In this feature, Meldrick reviews the new SIMGOT EA500LM universal in-ear monitor, which uses a second-generation 10mm lithium-magnesium dynamic driver. It is priced at $89.99.
Disclaimer: This sample was sent to me in exchange for my honest opinion. Headfonics is an independent website with no affiliate links or services. I thank the team at Linsoul and SIMGOT for giving me this opportunity.
To read more about SIMGOT products we have previously featured on Headfonics click here.
Note, that this article follows our latest scoring guidelines which you can read in more detail here.
Over the past year, SIMGOT’s sub-$150 IEM offerings have consistently created noise in the budget Chi-Fi space.
The single dynamic driver universal SIMGOT EA500LM IEM, an updated version of last year’s EA500, is attempting to reach the same acclaim as its predecessor.
Positioned in the middle of SIMGOT’s IEM offerings, it retails for $89, just $10 more than the original EA500.
Like the original, the EA500LM is an attractive offering for first-time upgraders, particularly those who love their sub-bass presence in music. Unlike the original, the treble is a lot more refined now.
Continue reading my review below to learn more about my listening impressions and how they compare to the competition.
Tech Highlights
The EA500LM uses a second-generation 10mm lithium-magnesium dynamic driver which has similar stiffness and acoustic properties as Beryllium drivers but comes in at a lighter weight, minimizing resonance and distortion whilst maintaining a rich and clear sound signature.
This improved dynamic driver is paired with the second-generation dual magnet and dual cavity design drawn from the more expensive SIMGOT EA1000 and with the same purpose of reducing distortion and improving the driver’s transient response.
Particularly so on the treble performance which was an area of concern in our review and testing of the original EA500 which showed that its treble quality was too sharp at times.
The EA500LM also boasts an interchangeable nozzle system, with 3 different pairs of nozzles out of the box.
Interchangeable nozzles have slowly become quite common in the Chi-Fi space; however, it is still difficult to argue with their value proposition of allowing 3 distinct tuning profiles to best match with the listener’s preferences.
Design
The SIMGOT EA500LM is constructed out of a dense, premium-feeling all-metal construction that grabs your attention at first glance.
Without any decorative angles or edges, the EA500LM invokes a sense of luxurious utilitarianism, wherein every design choice is done with function in mind, but still manages to look visually striking.
Unlike other Chi-Fi IEMs I’ve tried in the price range, the EA500LM does not incorporate any ergonomic curves and chamfers. Instead, its shell has a clean, unobstructed silhouette that, on its own, has an almost curved monolithic appearance that could pass off as a piece of jewelry.
The EA500LM’s faceplate has a tasteful CNC-engraved SIMGOT logo on the left earpiece and a stylized “LM” logo on the right earpiece.
Unlike most Chi-Fi IEMs I’ve tested the EA500LM’s faceplate wraps around the shell, up until the 2-pin 0.78mm connector, wherein a deep seam separates it from the shell’s backplate.
The backplate has the same mirror finish as the rest of the body. Each earpiece has a small grey “L” and “R” indicator right above a small pill-shaped indentation that houses a bronze screw and a vent.
Another vent can be seen towards the nozzle of the earpiece, which can be removed and replaced with the other included nozzles by simply screwing them on and off.
The mirror finish of the shell makes it extremely prone to fingerprints. This is the strongest fingerprint magnet I’ve tested thus far, with even a single tap on the face plate immediately smudging the otherwise gorgeous finish.
Comfort and Isolation
The comfort of the SIMGOT EA500LM is quite good, especially for an all-metal IEM. Across the board, the EA500LM is the most comfortable metal construction IEM I’ve tried thus far.
To be clear, it is no match for more contoured and lighter resin IEMs such as my comfort benchmark OpenAudio Witch Pro, but it is comfortable given the material and design choices made.
Despite the shell not making use of many ergonomic contours and solely relying on its rounded silhouette, I experienced no discomfort when wearing the IEM, with no part of the shell touching the outer part of my ear.
This is partly because of the protruding bubble that extends the narrower nozzle away from the main earpiece shell. In practice, once the nozzle is in my ear, the wider parts of the earpiece shell are far enough to not rub against any part of my ear.
The metal build of the EA500 does not cause any weight-related discomfort in mixed desk and on-the-go testing, I never felt that the weight of the IEMs was pulling me down.
The IEM provides very little passive noise isolation when music is not playing, only blocking out wind noise and mild road noise while conversations remain audible and intelligible.
Once music is played through the IEMs, the isolation performance improves slightly, but conversations surrounding you remain audible.
This is par for the course for dual-vented IEMs, but if solid passive isolation performance is a deal breaker for you and your environment, I would suggest considering other IEMs as well.
Stock Cable
The cable included with the EA500LM is of decent quality, especially for the price point. It is a 4-core silver plated OFC weave cable, with 2 wires, one copper colored and one black colored, braided and housed in a vinyl tube.
These 2 vinyl tubes are then braided from the 3.5mm SE plug up to the metal chin splitter. After the splitter, each vinyl tube termites onto a 2-pin connector.
The chin splitter and 3.5mm termination maintain the same bronze and black color scheme of the wires used in the cable. This gives the cable a simple visual aesthetic that still manages to stand out in the sea of silver-colored cables in this Chi-Fi price bracket.
