EPZ G10 Review
“Symphony Dragon”
Intro
Today I am reviewing one of EPZ Audio‘s budget oriented iems called the “EPZ G10″. The G10 is advertised as a “gaming” headset. However, simply calling this a gaming set does not do it justice because I personally feel they replay music very well for the price of $35. EPZ actually gave the G10 the name “Symphony Dragon” which is a pretty cool name I suppose. What’s a gaming headset without a cool name? Folks, going into this review I had decided beforehand to give this set a couple months of usage. I did so for a couple reasons. First, being that this is a gaming set I actually needed to “Game” to gain any perspective on the quality that the G10 offers. Also, it is so much better to have good experiential knowledge of these devices so to help the consumer (you?) if possible. The G10 is yet another intriguing iem from this brand. I’ve only had one of their iems in my ears until this point. Granted, they are gaining popularity. Still, that “popularity” has been realized not because of their huge marketing, but instead from organic, grassroots “word-of-mouth”. That’s when you know you have a special company. Way to go EPZ.
EPZ
Located in Shenzhen China, the original company was actually founded way back in 2008! That took me by surprise. They specialize in R&D, 3D Resin printing of both universal and custom high-res earphones & true wireless, among other ventures and specialties. Apparently, they have their own independent R&D team and production towards micro-speakers, military earphones, and work closely with many well-known brands for production, supplying finished designs as well as acoustic components. Their team has many years under their belt and expertise in acoustic structure, acoustic device selection, calibration and tuning as well.
However, it wasn’t until 2019 that the audio brand “EPZ” was actually founded & established. Since then, they have been really doing a fantastic job by the looks of their website in creating unique designs, all 3D printed and gorgeous in my opinion. This is a very condensed view of a company which has been in this game for quite some time and now I am very interested in learning more about them.
A lil help…
I do have to inform you all that I was not the only participant in this review as I also had my supremely talented son helping me for the gaming portion and I completely trust his input. He’s a smart kid and an eloquent one at that, which helps tremendously, as he has a good understanding of what a person would be looking for in a good gaming headset. Full disclosure people. I am not the gamer I used to be (many moons ago) and while I do partake on occasions, the real good gaming input comes from my son. I had a good time with it too, having my boy help me is time well spent.
They take their time
Again, I’ve had a ton of time playing games and listening to music with the G10, and it’s hard not to be impressed by what I hear. I actually reviewed the EPZ Q5 (Q5 Review) a few months prior and I was blown away by the sound quality. Truly, the people at EPZ know what they are doing and seem to only release a set when it’s ready. They don’t just throw spaghetti at a wall to see what sticks. EPZ fine tunes, they take their time, and let their devices speak for themselves. They don’t have some massive marketing team professing that their iems are the greatest thing on planet earth. I think we can all agree that this is an awesome way to go about your business. Word spreads organically, word of mouth. This is the type of brand to get behind. Also, they care about their craft which is something that is so good to see and comforting knowing. Anyways, I have had months to listen and now I’m ready to speak about this special budget set. The EPZ G10 everyone…
G10 Pros
-Fantastic Value and price to performance
-Build Quality
-Unboxing is pretty cool for the price
-Lightweight & ergonomic for long listening or gaming sessions
-Nicely done Harman type tuning
-Deep and nimble bass
-Melodic midrange with good clarity
-The treble is nicely elevated, extended, and detailed
-Stage is above average
-Imaging is nice
-Detail Retrieval is good for the tuning
G10 Cons
-May not suit those who want a warm and lush tuning
-Complicated tracks can sound, complicated
-Note weight could use some richness
-Honestly at this price I’m reaching for cons
Gear used for testing
–iBasso DX240 with Amp8 MK2
Packaging / Accessories
Unboxing
The box that the G10 arrived in is an average size black rectangular box, big enough to tell that there’s some accessories hidden inside. Anyways, open the box and you’ll see the very nice looking G10 placed neatly in some soft foam cutouts with a thin decorated paper overtop and the cable attached. Take out that layer and underneath are the eartips is a UV light (I’ll explain), a splitter for gaming, and a drawstring cloth bag for carrying the G10. Ya know, I reviewed the EPZ Q5 (Q5 Review) a while back and I was beyond impressed at the design of the packaging, the unique and well thought out unboxing experience and I felt the same way here. Honestly folks, who hands out splitters and UV lights? Totally unique. Of course, this is marketed as a gaming headset (to an extent) so at least that does make sense. EPZ is not here to shortchange anyone.
