QoA Gimlet

Gimlet is a cocktail drink made up of mixed lime cordial and a gin. This drink is usually served straight up by bartenders. (I have some few stints as an assistant bartender before)

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It seems that this sister brand of Kinera has a fixation on naming their products based on cocktail drinks with their models like Vesper, Adonis, Margarita, Mojito and Pink Lady. QoA or Queen of Audio has been establishing themselves with some of their products gains more attraction from audio enthusiasts and audio professionals due its aesthetics and specific tuning.




What I have here right now is their model, QoA Gimlet as I mentioned it on introduction. This set has a single dynamic driver set-up and its transducers has a 10mm LCP (Liquid Crystal Polymer) diaphragm on its dynamic driver. The sturdy and firm properties of LCP delivers more detail, less distortion and faster transient speed on its sonic performance. These drivers were encapsulated in a solid metal alloy with smooth coating with a circular gold with a company logo on its face plate. It has some vent holes in cavity base part of the shell to serve as an outlet for excess air generated from dynamic drivers to alleviate some pressure for long listening sessions.



It uses a standard 2-pin connector as its standard interlocking mechanism for its detachable system. QoA included a 4-core 4N OFC silver-plated copper cable with gold accents on its termination plug, ear hook guide and metal chin slider.



When it comes to wearing and comfort, the QoA Gimlet is a bit hefty but it rests well into my lugholes without any discomfort and ear fatigue. It isolates some external noises from the outside surroundings as I was able to listen to some audio tracks in such clearness.



Like its sister company, Kinera, QoA inherits some aspects when it comes to product packaging and its presentation that its sister is usually known for. It has a square-shaped packaging box along with its decent quantity of inclusions inside.




Here are the following accessories included inside from the box:

■ a pair of QoA Gimlet.
■ a white-coloured 4-core OFC SPC cable.
■ 3 pairs of bass ear tips of different standard sizes.
■ 3 pairs of balanced ear tips of different standard sizes.
■ Faux-leather zippered IEM case.
■ Some paperwork like instruction manual, contact card and a postcard that bears the picture of the owner. (quite a pretty lady)



QoA Gimlet is quite power efficient when it comes to amplification. A source with decent power output will be able to scale this set in a very dynamic way with a good full-range sound from it



Regarding its tonality, QoA Gimlet has an interesting tonal profile which is warmish, mild U-shaped sound with sufficient elevation on low frequency, a linear midrange and accentuated treble response.



LOWS/BASS:

Punchy and tactile though it has this noticeable softness on its impact. For sure that this set is more focused towards mid bass than the sub bass but I still can perceive its rumble and depth from it.

As I mentioned the sub bass quality of this one, its reverberations will appear if it is needed from the tracks filled with sub bass instruments like low-toned bass guitars and synthesisers. Mid bass region is more pronounced as it gives more texture on its note weight albeit a tad mellow for an unspecified reason (probably try to minimise its possible bass bleeding). Bass guitars sound broad and mellow as I listen to Les Claypool's slapping. The bass drum kicks are full and pounding sounding though in some fast double bass kicks from thrash and death metal tracks, it sounds a bit soft and hollow in my liking. On bass-baritone vocals, it has a wool-like characteristic but it has rather an inadequate depth on its tone to give a gravelly and thick sound especially when I listen to Peter Steele and Andrew Eldritch. There is noticeable slight bass bleed but I still consider it as well-controlled.


MIDRANGE:

That slight bass bleed thus affects the midrange quality of the QoA Gimlet as it sounds less neutral and transparent but it gives that lushness and more organic timbre on vocals and most instruments due to added warmth into it. It has a tad recessed on its presentation but still retains that depth and detail.

Both male and female vocals especially on baritones, contraltos and even some low mezzo-sopranos have those warm, lush and rich timbres which those particular vocals are an exact tonality that are depicted in a corporeal manner. Tenors, countertenors and sopranos are portrayed in a good way as they sound energetic although it needs some refinement on improving some female vocal-type particularly on the quality of coloratura soprano.

