EPZ Q5
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After previously reviewing its sibling, the EPZ Q1 Pro released in 2024, it turns out that EPZ also released the Q5 in late 2023. I thought the Q1 Pro would be an improvement over the Q5, but why is the Q5 slightly more expensive? And graphically, there doesn't seem to be a noticeable difference. However, the Q5 is quite surprising for its price range.
Let's dive into the EPZ Q5.
Let's dive into the EPZ Q5.
==DISCLAIMER:==All impressions and reviews are subjective and adhere to the belief that "I'll only lie to my savings; I'll be honest in my reviews." Agree? Alright. Disagree? Alright. Because I review out of desire and enjoyment, not out of necessity.
- But if you say this because you're using it now? Oh, definitely not. I'm a true audiophile hobbyist who will always be honest without bias. Don't believe it? Read until the end, and we'll dissect the pros and cons.
- But if you say this because it's new, probably just during the "honeymoon" phase? In this hobby, which is truly "dark and full of toxins," it will always be like that until the end of time. Human desires truly have no end.
- But it's better to listen and understand, right? Absolutely.
==THIS POST IS FOR:==
- What's my recommended IEM around $50?
- An IEM with a safe tonal balance in all aspects, engaging power, and suitable for all-around use?
- Just want to read the review.
==MY DAILY DRIVERS:==
- Symphonium Crimson
- Kinera Verdandi
- Sennheiser IE900
- Fiio Q15
- HibyDigital M300
==TESTED USING:==
- YouTube Music
- Tidal
- Hiby M300
- Fiio Q15
- Lenovo Office Laptop (what series is this)
- EPZ Q5
- EPZ Q1 Pro
- Simgot EW200
==LET'S DIVE IN WITHOUT FURTHER ADO:==*Unboxing:*
Surprisingly, for about $8 more, they provided a better IEM box and decent accessories compared to the Q1 Pro. Here's what's inside:
- The IEM itself (I chose the white color, and it's indeed beautiful)
- 2-braid cable (a decent cable for its price range, not as prone to tangling as other entry-level IEM cables)
- 2 types of eartips with 3 sizes for each type (quite useful)
- Manual
*Fitting:*
The combination of white and gold on the front, which I thought would make it an open-back IEM, turned out to be not, but it makes this IEM look beautiful. The shell is made of lightweight plastic with a good finish, making it not seem like this IEM is only about +/- $35. The IEM body and small nozzle don't cause any discomfort when worn and are comfortable for long periods.
*Bass:*
The low frequencies have energy but don't cause ear fatigue. You can feel the punchiness of the bass, but it feels shallow, not too deep. The impact produced by the sub-bass is also relatively fast, with a short rumble. This makes the bass impact from songs feel more exciting. It's a typical bass and sub-bass from a single dynamic driver that I think is quite suitable for many people's ears. Despite that, there's no harsh or muddy sound from the bass produced. Clean low frequencies.
*Mid:*
Sweet and melodious. The vocals sound natural without any added spices. The sound is similar to the presentation of the Q1 Pro, with vocals slightly more forward but without elevation in the lower mids. This makes male vocals in the low register not sound heavier, making them sound more "real" as they naturally would. The natural mid timbre, especially good snare drum and guitar sounds, make the midrange frequencies of this IEM even more enjoyable to listen to, especially with no vocal sibilance to disturb.
*Treble:*
Fun and engaging treble. This IEM can be said to have a W-shape character, with treble that has enough power to make us feel the sparkling and tinkling treble without feeling sibilance. Perhaps this is what sets it apart from one of its competitors in a similar price range, the EW200. The Q5 can present treble that feels safer without losing the sparkling impression in its price range, whereas the EW200 still feels a bit piercing to some people. Like most IEMs in its price range, the Q5 has relatively short but decently extended treble that allows you to hear percussion sounds.
*Clarity:*
Clear, with no sibilance, unclear sounds, or muddiness in any aspect.
*Soundstage:*
Average, not considered large but not intimate either.
*Imaging:*
Good instrument separation in this IEM makes it easy to pinpoint each instrument in a song. Unfortunately, this is not supported by micro-detail, which is considered average and below that of the Q1 Pro.
==COMPARISON:==Because I was confused about these two lineups of EPZ IEMs at a similar price, let's just compare both, the Q1 Pro and Q5, oh and let's add the Simgot EW200 since the prices are similar:
- *Unboxing:*
Q5 wins slightly, with a box and accessories (case, eartips, cable) that are more thoughtful for the customer. EW200 and Q1 Pro come with just average boxes.
- *Fitting:*
Draw. All feel equally good, but I'd choose the Q5 slightly better because of its size and weight. The plastic material also feels more comfortable than the Q1 Pro and EW200.