Eartips
EPZ included a total of six pairs of eartips within the package. The first set (S, M, L) is a silicone eartip which greatly resembles the shape and size of the KBear 07 tips. These are the tips I chose, and I do think they are the best for me. These 07 clones do very well to seal in my ear and also do well to open up the upper mids and add some tight punch to the mid-bass. The other sets of tips (S, M, L) are three pairs of double-flange gray tips which don’t really fit me all too well, but they may be just what you need. Not much to report here except EPZ does add in some very nice and usable tips.
Cable
The cable provided is not a bad cable at all for the price, but it certainly is a budget cable. The provided cable is a fairly thin and extremely lightweight cable which actually is very comfortable. It definitely isn’t gaudy. I find the included cable to have a very nice look to it with an almost glossy white colorway which strikes a nice contrast against the look of the G10. The cable is actually a 2-pin, 3.5 single ended, 4-core silver plated single-crystal copper cable with silver hardware and is perfectly fine for just about any use case. Being that this is a “gaming” headset (though that’s up for debate) the cable does come with a mic for busting the chops of your gaming friends online. The mic and control pad can be used to issue commands when listening to music and for all I tents and purposes the mic actually has nice call quality. I also didn’t find the included cable to be microphonic.
As I’ve said, the cable is light and comfortable enough. However, it isn’t one of those beefy cables that we all like. In fact, I did swap cables for a 4.4 FAAEAL 8-core copper cable for balanced purposes and I do feel that the G10 awarded me for adding a bit more juice with a more dynamic and tighter presentation. Still, in the end I don’t think that it is a necessity to replace the included cable as it serves its purpose just fine.
Build / Design / Internals / Fit
Build Quality
The build of the EPZ G10 is along the same lines of the Kiwi Ears Cadenza. It has an all resin build and feels great in hand. Folks, we have come such a long way over the years. I would have never thought I would see a build as nice as this five years ago. It really is a nice build. Nothing that jumps out at me as cheap in any sense of the word. Way to go EPZ! I see one vent in the back close to the 2-pin connector and the metal grill is of a good quality. The nozzle is about medium length as well, certainly not something that I’d consider long or short. Very similar to the Cadenza in this regard as well. In fact, I could easily pit the Symphony Dragon G10 against just about any set in its price point and I think it’d fare pretty well.
Design
The design is flat out cool friends. First off, the color of the G10 is all black from the front to the back but you can see some faint gray swirlies on the faceplate area. It’s really sharp. EPZ had a trick up their sleeve though. You remember I mentioned they added a UV light into the package. Well, if you shine the UV rays on the faceplate, you’ll begin to see some electric fluorescent green lines show up. The look is bonkers cool, and the idea is odd enough to be unique. Really a good idea that you won’t see anywhere else. The look is so tough against the black and a neat little trick that you’d never expect to see. Of course, this trick only lasts a little while. Thankfully the original look is very dope.
Internals
The EPZ G10 is a single dynamic driver earphone as EPZ chose to go with a 10mm DMC PU+ LCP dome with a composite Diaphragm in a dual-cavity setup. Obviously, the driver is of decent quality. I don’t hear any undue distortion or anything that would make me think otherwise.
Enhanced Sound Quality:
EPZ Promotional
The EPZ G10 Headphones Wired provide an exceptional listening experience, thanks to their 10mm dual-chamber dual-magnetic high-performance dynamic drivers. Immerse yourself in rich, detailed, and powerful sound.
The combination of PU and LCP composite diaphragm ensures long-lasting durability, allowing you to enjoy your favorite tunes for years to come.
Fit / Isolation
The fit is perfect for me. Now I have no idea if the G10 will fit you but I’m willing to bet that once you find tips which work for you then you’ll be fine. The G10 is a smaller set so most anyone can wear them comfortably, I would assume anyways. Isolation is very good too. I actually would call it above average, in my opinion. The passive noise attenuation is actually pretty darn good.