On instruments, brasses like trombones and trumpets have a substantial, rounded and penetrating from them while woodwinds instruments have an interesting observation as concert flutes has a warm and mellow sound but somehow it has a lack of airiness and silvery sound that I usually hear on its tonal register. Strings like acoustic guitars, mandolins and violins have a sustaining presence on its notations and chords to have a buttery, lustrous and full sound from them. Percussives like snares, field drums and toms have a clear, hard and dry sounding respectively. On pianos, they sound more on a balanced side as it has a warm and at the same time with vividness to give that zestful and dynamic sound.


HIGHS/TREBLE:

This set has sufficient brightness as discerningly hear that emphasis on upper mids to give some intensity on vocals and instruments to have that sense of detail and clarity. It also has some attenuated slope between the presence segment to the brilliance part of the treble to give that smooth sound to reduce harshness and a possibility of sibilance.

This set has a sufficient amount of air which is quite commendable for a single dynamic driver as it gives shimmer and crisp on cymbals, triangles and hi-hats.


SOUNDSTAGE, IMAGING AND OTHER TECHNICALITIES:

Of all things that QoA Gimlet has to offer on technical aspect, the overall dimensions of its sound/speaker stage really pays me attention as it has an above average to wide on both lateral spans, good height reach and distance of depth to give me a roomy head stage within my aural sphere. And I almost forgot to mention that this set is actually responsive to ear tip bore variances.

As for imaging, it has a typical two-channel stereo panning presentation as I was able to perceive the placement of instruments and vocals but not in a pinpoint manner. It does have decent separation between vocals and elements and the layering somehow arranged into two stacks which able to perform an acceptable playback on some complex tracks like jazz and progressive rock but on multi-instrumental orchestral ensemble, it has rather a diverse one, sometimes decent or at times a bit imprecise.

Coherency of its drivers are satisfactory as it performs a moderate transient speed and with gradual decay without any phasing issues or distortion. As for resolution capability, it has a good macro-dynamics to give a more exposure but on a tad of viscosity on presentation while micro-dynamics have a decent detail retrieval as it was able to contrast and extract some good amount of nuances and niceties from the sonic background of audio tracks.


PEER COMPARISONS:


TINHIFI C3

● Like QoA Gimlet, it has a single dynamic driver on each channel with the same material diaphragm but it has added PU (Polyurethane) for better rigidity. C3 has a lighter shell chassis as it is made of acrylic resin and when it comes product packaging, it is more basic and rather adequate on its inclusion.

● As for tonality, C3 takes a more U-shaped sound signature with leaner note weight. A punchy and a tighter bass response, a more neutral and linear midrange and a similar treble quality. They also have a similar technical performance although Gimlet has a better lateral width on its sound/speaker stage while C3 has a more solid note on macro-dynamics.


TRIPOWIN CENCIBEL

● Here is another set with single dynamic but different material on its diaphragm and the shell chassis are made of resin shell. The product presentation and inclusions of accesories are pretty much like.

● Tonality-wise, Cencible has a bright U-shaped sound signature as it has more tighter bass, a recessed yet more energetic midrange which is beneficial on some female voices and a brighter treble response which also has instances of being strident and prone to sibilance. On technical capabilities, it has a smaller sound/speaker stage compared to QoA Gimlet and is less capable of rendering separation and layering.



SIMGOT EA500

● Like Gimlet, it has all-metal alloy build shell chassis and also a single dynamic driver albeit its diaphragms are made of DLC (Diamond-Like Carbon). It has an interesting feature which is a removable tuning nozzle to change its sonic profiles. The product packaging is quite similar to Gimlet and even the quantity of accessories included.

