This is a review of the RHA MA750 Wireless IEM which is part of a new range of Bluetooth capable models based on their classic wired versions. They retail for an SRP of $169.95.
Disclaimer: This sample was sent to us in return for our honest opinion. Thank you to the team at RHA for giving us this opportunity.
To learn more about RHA products that we have previously featured on Headfonics you can click here.
Note, that this article follows our latest guidelines which you can read up on here.
Four and a half years ago we reviewed the MA750i and back then it got an excellent score. I say excellent because at the time we scored to UK standards and we are a stingy lot with marks back home.
If we scored it today it might be a few points higher on the US scale we now use. This was an absolute cracker of a budget-wired IEM with excellent build quality, above-average sound, and backed by an excellent warranty.
With the advent of headphone jack-free devices, aptX, and LDAC in 2018, it is no surprise then that RHA has come full circle to the MA750 and delivered a wireless version of their classic lineup.
There are two in their MA wireless lineup currently. The first is a spin on the MA650 and the second is the MA750 version. Both are priced competitively at $99 for the MA650 and $169.50 for the MA750 alternative in the US. In the UK it is £99.95 and £149.95 respectively.
What Is The Pitch?
Connectivity
The pitch is simple with the MA750 wireless. Take everything you know about a budget-level high performing single dynamic driver capability from the original wired model and reproduce it in a wireless format.
Thus the MA750 is pitched as a crossover product. It takes the solid following gained from audiophile MA750 owners and factors in the ever-growing demand for wireless audio gear sparked by Apple’s decision to drop the jack.
aptX
Whilst not necessarily something new it is nevertheless an important pitch for the MA750. If you want to keep your audience and reach out same time to a new one based on audio capability then aptX as a minimum is the requirement.
Plenty of devices now deliver aptX as standard from smartphones right down to $100 DAPs. The MA750 Wireless is designed to tap into that wide availability of aptX sources.
Active Lifestyle
Whilst not overtly reaching out to active users many of the features would point to a pitch to that kind of likely target audience. The MA750 boasts a rock-solid stainless steel housing as well as being sweat and splashproof to IPX4.
Combined with a rated 12 hours of battery life RHA believes the MA750 wireless is perfect for those who pretty much spend their life on the go.
Design
Form Factor
The MA750 wireless has two key aspects to its form factor. The first is the familiar MA750 component which is a legacy design from the original wired version. The second is the wireless neck strap where the y-splitter might have been. The look is thus a mix of the new and familiar.
The driver used is their handmade 506.1 single dynamic driver so the basics of the original MA750 remain intact internally. Externally it is much the same. Little, if anything, has changed.
Aerophonic Design
The MA750 driver housing still reminds me of a poor man’s K3003. Almost five years later it still looks great to my eyes. The rounded housing is a very robust stainless steel with what RHA has termed an Aerophonic design. This shape is supposed to minimize outside interference and create an obstruction-free route for the signal to hit your ear.
The nozzle is at a right angle to the main body, of about medium length, and finished with a wire gauze covering the gap and a nicely finished lip for holding the supplied tips.
Magnets
One cool feature of the MA750 Wireless is the magnetized faceplates on the driver housing. When you wrap this thing around your next you simply click them together and the magnets keep them joined. An excellent idea for keeping the system tidy. I can see that appeal to active lifestyle guys and OCD audiophiles for sure.
Cable System
From the durable-looking strain relief at the top of the drivers down around 30cm, you get a fairly typical IEM wire. This wire then feeds into two wide rubber-coated and stainless steel-tipped barrels. These barrels contain all the electricals of the MA750 wireless including NFC, USB connectivity, and the BT module itself.
The loop is completed with a rubberized and fairly thick cable between the two barrels which is designed to rest on the back of your neck and relieve any strain from the traditional wire.
Retention & Hooks
There is not too much wire to worry about memory retention and the weighting is actually pretty good so it does not feel like it is going to get in your way. Instead, it drops down in an orderly fashion from your ear and keeps fairly quiet.
The MA750 Wireless also uses a springy low-profile memory hook system below the strain relief. The hooking is more like a preformed part of the original rubber jacket so it is not heat-shrink additional material.
It works like a charm and does not get in the way too much for the use of glasses. It does not bend or twist to shape by the way. However, it is flexible enough to adjust for pretty much any ear shape. Once off your ear, it springs back to its original form.
Remote Control
On the right side of the traditional wire, RHA has retained the MA750i universal inline remote and mic module which is fairly essential for a wire-free experience, especially if paired with a mobile phone. This is a nicely finished silver barrel and black plastic operating button system.
Users of the older wired series will notice right away it is pretty much the same system except the moniker on the steel barrel has changed from ‘MA750’i to simply ‘MA Series’.
Comfort & Seal
In The Ear
There are two parts to consider when speaking about the comfort levels of the MA750 Wireless. The first is the more traditional factors of how it feels in your ear.
It is a fairly heavy driver body but the shape and decent nozzle length mean that it fits very nicely in the ear and remains very comfortable to wear. The hooks take a little weight off also as well as keep it nice and steady during use.
On The Neck
The second aspect is the neckband design. When I first saw the design I had an impression that it might grate on my neck and place some uncomfortable weight on my neck. Coming from the tiny Flares Audio Flares Pro BT necklace design it certainly is a lot bigger.
However, on the neck, you can hardly feel it. It is only if you are really doing some vigorous jogging (I am told by someone else because I do not do jogging!) or some rapid up and down movements (I can do that!) that it moves at all. This is a much better design than you think.
Tips
Given the circular barrel of the driver body, the MA750 Wireless is quite tip-dependent for isolation purposes. The tip you use will also have a bit of an effect on the sound signature with foams most likely to produce the best all-round performance.
RHA has always been excellent with their supply of tips and the MA750 Wireless is no different. Using their lovely little metal carry tray you get a very wide selection of silicone single bore, dual flange, and foam tips. All come in small, medium, and large sizes except the foam tips which are both medium-sized.
The silicone single bore tips are just ok at sealing, nothing special, and will let in a lot of background noise. They also leak a little reducing the impact of the bass performance.
The dual flange tips will insert a bit deeper and seal better than the single bore variants. The foam tips are the best for sealing and are also very comfortable. They also form and expand better in your ear and feel a bit more secure in the ear.
Battery Life
The MA750 Wireless has a rated battery life of 12 hours. I am not entirely sure of the testing process that got that 12-hour rating but compared to Advanced’s Evo X at just 5 hours, Flares Pro at 10 hours, and the Brainwavz BLU-200 at just a measly 3-4 hours you would have to say the MA750 Wireless is best in class.
Now my own testing didn’t get 12 hours, but close enough, around 10-11 hours and pushing lower the more button mashing and volume adjustments I made.
Accessories & Packaging
RHA always so some nice packaging and the MA750 Wireless is no different. The box is a flip-out display type with a transparent layer over a nice presentational layout of the MA750 itself. Underneath you get a very wide range of accessories. In fact, very similar to the MA750 though there are some slight changes to things such as the carry case.
The carry case is a netted flexible pouch with a drawstring tightener. I see this in a lot of packages from cheap to $700 upwards for IEMs and portable amps. I like it actually though those looking for the old zip case might be disappointed they did away with it.
I can see a reason behind it since the MA750 Wireless is quite big in size. You do need something with a bit more give and take to fit it in and this pouch will fit it once folded in the right manner.
Additional accessories include the tips in that nice branded metallic tray holder, a spare USB cable for charging, and a tiny detachable wire slider in black.
Click on Page 2 below for Sound Impressions & Comparisons
