KEF made their name in the audio market over the years on
the back of excellent speaker systems. This month, we check out the M200
earphones, one of KEF’s first attempts at making inroads into consumer audio.
The aesthetics of the M200 in-ears are extremely classy and sophisticated. The
housing is constructed from aluminum, and the earphones feel well-constructed
when handled.
KEF M200 headphones
To aid the fit of the M200, you get what KEF calls a Secure
Arm. This flexible rubber wing loops around the ear of the user and keeps the
ear-tips in place. In practice this feature takes a little getting used to, but
works like a charm once you figure it out. Overall, we find the fit of the M200
to be comfortable, with a good seal. However, the M200 is larger than most, so
users with smaller ears may have some issues with comfort and fit.
The M200 has an in-line, remote control pod as well as a
built-in microphone. The control pod is compatible with the iPhone and other
Apple products. Located on the cable leading to the right earbud, the control
pod is easy to access if you are right handed. In our opinion, the buttons are
too flush with the surface for easy pressing. The control pod also has somewhat
sharp edges than can be painful if grabbed at the wrong angle. Helping ensure
quality audio is KEF’s Dual Dynamic Driver system.
The M200 has a unique wearing style
due to the Secure Arm rubber wing feature
There is a 5.5mm neodymium driver that handles middle and
high frequencies, while the low frequencies are handled by a 10mm driver. The
middle and high frequency driver is placed precisely to accommodate a port from
the bass chamber so that the combined output can be delivered to the ear canal.
For an earphone, KEF M200 has an impressive and spacious
soundstage. The directionality of audio is good, and the stereo channels are
good enough to do a decent job even when rendering binaural recordings. The
most salient feature of M200’s tone is powerful bass. The dedicated 10mm LF
driver does its job, and the low frequencies have great impact. The 5.5mm HF MF
driver also pulls its weight and the overall audio from the earphones is quite
pleasing.
KEF M200 headphones small and useful
However, like KEF’s M500 on-ear headphones, we would
classify the M200 as an earphone that impresses with its raw potential. Give it
a simple straightforward Top 40s hit and it does a good job of rendering the
track. But when tasked with handling tougher fare, orchestral tracks in
particular, the M200 misses the mark, being unable to convey the emotion and
feeling behind the compositions. For now, while the M200 has a reasonably
decent showing, KEF still has a lot of work to do when it comes to consumer
audio.
Specifications
·
Driver: 5.5mm and 10mm
·
Sensitivity: 94dB
·
Impedance: 12 Ohms
·
Maximum Input Power: 10mW
·
Features: In-line remote control pod (three-button)
·
Cable Length: 1.2m
·
Connector: 3.5mm
·
Weight: 26g
·
Frequency Response: 20Hz to 2,000Hz
·
Price: $299
|