● With its removable tuning filters. It offers two distinctive U-shape sound signatures, a typical Harman which is a leaner one with more sub-bass focus, leaner midrange and tad attenuated upper mids and an in-house U-shape sound signature which is a modified Harman with more balanced sub-bass and midbass texture, a brighter and energetic midrange and more accentuated upper mids which might cause some sibilance on sibilance-laden tracks. Technicalities are similar but Gimlet has a tad wider staging but EA500 is more consistent on layering and separation and more solid macro-dynamics and sharper definition in micro-detail retrieval.


As I end my review here, it seems that like its sister companies, QoA did a great job on delivering a product as an alternative to other competitors with its competitive pricing, well-thought product presentation and an organic tuning and an adequate and competent technical performance. QoA Gimlet is one of the few products that I've reviewed deserves attention and exposure, And buying them just for musical enjoyment is enough to satisfy our tonal cravings for a long listening leisure.


QoA Gimlet is currently available on LINSOUL, you can check it out at the unaffiliated link below.


★★QOA GIMLET - LINSOUL★★

And also, you can check out the QoA Gimlet on QoA's Official Aliexpress Store, there's a link below.

★★QOA GIMLET - ALIEXPRESS★★

SPECIFICATION:

MODEL: QOA GIMLET
IMPEDANCE: 32Ω
SENSITIVITY: 108dB
FREQUENCY RESPONSE: 20Hz – 20KHz
CABLE LENGTH: 1.2M
PIN TYPE: 2-PIN CONNECTOR
PLUG TYPE: 3.5MM
DRIVER UNIT(S): 1 DYNAMIC DRIVER


Some Tracks Tested: ( * = 16-bit FLAC, ** = 24-bit FLAC, *'* = MQA, '*' = DSD, *'= .WAV)

Alison Krauss -When You Say Nothing At All *
Jade Wiedlin - Blue Kiss**
Led Zeppelin - When The Levee Breaks **
Mountain - Mississippi Queen *
Queen - Killer Queen **
Guns N' Roses - Patience *'*
Eric Clapton - Tears in Heaven '*'
Sergio Mendes- Never Gonna Let You Go '*'
Pearl Jam - Daughter **
Roselia - Hidamari Rhodonite *
Assassin - Fight (To Stop The Tyranny)*
Celtic Frost- Visual Aggression *
New Order - Blue Monday *
The Corrs- What Can I do (unplugged version) *
Jimi Hendrix Experience - Voodoo Child *
The Madness- Buggy Trousers *
Metallica - Motorbreath **
Mariah Carey- Always Be My Baby *
Destiny's Child - Say My Name *
Malice Mizer- Au Revoir *
Mozart - Lacrimosa *
New York Philharmonic Orchestra - Dvorak- Symphony 9 " From the New World." *
Eva Cassidy - Fields of Gold (Sting cover)*
Michael Jackson - Give In To Me *
Exciter - Violence and Force *
Diana Krall - Stop This World **
Debbie Gibson - Foolish Beat *'*
The Sisters of Mercy – Lucretia My Reflection**
Suzanne Vega – Luka **
Lauren Christy – Steep *
Ottoman Mehter - Hucum Marsi *
Diana Damrau - Mozart: Die Zauberflöte*
Type O Negative - Black No.1 *
Felix Ayo - Vivaldi: Presto **


P.S.

I am not affiliated to LINSOUL or QUEEN OF AUDIO nor receive monetary incentives and financial gains as they provide me a review unit for an exchange of factual and sincere feedback from yours truly.

Once again, I would like to send my gratitude to KAREENA TANG sending this review unit. I truly appreciate her generosity and trust towards me and other reviewers.

INTRODUCTION:​

QoA, also known as Queen of Audio, is a subsidiary of Kinera, and according to information I gathered, both companies are headed by siblings. The design and craftsmanship of both companies share similarities and exude a feminine touch. While Kinera is recognized as the “jeweler” of IEMs, QoA's designs lean towards the female market. Their website showcases 8 IEM models, which you can access through the following link. QoA In-ear-monitors

This marks my debut review of QoA, as I have had more exposure to and experience with Kinera. Right off the bat, I must assert that Gimlet proved to be a pleasant surprise, and did not fail to meet my expectations. Without further ado, let us delve into its strengths and weaknesses, and identify what it is suited for and what it is not.

