Review: Nakamichi K109 Mic, 119 Mic, MV7 Mic earphones

SINGAPORE — Audio company Nakamichi may be famous for their high-end audio products, but now they’ve recently released a trio of earphones, the K109 Mic, the K119 Mic and the MV7 Mic — all priced under S$100 — but does it live up to the Nakamichi name?

All three earphones are in-ear models that come with in-line microphones that make them perfect for using on the go with your smartphone. Other than the price and the differently shaped alloy housing for the ear pieces, what really sets each of them apart is the sound quality.

The K109 Mic, which is the cheapest model, is touted as “crystal clear” — and it does what it says on the box. Instruments are clear with focus on the mids; while the treble could do with some sparkler and despite the lack of ‘oomph’ in the bass, the K109 is a good budget earpiece, which also means that the lack of instrument separation is not a big deal. However, the K109 has tiny ear pieces, which means it can be an odd fit for some of us (like my big ears), and it’s the only earpiece of the three to not come with a tangle-free cable.

If you’re looking for tangle-free earphones, the K119 Mic may be it. Nakamichi has classed it as “high clarity”, but oddly what that means is that the treble and bass seem to be artificially boosted, with bloated bass and piercing trebles. Of the three it actually sounds the thinnest (sometimes too much clarity can be a bad thing, it seems) but it’s a good thing the mids still perform pretty well. Comfort-wise, the K119 is well-shaped, and should have no issues with most ears, but the build of the K119 could do with a bit more work, as some minor gaps along the seams in the ear piece may irk some users.

The MV7 Mic is the most expensive of the lot, and it shows. While Nakamichi is focused on the “dynamic bass”, the presentation is pleasantly balanced and integrated, with clear but not sharp highs and a deep bass — which, however, for a “dynamic bass” model is somewhat polite and could do with a bit more rumble. The MV7s also look great, with the coffee colour coming off a little like a brown gold, and the fit works well too. The tangle-free cable is just icing on the cake.

Coming in at different price points, each model of Nakamichi’s new trio has its own niche to fill, from the low budget K109 Mic to the good sounding MV7 Mic.

If your budget is less than S$100, the Nakamichi MV7 Mic is something to consider (however, I’d recommend the cheaper K109 Mic over the K119 Mic) and if you’re in the market for a pair of Nakamichi earphones, these won’t burn a hole in your pocket.

The K109 Mic and K119 Mic come in black or white, and retails for S$39.90 and S$59.90 respectively. The MV7 Mic comes in coffee or grey, and retails for S$89.90.