Teenage Engineering M-1 Monitor Headphones Tested & Reviewed - Gemtracks Beats (2024)

The Teenage Engineering M1 is a pair of foldable studio headphones that have both detachable and built-in microphones. The M1s include a 120mm/120cm audio wire and lots of room to roam about. While the 3.5mm 4-pole (TRRS) male connections offer optimum device compatibility. The M1 is a speech sample device designed exclusively for the OP-Z in headset mode. However, they are also compatible with any other piece of audio equipment that has a headphone output. They even contain two audio jacks, one on each side, to allow for more flexible routing.

Teenage Engineering primarily build synthesizers and sound generators that are as quirky as they are endearing, both functionally and design-wise, and have thus carved out a solid place for themselves outside the mainstream. Now they're bringing a pair of headphones aimed primarily at owners of the OP-Z synthesizer, but thanks to two built-in microphone options, they can be used in many other scenarios as well.

The M-1 is a small, ear-mounted headphone whose design and materiality is very reminiscent of the classic "walkman" format. Despite its already small dimensions, the speaker arms fold inward for transport. The audio material is fed in via the included 100-centimeter mini-jack cable, which can be plugged into either the left or right jack of the headphone. The free jack can then be used in two ways: Either by plugging in the condenser microphone, which is also included, or a second pair of headphones, to which the audio signal is simply passed on.The headset microphone's primary purpose is to deliver a high-quality signal to a linked OP-Z synthesizer for sampling. What is appropriate for the sampler is, of course, not appropriate for a potential interlocutor over the phone or in a video conference. If you don't have the boom microphone, an inbuilt microphone in the left earpiece takes over audio transmission. As a result, because the microphone is oriented to the front, you must ensure that the headset is "properly" positioned.

Conveniently, the left and right sides of the earpiece are clearly marked by small colored dots at the end of the headband, whose color code follows the HiFi standard (left=white, right=red). Also in the left earcup is a small yellow button that can transmit the following functions to a connected cell phone: Mic on/off, answer/end call, play/pause, skip track (press 2x), previous song (press 3x). When the M-1 Headset for the Teenage Engineering OP-Z was revealed recently, it came as a bit of a surprise. At £65 / $85 they appear to be a decent bargain given they include a tiny gooseneck microphone with a windscreen and are developed exclusively for the OP-Z. As is customary with TE, the packaging is both smart and intriguing. The packaging is fairly tiny, with the standard 'ripcord' paper tag used to open it. The folded headset is within, with both ear pieces properly secured in paper packets and an elastic band clasp. Aside from the flexible micro mic, there is an audio cable that brings both the audio signal for the headset and the mic in, as well as a small mic windscreen.

The M-1s look extremely delicate, not only in the hand, but also on the head. You almost don't notice them. You have to be all the more careful when you reach towards the head while lost in thought, because the edges of the boom joints are quite sharp. The plastic compound of the connection cable could have been a bit softer, because it is a bit rigid and inflexible.

The multifunctional button in the left earpiece is easy to use. It has a relatively clear click point and can be felt well due to its elongated shape. The boom microphone can be positioned comfortably around the mouth with its small gooseneck, so it doesn't disturb further.

The M-1's technical specs read unremarkable: frequency response ranges from 20Hz to 20kHz, input sensitivity is just over 100dB, impedance is 30 ohms (averaged), and the diameter of the drivers is three centimeters. More would hardly have been possible, as the diameter of the listening pods is just five centimeters at the widest point.

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Features and product properties

The headband has a collapsing system and is made out of metal, which gives it a hearty appearance notwithstanding its sensitive size. Just the pivoted joint for hanging the auricle is made of plastic, and when the earphones are spread out, it fits properly boisterously. In principle, there is a splendid arrangement, however it is hard to figure how long, months, or a long time this straightforward framework will get by (in any event, for an analyzer). The supra-aural auricles are made out of plastic also and incorporate unique 30mm transducers. An implicit mouthpiece in the left auricle and a button on the back manage distinctive telephonic and playback highlights, notwithstanding the module amplifier. Due to the barely noticeable weight and the extremely moderate contact pressure of the auricles, the M-1 is comfortable to wear. One of the audio cable connectors should have been angled (like the mic connector) to avoid the band touching the cable. The audio cord is straight on both ends and is the right length for sitting at a desk or with the OP-Z on your lap. The compact 'gooseneck' microphone is a sleek and tidy design that fits well into the form factor of the headset, however it may be a bit tricky to insert and withdraw between the ear cup and the headband. User's least favorite aspect of the design is the tedious adjustment of the headband to match the cups to the ears, and the fold up mechanism to make the headset portable and small appears to be a bit light.

Purpose of use

As recently expressed, Teenage Engineering's first earphone/headset discharge was arranged as a connection for the OP-Z, which from one perspective is just furnished with an extremely average amplifier and then again, the situation of the inside receiver isn't ergonomically helpful for testing. From my point of view, the M-1 headset is undoubtedly a useful addition to the tiny multimedia synthesizer, but the M-1 can also be used profitably as a listening / speaking combination on other devices such as tablets or laptops. Due to its compact, supra-aural auricle, the acoustic insulation of the headset from the outside world is, as expected, not comparable with closed, circumaural models, which makes the device unsuitable for use in a noisy environment.