Throughout my mixed desktop and on-the-go testing, I did not experience any microphonics whatsoever. The cable also does a good job of remaining tangle-free when stored in a case, preventing memory retention even when it is wrapped up for storage.
Packaging & Accessories
The EA500LM arrives in a sleek black cardboard box adorned with a stylish logo on the front.
The logo design is striking, showcasing an almost holographic color scheme that varies depending on the lighting conditions, providing a glimpse of the IEMs and all accompanying accessories housed within.
In addition to the IEMs and the standard cable, the EA500LM comes complete with a compact leatherette hardshell case, a set of 3 ear tips (in sizes S, M, and L), and 3 pairs of replaceable tuning nozzles.
Aside from the interesting value provided by the 3 tuning nozzles, the rest of the product inclusions are standard and pale in comparison to IEMs such as the Tangzu Fudu and Shanling Sono which manage to include different types of ear tips as well.
Sound Impressions
The following sound impressions were created using a mix of the 7hz SEVENHERTZ 71, the ddHifi TC35pro E2 dongle DACs, and the Fiio K11 desktop integrated DAC and headphone amplifier.
Tuning Nozzles
The EA500LM comes with 3 pairs of tuning nozzles: the brass nozzles attached to the IEM out of the box, a pair of silver nozzles with red bands, and a pair of silver nozzles with black bands.
Based on my testing, I found that these two silver nozzles increased the treble of the EA500LM to different degrees.
The silver nozzle with black bands added the most treble to the EA500LM. I found that this was most evident with high-frequency cymbals wherein I did observe some sibilance. The silver nozzles with red bands added treble as well but to a lesser extent than the silver nozzle with black bands.
I found the EA500LM’s tuning with the brass nozzles the most pleasing and will be using them as the basis for all thoughts and comparisons below.
Bass
Having a gentle U-shaped sound signature with a shallow dip and a slight emphasis on the sub-bass region, the bass performance of the EA500LM’s Lithium Magnesium dynamic driver is a particular standout, especially for its price.
Like most high-quality DD IEMs I’ve tried, the EA500LM can reproduce sub-bass notes with good impact and slam. In simple arrangements wherein a deep thumping bass drum plays in the background, the EA500LM can playback the kind of bass that one does not hear, but instead feels in the chest.
Sub-bass hits never come off as one-dimensional through the EA500LM. In acoustic recordings of tracks, the differing decays between individual hits of deep bass drums translate well and are played back with a satisfying thump.
The low-end excellence also carries over to synths and bass guitar reproduction. More abstract tracks with prolonged droning tones are played back with good texture and fidelity, without seeping into the sub-bass or the Mids.
In grunge and disco, bass guitar plucks are presented with good texture and resolution. These notes are played back with good note weight and are given just the right amount of decay wherein they contribute to the overall ambiance of the soundscape without muddying up the overall sound.
The mid-bass of the EA500LM has less emphasis. Percussive hits in the mid-bass region are still played back with respectable texture and tonalities, but they do not overshadow the sub-bass playback, nor do they bleed into the mid-range.
Mids
The mid-range performance of the EA500LM is decent. Because of the U-shaped sound signature, vocals, and string instruments rarely stand out. However, they are presented with decent enough resolution and presentation to ensure that the mid-range performance does not detract from the overall sound.
Larger-than-life male vocals on the lower register are presented with powerful authority and good delay while maintaining enough texture and resolution to give them an organic and natural-sounding tonality.
Female vocals and string instruments are not presented with the same note weight, but they are played back with respectable enough resolution and a pleasing enough tonality.
Guitar strums and notes from brass instruments are presented with good texture and musicality, contributing to a natural-sounding mid-range that is pleasing to listen to.
Unlike other IEMs with a V or U-shaped sound signature and a strong bass region, I never observed a veiled tonality from the EA500LM.
Treble
The EA500LM can playback notes in the treble range with an exciting sense of air and sparkle. Each hit from high-speed hi-hat cymbals is articulated well and with good resolution, without sounding sibilant.
The treble region extends well, never sounding distorted even in more complex tracks. Even on the default brass nozzles, the EA500LM can play back enough treble energy to keep the overall sound signature exciting.
Towards the upper end of the treble region, the EA500LM struggles to playback metallic tones. In complex beats and arrangements in hip-hop music, high-frequency tones have a metallic timber with some sibilance.
In such tracks, the EA500LM may come off as fatiguing for more treble-sensitive listeners who prefer a warmer tonality.
However, this was not an issue for most of the tracks I’ve tested, it is merely something worth noting regarding the EA500LM’s otherwise excellent tonality and sound signature.
Imaging
The EA500LM’s imaging is decent, delivering a respectable level of instrument separation and spatial placement, however, it isn’t the best I’ve heard. It doesn’t soar to remarkable heights in this aspect, but it still consistently delivers a satisfactory performance.
Likewise, the staging of the EA500LM remains understated. It doesn’t envelop you in a vast sphere of sound while steering clear of being excessively intimate.
Instead, it positions you at the heart of the arrangement, though seldom does the sound surround you from every angle.
Click on page 2 below for my recommended pairings and selected comparisons.
