Intro
Smabat or in their Chinese character name, Small Bat (小蝙蝠), is a small but growing portable audio makers that focuses on high-end earbud and earphones. They are known for their bold design with a respectable sound signature coupled with innovations that is found nowhere else. With releases such as the X1 earphones and ST10 series earbuds, they have shown that they are capable of doing things that are not found in other makers such as tuning toggle like in X1 and the maze labyrinth sound tube in the ST10 that mimic hi-fi speakers’ acoustic construction. Now they are breaking norms in the earbuds production by introducing modular earbuds, the Smabat M0 and the Smabat M2S pro, that gives freedom to users to replace the drivers, the damping and cables with MMCX plugs. M0 is a new budget modular earbud while the M2S Pro is a new iteration of the M2 pro which has a better build quality and better drivers. It is an ingenious move by Smabat that promises a future proof design that gives all the choices to modify or upgrade their earbud whichever way they like. Drivers that have different specification and damping material as well as the shell casing are on sale on their Aliexpress store and can be easily replaced without any soldering or any complicated techniques needed. Smabat has kindly sent us the M0 and the M2S pro for a deep look and I am stoked to try out this modular system. Before we get started, here are the specifications of the M0 and M2S pro.
Functions & Specifications
Smabat M0
Model: M0
Drive unit: 15.4mm titanium-plated diaphragm
Impedance: 20Ω
Frequency: 10Hz-22kHz
Sensitivity: 110±3dB
Plug type: 3.5mm
Smabat M2S Pro
Model: M2s pro
Drive unit: 15.4mm titanium-plated diaphragm 3-layer material
Impedance: 40Ω
Frequency: 10Hz-22kHz
Sensitivity: 110±3dB
Plug type: 3.5mm
Retail Price & Where To Get
The Smabat M0 & M2S Pro can be bought at Smabat Official Store on Aliexpress platform.
Official Store Link : https://smabat.aliexpress.com/store/5881794?spm=a2g0o.detail.1000007.1.5deb55c7u45KlY
Smabat M0 : https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002629305103.html?spm=a2g0o.store_pc_groupList.8148356.13.51db7021lgORdn
Smabat M2S Pro : https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002624547944.html?spm=a2g0o.store_pc_groupList.8148356.3.51db7021lgORdn
Packaging & Accessories
Both packaging and accessories of the M0 and M2s pro is rather simple and they are packaged similarly only with different labels and specifications. On the side, entry level is written on the M0’s box and professional level on the M2s pro’s box. Inside we will find the earbuds itself, cables, 1 pair of donut foams, 1 pair of normal foams and a sleek fabric pouch. I would like to have more foams included but foams can be bought easily. Overall, the package is quite basic unlike Tanchjim Tanya’s premium packaging while having a lower retail price.
Design
Smabat M0
Design of the Smabat M0 is a basic blue coloured metal earbud that is light in weight but it feels quite solid. The round shape is similar to the construction of Toneking TO600 and honestly, I am quite loving the simplistic design. It houses the MMCX port at the middle bottom part and they don’t have any right or left indicators on them. Both earbuds are identical, so coloured foams or the cable will have to be the indicators in this case.
Cable of the Smabat M0 is made from oxygen-free copper and they are white in colour with a straight jack. It is soft, flexible and sounded normal like a stock cable would.
Fit is great and comfortable like a normal 15.4mm earbud although it is quite big for an earbud.
Smabat M2S pro
The Smabat M2S pro is more solidly build and has a decent weight to it. The design has a more professional look onto it and it does look pretty to my eyes. Inside we can see the labyrinth structure with the dampers. The left and right markings and printed quite large, thus making it is easy to notice and also due to its MMCX port placing which is more to the side of the earbud, it possible to differentiate even without looking.
Cable of the Smabat M2S pro is a 4 core twisted silver plated OCC with a angled jack. It has a better quality in looks and also in sound. It sounded like an upgraded cable side by side with the M0 cable.
Fit is also great with a similar 15.4mm size driver, but I do felt that M0 is slightly more comfortable due to its round shape while the M2S pro has a slight edge to it.
M2S pro cable on the left and M0 on the right.