FOREWORD:​

• The gear on hand has undergone at least 10-15 hours of use before it was assessed.
• No EQ is ever applied in my reviews.
• For the sake of convenience, I try my best to use a stock setup. Not everyone has access to personal ear tips or cables. If personal ear tips, cables, or accessories are used, you will be notified.
• As I try to be objective, my claims inevitably will be subjective and biased to my personal preference. I cannot stress more that you should take this with a grain of salt for we have different perceptions to sound and what we hear.

SPECIFICATIONS:​

Configuration: 1 x 10mm LCP diaphragm DD
Impedance: 32ohms
Sensitivity: 108db
Freq response: 20hz - 20khz

PACKAGING:​

The box has an elegant design with a captivating dark green color that resembles the precious "Jade" stone. The packaging style is reminiscent of Kinera's design, and while the inclusions are basic, all the necessary items are present. Kinera usually has a backstory that explains the name of their IEMs, often related to Norse mythology, but QoA's Gimlet lacks this feature, which I somewhat miss.

In the box:​

• a pair of Gimlet IEMs
• detachable cable
• carrying case
• 6 pairs of ear tips

The Gimlet boasts a sleek and understated appearance, with a heft that remains comfortable even after hours of use. My unit is the white variant, which has a smooth and glossy finish. Positioned at the center of each faceplate is the QoA logo, rendered in white font against a golden backdrop. These IEMs would likely appeal to women who favor luxury brands like Louis Vuitton, Hermes, or Prada and are looking to make a bold fashion statement.

The cable is well-matched with the Gimlet's design, with a color and thickness that will appeal to women. The plugs and pins have a gold accent that blends nicely with the IEMs. A plus is that the cable doesn't produce any bothersome microphonics, which is great for uninterrupted listening sessions.

The carrying case for Gimlet has a luxurious feel to it with a leather texture that will surely appeal to those with a taste for high-end bags. The QoA logo is present but barely visible which will favor minimalism. Despite this, the pouch provides ample room for Gimlet to fit comfortably, unlike the case for my favorite IEM, Idun from Kinera, which tends to cramp the earpieces, leaving me with doubts about its safety.

Two types of soft and wide-bored ear tips are included, each available in small, medium, and large sizes. The ear tips come in two different colors - blue and white. The blue variant is shorter in height while the white one is olive-shaped and a bit taller.

COMFORT and WEAR:​

Without a doubt, Gimlet is an incredibly comfortable IEM that won't cause any physical strain, despite its added weight. While the insertion may not be the deepest, it still securely grips my ears and doesn't budge even while I'm on the move. The size of the shell falls in the small to medium range, making it the perfect fit for, as you might have guessed, the lovely ladies out there. Achieving a good seal and fit is a breeze, which is a great advantage for those like me who have a busy schedule and need to take their IEMs on and off frequently throughout the day.

SOUND IMPRESSIONS:​

The Gimlet was used with the Ovidius B1, Centrance Dacport HD, Abilgail pro paired up with Oppo A94 with either Hiby music app or UAPP. My Hiby RS2 dap was also used. Music playback used are Qobuz studio and Apple music subscription and my own FLAC files. The stock cable and ear tips were used. I opted for the blue ear tip variant, wide bore, soft, and shorter. No third party accessories were equipped as to avoid aftermarket sound impact.

I take Gimlet as a bit underwhelming but adequate in technicalities. It will get you from point A to B. But… Well, let's get right into it.

The sound stage of Gimlet is not exceptional but still satisfactory. It varies depending on the track being played, and doesn't feel too enclosed and not claustrophobic. The width of tracks from City of the Sun is good and I sensed adequate wideness. However, there is no noteworthy depth or height to mention. Hence, more like a 2d experience and not holographic.

