Reviewed December 2014
Details: Flagship in-ear from Scotland-based RHA
MSRP: $119.95 (manufacturer’s page) ; $129.95 for MA750i w/mic & 3-button remote (manufacturer’s page)
Current Price: $120 from amazon.com for MA750; $130 from amazon.com for MA750i
Specs: Driver: Dynamic | Imp: 16Ω | Sens: 100 dB | Freq: 16-22k Hz | Cable: 4.4′ I-plug
Nozzle Size: 4.5mm | Preferred tips: Stock single-flanges
Wear Style: Over-the-ear
Accessories (5/5) – Single-flange (6 pairs in 3 sizes) and double-flange (2 sizes) silicone tips, foam tips (2 pairs), shirt clip, stainless steel eartip caddy, and zippered leather carrying case
Build Quality (5/5) – As with RHA’s lower-end models, the construction is impeccable. The MA750 boasts machined stainless steel housings, metal nozzle filters, and thick, rubbery cables. At the earphone end there is a molded “earhook” section about 4” long. It’s not memory wire, but it’s a lot more comfortable than the earhooks I’ve come across in the past. The cable is thick and tangle-resistant, and all of the hardware is metal, including the 3.5mm I-plug with a long “spring” strain relief. The 3-year warranty is very impressive as well
Isolation (3.5/5) – The housings are narrow at the front, allowing a good insertion depth and good isolation
Microphonics (4.5/5) – The cable carries some noise but microphonics are generally not a problem due to mandatory over-the-ear fitment and the fact that the cord is thick and heavy, and doesn’t move around much
Comfort (4/5) – The earphone housings have a familiar flared shape a-la Dunu Trident and RHA’s lower-end models. The earpieces of the MA750 made of stainless steel, though, so they are a little heavier. The small diameter at the front nonetheless affords a surprisingly comfortable fit considering the weight
Sound (8.9/10) – The previous RHA earphones I’ve tried left me impressed with their bass power and clarity, but the new MA750 is a strong performer all around. Its signature is predicated on enhanced bass, but less so compared to the lower-end models. It has a strong emphasis on sub-bass, and a little less on mid-bass. The bass quantity is not at what I would consider “basshead” level – deep bass presence is good with the MA750 but there’s not too much mid-bass punch compared to some of its competitors. On the other hand it is a lot bassier than the HiFiMan RE-400, which sounds more controlled but appears deficient in subbass in comparison the RHA unit.
The MA750 is warm in tone, but not overly so. It has decent enough treble presence to balance out the bass, though it is certainly is not a neutral earphone. The midrange is rich and full-bodied, with very decent clarity considering the sound signature. Clarity is better than with many other stereotypically “warm” earphones, such as the Sony MH1C and Dunu Trident. The RE-400, on the other hand, is more mid-centric, but still sounds more neutral and is a little clearer through its midrange. The pricier Dunu DN-1000 hybrid, too, is clearer, making the MA750 sound veiled comparison.
The upper midrange of the MA750 is energetic but emphasis diminishes before getting into the regions that typically cause harshness and sibilance. The MA750 is brighter overall compared to the Sony MH1C and Dunu Trident and has a slight tendency to sound “tizzy”, especially at high volumes, thanks to the lower treble emphasis. It isn’t bothersome, however, and I definitely would not call the treble energy excessive. On the other end of the spectrum, the Dunu DN-1000 has treble that is brighter and more revealing of artifacts, making the MA750 sound quite smooth in comparison.
Presentation-wise, the MA750 performs well for the price. Its soundstage is larger than those of the MH1C and Trident, and separation is better as well. The Trident especially sounds more in-the-head and congested in comparison. Aside from the enhanced bass having the ability to throw a slight veil over minute details and take away from its imaging ability, there is not much to complain about with the MA750 here.
Select Comparisons
RHA’s $40 MA350 is one of my favorite budget-friendly sets for enhanced bass, but while the flagship model does command a healthy price premium, it also offers up a significantly more refined sound. The MA350 has strong, domineering bass, but the MA750 manages to sound rich and full-bodied while maintaining lower overall bass quantity and better bass control. It’s more balanced, as well as smoother and more refined. The treble of the MA350 is a little grainy in comparison, and more prone to harshness. The MA750 sounds more natural and enjoys a larger presentation with better depth and separation, making the MA350 appear congested in comparison.