Drivability
Mobile Listening
The EPZ G10 has an impedance rating of 32 ohms and a sensitivity of 100 dB’s and so it isn’t the hardest set to drive in the world. In fact, I feel the G10 sounds perfectly fine off even lesser powerful sources. Even using my iPad, I was able to bring the G10 to volume with relative ease. That said, I do think that adding a bit more power to a good source is a worthwhile thing to do with this set. For instance, listening with something like the Ifi Go Blu is a big improvement, especially when I use the 4.4 balanced port. The Go Blu has a ton of power for what it is and easily ups the sound quality of the G10. My favorite mobile listening device was easily the Hidizs S9 Pro Plus which has a slightly warmer hue to it and pairs very well tonally with the G10.
A bit more juice
I feel the G10 will not just reward you for more power but even more so it will reward you with better quality sources. I used both the iBasso DX240 as well as the Shanling M6 Ultra which both have a boat load of max power, but I obviously didn’t have to give the G10 all they had. Listening on medium gain using the 4.4 connection was really fantastic on both devices. I do tend to be a bit partial to the M6 Ultra, but which has a more velvet sound and a richer sound then the more neutral and snappier DX240, but I was happy to see that the G10 didn’t really favor either source tonality.
What do you need?
Honestly, I feel you could use a mobile phone with the G10, and you’d be in business. I don’t feel that you need some source with amazing driving power. However, the G10 does scale to both power and to the auditory ability of your source. Also, it doesn’t necessarily favor warm over neutral or vice versa.
Sound Impressions
The G10 comes across neutral / warm to my ears with a fun sound signature floating around a Harman type tuning I would say. The sound as a whole has a smoother delivery yet can display some crispness when it’s asked to. All together I would say that the G10 is better technically than I expected. Meaning, details emerge pretty well, and the transient attack & decay is perceivably on the quicker side. The G10 is able to handle some more complicated tracks to an extent (within reason) too. I wouldn’t say the G10 has a rich sounding note weight, but it also isn’t thin to my ears either. Note quite lean-lush but most notes have decent density to them.
Between the 20’s
We have an emphasized low-end which isn’t the most robust but has plenty of oomph to carry most genres pretty well. The bass can get somewhat deep down low and does have some slam to it. This is a nicely controlled bass region that is more agile than it is boomy.
The midrange comes across closer to neutral in sound with a slightly thinner profile but also a smooth sounding midrange. I really don’t consider the mids to be too recessed either as male or female vocals have nice presence in the mix. Perhaps females have a bit more shimmer to them, but never to a detriment to me. In fact, I feel the sound is pretty organic sounding and is close to natural to my ears. Maybe a titch brighter in the upper mids but I really dig the authentic sounding midrange. If anything, vocals can come across a hint thinner and possibly females have the slightest of artificial note weight which comes across a bit brighter than natural. All in all, it sounds great to my ears though.
The treble has plenty of energy in a snappy and resolute manner with enough vibrance to illuminate some of the subtleties (details) within my music. The treble lifts the entire spectrum and does a nice job of countering the low-end. I find the treble does a better than adequate job of retaining its composure in complicated passages of music and I also feel that extension into the highest of highs to be well drawn out for a set which only costs $35. Imaging is very good, as it should be for a gaming headset. Separation of elements on a stage are also very well done too.
If this is all the further you read
If this is all you read just know this; for $35 you will be getting one of the more versatile sets in the price point. I am enjoying both critical and casual listening with this set. Please trust me I wasn’t planning to be. Well, I should say that I wasn’t expecting the G10 to sound as well as it does for music in particular. Most gaming sets will have some out of place frequencies at times and the fact that the G10 represents each 3rd of the mix in an altogether balanced way is very nice to see. At times some of the spatial placement will be out of whack on some gaming sets when listening to actual music. The G10 doesn’t have this issue. In fact, I certainly feel the G10 is a music set over a gaming set. The G10 is fun, it’s dynamically inclined and it’s musical. I also find the macro-dynamic expression of the sound to be on the fuller side of things. There are some nice dynamics folks, this isn’t a boring set at all.