The imaging on the Gimlet is quite clear, but it's not the most accurate compared to other IEMs. The elements in the music tend to be placed at the center, resulting in a fixed and stable presentation with little room for playfulness. Although some may find this boring, personally, I find it not at all disappointing.

The dynamic driver's speed on Gimlet is relaxed and laid-back, resulting in a soft and natural portrayal of notes that aren't overly defined. The attack is relatively gentle, and the decay has a good natural quality with note tail ends that are well-presented.

The tonality and timbre of Gimlet are highly captivating, especially for individuals who prefer a smooth sound presentation. The sound quality is incredibly musical, organic, and natural, evoking a sense of liveliness in the listener's ears.

Gimlet's weakest point in terms of technical performance is its separation. I find that different elements in my music blend together instead of being precisely separated, which is a downside for me since I need to dissect individual elements for my daily work. However, my wife, who is a vocalist, really enjoys using this set as she mainly focuses on the main melody of a song. Nonetheless, if she were to analyze vocal harmonies, it might be a bit challenging for her.

BASS:​

The bass of the Gimlet presents a decent note weight with just enough elevation to provide that engaging factor. It may not be the most agile, as the bass tends to be soft, gentle, and pillowy most of the time. The sub-bass rumble is present when needed, and tracks from Billie Eilish are still enjoyable. While the mid-bass is prominent, it does not take center stage, and there is no slam or punch in Gimlet's presentation, making it less desirable for those who prefer a well-defined bass. Despite this, the bass reproduction remains clean, although muddiness may occasionally arise.

MIDRANGE:​

The warm sound signature of Gimlet gives the midrange a lush and rich quality that I find commendable, despite its slightly recessed character which usually turns me away. Even though there is a significant dip in the lower midrange according to the graph, it does not sound pushed back. Meanwhile, the upper midrange is emphasized but still tuned smoothly, producing no sibilance or hotness. I enjoy listening to female vocals and brass instruments like sax, trumpet, trombones and horns, which all have good presence without causing fatigue. Overall, everything sounds smooth and pleasing to the ear.

TREBLE:​

To begin with, Gimlet has a significant warm sound profile. It presents a laid-back and relaxed vibe, which is primarily due to its treble. Although this may be pleasing for sensitive listeners, I noticed that many nuances and details seem to be lacking. Don't get me wrong; the details are present, but what's missing is the texture of the instruments. The smoothness is excellent, but I believe QoA intentionally designed Gimlet this way to provide a more calming listening experience rather than an analytical one. While I can still distinguish 90% of the instruments, the micro details are less prominent and, at times, not audible at all. However, with this warmth, the treble doesn't sound overly thin and produces good weight. This is unlike more neutral sets that can sometimes be dull to listen to. Cymbals and hi-hats are my favorite elements to monitor when it comes to treble, and with Gimlet, there's no danger of it sounding fatiguing, piercing, or sibilant. But there is a downside: nuances, micro details, and much of that energy on top are somewhat compromised.

COMPARISONS:​

Let's move on to a quicker comparison between single dynamic driver candidates at this price point. I will present my comparisons in bullet points to make it easier to follow. I'll be focusing on two of my preferred single dynamic driver in-ear monitors, both of which are priced under $100 and are therefore comparable to Gimlet.

versus Dunu Titan S​

• Both are warmish in overall sound but Titan S is a shy bit brighter.
• Sound stage goes to Titan S.
• Technicalities are better with Titan S.
• Separation goes to Titan S.
• Titan S is closer to neutrality.
• Gimlet gives a more engaging sound profile.
• Gimlet is much safer for long listening sessions.
• Titan S has a higher detail retrieval.

To sum up, it can be said that Titan S outperforms Gimlet in nearly every aspect, but Gimlet may have more appeal to the general consumer due to its versatility. Gimlet delivers a smooth U-shaped sound, whereas Titan S leans more towards a neutral sound reproduction.

versus Simgot EA500​

• EA500 is without a doubt, the brighter set.
• EA500 can be fatiguing to some listeners, Gimlet will never be fatiguing.
• EA500 wins in technical aspects.
• EA500 has better details.
• Gimlet sounds more organic and natural in timbre.
• EA500 can get sibilant at times.
• EA500 has better agility and speed.

