Simgot EM10 Review – Simgot’s Best!
Pros — Quite comfortable given the large driver count
– Dense, physical bass
– Excellent imaging
– Exceptional detail retrieval
Cons — Lower-mids on the Simgot EM10 can sound hazy with bass-heavy tracks
– Upper-mids can be too forward for the sensitive ones
– Somewhat narrow staging
In this Article
INTRODUCTION
Simgot has had a humble beginning: starting off with some mid-priced IEMs, then offering some budget offerings, and then trying to cover the “gaps” in the price ranges with intermittent releases.
The EM10 is their first “proper” flagship, even though the pricing is akin to what most of the higher-end brands would consider “mid-range”. But I guess that’s the selling point of the EM10: (near) flagship performance at a far more reasonable price.
To top off the value proposition, the EM10 are also quadbrid IEMs with an interesting treble driver placement and promises a natural treble that does not skimp on resolution. It’s clear that Simgot’s got all guns blazin’ for this release, but how does it fare against the established competition?
Read on.
Note: the ratings given will be subjective to the price tier. Simgot was kind enough to send me the EM10 for evaluation.
Sources used: Questyle CMA Twelve Master, Audirect Team 1
Price, while reviewed: USD$440 Can be bought from Linsoul.
PHYSICAL THINGS AND USABILITY
PACKAGING AND ACCESSORIES
The EM10 packaging is a departure from the typical Simgot affair. It’s an oversized container with tons of spare space inside.
You do not get a lot of extras either. 6 pairs of eartips, modular 2-pin cable with similar sheathing as the EA1000 cable, and a hard-shell carrying case. I would have preferred better bundled eartips and/or a type-C dongle to sweeten the deal.
BUILD QUALITY
Build is likely one of the areas where most will feel a bit disappointed with the EM10. The resin shell is backed by an aluminum faceplate, which is rather common even in kilobuck IEMs.
It’s the overall fit and finish that feels too… pedestrian. The resin quality is a step below the best in class, and the lack of flair does not do any favors. There is some unfortunate similarities with the KZ IEMs of the past *cough* KZ ASF *cough* that I cannot unsee.
Nonetheless, the other aspects of the shell design is well thought out. The overall ergonomics are good, while the venting is mostly handled by a slit on the faceplate. The 2-pin connector is slightly recessed to increase compatibility with aftermarket cables.
COMFORT, ISOLATION, AND FIT
I did not notice any driver flex while using the EM10. Isolation is above average when using foam tips (stock tips do not provide the best passive noise supression). The nozzle thickness is above average but due to a tight bore arrangement (less gap between bore openings) I did not notice any discomfort even with deep fit.
SOURCE AND EARTIPS
At 106 dB/mW sensitivity and 42 ohm impedance, the Simgot EM10 require good voltage swing to sound their best. I think any source with 2 – 4Vrms output voltage should do the job. Current requirement is minimal due to the highly sensitive nature, even though hiss is not that prominent thanks to the higher-than-nominal impedance.
DRIVER SETUP
Simgot EM10, as the name suggests, has a 10-driver tribrid setup arranged in a “four-way” configuration. There is a single 8mm dynamic driver that handles the low frequencies, while the 8BA drivers handle mids and upper-mids/lower-treble frequencies. Finally, the piezoelectric tweeter is in charge of the highs and ultra-highs.
One interesting aspect is the placement of the piezoelectric tweeter. Usually, they are placed in front of the dynamic driver and fire directly into the nozzle or bore. However, Simgot takes a different approach with the EM10. The tweeter is placed on the backside of the dynamic driver and connected to the back cover for better stability. This ensures less unstable vibration of the driver unit (due to a more stable connection to the housing), and the treble energy is mitigated due to increasing the distance from the nozzle.
I think this unconventional driver placement has worked for the better on the EM10, as we shall see in the sound section.