Onkyo IE-HF300 ($129)
The IE-HF300 couldn’t be more different from the RHA MA750 in design, but sonically both earphones tend towards a warm, enhanced-bass sound. The RHA unit boasts bass that is both more extended and more powerful overall. The HF300, meanwhile, has less bass quantity with a focus on mid-bass. This results in mids that are a little more veiled compared to the MA750. The MA750 sounds clearer and more crisp, though it is a little more laid-back at the top end compared to the Onkyos. Both earphones boast above-average soundstages, with the HF300 being a little more open-sounding.
Yet another enhanced-bass, consumer-friendly earphone in the sub-$150 range, the EP1 nonetheless offers a sizable contrast to the MA750. Both earphones have a strong emphasis on bass but the MA750 is a little more powerful here, which gives it a warmer and more full-bodied sound. The RBH earphones place more emphasis on the midrange and sound a little clearer as a result. The MA750, on the other hand, has a thicker midrange presentation and a smoother and more forgiving sound. The RHA also boasts a slightly wider presentation and tonal character that, to me, is more natural overall.
VSonic GR07 Bass Edition ($179)
This earphone’s “Bass Edition” moniker is only true insofar as it is more bass-heavy than the regular GR07. Next to the MA750, however, the GR07BE sounds rather balanced. The RHA unit has more bass and a warmer tonal character while the GR07 is closer to neutral. The bass of the MA750 is boomier and results in more veiling of the midrange. The GR07BE lacks some of the full-bodied character of the RHA, but remains clearer, especially in the midrange. Up top, the MA750 is a little smoother where it counts while the GR07 is more sibilance-prone.
Value (9/10) – The RHA MA750 has a lot going for it – a warm and lush sound, spacious presentation, and good bass presence. No less important is the construction quality, which features stainless steel housings and thick cabling. The earphones are comfortable, too, thanks in large part to the over-the-ear fit and molded earhooks, and isolate surprisingly well. Most impressively, the MA750 is not at all exorbitantly-priced – it’s extremely comfortable just north of $100. Early last year I found myself impressed with the entry-level MA350 and hoped to see more great things from RHA, and this year starts off with another hit from the Scottish manufacturer.
Pros: Extremely solid build quality; 3 year warranty; warm sound with excellent bass presence
Cons: Housings a bit on the heavy side
337 Responses
The MA750 is a bass-heavy earphone while the e-Q5 is quite well-balanced.
If you want to go in a slightly warmer direction from the e-Q5 you might want to check out the TDK BA200. If you’re interested in a slightly more analytical sound – the VC1000. If you want a dynamic driver, the Sony MDR-EX600 would be a better match than the RHA – aside from smoothness, which is superior on the Ortofons, it’s a very good earphone.
Hey, jocker,
Huge thanks for all you do for us, headphone enthusiasts.
I love my Ortofon Q5 and I am looking for a similarly voiced IEMs for travel.
Would the MA750 fit the bill?
Any other recommendations under $150-200?
I listen mostly classical and jazz.
Thank you.
Neither the MA750 or T10i sound anything like the VC1000. If you want a VC1000-like sound with better durability you’re better off with an Etymotic ER4 or HF5, or even a Westone W20. Those have balanced BA sound much more similar to the VC1000.
Hi Joker,
Great review! I had purchased VSonic VC1000 after seeing yours and other reviews, and seeing that they sit very high in your earphone rankings. I’ve been using them for over an year now, and been really pleased with their sound.
My only qualm about them has been the durability. Should I prefer RHA MA750 or T10i while making my next purchase?
While there are limits on the clarity vs bass curve (bassy things simply tend to not be all that clear), with a larger budget you can split the difference between the GR07/Fidelio S2 and the DN-1000/MA750, keeping the soundstage size (and most of the clarity) from the former while having bass quantity more like the latter. For instance the Dunu DN-2000 ($300) and Fidue A83 ($280). You can also consider the Sennheiser IE80, mostly for the expansive soundstage it provides while maintaining plenty of bass power.
Thanks that is really helpful! So what’s the minimum I would have to spend to get what I’m looking for and what would be your recommendations? Also, are there ear tips you could recommend for the RHA’s?
I consider the MA750 to be one of the best enhanced-bass earphones under $150. What you’re asking for would be an excellent upgrade but in the same price range it just doesn’t exist among the sets I’ve tried. If you want to give up some bass quantity and treble smoothness, you could get the VSonic GR07 Bass Edition or even Philips Fidelio S2 – they are both more neutral earphones with slightly better soundstaging and much better clarity.
