MEElectronics A161P

Pros: 1) Very good sound value for price
2) Great Accessories Pack
3) Well balanced sound signature with good detail and accurate sound reproduction
4) Comfortable and non-fatiguing for longer sessions of music

Cons: 1) No option to buy a non-mic version

Summary: Introduction:

MEElectronics is a name which most of the people interested in IEMs are already quite familiar with because of their great bang for the buck IEMs range.The A161P is a single balanced armature from MEElectronics and their current flagship IEM.

Basic Info & Specifications:

Driver Type: Balanced Armature
Frequency Response: 20Hz-20KHz
Sensitivity: 110dB
Impedance: 16O
Maximum Power Input: 30 mW
Connector: 3.5mm gold plated, 45-degree angle connector(L-PLUG)
Total cable length: 130 cm / 51.2 in, MIC and Single Remote Included.
Wear Style: Straight down or over-the-ear
Warranty : 1 Year

Accessories :

1) 6 Pairs of Silicone Ear Tips: Single-flange (3 sizes),double-flange, and triple-flange (2 sizes)
2) Over-the-ear cable guides(1 pair)
3) Headset to PC adapter
4) TRRS adapter cable (for select smartphones)
5) Shirt clip
6) clamshell carrying case

Build Quality :

Packaging :

The presentation of the A161P is definitely worthy of a flagship model. The box they come in is classy and very sturdy and the clamshell case follows those same design cues.

IEM:

The A161Ps' housings are made of plastic with a shiny metal like finish, which feels very strong, solid and sturdy. Left and Right markings are placed on silicone made strain reliefs, as well as a plastic dot on the left strain relief

Cable:

The cable is rubbery, below average in thickness, but still feels sturdy and robust.The cable includes a Y cinch that works as it should. The inline microphone with single button, which is placed only a few centimeters away from the right earpiece is tiny, yet quite solid and strong. The single mic button can answer and hang up calls, as well as pause, play and skip songs on iPhone or android phones. The cable ends with a 45 degrees angled gold-plated 3.5mm jack.

Microphonics:

The cable is less microphonic than your regular IEM cable, though, there are still some microphonics, in a quite smaller amount than the average one. As always, over the ear wearing method is recommended in order to eliminate the microphonics to a minor amount.

Comfort:

The A161P fits very comfortably with no issues at all and can be worn all day. Isolation is very good due to its small size.Experimenting the Several included ear tips gives the best isolation

Sound Quality:

The A161Ps utilize a single balanced armature (apparently a driver from Knowles' ED series), which produces a balanced, accurate, transparent and musical sound-signature

Mids: The A161Ps' mids are full, lush, smooth and rich, and a bit forward. Detail retrieval is quite impressive. The timbre is surprisingly good; it feels very realistic, natural and precise. The clarity level is amazing for the A161Ps' price, and it can be to several higher priced IEMs.

Highs: As the midrange, the treble's clarity and cleanness are great. It is very fast and contains a satisfying amount sparkle amount. Talking about its speed, it is quite fast, fast enough to present guitar-solos in more than a pleasing way. Detailing is great, though, I felt that the midrange was a bit more detailed.

Bass: The first thing that I had noticed regarding to the A161Ps' bass is that it goes very deep into the spectrum, it has a great extension. It is very fast and clear, as expected from a balanced armature transducer. It is very well controlled and accurate, which makes it sound quite true to the source. The bass impact is there when needed, though, at times, it may feel a bit laid-back and recessed. Quantity-wise, it would be enough for most of the listeners. The punch is natural and real, it doesn't feel exaggerated or unnatural.

Soundstage: I find the A161Ps' sound-stage to be average. On the other hand, the imaging feels pretty real and elaborate. Instruments separation is great.

Final Conclusion :

For about $100, the A161P is a must have in your IEM collection. The included inline microphone is a huge plus for the people which choose to use their IEMs as a headset too It's the best sounding IEM in its price range I've heard to date. The included accessory pack is great for the price. I was blown away at first listen and amazed at how good it sounds especially at the price it's selling for. So if you're looking for a exciting, detailed, musical IEM that doesn't cost a fortune, go to MEElec and make an investment that your ears will appreciate.