Firstly I would like to thank Simgot for sending me the EA500 to review.
*disclaimer: This sample was provided for the purpose of writing a review, no incentive was given to write a favourable review. All opinions expressed are my own subjective findings
Gear Used:
iBasso DX200 > EA500
JDS Labs Atom DAC+ > Singxer SA-1 > EA500
Tech Specs:
• MODEL – EA500
• DRIVERS – 10mm dual-magnetic-circuit & dual-cavity structure dynamic.
• DIAPHRAGM – Fourth-generation DLC composite diaphragm
• IMPEDANCE – 16Ω+15% (@1kHz)
• SENSITIVITY – 123dB/Vrms (@1kHz nozzle with red ring) 124dB/Vrms (@1kHz nozzle with black ring
• FREQUENCY RESPONSE RANGE – 10Hz-50KHz
• EFFECTIVE FREQUENCY RESPONSE – 20Hz-20kHz
• CABLE – High-purity silver-plated OFC wire
• CONNECTOR – 0.78mm 2-pin
https://www.linsoul.com/products/simgot-ea500
Packaging, Build Quality and Accessories
The Simgot EA500 come in a small matte black box, it has the model’s name on the front and info about the IEM’s on the back along with 2 graphs showing the sound signature for each nozzle (Black and Red). Slide the outer cover off and there is another matte black box with rose gold lettering embossed, a very nice touch. The box is mostly made of carboard, with a small section of hard foam to hold the IEMs in place, this is good for the environment which I appreciate. You’ll find the IEMs and accessories all neatly laid out in separate parts of the box and its well done overall.
Build quality is excellent, the main housing is made from metal and the detachable cable uses a standard 2-pin connector. The nozzles unscrew to allow either the black or red silicone ring ones to be fitted, these act as tuning filters which is a great addition. The cable is a twisted pair for below the splitter and single above, internally there are 4 cores of stranded silver-plated-copper OFC and the flexibility is excellent along with great strain relief on all parts.
Accessory wise you get 3 sets of silicone eartips (S, M and L) along with a spare set of nozzles (red are fitted, black are spare) there is a small bag of coloured o-rings too in case you lose any/they get damaged. There is also an oval shaped clamshell carry case included which is great, personally I would have liked to see more eartips included but all the basics are covered so that’s a plus.
Comfort and Isolation
The Simgot EA500 have a well-shaped housing which allows for a comfortable fit, the only issue I had was that the weight of the metal housing did cause them to slide out a little and meant they didn’t fit as flush as I would have liked. They didn’t fall out however, I would not pick these for active use, and they’re better suited for general daily usage. I did find them to be comfortable in use, and the cable greatly contributes to this, being supple and easy to handle.
Isolation is average, these are a vented dynamic driver design and as such will never compete with fully sealed balanced armature models. They do very well for everyday commuting and the usual daily activities, but if you have a very noisy commute, I would look at something a little more isolating.
Sound
Firstly, I will start off with the red nozzle which Simgot claim follows the Harman earphone curve quite closely. The Simgot EA500 have a punchy sound with these nozzles, there is great punch from the lower end of the spectrum and it’s controlled along with impactful. The punch is well controlled and there is good extension to back it up, these are not bass-head IEMs however they are mildly fun and quite engaging with the right music.
The midrange has detail, the EA500 manage to extract an impressive amount of detail from vocals and guitars without them sounding clinical. The transition from the bass into the midrange is handled very well without any excessive warming of the lower midrange, and equally the transition from the upper midrange into the treble is smooth with only a hint of sibilance on certain tracks. The midrange has very impressive tonality and they never sound congested, vocals are slightly forward giving them a bit of an intimate presentation however the rest of the instruments are well placed within the soundstage.
Treble wise these have good presentation and are not lacking when it comes to quantity, they are not however presented in a brash or up-front way and don’t ever become fatiguing. Extension is good, whilst they don’t quite trail off as effortlessly as some others, for the price the detail and control are commendable. They complement the overall balance and leave the EA500 sounding fun and enjoyable without sounding dull, or too clinical either. There is a sense of sparkle up top, but the highs are well controlled and even tonally they come across very well for the price.
Overall the red nozzles have a thoroughly enjoyable, well balanced sound with slightly forward vocals that give them a somewhat intimate presentation without ever sounding congested. The detail in the midrange is stunning for the price, and I really enjoy this sound signature.
Now on to the black nozzles, Simgot call this tuning a “Classic-Simgot” tuning and it differs to the Harman curve in a few ways. Right away you will notice a slight decrease in body in the bass, the punch is a little drier and has less warmth and body to it, and to me sounds a little less natural down low. Kick drums sound a bit to constrained, there sound be more body to back them up, however articulation and speed is good with the black nozzles.
The midrange is still quite natural; however, it is ever so slightly cooler in tonality, it doesn’t quite have the natural warmth of the red nozzles. Due to the slight decrease in body, there is a slight perceived increase in detail, the upper midrange is still well controlled though with minimal sibilance however it is a little more forward. The presentation is also slightly different, vocals don’t come across quite as up-front and there is a little more space within the soundstage.
A small increase in treble presence is noticeable and they no longer sound quite as well rounded and punchy, instead the overall signature is a little leaner and could become fatiguing at louder volumes. There is slightly more sparkle to the treble and it is more upfront in its presentation however it does remain quite well controlled and doesn’t sound splashy or overly peaky.
Overall, the black nozzles are a little leaner sounding which can work well for some genres, there is a perceived increase in detail due to the tuning and the treble is a little more upfront however they are lacking a slight richness to the sound that the red nozzles have.
Conclusion
The Simgot EA500 with the red nozzles are very easy to enjoy, I think they have a signature that is easy to like and the technicalities are mightily impressive for the price. There is a good level of detail retrieval, the sound is controlled and they never come across as congested. The black nozzles on the other hand could sound fatiguing to some over time and at higher volumes, the sound with the black nozzles is a little lean and perhaps not quite as fun and engaging as the red. Which you will prefer will come down to personal preference however, I found the red nozzles to provide a very well-rounded sound that way engaging, fun and yet technically proficient too. They are comfortable but the housings are quite heavy and I did find them not to sit as flush as I would have liked due to this (along with my awkward ear canals).
Sound Perfection Rating: 8/10 (Excellent build, great sound)