Bass Region
Sub-bass
Beginning with the lowest of lows in the sub-bass, the G10 comes across as fairly rumbly. Listening to “Groove” by Ray Wylie Hubbard showcases a pretty guttural drone. The note definition on attack has a harder edge to it in my opinion. Basically, there’s a nice leading edge at the peak of each note (depending on the track of course) that doesn’t generally sound blunted or soft at all. There’s some density to the sound which is a welcomed thing to hear. Now that I’ve said that, let me also say that this is not enough to appeal to any bass-bois. Write this down… Not for bassheads! Earlier I said that this set is dynamically balanced, which means that the bass doesn’t overpower any one frequency. The G10 rumbles to an nice extent, yet not so much to overtake any other area of the spectrum. Almost as though there’s a cap to the rumble. Still beefy enough but not so much that I’d call the G10 a low-end heavy iem. Again, dynamically balanced, for the most part.
“2040” by Lil Durk is a track that any set will boom and bring some thunder on. When the bass drops the G10 shows up and does this track justice. Not overdone or overcooked, but nice. It comes across deep enough and the note outline has some solidity that sounds great. This is a nicely done Harman sub-bass for the low-price tag. I usually have a hard time explaining something which is about average in quantity in this region but I’d simply say it’s more fun than it isn’t. It is clean though. Also, there is some roundness to most notes down low and it shows up in this track. There’s depth to the thunder folks.
Mid-bass
The mid-bass isn’t the most boomy that I’ve ever heard which works out nicely for the overall tuning of the G10. There’s moderate to just above moderate emphasis, yet not so much that it spills over and warms the midrange. It doesn’t provoke any veil and basically renders the midrange unsullied & unstained. “Home Sweet Highway” by Ashley Mcbryde kind of makes me a liar though. This is an instance where the G10 “shows up”. Of course, this track is recorded with some beef down low and so the G10 counters that beef with equal… Beef. Best I could do folks. In general, the mid-bass on the G10 is not an overly boosted region, but in tracks which are recorded and mastered to have some boom then the G10 will reciprocate with some boom of its own. In this track you have a sharp and panging snare followed by a deep bass drop which carries the melody. I love that the G10 is able to separate the rest if the melody within this song right along with the rolling bassline. It all sounds well separated which is what we want to hear. I like that the bass doesn’t change the tonal color of the track and the midrange remains clean, resolute and neutral. Not everyone’s cup-of-tea but a very tidy sounding song with the G10.
Low-end drone
“Jealous” by Nick Jonas begins with a bulbous and tight bassline that is fattened with some real nice and satisfying low-end drone. Now, I’ve heard many sets bring a bit more thunder than the G10. If it was up to me, I’d have a slight bit more, but I do find the G10 satisfying. The great thing is that the Symphony Dragon doesn’t disappoint and doesn’t sound bass lean or light in this area. I’d say that EPZ brought the quantity to just above moderate.
Mid-bass cont…
“Feelin’ the Miles” by The Wilder Blue has some bass guitar action which is pretty low in pitch, and I feel the G10 has enough mid-bass amplitude to bring on a passable bass guitar. This goes for any track which displays the instrument. Another track, “Billie Jean” by Weezer (Michael Jackson cover) begins with the pointed pang of a snare drum followed closely by an absolutely booming kick drum. The G10 hits hard here folks. However, the pitch is a bit more elevated with a slightly more vibrant authority listening with the G10. What I love is the cleanliness of the note outline. It’s clean, it’s crystalline, and it’s tight. There is nothing even remotely sloppy and not even hinting at being bloated. This is an agile and dexterous bass that makes its way around even fast and congested bass songs pretty well. Especially for the price and probably better than most in its price point.
Further thoughts on the Bass
There isn’t much else to say except the G10 is tuned well folks. I realize some of you may want a bit more thunder in the low-end but when all is said and done… EPZ knows what they are doing. I do believe they hit their target here. For gaming purposes my son tells me that explosions and gunfire sound great (his words) because he says they have a snap to them. Explosions have an edge to them. The same can be said of something like a kick-drum. There is this tacky edge at the crest of the note most of the time followed by that hollow resonant boom. Not the deepest in pitch but satisfying and pretty close to natural if you ask me.
