Simgot EA500LM​

"I Choose You"​

​

Alright, folks. This time, we're going to discuss another IEM from Simgot. Actually, this product has been launched for quite some time, a few months ago, but the samples for review were only sent by Simgot from China last mid-Ramadan, and it was just towards the end of Ramadan that the product arrived in my hands, here in Jogja, Indonesia.

Now, the one we're going to talk about this time is the SIMGOT EA500LM.


*THANKS TO SIMGOT*
First of all, I would like to express my gratitude again to Simgot for sending this IEM sample for us to review on this forum and also on my YouTube channel, Alba Project Youtube Channel. For those who are interested or curious, you can check the link I provided in the description of my YouTube video.

*PRICE*
As for the price, the EA500LM is currently priced at $80.99 USD on Linsoul as of the date of this writing (April 15, 2024), while it's not yet available on simgot.com, I'm not sure why. Meanwhile, in my country, Indonesia, there are already several stores selling this IEM for around Rp 1,300,000 to Rp 1,400,000.

The price is not much different from the Simgot EM6L that we reviewed earlier.

*SPECIFICATIONS*
In terms of specifications, the Simgot EA500LM differs from the Simgot EM6L. While the Simgot EM6L has a configuration of 1DD plus 4BA, the EA500LM uses only a single dynamic driver. For those of you who are fans of Single Dynamic Driver, pay close attention to this review.

It has an impedance of 21 Ohms, sensitivity of 123 dB, frequency range of 10Hz to 50,000 Hz. The connection from the driver to the cable uses a 2-pin 0.78mm connector. Also, the driver uses a Lithium Magnesium Alloy diaphragm. Hence the name LM. The size of the dynamic driver is standard, 10mm, with dual cavities and dual magnets.

In the EA500LM, we can also change the sound tuning using its detachable nozzles, similar to the older EA500, unlike the EM6L which doesn't have this feature. The tuning using these nozzles results in a significant difference.

Now, considering the comparison between the EA500LM with its single DD and the EM6L with its 5 hybrid drivers, what makes the EA500LM's 1DD special, and why is its price equivalent to the EM6L's with 5 drivers? We'll discuss that later. For now, let's talk about the packaging.

*PACKAGING*
As for the packaging, the box model is similar to the EM6L, with the only difference being the artwork.


While the EM6L had a phoenix bird-like image, this time the EA500LM's image is more like classical astronomical paintings, with images of the sun, stars, or planets, reminiscent of Abdurrahman Al Sufi's style.


As usual, there's the Simgot logo on the top left, the Hi-Res logo on the right, below there's a hand either praying or offering something to the universe, and below that is the EA500LM label.


On the back, there are specifications, etc., along with the frequency response graph.

*ACCESSORIES*
As for the accessories, the EA500LM is similar to the EA500 and EM6L. The only difference is that the EM6L doesn't come with additional nozzles for tuning like this. Also, there's a black and red rubber ring.


Other than that, it's the same: clear unit, ear tips, just three pairs, then there's the high-quality hard case that Simgot always provides, inside there's a High Purity OFC Silver Plated cable. Plus, there's a manual booklet in Chinese and English, and a warranty card.

*BUILD QUALITY*
For the build quality, the pouch is the same as the EM6L's, and I like this pouch, it's sturdy, strong, and can accommodate both a small DAP and the EA500LM IEM. So, if you want to be compact, you can just carry this one pouch everywhere.


I also like the IEM unit itself, it's made of full metal and really sturdy, hard, with a very smooth finish, with just the Simgot logo on the left driver and the LM logo on the right side. This LM logo reminds me of the Mobile Legends logo, but reversed, in Mobile Legends it's ML, and this one is LM.


On the inside, there are two vents, there's something like a bolt, but I don't know what it's for, and there are L and R markings.

The nozzles are also metal, and the filters inside are aluminum.

So overall, it looks very solidly built.

As for the internals, there's one Dual Magnet dynamic driver, size 10mm, with a diaphragm or membrane made of Lithium Magnesium.


