MEElectronics has a wide range of headphones on offer, and I will test a variety of these during the spring of 2011. I received four models, and by order I picked these out of the parcel I will try them. First out one of the higher end products with a couple of neat features: The SP51P. The final P in the name indicates that it comes equipped with a microphone.
The SP51P looks like your average set of in-ear headphones from a far. Up close you can see that something is different though. The back piece is interchangeable, and sticks out slightly. This is the tuning port, and the reason for the Sound Preference Series moniker. You have a choice of three different sets of ports with different amount of bass. The silver is flat or neutral, the metallic is enhanced bass and the black is extreme bass. At first I thought this was a gimmick, but after some testing I can hear and feel clear differences in amount of bass. I first noticed this listening to bass heavy electronic music by Beardyman. It got really unpleasant using the extreme bass tuning ports. I changed down to the flat bass, and that actually got too thin for the music. Changing to the enhanced bass I found a great middle ground for already bass heavy music.
The effect of changing tuning ports gives a natural change in amount of bass by adjusting the size of the bass port. Compared to changing the sound using an equaliser this keeps the sound image as intended with only the bass representation changed. Depending on the source you listen to you will have a different experience. To me it is quite fun to change these tuning ports, as I have a varied taste in music. The silver flat ports are not used as extensively, as most of my music benefit from extra bass. For podcasts or audio books it might be preferred by some, but a well produced source should work fine with enhanced bass as well. The only time I think the flat bass might actually be a better choice is when you create music on your iOS device. During those sessions you want the sound to stay as close to the source material as possible. Overall I enjoy playing around with tuning ports, but when you are out and about this is not that practical. For everyday usage I tend to stick to the enhanced bass, and skip the interchangeable idea completely.
The SP151P are really sturdy made with a metal housing, and metal tuning ports. They look quite generic with only MEE printed on the top as branding. I think that the tuning ports should have had some interesting colors to make the headphones stand out. To many black generic headphones are preferred, but I am one of those who want to have the headphones as an accessory.
The cable that MEE uses for their headphones is a stress free durable design. It is covered in plastic that makes it semi-rigid.. It is not prone to tangle. It is also almost completely free from noise from rubbing against clothes. Sadly with all these excellent features it still looks, and feels kind of cheap to me. A shirt clip is placed on the cable, but far too low. It is almost in the vicinity of my navel, and should be in shirt collar height.
The microphone is good with clear sound, and durable design. It is kind of large, and the circular design means that it is hard to locate the front and back. The placement is on the low side, but still manages to pick up sound properly without me having to hold it. A single button controls pause/play, and call/hang up. In 2011 I expect new microphones to have the volume controls as standard. This is sadly not the case with these headphones, and it feels like an oversight.
Noise isolation for the SP151P is excellent by blocking sound. There are four sets of silicone tips included in the package, and the key to both sound and noise isolation is finding the correct set for your ears. I am not a fan of thin silicone tips, but these work quite well and with the correct size get quite comfortable.
The SP151P is a great set of in-ear headphones offering an interesting way to affect the bass. Most of the time you will probably use the same set of tuning ports, but having the choice is kind of neat. The only thing really holding this product back is the lack of personality to the design and colors, and the lack of volume controls for the microphone. It is a quality product build to last, and I give it a warm recommendation.
Final Rating