Downsides to the Bass Region
The downsides are that the G10 will not please pure bassheads. It simply isn’t boosted to the point that it’d be suitable for the Bass-Bois among us. Fans of a darker sounding low-end or a more bulbous and sonorous sound will likely want to keep looking. I also wouldn’t outright label this as a “fun” bass. Though it is a fun sounding low-end, but there are certainly sets which I’d more consider for the “fun” moniker. The G10 more-or-less toes the line of mature/fun. I certainly think a hair more dBs in the mid-bass and a wider slope into the mids would’ve been nice. However, if that was the case you also wouldn’t have such a clean and kempt bass region. On the bright side, this bass isn’t even close to one-noted. There is clear and pretty distinct separation between sub & mid bass and the transient ability of the G10’s bass is tighter with less of a sustain. This is a bass for fans of a quality over quantity I would say. I think that EPZ did a nice job here.
Midrange
The midrange as a whole comes across pretty naturally with a neutral tonal color that is warmer near the low-mids and gains in brightness as you climb the pinna rise in the upper midrange. The gain has a nice gradual uphill climb and there’s a very nice transition heading into the treble area too. Nothing sharp here, nothing grainy, nothing metallic and I don’t detect any sibilance to the point that my ears are listening for it out of annoyance. The midrange is a bit leaner than I’d usually look for in a set, but it is also very nimble with a penchant for clean musicality. Also, the midrange may come across “slightly” lean, but I also wouldn’t call it outright “lean” at all. It’s natural sounding to me with a nice smoothness a tilted-organic timbre that sounds great for the price that EPZ is offering this set.
Lower-midrange
Beginning with male vocals I’ll start with the track “Rewrite the Stars” by Zach Efron front The Greatest Showman Soundtrack. His voice is forward sounding and articulate in the inflection of his voice. Meaning, his voice has a clean presence that doesn’t sound pushed back in the sound field. Let’s put it this way, if you are going to have a slightly thinner sounding male vocal than it cannot also sound attenuated or distant. Zach’s voice instead sounds elevated and poignant in its expression. This track can so easily sound sharp and sibilant, but I don’t hear that at all on this set. His vocals are very clean and composed with nice note structure. I hear a little bit of crispness to the sound when a track calls for it with smoother undertones. Honestly, males sound like males. This is what you want after all. When a man’s voice has to bring some authority the G10 will do that. Just expect a slightly more vibrant tilt to those male voices.
Upper-Midrange
Now, the upper-mids definitely have some added shimmer to them. They come across more forward in the mix, more like they are on a pedestal and highlighted a bit more to my ears. Again, they are a bit thinner than perfectly natural but not “unnatural” by any stretch of the imagination. The G10 doesn’t give females a rich sound, or a lush sound but instead they have a luminous presence. “Always Remember Us This Way” by Lady Gaga sounds just wonderful. I say that lofty word (wonderful) because this track can easily come across with grain and the note definition can easily suffer on this track. Sibilance can easily occur too but the G10 glides right around every modulation of her vocals and every peak & valley with a solid eloquence. Her voice is already gravelly and more coarse sounding and with lesser able sets those attributes are usually expounded upon. Almost exaggerated to a degree. Not on the G10. At least that I heard. The G10 handles it beautifully, really. Folks, I think females sound great for a Harman sounding set at this price.
Instrumentation
I won’t spend too much time here because it’s a pretty loaded thing (instruments) to write about with so many variables. I will only speak in very general terms, painting with very broad strokes. For one, percussion has a snap to it. Almost all percussion actually, but definitely snare drums. They have a detailed and sharp “pang” that is like an exclamation point whenever it’s heard on this set. Cymbals have a nice fundamental tone too. Strings sound energetic and lively. In fact, I’ll cut this short to preserve my word count by saying… I don’t hear anything outright bad or any glaring weaknesses to the sound. Obviously, not everyone enjoys the exact same delivery but for the most part things sound good. Maybe bass guitar could have a plumper fullness, but we’ve covered that. Trumpet is nice, violin is mostly silvery and sweet. Keep your expectations in check, remember the price point, but folks… the G10 sounds pretty nice.