The cable is exactly the same as the one from the Simgot EM6L, except this time it doesn't use QDC connectors. This time it's more universal with 2 Pin 0.78mm connectors. The looks are typical Simgot cable, the cable diameter is also not large, it's small, and the cable is soft, not stiff. In daily use, this cable also feels comfortable, there's no noticeable microphonic effect here.


The ear tips are also standard Simgot. I've known for a long time that Simgot provides ear tips like this, they're quite good, the flanges are soft, a bit stiff but still comfortable.

*FITTING*
As for the fitting, Simgot always fits me well, starting from EW100P, EW200, EM6L, up to this EA500LM, they're all comfortable. The housing size is also never too big, even though the EM6L has many drivers, it can still be made compact. Small, smooth, in the ear, it feels immediately comfortable.

For use on a laptop or PC, the metal material is safe, there's no hint of buzzing even when the laptop is charging. Not like the KZ D-Fi which can cause slight buzzing and itching in the ears when plugged into a laptop.

*SOUND QUALITY*
Moving on to the sound quality discussion.

Let me first tell you about its drivability, the EA500LM is quite easy to drive. In terms of volume, even the EA500LM requires less power than the KZ Castor Harman. So, you don't really need a powerful amplifier to drive this EA500LM. The consideration is more towards a source with good sound quality. As for power, it's hardly something to worry about. It's easy.

Also, I need to mention this so that you guys have a better idea of the tonality and technicality of the EA500LM when paired with your devices or sources.


For my own testing of the EA500LM, I used a Fiio KA13 DAC source priced around Rp 1.300.000 IDR, its tonality is slightly neutral with a hint of brightness but has an extra bass kick that makes the sub-bass a bit deeper but still tight and tidy. From the midrange to the highs, it also tends to be slightly crisper. The power output here is also quite significant; well, if it's good enough for KZ PR2 or PR3, then it's sufficient for driving the EA500LM.

Secondly, I used an F.Audio T3 DAP source priced around Rp 900.000 IDR, this one also has a large power character, but not as big as the Fiio KA13. Its tonality is still relatively neutral, but the warmth here is warmer than the Fiio KA13, and it also has quite a bit of smoothing in the range of 7 to 9 kHz, making its character more musical. Additionally, it can better control peaks in the upper midrange, and it can tame sibilance and shoutiness better. The Fiio, on the other hand, is more suited for analytical listening.


Third and fourth, I also connected the EA500LM to cheap dongle DACs costing less than Rp 200.000 IDR, even less than Rp 100.000 IDR. Here, I used the KZ AM01 and the KZ X J3 Labs Audio, known as J3 Eline. They both have the Conexant CX31993 chip, which generally has a tuning from neutral to bright with minimal noise, providing clean sound and decent detail. The AM01 has a secondary independent amplifier, the MAX97220, with a power output of around 60 mW, similar to the JCALLY JM6 Pro, but with a cheaper build quality, especially in the slightly stiff cable.


The remaining connections were made to the Infinix Note 30 smartphone with a DTS sound profile set to Traditional, with bass boost and vocal and treble enhancements turned off, and another connection was made to the Asus ROG Strix G531G laptop.

*TUNING*
For the tuning, I'll be using the Silver Nozzle - Red Ring primarily. After that, we'll discuss how it changes when swapped with the Gold or Silver Nozzle - Black Ring.

*TONAL*
Generally, the Simgot EA500LM with the Silver Nozzle - Red Ring tends to have a Mild V-Shaped or U-Shaped sound signature, with a focus on boosting the Sub-Bass and the Upper-Mid to Mid-Treble range. However, it's not extremely V-Shaped. It's more of a mild V or U shape.

*LOW / BASS*
In terms of low or bass frequencies, it's not entirely neutral; we get a really good depth in the sub-bass, nice texture, tidy mid-bass, and the overall bass’s presentation is very clean. Extremely clear.

However, in terms of its impact on the lower mid-range or vocals, the lower-vocal doesn't thin out too much.

