Tipsy Audio is a company that's been doing the "pro-audio secret" thing for a while now, primarily focusing on producing gear for musicians and stage performers in Asia. However, the Tipsy M1 represents the company's move to bring professional-level audio to the mainstream audiophile crowd without breaking the bank. It retails for about $99, but it's no ordinary budget IEM. It boasts a world-first 10mm bamboo fiber diaphragm dynamic driver and sports a design that resembles more of a jewelry piece than tech gear. They call it cinematic, and the overall feel of the IEM itself gives the impression that it's more about the feel of the music than the charts and graphs.
Tipsy Audio M1 Review
Tipsy Audio M1 Review
I’ve had the Tipsy Audio M1s for three weeks, and the biggest thing I’ve noticed is how relaxed it makes me feel. They felt almost too polite, initially. And after using the IEMs nonstop for five hours while editing a video, my ears felt completely fatigue free. They’ve got this almost analog feel to them that makes it easy to get lost in the music rather than judging the recording.
On the other hand, if you are accustomed to something like a very detailed planar or a high end hybrid, the M1 may sound a little safe at first. I have to admit, there have been moments I have wished it would sparkle more on the high end, especially on some more complicated orchestral recordings. It is not the earphone you would choose if you like to be the audio detective, but it is the set you would choose if you simply like to have the songs you like sound big and warm.
DISCLAIMER
Tipsy Audio was kind enough to send me the Tipsy Audio M1 to review. I am not affiliated with Tipsy Audio, and of course, I was not asked for any copy-checking before publishing. All opinions shared in this ‘Tipsy Audio M1 review’ are my subjective thoughts.
One thing more: The review is based on my personal experience and what I hear using different sources. Your experience may vary because of personal preference and physical differences like the shape and depth of the ear canal.
For your personal purchase, checkout Tipsy Audio for their fantastic products and promotions (non-affiliated link).
GEAR USED
● DAP: Cowon Planue R2, Cayin N3 Ultra, Hiby RS2, Hiby R4, Snowsky Echo Mini, F.Audio M20.
● DAC/AMP: xDuoo MT-604, Fosi Audio GR40, Hiby FD5, KAEI Design TAP2, ifi Hip DAC 2, xDuoo XD-05 Plus (with MUSES 8820 OP-Amp), Cayin RU6, Cayin RU7, iBasso DC04 Pro, Dunu DTC 480, Fosi Audio DS-1, Celest CD-10, Celest CD-20, Hiby FC05, Hiby FD03, Moondrop Dawn Pro.
● Smart Device: Poco X3, Xiaomi MiPad 5.
● Files: Tidal, Spotify, local Hi-Res FLAC & DSD files.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION
● Driver: Custom 10mm bamboo-fiber driver
● Frequency response: 20Hz – 20kHz
● Impedance: 24Ω
● Sensitivity: 106 dB
● Cable: 4 core braided high purity alloy copper
● Pin Type: QDC 2pin, 0.78mm
● Cable Length: 1.2m
● Plug Type: 3.5mm
WHAT’S IN THE BOX
● Tipsy Audio M1 IEMs
● High purity alloy copper cable (3.5mm)
● 3.5mm to 6.45mm plug
● 3 pairs of silicon tips (S/M/L) & 1 pair of foam tips
● Metal carrying case
● User Manual
UNBOXING EXPERIENCE
Unboxing the M1 box is more like unboxing a gift than simply opening a product. As you open it, you’ll see that the IEMs sit snugly inside a cut-out foam insert, which showcases their arty resin designs with inspiration from famous paintings like Van Gogh’s Starry Night. At the bottom of this packaging is a hard shell case that is actually useful, with a padded-ish inside. As you open this case, you’ll see that the stock cable is neatly coiled and the ear tips are separately packed. The disposable cardboard coaster with branding is a cute and almost whimsical addition that matches the Tipsy brand.
