of the divider and behind the ear wearing.
Sound
To listen following equipment was used.
- Yulong DA9 and Resonessence Labs Concero HP in the role of DAC and amplifier
- Apple MacBook Pro Retina 2016 as the source
- Fidelia in the role of player
- Lotoo PAW Gold, theBit OPUS#2 and iBasso DX200 and the role of other portable players
- Recording high-resolution Lossless-formats (Dr. Chesky have The Ultimate Headphone Demonstration Disc and others)
Before listening headphones were heated for 48 hours, a noticeable change in the sound was observed.
For your “more mass” model the developers have chosen the same “massive” sound, and the mass not in the bad sense of the word. Interesting, partly analytical flow P1 is more suitable for audiophiles and lovers of neutrality, and P2 decided to “bend” the frequency response, giving it emphasis, and expected they occurred in the LF and HF.
The bass is a bit accentuated P2 in the midbass region. On the one hand, almost any overview of modern headphones, you can start with these lines, and with another — where without it? Models without a little lift in this region sound fresh, and most of the people does not accept them. Thus, the main objective of most developers is to make this the accent is moderate in quantity and adequate “on location”. With both tasks in MEEAudio managed. The rise here exactly as needed to give weight, but less than what would give NCH pressing. The speed of the bass not the greatest, but for this price category good, so the headphones well convey the nature of the instruments and pleasing texture. Bass is not the most scathing, particularly in the areas lying below the “mid” (however “deep” areas then take vengeance), but weight them with enough margin. A small warmth characteristic of the LF of this model extends to the lower half of the midrange, giving the sound effect of wholeness and unity.
Mid perceived here is quite interesting, because of the small omission of the lower half of this range, the upper midrange seem a little more forward and have a small touch of aggressiveness, which, however, is not achieved stiff peaks of the frequency response, and the contrast with the regions lying below. With this filing, earphone very good in the use of not very good records, while remaining quite emotional and detailed. In General, if you complain, we can note a little lack of textured appeal in the lower midrange, but it is a feature P2 flow than a real problem. An imaginary scene somewhere in the middle in size and a little smaller than average in the depth that is characteristic for models with continuous flow, however, the instruments are well separated horizontally. The division plans in depth is not tough, they merge into each other more smoothly, which “lies” in General, the manner of filing of this model.
RF P2 have served in a fairly straightforward manner, with a slight touch of aggression, but the nature of the flow is very different from those of P1. If “big brother” the main features of the RF was to their length, but P2 is just an accentuation of the lower part of the HF range. I would probably not call this a strong accent, special field it is, to my ears, does not (as food Supplement “clarity” from him there), but RF sensitive people should listen to the P2 before you buy. Permission from HF is decent for this price category, but the attack and decay are too quite on the level of competition.
Of course, not be a review without a few comparisons.
Pinnacle P1. The older model offers a more “audiophile” supply with extended treble and less emphasis on bass and lower treble. They sound somewhat “dull”, but at the same time, their sound can be called “more adult”. In General, the separation of the models performed very well, their target audience almost do not overlap.
Fiio F9. Fiio hybrids offer a greater lower midrange, a little less “tasty” bass and are more obvious peak of the RF, which lies, however, slightly higher frequency response. They sound a little more detailed in the midrange (after all, hybrids), but their “upper part” more lightweight and less suitable for RF fobov.
Ostry KC09. Headphones from hitmakers from Ostry suggest that compared to the P2 presentation technique: softer treble, detailed midrange and more solid bass with more pronounced deep layers.
Magaosi K3 HD. Interesting hybrids from not much known companies can be distinguished from P2 less harsh treble range and a little more emphasis on bass, midrange is slightly more detailed, but more lightweight, the effect is “warmth” is expressed less.
Compatibility
The developers significantly reduced the impedance of this model, which makes them an optimal load for different smartphoneprint, however, reserve the quality of the model enough for a player starting/initial-average level, the main thing — to choose not too noisy model, because here the impedance is only 16Ω.
The strongly pronounced genre preferences in this model no, but by their nature, they gravitate to music that benefit from a slight bass emphasis. To list everything I will not the range is quite wide, from soul music to electronic styles. Sensitivity to the quality of the recording is reasonable, the main thing to avoid really poorly recorded treble. On a 10-point scale of “moodiness” I would rate them somewhere at 7.
Traditional tracks are examples
Pink Floyd — More Blues. When the “Kicks” are taken for the creation of the track — be sure that you get something beautiful and melodies, and from the point of view of quality. In “More Blues” is a very interesting easy the bass, written as background in the right channel, of course, P2 plays it at the proper level, the rest of the track.
Robert Plant — Slow Dancer. Here is what will not refuse Robert, is in the flair era. His solo projects are always consistent with the current Vogue in the world of music (of course, adjusted for own style of Planta). So was and with this track, recording it (early 80’s) is easily determined literally 10 seconds, selected from any location, however, the fact that this plant can understand the for 3 seconds. The song is quite intense, with a very nice “background”, and P2 are well-suited to underscore her strengths.
Postmodern Jukebox — What is Love. The project PMJ has repeatedly proved that all the most hackneyed pop track you can turn into a masterpiece, just a rehash in jazz style, of course, if you involve some great musicians and vocalists. “Song of Vladislav” was no exception, was a very lively and cheerful, and the recognition of melody combined with the flow from P2 is forced to tap along to the beat.
Insights
MEEAudio many years producing a wide range of mass models of headphones, it is not surprising that they know the market and do not hesitate to use their knowledge. If Pinnacle P1 was the model for audiophiles and connoisseurs of refined and neutral flow, P2 are their opposite, offering “popular” sound at a good price.
Review headphones MEEAudio Pinnacle P2 — neautiful
Pavel Dmitriev