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Connectivity

The Teenage Engineering M-1 Monitor Headphones incorporates an almost 1.2 meter long link with 3.5mm miniature jack connectors (TRRS) on the two sides, permitting checking and concurrent recording at my iPad and Macbook Pro's earphone yields. It can likewise be snared to another M-1 headset in the event that you would rather not utilize the module receiver. The producer offers a discretionary twisting link for this reason. The cascading also worked in the test with headphones from third-party manufacturers, provided they have a mini jack plug that is slim enough for the narrow area between the auricle cover and the metal bracket end of the auricle suspension.

Headphone sound

You can presumably figure that you shouldn't expect any audiophile wonders from reasonable earphones of this size with 30mm converters, yet I actually observed the playback characteristics to be fair and suitable for music utilization. In contrast with some "all out" earphones, the M-1's sub-bass is somewhat more fragile, and a roll-off might be heard in the upper high pitch, however both in adequate and tolerable extents. Beat-heavy, modern music styles mostly sound hom*ogeneous and "species-appropriate", while the classical repertoire, for example, in the woodwinds (higher registers) sometimes reveals an uncomfortable mid-range, whereby such nuanced forms are probably not very relevant for the target group of teenage engineering headsets. The comfortable but rather loose fit can sometimes have a detrimental effect on the playback and stereo image, here you often have to help the correct sitting position by hand. It should also be noted that the M-1 at the headphone output of my iPad is a bit livelier and more impulse-based than at the output of my Macbook Pro.

As likeable as the small headphones are in their visual appeal and pricing, they couldn't overly impress me sonically - at least on the playback side. They undoubtedly do a good job, but both in terms of bass and treble, the playing field is audibly relatively narrow here. Competitors in this Walkman format, such as Koss, AKG or JBL, offer the sound a bit more room for development.

Surprisingly, the bass actually seems to go a bit further than the treble, where the information density decreases significantly from about 11 kHz. That doesn't mean that you can't listen to a bit of music satisfyingly in between, but you shouldn't expect sonic "revelations" here. The situation looks somewhat different when using the M-1 for telephoning and - also and especially - for video conferencing. Especially when the integrated boom microphone is used, the voice quality and intelligibility on the other side is exemplary. And since the frequency range for cell phone and video telephony usually ends at 8 kHz anyway, the somewhat weak trebles don't have a negative effect. Another positive aspect is that the connection coding worked without problems with all devices tested here (Apple, Android, Microsoft) and the M-1s were recognized as a listening/speaking combination without any problems. The headband is made of a rubber-like substance that is held together by a metal band and has the Teenage Engineering logo.

Sound of the microphone

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The plug-in microphone ensures good speech intelligibility, but my ears, which are used to the studio, also hear significant noise components, which is particularly noticeable when using the iPad input. The surprisingly clear differences in sound compared to the physical input of the Macbook, which can be easily identified in the following audio examples, are interesting. The microphone integrated in the auricle is, in my opinion, a practicable emergency solution that should be sufficient for communication (e.g. during video telephony) in many situations when the plug-in microphone is not at hand.

The headset contains a built-in microphone as well as a tiny gooseneck that may be used in either mode. The flexibility to attach the mic and audio cord to either the left or right side of the headset through the connecting ports located beneath each ear cup is a good feature. The left and right are denoted on the headband with lettering as well as a white and red 'dot,' making it easier to differentiate stereo sides. That's a wonderful touch. The cable connections are quite tight fitting, lending trust to the build and design quality; nevertheless, one little concern is that when stretched, the head strap metal band pushes (slightly) against the audio cable.

The sound quality is outstanding, with excellent clarity and definition. The sound is clear and powerful. It may be too much to expect separation from such a tiny headset, and the M-1 definitely does not lend itself to totally separating exterior and background sounds. The sound quality, on the other hand, is pretty good. Both microphones are decent, with the internal headset mic providing a more accurate sound representation than the OP-Z mic. The extra microphone is less clear and, when combined with the windscreen, picks up less of the ambient noise, making it significantly duller. However, it is quite good for the portable design that is being pursued. The left headset includes a yellow button for switching the input source from the internal OP-Z to the headset. A nice and practical design element.Overall, the M-1 headset's sound quality and aesthetics is satisfying. Smaller than expected, but not a deal breaker. Some small details, like as the headband adjustment and audio cable entrance, would not deter me from purchasing this device. A welcome and well-integrated addition to the TE OP-Z accessories.

Pros

• compact dimensions and light weight for a headphone / speaking combination
• Folding mechanism
• usable / solid playback properties for audio consumption two microphones (internal and plug-in microphone)
• Cascading of several headphones possible
• Cable operation possible on both sides

Cons

• Cable transmits structure-borne sound into the auricle
• Construction-related moderate insulation properties and the headphones sit somewhat loosely
• partly clear background noise (microphone)

Conclusion

The Teenage Engineering M-1 headset is a minimal expense tuning in/talking combo that is to a greater degree a way of life thing for portable devices than an expert instrument.. Nevertheless, the Swedish product delivers solidly and offers good speech intelligibility as well as somewhat rustic, but still usable playback properties for creative work and audio / music consumption. If you are looking for a compact, wired companion for your smartphone, tablet, laptop or mini-synth, you should check the Teenage Engineering M-1 to see whether it meets your own requirements.

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