The EA500 outperforms Gimlet in technical aspects; however, Gimlet has an advantage in terms of timbre. The EA500 is crafted to be more analytical, while Gimlet prioritizes the pure enjoyment of music.

SOURCES USED:​

• Hiby RS2
• Ovidius B1
• Centrance Dacport HD
• Abigail pro 3.5mm
• Qobuz Studio
• Apple Music
• Hiby music app
• UAPP

TEST TRACKS:​

Here are some tracks I usually listen to when reviewing:

That’s the way of the World by EWF
Africa by TOTO
The Girl in the Other Room by Diana Kral
Balmorhea album All is wild, All is Silent
Sila by Sud
Smooth Escape by D’Sound
Never too Much by Luther Vandross
P.Y.T by Michael Jackson
Ain’t no Sunshine by Eva Cassidy
Shoot to Thrill by AC/DC
Another one bites the Dust by Queen
Good times bad times by Edie Brickell
Alice in Wonderland by Bill Evans
Ain’t it Fun by Paramore
Redefine by Incubus
Far Away by Nickelback
Lovesong by Adele
Lingus by Snarky Puppy
Harvest for the World by Vanessa Williams
Love Bites by Def Leppard
No Such Thing by John Mayer
As by Stevie Wonder
Whip Appeal by Babyface
Ain’t Nobody by Chaka Khan
Futures by Prep
Landslide by Fleetwood Mac
Every Summertime by NIKI
SADE tracks
AC/DC tracks
Queen tracks


And many more… I always listen to High resolution format, being the least quality 16bit/44khz FLACS be it offline or online.

VERDICT:​

To begin with, I believe that Gimlet is a unique IEM that caters to a specific market. In my opinion, it is most suited to female listeners. As audiophiles, many of us men are preoccupied with details, nuances, and analytical listening. Women, on the other hand, tend to enjoy music for the pure pleasure it brings. Gimlet's smooth and relaxed sound signature aligns well with this listening style.

From a musician's perspective, I found Gimlet lacking in certain technical aspects. While it is enjoyable to listen to, it does not prioritize the textures and micro-details that are important to me. This is a significant drawback, and I cannot see myself purchasing the IEM for my personal use.

Despite this, I must commend Gimlet for taking a different approach than many of the other releases in the Chifi market. It is refreshing to see an IEM designed for music enjoyment rather than technical analysis. While I may not buy Gimlet for myself, I believe it would make a great gift for a female friend or even for my wife.

Lastly, I would like to express my gratitude to Martin Esguerra for facilitating this tour, and to QoA for the opportunity to experience QoA for the first time. Thank you, and I look forward to the next review.

Qoa is a sister brand of kinera which has been in the chifi game for a while now and the have some great iems , for qoa asa know as queen of audio they produce sexy looking and sounding iems . I have with me the gimlet which is full ceramic housing and deep green color , it's heavy and when on the ears it'll feel like nothing, cable is lightweight and beautiful as well. The packaging is beautiful and artistic.

Sound:
Bass:
Bass is big and deep and slightly loose giving it a natural feel and texture . Midbass isn't as tight as the tightest DD but that's ok because it's wonderful sounding still and the bass doesn't bleed or get slow .

Midrange:
The midrange is the star of the show being forward, rich , creamy, detailed and full . No harshness,all real vocal with breath to feel and textures for days . It's great on all genre and is so smooth .

Treble:
The treble is balanced like the bass and never bleeding into midrange, it just floats In the air with natural tone and timbre. Not recessed just correct and smooth and buttery to describe the whole sound.


Soundstage/imaging
The sound soundstage is average and forward and imaging depends on song . The sound feels like an analogue sounding speaker so smooth an buttery that you don't want to take them out of the ears but just chill and relax to the music .