Gears Used for Comparisons
- Fiio Q5 with AM3D module
- RHA Dacamp L1
- Ibasso DC03
- Questyle M12
- Hidizs AP90 PRO
- Jcally Ep09
- Toneking TO600
- EA earbuds
- Venture Electronics Zen Lite
- Blur daBass
- Monk Go
Song list
Tone and Presentation
Smabat M0
The tone of the Smabat M0 is leaning towards a brighter side of sound signature. It is quite neutral in their presentation with an airy and open sound. They are great with their clarity and details but may sound a little thin especially on the mids and bass region due to their neutrality. On certain tracks, The M0 does sound a little peaky and harsh with their bright signature but it does not incur any fatigue in my long-term listening. Resolution on the Smabat M0 is great and tones are presented with great transparency without any veil.
Smabat M2S pro
Smabat M2S pro possesses a more full-bodied sound signature with a thicker mids and much deeper bass. It is quite a balanced earbud with a slight bump in their sub-bass and the M2S pro is not as bright as the Smabat M0 but is has a smoother, velvety sound signature to it. Details on this earbud is awesome and manage to maintain a high degree of resolution. Transparency is good but I do feel the M0 is slightly better in their transparency due to their bright signature. With their great technicalities, it is a great performer for a larger variety of music. It is a very musical earbud that sounds thick and sweet.
Soundstage
Smabat M0
Soundstage on the M0 is wonderful. It has a good air and openness in their presentation. It has a decent depth and width even at earbuds standards. Live performances are good with this M0 and it gives a holographic representation of the music played. In my opinion, this is one of the strong suits of the M0 with their open sound signature.
Smabat M2S pro
The Smabat M2S pro has a more intimate soundstage for an earbud. Instruments sounded closer to my ears than the M0 but it still has a good headroom for an earbud. The M2S pro still have a great depth and decent width but the M0 is slightly better in this area. Music sounds much more intimate which is good for music such as acoustics and EDM.
Separation and Timbre
Smabat M0
With their high-resolution sound with great clarity, the M0 possesses a great separation in the music played. Instruments are portrayed with a high degree of resolution and they are easily identified. What I do feel the M0 lacking is on the bass strings as they sounded a little thin and losses some body in the presentation. Timbre is also great with the M0 by sounding very natural and spot-on especially with vocals.
Smabat M2S pro
Separation on the M2S pro is better than the M0 by sounding very thick and smooth also retaining a high degree of resolution. Even with their intimacy, instruments sounded very clear without any veiling and they sounded very musical to my ears. Vocals sounded very natural especially with male vocals. This earbud suits classical and jazz music as they are very musical and smooth in their presentation. Timbre is perfect without sounding fake and instruments as well as vocals sounded very natural to my ears. It is an all rounder from my point of view.
Drivability
Smabat M0
Rated at only 20ohms, the M0 is easily driven by any source including low powered source such as smartphones and laptop. But with bad sources, they can sometimes sound harsh and shouty. I would recommend using a decent dongle for laptops or smartphones to fix the harshness incurred with bad sources. They do scale up well with higher powered amplifiers but not much due to their low impedance.
Smabat M2S pro
Rated at 40ohms, the M2S pro required slightly more power to match the volume at the M0. The 40ohms driver does not need much amplification and sounded fine with laptops or smartphones but they scale up very well with good DAC and amplifiers. They are quite forgiving even with bad sources and they sounded better with good sources.
The Bass (Low)
Smabat M0
Bass is where is found the M0 suffers a little. The bass has a sharp impact and has a decent clarity to it. The bass sounded a little thin to my taste albeit being neutral. The bass has little sub-bass extension and sounded weak especially on tracks with bass rifts. For deep male vocals, the M0 sounded a little barren and has less body to it but it has a great clarity to it. For neutral lovers, they might find the bass is decent enough but I do feel it lacks the body and sub-bass extension.
Smabat M2S pro
Crème De La Crème aspect of the Smabat M2S pro as the bass is excellent and has probably one of the best sub-bass responses in the earbud category. It has a deep, thick and clean bass with a great extension especially in the sub-bass area without sounding overpowering or muffled. The bass goes in very deep and has a great definition to it and sounded superb even on high volume. It is not a bass-head earbuds but it has a very high audiophile bass quality to it and they are very accurate. It is a pleasant listening especially with EDM and jazz music. Bass strings sounded very natural and they have a full-bodied interpretation to them. 2 thumbs up for the bass in the Smabat M2S pro.
