Disclaimer:
Good morning, readers! Today I will talk about an IEM that has already had a lot of success. It is a little late to ride the wave, but I am happy to share my thoughts. Thank you, as always, to Betty at Simgot for providing me with the Simgot EW200 unit to review. I am waiting for the EA500LM and EA1000 to arrive before I can fully understand Simgot, but so far, the EM6L and now the EW200 follow a sound concept that I particularly like.
As always, I remind you that I am not an audiophile, but rather an enthusiastic participant in this hobby. It is not my job or a source of income. So far, I have not sold any products.
The review will be truthful and honest.
Tech Specs:
- Driver: 10mm dual-magnetic circuit & dual-cavity SPC dynamic driver
- Diaphragm: double-sided vapor-deposited silicon crystal diaphragm
- Impedance: 16 ohm +-15% (@ 1kHz)
- Sensitivity: 126dB/Vrms (@ 1kHz)
- Frequency Range: 10Hz–50kHz
- Frequency Response: 20Hz-20kHz
- Connector: 0.78mm
- Cable : high-purity silver-plated OFC cable
Packaging:
For the price range in which it is positioned, the Simgot EW200 has a very respectable package. Definitely very elegant; not too complex but the presentation is excellent. Inside, we immediately see the EW200, which looks amazing.
As accessories, we find:
- The cable
- Tips
- Carrying pouch
- Manual and QC
The cable is not excessively thin; in fact, it is perfect for maintaining maximum comfort and is, above all, soft. The tips, on the other hand, absolutely do not do the IEM justice. My advice is to buy different tips directly.
It’s not a problem anyway; often the original tips are quite cheap but perhaps you could have opted for SS20 or 07.
Design/Build quality:
The Simgot EW200 wins quite easily. The material and mirror finish please the eye. They are beautiful and well built for my personal taste; they are really beautiful, especially when coupled with a silver cable. As we can see from the shell, we find two holes for driver ventilation, which actually seems to be of high quality. It uses a particular SCP membrane, which should give a hybrid combination compared to the results of the DLC and LCP membranes.
“The EW200 utilizes a revolutionary diaphragm material – the SCP Diaphragm. This diaphragm incorporates a special polymer film as a substrate that is coated with a hybrid silicon layer through dual-sided sputtering deposition. By combining the strengths of DLC and LCP diaphragms, it maintains the high-density mid-range performance of LCP diaphragms and the extended, exquisite high-frequency response of DLC diaphragms. Additionally, it overcomes the challenges of high-frequency control and slight harshness found in some audio sources with a DLC diaphragm, resulting in a luxurious and smooth sound with rich layering and spaciousness. The diaphragm is further enhanced through specialized molding techniques and precise material blending, optimized to deliver a full and textured low-frequency response, a natural and dense mid-frequency performance, and a detailed and splendid high-frequency reproduction. With the powerful driving force of the dual magnetic circuit and dual cavities, the diaphragm and magnetic chamber achieve a harmonious balance, thus enhancing overall performance.”
Simgot
Indeed, the sound performance is fantastic, and together with the EPZ Q5, the entry-level range has really become competitive. Continuing to observe the shell, thanks to my macros, you will notice that the assembly is excellent, the finishing is excellent and the writing on the faceplates is very fine. An IEM that I would also aesthetically define as HI-RES.
Initial sound impression:
Lately, I’ve been seeing a lot of people calling them “shouty,” so I was a little worried but in the meantime, I was listening to the EPZ Q1 Pro and from a quick comparison on Squiglink, I noticed they were much brighter. Since the EPZ Q1 Pro is anything but shouty, sibilant, or harsh, the Ew200 couldn’t have been worse. I connect them directly to one of the brightest sources I currently have and am immediately impressed! Less than $50? Truly? It’s true that a single DD expertly tuned is better than 4/5 that aren’t perfect.
The EW200 vaguely reminds me of the EM6L; they have 1/3 of their musicality and energy. I take the original tips and replace them with Whizzer SS20s and they get even better. I haven’t changed its cable, as I already consider it perfect. But if I were to find a good offer for a silver OFC, I could definitely think about it. This Simgot EW200 will remain with me anyway.
Comfort & Fit:
The Simgot EW200 has a fairly small shell; they are heavier than some resin ones as they are probably obtained by casting and not by CNC machining but the shape with the right tips will not give you any trouble. I’ll leave you some photos.
Final sound impression:
Equipment used for testing the above
Device:
- iMac
- Redmi Note 7 (MIUI-Based)
- Poco M4 Pro
Software:
- Amazon music UHD 24bit 96kHz
- Tidal Hifi Plus
DAC:
- Moondrop Dawn Pro
- Simgot DEW4X
- Hidizs SD2
- EPZ TP50
- iBasso DC04 Pro
- Hidizs S9 Pro Plus
- Fiio Ka11
- Fosi SK02
I let him run for a few hours of burn-in, although I think my brain just got used to it quickly. Coming from the review of the EPZ Q1 Pro, I was already used to something bright; the EW200 is audibly less bright; they have thicker notes; in terms of details and soundstage, I think the EW200 is capable of being slightly superior but the credit probably goes to the driver with the SCP membrane. In terms of shades, I would place them between the Q1 Pro and the Q5. The timbre is very natural and not at all fatiguing, and the resolution and clarity are truly excellent.
