Yamaha are quite known for making heavy duty sound equipment such as keyboards, speakers and many more, so when this came up for review, I was curious as to what to expect. The EHP-M100 are not super expensive and for the price you pay, you get a pair of in-ear headphones that delivers a full-range sound with powerful bass, clear mids and crisp, sparkling highs. The design also reflects the pricing as it’s lightweight, finished in a glossy plastic material, although still ergonomic and it provides an ultra-comfortable fit and although Yamaha claimed it offers a tangle-resistant cable, that’s not the case – the rubberized cable get’s in a twist quite easily and almost feels cheap at times. On the bright side, the cable offers a built-in remote/mic that puts control at your fingertips. It’s also designed to support iPhones, iPads and iPods, so the in-line control works well.
Yamaha EPH-M100 Unboxing video
The design:
The EPH-M100 comes with circular driver housing that rests against the ear, offering a secure fit that a lot of in-ear headphones does not offer. It means it doesn’t just rely on having it fit perfectly in your ear canals, it naturally sits well in your ear and it would take a bit more effort for them to just fall out when in use. The EPH-M100 is available in black, blue, or white and as mentioned earlier one, it’s finished in glossy plastic and the rubberized finished cable comes with an in-line remote for skipping tracks, answering/ending calls, changing volume and also for making calls thanks to its built-in mic.
For portability, the EPH-M100 comes with a zip-up semi-hard protective case to keep your earphone and the five pairs of ear-tips in various sizes, and a ¼-inch headphone jack adapter. The case itself is light and doesn’t add any extra weight to your luggage for travelling, you can even fit it in your coat pocket.
Performance
The EPH-M100 comes with some decent specifications on paper; it comes packed with 5/8″ dynamic, closed drivers and a frequency response of 20 Hz – 20 kHz. Switch on a bit of Justin Bieber – Sorry or Where are you now track from his latest album to try out the bass and treble, and you won’t be disappointed. It handles the frequencies very well, even when turned all the way up. Switch to a classical track, or even a podcast, the sound is clear with no issues at all. The ear-bud design and housing also means that when commuting, it’s hard for people around you to hear your guilty pleasures and you can also completely zone out with what feels like noise cancelling.
Overall, the EPH-M100 works a treat, it sounds great, it fits well and no matter what music genre you like, you will not get the same quality for the price point. Its ergonomic design and carry case means you don’t have to worry about damaging it and my only qualms was the tangling cable which often gets in a twist when mixed with other items in my pocket or bag.
The EPH M100 is available now from Audio Affair.
