Soncie Meory SM1 Lite

Introduction

The Soncie Meory SM1 Lite is a single DD IEM that are designed to deliver high-quality audio experience targeting both gamers and audiophiles.

Packaging and Accessories

I was really impressed with the premium packaging and accessories you get for an IEM this cheap. It easily looks as well as a $50 or even some $100 IEMs.

The SM1 Lite comes in nice looking box:

Interesting you can see the IEM but on the back of the box:

Opening it up:

Still a nice clean experience:

Taking everything out of the box - you get allot for $18:

You get an extra set of ear tips as each IEM has a medium tip pre-installed:

The cable isn’t bad and the fact it comes with a usb-c dongle for this price is amazing:

And finally getting to the IEM itself - it looks great for every angle I think:

Cable is maybe a bit long but that is a minor quibble:

I am really astonished by the hardware quality for this price:

Even the 2-pin connector looks pretty good though I personally feel the recessed connectors are better longer term:

Comfort and fit

I found it to be an excellent fit for my ears. I liked how lightweight they are (weigh approximately 10g) and the angle of the nozzle meant I never felt I had to adjust the IEM in my ears even after hours of use. The cable is also excellent for the price almost as good as the cable in the Truthear Gate. So I have no complaints at all with using the SM1 Lite.

Accessories List

• Earphone Units: x2
• CUP TIPS: x8
• Spare Black Dampers: x6
• Spare Metal Mesh Filters: x6
• Type-C Analog Audio Adapter: x1
• Earphone Cable: x1
• Earphone Carrying Case: x1
• User Manual: x1
• Certificate of Conformity: x1
• Safety Warning Card: x1

Features

The 10mm Driver

The SM1 Lite is equipped with a high dynamic 10mm driver unit featuring a multi-layered fiber composite diaphragm. This driver is specifically tuned to enhance spatial cues in gaming, such as footsteps, gunshots, and environmental sounds, providing gamers with improved auditory precision and a competitive edge.

As you will see in the measurement section there are certain areas of the frequency response tuned specifically for gaming.

USB-C Adapter

The SM1 Lite as well as including a 3.5mm analog connector includes a standard Type-C analog audio usb-c adapter, supporting direct connection to smartphones with analog audio output capability.

Note: I did have some trouble with my usb-c dongle, so I did not use it for the purposes of this review, I mainly used my Apple usb-c, but I also used it on a few desktop headphone dac amps including the FiiO K11-R2R. The SM1 Lite is very easy to drive so there is really no special equipment needed to use this IEM but the inclusion of the usb-c dongle is a nice touch.

Hi-Fi Sound Quality and Customization

Something I think is quite unique especially at this price point is support for a multidimensional acoustic expansion kit interface designed by MAE KITS. This looks to me like alternative ‘filters’ that can be applied to the nozzle.

While SM1 Lite comes with some replacement filters, I did not have any alternative MAE kits, so I could not test this feature, but I thought it was worth mentioning and something you definitely do not expect at this price point.

Sound impressions:

Bass

The bass on these headphones is particularly pronounced, offering a deep and powerful response that is ideal for bass-heavy genres like electronic music or hip-hop. The sub-bass extension is impressive, delivering a rumbling low-end that adds a visceral quality to tracks like “Royals” by Lorde. However, this emphasis on bass can sometimes overshadow the midrange, making the overall sound signature more suited to those who prefer a V-shaped tuning. The bass remains controlled, avoiding excessive bloom, which is a testament to the headphones’ design.

Midrange

The midrange is slightly recessed compared to the bass and treble, which can make vocals and instruments feel a bit pushed back in the mix. This tuning choice enhances the perception of depth, but it might not satisfy listeners who prefer more forward mids. On tracks like “Hotel California” by Eagles, the guitars and vocals are clear, but they don’t command as much attention as the bass does. While the mids are not as prominent, they still maintain clarity and detail, avoiding muddiness.

Treble

The treble is extended, providing a crisp and detailed top-end that adds sparkle to the music. However, as the frequency rises, the treble starts to roll off, which does helps prevent any harshness or sibilance. This makes it easier to listen to brighter recordings without fatigue. For example, on “Money for Nothing” by Dire Straits, while the guitar riffs are lively and energetic, the cymbals were recessed but overall I thought the sound was still well controlled. In summary, the treble adds to the overall clarity of the sound without becoming overly aggressive.

Soundstage & Imaging

The soundstage on these headphones is somewhat narrow, which is typical for an IEM with this tuning. The imaging though, was very good for this price, given this sound is tailored for gaming, it should not be a surprise that the imaging precision you need for gaming is there. On “Bubbles” by Yosi Horikawa, the placement of different elements in the mix is clearly defined, allowing you to easily pinpoint where each sound is coming from.

So, while the soundstage isn’t wide, the accurate imaging compensates for it, providing an immersive listening experience, especially in competitive gaming scenarios.

Specifications and Measurements

Measurements

Here is the frequency response of the SM1 Lite:

You can see that SM1 Lite has been more tuned to be tailored for a gaming experience than a typical audiophile sound signature, i thought it was more V-Shaped but even the treble does roll off significantly after 4K.

If you are looking for a neutral or harman like tuning you should either look elsewhere or use some EQ. Though possible there will be some tuning options available via the nozzle filters which can be used to provide a more balanced sound for audiophiles.

Here is the distortion which is well controlled so EQ should be relatively straight forward for those wanting to EQ this back to a balanced sound signature:

Even when playing at crazy volumes like 100 dbSPL the distortion is below audible limits:

Note: I was going to measure the usb-c dongle separately but sadly my usb-c dongle stopped working.

Rating

I have given the SM1 Lite a pragmatic rating of 4, I feel the tuning is more gaming centric and really lacks upper treble without EQ. The distortion is very low so with some simple EQ you can have a very comfortable and nice looking V-shaped sounding IEM and obviously with more extensive EQ you can make it sound as you want. It also has excellent build quality, and it is very impressive accessory package especially with usb-c dongle.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this is an exceptional good-looking IEM with a V-shaped sound signature that comes with a great set of accessories and has a couple of unique features at this price range. While I didn’t have the opportunities to try the SM Lite with the MAE “multidimensional acoustic kit”, I do love that it comes with some nozzles filters as this opens it up to many possibilities for those wanting to customise the sound.

If you are looking for a very comfortable V-shaped IEM I would recommend the SM1 Lite especially with the quality accessories at this price.