The Tipsy Audio M3 is a hybrid in-ear monitor featuring one dynamic driver and two balanced armature drivers, priced at around 190–220 USD depending on retailer and configuration. The M3 is available in 4 different colours.
The M3 uses a 9.2 mm dynamic low-frequency driver with a titanium-coated PET diaphragm and a moving-coil design for the bass. The mids and highs are covered by two customized composite balanced armature units. The crossover is a 2-way electronic crossover with phase alignment.
Tipsy Audio is a small boutique in-ear monitor designer and manufacturer from China, established in 2016. They have primarily served the domestic and broader Asian markets, but with the M1, M3, and M5, they are now fully targeting the international market.
TIPSY M3 SPECIFICATIONS
- Drivers:
- 9.2 mm dynamic driver (bass)
- 2 balanced armature drivers (mids and highs)
- Crossover: 2-way
- Impedance: 17 Ohms @ 1kHz
- Sensitivity: 105 dB/mW @ 1kHz.
- THD: < 1%
- Passive Noise Cancellation (PNC): Rated at -26dB to -36dB depending on the ear tip seal.
- Nozzle diameter: 5.6 mm
- Cable: detachable 1.2-meter quad-braided high-purity alloyed copper cable.
- Connector/Pin type: 0.78mm 2-pin QDC
- Plug Termination: 3.5mm single-ended audio jack.
- Shell Material: 3D-printed, skin-friendly resin
- Colour options: Green, Red, Black and White, Bright Blue
- Weight: 4.4 g per side.
- Metal carrying case and tips included
Current price and availability:
- Amazon: Tipsy M3
BUILD AND COMFORT
The Tipsy M3 is made from skin-friendly 3D-printed resin and is extremely lightweight at only 4.4 grams. It sits very comfortably in my ears.
The cable is a detachable 1.2-meter quad-braided high-purity alloy copper cable with 0.78 mm 2-pin QDC connectors and gold-plated contacts. It terminates in a 3.5 mm single-ended audio jack.
There are three pairs of silicone ear tips included (S/M/L), along with one pair of universal-size foam ear tips.
Also included is a sleek and well-designed 3.5 mm to 6.35 mm adapter plug, as well as a nice, lightweight puck-shaped protective carrying case made of metal, which I really like. The case is simple, sturdy, and light.
All in all, I really like the complete package. Everything feels well thought out and of high quality.
EAR TIPS
As usual, I did not use the included tips for my listening sessions; I used my own. Both the Azla Crystal and the SpinFit CP145 worked well. They sounded very similar, but offered slightly different comfort and fit. For me, the CP145 worked best.
LISTENING IMPRESSIONS
Associated equipment:
- Amplifier: Topping A90
- DAC: RME ADI-2 DAC FS
- Tips: Azla Crystal
The Tunnel by Tord Gustavsen Trio
The M3 delivers very punchy percussion and adelicate piano reproduction. The general character is nicely warm and sweet, but with great dynamics.
Rocket Man by Bob James Trio
The standing bass is powerful yet detailed. The piano is very delicate, and the percussion is snappy.
Aura by Bicep
The bass is rich, the percussion tight. The treble isn’t overly crisp, rather smooth. I like it.
New Life Baby Paris by Mala
The percussion is again very snappy. The treble is detailed yet smooth.
Maple Noise by Greene Serene
The bass is rich and thick yet with good definition. The trumpet is smooth and definitely not as sharp and crisp as it can be. The dynamics are stunning.
Vicarious by Tool
The M3 works very well with this heavy metal track. The bass is rich, the textures well defined but not overly crisp and sharp. Instrument separation is good and the dynamics excellent.
Bored by Deftones
Excellent here too. The rich bass and excellent dynamics are perfect for this track as well.
Desert Island Disk by Radiohead
Rich low end, clean and dynamic guitar. The vocals sound very alive.
Caravan by Jesca Hoop
Very delicate. Nice sense of space.
Teardrop by Massive Attack
Impressive bass with good texture and presence. Very snappy percussion. Great vocals.
Eye of the Day by Marta del Grandi
The bass is very tactile, the guitar crisp and detailed, the percussion snappy, and the vocals well balanced with delicate nuance, but not as energetic and intense as they can be.
Summer 3 Vivaldi Recomposed by Max Richter
Excellent separation of instruments, natural and engaging. This track can often sound a bit dark and muddy with many earphones, but certainly not so with the M3.
Young Vivaldi by Modo Antiquo
Great instrument timbre on the strings. Nicely warm but still with great attack and bite. Excellent separation.