The DN-1000 also has the clarity you’re looking for but I wouldn’t call its soundstage necessarily wider than that of the MA750. It does have better layering and imaging thanks to the extra clarity and detail resolution, but the soundstage width is not really larger compared to the MA750.
Thanks for all the helpful reviews. I like the bass and mids on the RHA MA 750’s but I was wondering if you could suggest maybe two or three headphones that sounds similar but less veiled and have an even bigger soundstage. I was thinking around the $150 price range. Could you also compare the soundstage of the Dunu 1000 and some other less expensive suggestions to the RHA? I would greatly appreciate it!
A toy lol. Yea that does make sense. Thanks Im glad I cancelled my order for the amp it just didn’t feel right after reading reviews and your input.
I just got the T10’s today and they’re not bad. I never seen a build like that before. I realized I had to put them kind of deep since they sounded so flat at first. Plus, I’ve been looking for some durable earphone since my Vsonic Vc 1000 and my multiple pairs of brainwavz s1’s broke. So hopefully these last,
Thanks again.
I personally like the MA750 better than the T10 but I don’t think either one needs an amp. The E6 is more of a toy anyway. If you use the bass boost it will increase the bass, otherwise it won’t do much of anything with an iPhone (which already has great audio hardware for this type of earphone).
Hey joker. Nice review. I Was torn between. These and the Yanahas but decided to get these instead but then I decided to buy the RHA T10.
My question is would it be worth getting an amp for this? I was going to get the Fiio e6 and just work my way up since it being my first amp but Im thinking that it wouldn’t be worth much of a difference on near $200 earphones. Since I guess you get what you pay for. Should I upgrade to a more expensive one?
I have an iPhone. Do the amp improve the sound quality such as making it more clear and crisp or does it just increase the volume and bass?
Thanks for any help.
Yeah, it’s good for one of these small inline mics – about the same quality as the one on Apple EarPods.
Thanks for the review!
I was wondering if you tested out the mic on the 750i and if it was clear enough for regular phone calls/Skype etc.
The GR07 Classics are way more neutral, yes. They have great detailing for a $100 earphone. Unless you want to go for a totally flat response and get a Balanced Armature earphone (which will be a big change coming from the MS01), the GR07 is as good as it gets.
Thanks Joker! do you think maybe the gro7 Classic Edition would be the answer for some thing a bit more neutral? If not do you have a more “audiophile” IEM @$100?
Thanks!
Hmm… I don’t think these are the answer for LESS warm sound. I would probably put them about on-par in that department, as well as overall resolution. The advantages the RHAs have are in bass depth and power, smoothness, and soundstaging, but not detail, clarity, or neutrality.
Hi Joker-nice review. I was wondering how these compare with the Thinksound MS01. From your review it seems like they would be somewhat similiar. I have the Thinksounds and like their sound but love the look of the RHA 750’s and wonder if they are a bit more detailed vs the Thinksounds which can be overly warm at times.
Thanks in advance!
That’s the beauty of these IEMs. I broke all of my previous ones within 6 months due to hours of daily use but these come with a 3yr warranty, so no worrying about that. The build quality is so good that I think they may actually survive their time with me for once.
If you don’t mind spending more and also having moderately prominent treble (a-la the S4) as opposed to the smoother treble the MA750 and especially SE215, the DN-1000 would be my choice. It has better overall SQ even though its bass quantity (not quality) is a lower than that of the MA750 and my other EDM pick, the Yamaha EPH-100. If you prefer to maximize bass quantity instead, the MA750 and EPH-100 are both great options.
I was meaning Ma750, Shure Se215 and Dunu Dn1000. sorry for misspell.
Hello, i loved this beautiful and detailed review and also i really appreciate your enthusiasm in answering people’s questions and helping them as much as you can.
I have a pair of over ear momentum and in past i had a pair of Klipsch Image s4 and some cheap Philips earbuds.
Most of the times i listen to EDM and Classicals. I really care about the quality of the bass( not just the quantity which overpower all the other parts) and also overall detail and clarity and specially soundstage and imaging of my musics, i really love to feel the impact and also vibration of the low frequencies and the speed and detail of them and also hear the detailed sound and clarity of each note in the music. the soundstage and imaging is also really important for me.
My budget is around 150$ and i was considering the Ma750, Shure Se215 and D1000. What’s your recommendation for me?
Thanks in advance for your response.