The Mids
Smabat M0
Smabat M0 mids has a very neutral take to it and sounded very clear and accurate. Mids portrayed has a slight forwardness to it and they sounded accurate. Though being slightly thin and hollow sounding at certain tracks, they are accurate and has a good resolution to it. Mids on the M0 sounded natural to me and does have an emphasis on the mid-highs region making it a bright signature. The neutral tone of the M0 does have their strengths and weaknesses but I do find the mids in the M0 is rather good and enjoyable for their clarity.
Smabat M2S pro
The mids on the M2S pro is one of the main attractions of this earbud as it has a very balanced, full and lush. They are smooth and does have a very high degree of resolution to it. Micro details are excellent and does not sound veiled at all, instead it portrays a very luxuriant and natural mids frequency. The mids quality here is really good and it gives a better depth in the music you are playing. The tone is mellow, sweet and melodious sounding, thus, making it a pleasant listening experience for me even with long session. It felt like a warm cup of coffee on a rainy day.
The Highs
Smabat M0
The highs are where the Smabat M0 does shines in my opinion as the treble this earbud pushes out is top class in my opinion. They exhibit a neutral bright sound and they are the prominent aspect in the Smabat M0’s sound signature. Highs sounded a little aggressive and slightly peaky, but it’s still acceptable as they are airy and does not sound sibilant at all. Details on the highs are top-notch and has a very good resolution making it a very revealing type of earbuds. Treble don’t roll off as much and it has a very good extension to it. With long listening sessions, they might incur a little fatigue but only on high volumes but on normal volume I can listen to the Smabat M0 for hours end.
Smabat M2S pro
Highs on the Smabat M2S pro has a more polite, laid-back and warm tone to it while retaining a good resolution in their treble. It does not sound recessed but it gives out a smoother and fatigue-free experience with all the details intact for a more relaxing kind of feel to it. For treble lover, they might find the Smabat M2S pro a little too polite and tuned towards a safer side but it still sounded full and natural to my ears. Though being laid-back a little, extension on the highs here is very good and it gives out a decent amount of air and sparkle in the music. Music played still retains the crispness in the tracks and they sounded tonally correct.
Comparisons
VS Zen Lite
VE Zen Lite is a high-performance earbud from Venture Electronics and it is very comfortable for long listening sessions and as a sleeping earbud. Zen Lite has a warm, smooth and thick laid-back approach and more similarity towards the M2S pro. M2S pro bass has a better accuracy and they have a better sub-bass response also a better definition in the bass region. Mids on the Zen Lite is slightly warmer but M2S pro sounded more forward and detailed. Highs on the M2S pro is better in terms of extension and presence. M0 sounded livelier and clearer versus the Zen Lite but the Zen Lite sounded smoother. Mids on the M0 is brighter and more detailed than the Zen Lite but Zen Lite sounded fuller also it has a wider soundstage. Bass on the M0 is thinner versus the thick and warm bass of the Zen Lite.
VS Toneking TO600
Toneking TO600 is a 600ohms beast and it needs a lot of power to drive it. Details and clarity sounded better on the M2S pro. Bass on the M2S pro is deeper while the TO600 bass sounded bigger. Mids on the TO600 is flatter while the M2S pro mids sounded clearer and more engaging. Highs on both M2S pro and TO600 sounded similar but M2S pro has slightly more sparkle to it. Soundstage is slightly better on the TO600. M0 sounded clearer and more detailed than the TO600. Mids on the TO600 is fuller and thicker but M0 have more details in the mids. Highs on the M0 is clearer and more forward. Soundstage on the M0 is wider and more open.
VS Jcally EP09
A beryllium plated flagship earbud from the budget brand Jcally. M2S pro sounded thicker and smoother with their better bass response and lusher mids. Highs on the EP09 is livelier but slightly harsher versus the M2S pro. Mids on the M2S pro is thicker and more accurate. Soundstage on the EP09 is bigger and has more head room than the M2S pro. On the M0, highs are very similar with the EP09 but the M0 highs sounded more open. Mids with the M0 is neutral while the EP09 sounded smoother and more forward. Bass on the EP09 has a slight edge in the slam it gives but the M0 bass is clearer. Soundstage of the EP09 is better than the M0.