This low’s transient isn't lightning-fast, but it's still considered very versatile. What I mean is, when we need quick bass for chasing double pedal beats in metal music like Trivium or Dragon Force, here we still get enough speed, unless you're used to listening to metal every day with planar IEMs like PR2, PR3, or S12 Pro, or Timeless. With the EA500LM during the initial adaptation phase, it might feel a bit slow, but the texture remains good.

If you've been using non-planar IEMs lately or haven't been using planar IEMs at all, the EA500LM's single DD still feels quite fast.

So, with the EA500LM, it's enjoyable to listen to any genre. Pop songs sound lively, dangdut or even EDM retains its enjoyable bass without feeling dry or hollow.

Now, if we switch to the Gold Nozzle - Red Ring, the bass quantity increases slightly, the mid-bass becomes thicker, so for Pop, Top 40, or EDM music, it can hit harder, although it won't reach the immersive levels of basshead IEMs. The lower vocals also become thicker here. On the other hand, using the Silver Nozzle with the Black Ring, the bass becomes tighter or thinner but can be quicker.

Here, we need to be careful and pay close attention to the sound signature of our source.

In my experience, when I first received the EA500LM, it was fitted with the Gold Nozzle - Red Ring. When I plugged it into the F.Audio T3, which inherently has smoothing in the upper mid-range and treble areas and has a warm tonality, the EA500LM initially disappointed me a bit. Overall, the tone felt too warm, somewhat muddy, with vocals pushed back and the treble somewhat dulled. This affected not only the tonality but also the technical aspects, such as clarity, separation, and sound staging, all felt somewhat lacking.

On the other hand, when I switched to the Silver Nozzle, whether with the Red-Ring or the Black-Ring, the difference was significant. These two Silver Nozzles are much more compatible with the F.Audio T3 compared to the Gold one.

Conversely, the Gold Nozzle feels best when plugged into other sources like the AM01, Fiio KA13, or even J3 Eline. It sounds best with the KA13. Here, we get bass that's punchier yet tidier and cleaner. The positive impact extends to the overall vocal and treble presentation, which sounds nicer and cleaner here than when plugged into the F.Audio T3 earlier.

*MID & VOCAL*
Regarding the mids and vocals, using the Silver Nozzle - Red Ring, the vocal thickness is just right, positioned well in the center for male vocals, while for female vocals they sound more forward here. When plugged into the F.Audio T3 with the Silver Nozzle - Red Ring, the vocals feel relaxed, fitting, lively, and clean, with clear articulation of lyrics and good dynamics that convey emotion well.

However, when this Silver Nozzle is plugged into the Fiio KA13, it tends to be slightly aggressive in the upper mid-range, and male vocals become somewhat thin, while female vocals become even more pronounced. Sometimes, it can sound shouty and slightly sibilant.

With the Fiio KA13, KZ AM01, or J3 Eline, in my opinion, the best match is with the Gold Nozzle - Red Ring, which makes male vocals thicker, while female vocals and the overall upper mid-range don't become too forward. Using the Gold Nozzle here prevents shoutiness or sibilance.

Instrument sounds in the mid-range have a similar presentation to vocals. Clear, clean, lively, with good clarity. But again, match or synergize the nozzle with the sound signature of the source.

*HIGH / TREBLE*

For the high frequencies or treble, the extension is decent; it has good extension but not overly extended, nor is it truncated. It's just right. The focus is more on the upper midrange to the lower treble. The mid-treble also retains a nice crispness. Instrument sounds in this frequency range, such as the cymbals, focus more on the initial strikes, the crashes or crispness, which feel quite forward.

Here, if we use a warm source with a lot of smoothing like the F.Audio T3, I personally find the Silver Nozzle - Red Ring more suitable. You can also use the Black Ring if you want an even crisper instrument presentation. Because if you use the Gold Nozzle, the EA500LM with the F.Audio T3 will feel muddy, with too much bass bleeding to the lower mid-range, and the vocals will be too recessed.