Downsides to the Midrange
Speaking of downsides, I would first point to note weight. Yes, I feel the sound is good but not everyone enjoys the sound exactly the same as me. This will especially rear its ugly head if you are the type of listener who enjoys that really warm and lush sound. Basically, anyone who really likes a milky sounding vocal may not completely care for the replay here. I also want to stress to you that I don’t think the note weight is particularly thin either. Just not that thick, weighted, syrupy type of midrange. It’s so easy to misunderstand these reviews. I feel the density is good, even natural on this set. However, there is that last little flare of liveliness from the treble rise and not a perfectly even bass to counter it. Perhaps a touch more low-end warmth would thicken this area. Without more warmth from the low-end you’ll have that. On another note, the midrange is well detailed, and I hear very good separation in this region. Imaging comes across very well which is nice for both gaming and music listening. Note definition is also good for the price with clean, tight, and versatile transient attack & decay.
Treble Region
The treble is very well done. For $35 I find the treble great. I love the emphasis as the treble does outweigh the rest of the mix. What I like is that EPZ tuned this set to take you right to the brink but stops just short before brilliance spills over into shout or piercing. Nothing is sharp on this set and somehow it remains mostly non-offensive. There’s some brilliance without the aggressive spikes that we see in budget sets so much of the time. I find note definition to be good with just enough treble punch and solidity to give some haptic recognition. I wouldn’t call this perfect or punching above its price point, but I do find the treble to be very good at the price it’s at. This is a tuning decision folks. Like I said, I feel that EPZ hit their target here. Understand, the sound has good control up top. This wasn’t some arbitrary boost to the treble to enhance and force resolution. Let’s put it this way, I would much would think this is a very intelligent and purposeful tuning rather then a happy accident. Somehow, I don’t think that EPZ stumbled into this nice treble.
Good Performer
I find that the detail retrieval is above average up top as with most technicalities. The G10 is simply a good performer in this region for the type of tuning that it has. What you have is good separation of Instruments across the plane of sound and I even hear some depth to the sound, which is saying something. Again, it doesn’t necessarily punch above its price, but the EPZ G10 does bring an added dimension to the overall sound of this set. Just like the other frequencies the treble is also nimble, agile, structured and not sloppy. You won’t hear any mishmash of treble sheen up top. Well, maybe on congested treble passages, but that’s it. Okay, maybe on poorly recorded tracks too, but most sets will do the same in that scenario. The G10 does have some mixing of sounds but for the most part it’s well defined. Another thing that the G10 does well is with the extension into the highest of highs. Nothing comes across splashy to me. Or at least nothing splashy to a fault. The treble stretches the stage a bit.
Right to the brink
On the track “In Bloom” by Nirvana I feel this is one where the G10 will take me right to the crest of what I consider too bright but stops just short. The G10 remains in control for me. I could definitely see some folks thinking it’s a bit too much though. Again, this is a preference thing and not a problem of tuning going awry. The sound remains constrained but in a precise manner. Listening to Billy Strings in the song “Ice Bridges” helps to show off the agility of the treble on this set. His rapid-fire banjo & guitar play comes across well delineated and even separated nicely. Each note has the beginnings of some roundness to them. Details are easily heard and very good for a Harman sound.
Downsides to the Treble Region
For sure there will be folks who won’t enjoy the amount of emphasis in this region. I know quite a few warm and even dark lovers who desire a roll-off up top. Also, I get it too, because I do like that kind of tuning from time to time as well. I suppose I could also say that treble heads may want even more treble punch and treble definition. Again… expectations. The last thing about the treble which may be a drawback depending on what you enjoy is that the treble is somewhat artificial, or better said it isn’t perfectly natural. I really hate to use that word (artificial) because who’s to say what “natural” sounds like. Both words are ridiculous and overused but… here I am using them… Ha. To counter that, the treble sounds more open and airier with this brighter approach so, take that for what it is. That said, I feel that the treble fits the overall tuning well with a sound that is easy to stomach while adding some excitement and energy.
Technicalities
Soundstage
The overall soundstage is decently wide for an in-ear monitor. What is “decently” you ask? Decently to me is wider than average. The treble is boosted and airy which stretches the stage within the psycho-acoustic sound field within my mind space. It just sounds wider to me. This will not be the same for everyone though should generally be pretty close. All of us have a different ear anatomy which will certainly affect how we perceive the sound. Again, generally I feel most people will consider the G10 to have an “average” to “wider than average” stage. Just like EPZ’s last set I reviewed (Q5) I feel this set also has some depth to the sound which is great to hear at this price. This is not a flat stage; it isn’t just a plane of sound in front of me. There is some slight holographic sensation that I get which is very inviting to me. Macro-dynamics are better than average which also helps to give a feeling of depth and vivacity which seems to stretch the sound field a bit.
