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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want a wired in-ear with a big, full-bodied low end and a clever resonance-duct design that prioritizes slam, choose Audio Technica ATH-CM707; if you need a mic, inline controls and a replaceable cable you can swap or upgrade later, choose SHANLING Music1.
• Audio Technica ATH-CM707 — biggest strength: a newly developed 15.4 mm driver paired with a resonance duct structure, built specifically for powerful low-frequency playback and high-resolution mids.
• Audio Technica ATH-CM707 — biggest trade-off: it's a plain wired listen with no microphone and no inline remote, so it's a music-first tool, not a headset.
• SHANLING Music1 — biggest strength: a detachable 0.78 mm 2-pin cable plus a built-in HD mic and in-line remote, so it doubles as a phone/tablet headset and can be re-cabled later.
• SHANLING Music1 — biggest trade-off: with a 9 mm dynamic driver and 93±2 dB sensitivity, it's tuned for a warmer, relaxing signature rather than maximum driver size.
• Audio Technica ATH-CM707 is for you if you just want to plug in and listen to music, and you value a big low end and a lightweight aluminum housing.
• SHANLING Music1 is for you if you take calls, want one-button control, and like the idea of swapping cables or upgrading down the road.
The ATH-CM707 is a classic wired in-ear built around one clear idea: move a lot of air. Audio-Technica gave it a φ0.6 inch (15.4 mm) driver — genuinely large for an in-ear — and wrapped it in a resonance duct structure designed to complement sound thickness and allow powerful low-frequency playback. In plain terms, this is a design aimed at weight and body rather than a thin, clinical presentation. If your library leans on hip-hop, electronic, rock or anything with a real bassline, that spec sheet is talking directly to you.
The physical build is thoughtful in small ways. The housing uses shaved aluminum alloy, which keeps the main unit down to roughly 6 g, so it stays light in the ear. The bushing is made of highly elastic elastomer, and Audio-Technica uses a crank treatment that's meant to stop the listening point from shifting and improve how the earpiece sits while you move. You also get a 0.6 m + 0.6 m extension cord, so you can go short with a player in your pocket or add the extension to reach a laptop or a stereo across the desk. The cord is tangle-free, and there's a leatherette pouch with a divider for carrying it all.
SHANLING Music1: Who It's For
The Music1 takes the opposite approach: it's a modular, do-everything wired in-ear. The headline feature is the detachable 0.78 mm 2-pin connector — an industry-standard interface, so you can replace a damaged cable, fit a mic cable, or move to a Bluetooth cable or an upgrade cable depending on the scenario. That single design choice turns a pair of earphones into a long-term platform instead of a disposable one. For anyone who has thrown away earphones because the cable failed, this matters.
On the audio side, SHANLING uses a 9 mm composite-diaphragm dynamic driver with low impedance and high sensitivity, aimed at better transient response and sufficient signal-flow management. Spec-wise you're looking at 16Ω impedance, 93±2 dB sensitivity, and a 20 Hz–40 kHz frequency response, with a wide 3D stereo sound field. Notably, the Music1 was created in collaboration with British Hi-Fi brand Myryad and tuned for a warmer, more relaxing sound with rich bass and full mids, following the tradition of legendary British speakers. That's a specific voice: smooth and easy over long sessions rather than aggressively analytical.
Comfort gets real attention too. The shells use a custom-like shape and a DLP 3D-printed cavity, with an ergonomic profile designed to sit safely in your ears even after hours of listening. The cable is oxygen-free silver-plated copper in a TPE braid, built to reduce distortion and loss. And the practical stuff is all here: a built-in HD microphone and an integrated in-line remote, so you can take calls and control playback with one touch. The Music1 is also offered in six colors, so you can pick one you actually like.
Who should buy it? Anyone using a phone or tablet as their main source who wants one wired pair for music and calls, and who values being able to change the cable later. Who should skip it? If you want the largest possible driver and a pure music-only tool with no controls or mic, the CM707's bigger 15.4 mm driver is the more targeted pick.
• Best for powerful low-frequency playback → Audio Technica ATH-CM707. The 15.4 mm driver and resonance duct structure are purpose-built for a fuller, thicker low end.
• Best for calls and one-touch control → SHANLING Music1. Built-in HD mic plus an integrated in-line remote make it a true headset.
• Best for long-term ownership → SHANLING Music1. The 0.78 mm 2-pin detachable cable means you can replace or upgrade instead of replacing the whole pair.
• Best for a light, simple, plug-and-listen setup → Audio Technica ATH-CM707. At about 6 g with a shaved aluminum housing, it's minimal and unobtrusive.
• Best for warmer, relaxing tuning → SHANLING Music1. The Myryad collaboration points to rich bass and full mids over a bright, clinical sound.
• Best for cable-length flexibility → Audio Technica ATH-CM707. The 0.6 m + 0.6 m extension cord lets you run short with a pocket player or long at a desk.
• Best for fit and finish options → SHANLING Music1. Custom-like DLP 3D-printed shells in six colors, built for hours of wear.
• Best for maximum driver size → Audio Technica ATH-CM707. 15.4 mm versus 9 mm; if raw driver area is your priority, the CM707 wins on paper.
If I were buying for myself today, I'd take the SHANLING Music1. In my opinion, the detachable 0.78 mm 2-pin cable is the single most useful feature in this whole comparison — it means a broken cable is a cheap fix rather than a dead pair, and it lets you shift between a mic cable, a Bluetooth cable or an upgrade cable as your needs change. Add the built-in mic and in-line remote, the comfortable DLP 3D-printed shells, the Myryad-tuned warmer signature and six color options, and it's the more versatile, longer-lived choice for most people. I'd only steer you to the Audio Technica ATH-CM707 if you specifically want the biggest driver here, a strong low end, a featherweight aluminum build and don't care about a mic or controls.
FAQ
Yes. It has a built-in HD microphone and an integrated in-line remote for calls and playback. The Audio Technica ATH-CM707 does not list a microphone or inline controls, so it's a music-only wired in-ear.
Only on the SHANLING Music1. It uses 0.78 mm 2-pin industry-standard connectors, so you can swap to a mic cable, Bluetooth cable or upgrade cable. The ATH-CM707 uses a fixed cable, though it does include a 0.6 m + 0.6 m extension cord.
I don't quote prices here, since they change. The honest answer is to check the current price on Amazon for both using the button on this page, then weigh that against the features you actually need — a mic and swappable cable, or a bigger driver and lighter build.
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