When paired to a smartphone connected to the 4G cell network M15 easily picks up RFI (Radio Frequency Interference) when within approx 10cm from the phone. The two devices are not effectively comparable though - mainly due to Groove's internal architecture making it the odd ball it is - read my piece for the full reasons why. In Apogee's dongle case sound colouring is even more marked, and comes with furtherly higher capability in terms of stage drawing - depth and height most of all. In its being "exquisitely musical if unpure" M15 can't but recall Groove in a sense. It's fair to observe that 9038SG3 remains the best option around, and by far so, when the available budget is like half M15's asking price. Powerwise 9038SG3 is better vs very low impedances: in the E5000-acidtest 9038SG3 beats M15 in terms of bass control and overall clarity. Layering is also a bit less refined - and that's mainly why M15 comes across overall "more musically pleasing" compared to 9038SG3. The situation comes out obvious when comparing M15 with E1DA 9038SG3: the two offer equal bilaterally extended sound ranges, with the latter's bass staying faster, "more technical", therefore also "less expressive" in a sense.ĩ038SG3 is however a step under M15 in terms of spatial reconstruction, with particular regards to depth. There is some added accent on midbass notes - which is if you wish part of the "usual" compromise "musicality vs purity". M15 is not uncolored in terms of tonality. Instrument separation and layering are just spectacular - which paired with its space drawing capabilities make for a really uncommonly good imaging and "sense of immersion" into the outcoming sound. M15's sound is first of all grand (spatially), and immediately after that it's clear and detailed. Spectacular sound, if not totally uncolored This means that one cannot elect the M15 as its "only" dongle if he/she has one or more drivers with single ended connections to support. To give a vague idea, it's roughly on quality level of M15's cheaper (120€) sibling, the M12 - which quality, at that price level, is trounced by the like of E1DA 9038D. It is so obviously duller and noisier compared to the Balanced option to be totally unworthy of such an otherwise outstanding product. The effect is indeed very modest, which makes HG a totally viable option whenever one feels like adding some more early juice delivery to one or another driver. Unlike what happens on so many other devices I heard, M15's High Gain option is not chastising in terms of dynamic range compression. M15 costs € 249 + freight on the manufacturer's website. I'm going to focus on some detail which are not covered in the previous piece, and/or on aspects for which I have a different opinion. I will also be succint on most sound impressions. This second package reached me regularly so I can finally assess this device which already collected convinced cobloggers' praises.Īs there already is a comprehensive article about M15 on Audioreviews, I will entirely skip a general description of the device features as it would be needless repetition. After a very unfortunate first try (the review unit which was kindfully sent to me by the manufacturer was stolen at my door), I finally got an M15 unit which I quite oddly found for a very good price 2nd hand in Japan.
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