Separation / Imaging
Both separation of instrumentation as well as imaging of those instruments sounds very nice. Obviously, this comes in handy for any gaming situation. This also is a nice attribute if you enjoy a good listening session. I wouldn’t know anyone who “doesn’t” enjoy a well parsed out sound field. The G10 may not be “class-leading” but it is very good in this regard. The transient attack-thru-sustain is sprightly and seemingly up-tempo. The sound is clean, non-grainy, and the sound is not dull, but more dynamic. Note outlines are defined and don’t sound mashed or blended most of the time. Also, there isn’t any one region of the frequency which overtakes any other area of the mix. I do believe this was Intentional for purposes of gaming. Hearing and placing footsteps while gaming for example is a useful ability to have. Coincidentally, this also is pretty nice when listening to music as well.
Details
The detail retrieval is quite good for a Harman tuned single dynamic earphone. The tuning is such which (in my mind) makes it easy to dissect and delineate different instruments and vocals. Again, no one area overtakes any other area of the mix and so that does help quite a bit. On top of that, the treble also has a healthy boost which does its part to illuminate some of the finer details in my music. Micro-details are good in my opinion. Now, I do get some blending on seriously congested tracks or tracks with a ton of treble sheen to them. Those are the only two cases where the detail retrieval takes a hit for me. Of course, most sets in the price point will have issues with those cases too. Is the G10 a detail monster? Not necessarily. Though very nice for what it is. We have to keep some perspective. Better than average is what I will end this section with.
Ratings (0-10)
Note: all ratings are based upon my subjective judgment. These ratings are garnered against either similarly priced sets or with similar driver implementations or styles with the unique parameters of my choosing. In the case of the EPZ G10 ratings below, that would be $20-$40 iems of any driver configuration. Please remember that “ratings” don’t tell the whole story. This leaves out nuance and a number of other qualities which make an iem what it is. A “5-6” is about average and please take into consideration the “lot” of iems these ratings are gathered against. $20-$40 US is a decent sized scope of iems and so seeing a 9 should probably be pretty special. My ratings are never the same and each set of ratings tells a different story. Each time you read one of my ratings it will be unique to that review. Basically, I create a Rating that makes sense to me.
Aesthetic
-Build Quality: 9.0 A very nice and durable build.
-Look: 8.7 This set looks pretty cool folks!
-Accessories: 9.6 It’s hard to beat these accessories at this price
–Overall: 9.5
Sound Rating
-Timbre: 9.3 The timbre and tonality are very good.
-Bass: 8.7 Mature bass that is quality over quantity.
-Midrange: 8.9 The mids are great on this set.
-Treble: 9.5 The treble is clean, snappy & extended.
-Technicalities: 9.4 Technically well done
–Overall: 9.2🔥🔥🔥
Ratings Summary:
To summarize this ratings section, I feel the EPZ Q5 is a very well done iem and it shows by the ratings above. When I conduct these ratings, I have to figure in every set that I’ve heard within the price point. Also, not just iems I’ve briefly heard, but iems I know well and understand well enough to even try to conduct a Rating against. I do have a sea of them at this price point though. Imagine the amount of iems between $20 and $40! This is a loaded price point folks. So, that obviously affects the score in one way or the other. Also, please understand that these “scores” are my subjective judgments. Also remember, I haven’t heard every set either. So, with all that in mind I do believe that these scores pretty much explain themselves, except for a couple questionable areas.
Bass score?
The “Bass” score is one which may have some folks divided. The G10 is redeemed from not having the biggest bass because it has a mature, clean, and technically adept low-end that really does perform well. An “8.7” is a high score that is far above average. That said, folks who enjoy a bigger and more rumbly bass would certainly NOT give the G10 a high ranking. I’m sure if it were up to those folks, it would be closer to average, around 5 to 6. Not the most rumbly… but they still rumble.