Seems almost impossible to go a year listening to stuff through IEMs every day without spending a large amount of money. Expensive IEMs are, well, expensive, but nonetheless they always fail at some point. And cheap IEMs are so often false economy: just recently I bought a couple of pairs of Philips SHE3590s; both pairs failed within a month, both times the left ear failed. (Don’t think I’ll bother buying anything Philips again for a while – they seem to be a company with an almost infinite range of unreliable products.)
Reviews of these MA750s suggest the build quality is unusually good, so I’ve ordered a pair from Amazon. If they fail within 12 months, I give up!
The MA750 is certainly a great value at 1/2 the IE80 price but it gives you a slightly different experience. The bass is still enhanced but the midrange is a little less prominent and the presentation is not as wide and out-of-the-head. The IE80 has other advantages such as being more lightweight, detachable cables, etc. It probably is worth the extra cash when taken as a whole (with that price split at least – here in the US it’s more like a 3x difference in price).
The DN-1000 and DN-2000 are again different-sounding earphones with a brighter sound that’s overall not as smooth, warm, and bassy as the IE80 or MA750. They’re very good if you want to try something a little different but I wouldn’t call either an IE8 replacement.
Hi Joker,
I’m new here – great effort – very much appreciated.
Since I had my IE80 stolen I’m in a market for new pair of IEMs. First of all I liked how IE80 performed and was very close to just repeat the purchase, but as usual new options always seem worth checking 🙂
I’m a bit undecided – how would you compare the two and if IE80 is in your opinion worth the extra cash.
I’m located in the EU so can get MA750 for 100€, IE80 for 210€ and IE8i for 230€.
Also looking at your reviews I see DUNU DU1000/2000 get a lot of praise – so this may still be in the combination.
all input highly appreciated.
cheers
Good to know. Funny that the H1 was just named The Wirecutter’s best IEM under $200. I didn’t agree with their previous pick (RBH EP1) and it sounds like I wouldn’t agree with this one, either.
I Have owned both the M750 and H1s. I really did not like the H1s for hybrid IEM the bass was not all the impactful or dynamic nothing like the m750. I also felt like the H1s where not crossed over correctly I could hear that it had multi drivers. Also the clarity of the H1s was not overly impressive
Well, I consider it an excellent value at $110 so… yes
Hi, so if I get this for $80~ is it a good deal?
Yeah you’re not going to find a CIEM that’s as veiled as the MA750, so no worries there. The V3 is still brighter though – it’s actually not as smooth as the HD650 and quite revealing in the treble, so if you’re sensitive to sibilance and okay with having significantly less bass than the MA750 has and a non-v-shaped sound, the flatter and smoother Music One (haven’t tried the Music Two) would be a better choice. Plus it’s a better value.
While I enjoy the sound signature of the ma750s, I do sometimes feel like they are veiled which is really my only complaint with them (that and the fact that iems just aren’t very comfortable in my ears which is the main reason I’d like to try customs). Just for reference I use Sennheiser hd650s at my desktop rig and these are more what I’m used to so something with that sound signature is ideal for me. I like bass, but not overbearing bass. I appreciate smooth, clear treble but not something too bright (I’m sensitive to sibilance and it drives me nuts!). Maybe a slight V shape but not too much to where the mids are muddled. The 1964 V3 do seem like a good match but I’m hesitant to invest $500. Do you think the Custom Art Music One/Two would be something I’d be interested in?
Hmm.. there are two difficulties with this, even not counting the price of impressions there’s only four customs I’ve tried in that (well.. <$450) price range. Not exactly a wide pool to choose from. More than that, the very basic property of the MA750 is its enhanced bass, which further cuts that number from four to one - the 1964EARS V3. The V3 is a great IEM for the price but still a step towards a brighter, more accurate, less smooth and bassy sound from the MA750. There's one <$800 IEM I've tried that sounds more like an MA750 but it's pricier - the Gorilla Ears GX-4b. It's not really better than the cheaper V3, but it has a warmer, smoother sound sig that's a little closer to the RHA sig.
Hey joker, your guides have been extremely helpful for me in my search for the right IEMs, thanks for the invaluable info! I own the RHA M750i iem’s based on your review here and I really like them. However, I have been itching to try out some custom iem’s but I cannot spend more than $400. I really enjoy the sound signature on the m750s so do you have any recommendations on ciems within my budget that produce a similarly warm sound signature as the m750s? Thanks!
The T10i is bassier and warmer than the MA750 but not as clear. It’s also physically heavier. I prefer the MA750, personally.