VS Blur daBass
Blur is a custom-made earbud from Singapore and it has a sound that is deemed as a flagship sound. Bass on the M2S pro has a better sub-bass response but Blur daBass has a better-quality bass in terms of texture and air. Mids on the Blur daBass is sweeter and has more definition versus the M2S pro. Highs on the M2S pro is more laid-back and warmer while the Blur daBass has more energy to it. Soundstage on the Blur daBass has a better depth and width in their presentation. M0 sounded clearer and brighter in the mids and highs region. Bass on the Blur daBass is better and do not sound thin like the M0 and they have a better texture to it. Soundstage on the Blur daBass is deeper and wider versus the M0.
Source synergy
FiiO Q5 with AM3D THX amp module
Smabat M0
Very good extension to the thin bass of M0 and it gives the bass slightly more body to it. Mids is lusher and slightly more forward than before. Highs has been tamed down a little and making M0 peaks disappears, therefore, giving it a more enjoyable experience. Soundstage has deepened and the M0 becomes more holographic in their soundstage.
Smabat M2S pro
Bass sounded clearer and cleaner making the bass quality a step better than it was already. Mids sounded more forward and details can be picked up better especially on vocals. Highs extended but does not add any forwardness to the laid-back treble signature. Soundstage of the M2S pro widens and deepens and made it a better out of head sound experience. My favourite pairing of the M2S pro
RHA Dacamp L1
Smabat M0
My preferred settings were 0 at treble and +2 at bass with low gain. Highs remains neutral but it added some crispness and tightness into the highs. Mids has thickened and became slightly more forward also making it more musical in their presentation. Bass has more body and slam into it. Bass has become thicker and it is a more enjoyable experience but still sound neutral in their presentation. This is my favourite pairing for the M0.
Smabat M2S pro
My preferred setting was +1 on treble and 0 at bass with high gain. Highs has more life in their presentation and the politeness of the highs is lessened making it a more fun sound. Mids have a better clarity to it and sounded much more vivid. Bass on the M2S pro sounded bigger and more accurate with a tighter slam into it.
Questyle M12
Smabat M0
The M0 sounded a little harsh on this pairing due to the bright signature of the M12. High were shouty with higher volumes and it sounded more fatigue at long listening sessions. Harshness was minimal but still present. Mids has slightly more body to it and became more forward. Bass impact has loosened a little and impact is more apparent but still sounded a little thin. Soundstage widens and deepens but only slightly
Smabat M2S pro
Quite a decent pairing as the highs on the M2S pro opened up a little and it sounded much lusher and brighter. Mids clarity has been improved and they sounded more transparent in their presentation. Bass impact has tightened up and it gives a sharper slam into the bass while retaining a deep sub-bass response of the M2 S pro. Soundstage has a deeper feel to it but width remains the same.
Who Is It For?
Both the Smabat M0 and M2S pros for any earbud lovers that wanted a variety sound with tuneable options for a more selectable range of sound all in a single modular earbud. If one is not satisfied with the sound they produce, users can simply buy the other configured driver to replace the current driver or they can tune them by swapping different types of dampers available in the Smabat store. With the stock drivers and configuration on the M0 and M2S pro, I do feel that they are very competent in their performance and they are priced fairly with the cheaper M0 sounding neutral bright with good transparency and for a little more, the M2S pro sounding more mature with a smoother sound and a greater bass response with a. Both the M0 and the M2S pro are very solidly build and worth the asking price in my opinion.
Final words
Smabat has indeed produced truly unique type of earbuds that gives us the freedom to configure and to understand how sound can be manipulated to suit one’s sound preference. It is a good learning experience for me for the time spent with this earbud and I must say that they are dashingly built. Both of these earbuds sounded good with stock parts but I do feel that the M0 sounded a tad bit thin and slightly harsh, while the M2S pro’s soundstage and clarity can be improved further. But being a modular earbud, I am going to experiment with the different drivers and dampers to better suit my taste of sound which I am truly stoked to have this option.
For the M0 I would rate it 
(4 / 5)
And for the M2S pro I would rate it 
(4.5 / 5)