- *Bass:*
Q5 and EW200. They both have the same engaging power with bass quality and quantity that are almost similar. Meanwhile, the Q1 Pro has a more relaxed tuning.
- *Mid:*
Q5. Melodic and more natural vocal tuning than the Q1 Pro. Meanwhile, the EW200 still has some sibilance in some songs.
- *Treble:*
EW200. I prefer piercing treble. That's all, haha.
- *Clarity:*
Q5. Natural timbre with engaging power makes the Q5 the best of the three.
- *Soundstage:*
Q5 and EW200, slightly better than the Q1 Pro.
- *Imaging:*
Q1 Pro. It has the same good instrument separation as the other two, but the Q1 Pro has better detail.
==CONCLUSION:==
- The Q1 Pro, released later than the Q 5, is not an upgrade from the Q5.
- The EW200, as a favorite single dynamic driver in this price range, seems to have to yield to the Q5 because it feels more like an all-rounder. The only reason to prefer the EW200 might be if you're a treblehead.
- Having sound and tonal qualities that can be considered better than the Q1 Pro in all aspects (except micro-detail), the Q5 feels more worthwhile, especially with just an $8 difference in budget.
-
Audio Reviews Downunder
New Head-Fier
EPZ Q5
Pros: Vocals Are Fairly Natural,, Build Quality, Fit, Price and Value
Cons: Clarity and Presence Of Base Guitars and Drums Isn't The Best, Male Vocals Are On The Thin Side, There's Better Offers In The Q5's Price Range.
Disclaimer:
I purchased the EPZ Q5 in the recent 11/11 sales through the official EPZ store on AliExpress.
I wasn't payed for this review.
All thoughts and opinions on the Q5 are my own.
Introducing the
EPZ Q5:
The Q5 has an all resin build, a single 10mm Carbon Nano Dynamic Driver, the Q5 connects via an MMCX cable, with a standard 3.5 termination, also comes with a pocketable case, and two sets of S/M/L silicone tips.
Has 109db of sensitivity
25 Ohms Of Impedance, and 20-20khz frequency response.
Additional Sources, Cables and Tips Used:
Xduoo XP2 BAL
Xduoo XQ50 Pro2 DAC
SMSL HO100
Xduoo MT-602
Truthear Shio DAC
Fiio BTR3k
Stock MMCX cable from the Lun Sheng YE02
Tips,
Large Feaulle H570
Large Kbear 07
Large white stock tips from the Simgot EA1000
The Sound..
The EPZ Q5 has a rolled off sub bass, a light lower mids presentation, and a thin upper mids and lower treble, with the upper treble being more the star of the show.
Moving into the sub bass, mids, and treble
Sub Bass:
The sub bass is rolled off, with little impact or presence, which doesn't really give the Q5 any real sense of depth, or weight to the sound.
There's slightly better presence in the lower mids, but they aren't all that prominent either.
Mids:
The Mids are also thin, but are still somewhat natural, with female vocals sounding a little better than male vocals.
There isn't a lot of warm in the mids either.
They're not too forward, so they're not going to be fatiguing either.
Definition and detail is okay, average, but could be better.
Treble:
The treble is a little better than the lower mids and upper mids, giving some clarity to vocals and instruments, but they are still on the thin side, but with a bit of air, which gives female vocals a nice presence, but male vocals still come across as thin.
Comparisons:
The EPZ Q5 vs TRN Conch (stock red nozzles, with a 1.5mm square of foam in the nozzles), Simgot EA500 (stock red nozzles)
Vs TRN Conch,
The Conch is a little warmer, with the roughly 1.5mm square of foam I put in the stock red nozzle of the Conch, otherwise it is very similar to the Q5.
The lower mid bass is a little thicker, warmer and has slightly better texture, and gives more authority to kick drums, a little better clarity to base guitars.
The upper mids and lower treble are similar to the Q5, although vocals sound a little warmer on the Conch.
Upper treble is pretty well the same on both the Q5 and Conch.
Vs Simgot EA500,
stock red nozzles.
The EA500 has better all round technical ability, better detail resolution, better imaging, better tonality, and more impact than the Q5 when it comes to drums, and more clarity and detail in base guitars, better vocals, it's just flat out a better IEM all round.
Conclusion:
The EPZ Q5 is a pretty reasonable IEM at its price range, but it isn't the best I've heard within the $20-$100 range, not by a long shot.
Also with more new options available like the ARTTI R1, which is also a far superior IEM in every way to the Q5, as well as others like the Juzear Clear, I think the Q5 has a lot of competition, that is miles ahead of the Q5.
It isn't going to be among my top 5 recommend IEM's in the $20-$100 price range, but it's still an okay IEM, if you are more into genres like
k-pop, and want a little bit of air with female vocals.