BUILD & DESIGN
The M1 shells are created using clear, shiny resin through precise 3D printing technology, making them super light and looking seamless. Each one is hand-finished with colorful swirls referencing specific artworks. While they look good, the shiny material loves fingerprints. The nozzle is metal for some extra ruggedness, and there’s a small vent on the shell for pressure relief and reduced driver flex. The QDC-style 2-pin connectors are extruded from the nozzle and are a bit of a mixed bag. While they provide a secure connection with low profile and comfort, they severely limit compatibility with the vast world of 0.78mm 2-pin aftermarket cables.
FIT & COMFORT
As an audiophile who’s tried hundreds of different IEMs, I gotta say that the fit is pretty top-tier. Tipsy says they used a database of 20,000 different ear shapes to design this shell. They’re incredibly light, so you don’t feel much fatigue from the weight. But because they’re pretty small and “locked-in” like this, if you have large ears they might feel a little floaty unless you get larger tips. There is one other thing I noticed: the angle of the ear hooks on the stock cable is pretty aggressive. It kept pulling the IEMs out of my ears a little until I used a hair dryer to reshape the plastic heat shrink on the cable into a more natural curve.
SOUND IMPRESSIONS
The M1 has a warm, lush, and gentle V-shaped sound profile and it’s tuned to sound musical above all. The driver, being a bamboo fiber one, gives the music a very organic feel. It sounds cohesive, and nothing sounds like it’s stuck on or artificial. The problem is that it does not have that hi-res, airy feel. If you want your music to be super crisp and “etched” sounding, you might find the M1 sounds thick and slow.
Here is the frequency graph :
Let’s dive deep…
SUB-BASS
The sub-bass section is taken care of by the 10mm bamboo driver, and it’s sounding very good indeed. While it’s not going to be ear-shatteringly loud or anything like that, it’s got a very physical sound that’s quite deep and effortless. The music gets a great foundation without ever sounding muddled or anything like that. While it’s not the fastest sub-bass in the world by any means, in very quick electronic music tracks, the sound can be a bit too muddled at times. While it doesn’t quite have the sub-bass ‘punch’ that some of the more modern drivers made from things like Diamond Like Carbon can manage, it’s not bad at all.
MID-BASS
The mid-bass delivered by the M1 is strong and warm. The great thing is the whole sound feels rich and hearty. The drums are nice and realistic with a good thump, and the kick drum is deep and sound heavy, like they way I want it to be. This adds a lot of enjoyment to the music and makes rock music, my most faved genre, feel energetic and alive. There is some mid-bass bleed into the lower mids though. The warmth is nice, but sometimes the whole sound feels a little cluttered and veiled due to its already strong presence of low end.
VOCALS
It’s very evident that the focus is clearly on the vocals, and the M1 places them squarely in the center, giving them a very ‘human’ feel.
MALE
Male vocals have a rich sound and are authoritative. It has outstanding gravelly texture and depth. I think the M1 really brings out the “chest” sound of male vocals nicely, which feel so soothing in my ears. But occasionally, male vocals sound a bit too rich, almost like the singer has a slight cold, due to the mid-bass response. It loses a bit of the “dry” sound that some people like to hear in their IEMs.
FEMALE
The female vocal is as smooth as silk. The M1 does have a bit of an upper-midrange boost, which makes it sound super vibrant. But it never felt “shouty” to me. It is really smooth and airy, devoid of all those nasty “S” and “T” sounds that usually hurt my ears. If you’re into your female vocal sound with lots of “bite” or “energy” up in the high notes, then you might find the IEM a bit too relaxed. It just smooths out all the harsh edges.
INSTRUMENTS SEPARATION
The Tipsy Audio M1 does a good job of handling separation of instruments, if you just consider the price and the driver configuration. Despite being a single DD IEM, this earphone is capable of creating a sense of air and room around each individual sound in a track. And they don’t become a messy tangle of sound. You can easily distinguish a guitar from a keyboard or a violin from a vocal line. But if you wish to pin point individual elements like laser-etched separation, it’s not gonna happen here. In highly complex and layered orchestration type of composition, you will be disappointed, I’m sure.