Thanks Joker i returned my 215 for 750 wow i can tell a big difference i do feel the 750 is much cleaner and crisp but is it me but all the tips dont fit my ear they feel kinda hanged out. i am using the foam one because it the best one in there imo. Also whats are the difference between the t10?
Good choice but keep in mind the bass is more than “slightly” enhanced.
Cheers.
So, in conclusion are thay a good choise or you have better advices?
Thanks for your help and wishes for a Happy New Year
I can’t comment on the XBA-H1 because I haven’t tried it. The XBA-H3 is better than the MA750, but also a lot more expensive. For the amount of bass (I would say MA750 is more than “slightly” enhanced) and the price the MA750 has good clarity. It’s not going to keep up with BA earphones in the same price range in clarity, but they don’t sound anything alike anyway. It’s also quite forgiving.
The MA750 ear hook is some kind of rubber (same material as the cable). The fit isn’t really different from any other over-the-ear IEMs. I wear glasses and haven’t had any problems.
Adding some information: since not all my music library is high quality (have some 128kbps MP3) iems should also sound smooth and be tolerant.
Hello Joker i am looking for a iem for about 100€ (i’m european so i have limited choise). I’m new to hi-fi but i think i’m looking for a slightly enanched bass iem that doesn’t lack of overall clarity. I restricted my choise to ma750 and XBA-h1, which do you suggest (even other iems)?
P.s. A question about ma750: is the over-the-ear hook made of rubber or hard plastic? Since i wear glasses, do you think it could be unconfortable?
Not huge but noticeable. The MA750 is a little bassier and has a more lush and full-bodied sound without losing refinement, which is impressive in and of itself, but it also has a slightly larger presentation and livelier treble.
Mean 750
Is there a huge difference between the 215 and the 750i? In sound quality
You really don’t need an amp for these model. They’re dynamic driver-based and not sensitive even to basic things like impedance and hiss. You can get an E6 just to play around with and get a volume boost, but it won’t make an appreciable difference in overall sound quality unless there’s a problem with your source that it solves.
Also what amp will be good with the shure 215 and the ma750 I was thinking about the fiio e6 because it’s cheap and I heard good things about it
Thanks I going to try the shure 215 first and if I don’t like it I can just return it
They sound pretty different – the RE-400 especially is much more balanced and neutral than the other two you’re considering. It might be better for vocals but its sound isn’t what’s generally considered “fun”. The SE215 is warm and smooth, has some enhanced bass but overall the MA750 is better, especially for EDM.
No counterfeits that I know of for either model but you probably won’t have any warranty with a used unit (the MA750 has a 3-year warranty, which is especially valuable).
Hello Joker i am looking for a iem for about 100$ i was thinking about the shure 215 rha ma750 or the Hifman re 400
i mainly listen to EDM/Dubstep/Trace/Pop/House/Female vocals.
want something thats fun to listen to have good soundstage good isolation warm and imaging
also is buying a used shure rha ma 750 or re 400 on amazon a bad thing will there be fakes?
And if you have any more suggestions
Right you are – there are as many different tastes and preference out there as there are different earphones.
It’s hard to gauge your tolerance to uneven treble based on just one data point (and a somewhat sibilant one at that) but the MA750 is closer on the spectrum to properly “smooth” sets like the EPH100, Beats by Dre Tour 2.0, etc., than it is to VSonic’s earphones. I think it’s worth trying. Can’t think of an alternative with mic, solid build quality, similar sound quality, and smoother sound.
Thanks, Joker
The build quality and availability of a mic version is what attracts me to the RHA. The Yamaha seems to suffer a lot of failures due to design of the cable, and I tend to use my headphones for just about everything from phone conversations to listening to music while exercising. The Vsonic VSD1’s were an experiment. You recommended I try those instead of the GR07’s and it was very good advice. I’ve let friends borrow them, and most thought they were great and couldn’t believe the price. I gave them to my wife, and she loves them. My hearing is very sensitive at high frequencies. Any excessive peakiness or brightness is literally painful to me. This is not to say I like my music dull and devoid of high end, as I own very high quality home equipment with very flat, extended response. If it’s smooth and not “grainy”, then no problem. But it’s hard for me to understand the tolerance for the kind of highs the Vsonics produce. To each his own, I guess.
The MA750 is not nearly as bright or sibilant as the VSD1S. It just has a bit of an upper midrange boost – really shouldn’t be a problem. EPH-100 has even less, though, so if that’s really a great concern it would indeed be better. These two are some of the best bass-heavy sets in the price range.