Anyway, that's my review and comparisons of the EPZ Q5, so thanks for reading my review, you can see a more in depth comparison of the Q5, with IEM's such as the Simgot EA500 Kiwi Ears Cadenza, Fiio FD11, and Moondrop Chu II on my YouTube channel, youtube.com/@AudioReviewsDownunder
Attachments
Last edited:
-
All impressions and reviews are subjective and adhere to the belief that "I'll only lie to my savings; I'll be honest in my reviews." Agree? Alright. Disagree? Alright. Because I review out of desire and enjoyment, not out of necessity.
- But if you say this because you're using it now? Oh, definitely not. I'm a true audiophile hobbyist who will always be honest without bias. Don't believe it? Read until the end, and we'll dissect the pros and cons.But if you say this because it's new, probably just during the "honeymoon" phase? In this hobby, which is truly "dark and full of toxins," it will always be like that until the end of time. Human desires truly have no end.But it's better to listen and understand, right? Absolutely.
==THIS POST IS FOR:==- What's my recommended IEM around $50?An IEM with a safe tonal balance in all aspects, engaging power, and suitable for all-around use?Just want to read the review.
==MY DAILY DRIVERS:==- Symphonium CrimsonKinera VerdandiSennheiser IE900Fiio Q15HibyDigital M300
==TESTED USING:==- YouTube MusicTidalHiby M300Fiio Q15Lenovo Office Laptop (what series is this)EPZ Q5EPZ Q1 ProSimgot EW200
==LET'S DIVE IN WITHOUT FURTHER ADO:==*Unboxing:*
Surprisingly, for about $8 more, they provided a better IEM box and decent accessories compared to the Q1 Pro. Here's what's inside:
- The IEM itself (I chose the white color, and it's indeed beautiful)2-braid cable (a decent cable for its price range, not as prone to tangling as other entry-level IEM cables)2 types of eartips with 3 sizes for each type (quite useful)Manual
*Fitting:*
The combination of white and gold on the front, which I thought would make it an open-back IEM, turned out to be not, but it makes this IEM look beautiful. The shell is made of lightweight plastic with a good finish, making it not seem like this IEM is only about +/- $35. The IEM body and small nozzle don't cause any discomfort when worn and are comfortable for long periods.
*Bass:*
The low frequencies have energy but don't cause ear fatigue. You can feel the punchiness of the bass, but it feels shallow, not too deep. The impact produced by the sub-bass is also relatively fast, with a short rumble. This makes the bass impact from songs feel more exciting. It's a typical bass and sub-bass from a single dynamic driver that I think is quite suitable for many people's ears. Despite that, there's no harsh or muddy sound from the bass produced. Clean low frequencies.
*Mid:*
Sweet and melodious. The vocals sound natural without any added spices. The sound is similar to the presentation of the Q1 Pro, with vocals slightly more forward but without elevation in the lower mids. This makes male vocals in the low register not sound heavier, making them sound more "real" as they naturally would. The natural mid timbre, especially good snare drum and guitar sounds, make the midrange frequencies of this IEM even more enjoyable to listen to, especially with no vocal sibilance to disturb.
*Treble:*
Fun and engaging treble. This IEM can be said to have a W-shape character, with treble that has enough power to make us feel the sparkling and tinkling treble without feeling sibilance. Perhaps this is what sets it apart from one of its competitors in a similar price range, the EW200. The Q5 can present treble that feels safer without losing the sparkling impression in its price range, whereas the EW200 still feels a bit piercing to some people. Like most IEMs in its price range, the Q5 has relatively short but decently extended treble that allows you to hear percussion sounds.
*Clarity:*
Clear, with no sibilance, unclear sounds, or muddiness in any aspect.
*Soundstage:*
Average, not considered large but not intimate either.
*Imaging:*
Good instrument separation in this IEM makes it easy to pinpoint each instrument in a song. Unfortunately, this is not supported by micro-detail, which is considered average and below that of the Q1 Pro.
==COMPARISON:==Because I was confused about these two lineups of EPZ IEMs at a similar price, let's just compare both, the Q1 Pro and Q5, oh and let's add the Simgot EW200 since the prices are similar:
- *Unboxing:*Q5 wins slightly, with a box and accessories (case, eartips, cable) that are more thoughtful for the customer. EW200 and Q1 Pro come with just average boxes.
- *Fitting:*Draw. All feel equally good, but I'd choose the Q5 slightly better because of its size and weight. The plastic material also feels more comfortable than the Q1 Pro and EW200.
- *Bass:*Q5 and EW200. They both have the same engaging power with bass quality and quantity that are almost similar. Meanwhile, the Q1 Pro has a more relaxed tuning.
- *Mid:*Q5. Melodic and more natural vocal tuning than the Q1 Pro. Meanwhile, the EW200 still has some sibilance in some songs.