SIMGOT EM10 TONALITY AND TECHNICALITIES
Simgot EM10 is essentially a refinement of Simgot’s “house sound”, with prominent upper-midrange, sizeable sub-bass boost, and an extended upper-treble response that does not roll off or dip abruptly.
The sub-bass can get overzealous especially in bass-heavy genres like EDM and Hip-hop. Due to the slightly slow transients of the dynamic driver, the notes may linger for a while. This works well for atmospheric bass like movie soundtracks but fast basslines can sound a tad hazy. Basshead delight overall, but a bit too strong for my taste. Also the excessive bass can cause some incoherence.
The mids are overall lush sounding. Lower-midrange is somewhat recessed and defocused, but upper-mids are prominent and female vocals have adequate clarity. Instrument separation is excellent. In fact, the EM10 is one of the best, if not the best technical performers under $500. Imaging is precise. Stage expansion is the only caveat as things sound narrow and in-your-face. Depth is good but width may not be as engulfing as TOTL candidates.
Macrodynamic punch is tremendous. On tracks like Hans Zimmer’s Why So Serious, the sudden bass drops convey the drama you expect. However, microdynamics could be better. Subtle nuances of dynamic contrast is not felt as vividly as on some of EM10’s peers.
Upper-treble has very good extension. However, it may sound a bit weightless. Reducing the sub-bass increased the sense of physicality in the upper-treble, so maybe some EQ can be a good idea.
Overall timbre is not the most natural, but not as processed as some of the peers e.g. Moondrop Dusk. All in all, if you prefer resolution and don’t mind the extra dose of sub-bass, or are willing to EQ, it’s hard to get something better than the EM10 in this price range, or even quite a bit above.
SELECT COMPARISONS
Compared against the Sennheiser IE 600, which happen to be one of the most technical single-DDs in the price range, the EM10 has better separation and layering. I do find the staging of the IE 600 wider, and the bass response more aligned to my tastes. The IE 600 can have some sharpness in the lower treble which brings cymbals and hi-hats more forward. Overall sense of air is more palpable on the EM10. The IE 600, however, has superior build and fit. EM10 offers better stock accessories.
When compared against the Dunu Studio SA6 mk2, EM10 sounds noticeably more forward in the midrange. The sub-bass is stronger and more physical on the Simgot IEMs as well. Staging is noticeably wider on the SA6 mk2, while imaging is about on par. Macrodynamic punch is also better on the EM10, leading to a more energetic presentation overall. If you prefer a more energetic tuning, the EM10 would be the way to go, while the SA6 mk2 has a more laid back, relaxed presentation.
Finally, a comparison that some readers have requested: Simgot EM10 vs Simgot Supermix 4. These IEMs have remarkably similar graphs until the upper-treble region, which have sparked some discussions regarding whether the EM10 is “worth it”. In my opinion, the Supermix4 are at least a level or two below the EM10 when it comes to overall perceived resolution and the physicality and rumble of the sub-bass. The treble also feels more “ethereal” on the EM10. Another thing I noticed is how the SuperMix 4 can sound a bit hollow in the mids, which is something the EM10 does not exhibit.
So, is the EM10 worth the extra bucks over the Supermix 4? If you want a more physical bass response, value superior resolution and layering, then the answer is “Yes”.
CONCLUDING REMARKS
Simgot EM10 is the culmination of all the technical and philosophical (in terms of tuning) advancements that Simgot has achieved since its resurgence in 2023. I was taken aback at how much detail the EM10 can pump out without sounding overly clinical or sterile, and that is no mean feat.
However, to truly stand out as the “best in class”, Simgot needs to make the sub-bass less intrusive, and also opt for a faster dynamic driver for better coherency with the BA and Piezo treble drivers. A nice bonus would be enhancing the sense of stage via psychoacoustic tricks or employing different acoustic chamber designs.
For now, the EM10 is a good IEM, and probably one of the best if you are after raw resolution. I have high hopes for Simgot in 2025 and am looking forward to see how they improve further upon their current flagship.
MY VERDICT
4/5
DISCLAIMER
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