TREBLE
The treble is kinda ‘safe’ here. What I mean is, it’s smooth, rolled-off and non-fatiguing in nature. And in my point of view this is really a definitive feature of this IEM. Any stroke in hi-hats, cymbals, or cow-bell have a nice shine without any unwanted harshness. It’s not like some clinical, critical detailed tuning that can needle-pick your ears. But there is some trade-offs for this. The treble misses some air, sparkle, and extension in the high frequencies. The treble sounds a bit dark and making the overall sound to be slightly closed-in and lacking in brilliance. You can also say it’s a disadvantage of this earphone.
SOUNDSTAGE
The Tipsy Audio M1’s approach to the soundstage is is well above it’s actual dimensions. For the price range it really offers a smooth, natural, expansive space, and has a good amount of height and depth. It will not give you the sensation that the instruments or voices are stuck to the sides of your head. Rather, it is very natural, even though it is not particularly accurate, but has a close to life like presentation. It is average, when it comes to depth. What I mean is, it will not give you that concert hall type of feelings that you may find in some expensive earphones. But it doesn’t feel cramped though. Just the treble is a big drawback here, that prevents it from feeling expansive.
TECHNICALITIES
Dynamics: The dynamic range is average. It manages the difference between loud and quiet passages adequately enough for most music, even if it fails to provide the thrilling, explosive macro-dynamics that breathe life into music. The presentation is inclined towards being constant and smooth.
Speed: The speed of the driver is good but not particularly fast. The transients are slightly rounded, and this helps create a smooth and organic feel. It works well with most musical genres but can feel a little sluggish with extremely fast and complex percussive or bass material.
Analytics (Detail Retrieval): Detail retrieval is good for the price but is offered in a laid-back manner. The M1 shows a decent amount of micro details and texture, but it does not shove it in your face. You must look for it rather than it looking for you. Detail retrieval is sufficient to satisfy but does not challenge others in this category in the same price range.
SOURCES
It’s really a very easy to drive kinda IEM. You can easily enjoy your music from the 3.5mm port of your smartphone or laptop. But it can scale up with moderately good power. I will suggest a decent DAC dongle to use with it. But be sure to pair it with a balanced type of DAC, not anything warm. A warm source can muffle up the sound and make it dull.
CABLE & TIP ROLLING
After a lot of shuffling, I find the Velvet wide bore is a perfect tip for the Tipsy Audio M1. To my ears, it fits well. Additionally, it can widen the soundstage without sacrificing warmth in the lower frequencies. And I used the stock cable, as I don’t have any cable with QDC connectors. Though the stock one is good enough. But if you wish to use a 4.4 mm balanced cable with it, you may buy one.
FINAL THOUGHTS
The Tipsy Audio M1 is a soulful IEM that can make you fall in love with your playlist if you love warm-heartful musical experience. But for details seeker, it’s a ‘no-no’ thing. The IEM is made like a piece of art and fits so well that will give you a ‘custom made for your ears’ type of feeling. If you wanna vibe out to the bass and wanna enjoy your favorite vocal-centric music, this is a great option. It’s all about big feelings like a well composed cinematic scene. Don’t expect any critical listening from this earphone, that’s it!
WHATEVER YOU’RE THINKIN’ OF BUYING—DAC, DAP, IEM, HEADPHONE, AMP, WHATEVER—JUST MAKE SURE YOU GIVE IT A DEMO RUN FIRST. TRY IT OUT, LISTEN TO IT WITH YOUR OWN TRACKS. SERIOUSLY, ONE QUICK AUDITION CAN SAVE YOU A BUNCH OF MONEY AND REGRET LATER ON.
AUDIO TESTING PREFERENCES
I desperately love the music from the 60s to 90s era. Music was alive then. The genre I love most is ROCK ‘N ROLL. Though Jazz, Blues, Metal, Disco, Pop is also my favorite genres. I have a collection of albums with high dynamic recording. Most of the time I teste audio gears with those albums to understand sonic capability of the specific gear. If you have tidal subscription, you may click here to get the playlist.
You are welcome to read other reviews by SONIC MANTRA.
