Why You Can Trust CNET PSB M4U 1 headphones review: Beats for audiophiles
Costing $100 less than its highly regarded noise-canceling sibling, the PSB M4U 1, is a very clean, accurate headphone that offer first-class sound and won't break the bank at $299.
Sometimes in the electronics world two comes before before one.
PSB M4U 1 headphones
The Good
The Bad
The Bottom Line
In 2012, PSB, primarily known for its speakers, introduced its first ever headphone, the active noise-canceling PSB M4U 2 . It was hailed by many critics, including CNET, as one of the world's best NC models.
So, what does PSB do for an encore in 2013?
It brings out the M4U 1, the non-NC "passive" version of the same headphone, that's what. While the M4U 2 remains the better choice for those who want an active noise-canceling headphone to better seal out ambient noise, this less expensive model does sound slightly better and is targeted squarely at audiophiles who want a neutral sounding headphone with very clean sound.
Design and features
The popularity of the Beats-branded headphones has had a major impact on the design of full-size headphones, and these PSBs haven't escaped their influence. Yes, they have a more oval shape, but they do share the same shiny, polycarbonate plastic folding headband.
The headphones do seem fairly durable, but if you're tough on headphones their metal-and-plastic hinges might be a concern. That's true of most hinged headphones, and like those models, the M4U 1 folds up into a more compact bundle that fits into a protective travel case.
The generously padded headband is comfortable, has large, easy-to-see "L" and "R" markings on the inside surface, and doesn't make any creaking noises when I twisted it, which is a good sign. The Gyro-Suspended Ear Cup mounting system allows the ear cups to swivel vertically and laterally to better fit a wide variety of head shapes and sizes. The M4U 1 has 40mm drivers, weighs 12 ounces, and has a 32 ohm rated impedance.
You get two 5-foot-long cables, one "plain," and one with an inline one-button remote/microphone for making cell phone calls. The cables are a little too long for me -- I prefer 4-foot cables -- but one upside to the M4U 1's design is you can plug either cable into the left or right earcup. You can also plug in another set of headphones into the free jack and have two people listen to the same music or movie at the same time. More full-size headphones are offering this feature.
Accessories include the aforementioned nicely finished zippered travel case, a two-prong airline adapter, and a 3.5mm-to-6.3mm plug adapter. And props to PSB for throwing in a spare set of earpads -- that's an extra we'd like to see more headphone manufacturers include, especially at this $300 price point.
The M4U 1 comes with a longer-than-average two year parts-and-labor warranty. To initiate a warranty claim you'll need to provide an invoice or proof of purchase.
Performance
The PSB M4U 1 is a remarkably clear sounding headphone. The clarity isn't the result of boosted treble or midrange frequencies; no, the M4U 1 just sounds neutral (it isn't the sort of headphone that emphasizes bass). Switch over to the Sol Republic Master Tracks headphone and you'll definitely see it has a thicker, fuller sound balance, but the midrange and treble are muffled by comparison and the instruments sound farther away.
Sony's MDR-1R is a more accurate headphone than the Master Tracks, but it's still not as clear as the M4U 1. On the Drive-By Truckers' "Where's Eddie?" the M4U 1 brings Shonna Tucker's voice up close, and the band's accompaniment is set further back in the soundstage. The MDR-1R diffuses the sound, and flattens the recording's dimensionality.
I like the M4U 1's clarity, but with a brash recording like Prince's "Gett Off" the MDR-1R's softer sound takes the edge off. If you listen to a lot of low bit rate MP3s or streaming audio, the M4U 1's clearer presentation might not be desirable. That said, with better recordings you'll appreciate the music's sound more with the M4U 1.
The $350 Sennheiser Momentum is another highly regarded full-size headphone, and it was also a little thicker sounding than the M4U 1, but they're very close overall. I'd be happy with either one.
All these comparisons were done with an iPod Classic playing Apple Lossless tracks. At home, I tried the headphones with Schitt Audio Magni headphone amplifier to mix (it did improve the listening experience). Note: Using the headphone amp, the M4U 1 was still ahead of the MDR-1R in terms of clarity.
Back on the iPod, I compared the M4U 1 with the M4U 2 noise-canceling headphones, with the noise-canceling turned off. I was expecting the two headphones to sound exactly the same, but the M4U 1 came away the winner, sounding slightly more transparent and clear (the M4U 2 was slightly more distant sounding). That said, if you listen mostly in noisy environments, the M4U 1's small advantage would be masked by the ambient noise, so under those circumstance it would be better to use the active-noise canceling M4U 2.
Conclusion
The M4U 1 is first and foremost an audiophile headphone. It was designed to be as neutral sounding as possible, so bass lovers might not be satisfied with its low-end prowess. It's also fairly comfortable to wear for hours at a time, but certain competitors, such as the Sony MDR-1R, are slightly more comfortable.
If you're trying to decide between this and the active-noise canceling M4U 2, it really comes down to where you listen to your music and if it's important for you to have noise-cancelling headphones to better muffle ambient noise. However, most active noise-canceling headphones don't sound as good as their passive counterparts, and that's the case here, too. The M4U 1 sounds slightly better than the 2, and at around $300, audiophiles who prioritize sound quality over everything else, it's hard to beat for the price.