Conversely, if you pair it with a bright source like the Fiio KA13, the Gold Nozzle feels the most comfortable for listening to any genre. The crispness is just right, not piercing, with very minimal peaks, and still delivers a very clean instrument presentation. Meanwhile, if you use the Silver Nozzle, especially the Black Ring one, the treble can be a bit too forward and quite aggressive.

So, those were the tonal characteristics. It's really beneficial that the EA500LM has detachable nozzles that can be tuned to match our sources better. If your source is warm, use the Silver nozzle; if your source is bright, use the Gold nozzle. Both provide good, clean tonal presentations.

*TECHNICALITY*

In terms of technical performance, what stands out most about the Simgot EA500LM is its clean presentation. The quality of its dynamic driver is very good. No matter which source you plug it into, the presentation remains clean once tuned properly. Furthermore, the cleaner the source, the greater its potential for cleanliness. For example, with these two sources, although both can make the presentation of the LM clean, it's still cleaner with the Fiio KA13 compared to the F.Audio T3 or the two other dongles.

*TIMBRE*
Regarding timbre, the EA500LM isn't the most natural, but it's still good enough to distinguish the sound of each instrument. There are no instruments that sound off, metallic, plasticky, muddy, boxy, or anything like that. Everything is relatively safe.

*SEPARATION, LAYERING & POSITIONING*
For separation, layering, and positioning, considering this is only a single dynamic driver and not a planar one, it's pretty good. Instruments are well separated, layering isn't overlapping, and positioning can be analyzed quite well. It's not better than the EM6L, which has one dynamic driver and four BAs, but the EA500LM is still good.

But also note, don't use the Gold Nozzle with a warm DAC or DAP with lots of smoothing if you want good technical performance.

*RESOLUTION, CLARITY & DETAIL*
Including resolution, clarity, and detail, you'll get good resolution, clarity, and detail with the Silver Nozzle. But be careful, this Silver Nozzle has the potential to make the upper mids and treble aggressive when plugged into a bright DAC or DAP. If you're using a DAC or DAP with a bright sound, it's better to use the Gold Nozzle; it still provides good overall resolution, detail, and clarity, including separation, layering, and positioning.

The detail isn't extremely fine, especially in the treble detail, because the treble extension isn't extremely extended, especially in the airy parts; it's just decent in the EA500LM. Not extremely airy.

*SOUND STAGING & IMAGING*
The sound staging of the EA500LM is wide and spacious, with good depth and height, and the sensation of rotation around the head is quite good. In terms of imaging, it also has good depth, height, and rotation sensation around the head.

*COMPARISON*
For comparison, I won't compare it to the EA500 because I haven't tried it myself yet, so I'll compare it to the EM6L first.

If you're really looking for good technical performance in terms of instrument separation, positioning, and layering, the EM6L feels more luxurious.

But with the EM6L, you won't get the same clean instrument and vocal presentation as with the EA500LM. The details and resolution are better with the EM6L, but both still have similar levels of clarity.

For tonality, I personally tend to prefer the EA500LM with the Gold Nozzle paired with the Fiio KA3. The sub-bass hits deep, the mid-bass punch is sufficient, vocals are clean without thinning out, and the treble has a lively presentation without being aggressive.

At this price point, what else do we have? Maybe the Hidizs MS3. Resolution is indeed better with the Hidizs MS3. Separation and 3D imaging are also slightly better with the MS3. But once again, in terms of the clean instrument presentation given by the drivers, the EA500LM is still better. Tonal-wise, the MS3 has some points of aggressive upper vocals and lower treble.

*CONCLUSION*


Okay, folks, in conclusion, if you're a fan of single dynamic drivers, whether it's single DD or dual DD, at the price of around 1 million, I think the Simgot EA500LM is one of the good choices and safe to pair with whatever source you have. Just adjust it with its detachable nozzles. And I suggest optimizing its potential by pairing it with a good source, especially one with a clean black background and good technical performance, no need for high power.

But if you're really into technical aspects like separation, imaging, and positioning, you might lean more towards the Simgot EM6L or Hidizs MS3.

Okay, peace be upon you, and thank you.