WRAPPING IT UP
Sound Signature
The Tipsy M3 is a relatively neutral, warm-leaning IEM with some extra but not excessive bass presence. Some would call it V-shaped, but it does not have a very spicy treble; it is clean and present enough. The midrange is a bit recessed compared to some earphones, but all in all it does not stray too far from neutral and sounds very natural to me.
Treble
The treble is excellent. It retrieves great detail, is neither recessed nor dark, and is not sharp or overly crisp. It is nicely smooth without being laid back.
Midrange
The midrange may be slightly drawn back compared to some other earphones, but I do not find it unnatural. It has a very nice presence and excellent detail for the price.
Bass
The bass is fantastic. It is a bit elevated compared to strictly neutral earphones, but the tactility and dynamics are excellent.
Soundstage and Imaging
The soundstage size is good – the imaging is excellent. The instrument separation is superb and the layering is great. At this price point I am really impressed.
Detail, Dynamics, and Timbre
The detail level is very high, dynamics are simply stunning. The timbre is natural and organic across the entire frequency range.
COMPARISONS
Associated equipment:
- Amplifier: Topping A90
- DAC: RME ADI-2 DAC FS
- Tips: SpinFit CP145 / Azla Crystal
TIPSY M1 vs M3
The M3’s smaller sibling is the Tipsy M1, a single dynamic driver IEM costing around $99.
The M1 is even smaller and lighter than the M3, and it comes with the same accessories.
In terms of sound, however, they are quite different. The Tipsy M1 is a warm, smooth, and dark-sounding IEM with a tuning that will not appeal to everyone, even though it appeals to me personally. The M3 is more neutral. Even if it has a somewhat V-shaped sound signature, it’s less dark sounding. The detail level, imaging capabilities, and dynamics of the M3 are also several steps up.
An advantage with the M1, however, is that it is smaller and actually very compact. But in every other regard I think the M3 is a solid upgrade, unless you specifically want the darker tuning of the M1.
You can find my full review here:
- Amazon: Tipsy M1
WESTONE MACH 50 vs TIPSY M3
This is a more unusual comparison, as the Mach 50 is in a significantly higher price class at $400 (varying) and uses only balanced armature drivers, with a total of five BAs. However, it is very lightweight and even more compact than the Tipsy M3.
Comparing these two IEMs was very interesting. I really enjoy the Mach 50’s smooth, slightly warm-neutral tuning. The midrange in particular is more forward, has a warmer tone, and offers very high quality. The M3 generally has better dynamics and bass quality.
You can find my full comparison here
- Amazon: MACH 50
LETSHUOER ASTRALIS vs TIPSY M3
The Astralis is a single-driver in-ear monitor with a 15.5mm ring-type planar magnetic driver. It launched in spring 2026 at 189 USD.
Compared to the M3, the sound signature is very similar. The Astralis tends to be a bit lusher and sweeter, especially in the midrange. It is not as punchy as the M3, but trades that for a richer and smoother character.
You’ll find my full comparison here
Letshuoer Astralis vs Tipsy M3
KIWI EARS HALCYON vs TIPSY M3
The Kiwi Ears Halcyon is a tribrid IEM using a 10mm dynamic driver, three balanced armatures, and a MEMS driver. It launched in early 2026, priced around 259 USD.
Compared to the M3, the Halcyon has a quite similar sound signature but a more refined character. This comes at the cost of the more explosive and energetic nature of the M3; the Halcyon is smoother but also even more detailed with even better imaging.
You’ll find my full comparison here
AMPLIFICATION
On paper, the Tipsy M3 is very easy to drive, and this corresponds with my experience across various sources, both stationary and portable. My main listening was on my desktop rig, but I also did a listening test with several portable options:
I started out with the tiny Letshuoer DT01 Pro, which does the job very well. Kiwi Ears’ Allegro Pro also works great, as does the Fosi DS3, the Alpha XI1 ONIX, and the xDuoo Link2 Bal2. So far the differences between the dongles are small. There’s a slight difference in terms of fine detail retrieval, but the overall impression doesn’t radically change. For me, the big step up came with the Dragonfly Cobalt which proved a stellar match.
Anyway, in conclusion, the Tipsy M3 is quite easy to drive, but it’s also revealing enough to scale with the source.
CONCLUSION
I really like the Tipsy M3. The bass is nicely elevated and has excellent quality. The midrange may be a bit recessed but is very clear and still present enough. The highs are articulate but not sharp or excessive. The soundstage, instrument separation, and especially dynamics are top notch.
The Tipsy M3 comes highly recommended.
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- Amazon: Tipsy M3
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