Bass
The bass has more kick and push than the Q1 Pro but the difference is not overly marked unless the track requires it. The bass is really precise, with excellent speed and quality. Let me be clear: this is absolutely not for bassheads.
Mids
For personal taste, I find them perhaps superior to those on Q1 Pro, probably due to the depth of the voices. In both, we are at very high levels. Female voices have consistent silkiness track after track and musical instruments have energy and detail while maintaining a natural timbre. In some cases, it lacks a bit of depth and emphasis and some voices sound slightly thinner than they should. But the musical instruments are especially correct.
Treble
If you are sensitive to this region, you have landed on the wrong review. In my opinion, they are bright but far from harsh, shouty, or sibilant. There are those who describe them with some adjective like that; I imagine they are simply not very tolerant of certain frequencies and amounts of brightness. The crispness of the highs and energy is overwhelming; for some, it may be too much.
Tips Rolling?
The included tips don’t do it justice; the quality itself is good but the closed nozzle limits its soundstage and performance, in my opinion. If you don’t want to spend a lot in the AliExpress Choice section, you can find the Tri Clarion, SS20, or 07 (under different brands). You could get all 3 types for over $10.
Obviously, the Divinus Velvet tips are also extremely good but I want to keep the final cost low. The Dunu S&S are slightly cheaper but I didn’t find them particularly comfortable with this set.
I immediately found total comfort with the Whizzer/KBear SS20, which has a wide bore.
Soundstage and Imaging
I would say that in this price range, they are truly stunning. We are faced with an IEM that has everything that someone who wants to enjoy a bit of high resolution could be looking for: the image is very sharp and precise, and the soundstage is sufficiently wide (even above average) in all directions without being too distorted from reality. They are the kind of single-DD IEMs that immerse you in the sound and make you enjoy the quality of your favorite tracks.
Comparison:
Endless comparisons could be made but I will limit myself to those that come most naturally given the price range. If you have any particular requests for comparisons, please feel free to comment.
vs EPZ Q1 Pro
If the EW200 is not bright enough for you, you can get the EPZ Q1 Pro, which further enhances the brightness without being sibilant or shouty. They are monsters of clarity and are also particularly beautiful to look at. Yet another successful model from EPZ that could satisfy some trebleheads. I would recommend reading the entire review.
vs EPZ Q5
The EPZ Q5 is the direct competitor of the EW200. Both are entry-level destroyers that leave very little room for the competitors in this price range. What I can say about it is that the Q5 has a slightly warmer tone in the mids so the overall perception is a slightly warmer tuning with a slight extra weight on the notes. The bass is slightly thicker. The trebles are slightly calmer but plenty of detail and air remain. The soundstage, being half open-back, is even bigger. Two truly excellent IEMs. Maybe the Q5 has that extra magic touch, although that MMCX may be an Achilles’ heel.
vs Tiandirehne Se846 (hidden gem)
An IEM that I have yet to find the time to review as I consider it a hidden gem. This DD thrown into a Shure-like shell (pretty cheap materials) sounds fucking good. They sound 88% like the Q5 but the price is absolutely crazy. We are around 26 USD with cable, some good tips, and a case. Here, you only pay the price for excellent sound. They are a little less brilliant, they lose some points in image and layering and above all, the soundstage is not as developed as on the Q5. Compared to the Simgot EW200, the sound is less musical but warmer. They are a successful experiment. Seeing is believing!
Conclusion:
I finally understand all the hype built around the Simgot EW200; I can only confirm it. For those who judged them to be shouty, the only reason is that you are not very tolerant of high frequencies.
Although it is bright, I mostly tested it with fairly bright DACs to see if they are as shouty as some users claim. I can assure you that I have had no issues with either the Fosi SK02 or the EPZ TP50. The DEW4X is slightly more balanced/neutral than the other two and pairs exceptionally well with the EW200. If there was a deal for this combination, I would consider it.
Hearing differs from person to person in this hobby, and age also plays a role. The Simgot EW200 follows the very brilliant Harman curve, resulting in a very energetic, musical, and detail-rich IEM that did not previously exist at this price. The EPZ Q5 followed, which improved a few minor aspects.
Given that the Simgot EW200 has been on the market for a while and continues to impress, the hype surrounding this set is entirely justified.
My heartfelt congratulations to Simgot for making this hobby accessible to anyone with an IEM like the EW200.
8.9/10
Pros:
- Shell quality
- Good packaging
- Removable 0.78 cable
- Really nice aesthetics
- Bright Harman, natural
- Clear and luscious voices, sparkly treble
- Bass and sub-bass are pretty natural
- Good details and layering
- Wide Soundstage for the price
- Easy to drive
Cons:
- Tips need to be upgraded
- Note weight could be more
- Fingerprints magnet
- Not for Bassheads
