PSB

PSB’s M4U TMW Planar Wireless Earbuds Sound Superbly Natural

PSB Speakers is probably one of the best speaker brands you’ve possibly never heard of. The Canadian speaker manufacturer is now part of the Lenbrook Group which includes NAD Audio and the superb BluOS music streaming technology but the story began more than 50 years ago when Paul Barton, a young and brilliant Canadian musician, started the premium loudspeaker brand when he was still at college.

For those in the know, PSB has a reputation for making superb speakers that punch well above their weight but somehow get overshadowed by the big U.S. brands like Klipsch and JBL. But that’s something Canadians are probably used to. Around a decade ago, PSB moved into the headphone market and has been winning converts ever since. The latest models from the brand are the M4U 9 wireless headphones and M4U TWM wireless earbuds.

The PSB M4U TWM feel comfortable to wear and they come with three different sizes of ear tips. There's no ANC onboard so if noise canceling is essential, you may want to look at something like Sennheiser's new Momentum 3 TW. Image: PSB

Both models feature some of the best sound personalization technology I’ve ever used thanks to a partnership with Audiodo Personal Sound. Both models also include PSB’s proprietary RoomFeel technology that produces a sound that’s more akin to listening to a pair of loudspeakers than headphones. The result is a more open and spacious effect that’s not quite as claustrophobic as some headphones can sound.

The M4U TWM wireless earbuds are unusual in using magneto-static technology in a hybrid planar dual driver design. This is the same technology that’s used in high-end magneto loudspeakers and somehow PSB has found a way of fitting the drivers into these relatively tiny earbuds.

There are two drivers in each earpiece of the M4U TWM: one for high frequencies and one for low frequencies, just like a two-way loudspeaker with a tweeter and woofer. Both drivers work in tandem to produce a sound that has clear highs, a natural midrange and a bass that’s as warm and as wide as I’ve ever heard from a pair of earbuds. If you love bass, you will adore the M4U TWM.

For users of the best and latest Android phones, the M4U TWM support Qualcomm’s aptX Adaptive audio codec which means you get to hear music in CD quality sound rather than experiencing compressed audio that Bluetooth normally produces because of bandwidth limitations. For Apple iOS users, there’s also support for AAC so although you won’t get quite as high a resolution as aptX Adaptive, it will still sound pretty good.

The M4U TWM from TSB offer up to eight hours of playtime from one charge of the earbuds. The lack of ANC makes this possible. There are three more full charges in the storage case before it has to be recharged. Image: PSB

Another advantage of aptX Adaptive is the codec’s low-latency rate which enables games and movies to stay in sync. With some Bluetooth technology, there can be a lag between what appears on the screen and what the user hears. This can be annoying and off-putting.

Other features that mark the M4U TWM out are its hard-click buttons instead of touch controls. The problem with touch controls is it is so easy to accidentally pause the music or skip a track when all you intended to do was scratch your ear. With hard-click buttons, you must physically click to make a control activate. It may not be quite as swish, but it’s a lot more convenient. The buttons also activate commands for music control, taking voice calls and other handy functions.

The storage case for the M4U TWM include a battery that can store up to 24 hours of backup charge. The earbuds will deliver up to eight hours of playtime which is a seriously good figure and well above the industry average of between five and six hours.

With the onboard battery in the storage case, there’s a total of 32 hours of playtime or three complete charging cycles before the case and earbuds need recharging. The case is recharged with a USB-C cable but there’s no support for wireless charging.

Perhaps the standout feature of the M4U TWM Audiodo Personal Sound. This feature is accessed using the PSB smartphone app. The technology uses a non-replicable set of algorithms that lets listeners calibrate the earbuds for the hearing profiles of their left and right ears.

After the simple three-minute hearing assessment, the Audiodo Personal Sound maps out the listener’s hearing and calculates the changes that need to be made based on personal sound perception, creating a compensation curve that can be applied to the overall headphone sound. The Personal Sound profile can be turned on or off and it’s a subtle effect but noticeable and doesn’t distort the sound.

A second unique feature on the M4U TWM is PSB’s patented Natural RoomFeel Tuning. This feature was created to deliver a natural sound that feels a little like listening to a pair of great speakers properly set up in an acoustically treated room. RoomFeel makes the music feel less in the user’s head by producing a more open and natural sound.

the soundstage that the PSB M4U TWM produces is superb with a real sense of space between the midrange and bass. Image: PSB

All the M4U TWM’s settings, including Audiodo Personal Sound tests and Transparency modes, can be accessed using the PSB Headphones app that lets users adjust settings, check battery levels and keep the headphones up to date with the latest firmware updates. There’s no ANC included on these earbuds but that’s probably because the M4U TWM are aimed at audiophiles who may not want the audio processed with ANC.

Verdict: The sound produced by the PSB M4U TWM is one of the best I’ve heard. These are the first earbuds with planar technology that have impressed me. The bass is so convincing and detached from the midrange, producing a superb soundstage that brings the music alive. If you want a musical pair of wireless earbuds and you don’t need ANC technology, then the M4U TWM are impressive. The Audiodo Personal Sound and Natural RoomFeel Tuning make a discernible difference but they can be turned off if not wanted. The M4U TWM deserve an audition.

More info: psbspeakers.com

Tech Specs:

Audio codecs: SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive.

Bluetooth auto-pairing Yes.

Drivers: Magneto-static, hybrid planar dual driver design.

Voice assistants: Yes.

Playtime: 8 hours

Charging case power: 24 hours (Total 32 hours with earbuds).

Environmental rating: IP65 against sweat, dust and rain.

Features: RoomFeel, Audiodo and cVc (clear voice capture).

Pricing & Availability: The PSB M4U TWM wireless earbuds are available from June 2023 priced at $199 / £199 / €229.

Mark Sparrow...Senior Contributor(Technology journalist specializing in audio, computing and photography)