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By ECM Plus Review Labs
MUSICAL FIDELITY EB-50 In Ear Monitors / Headphones
ECM Plus +++ /Reviews/: Musical Fidelity EB-50 In-Ear Monitors
Better known perhaps around the world for their hign-end audio separates, Musical Fidelity’s first foray into headphones and in-ear monitoring is a bold adventure given the market is so heavily penetrated by big names such as Sennheiser, AKG, Grado, Beyer Dynamic and the usual morass of hi-fi manufacturers.
So for a veritable Rolls-Royce of audio to enter such a busy market must mean but one thing and one thing alone: they have something to say.
And they do. These cutesy little critters, tiny and lightweight in physical stature, are no lightweights in the sonic capability department.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX
• EB-50 In-ear monitor headphones
• 7 pairs of interchangeable ear plugs for different ear sizes
• plug adapters: two pin for airliners / 6.35mm / 1/4″ adapter
• ear clip mount / wire-mounted clothing clip
• carry pouch
We tested the EB-50 on a range of musical content sources, genres and devices.
In all of them without exception, the EB-50 stood head and shoulders – and ears – above the competition in the price bracket. And then some.
Forgive the pun, but there was something almost ‘musical’ about the EB-50s, particularly on classical music, piano and strings particularly seem to benefit from the EB-50s open character. That said, the in-ear monitors performed equally well on hardcore heavy metal and punk rock, bringing out all the top end frequencies of cymbals and guitar harmonics as well as thunderous bass and wide swept mids.
| Manufacturer | Musical Fidelity |
| Model: | EB-50 |
| Type: | Balanced Armature (6mm) |
| Frequency Response: | 10Hz-20KHz |
| Sound Pressure Level: | >100dB ±3dB (at 1KHz) |
| Impedance: | 26Ω ±10% |
| Noise Attenuation: | 26dB |
| Microphone: | -45dB ±5dB |
| Plug Size: | 3.5mm Gold-Plated |
| Cable Length: | 1.2m |
| Weight: | 28g |
There is an in-line button on the rubberized cable, similar to those found on mobile phones and mp3 players for muting microphones etc, but the one on the EB-50 seems to have no effect and does not mute audio nor act as any kind of in-line volume control.
Weighing in at an earlobe stress free couple of ounces, the Musical Fidelity EB-50 in-ear monitors have a flat frequency response across the audible sound spectrum that offers a transparent and open soundstage.
CONCLUSION
Content creators and studio producers will benefit greatly from in-ear monitors such as the Musical Fidelity EB-50, given it has the veritable ‘Holy Grail’ of all – a ruler-flat frequency response – essential in any sonic audio creation environment. And for hi-fi purists who would rather not cart around electrostatic headphones or high-end beryllium equivalents, these come in right where they are needed and hit the spot on so many levels. Even feedback sounds good through these babies.
Joking aside, the flat frequency response will be a boon to all users, whether they realise it or not, the transparency and lack of colouration will remain true to the source material, whether it be vinyl, tape, CD digital or mp3/FLAC formats etc. The whole user experience with these ear plugs is rewarding and a pleasure.
ECM PLUS VERDICT: – 5/5 – “RECOMMENDED“
Related links:
Musical Fidelity – www.musicalfidelity.com
ECM Plus - The Voice of Content 
I got this model of IE EB-50 and can absolutely agree with this review. Many other IE was tried even the triple fi10 and I have to say they can rock them easily. Also I am wondering how they measure the 100dbSound pressure level because it feels like 115db.