- *Treble:*EW200. I prefer piercing treble. That's all, haha.
- *Clarity:*Q5. Natural timbre with engaging power makes the Q5 the best of the three.
- *Soundstage:*Q5 and EW200, slightly better than the Q1 Pro.
- *Imaging:*Q1 Pro. It has the same good instrument separation as the other two, but the Q1 Pro has better detail.
==CONCLUSION:==- The Q1 Pro, released later than the Q 5, is not an upgrade from the Q5.The EW200, as a favorite single dynamic driver in this price range, seems to have to yield to the Q5 because it feels more like an all-rounder. The only reason to prefer the EW200 might be if you're a treblehead.Having sound and tonal qualities that can be considered better than the Q1 Pro in all aspects (except micro-detail), the Q5 feels more worthwhile, especially with just an $8 difference in budget.
Audio Reviews Downunder
New Head-Fier
EPZ Q5 Pros: Vocals Are Fairly Natural,, Build Quality, Fit, Price and ValueCons: Clarity and Presence Of Base Guitars and Drums Isn't The Best, Male Vocals Are On The Thin Side, There's Better Offers In The Q5's Price Range.Disclaimer:
I purchased the EPZ Q5 in the recent 11/11 sales through the official EPZ store on AliExpress.
I wasn't payed for this review.
All thoughts and opinions on the Q5 are my own.
Introducing the
EPZ Q5:
The Q5 has an all resin build, a single 10mm Carbon Nano Dynamic Driver, the Q5 connects via an MMCX cable, with a standard 3.5 termination, also comes with a pocketable case, and two sets of S/M/L silicone tips.
Has 109db of sensitivity
25 Ohms Of Impedance, and 20-20khz frequency response.
Additional Sources, Cables and Tips Used:
Xduoo XP2 BAL
Xduoo XQ50 Pro2 DAC
SMSL HO100
Xduoo MT-602
Truthear Shio DAC
Fiio BTR3k
Stock MMCX cable from the Lun Sheng YE02
Tips,
Large Feaulle H570
Large Kbear 07
Large white stock tips from the Simgot EA1000
The Sound..
The EPZ Q5 has a rolled off sub bass, a light lower mids presentation, and a thin upper mids and lower treble, with the upper treble being more the star of the show.
Moving into the sub bass, mids, and treble
Sub Bass:
The sub bass is rolled off, with little impact or presence, which doesn't really give the Q5 any real sense of depth, or weight to the sound.
There's slightly better presence in the lower mids, but they aren't all that prominent either.
Mids:
The Mids are also thin, but are still somewhat natural, with female vocals sounding a little better than male vocals.
There isn't a lot of warm in the mids either.
They're not too forward, so they're not going to be fatiguing either.
Definition and detail is okay, average, but could be better.
Treble:
The treble is a little better than the lower mids and upper mids, giving some clarity to vocals and instruments, but they are still on the thin side, but with a bit of air, which gives female vocals a nice presence, but male vocals still come across as thin.
Comparisons:
The EPZ Q5 vs TRN Conch (stock red nozzles, with a 1.5mm square of foam in the nozzles), Simgot EA500 (stock red nozzles)
Vs TRN Conch,
The Conch is a little warmer, with the roughly 1.5mm square of foam I put in the stock red nozzle of the Conch, otherwise it is very similar to the Q5.
The lower mid bass is a little thicker, warmer and has slightly better texture, and gives more authority to kick drums, a little better clarity to base guitars.
The upper mids and lower treble are similar to the Q5, although vocals sound a little warmer on the Conch.
Upper treble is pretty well the same on both the Q5 and Conch.
Vs Simgot EA500,
stock red nozzles.
The EA500 has better all round technical ability, better detail resolution, better imaging, better tonality, and more impact than the Q5 when it comes to drums, and more clarity and detail in base guitars, better vocals, it's just flat out a better IEM all round.
Conclusion:
The EPZ Q5 is a pretty reasonable IEM at its price range, but it isn't the best I've heard within the $20-$100 range, not by a long shot.
Also with more new options available like the ARTTI R1, which is also a far superior IEM in every way to the Q5, as well as others like the Juzear Clear, I think the Q5 has a lot of competition, that is miles ahead of the Q5.
It isn't going to be among my top 5 recommend IEM's in the $20-$100 price range, but it's still an okay IEM, if you are more into genres like
k-pop, and want a little bit of air with female vocals.
Anyway, that's my review and comparisons of the EPZ Q5, so thanks for reading my review, you can see a more in depth comparison of the Q5, with IEM's such as the Simgot EA500 Kiwi Ears Cadenza, Fiio FD11, and Moondrop Chu II on my YouTube channel, youtube.com/@AudioReviewsDownunderAttachments
Last edited:
