Kurt evaluations the SIMGOT SuperMix 5, a brand new hybrid dynamic, twin balanced armature, micro planar driver, and bone conduction driver IEM. It’s at present priced at $219.99.
Disclaimer: This pattern was despatched to me in change for my trustworthy opinion. Headfonics is an unbiased web site with no affiliate hyperlinks or providers. I thank the crew at Linsoul and SIMGOT for giving me this chance.
Click on right here to learn extra about SIMGOT merchandise we have now beforehand reviewed on Headfonics.
Notice that this text follows our newest scoring guidelines, which you’ll be able to learn in additional element right here.
SIMGOT SuperMix 5 Overview
Abstract
The SIMGOT SuperMix 5 is a genuinely attention-grabbing hybrid IEM that delivers on its bone conduction promise within the bass, with a tactile and bodily punch to the low finish that feels not like most hybrid units at this stage.
Execs
Provides tactile and bodily bass punchiness.
Managed and fatigue-free treble with glorious sibilance administration.
Cons
The bone conduction driver pinging throughout regular actions makes every day put on impractical.
Lean midrange physique leaves vocals feeling emotionally skinny.
SIMGOT has put out one standout IEM after one other in recent times, with units just like the EA500, EA2000, EA500LM, and the SuperMix 4 every incomes sturdy reputations of their respective value ranges.
They’ve proven they’ll execute throughout a variety of configurations, and their identify has change into one of many extra dependable ones within the pastime.
Now comes the SIMGOT SuperMix 5, priced at $219.99, that includes a five-driver quad-brid configuration of 1 bone conduction driver, one dynamic driver, two balanced armatures, and one micro-planar driver.
Can SIMGOT’s first customized coil bone conduction implementation really make a significant distinction at this value, and the way does it examine to the likes of the ZiiGaat Odyssey and Kiwi Ears Astral?
Options
The SuperMix 5 makes use of 5 drivers managed by a precision RC four-way crossover, with every driver housed in its personal unbiased 3D-printed acoustic duct to forestall interference.
A multi-channel damping system controls part alignment and distortion throughout all driver transitions.
Low frequencies are dealt with by an 8mm DLC dynamic driver with a versatile encompass, the place the DLC diaphragm supplies rigidity and velocity for managed, detailed bass copy.
Alongside it sits a customized 10mm coil bone conduction driver that operates from 200Hz to 7kHz, designed so as to add low-frequency texture, enhance bass response velocity, and introduce delicate dynamic element.
The midrange is roofed by two large-volume balanced armature drivers chosen for his or her conversion effectivity and pure tonal character throughout the vocal vary.
Above them, a single micro-planar driver handles the treble closest to the nozzle, delivering high-frequency element and determination with a quicker and extra pure response than a piezoelectric driver.
Design
The faceplate is CNC-machined steel with a satin end, carrying the angular SIMGOT emblem laser-etched in white towards a floor that sits between deep grey and near-black relying on the sunshine. The etched emblem is the one visible aspect on it.
The shell is produced by way of high-precision resin 3D printing in a deep, barely translucent darkish resin that faintly hints on the internals from sure angles.
The general form is thick and blocky, with an extended nozzle that extends farther from the physique than most IEMs of comparable dimension.
Mannequin identify, driver configuration, and channel indicators are engraved in gold lettering alongside the internal edge of every shell. The L and R labels are compact and simple to learn with out cluttering the shell.
The 0.78mm 2-pin connectors sit flush and flat towards the decrease internal face of the shell. A single vent sits close to the highest of the faceplate, with further strain reduction venting seen as small, paired holes close to the 2-pin port space.
Consolation & Isolation
The SuperMix 5 has a thick, blocky shell and an extended nozzle that make it tough to take a seat flush within the ear. Discovering a secure, sealed place takes noticeably extra effort than most IEMs of this dimension.
The bone conduction driver creates a persistent pinging sound from its coil every time the shell is bodily disturbed, and this contains jaw motion, chewing, and speaking whereas sporting them.
Tapping the shell makes it worse, and even incidental contact throughout put on is sufficient to set off it.
The weird shell form mixed with the lengthy nozzle works towards passive isolation, because the match hardly ever seals constantly sufficient to dam ambient noise. Journey is just not a sensible use case for a similar purpose, since any motion or vibration brings the pinging again persistently.
Facet sleeping is dominated out completely, because the protruding nozzle presses immediately and uncomfortably into the ear underneath any resting strain.
The SuperMix 5 is finest handled as a stationary listening IEM, and even then, the pinging conduct requires a sit-still self-discipline that limits how freely it may be used.
Ear Ideas
Two units of silicone ideas are included, each sharing a brief stem and large bore form, with one set that includes a pink internal stem and the opposite totally black. Neither is properly matched to this IEM.
The red-stemmed ideas use a stiffer stem that provides perceived size to the already lengthy nozzle, making the match more durable to handle relatively than simpler.
The all-black set is way too gentle, collapsing underneath mild strain and leaving the onerous steel nozzle distinctly felt throughout put on.
Because of these points, aftermarket ideas or different SIMGOT ideas are price making an attempt, as a agency and constant seal is very essential right here, given how a lot the bone conduction driver depends upon regular shell-to-ear contact.
Each inventory choices finally work towards consolation relatively than serving to it.
Inventory Cable
The SuperMix 5 ships with a Litz-structured silver-plated single-crystal copper cable in white with black {hardware} all through. Construct high quality is stable and in step with what the set warrants.
The modular termination makes use of a screw-lock mechanism for attaching the included 3.5mm and 4.4mm plugs, holding firmly as soon as locked and never loosening with repeated swaps. The white braiding is vulnerable to yellowing over time, which is able to change into noticeable with common use.
On the ear, it sits mild, staying in place throughout regular motion with out pulling the IEMs out of place. It comes with a cable tie, nevertheless it does generally tend to nonetheless tangle at instances.
Packaging & Equipment
The SuperMix 5 arrives in a darkish purple outer sleeve with a driver cross-section illustration and the product identify on the entrance, with the frequency response graph and specs on the again in a number of languages.
Eradicating the sleeve reveals a inflexible, darkish navy internal field with a debossed IEM define on the duvet and a small gold SIMGOT emblem.
Opening the duvet reveals the IEMs seated in foam cutouts within the high tray. Straight beneath them sits an extra equipment field housing the information playing cards.
Under that could be a pull-drawer part divided into two labeled compartments, one for the carry case and one for the equipment. The equipment aspect holds the cable, each modular plugs, and each tip units in particular person luggage.
Foam safety contained in the equipment compartment is missing, with the interior containers displaying transit dents from inadequate padding.
The carry case is hard-sided with a leather-like exterior and a magnetic clasp, with material loops on the within of the lid and the mesh web frequent to SIMGOT instances in the principle cavity.
Sound Impressions
The next sound impressions of the SIMGOT SuperMix 5 have been accomplished utilizing a mixture of the Colorfly CDA-M2 and the Heartfield R1 dongle DACs.
Bass
Sub-bass on the SIMGOT SuperMix 5 reaches deep and delivers a real sense of rumble, although it sits at a managed stage relatively than asserting itself by the combo. The extension offers tracks with low-frequency content material a stable, grounded basis.
Punchiness is the strongest impression the low finish makes, with kick drums and bass hits touchdown with quick, bodily precision that feels decisive and contained. The tactile high quality is actual and instantly noticeable.
Bass high quality is managed and well-defined, with good separation between notes and no looseness underneath strain. Nothing right here bleeds or drags, maintaining the low finish organized even on busier tracks.
The character leans towards exact and targeted, the place every hit resolves cleanly with out spreading outward. Listeners anticipating a heavy or dominant low finish will discover the SuperMix 5’s strategy restrained, as accuracy and bodily really feel take clear precedence over amount.
Mids
The midrange on the SIMGOT SuperMix 5 sits barely pulled again relatively than ahead, presenting vocals and devices with sufficient presence to be clearly heard with out pushing to the entrance.
The bone conduction driver smooths the bass-to-midrange transition cleanly, with no bleed carrying over from the low finish.
Readability is constant, and vocals have correct timbre that carries actual texture, capturing the raspiness and grain in a voice relatively than simply its tonality. There is no such thing as a BA timbre or shoutiness right here, maintaining the presentation pure all through.
The place the midrange falls quick is in physique and emotional weight. Vocals sound clear however lean, stopping in need of the fullness that makes a voice really feel really current, which turns into noticeable on intimate recordings.
Nuance retrieval is likely one of the higher surprises right here, with backing vocals and delicate background particulars surfacing naturally throughout listening. They don’t draw consideration to themselves however reveal themselves on their very own, which is a superb high quality.
Treble
The treble is well-behaved, with the micro-planar driver delivering a managed and pure presentation that retains fatigue out of the image completely. Sibilance sits at round 1 out of 10, making it one of many most secure treble displays accessible at this stage.
Element retrieval is on the higher finish, with tremendous textures in percussion and high-frequency devices coming by with sufficient decision to be satisfying.
The micro-planar implementation handles the highest finish with a tidiness that avoids the mechanical really feel that lesser planar tweeters can produce.
Cymbals and hi-hats arrive with correct tonal character and the proper metallic high quality, sounding lifelike with managed decay. Nothing right here ideas into harshness, even on usually fatiguing tracks.
Disappointingly, airiness is common, and the SuperMix 5 doesn’t sound notably open above the presence area. The treble stays contained relatively than expansive, sitting near the remainder of the combo with out reaching past it.
Staging & Dynamics
The soundstage is common throughout all dimensions, with width, peak, and depth every touchdown at an unremarkable center level that retains issues organized with out creating any actual sense of area.
Imaging locations sounds with acceptable precision however with out the sharpness to make positional cues really feel convincing.
Panning is the weakest level right here, as sounds that ought to journey throughout the stage really feel static and anchored as an alternative. Even on tracks the place directional motion is clearly supposed, it merely doesn’t translate.
Separation is above common and is the clear power of this part, maintaining particular person parts distinct with out collapsing into congestion. A slight mixing happens underneath heavy load, nevertheless it by no means turns into messy sufficient to lose observe of what’s taking place within the combine.
Dynamics is the weakest side of the SuperMix 5 general, with sounds that ought to sit at completely different quantity ranges inside a observe usually arriving on the identical perceived loudness.
The flatness this creates takes away from the sense of depth and distinction that well-mastered recordings are supposed to ship.
Click on on web page 2 beneath for my really helpful pairings and chosen comparisons.