Timbre is questionable…
I also think that “Timbre” may be a divisive rating. I gave this set a “9.3”, which is very high. In comparison to the sets that the G10 competes with anyways. Still, I stand by the rating though. Of course, there are some caveats. First, not many folks hold the keys to what “natural & organic” actually sounds like, no matter how well they try to convince you. It can vary for everyone. Yes, there is also some Miley artificial boosting up top which should affect the score as well. However, it still gets a “9.3” for me. To the next guy this may be a lower score and I’d understand that. Conversely, I could see a much higher rating as well so… take it as a grain of salt. Also, so much goes into “timbre quality”, and what even determines what quality is other than it sounds good? These are all subjective judgments, as with any reviewer. All other ratings I feel are pretty cut n’ dry and easily understood.
Is it worth the asking price?
Always the biggest and most important question to answer is if the set that is under review is even worth what the company is asking. What do I mean by “worth” you ask? Is the item of good quality against others in its price point… basically. Folks, without question the EPZ G10 is worth every penny against the field. I think the sound value and price to performance is very high, subjectively. Despite that high praise, I absolutely could see some warm and dark lovers not agreeing with me. Those who want more bass presence may also not agree with me. People who want a richer midrange may also not entirely agree as well. However, I just feel the sound quality is very high on this set. The budget segment has made amazing strides over the years. Truly. To get this nice kind of sound value… at this price is… getting a bit silly. In fact, companies asking a ton more money for other sets is beginning to not make much sense. The differences are beginning to become so little between some budget bangers and even some $100 to $200 sets that it’s seems like an arbitrary price boost anymore. Of course, this is a game of inches, like it or not, and each tiny upgrade is worth hundreds.
The Why…
For one, the EPZ G10 is a very well built iem for the low cost of $35. The all-resin shell is very durable feeling and has no obvious flaws anywhere. Also, the look is really cool too as the design is minimalist and clean. Obviously, the UV-Light trick is pretty cool, albeit short lived. Next, the gaming capabilities are very high on this set. Remember, my son and I literally tested this set out for over two months playing games and listening to music and honestly, we didn’t really see any real issues. Imaging is great, tiny details are also great which help a lot in distinguishing a game’s sound field. There is depth and the perception of what is around you is high.
Finally, it’s always about the sound. 85% of any set’s worth rests in this area. The sound is very clean, energetic, and the macro-dynamic expression is full and sprightly. Bass is agile, detailed, punchy and clean. The midrange has good presence and is very resolute and the treble is nicely boosted, technically on point and it adds levity to the sound. The sound is coherent as a whole with nice timbre to my ears. I don’t hear anything truly shouty (some may disagree) and I don’t detect any great sibilance. Well, at least not to the point of annoyance. Honestly, I don’t know how anyone could hear the G10 and not think it’s worth the asking price. In my opinion this set stands very tall against the rest of the iems in its price point and should end up in many folks’ top ten under $50.
Conclusion
To conclude my full written review of the EPZ G10, I am very impressed by this set. I honestly wasn’t expecting much but was surprised and happy with what I ended up actually hearing. Without question…I certainly recommend this set, whole heartedly. I do believe 100% that the G10 should be on anyone’s radar for this price point.
Other perspectives
However, don’t take only my word for it. Listen to, watch, or read other perspectives. In fact, Pietro already reviewed the G10 at our website HERE. Anyhow, checking out other thoughts will always be a good way to get a good feel for how different people perceive this set. As with anything. Check out other thoughts folks! Look up “EPZ G10 Review” in your browser and you’ll get videos, articles, threads of different kinds and they will all help you to a better conclusion. $35 may not be a lot in the scope of the Audioverse but $35 is a monumental amount to so many around the world. I don’t want you to get it wrong. I envision happy people who are satisfied with their purchase. That puts a warm smile on my face. So please do a little homework and don’t simply rely on my interpretation of the sound.
Thank you
Finally, thank you. Thank you for trusting that I’m doing my best to give you my exact thoughts. Thank you for taking the time to read any word that I write too. I know it doesn’t seem like much, but clicking the link to get here and staying here is very important and means a lot to not only me, but also my partners at Mobileaudiophile.com. We are trying our best to build what we have and having repeat people like you trusting us and coming back to read other thoughts and perspectives is fantastic. So, thank you very much. Okay, I hope each and every one of you are happy and healthy. Take good care and always… God Bless!
